Opening emails can result in.......fun!

You can never tell what adventure awaits when you open up a Living Social email that promises an $85/night stay in a 'boutique hotel' in Kansas City and includes free breakfasts (with made-to-order omelets), complimentary nightly cocktail hour, $20 dining credit at a nearby restaurant, passes to Gold's Gym, and complimentary shuttle service to anywhere within a five mile radius!  But that was one email we're glad we didn't delete!

After a bit of research, we discovered that the 816 Hotel 

is a remodeled/repurposed Holiday Inn in the Westport area about halfway between The Country Club Plaza and downtown.  Each room is decorated uniquely and we had to chuckle when we learned that ours was the KC Barbeque Room!! Couldn't have been more 'right on'!

After a warmish drive up there (our Honda's
AC conked out about halfway) the shower beckoned....

...and so did the crisp, cool sheets 'neath a unique headboard!

The entertaining wallpaper was an historical
and cultural collage of KC bbq events/memoribilia,
including pics of Julia Child, Bobby Flay, and Guy Fieri.

And a genuine smoker added to the ambiance!

Other very inventive artwork pieces that adorned the room were the the work of Charlie Podrebarac, a local artist who has chronicle KC culture and happenings for over 30 years.  Not only a standout with a pen and a brush .....but a pretty fine sense of humor, to boot!

So we set out for walk into the Westport area, where there were many unique shops, bars and restaurants.  Trip Advisor had given the CharBar a stellar recommendation so we settled in for some brisket, over-the-top cheesy grit hushpuppies (can you say, "Melt in your mouth"?), and loster-deviled eggs.  We'd really hoped for burnt ends, but they'd run out of those earlier in the day.  Maybe tomorrow, right?

The next morning we took the shuttle to The Country Club Plaza, where we'd enjoyed a lovely, although chilly and rainy, day just before Christmas last year.  Today would be sunny and warm, a definitely different way to enjoy this KC icon.  We browsed and shopped a bit, spent about an hour reading in a cozy nook in the 4 story Barnes and Noble, and, on Ally's recommendation, dined on the patio at Gram and Dunn.  My.Oh.My!  Burnt ends mac'n chesse and two amazing salad dishes!
And, although, we've never owned a red car, Rob always admires them when we see one.  So he finally got his 'red car'......sans the sticker shock!

The next day we visited Union Station because, well, we love the whole 'train thing'.....and, of course, it's time to pick up the AMTRAK schedule and start planning a trip, right?  But, also, the ceilings are worth the visit!

While at Union Station we noticed the familiar artwork of Charlie Podrebarac, the creator of the images in our hotel room.  He did this piano art as part of Pianos on Parade, an community movement that's placing 'artistically transformed' pianos around Kansas City in various locations to celebrate 100 years of excellence for the Kansas City Music Teachers Association.

Also worth the visit was the sights and tastes at Pierpont's In Union Station.  Our meal there and just having a look around was so fun!

We didn't know that Kansas City is known for its over 200 foutains.  From the looks of the two we saw near Crown Center, we need to make a trip back to visit the rest!

 

While at Crown Center we enjoyed the Crayola Cafe (and got some good ideas, too!)  There is also a cool looking science museum, but what really caught our eye was all of the 'Big Bang Theory' paraphernalia!!!

And the life size 'greeters' at the Lego Museum bid
 us a found farewell until next time!