January 2012
3 posts
10 tags
Where Did You Do Restaurant Week?
Calling all KC foodies - this is your last chance to sup at some great local spots and benefit Harvesters; KC Restaurant Week 2012 ends today. There are over 125 participating restaurants with prix fixe offerings to suit everyone’s taste.
Sadly, I was only able to try one of those tempting offers, but it was a good one!
During a crazed week that revolved around planning/hosting a...
14 tags
Try Shai.
I didn’t discover Indian food until I was 19, when I flew the coop and landed in San Diego for college. At a grubby hole in the wall near Sports Arena, I had my first bite of warm, chewy Naan bread dipped in cool, tangy Raita. It was a revelation. I vowed to spend less time toying with navy guys and more time eating Aloo Gobi.
Kansas City has its fair share of Indian restaurants, most of...
14 tags
A Garden In Winter. Kauffman Memorial.
A haven of serenity and silence is hiding in the midst of our urban landscape.
At The Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden, tranquility sits within plain sight of Troost and Taco Bell.
High stone walls shelter plantings and pathways that invite contemplative thought.
Playful bronze sculptures cast long winter shadows on carefully trimmed topiaries.
And when your frosty fingers have...
December 2011
1 post
14 tags
A Slam Dunk! The College Basketball Experience.
When the winter wind howls and bays like a dog at the door, you can rally your spirits and warm your bones at the College Basketball Experience. You don’t have to be a rabid sports fan to be impressed by 41,500 square feet of hoops, history and high tech interactive exhibits.
College basketball devotees will no doubt linger longer over the trivia and biography tidbits that are peppered...
November 2011
2 posts
14 tags
S'more To Do At The Nelson. Sculpture Garden...
By day, the Nelson Atkins Sculpture Garden is a marvelous place to while away an afternoon. The lush green lawn is the perfect place to spread a blanket and canoodle with your sweetie under a shady tree, or succumb to the tranquil surrounds and snooze.
You can claim one of the plentiful park benches and lose yourself in a good book, or simply roam and enjoy the world class art.
It is...
13 tags
Flea Frenzy: Antiquing In The West Bottoms.
I love flea markets, junk shops, and thrift stores the way that a stereotypical woman is supposed to adore shoe shopping. Even two cranky kids can’t keep me away from browsing antiques in The West Bottoms on a First Friday weekend.
Taking little ones antiquing is no picnic. My husband’s idea of shopping with the kids is rolling into Costco and confining them both to a double wide cart.
Old...
October 2011
3 posts
10 tags
Falling for October at the O.P. Arboretum.
With “Snowtober” burying the Northeast, and record highs (98 degrees!) roasting Los Angeles, I must take this opportunity to crow to my smug coastal dwelling friends: Fall is flat out fabulous in the Midwest!
The air is crisp and cool, yet flowers are still in bloom. Trees turn breathtaking shades of crimson and gold, while the grass beneath their brilliant canopy remains soft and green....
11 tags
Get Your Arty-Farty On: Kemper At The Crossroads.
An anonymous art snob said: “It’s a enjoyable spectacle, but I’m not sure that it’s good art.” My untrained eyes respectfully disagree.
I was captivated by Jeanne Quinn’s beautiful, whimsical installations at the Kemper Crossroads. The sight of delicate porcelain vessels suspended precariously from the ceiling, saved only by their tenuous hold on steadily...
9 tags
The Silent Past. Oak Hill Cemetery. Lawrence, KS.
Like shuttered windows on the past, historic cemeteries protect the secrets of their inhabitants, inciting fascination and perhaps a trace of fear in those who visit. Brief missives on crumbling gravestones offer fleeting glimpses into another time.
At the solemn and beautiful Oak Hill Cemetery in Lawrence, KS, most of the grave sites date from the late 1800’s. Many influential people from the...
September 2011
4 posts
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Climb Every Mountain: Brookside Triangle Park.
At a certain age, playgrounds cease being a place for mild mannered amusement and become the spot for mini Evel Knievels in training to attempt audacious stunts.
