Baseball season is in full gear and the Kansas City Royals have high expectations for this season. Although the team has gotten off to a slow start, they have shown signs (since the end of April) of playing better baseball and (maybe even) fighting their way back into the division race.

As I have mentioned in past blogs, I am a huge Boston Red Sox fan. Over the past five years when the Red Sox are in town to play the Royals, I try to take my family to at least one game.  Some years the Red Sox play the Royals in August or September, and other seasons like this year, they come in and play the Royals in early May. 

My family and I attended the Tuesday, May 8 game against the Red Sox and it was a close game throughout, until Billy Butler’s eighth inning homerun, which gave the Royals the victory over the Red Sox that night. Please know that my blog is not going to be about how either team played or even the low attendance that was there that night. I want to say how great Kauffman Stadium is for all ages and how it is a family-friendly stadium.

I have an eighteen month old daughter, who I am encouraging to root for the Red Sox just like her grandparents and dad! For anyone who has children, you know how cooperative they can be at that age right? She was restless the entire game and did not want to be around the seating area where we were watching the game.  She lasted 8 innings that night and I attribute a lot of that to the great kid’s area that the stadium has located behind the left field area.  There is something out in that area for all kids to be a part of and enjoy. They have a small baseball field, a hitting and pitching machine where kids can practice their game.  They have a miniature golf course, a playground, a carousel, and even a game room that features the MLB 2k12 Baseball Game on Xbox 360 for the older kids to take part in.

Also in that area, there are great souvenir and food options to choose from not found in other parts of the park. There is also a lot of space where if you have strollers and need to walk around trying to get your little one to calm down or sleep, you can do that and not feel overly crowded by other fans at the game.

I just want to thank Kauffman Stadium and the Kansas City Royals for having such a great area, designated for kids of all ages, that allows the parents a chance to watch the game and cheer on their respective teams.

~Justin

Over the last seventeen years we’ve lived in Overland Park, and have watched our city grow and flourish with family-friendly activities and events. I’m delighted to share my six favorite attractions in Overland Park with you.

Ask a local for something fun to do in Overland Park, and the first place they’ll mention is the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. Sixteen years ago we enjoyed introducing our daughter to a few goats, hens, a buffalo and a Texas Longhorn that made up this delightful petting zoo. To say that Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead has grown over the years would be an understatement! Now families enjoy over 200 animals, lush gardens and turn-of-the-century buildings filled with indoor activities. Children can experience endless fun during their visit such as pony rides, bottle-feeding goats, fishing with a cane pole and worms, and mining for gems, just to name a few. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the entire day exploring and playing with your family.

The Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens is a relatively undiscovered gem in the southern part of our city and shouldn’t be missed. This 300-acre outdoor destination boasts eight natural ecosystems with endless trails through colorful gardens and forests. The Arboretum and Botanical Gardens are continually transforming with the seasons, offering new discoveries with the changing weather. Families also enjoy the beauty of the Monet Garden, searching for turtles in Margaret’s Pond, discovering art and sculptures around every corner, watching woodland animals from the bird blind, and listening to the sounds of the interspersed water features. Kids especially love a visit to the Children’s Discovery Garden where they can put on a puppet show, climb the spiral walkway to Sky Watch Mountain, wind their way through the grass maze or learn and discover through outdoor play. The newest addition to the Arboretum is the train caboose and soon to be developed Train Garden. It’s sure to be a hit with train-loving kids! Your older kids will love the Geo-Arboretum: a high-tech treasure hunt that uses a hand-help GPS to track down two hidden secret treasures. The Arboretum also offers outdoor education classes for children and adults, and you certainly won’t want to miss Arts for Kids in October and the Holiday Luminary Walk in November/December.

If you want to spend more time outside, you’ll love Overland Park’s bike and hike trails. Miles of paved trails, varying in distance, are located throughout the city and are easily accessible with convenient parking, allowing you to pick up a trail anywhere around the city. The trails lead you along forested paths through neighborhoods, past golf courses and even to some of our favorite Overland Park attractions. The paths are wide and primarily flat; perfect for every bike rider in the family.

