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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 Harry Potter themed birthday party for 17 kids under the age of seven, lunch at Story (in the Prairie Village shops) was a wonderful adult respite. My lovely mother in law treated me, and we both dined on seared Arctic Char and butternut squash bisque.
The moist, flakey Char was served on a bed of nutty wild rice with brussels sprouts, bacon, and a hint of mustard sauce.
The soup was sweet, smooth, and perfect for dipping our glorious crusty bread in.
I would love to hear from the readers - where did you do Restaurant Week?
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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 them good, but indistinguishable.
I expected more of the same when we tried Chai Shai. That is, I assumed I would be eating familiar dishes done well in a dining room with lackluster decor. Instead, I entered a smartly designed, modern space and perused a small menu of surprisingly exotic choices.
My first visit was for lunch with a friend.
We were both guilty of skipping breakfast and giddily ordered an appetizer sampler to share. It came with crispy, crunchy Pakoras (a fried spinach snack made with chickpea batter), savory Samosas, and luscious slices of ripe, juicy mango peppered with spice. 
I was so enamored with Chai Shai that I dragged my husband and kids in for dinner just a week later. I had been thinking about the Masala Paneer for days, craving that sweet red sauce over fluffy rice.
After seeing a photo of the daily special (displayed on an ipad no less!), I jilted the Paneer for a first date with…something yummy that I don’t remember the name of! It was a combo meal – half Chana Masala (spicy garbanzo beans) and half a sweet Indian porridge made from Sooji (Cream of Wheat) decadently studded with golden raisins and nuts. It tasted like dessert, but I wasn’t complaining.
The kids inhaled my husband’s order of moist, tangy Achari chicken until there were only a few sad little bones left for him to gnaw on.
My 6 year old gave the light, flakey Samosas a definite thumbs up. They really are outstanding, not your typical grease laden appetizer. And the baby sucked up her half of a thick, icy mango shake. Chai Shai will certainly be seeing our hungry faces again soon.
Tip: the table in the back is perfect for families. It’s out of the way, there is a couch to lounge on, and kids can peruse the interesting grocery offerings while waiting for their food to arrive.
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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 had enough of strolling, slip into the conservatory for a respite of warmth, color, and light.
Under the graceful glass ceiling, a resident cat has the right idea, snoozing amid lilies and poinsettias in the late afternoon sun.
And if the conservatory cat is not enough excitement, little ones will delight in seeing towering palm trees and exotic flowers flourishing in the dead of winter.
This little bit of horticultural bliss is located at 4800 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO, 64110.
The garden is open 8am to sunset year round.
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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 throughout the vast facility, but a floor to ceiling photo packs a visual punch even if you don’t know which iconic player you are craning your neck to view.
At first glance, the admission price seems a bit steep: $12 for adults, $9 for kids 4-17 and seniors. However, I can tell you that everyone in our group agreed it was 100% worth it. We spent two full hours inside and would have stayed even longer if the baby hadn’t been on the verge of an acute meltdown. I was blown away by the size of the place and the sheer number of things to do.
CBE certainly exceeded my expectations (and I’ve been to other “Experience” attractions that did NOT – EMP in Seattle, I’m thinking of you!).
One of my favorite sections was the enormous open gym with racks of balls, an abundance of baskets, and bleachers for tired spouses and parents to become spectators.
My husband loved the slam dunk challenge and “Beat The Clock” timed trials (how many 3 point shots can you make in 3 minutes, etc.).
Our six year old had a blast with the Big Shot Ball.
And his baby sister had fun blasting him with it.
Another highlight was the replica ESPNU sportscaster desk where pint sized role players can see their commentary played back on an enormous screen.
In short, CBE is a very cool place with a truly unique experience to offer.
And if you are anything like the “Cameron Crazies” and “Rock Chalk Jayhawks” in my family, you’ll be off and dribbling before you can say triple-double!
Notes/Tips: The CBE entrance is inside of the Sprint Center. Special pricing on Sunday Family Packs.
http://collegebasketballexperience.com/
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S’more To Do At The Nelson. Sculpture Garden Luminary Walk.