Visiting a busy playground often gives me an anxiety attack as I watch kids dangle from the top of swing structures, or climb down the outside of towering tube slides. I’m always certain that someone is going to break their arm, leg,...
13 tags
Loco for Poco's.
It’s high time that I praised Poco’s on the Boulevard. It is my absolute favorite place for an indulgent, food-coma breakfast. You can’t consume a meal at Poco’s without having to loosen your belt a few notches on the way out.
Chef Lorenza “Poco” Gutierrez has created a menu of excellent Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner dishes. It would take several blog posts to cover the highlights. So,...
12 tags
We Came. We Saw...the line. Kauffman Center Grand...
I salute the courageous folk who took on a queue of epic proportions at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts today.
We rolled into the Crossroads around 4:30pm, thinking that the crowds would be thinning out as it was only 30 minutes until closing.
As we rounded the corner, my husband and I stared slack-jawed at a line snaking halfway around the enormous building.
Food trucks and...
13 tags
Tea & Crumpets: Darling Duds at the Mission Rd...
Who doesn’t love supporting local artisans? The sad fact is that they rarely get enough exposure here in Kansas City. So, I am always thrilled when I stumble onto a local designer in an unexpected place and can spread the word.
If you like one-of-a-kind childrens wear crafted with care, check out the Tea And Crumpets collection. It’s hiding in a dimly lit corner of the Mission...
August 2011
5 posts
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Kiddie Cups & Churlish Serve-Ups: Extra Virgin.
My husband has always hated Extra Virgin. I think the vibe is too LA-hipster for him (he would loathe Succotash!). Nevertheless, we’ve supped at EV on several occasions; the small plates menu has something for everyone and the patio is very inviting. And that is where my praise abruptly ends.
Last night, I suffered through an astonishingly subpar meal that included undercooked food,...
11 tags
Greens, Greens And Nothing But Greens.
A cool, crisp salad is the quintessential summer meal.
When the dog days of summer grip the Midwest, I crave refreshing salads day and night. And I frequently get my fix at The Mixx. I recently tried a standout Watermelon & Watercress Salad on the daily special menu that deserves mention.
The juicy chunks of sweet watermelon were combined with crunchy jicama, feta and almonds, and...
10 tags
Money Can Buy Mud Pies.
You know that you’re in a posh enclave when kids making mud pies at the park are wearing white tutus and red velvet frocks. Those of us without disposable wardrobes should pack a set of play clothes when taking the kiddos to Franklin Park, a meticulously manicured spot of green in the tony Town & Country Estates.
Franklin Park was already a great family hangout with a large, flat walking...
12 tags
If You Have a Peanut Allergy, Stop Reading RIGHT...
The Genessee Royale Bistro’s chocolate peanut butter pie is so awesome that it almost defies description. Mere words cannot do justice to this masterpiece.
It starts with a crumbly crust and rich creamy filling that is spiked with whole peanuts, and ends with an opulent trio of toppings: caramel sauce, chunky chocolate candies and melt-in-your-mouth whipped cream.
You’ve got...
13 tags
Dollar Delights: Christopher Elbow's First Friday...
I must be slipping. A six week vacation from blogging has turned my instincts to mush. How else do you explain my complete and total ignorance regarding Christopher Elbow’s First Friday $1 chocolate deal? I had to hear about it from my visiting sister-in-law. She, an out of town guest, schooled me on one of my own city’s best insider deals.
At $2.50 each, CE’s petite,...
June 2011
9 posts
7 tags
Heartland. Homestyle. Waffles.
My first batch of pumpkin waffles was a dead loss; we forgot to grease the waffle iron. The second round was a smashing success (even though my kids refused to eat them). Sweet, dense, and hearty, the waffles make great breakfast-for-dinner fare.
The recipe in Heartland the Cookbook recommends putting Whipped Orange Butter on top. I was in a hurry and didn’t have the time to invest in...
6 tags
Heartland. Homestyle.
I tried my hand at a recipe from Judith Fertig’s wonderful cookbook/travel guide/portrait of the Midwest, Heartland the Cookbook this week. I used zucchini and lettuce fresh from my garden and paired the Summertime Squash and Red Bell Pepper Salad with some open faced Gruyere sandwiches.