Looking for a day of picnicking and play? It will be hard to choose just one of our 83 unique parks. Each park is unique in size and offerings. In addition to traditional playground equipment, some parks offer ball fields, basketball, sand volleyball or tennis courts, trails, nature preserves, shelters or even a fishing hole. We also have a skate park for those older kids who like to “grind.” Our beautiful parks are tucked into quiet neighborhoods or sit on the main streets beckoning families to come and play. It’s never hard to find a place to let a little energy out around our city.

Introduce your kids to a little culture for your kids by bringing them to the beautiful Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art located on the Johnson County Community College campus. This stimulating contemporary art museum will get your kids’ creative juices flowing with new ways to create interesting art. After your jaunt through the galleries, you can continue an art walk around the campus or enjoy a delicious lunch at Café Tempo located in the museum.

Last, but not least, Overland Park is now home to one of only 11 American Girl stores nationwide. Located at Oak Park Mall, your doll can enjoy a special day of pampering at the doll hair salon while you and your lucky girl peruse the vast selection of clothes, accessories, and books. And just in case you have a little man in tow, he’ll enjoy a ride on the two-level carousel in the center of the Mall.

Explore Overland Park for some family-fun all year ‘round.  I’ll be looking for you!

~Brenda Mott

Brenda is the founder of Smart Mom University, a website dedicated to providing simiple ideas for real parents.

www.smartmomuniversity.com

As we waited for our friends to arrive on this Tuesday night, I perused the cocktail menu. Don’t mind if I do, thank you very much. But which of these gems did I want to try? I needed assistance. Thank goodness our waiter was on his game. He suggested a highball – No. 3, 4 or 5. Number three had absinthe in it. I’ve never actually tried absinthe but it sounds intimidating and it was a Tuesday night. I better keep on looking. The number four looked intriguing. Bisongrass vodka mixed with cinnamon-pepper syrup, cream and fizz. I like fizz. I asked the waiter if the pepper syrup was like bloody mary pepper and he assured me not. In fact he said, this drink is like an “alcoholic horchata.” Ding, ding, ding! That’s all he had to say. I was sold. Number four it is. And yes, it was exactly like an alcoholic horchata…or maybe an alcoholic iced chai tea latte for those of you who have never had a horchata. In any case, it was good and if it hadn’t been a Tuesday night I definitely would have had more than one.

Our friends arrived and we got down to business. It was time to start eating. Something on the menu had been staring at me since we got there. Three words: “Short Rib Ravioli.” I must try it. I have read reviews of this dish that said it’s amazing so like my friend, Emily Farris, of Feed Me KC would say, I wanted to “put it in my mouth!” And I’m really glad I did. Five delicious little pillows of ravioli arrived filled with finely chopped short ribs and coated in a delicate tomato sauce. It was heaven. We each got one (and a quarter) – have to keep it even – and it was the perfect way to start off the meal.

Now it was time to decide on the main course. Personally, I wish every restaurant in the world had a tasting menu. Everything looked wonderful. I want to try a bite of it all. It was literally impossible for me to decide. I was torn between two choices, pizza or risotto. Our trusty waiter came to the rescue. “Risotto,” he directed. “Definitely the risotto.” I kind of have a thing for risotto. It’s rice, it’s cheese, you can jazz it up with all sorts of things. Basically, it’s delicious. This risotto was no exception. Made with porcini mushrooms, La Quiceria Prosciutto and Grana Padano; I was in heaven. The rest of my group had the Fusili Carbonara, the Meatball Sub and Pappadelle (minus the squid but added meatballs). I didn’t hear any complaints so I’m assuming everyone was pleased with their meal. I know I was.

The Boot is one place I’ll definitely choose again. Maybe, I’ll try the pizza next time.

