Pub crawl at Kansas City's Power & Light District

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- An Irish lass jigged on a tabletop. A cowgirlin a black bra danced on a bar. At the club next door, guys andgirls with spiked hair and inked bodies writhed to a pulsatingtechno beat.
Around the plaza outside, formations of motorcycle riders bikersroared in for a "Bike Night" promotion, and listened to the warm-upband while waiting for the headliner, Seven Mary Three, to take theoutdoor stage. A security guy counted 581 motorcycles.
Kansas City tore down eight square blocks and built the $850million Kansas City Power & Light District in an attempt topump life into its slumbering downtown.
So far, so good.
The district has shopping, but the nighttime action is on twolevels of bars and restaurants that surround KC Live!, a coveredplaza with a stage for free entertainment, Wednesdays throughSaturdays. The district had its grand opening in March, after fouryears in the making, and is entering its first full summer season.
To taste the fruits of all that labor, I proposed a pub crawl andsought out Laren Mahoney of the city's Convention & VisitorsAssociation for company. "Well, I think that 25 bars should be openby then, but, hey, no problem," she said.
Mahoney, 32, had assisted several years ago in a similar tastetesting of KC's barbecue joints. While I nibbled at each stop, shewolfed down the sandwich, the fries and the pickles, and was readyfor the next round.
We met at 6:15 on a balmy Wednesday evening, appropriately, at theDrum Room of the Hilton President Hotel, which was shuttered for 25years before being restored to its elegance. At one time the topdrinking spot for the city's social and political elite, the DrumRoom also is enjoying a rebirth as the senior statesman among thedistrict's bars.
Pam the bartender suggested the Ultimate Preztini, which consistedof Grey Goose vodka, Cointreau and white cranberry juice with"Grand Marnier-infused craisins." The tab was $16.46, and the tastewas a bit sweet for a guy who likes vodka, straight up, flavoredonly by a lemon twist.
Mahoney gave an update: Five bars had not yet opened for business,so we were looking at 20. We devised a game plan -- one signaturedrink at each bar, with two glasses for sharing.
The Bristol Seafood Grill was sleek and contemporary, with lots ofblack granite. Henri whipped up a "Pink Pop," which had premiumFrench vodka, fruit juices and Domaine Ste. Michelle cuvee brutchampagne, for $9.50. "Tastes like a lemonade fizz," Mahoney said.
Henri sensed we weren't impressed and offered a second choice, butwe stuck to our one-drink-per-bar rule. Across the street was theChipotle Mexican Grill, where we chugged a Negra Modelo beer forthree bucks. We were joined by Jon Stephens, marketing director forthe Baltimore-based Cordish development company, which built theKansas City Power & Light District.
Cordish also is the developer for the Ballpark Village project inSt. Louis, and Stephens was ready for my first question. When willwe see some action, other than ducks swimming, in the mudhole nextto Busch Stadium?
"We're very confident it will be developed in time," Stephensoffered in his best PR-ese. "The key there is to look at the trackrecord of success -- what's been built on the western side of thestate."
Stephens was an amiable addition and an important cog in our crawlbecause lines were forming at the doors to the district's trendierclubs. Stephens could get us through the crowds of bikers and theirbabes with a wave of his hand.
First, we strolled into Lucky Strike Lanes, a retro bowling alleywhere you could toss a ball down neon-lit lanes or gather in thelounge with drinks in glowing cups that looked radioactive. Thesignature mojito was sweetly tart and sold for just $4 during happyhour and $9 after that. "Last Thursday, we made like 400 of them inthree hours," the bartender said.
At 7:30 p.m. Tengo Sed Cantina became our fifth stop. A top-shelfmargarita, with Padron tequila, was $8.50 and excellent, butreminded us we had not eaten dinner. We went for the El Guapa,which was $25 and billed as "the most bueno party platter of alltime." The bar also serves a "hubcap margarita," which is a realvintage chrome hubcap filled to the brim.
Bar No. 6 was Maker's Mark Bourbon House & Lounge, where we gota perfect Manhattan, a golden-hued drink with a cherry resting atthe bottom. We had been joined early on by a writer for SouthernLiving magazine, but she bolted the crawl after the Manhattan. "Younewspaper guys are hard core," she muttered, before disappearinginto the mass of bikers.