It was simple, refreshing, and very satisfying.
...
12 tags
Gag Me With A Generic Genghis.
This place is the pits. I honestly can’t think of one positive thing to say about the chain-tastic Genghis Grill.
At $9 a bowl, the limp veggies, straight from a bottle sauces and stingy portion sizes are all of the more offensive.
I made the mistake of not looking at a menu before we got settled into a booth and gave drink orders. Our 5 year old loves stir fry noodles. We needed to...
7 tags
Istanbul. Part 2. Princes Islands. May 2005.
Princes Islands. Istanbul, Turkey.
May 23rd Journal Entry continued:
It was overcast when we boarded the ferry and more than a bit chilly, but I wanted to sit outside. The tour guide had us all sit together; and it felt like an elementary school field trip.
The Indian boy settled into his seat and immediately began to chain smoke and down cups of very strong çay/tea. Our guide pulled a...
4 tags
Istanbul. May 2005. Trip Teaser.
Istanbul, Turkey. May 2005.
I joined my parents in this exotic and beguiling city for a whirlwind visit.
My husband, who doesn’t relish foreign travel, did not go with me. When my parents moved on to see the rest of Turkey with their academic tour group, I stayed behind in Istanbul for several days and tried to soak up a bit more of the city by myself.
May 23rd Journal Entry:...
2 tags
Trip Teasers. My paltry attempts at journaling.
I have the annoying habit of starting off a trip with boundless literary enthusiasm. I eagerly journal about my adventures for two whole days and then come to a screeching halt.
My husband thought it might be fun to revisit some of these trip “teasers.” So, I agreed to transcribe a few for the blog. If you enjoy them, please drop me a line or comment and I will post more.
9 tags
Hate Cheapo Plastics? preserve is for you!
I hate the tacky, cheapjack plastics that most baby dishes are made of. Even when the package says “BPA Free,” the fluorescent colors and flimsy feel make me wonder if they aren’t slowly poisoning my kids. Melamine is sturdier, but contains formaldehyde and can’t be melted/recycled. It also scratches and chips at the drop of a dime. Enter Preserve’s 100% recycled...
11 tags
Cowtown Jewel in the Crown. Genessee Royale...
During their heyday, the Kansas City Stockyards processed over 2 million cattle every year. Driving through the area today, it’s hard to imagine the sights, sounds and stenches that must have permeated the hectic stockyards and busy slaughterhouses. A devastating flood in 1951 butchered the stockyards’ business, and this infamous section of KC never recovered.
The Genessee Royale...
11 tags
June First Frydays. I'm melting! I'm melting!
The heat last night was oppressive. A few minutes in direct sunlight would have done in the Wicked Witch of the West. We moved in slow motion, and hid the baby under an elaborate stroller sunshade. Fresher Than Fresh comped us a mini-size snow cone for her.
The pavement radiated heat long after the sun went down. A guy near us nearly passed out (and I think he puked on my flip flops). ...
12 tags
18Broadway: Downtown KC Sweet Spot #7.
Downtown Sweet Spot #7: 18Broadway community garden.
Every inch of the green living showcase at 18th & Broadway is cutting edge and downright cool. Funded by DST Systems, 18Broadway is an exciting experiment in urban development and a dramatic addition to the Crossroads neighborhood.
A community garden with biofiltration systems to collect, purify, and reuse storm water runoff would be...
May 2011
5 posts
11 tags
I live an insular life.
I live an insular life. My privileged middle class existence does not often engage poverty, adversity, or grief. I know this. And yet I have made only token efforts to reach outside of my bourgeois bubble and grasp a hand in need (my outreach typically involves throwing money at charities and letting them do the hard, inconvenient work).
So, I am ashamed to say that a hand in need gave me a gift...
11 tags
Barney Allis Plaza: Downtown KC Sweet Spot #8.
Downtown Sweet Spot #8: Barney Allis Plaza (12th & Wyandotte/Central).