~Krista

I have made such a commitment several times in the past three weeks.  My most recent staycation hike was just minutes from my home on the Tomahawk Creek Greenway.  I entered the hiking/biking trail system just north of 127th Street and Nall in Overland Park.  It was a beautiful crisp morning encased in a perfectly blue and cloudless sky.  To choose a southerly route or northerly trip was the most difficult task.  On this day I chose to saunter north.  And, I can guarantee that I would have had a most similar glorious experience had I chosen the southern option.  While human sighting was limited at this time and place, it was most gratifying to observe facial expressions of peace and happiness, just like mine, as we met on the trail.  When I purposefully paused several times along the greenway, I could not help but be most grateful for nature’s concert of splendid sounds.  And, if my pause was lengthy and quiet enough, I was quickly entertained by a variety of nature’s creatures.  What a wonderful gift!  What a rewarding experience!  I am pleased that I remembered to take pen and paper along as the magic of thought flowed abundantly through my imagination (an imagination by the way, which is quite limited in the hurriedness of a normal work day). I was reminded several times, on this morning, of the great lines of Edgar A. Guest (1881-1959):

God Made This Day for Me
“…This is jes’ my style o’ weather – sunshine floodin’ all the place,
An’ the breezes from the eastward blowin’ gently on my face;
An’ the woods chock full o’ singin’ till you’d think birds never had
A single care to fret ‘em or a grief to make ‘em sad.
Oh, I settle down contented in the shadow of a tree,
An’ tell myself right proudly that the day was made for me…”

Well, the days and this place are made for us.  If only we would slow down our hectic pace from time to time and simply enjoy it.  We have come to believe that vacations away from home are for all the items I mentioned in my opening lines.  However, they are right in our own back yards for us to find.  A staycation in Johnson County you might question.  However, try it once and I am certain you will repeat the experience on our many miles of hiking/biking trails.  Learn more these opportunities on our hiking/biking webpage or the Johnson County Park & Recreation District. And remember, the days are made for you.

~Jerry

But what if you want to take a day trip, or a side trip off of the highway, while traveling across Kansas? How do you know where to go? Here are a few ideas:

• Near Topeka, check out Paxico, known as the Antiques Capital of Kansas, or enjoy a decadent slice of the coconut cream pie named America’s Best Slice, by Good Morning America, at Sommerset Hall Café in Dover. In town, call for a tour of more than a dozen stained glass church windows designed by Tiffany, at First Presbyterian Church.

• In Kansas’s northwest corner, drive through our state’s miniature Grand Canyon – Arikaree Breaks. Most of this amazing terrain lies in Kansas, with portions extending into Nebraska and Colorado. There are lots of gravel and dirt roads, so driving a car with good ground clearance is important.

• Visit Sweden without the plane fare when you visit Lindsborg, located in north central Kansas. Grab a sandwich in the restaurant that Mikhail Gorbachev visited, see the first U.S. location for an Anatoly Karpov chess school, and savor Swedish pancakes or a smörgas sandwich. 

• Kansas offers dozens of festivals. Operating in Independence for more than a week each fall, since 1919, the state’s largest annual festival is Neewollah (Halloween, spelled backwards). The 10-day Kansas State Fair has taken place each September, in Hutchinson, since 1913. And Wichita’s biggest annual party – Riverfest – offers nine days of music, entertainment, crafts and much more, every June, as it has since the 1970s.

For more great destinations and events check out my book, An Explorer’s Guide: Kansas. It’s available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and in Downtown Overland Park at The Tasteful Olive or The Complete Traveler.

~Lisa Waterman Gray
Lisa is a veteran freelance writer with more than 3,000 published articles, news stories and reviews. Her areas of expertise include travel, food and restaurant, human interest, health and business writing.

My husband and I recently celebrated his birthday with a mini retreat on the Country Club Plaza and a side shopping trip to Cabela’s sporting goods store.  We started by checking in at The Raphael Hotel and were wowed by the valet, bellman and front desk staff.  Not knowing it was a special occasion for us, the staff treated us like VIPs with warm welcomes and extra attention to our needs for our stay.  