Raglan Road, an Irish pub, was a real treat. The entire woodinterior came from old pubs around Dublin, seven shippingcontainers full. I was heading for a Boddington's Cream Ale beforeMahoney announced that she had a favorite here, a "Black Velvet"made from Magner's Irish Cider beer and Guinness. It was so good webroke our vow and ordered another. Suddenly, a young costumeddancer climbed on the table in front of me and did a spirited jigwhile the two-man band played. "That's Danielle," Stephens said."Every man in Kansas City who sees her dance is in love with her."
Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que may have good barbecue, but the "SweetMomma's Punch" was meant for sorority girls. The Montana Margaritaat Ted's Montana Grill, that's Ted as in Turner, was much better.Maybe it was the hand-squeezed lemons, or the Jose Cuervo 1800.
The bartender noticed me taking notes and asked about the crawl. Abiker was drinking with his lady at the bar and eavesdropped. "Youguys are getting paid to get drunk -- that's awesome!" he yelled."But you're gonna be hurting in the morning."
My notes, by the way, were starting to look like I was writing withthe wrong hand.
At 9:54 p.m., we took a breather at stop No. 10, a fast-food placecalled chefBurger that made spiked milk shakes. The Grasshopper wasmint ice cream, chocolate sauce, a mashed Oreo cookie and Creme deMenthe, and sold for $8.85.
The PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Big Sky Cowboy Bar was my mostmomentous stop. I was watching the guys fall off the mechanicalbull, when a roar indicated a better show was starting at the bar.Three female bartenders in cowboy hats jumped on the bar to dance,removing their cowboy shirts to reveal black bras, but keeping onthe hats.
I got the attention of one, and she said the signature serving wasa can of Monster energy drink that had to be "shotgunned." When Ilooked puzzled, she jumped down and came around front todemonstrate. Using a can opener to puncture the bottom of thesideways can, she popped the top, and the contents sprayed all overher front. She gave what was left to me.
The scene was even more lively next door at Angels Rock Bar, ahigh-intensity club with strobe lights, heavy chains for curtains,and bartenders in fish-net stockings. "We don't have signaturedrinks, we have signature shots," said one. She poured a shot, witha chaser, but neither Mahoney nor I could choke it down. The mainingredient was Jagermeister, and the concoction was called "liquidcocaine."
At 10:44, we could see light at the end of the tunnel, finding anultra chic respite at Mosaic, which specializes in "bottle service"at its tables. Bartender Katie Garcia made a "watermelon winecooler," which had vodka over muddled fresh watermelon, topped offwith white wine and sugar on the rim. Delicious, and $10.
No. 14 was Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, where we ordered aflight of beer samplers. Flying Saucer Draught Emporium alsospecialized in beer, offering 75 on tap and a total of 225. Acomputer kept score for the bar's leading beer drinkers and the topspot was claimed by one Michael Krueger, who had sampled 111. Hah,he should spend a night or two with Mahoney and me.
Fuego was a walk-up bar, serving draft beer. No. 17 was supposed tobe Vinino Wine Bar & Bistro, but it had closed early. A glassof wine didn't sound too appealing, anyway. We headed to McFadden'sSports Saloon, where the signature drink was Three Olives grapevodka and Sprite for $5.75. Ten TVs were going, and Nate Bagby andSeasonal Labor were playing.
We finished at No. 18, an open-air seating area called the LivingRoom in the middle of the outdoor plaza. The last of the bikers wasstraggling about, and we relaxed after a hard night's work on thecomfy seats. The signature drink was a KC Crush, made with Bomboravodka, fresh squeezed lemon and lime, simple syrup and Sprite for$7. It was so refreshing I considered ordering another one, for abrief moment.
Perusing my notes at midnight to clarify the jumbled entries, Iasked Mahoney, "Do you realize what we drank tonight?"
"No," she replied. "And please don't tell me."
PIZZA CONES WILL GET YOU FUELED ON YOUR TOUR OF KANSAS CITY
There is plenty else new in Kansas City besides the eight-blockPower & Light District. Like pizza cones.
Kornet Pizza is an Italian company that markets the innovative wayto eat pizza, and its first U.S. franchise is in the food court ofthe Oak Park Mall in suburban Overland Park, Kan. The idea behindpizza-in-a-cone is to provide the convenience for shoppers eatingon the go. The company says it uses all-natural ingredients and"original Italian recipes in line with Neapolitan tradition."
