 Kansas City
Forget the Kansas City Chiefs or Royals, Country Club Plaza shopping, world-class museums or award-winning restaurants. Kansas City's hottest source of hometown pride of late is David Cook, the winner of this season's American Idol. When the scruffy-faced twenty-something began wooing voters with his haunting, go-for-broke renditions of popular songs, viewers may well have figured out that this Midwestern city has more going for it than great barbecue and jazz.
Kansas City, once a bona-fide cow town with bustling livestock stockyards, is now a cosmopolitan hub of the Midwest. There are tree-lined boulevards, more than 200 fountains, world-renowned museums and a lively arts scene as well as plenty of upscale shopping, including at the Country Club Plaza. Of course, its nationally acclaimed restaurants, located on both sides of the state line, are not to be overlooked. The metropolitan area—made famous in the song, "Kansas City"—spreads across two state lines and two rivers. The town itself is situated on the Missouri side of the state line, starting at the banks of the Missouri River and spreading south. The smaller, more low-key part of Kansas City is in Kansas, cradled between the Kansas (also known as the Kaw) and Missouri Rivers. But the bulk of the action happens in Missouri, from the Downtown, with its shiny new Sprint Arena and Power and Light District, to the arts haven known as the Crossroads District through Crown Center and on to the Plaza, which is arguably the most famous landmark in the area. Built in 1922, the pedestrian shopping area resembles the Moorish architecture of Seville, Spain. Bus service in Kansas City is limited at best, but renting a car at the airport became easier since a one-stop hub for all rental car agencies opened at KCI, Kansas City's primary airport. For a quick fix , though, the Kansas City Trolley, 888-471-6050 or 816-512-8000, is reliable and easy to find. DAY 1 The Country Club Plaza is Kansas City's most famous landmark and the location of the elegant Intercontinental at the Plaza, one of our favorite places to rest our heads. Two other locales perfect for a sojourn are the boutique Raphael Hotel, currently under renovation, and Southmoreland on the Plaza, an upscale B&B with amenities to serve business travelers.
Begin the day with breakfast at the Classic Cup, where menu options range from classic eggs Benedict to vegetarian omelets. It will fortify you for the upcoming shopping—or at least window- shopping—is a must. Country Club Plaza itself is a 14-square-block shopping, dining and sightseeing mecca—not to mention the home of dozens of fountains. Of particular note: the J.C. Nichols Memorial Fountain with its four horsemen representing rivers of the world (the Mississippi, Volga, Rhine and Seine), which was sculpted in Paris in 1910 and is located at 47th Street and J.C. Nichols Parkway. Across the street, you'll find the tallest tower, a replica of the Giralda in Seville as well as the Clock Tower with Spanish scenes in ceramic tile at 47th street and Wornall Road. Across from there, check out the Fountain of Neptune. As you stroll, keep an eye out for murals, statues, plaques and intricate streetlights. Note: The Plaza is a popular destination during the Thanksgiving-Christmas holidays, when its beauty is enhanced with extensive lighting that's heralded among the prettiest in the country. Spend the afternoon checking out artwork, starting at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, 4420 Warwick Blvd. Have lunch at its Café Sebastienne, which has a delightful covered courtyard for dining and features a changing menu specializing in Contemporary American cuisine. Be sure to browse through the Kemper's exhibits of contemporary works while you're there. Next, visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak St. Considered one of the country's top art museums, it has an outstanding sculpture garden in addition to collections of European, Oriental and American art.
Take the time to make reservations for dinner at The American Restaurant where former award-winning executive Debbie Gold recently returned. Be sure to arrive early to have a cocktail in the elegant lounge, where often a pianist entertain guests at the grand piano. For entertainment, take a horse-drawn carriage ride around the Plaza or check out one of the many live music venues, including Jardines for jazz or JJ's for a nightcap, where owner Jimmy Frantze has an extensive by-the-glass Champagne list.
* Images Courtesy of the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association.
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Business in Chicago
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