Cultured in Kansas City

I'm about a week late with this post. I'm working in Omaha this weekend, even though I said I never would again; I took the dive. I finally have some free-time, and I'm going to catch you guys up on the "culturing" that took place in Kansas City (KC). Many good times were had; between the roadtrip, the picnic at Riverfront Park, a photo scavenger hunt in downtown KC, and our awesome dinner (and conversation) at Pierponts... It was a great random roadtrip with Jo.

I'm not sure how I want to go about sharing photos, I have about 56 uploaded. If I posted all of them on here, that would cause some problems with some people's browsers, especially if you're still using Internet Explorer (sorry saps!). LOL!

Maybe I'll just do it in my "photojournal" style, and only choose about 20 photos. Sound good?! Great...

this lake near Nebraska City along Hwy 2 should not be there.



we needed a potty break before our picnic at Riverfront Park. so we ended up in the Old Market / River District of KC and found this little ditty, The City Diner which is the BEST place in KC to have breakfast. it was absolutely crowded with a line forming outside. the place didn't look very clean, and neither did the bathroom. the highlight of this place was the little girl using the bathroom with the door wide open in the center of the restaurant. GREEAAAATTTT. quite embarrassing when i walked in on her. oops!



we had a Middle Eastern picnic lunch on a knoll along side the ever-so-full Missouri River in Riverfront Park. i made our lunch: falafel pita sandwiches w/ tzatziki sauce (pictured with me); tabouleh (pictured with jo); and date-honey-almond balls for dessert (a very healthy truffle). as we ate, we watch a gaggle of nuns push an elder nun in a wheelchair into the river. it was a happy day.



view of KC skyline from our picnic locale in the Riverfront Park along the Missouri River.



Union Station. we actually found street parking ONE block from this place -- this is where our dinner reservations were later that night.



ah yes, THE WEDGE... lots of interesting architecture in KC.



we were abducted. more about this later...



this photo has not been photoshopped. this is where Jo and I spent about -- TOO MUCH OF OUR TIME -- the WWI Monument on Liberty Hill. there was just SO MUCH to see! they even recreated a very small version of Flanders Fields. but the truth be told this place is actually doubling for the Men In Black secret offices. lots of "top secret" things take place behind the golden elevator doors.



4th attempt at a self photo... i had to climb the freakin' monument ... we finally gave up after this. Jo is playing "air Rockband" LOL!



recreated Flanders Fields... in Flanders Fields the poppies blow...



our photo scavenger hunt took us toward the Jazz District, but... a jazz mural will suffice instead... we were headed for the Jazz District but gave up after it took us 30 mins to walk half way ... we had to be back to Union Station for our reservations at Pierponts.



ah yes, one of our many scenario pix. look at this photo closely, then look below...



get it? get it? yeah...



ah yes, the jazz greats. yet another scenario ... moments before we were nearly arrested! because apparently i was misusing someone's vehicle as a tripod. can you tell that we're part of the Funky Bunch? now we just need Marky Mark.



the largest Chipotle we have ever seen! I know many AO guys who would crap their pants if they saw this place.



Pierponts. this is where the magic happened ... our dinner reservations. thank you, Dave Lieberman!



Pierponts. Course 1: Jumbo Lump Crab Cake w/ Grilled Tomato-Mustard Sauce (5/5 stars)



(PICTURED) Course 3: Lobster Bouillabaisse (half lobster tail, shrimp, scallop, littleneck clams, white fish, chardonnay, stewed tomatoes, and garlic toast) = AMAZING ... 4/5 because there was grit/sand in it ... not good, not just a couple crunches either -- we're talking about 6 bites w/ grit. yuck! (2nd Course is not pictured, but I had the Blue Crab-Sweet Corn Bisque w/ Jumbo Lump Crabmeat & Parsley Oil = 5/5, best bisque I've ever had! If you've seen one bisque, you've seen them all! LOL!)



Course 4. Filet Oscar (filet mignon topped with blue crab, smoked tomato bearnaise, asparagus and whipped potatoes). 4/5 = once again, there were pieces of crab shell and grit in the crabmeat that topped my steak)

Course 5 (not pictured) was the dessert course: Vanilla Bean Creme Brulee w/ fresh berries and tuile cookies (I think my cookies were missing, now that I think about it). THE BEST CREME BRULEE I'VE EVER HAD!!! EVER!!!



CRISTAL!!! (we found the hidden wine cellar where they stash the good stuff! $324/bottle)

There's a handful of the photos I took in Kansas City. I haven't seen any of the pix Jo took, but I'm sure I will eventually. And if you're Facebook friend, then you'll get to see some of them as well.

Anyhow, I should announce that during our dinner at Pierponts, Joanna and I talked about our friendship/relationship and decided to make things official... We are officially a dating couple. And with that said, we are letting the Lord lead us -- at His pace and according to His Will.

The Olympic swim trials are about to start, so I'm going to post this and snag a TV to tune in while I'm working (more like, while I'm sitting on my bum-bum waiting for something to do). I'll be happy when this night ends, then I get to leave at 7am and come back at 5:30pm. Uuuggh!