We tried one and, indeed, it was easy to eat. The crusty cone wasfull of cheese and meat and didn't drip as we walked through themall.
On a larger scale, the new $200 million Federal Reserve Bank ofKansas City opened to the public last month and is a dazzler,inside and out. The exterior of the 14-story building is clad inlimestone quarried in Kansas and curved to complement the sweep ofthe base of the Liberty Memorial, which stands on the other side ofPenn Valley Park.
Inside, visitors can stroll through the free Money Museum and checkout the 450 rare coins on display, heft a gold bar worth $361,000(at the current market rate), try to pick out the phonies in anexhibit of counterfeit bills and see one of the few remaining$100,000 bills.
You can design your own money at a rubbing station, where you pickfrom mottoes that say "Trust Me," "Show Me the Money" and "NotWorth Much."
Equally dazzling is the new Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art atJohnson County Community College in Overland Park, which is 13miles from downtown Kansas City in Kansas. Designed by Kyu SungWoo, the 38,000-square-foot museum has four changing exhibitiongalleries, three permanent collection galleries, a museum store andan excellent restaurant, Cafe Tempo.
The National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial has a newaddition to its vast artifact collection. Put on display in May wasa Renault FT17 WWI tank, with a gaping hole in its side, originalcamouflage paint and a 37-mm gun protruding from its turret.
The Kansas City area also can boast Missouri's largest indoor waterpark, with the opening of CoCo Key Water Resort at the SheratonHotel, across Interstate 70 from Arrowhead and Kauffman stadiums.The park has three water slides, a lazy river, indoor and outdoorwhirlpools, a dip-in-theater children's pool and Parrot's Perch,with a huge dumping bucket.
"There's also a full-service bar, so there's something here foradults as well," spokeswoman Sandy Vivian said.
A pass is $20 Monday through Friday and $25 on weekends. Ahotel-and-water resort package for four is $149 and includeslodging and four passes. The resort and hotel are teaming withvarious packages to see the Kansas City Royals and visit the Worldsof Fun amusement park. Call 1-877-425-2746, or visit www.cocokeywaterresort.com for details.
THE PUB CRAWL: 18 BARS, ROUND BY ROUND
Four years in the making, the new $850-million Kansas City Power& Light District is open for its first summer season. Theeight-square-block entertainment district eventually will have some25 bars and restaurants. A one-night pub crawl found 18 open forbusiness, offering a wide array of signature drinks.
6:15 PM
Drum Room
Ultimate Preztini (Grey Goose vodka, Cointreau, white cranberryjuice, Grand Marnier-infused craisins)
6:39 PM
Bristol Seafood Grill
Pink Pop (premium French vodka, fruit juices, Domaine Ste. Michellechampagne)
7:02 PM
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Negra Modelo beer
7:39 PM
Lucky Strike Lanes
Mojito
7:47 PM
Tengo Sed Cantina
Top-shelf margarita (Padron tequila)
8:20 PM
Maker's Mark Bourbon House & Lounge
Manhattan (Maker's Mark bourbon, sweet vermouth, dash of bitters,cherry)
8:51 PM
Raglan Road
Black Velvet (Magner's Irish Cider beer and Guinness)
9:30 PM
Famous Dave's Bar-B-Que
Sweet Momma's Punch (Bacardi rum, amaretto, sweet & sour,orange and pineapple juice, topped with Grenadine and Sierra Mist)
9:40 PM
Ted's Montana Grill
Montana Margarita (hand-squeezed lemons, sour mix, Grand Marnier,Jose Cuervo 1800 tequila)
9:54 PM
chefBurger
Grasshopper milk shake (mint ice cream, chocolate sauce, Creme deMenthe, mashed Oreo)
10:05 PM
PBR Big Sky Cowboy Bar
Monster energy drink (shotgunned)
10:35 PM
Angels Rock Bar
Liquid cocaine (Jagermeister, Goldschlager, Rumplemints)
10:44 PM
Mosaic
Watermelon wine cooler (vodka, muddled fresh watermelon, whitewine, sugared rim)
10:55 PM
Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant
Beer flight samplers
11:10 PM
Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
Spaten Optimator bock beer from Munich
11:30 PM
Fuego
Boulevard draft beer
11:45 PM
McFadden Sports Saloon
Three Olives grape vodka and Sprite
Midnight
Living Room
KC Crush (Bombora vodka, fresh squeezed lemon and lime, simplesyrup, Sprite)