Drinks & Nightlife
THIS IS MY FAV PLACE TO GO OUT- paige. This is my date night of choice. Bubbles and snacks. I go here ALL THE TIME. My art is even up here too because I am a fan. This Westport champagne bar is run buy hip folks that know EVERYTHING about sparkling wine. Try whatever the servers recommend and I always get that and the oysters and duck fat kettle corn TO-GO. Now, I'm a night owl so I take this little baggie of kettle corn gold and go visit my friend Jenn at Westport Cafe and then I go watch live bluegrass at Westport Saloon. On Thursday nights, they have live music. They have brunch on Sunday. This is a romantic spot. I looove it.
40 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ça Va
4149 Pennsylvania AveTHIS IS MY FAV PLACE TO GO OUT- paige. This is my date night of choice. Bubbles and snacks. I go here ALL THE TIME. My art is even up here too because I am a fan. This Westport champagne bar is run buy hip folks that know EVERYTHING about sparkling wine. Try whatever the servers recommend and I always get that and the oysters and duck fat kettle corn TO-GO. Now, I'm a night owl so I take this little baggie of kettle corn gold and go visit my friend Jenn at Westport Cafe and then I go watch live bluegrass at Westport Saloon. On Thursday nights, they have live music. They have brunch on Sunday. This is a romantic spot. I looove it.
Get your KC BLUES and BBQ at the same time! This place is a fantastic example of Kansas City at its best. The long communal picnic tables are filled with local character listening to talented musicians. When it's warm, head out to the patio for some room. Leave your signature on the bathroom wall and drink a cold beer. Cut a rug up by the band if you have some room.
30 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
B.B.'s Lawnside BBQ
1205 E 85th StGet your KC BLUES and BBQ at the same time! This place is a fantastic example of Kansas City at its best. The long communal picnic tables are filled with local character listening to talented musicians. When it's warm, head out to the patio for some room. Leave your signature on the bathroom wall and drink a cold beer. Cut a rug up by the band if you have some room.
Dress up for a night on the town. See and be seen. $$$ Flash your dollars and your taste in fancy spots. Hospitality AT ITS BEST! If you like bougie food and drinks come here. Want to impress your snobby friend who thinks they know everything about booze? Let me just one up you right now. The drinks are pricey but they are the coolest things you will ever see and taste. This is not for the well-drinking folks. This is for someone with a truly discerning palette and a full belly. OOO and Secret Tip: Ask them if the Parlour is open. It's a secret spot in the back bar with a menu of its own. I got to illustrate one in winter 2017-18. I painted a bunch of nudes based on Edgar Alan Poe poems.
37 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Monarch Bar
4808 Roanoke PkwyDress up for a night on the town. See and be seen. $$$ Flash your dollars and your taste in fancy spots. Hospitality AT ITS BEST! If you like bougie food and drinks come here. Want to impress your snobby friend who thinks they know everything about booze? Let me just one up you right now. The drinks are pricey but they are the coolest things you will ever see and taste. This is not for the well-drinking folks. This is for someone with a truly discerning palette and a full belly. OOO and Secret Tip: Ask them if the Parlour is open. It's a secret spot in the back bar with a menu of its own. I got to illustrate one in winter 2017-18. I painted a bunch of nudes based on Edgar Alan Poe poems.
You're looking for folk of many ages and want to go out? This place is like a fun house disco for adults. Drink giant slushies and dance the night away. Parts of the dance floor light up. Blue light buildings on the walls come alive. Dance in a cage. Visit "Paisley Park", an astroturf zone inside with fake foliage and outdoor furniture. When they play CarWash, this giant car wash thing spins down from the ceiling and foam shoots out all over the dance floor. Different things come alive all over the club when they play certain songs. Also, dress the part. People go all out. Wear your Elvis costume or your Madonna outfit. Make sure to Uber responsibly.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Funky Town KC
8300 Blue PkwyYou're looking for folk of many ages and want to go out? This place is like a fun house disco for adults. Drink giant slushies and dance the night away. Parts of the dance floor light up. Blue light buildings on the walls come alive. Dance in a cage. Visit "Paisley Park", an astroturf zone inside with fake foliage and outdoor furniture. When they play CarWash, this giant car wash thing spins down from the ceiling and foam shoots out all over the dance floor. Different things come alive all over the club when they play certain songs. Also, dress the part. People go all out. Wear your Elvis costume or your Madonna outfit. Make sure to Uber responsibly.
WALK TO THE BREWERY! This family and dog-friendly place features German-style beer and a nice beer garden. You can bring your own food and hang in the Biergarten or eat in the Bierhalle. They have REALLY GOOD BEER.
37 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Kansas City Bier Company
310 W 79th StWALK TO THE BREWERY! This family and dog-friendly place features German-style beer and a nice beer garden. You can bring your own food and hang in the Biergarten or eat in the Bierhalle. They have REALLY GOOD BEER.
Shopping
Donna is a local character and fashion QUEEN. Follow her on instagram like yesterday, please. @ donnasdressshop So, she dresses up in fabulous vintage goods and always has a fantastic scarf on her head or a bouffant. She carries super curated vintage and really unique new goods. I spend all my money here. I have so many AAMAAAZING THINGS. It's a tiny store underneath her apartment and it's so fabulous. YOU HAVE TO VISIT THIS SHOP. There is REALLY no place like it. You'll love the vintage wallpaper in the dressing rooms too. Tell whomever is working that Paige sent you. I'm a regular.