The best urban parks are little more than pint sized pockets of green in bustling locations. The winning formula involves a few shade trees, some well placed benches and a square for gathering, in a spot where the skyline towers around you. Kansas City’s Barney Allis Plaza is right up there on my list of...
12 tags
Lookout at Case Park: Downtown KC Sweet Spot #9.
Downtown Sweet Spot #9: Clark’s Point at Case Park (8th & Jefferson).
On September 15, 1806, Lewis and Clark stood on a high bluff and surveyed the vast Missouri River Valley. Lewis noted that it would be a “commanding situation for a fort.”
A fort of sorts occupies the site today: the notoriously exclusive River Club, built in the 1940’s for the city’s power...
11 tags
Central Library Roof Terrace: Downtown KC Sweet...
I’m going to highlight my favorite underrated spots in the city, starting with 10 gems downtown. My picks will be spontaneously selected, not in order of importance.
Downtown Sweet Spot #10: Roof Terrace at the Central Library (10th & Baltimore).
A great place to brown bag it with a novel, the downtown library’s rooftop deck is long on views and rarely crowded. Tip: In the...
April 2011
5 posts
11 tags
The Family Unit on Facebook - "LIKE" us (pretty...
If you enjoy the blog and want the scoop on even more offbeat KC gems, check out The Family Unit’s Facebook page. In addition to a steady stream of local happenings, there are tips and tricks for traveling with kids in tow - whether it’s around town or around the world!
Note: If you are not Facebook savvy, just look to the left of this post & you should see a box full of smiling...
14 tags
Pita for pennies: Papu’s Cafe
I had been hearing a lot of good things about this little middle-eastern grill in a gas station.
I actually drive by the Shell station with its “Gyros & More” banner almost every day in a rush and finally found time to stop.
At the cashier’s suggestion, I upgraded my falafel sandwich order to a falafel platter. For $1.50 more, the sandwich came with two sides and extra pita. Most...
12 tags
Welcome Aboard. KC Airline History Museum.
Human beings have been fascinated with flying since the beginning of written history. From Daedalus and Icarus to DaVinci, the dream of flight has captured imaginations for thousands of years. There is something so spellbinding about the image of man soaring through the air that it compels every generation to sing, talk, dream and write about flight. The Greeks had Hermes with his winged...
8 tags
Time To Get Out The Wheelie Cart.
It’s here! Farmers Market season officially begins this weekend, April 9th.
So, get your butt out of bed bright and early on Saturday morning and support those lovely local farmers/growers. Pick up some fresh produce for your palate or a few green plants for the garden. It will be time and money well spent.
Saturday Markets Overland Park Farmers Market (starts 4/9): Marty & 79th...
9 tags
Spring Is In The Air. April First Fridays.
Although fighting a headache and general malaise, I was determined not to miss the warmest First Friday of the year so far. So, I threw back a few extra strength Tylenol and put on my walking shoes.
We only lasted an hour. Incessant whining & perpetual pouting (from someone old enough to know better) sent us packing, but we were able to squeeze in a few galleries and soak up some crowd...
March 2011
4 posts
12 tags
Woolly Weekend. Midwest Alpaca Show.
Alpacas are darn cute critters! From their bright, curious eyes to their soft, woolly coats, they seem to be saying “snuggle me.”
The Midwest Alpaca Annual Show is the perfect place to see these fluff balls up close. It’s going on now at the American Royal.
Many of the owners will allow you to pet their alpacas, but ask first. Alpacas don’t like to be grabbed;...
17 tags
The Best Side Of The Westside.
Reviewing the Westside Local makes me a little nervous. I don’t want to appear in a Hipster Attack video with my enthusiastic praise set to strains of flute music. Trust me, if the food were mediocre, I would not hesitate to say so - trendy locale and minimalist design be damned.
The truth is that the food is fantastic and should be the main draw at this Summit Street hangout.
The...
14 tags
Marbleous Trip To The Moon (Marble Company, that...
