Trampled Under Foot are a Kansas City treasure. Only thing missing is a live audience, cold beer and some bar-b-q.
Category Archives: Kansas City entertainment
Tidbits & Asides Regarding Kansas City & Real Estate Investing
- Tomorrow is the Rent & Rehab Workshop I’ve been talking about. I’m expecting a good turnout. Hopefully it will be worth their while.
- After the workshop I’m showing a California real estate investor around looking at properties that will hopefully meet his criteria since he’s flying out all this way. I’m still trying to decide which barbecue to take him to.
- Kansas Jayhawk basketball practice started yesterday since they are going to Canada in a week or so for one of those “international” pre-season games. A good chance for the young me to get started.
- Is Canada really international?
- I’ve noticed that searches for real estate investment property in Kansas City is down slightly on the analytics package I use. Is this because of financing? Fear? Lack of interest? It’s summer time? I’m curious as to what you think.
- The Royals are in another tailspin. I guess this means another win streak is right around the corner.
- The airshow is in town this weekend. If I can spare a moment I’ll get out and watch the Thunderbirds on Sunday. I love those guys.
- One of my favorite property managers has announced to me that he is selling out to another property manager I know. That’s too bad. Or at least that’s what I think at this moment. Hopefully I will be proved wrong. But I usually like where there is healthy competition.
OMG – I’ve Been Trampled Under Foot
This blog is dedicated to Kansas City Real Estate Investing and by virtue of it’s name, Kansas City BBQ. But another Kansas City cultural tradition is ‘da Blues. I’m not gonna say we are the capital of the blues. But we are certainly a player.
For quite some time now I’ve been urged to go out and hear a couple of local blues bands. Levee Town and Trampled Under Foot. And last night I went to see Trampled Under Foot with some buddies at Marty’s Blues Cafe. What I got was blown away.
Seems the bassist and singer for TUF (as Trampled Under Foot is referred to) was on her honeymoon so the remaining two members of the band (They are all three siblings! – Me and my siblings have no talent!) invited two of the members from Levee Town to join them. And what seemed to be a whole host of other Kansas City blues players and singers. Special mention here to Sweet Sue, a fun singer and Kool Aid who played a very nice guitar. (I hope I got their names right.) Those two joined the other guys for various songs during the sets.
But let’s cut to the chase. I was completely blown away with the guitarist/singer for TUF. First the guys, all of them, were younger than I expected. Secondly, as built up as they were to me the publicity did not exceed the talent.
I’m am not a professional journalist or music critic. What I can tell you is that the guitarist/singer, Nick Schnebelen, not only has excessive musical talent and abilities he’s got stage presence. A charming smile. A knack for knowing when to talk and when to be quiet. An unbelievable blues voice and the ability to remind me of a young George Thorogood. 
Anyone looking for a great night out enjoying a fabulous feast of ‘da blues would be advised to see either of these bands. But I’d definitely recommend catching a glimpse of Trampled Under Foot. They may not be confined to Kansas City very long. After all, they have been voted the best blues band in 2008 down at a festival in Memphis. Not too shabby.
Filed under Cool Sites, Kansas City entertainment
Kansas City Power & Light District: Two Thumbs Up
The Kansas City Power & Light District gets a thumbs up from me and an another from by buddy. We spent the day there yesterday hanging out in KC Live with all the festivities for the Big XII Tournament. As you can see from the photo, there was not only a sold out Sprint Center but literally tens of thousands more came down to drink beer or sodas, hang out with friends and watch the game on the 12-15 foot television screen that you can see in the upper right hand corner of the photo.
I have no idea on whether or not this will be a long term economic success. I can tell you from a civic pride perspective that I felt like I was in a real city, again. The whole atmosphere reminded me very much of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor area. (Yes, I know there isn’t any water within 3/4 of a mile of the place.)
We grabbed a bite to eat at the Gordon-Biersch brewery. Food was great and their own brews were good. I loved the Marzen. GB describes it as “Our most popular beer which is a smooth, mildly sweet, auburn colored lager.”
The crowd was very midwestern. Well-behaved and friendly. We spoke with people from Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma. I even saw that Colorado brought their fan!
Chris, what does this have to do with real estate investing in Kansas City? Well, nothing really. Or everything. See, I believe cities will tell you whether they are moving forward or backwards. And that will have a determination on the desirability of a city for future work-forces and employers. And this bodes well.
Despite many fears, parking was not too difficult to find so long as you don’t mind a 5-10 minute walk. And really, if you are going down to eat and drink all day, I don’t think the walk will hurt you.
So the next time you are looking for something to do I would love to encourage you to go on down to the Kansas City Power & Light District. Eat dinner. Listen to one of the many live shows they have planned. Catch an event at the Sprint Center or visit the College Basketball Experience.
4.21.2008 update: My wife and I decided at 8:00 pm on Saturday night to go on down the the Power & Light district and see what was up. Time away from the kids and all. Anyway, WOW!
I simply cannot emphasize enough the transformation this place has on my attitude towards Kansas City night life. The place was packed. Every restaurant. Every bar. And the “common area” in the center was crowded enough to be full but not too crowded as to be miserable.
We met several couples as we wandered from place to place. Some from in town and one couple from Minnesota who couldn’t get over how cool Kansas City was. (Chamber of Commerce moment.)
The Irish bar we tried poured the Guinness perfectly and had a cool dancer come out for one song that made the live band all the more entertaining. If you plan on going to Howl at the Moon or that Rock’n’Roll bar my advice would be to get there early.
