Best Charitable Event
Kansas Citians are known for their generosity and if it involves fun, too, well, that makes it all the better. Ingram’s readers cast more votes in this category than in nearly any other. It appears that Kansas Citians have strong opinions about the charities they support. Annual favorite, Jazzoo swings for the Gold again as this year 4,000 guests roamed the beautiful Kansas City Zoo, danced to five local bands, tasted the specialties from 76 fine restaurants, and drank—responsibly of course—from 14 bars and oh yes, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Zoo and its learning fund. Treads and Threads, coming up again this September, takes the Silver for taking in more than $2 million for cancer care for KU hospital in its five year existence. It’s food, fireworks, headliner entertainment all at NASCAR. Forks and Corks retains its perennial (ten years now) favorite status for the Bronze, this year attracting over 2,000 foodies, enabling Harvesters to serve more than a million meals to Kansas City’s hungriest.
Best Casino
Although many have pointed out the only way to return from a casino with a small fortune is to first arrive with a larger one, casinos retain their undeniable thrill for Kansas Citians. The one you like the best for the Gold is, once again in a consecutive streak, the Ameristar Casino. The Argosy Casino this year beat out former Silver winner, Harrah’s North Kansas City Casino, which must be satisfied with the still prestigious Bronze award. Of course, we’re not sure if these awards are chosen by losers or winners, but we know that the competition continues to escalate. Just wait ’til Kansas enters the fray.
Best Theater
There’s nothing like a night under the stars, unless it’s that same night with fabulous show tunes, clever choreography, stunning costumes and great acting. That must be why our astute readers once again chose Starlight Theatre the very Gold best. The New Theatre Restaurant swooped up the Silver, because Broadway comedies and musicals featuring stars from TV, film, and stage can also be perfect fare for people who like to eat before and during the show as well. Inside and year round. For the slightly more serious, there’s the Kansas City Repertory Theatre whose Bronze award indicates we also like new, inventive, and the classical as well. We’re such a well-rounded bunch!
Best Family Outing Venue
Honey, where should we take the kids this weekend? Well, first try Gold medal winner, The Kansas City Zoo, where lions and tigers and bears, oh my, and many other less common creatures like the koalas (leaving after Labor Day), baby chimps, and three new cheetahs are there to amuse and educate over 700,000 visitors a year. Don’t miss the new Discovery Barn, for kids of all ages. If not the zoo, where? Fortunately, fans know we don’t have to win to have fun. That’s why, winning the Silver, Royals Baseball continues to be a favorite. And swinging together in a Bronze tie are T-Bones Baseball for its quirky, home-style fun and Worlds of Fun where the Patriot, the Mamba, and the Boomerang can make you wish you never ate that hot dog.
Best Golf Course
More serene than the roller coasters, but certainly no less exciting say its devotees (ha!), golf will always appeal to those who want to swing in a different way. Moving up from last year for the Gold is the pristine National Golf Club of Kansas City, where of course, you have to be a member—or have a member buddy whose handicap is not too much lower than yours. The same is true for Loch Lloyd Country Club, whose heated driving range for winter practice is located in fashionable Belton. Shadow Glen Golf Club in Olathe, another Tom Watson designed course, pars for the Bronze.
Best Happy Hour
The best happy hour encompasses two key words: cheap and yummy. We do not, of course, refer to the patrons (or do we?) but to the food and drinks. Serving up the Gold in this important category is the Kona Grill on the Plaza, one of 16 locations nation-wide who offer half price appetizers, sushi rolls, and island pizzas along with their drink specials. McCormick & Schmick’s moves to the Silver this year for its $1.95 full size appetizers served at the always full bar. Newbie winner for the Bronze is The Cashew, whose open windows at 2000 Grand invite all bon vivants in for a good time. (And so few bars/restaurants sport their very own photo booths.)
