Kansas City has much to offer when it comes to a weekend trip, from pubs and clubs, to the great Kansas City pastime of Karaoke!

We're so excited for everyone to come visit KC during THUNDERGONG! weekend. We asked the extended team plus local influencer Kansas City Bucket List to share their recommendations for a weekend trip.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

The first thing to know when you come here is that there is a Kansas City, Missouri (KCMO) and a Kansas City, Kansas (KCK). Don't say you are in Kansas when you are in Missouri (we are nice but we boo this). There are things to do on both sides of the border. The new airport, main downtown, and THUNDERGONG! venue are all on the Missouri side. Jason and a lot of us are from the Kansas side. The people here are very proud of their city and friendly. You will recognize us because we all look like tourists in our own town (lots of KC swag).

QUICK TIPS

• The weather should be cool, think hoodie/jacket. There isn't a coat check at the venue.

• For transportation we recommend Uber/Lyft, our city is pretty spread out and public transportation is a work in progress but we do have a great free streetcar downtown.

• For venue info like bag policy and ADA accommodations refer to The Uptown Theater's FAQ.

• We have more than BBQ, but the BBQ is great. We also have a great Mexican and Taco food scene. Lots of Mexican in the Southwest Boulevard area and Forbes featured us in “America’s Taco Capital Isn’t Where You Think.”  Be warned that too much BBQ will make you sleepy.

• Hit the local spots.

• Ask KC people for help

• There isn't a meet & greet or autographs outside the raffle.

• Hydrate!

• KC Bucket List has a GREAT list of recommendations for first timers.

DM us if you have any questions. Thanks for visiting! And now, on to our recommendations!

KANSAS SIDE:
Sports betting is legal.
Weed is not.

MISSOURI SIDE:
Weed is legal.
Sports betting is not.

CROSSING THE BORDER:
You are limited to one
"not in Kansas anymore" joke.

Top KC BBQ Spots (in no particular order)

• Jack Stack

• Q39

• Joe's KC

• Gates

• Arthur Bryant's

• Zarda

• Harp Barbecue

• Slaps

• Char Bar

• Meat Mitch

• BB's Lawnside.

TG! NOTES: From the two vegetarian people on the team, Char Bar has a good jackfruit sandwich and Joe's KC has a good portabella sandwich.

Go-to Breakfast/Brunch Spots

• Succotash

• Snooze

• Mildred's

• Seven Swans Creperie

• Meshuggah Bagels

• Eggtc.

• Happy Gillis

• Westport Cafe

• Rye

• Urban Egg (Overland Park)

Favorite KC Restaurants for a Normal (non-BBQ) Meal

• La Bodega (Tapas)

• Billies Grocery (sandwiches/salads)

• The Russell (American)

• Pigwich (sandwiches)

• Westside Local (American)

• Chingu (Korean)

• Westport Flea Market (=burgers)

• Rockhill Grille (American)

• Rye (American)

• Buffalo State (pizza)

• Mission Taco

• Town Topic (burgers, open late)

• Aixois (French)

• The Peanut (bar & grill)

• Baramee Thai

• Lulu's Thai

• Ragazza (Italian)

• Mesob (Ethiopian)

• Beer Kitchen (American)

• Baba’s Pantry (Palestinian)

• Pizza Tascio

• Il Lazzarone (pizza)

• Blue Sushi

• Margarita's (Mexican)

• Rico's Tacos Lupe (street tacos)

• Rancho Grande Cantina (North KC Mexican)

• Blu Hwy (American)

TG! NOTES: Our city is very welcoming to all people. In addition, there are some specifically LGBTQ+ friendly/owned places like Missie B's, Fountain Haus, Cafe Ca Phe, Hamburger Mary's, Bistro 303, and Big Rip Brewing.

Most of the places have vegetarian options but there is Cafe Gratitude and Tree Hugger Kitchen for veg only.

There are tons more that didn't make the list, feel free to DM us and ask or check out VisitKC.com for more recommendations.

Favorite KC Restaurants for a Fancy Meal

• Corvino

• Extra Virgin

• Gram & Dun

• Grünauer (Austrian)

• Fox & Pearl

• The Antler Room

• Lidia's (Italian)

• Stock Hill

• Novel

• Tailleur

• The Town Company

• Voltaire

• Plate (Italian)

• Farina (Italian)

• Brown & Loe

• Jarocho (Mexican seafood, doesn’t look fancy).