Heck, just the people watching was a blast. Women all decked out, scraggly looking and everything in between. Same with the guys. Anyway, try it out. But take your wallet. Not the cheapest food and beverages in the area!
Shameless advertisement alert: Looking for a REALTOR in the Kansas City area? Then contact Chris Lengquist of Keller Williams Realty in Olathe.
M 913.568.1579 EM listwithchris@kw.com
www.olathekansascityrealestate.com
Filed under Kansas City entertainment, Kansas City neighborhoods
KC Blues: DC Bellamy Show A Winner
Last night my wife and I went on out to Marty’s Blues Cafe in Merriam. We went specifically to listen to DC Bellamy. I’ve been a fan of his since I first heard his stuff on KKFI.
Anyway, the show was fantastic. The first time I’ve got to see him live. He is a lot of fun and a very good singer. I would urge you to go to his website and listen to a tune or two. Buy his latest album. Support the blues!
And if you go to Marty’s Blues Cafe for any other acts, be sure to get the quesadillas. They were delicious.
Filed under Kansas City entertainment
College Basketball Experience: A Hall Of Fame For College Basketball
The College Basketball Experience updated 7.23.2008. See below. Frequent readers of this blog know my passion and love for the game of college basketball and my beloved Kansas Jayhawks. Today is a special day in Kansas City and around the country for those that love the game of college basketball. The College Basketball Experience opened today. It’s adjacent to the new Sprint Center and it’s fantastic.
There is no way I’m going to do the place justice with one blog post. Let me just say that if you live in and around Kansas City you need to check this place out. Tickets are just $10.00 for adults and you will get your money’s worth even if you are just a casual fan.Upstairs I got to:
- Shoot baskets against a clock.
- Take free throws staring into the Illinois student section.
- Listen to the crowd groan when I missed a last second three for the win.
I passed on the dunking areas. Unless I can do it on the 10′ rim I don’t see the point. And that wasn’t going to happen. My heart raced, my breathing grew heavy and I worked up a sweat pretending I had any talent what-so-ever. After evaluating my performance, it’s no wonder Larry Brown didn’t spend any time recruiting me.
There are photos of everybody and anybody who has left their mark on college basketball. There are computer screens everywhere to hear from your favorite coaches. There are areas for the little ones to get into the game, too.
Make the trip to Kansas City and make sure you visit The College Basketball Experience. It is sure to be an attraction in our city that will bring folks from around the world that love college basketball.
update: The College Basketball experience is still a total blast! Today I took my four kids ages 3 thru 15 and they all had great fun. Total cost for the five of us? $31.00. Reasonable for an hour and a half’s entertainment. The kids loved the display where you had 5 seconds to run to a spot and shoot before time expired.
As usual, I loved reading all the history on the walls. And with the Kansas Jayhawks winning the 2008 National Championship there were updated photos and trophies and everything. A big treat for a guy like me.
I love the history and present of college basketball. We all know I’m a nut for the Jayhawks. But people are constantly amazed at my knowledge about their schools, as well. Some people collect stamps. Some people build boats. I watch and read about college basketball. It’s a great experience.
Filed under Kansas City, Kansas City entertainment, Kansas City Sports
The Country Club Plaza: Kansas City’s Crown Jewel
There simply is no place more beautiful or romantic than Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza at Christmas. I’ve had the good fortune of seeing New York’s Rockefeller Center and Washington’s National Tree lighting ceremony.
But Kansas City’s one great contribution to Christmas is The Plaza. Photos just cannot capture the majesty of the place. And it’s not bad the rest of the year, too.
Last evening my wife & I along with our best friends decided we needed an upscale night on the town. There are plenty of entertainment and dining options in Johnson County, Kansas. But for romance and a truly world-class experience there is really only one place to go.
History & Flavor
The Country Club Plaza was first designed in 1922 to be the country’s first suburban shopping district. From the linked website comes the following…
The Plaza is an outdoor museum of romantic Spanish architecture and European art where people actually live and work every day amid its beauty. ~ Those who have traveled overseas might do a double take when they stroll past the statue of Sir Winston Churchill. Just steps away two of Spain’s landmarks–the Giralda Tower and the Seville Light — tower majestically on the horizon. Down the street in a quiet courtyard sits an original bronze of Pomona by Italian sculptor Donatello Gabrielli. Is this England, or maybe Spain, or could it be Italy? What a surprise to the traveler to find these magnificent European works of art in the heart of the Midwest — on Kansas City’s famed Country Club Plaza.
Modern Times 
Today’s Plaza if filled with the finest shops you would expect to see in Paris, New York and San Francisco. Visitors from out of town on their first visit to Kansas City, are always amazed at the experience they are filled with upon first arriving at The Plaza.
International level hotels from big names and boutiques are closely located to and within the boundaries of this magnificent destination. National chain restaurants and local fair are intermingled with the shopping, fountains and street experiences. Pedestrians have the right of way on The Plaza. Really. With only a couple of stop lights interfering with the charm drivers are instantly educated to the fact that this place is one of a kind. Park the car and walk. No matter the weather.
Romance is easily discovered. Carriage rides of all shapes and sizes are available. And in the warmer months gondolas meander up and down Brush Creek. Or you can just stroll up and down the streets window shopping or admiring the beautiful fountains.
The Country Club Plaza in Kansas City is truly our area’s pride and joy. The proper balance of condos, close by homes and big business all work together to make this a spot you must visit during your lifetime. Don’t shy away from a visit to Kansas City. You will leave with a smile on your face.
BBQ Capital | Kansas City Real Estate Investing 