Best Jazz or Blues Club
Jazzing it up a level from the last two years, The Phoenix Piano Bar & Grill captures the Gold from two year winner Jardine’s Restaurant & Jazz Club who is still jivin’ with its Silver Award seven nights a week plus weekend afternoons in its tiny hot spot (and even smaller kitchen which still puts out a great lunch or dinner). For the third time in a row, The Blue Room, gets the Bronze award. This 18th and Vine legacy at the American Jazz Museum is designed to resemble a nightclub in the ’30s—and features top regional talent four nights a week. It was recently recognized again in DownBeat magazine’s February 2007 issue as the only Kansas City club to make the list of Top 100 Jazz Clubs in the world.
Best Local Entertainer
You can hear our Gold Winner at the aforementioned Jardine’s on Saturday nights—Ida McBeth whose voice, stylings, and enthusiasm have made her an award winning favorite since the’70s here in KC (and elsewhere). The Silver zags over to first-time winner, The Zeros, a “New Wave and 80’s Tribute band.” The Bronze zigs over to The Dan Doran Band, which plays blues, jazz, rock and roll and can be heard every Friday night at The Phoenix.
Best Museum or Art Gallery
Despite the controversy of the last few years, or perhaps in recognition of its phenomenal accomplishment, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, once again earns Gold. Repeating that for the Silver, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art continues to enthrall patrons who know they’re being kept up to date with the happening art scene. In a tie for Bronze: Union Station and Science City and Blue Gallery, recently moved to Southwest Boulevard, featuring outstanding artists in all media from all over the country.
Best Day Trip
The winners are the same and in exactly the same order as last year. Hopping in their cars first for a day in Weston, our travelers chose this quiet town founded in 1837 which offers a wide variety of shops, restaurants, and sights from its location atop the bluffs of the Missouri river. On the other side of that river—we can almost hear it: Rock chalk, Jay Hawk—many of us return to Lawrence, university site and so much more where Silver days’ memories remain untarnished despite the city’s growth. The Bronze is awarded to Hermann, Missouri’s “Rhine Village” where visitors experience “Old World Charm” amidst the vineyards, historic architecture, shops, restaurants, and B&Bs—and for exercise, traverse the nearby Katy Trail.
Best Weekend Getaway
A bit further afield, where do we most want to go? Just a three, four, or five hour trip, depending on who you talk to and when you go, The Lake of the Ozarks is our readers’ Gold choice—we hope they’re not voting for Party Cove, there’s so much more to do there. Just an hour plus away by plane, Chicago offers big city thrills, amazing dining, beautiful parks, theater, a real downtown for the Silver. And along the lines of the Ozarks, Kansas Citians travel a bit further to Bronzed town of Branson, Missouri, land of buffets, where Silver Dollar City, the Titanic Museum and shows from John Wayne and America’s Yodeling Sweetheart to the Shanghi Circus and Yakov Smirnoff offer campy alternatives to the beautiful serenity of Table Rock Lake.
Best Performing Arts Venue
Starlight Theatre once more takes the Gold here, its stage renovations keeping up with the additional features of more dining, more facilities, better sound, beautiful landscaping, new seats and all the other enhancements, all recently added to provide a better venue for world-class and theater and live-music performances for Kansas City’s discriminating audiences. And who better for the Silver than the Kansas City Repertory Theatre with its tradition of first rate dramatic performances in a classy environment. And we cannot overlook the Lyric Opera of Kansas City for the Bronze, where its history and beautiful interior, as well as superior performances by the opera and symphony compensate fully for fewer of the creature comforts
Best Sports Venue to Entertain Clients
Nothing beats a box at Arrowhead Stadium if you’re trying to impress clients say Ingram’s readers, kicking the Gold to the Chiefs one more time. Or maybe it’s just a great pre-game tailgating shindig in the delightful parking lot. (So, maybe I just don’t get it.) Much the same can be said for Silver winner Kauffman Stadium where the Kansas City Royals often offer sustained opportunities to chat and build relationships. And the Bronze? Once again it travels to CommunityAmerica Ballpark where close-in parking, cheap and different eats and drinks and the chance to catch a baseball hit by the T-Bones and play some games yourself appeal to our readers.