20 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Donna's Dress Shop
1410 W 39th StDonna is a local character and fashion QUEEN. Follow her on instagram like yesterday, please. @ donnasdressshop So, she dresses up in fabulous vintage goods and always has a fantastic scarf on her head or a bouffant. She carries super curated vintage and really unique new goods. I spend all my money here. I have so many AAMAAAZING THINGS. It's a tiny store underneath her apartment and it's so fabulous. YOU HAVE TO VISIT THIS SHOP. There is REALLY no place like it. You'll love the vintage wallpaper in the dressing rooms too. Tell whomever is working that Paige sent you. I'm a regular.
Essentials
Get your meat and veg here! A lot of the best bbq joints and burger spots in town buy their meat here. They also have bbq for sale here. You can smell the smoker. NOM There are often tents out front selling bbq or heirloom tomatoes. Sometimes inside there is someone else selling his or her new brand of BBQ sauce. It's tiny but with a fantastic selection. It's walkable from the house too.
Fareway Meat Market & McGonigle's KC BBQ
1307 W 79th StGet your meat and veg here! A lot of the best bbq joints and burger spots in town buy their meat here. They also have bbq for sale here. You can smell the smoker. NOM There are often tents out front selling bbq or heirloom tomatoes. Sometimes inside there is someone else selling his or her new brand of BBQ sauce. It's tiny but with a fantastic selection. It's walkable from the house too.
Arts & Culture
GO TO THE TOP OF THE TOWER! The underground museum is fantastic. There is this field of poppies when you enter that blows your mind. Read the plaque. No spoilers. Skip the cafe inside and go to one of my other recommendations nearby also don't eat at Crown Center. Gross. BUT YOU HAVE TO GO HERE AND SEE THE VIEW. IT'S WORTH IT.
400 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
National WWI Museum and Memorial
2 Memorial DrGO TO THE TOP OF THE TOWER! The underground museum is fantastic. There is this field of poppies when you enter that blows your mind. Read the plaque. No spoilers. Skip the cafe inside and go to one of my other recommendations nearby also don't eat at Crown Center. Gross. BUT YOU HAVE TO GO HERE AND SEE THE VIEW. IT'S WORTH IT.
Food Scene
Even when it's -5 degrees, you'll find folks lined up to get sundaes, waffle cones, ice cream, and boozy milkshakes. Everything is made in-house! I love putting marshmellow fluff on whatever I get. They'll even toast it for you. It's deeeelish. Bring the kiddos. Parking is a little weird FYI but it's worth it.
45 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Betty Rae's Ice Cream
7140 Wornall RdEven when it's -5 degrees, you'll find folks lined up to get sundaes, waffle cones, ice cream, and boozy milkshakes. Everything is made in-house! I love putting marshmellow fluff on whatever I get. They'll even toast it for you. It's deeeelish. Bring the kiddos. Parking is a little weird FYI but it's worth it.
Known for their Midwestern modesty, Second Best is really #1 for espresso in my book. It is truly the best espresso in town. It's not a fancy location. It's in an unassuming strip mall. They also have some really crazy coffee drinks that include smoked ice and surprising elements. There are always a lot of local tastemakers and influencers here. Very instagramable. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Get coffee here. Do it.
15 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Second Best Coffee
328 W 85th StKnown for their Midwestern modesty, Second Best is really #1 for espresso in my book. It is truly the best espresso in town. It's not a fancy location. It's in an unassuming strip mall. They also have some really crazy coffee drinks that include smoked ice and surprising elements. There are always a lot of local tastemakers and influencers here. Very instagramable. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Get coffee here. Do it.
Order it to-go from the house. We have a menu on the fridge. It's thin and crispy and KC style or St. Louis style. It's Waldo style. Everyone loves this pizza. It's nearby a lot of nightlife so you can pick up a pie late night if you want.
52 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Waldo Pizza
7433 Broadway StOrder it to-go from the house. We have a menu on the fridge. It's thin and crispy and KC style or St. Louis style. It's Waldo style. Everyone loves this pizza. It's nearby a lot of nightlife so you can pick up a pie late night if you want.
This is the iconic joint that Anthony Bourdain swears by. I do to. I have had BBQ in the hills of Puerto Rico on the Pork Highway and this is better. I have had it in Memphis and Texas and Florida and Georgia and Carolina. No. No No THIS IS BBQ AND ITS THE BEST IN THE WORLD. Get a Z-Man. You'll thank me. You might also cry tears of joy. Oh yea, this is the original location. It's in a gas station. Order take out if you don't want to wait in line. But you should for the story. BEST BBQ IN THE WORLD.
344 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que
3002 W 47th AveThis is the iconic joint that Anthony Bourdain swears by. I do to. I have had BBQ in the hills of Puerto Rico on the Pork Highway and this is better. I have had it in Memphis and Texas and Florida and Georgia and Carolina. No. No No THIS IS BBQ AND ITS THE BEST IN THE WORLD. Get a Z-Man. You'll thank me. You might also cry tears of joy. Oh yea, this is the original location. It's in a gas station. Order take out if you don't want to wait in line. But you should for the story. BEST BBQ IN THE WORLD.