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 stunning in every season and in every light.
A standout time to visit is on the Friday after Thanksgiving, by night, when flickering candles light the pathways and the Bloch Building is shown at its luminescent best.
The yearly Luminary Walk is fun for all ages, with fire pits, smores, and plenty of magical corners in the garden to explore by candlelight.
It’s a great way to kick off your holiday merrymaking.
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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 industrial buildings have a lot of stairs and few functioning elevators. Strollers in The Bottoms can be more trouble than they are worth.
So, I usually just strap our 18 month old into the Ergobaby and stuff her fat little fingers full of Goldfish crackers.
And a 5 year old is easily bribed by the promise of a Coke from one of the food vendors.
My son was so good today that I bought him a strawberry/banana smoothie from the CoffeeCake KC truck. They must have thought I was an appallingly bad Mom, handing my kids an iced drink when scarves and gloves were in order and the wind was blustering down alleys and rattling reedy windows in every warehouse.
The smoothie was my only purchase today. I kept my wallet safely closed, but oh the things I wanted to buy: a rustic chandelier adorned with vintage flatware, a felted scarf from a local crafter, patchwork letters made of aged tin, and a pair of sleek end tables crafted in an onsite woodshop (I sent my husband a photo of these tables & he hated them; there’s no accounting for taste!).
The kids were wowed by taxidermied beasts and holiday ornaments.
There are new vintage peddlers popping up in The Bottoms every month. I can’t wait to see what fab finds December will bring!
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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.
One of the best places to see fall flora is at the Overland Park Arboretum. The OPA is a compact, yet skillfully designed botanical garden surrounding a small lake in southeastern Overland Park.
All of the paths are smooth, paved and wheelchair/stroller accessible. It is a great place to take senior citizens or not-so-small children who tire easily.
The flower gardens are full of exotic blooms just bursting with vibrant color.
For extra excitement, kids can spot Koi fish in the lake and butterflies flitting from bud to blossom.
The OPA is FREE and open 7 days a week year round.
http://www.opkansas.org/Things-to-See-And-Do/Overland-Park-Arboretum-And-Botanical-Gardens
Tip: For fall splendor on a much larger scale (but $9.50 admission & 1 hour drive), see my post on Powell Gardens in Kingsville, Missouri: http://thefamilyunit.tumblr.com/post/1467390233/powell-gardens
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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 shrinking balloons, is powerful and dramatic.
And the radiant chandelier creation (think floating pearls and electric whale bones) draped throughout the main gallery is dazzling.
You can meet the artist for a “conversational tour” of the exhibition today, Saturday 10/8, at 2pm.
Kemper at the Crossroads: 33 West 19th Street.
Ceramic In(ter)ventions will be on display until January 2012.
http://www.kemperart.org/exhibits/current.asp
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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 early days of the state’s formation are buried at Oak Hill.
However, the anonymous graves move me the most:
Unadorned stones bearing the words “Husband” and “Wife” lying side by side in the midst of fallen leaves,
A faded “Gone Home” with the time worn letters barely remaining,
“Little Roy” carved into an enormous stone,
And the heartbreaking “Harry 1905 Aged 4 Days.”
The Lawrence Visitors Bureau offers an iTour of Oak Hill Cemetery. A brochure of several historic Lawrence cemeteries is also available online.
http://www.visitlawrence.com/itours
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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, or lose any number of appendages.
Unfortunately, my 5 year old is nearing this nervy age and is ripe for influence. He wants to imitate every cool kid that he sees at the park.
Thankfully, there is a playground that delivers thrills while keeping my heart rate steady.
TheBrookside TrianglePark at 58th Street andBrookside Blvd is a small pocket park with big personality.
The playground packs an imaginative punch with giant springs, a whirly gig, and ear splitting musical chimes.
The best part is the play structure, whose two halves are separated by a craggy peak. Only the bravest mountaineers will make it from one side to the other.
So tell your grade-schooler to grab a pick ax, don their crampons, and beware of altitude sickness; it’s time to conquer the mountain!
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