Midsummer Random: Kansas City, MO; December 29

We drove into both Kansas City in Missouri and in Kansas. The Missouri side is better hands down. So much more to do. I still am not sure what is on the Kansas side. A conundrum indeed. This is where we decided to park down for the night after a very long day of driving, after getting taco bell (of course). We woke up the next morning around 6 am to get ready for the day. First we stopped in Panera to grab a cinnamon crunch bagel with hazelnut spread and coffee (much much needed coffee). Planning out our day and seeing where we stood on budget, it was a successful breakfast! In the courtyard next to where we ate were some miniatures of houses, lunar modules, fire trucks et cetera. There was also a very large replica of a drum from ‘drummer boy’ I am assuming. Across the street was the Crown Center which housed shops from Bath and Body works to a gallery to a Crayola café and shop. This is also where I got the pleasure of seeing “A Streetcar Named Desire.” From here, we hopped in the car to drive a little over a mile to the American Jazz Museum. This was very enjoyable to walk and listen our way through the birthplace of jazz and to see the likes of one of Ella Fitzgerald’s dresses and Louis Armstrong’s trumpet. Across the street from the duo museum is the Gem theater, a true classic on 18^th and Vine. From here, we ventured to the WWI Memorial next to the Kansas Federal Reserve (where the occupy Kansas movement resides currently). Without paying entrance, we were able to see the monument and a nice panorama of the city. I love how the Kansas City Performing Arts Center is very reminiscent of the Sydney Opera House in Australia. At least from the back (unfortunately I don’t have a good picture from the back of this building). Time for food, we decided to try and find Papa Bob’s BBQ. When we did, we were sad to find it closed for the holiday. Just driving a little back, we found a hole in the wall BBQ place called Mr. Epp’s. Inside this two man operation was a lovely white-board menu and a wrestling match on TV. Daniel ordered the burnt ends sandwich and fries, while I had a medley of onion rings, cole slaw and potato salad with a water bottle from a company called Ozarka (no lie). It was heavenly. Hole in the wall, dingy places often have the best food I have come to find. The more locals the better, the longer the line the better.