All-Star week is upon us. The 2013 AT&T MLS All-Star Game takes place on Wednesday, and we know that soccer fans from across the country are descending on Kansas City.
So what are you going to do when you're here?
Obviously, you're going to hit the concerts at the Power & Light district on Monday (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis) and Tuesday (Silversun Pickups). And the game on Wednesday, of course. But there's a lot more to do in KC than that.
BBQ HEAVEN
Kansas City is known for its barbecue. And rightly so. We do it right here. Here's three of the best BBQ joints in town.
Oklahoma Joe's BBQ - There's a reason Anthony Bourdain included this on his list of the "13 Places to Eat at Before You Die": It's pulled pork is out of this world. Plus, there's something cool about eating amazing barbecue inside a gas station. www.oklahomajoesbbq.com
Gates Bar-B-Q - Gates has is all about the sauce. Since 1946, there has been a constant demand for the sauce. It's worth a taste, for sure. www.gatesbbq.com
Arthur Bryant's BBQ - Established in 1930, this down-and-dirty BBQ spot has attracted such celebrities as Steven Spielberg, Robert Redford, Jack Nicholson, and Wilt Chamberlain over the years. Grab a tray, load up with a pile of meat, and savor the "combination of hickory and oak woods." www.arthurbryantsbbq.com
Oklahoma Joe's Z-Man BBQ sandwich, Oklahoma Joe's/@OklahomaJoesBBQ
MUSEUM HOURS
Most of the official MLS All-Star week events are taking place in the evening. So what's there to do in KC during the day? Here are four ideas, all within walking distance or a ten-minute drive from downtown Kansas City.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum - The Kansas City Monarchs were the longest-running club in the Negro Leagues. Powered by the likes of Bullet Rogan and Dobie Moore, they won 13 league titles adn two Negro League World Series championships. This museum, filled with multi-media displays, museum story, hundreds of photographs and artifacts, pays homage to the players, clubs, and culture of the Negro Leagues. www.nlbm.com
National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial - Soon after World War I ended, Kansas City civic leaders created a monument to the men and women who had served in the war. In 1919, they raised more than $2.5 million in just 10 days and constructed the striking memorial. www.theworldwar.org
World War I Memorial at Liberty Memorial, National World War I Museum
American Jazz Museum - KC has a long and storied tradition in jazz. This is where Charlie Parker grew up and where Count Basie spent some of his most important years. Located in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District in Kansas City, MO, the museum showcases the sights and sounds of the jazz heyday, mainly the 1920s and 1930s. www.americanjazzmuseum.org
Boulevard Brewery Tour - Boulevard is pratically synonymous with beer in Kansas City. Founded in 1989, it's now the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest. Try the Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale for a real treat. www.boulevard.com
NIGHTLIFE
If you're planning to attend any of the official MLS All-Star week events scheduled thus far, we'll get you out of there between 10 and 10:30 most ever night. That still leaves plenty of time to see a bit of Kansas City nightlife.
Power & Light District - Right downtown and the centerpoint of the MLS events this week, the Kansas City Power & Light District has more than 50 restaurants, bars, shops and entertainment venues. This is where Macklemore adn the Silversun Pickups will do their thing, and where you can catch the All-Star Game if you weren't lucky enough to snag a ticket. www.powerandlightdistrict.com
Westport - KC's original nightlife district, it's actually been a happening spot for 150 years. There are clubs, like the Foundry, cool bars like Harry's, and one very unique Mexican restaurant called Port Fonda. www.westportkcmo.com
Country Club Plaza - This is KC's upscale destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment, all nestled in buildings that make you think you're in Valencia. www.countryclubplaza.com
Martini Corner - Kansas City's epicenter of hipster cool after dark. www.martinicorner.com
Power & Light District, Power & Light District
