You need plans. Fat City has a recycle bin full of listings. In this post, all our problems are solved. And because Monday's Memorial Day, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming on Tuesday.
Who doesn't love the '80s? Martini Corner heads back to the beloved decade on Sunday with a Hot Tub Time Machine
event at Sol, the Drop, Velvet Dog and Tower Tavern. Dress in your
favorite period clothing to enjoy two-for-one drinks and half-price
shots. Of course, there will be plenty of '80s music from 6 p.m. to 3
a.m.
And since Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial kickoff for the barbecue season, you can start this year off right by meeting the authors of the Kansas City Barbeque Society Cookbook. Ardie Davis, Paul Kirk and Carolyn Wells stop at I Love A Mystery, an independent book store in Mission, on Saturday at 1 p.m. to sign their cookbook.
| Chai Shai: a new tea and samosa shop near Brookside |
"We get people coming in and asking us those questions every day," says Kashif Tufial, who will be running Chai Shai -- a combination retail shop, tea house and cafe -- with his brother Abdul. Both young men, who were raised in Kansas City, are full-time students. Kashif is a senior at UMKC studying environmental science; Abdul is a pharmacy and business major. Getting Chai Shai open is their summer project. Once the business is up and running, they'll have other family members working on day-to-day operations. Their mother, Aasma, will be running the kitchen.
| Ribs and pasta? Why not? |
Last week we reported that Fat City was bursting with rib deals: Even Burger King is now selling barbecued ribs!
Since then we've discovered that Cinzetti's Italian Market restaurant -- the lavishl Italian-style buffet at 7201 W. 91st Street in Overland Park -- is now offering all-you-can-eat barbecued ribs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
Right across the parking lot, the modestly priced Bob Evans restaurant has introduced a new seasonal menu featuring Kansas City Baby Back Ribs and calling it Bob-B-Que (which has nothing to do with Robert Palmgren's namesake barbecue joint, RJ's Bob-B-Que Shack in Mission, which has very good ribs). The Bob Evans deal, only available after 4 p.m., includes a slab of ribs glazed in Wildfire sauce -- more sweet than fiery -- along with french fries, cole slaw and fresh-baked rolls for $11.99
Nobody has 80 days to go around the world, but could you spare six?
Around the globe in six days is the theme this week as Barley's Brewhaus celebrates its 14th anniversary.
"The idea was to have a food, entertainment, and drink feature each day that focused on a different country," says General Manager Angelo Gangai.
Tonight is German night, which features a smoked sausage trio, potato salad and braised cabbage. All German pints are $3; we recommend the Fransizkaner, a wheat beer that's Barley's most popular German brew for a reason.
| Hearty drinking on the 30th floor |
Now that Grunauer -- the Viennese restaurant owned and operated by chef Peter Grunauer and his two children, Nicholas and Elizabeth -- is officially open in the old City Tavern location in the Crossroads, it's a good time to look back at another venue serving Viennese cuisine in the metro. Yes, there was one.
But until last weekend, I sure didn't know that. I attended the annual Postcard Show & Sale at the Lenexa Community Center a couple of days ago and found some great vintage stuff, including the color postcard from the 1970s, pictured above, of the Salzberg Haus. I wonder whether any Fat City readers recall eating there.
A new cafe run by Panera Bread in Clayton, Missouri, is attracting a lot of attention for its unique payment option: "Take what you need, leave your fair share" in a lock-box at the front of the store. Panera hopes the restaurant can cover expenses from diners' donations while providing meals for those in need.
As Ron Shaich, the chairman of Panera, told The New York Times, it's a bit of a social experiment:
"It's a test of human nature," said Shaich. "The real question is whether the community can sustain it."
The concept of pay-what-you-want is not groundbreaking (remember Radiohead's album in 2007), but the potential for rapid expansion courtesy of a large corporate partner is a new concept. Panera has the distribution network and cost efficiencies that make it easier for the venture to break even. And yet, I still don't think this concept can work in today's society.
| No, it's not the duck pond... |
You need plans. Fat City has a recycle bin full of listings. In this post, all our problems are solved.
The 4th Annual KC BeerFest
is set for Saturday in Westport. Between 1 and 5 p.m., you'll
find 200 craft and micro brews to sample, including Great Divide, Free
State and Dieu Du Ciel. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the event.
If you're avoiding ribs from Burger King, I don't blame you. Find quality ribs, chicken and brisket at the Great American Barbecue Festival this weekend. This is the sixth year for the event at the Sandstone Amphitheater in Bonner Springs. The festival is from 3 to 11 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. A single-day pass is $10, a two-day pass is $15.
Don't miss the party when live music and vendors fill the 3100 block of Troost from noon to 10 p.m. for Saturday's Sixth Annual Troost Festival. Bonus: It's supposed to be 80 degrees and sunny.
| Widgeonwood wares include canned salsas and jams |
The Calvins have their wares set up by 8 a.m. and usually stick around until 2 p.m. or so -- or until everything sells out.
Which out-of-town restaurant would you lobby to bring to KC?
The Gaf has closed in Waldo
KC Pride Festival 2013? Yes, it's still on
Kanrocksas single-day tickets now on sale
Police leave Union Station after suspicious package found
Pitch Taste of KC beats the weather, draws 700 hungry people
Boulevard's Saison-Brett hits store shelves and taps Tuesday
Giovanni's Deli goes big in the Northland