We headed out to dinner at the Brazilian steakhouse, Fogo de Chao and decided to use the valet service since it was dark and very cold.  Unfortunately, the valet was not there so I went in to check the status and learned that they were late.  We were given over to the Manager who immediately took over in a very friendly and professional way, and arranged to take care of our car.  The restaurant very busy, yet through it all the service staff was excellent, from the waiters to the gauchos that present the grilled meats at your table.  Even though it was very busy they took time to explain the process and the different meat selections to insure that we were well taken care of in a timely manner.  The food, staff and atmosphere were wonderful.  We had a grand time and again felt like VIPs.  

To round out our weekend we drove out to Cabela’s at The Legends in Kansas City, Kansas.  We were looking for bargains to spend my husband’s Christmas stash.  Even though it too was very busy we were cheerfully greeted at the door, and as we made our way through the packed store we inevitably found ourselves in need of assistance.  The staff was not only pleasant, but went out of their way to help us.  We were particularly impressed with a young woman in the shoe department who spent time with us in finding some special items that we would not have been able to get without her help and going the extra mile to give us the VIP treatment.

At the end of the weekend, we both remarked on the fact that we had received outstanding service, not just once, but many times at every establishment we visited.  It is so good to know that great customer service is still alive and well.  Our mini retreat was a fun and rewarding experience for both of us.

~Jeanne

The breakfast menu at Chaz features traditional fare with a special touch.  You can get Chicken Fried Steak, Eggs Benedict, Lox and Bagels, or Smoked Salmon Benedict just to name a few of their entrees.  There is something for all tastes from light to heavier fare.  My personal favorite is the Petite Filet with toasted gorgonzola, parmesan potato cake, eggs and Hollandaise sauce.  They also serve morning cocktails, such as mimosas, breakfast martinis and several more special selections.  We enjoyed this dining experience so much that we now have several friends meeting us for breakfast there regularly and it is always a fun event.

Chaz on the Plaza is a wonderful dining experience. I highly recommend giving it a try, and think you will enjoy it as much as we do. You may become a regular too!

~Jeanne

The class I just completed was the Brisket Class and the first time I have had Andy as an instructor.  This class was just as amazing and helpful as the others.  Not only do you learn how to cook the brisket a variety of ways, but you are also instructed on how to buy a brisket, and most importantly how to trim and cut the whole brisket.  Andy was even able to convert me to a pellet smoker, which I am still saving to purchase. 

I have also signed up for my final two classes and as previously mention I should be able to obtain my certificate by the end of June.  My next class in May, which is National BBQ month (more to come on that topic later), is Trends in BBQ: “Smoke Infusion” Grilling.  Doesn’t that sound cool? During class we will learn to cook and sample Mango Stuffed Chicken and Marinated Tri Tip Roast.  My final class is the all day barbequing class.  This class instructs you specifically on how to use your own specific equipment/smoker on items such as ribs, pork butt, etc.  Now that is hands on plus I should have my new pellet smoker by then. 

Now, enough about me and a little more about the Culinary Center and its MBQI Classes.  I thought I knew a lot about grilling and smoking, but come to find out I did not.  I have taken 6 classes so far for example:  Smoking 101, Grilling 101, Booze and BBQ, Brisket Class, Ribs Class and will be taking the Trends in BBQ and the all day class with my own smoker.  There is also a class specifically for ladies only and a Gills on Grills Class.  Finally the instructors are, outstanding, Chef Richard McPeake, Bruce Campbell and Andy G are the instructors I have had during my two years of classes.  These guys have competed on all levels and do an excellent job with explaining and demonstrating every step in the grilling/smoking process.  I am looking forward to my future class with Shannon Kimball.

If you are interested in barbequing, smoking or the Midwest Barbeque Institute then check out the Culinary Center of Kansas City or stop by the “Festival of Smoke” on Saturday May 12 in downtown Overland Park.  Or even better check out this Burnt End Chili Recipe.  Smokalicious!

~Kelly

Where is Overland Park?