Bonner Springs, KS is one of those places that you will only visit for a very good reason. Sandwiched between Interstate-70 and the Kaw River, it is home to an industrial park, the summer concert “powerhouse” Sandstone, and The Agricultural Hall of Fame. Bonner does have a few redeeming qualities, namely Oak Street, which evokes vintage small town charm, and the memorable shopping...
15 tags
Nacho Ordinary Mexican Restaurant. El Patron.
In Southern California there are entire restaurant chains dedicated to perfecting the fish taco (Rubios, Wahoos, etc.). Those spoiled Californians don’t know how good they have it! Here in the Midwest, a craving for flaky fish and crispy cabbage on a warm tortilla is much, much harder to satisfy.
Luckily, Kansas City has El Patron, where a mex-food snob like me can get tacos that taste...
February 2011
6 posts
12 tags
BrGr Basics.
You may ask, “how can someone who rarely eats beef appreciate a gourmet hamburger restaurant?” Point taken. Let me just say that my husband is a voracious carnivore and can vet the burgers for this post. And BrGr has a lot going for it beyond the burgers: an outdoor fireplace, fantastic fries, and a fabulous patio to sip milkshakes on (in warmer weather, of course) are almost enough...
13 tags
I
High end strollers can be likened to luxury cars. Brands like Stokke and Bugaboo are the Benzes of baby gear. They cost irresponsibly large amounts of money and woo buyers with the promise of prestige and a celebrity lifestyle. Maclaren is like an old-school Volvo. A Maclaren “buggy” will run you anywhere from $200-$400, but delivers superior design and durability every time. We...
14 tags
Eat and be merry, but be wary. Dim Sum at Bo...
The fortune cookies at BoLings should say “be careful who you go to Dim Sum with.” My husband will eat anything once. He’s always game when it comes to gastronomical experimentation. His fearlessness with the fork may have something to do with the fact that he has a diminished sense of smell and taste. So, something revolting is rendered merely unpleasant when he eats...
14 tags
Wall To Wall Dolls. KC Toy & Miniature Museum.
One of the scariest books that I remember reading as a kid was a supernatural mystery involving a haunted dollhouse. A family moved into a gloomy old mansion and found an antique dollhouse (an exact replica of their new home) in the attic. At first the little girl played happily with it, but began to notice lights on the attic room of the dollhouse at night. And no matter where she left the...
Brrrrr's and Purrrr's.
Snopocalypse. Snownami. Snowmageddon. I’m having a Snowtal Meltdown from the number of days we’ve been cooped up in the house this winter. I feel like a degenerate parent when my son plays Wii for hours on end, or sits glassy eyed with the iPad on his lap; but the sad fact is that I have no choice. When the kids have a snow day, I scramble to entertain them while working from home. ...
14 tags
Getty Or Not Here I Come.
If you fly over Los Angeles and see pockets of green dotting the endless grid of gray, you might imagine neighborhood parks brightening the urban sprawl. A nice fantasy to be sure, but this city’s lush gardens and manicured lawns are almost always private property. So-called “public” parks scandalously segregate based on class; Lacy Park in tony San Marino charges...
January 2011
3 posts
13 tags
Iron Horses.
Picture a place where hardworking railroad engines go to retire. A place for the real old timers to escape from the cinder, smoke and steam and while away their days in a sunny clime.
No more coal burning, freight hauling, or passenger pulling for them. Just palm trees and the adoration of awe struck children, who come to play and pretend in and among the proud trains.
This railroad Shangri La...
16 tags
Blahnik's At The Beach
Manhattan Beach, California is the closest thing to a family vacation paradise you will find in the greater Los Angeles area. The white sand beaches are beautiful, access is free, and options for shopping, dining, or strolling are endless.
Just like in the rest of LA, be prepared for sticker shock if you want to throw down your money at a trendy boutique or bistro. MB is a high-end beach town;...
14 tags
Lidia's KC.
The next time you are yearning for a white table cloth meal, but a babysitter is out of the question, pack up your progeny and head to Lidia’s in the Crossroads. Lidia’s is an anomaly, a special occasion restaurant where you don’t have to hide your children under the crisp white linens. Solicitous and knowledgeable wait staff - check. An adventurous menu and extensive wine...