TG! NOTES: You will probably need to make a reservation for these places. American/European unless noted.

Favorite KC Coffee Shops/Bakeries

• Parisi

• Messenger

• Broadway Cafe

• Vested

• Mildred's

• Cafe Corazon

• McLain's

• Cafe Ca Phe

• Thou Mayest

• Blackhole Bakery

• Heirloom

• Goat Hill

• Mr. D's Donut Shop (KS side donuts)

Good Places for Large Groups

• Boulevard Beer Hall

• J. Reiger Distillery/Electric Park

• Prime Social Rooftop Bar

• Parlor (food hall)

• Strang Hall (food hall)

• River Market Farmers Market (lots of small places)

• KC Bier Co.

• Chicken & Pickle (pickleball and restaurant)

Favorite KC Breweries

• Boulevard (our biggest)

• Lawrence Beer Co. (LFK, represent!)

• Stockyards

• Alma Madder

• KC Bier

• BKS Artisan Ales

• Vine Street

• Friction

• Casual Animal

• Brewery Emperial

• City Barrel

• Nimble

• Rochester

• Strange Days

• Torn Label

TG! NOTES: There are great breweries in almost every neighborhood but there is a concentration of them in the Crossroads.

Favorite KC Cocktail/Bar Spots

• The Ship

• Tom's Town

• Tannin (wine)

• Mean Mule

• Drastic Measures

• Jim's Alley Bar

• J. Reiger's Electric Park (big distillery)

• Ca Va (champagne specialty)

• King G

• Cheval

• The Campground

• Swordfish Tom's (speakeasy)

• Lucky Boys (great late night dive)

• Hi-Dive Lounge

• UpDown (barcade)

• Green Lady Lounge (live jazz)

The Downtown, Crossroads, Westport, and River Market Neighborhoods have a lot of places and are very walkable. The Power & Light district downtown is pretty touristy but if you need multiple bars it's good and the Sporting KC No Other Pub is there.

There are lots of things to see and do besides THUNDERGONG! while you are here.

Places to Check Out

• WWI Museum (check out the Bespoke Bodies exhibit)

• Nelson-Atkins Museum

• The Kemper Museum (modern art)

• The Plaza (shopping)

• City Market (in the River Market)

• Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

• American Jazz Museum

• Kansas City Zoo

• Union Station

• Crown Center (shopping & ice rink)

• Loose Park (if you need to jog or take a stroll)

• Kansas City Improv

• Lawrence, KS (about a 1/2 hour drive away and home of KU, a fun college town)

TG! NOTES: We also have riverboat casinos if that is your thing.

Karaoke Spots

• Offkey Karaoke

• Red Balloon (fun dive on the KS side)

Good Photo Op Places

• Union Station

• Liberty Memorial (the WWI museum is here)

• The Plaza

• Crossroads (lots of murals/graffiti)

• West Bottoms (historic stockyard area) 

• KC Mural Guide

Neighborhoods to Check Out (many mentioned already)

• The Plaza

• Westport

• River Market

• Downtown

• Crossroads

• Brookside

• 18th & Vine

• Westside

• Downtown Overland Park

• Waldo

• West Bottoms

• 39th Street

• Martini Corner

• Midtown (Where the Uptown Theater is!)

Hidden Gems of KC

• Green Lady Lounge (jazz bar)

• The Ship (bar/music)

• The Savoy at 21c Museum Hotel (restaurant/bar)

• The Mercury Room (fancy bar)

• Harry's Country Club Bar (Westport bar)

• West Bottoms (neighborhood)

• Wyco Vintage (vintage clothes)

• The French Custard (ice cream)

• Betty Rae's (ice cream)

• All of the fountains (We are the city of fountains!)

• Jason's favorite Taco Bell

Good Places to Shop

• The Plaza (lots of shops)

• Guevel and Ulah (men's clothing)

• Clairvaux (women's clothing)

• Brookside Neighborhood

• Legends (outlets on the KS side with activities/sporting stadium/racetrack/casino)

Good Record Shops

• Mills Record Company (Westport)

• Records With Merritt (Westport, all new)

• Josey's Records (Crossroads)

• Revolution Records (Crossroads, small but have a cat)

• Vinyl Underground at 7th Heaven (south KC)

• Brothers Music (Shawnee)

• Love Garden (great, in Lawrence)