Overland Park is in the Kansas City Metro Area.  Overland Park is located 15 minutes southwest of downtown Kansas City, Missouri – on the Kansas side.  We are located in the heart of America and are within a day’s drive for over 60 million people, who can easily connect to the city with convenient interstate access. The Kansas City International Airport, just 35 minutes north of our Overland Park, offers some of the most competitive airfares in the country. You can get to and from Kansas City and Overland Park to either coast in a 3 hour flight. Click here for maps and directions.

What is there to do in Overland Park?

There are so many things Overland Park has to offer such as the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, the Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, New Theatre Restaurant and the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art.  I also suggest enjoying on of the many restaurants (over 250) and shopping (everything from local to high-end) that are here as well.  With easy access to all the Kansas City metro area has to offer, there is something for everyone in our area – whether that is professional sports to Worlds of Fun/Oceans of Fun, the aquarium to historical attractions. All I can say is that if you visit Overland Park you will be amazed by how much there is to see-and-do in the area, no matter your interests.

What is the hotel package/inventory and how close is each to the convention center or sporting facilities in Overland Park?

We currently have 34 hotels in Overland Park with over 5,200 total hotel rooms. Some of the nationally known hotels chains in our inventory include Marriott, Hilton, and Starwood and InterContinental Hotel Group. A 412-room Sheraton Hotel adjoins the Overland Park Convention Center, with approximately 1,000 total committable rooms within walking distance of the Center. The sporting facilities are conveniently located within 15 minutes or less of most of our hotel inventory in Overland Park.

What services does the CVB provide… and what are the costs associated with those services?

The CVB provides a host of services to our clients including site tours of potential locations, gathering of proposals from our hotels and convention center, bid presentations, ambassador services, assistance with spousal programs, transportation, off-site venues, and so much more!  One of the services we provide, that set us apart from our competition would be a FREE Mobile App for meetings, conventions and sporting events held in Overland Park!  Our clients are raving about it!  Oh, and our services are FREE to our clients!

What sets Overland Park and your CVB apart from other cities where I might look at taking my event?

What sets us apart from other cities and CVB’s is our Midwestern hospitality and our one-on-one client interaction.  We pride ourselves in attention to detail and follow through with our clients.  The sales team helps walk through the process from the initial request for proposal through the contracting stage to the post-event wrap-up.  We are there to answer questions and make sure our clients find the perfect fit for their events, often leading to close friendships in the end.

So, as you plan you next meeting, convention or sporting event, think of Overland Park – our convenient location, plethora of amenities, hotel and facilities package, CVB services and Midwestern hospitality.

~Mindy

It’s the year 1914. Europe is a global powerhouse dangerously treading on war. A royal assassination serves as the tipping point for battle. Within a few short weeks, allies are formed and trenches are dug. Fast-forward to early 1917, the infamous Zimmerman Telegram is interrupted and President Woodrow Wilson urges the U.S. Congress to declare war. Does any of this sound familiar?

Regardless of your answer, I highly recommend a visit this spring to the National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial. Many residents and visitors alike may not realize that the United States’ official World War I Museum is located right here in Kansas City. As a KC newbie, I’m still learning the ropes of the area so a recent rainy Sunday was a perfect opportunity to check out the historical attraction.

WWI (1914-1918) was such an important and interesting time in our nation’s and world’s history, and the beautifully organized exhibits were great reminders of this turning point in the 20^th century. My favorites were the incredible collection of soldier uniforms and letters, a restored American M1917 tank, the life-size trench models and most of all, the American propaganda posters. Many of us may not know that Missouri’s own George Creel was selected by President Wilson to head the United States Committee on Public Information. Creel was responsible for the creation of thousands of paintings, posters, cartoons and sculptures promoting the war.

In 2014, we will commemorate the centennial of WWI. In preparation, I hope everyone steps back into the classroom and is reminded of this time period in our world’s history. During my visit, I saw young couples and families of grandparents, parents and young children touring the museum together. The exhibits and short films are truly geared for every generation and do an amazing job at encouraging a dialogue. Trust me; you will enjoy every minute.

~Liron