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4 KC-Area “Must Try” Breakfast Spots
In a city obsessed with BBQ, it’s easy to overlook all the other mouth-watering meal options in the area, especially for breakfast. Believe it or not, when you look past burnt ends and brisket choices, no matter where you live in the KC Metro, there’s a delicious breakfast waiting for you to try or rediscover. Since it is the most important meal of the day, we’ve showcased 4 KC-area breakfast spots that are worth waking up early for.
Foody’s
18595 West 151 Street, Olathe, KS
Don’t be intimidated by this restaurant’s name or the haughty and refined imagery is may evoke. You won’t find any trend-chasing ‘grastrophiles’ dining on deconstructed gluten-free crepes. You will find a casual, comfortable and welcoming Olathe restaurant that serves amazing breakfast all day long.
Foody’s breakfast offerings include mostly traditional favorites, and that’s okay because they do them so well. You definitely need a hearty appetite and a healthy appreciation for large portions when you kick off your day here. It is a meat and carb lover’s paradise with dishes like country fried steak, biscuits with sausage gravy, a breakfast burrito busting at its tortilla seams with filling, and a breakfast combo brimming with biscuits, breakfast meats (ham, bacon or sausage), and roasted potatoes.
Be sure to try – The French toast platter. It’s a plateful of egg-dipped cinnamon and sugar heaven.
French Toast Platter – Source: FoodysKC.com
McLain’s Market
10695 Roe Ave, Overland Park, KS
McClain’s Market is a fairly new addition to the culinary landscape of Kansas City, but it sprouted from a longtime, beloved area mainstay – McLain’s Bakery in Waldo. McClain’s is synonymous with pastries, cakes, and breads in Kansas City. After all, who didn’t get or know someone who got a personal-sized birthday cake from McClain’s.
In 2016, the new bakery owners took a little of the McLain’s magic and expanded it into an Overland Park eatery. McLain’s Market features lunchtime dining and bar offerings, but its breakfast menu is where it really shines. They take popular and established breakfast-time eats and add their own fresh flair to create unique, but familiar morning meals. Take The Farm breakfast sandwich. It’s sausage, eggs, veggies, cheddar cheese, potatoes, and avocado stacked inside a buttery croissant. For the lighter eater, they offer a Granola Parfait with Greek yogurt and berries.
Be sure to try – The Market Bowl. It’s scrambled eggs, Monterrey Jack cheese, avocado, veggies, potatoes, and a choice of breakfast meats. And don’t forget to pick up a cookie or pastry after your meal. Yea, it’s breakfast time, but it’s still McLain’s!
Market Bowl – Source: McLain’s Market via Facebook
Neighborhood Cafe
104 SE 3rd St. , Lee’s Summit, MO
There’s just no way around it. This is everything you want a “small town diner in a historic downtown area of a Kansas City suburb” to be. Huge portion sizes? Check! Daily regulars who give it a “homey” feel? Check! Free cinnamon rolls the size of your head? Che… what?!?!? That’s right before you even have a chance to order from Neighborhood Cafe’s extensive breakfast menu, your table is treated to complimentary, homemade cinnamon rolls that have been the trademark of this restaurant for nearly a quarter of a century.
Now, on to the breakfast order – that is if you’re still hungry after that delicious, giant cinnamon roll. Try to power through. It’s worth it. The Neighborhood Cafe menu is comfort food incarnate. It may not be your Grandma in the kitchen, but it must be somebody’s because just like at Grandma’s, no one goes home hungry and everyone goes home happy.
Be sure to try – Biscuits & Gravy. It’s like a tasty, warm blanket for your tummy, and served with the crispiest hash browns you’ve ever had.
Biscuits & Gravy – Souce: Neighborhood Cafe via Facebook
The Classic Cup Cafe
301 W. 47th St., Kansas City, MO
What would a tour around the best of KC-area breakfast spots be without a stop on the Country Club Plaza? And what would the Plaza be without The Classic Cup? It’s been in the heart of Plaza since 1977 and some would say it is the heart of the Plaza. Its sidewalk dining provides a great vantage to people watch and witness the active Plaza lifestyle.
Famous Buttermilk Griddle Cakes- Souce: Classic Cup Cafe via Yelp
Kansas City Beer: Boulevard Brewing Company
When considering a move, researching the area is crucial. Find out about schools, major roads, and commuting time. But don’t forget to find a place where you can work and have fun! Our Spotlight Series focuses on community staples that make a new home purchase practical and enjoyable.
This week, we feature Boulevard Brewing Company in Kansas City. Located downtown near Crossroads and Crown Center, it stands out amidst old buildings. Boulevard offers a large space with various fun activities centered around brewing beer. As someone who has visited many times and recently moved here, I can attest to the impressive scale of the building and facilities.
Upon entering, friendly faces welcome you and helpful staff are available to answer questions. The history of Boulevard and the gift shop are the first things you’ll encounter before going upstairs to the main beer hall. There, you’ll find a spacious area with multiple bars and a food counter offering delicious appetizers and entrees to complement your beer.
The beer menu is extensive, featuring a wide array of choices. You’ll find long-standing options like the Tank 7 Seasonal Ale, Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat, and Kansas City Lager, as well as rotating taps with new and exciting beers that showcase the possibilities of hops and barley.
Boulevard has continuously improved since its founding in 1984 by John McDonald, who drew inspiration from Belgian brewing. Starting from scratch, he pursued his passion for delivering great beer. The first keg was sold in 1989, and the rest is history. Exploring Boulevard’s Brewery Tour is highly recommended for learning about this Kansas City legend.
Today, Boulevard is one of North America’s most successful regional breweries and the largest in Kansas City. If you live in town, visiting Boulevard is a must to understand the city’s beer history. When you’re looking for things to do after moving to Kansas City, make sure to explore the rich history and delicious beer at this Kansas City Giant.
5 Kid-Friendly Spring Activities in Kansas City
It’s been a long winter… Too long. But, the sun is breaking through; the temps are warming up and the itch to go out and get active is becoming impossible to ignore. Your condition is clear, and the treatment is simple. The only way to break a Spring fever is to go out, jump in and run wild at Kansas City’s fun, family-friendly attractions. There are literally hundreds of ways to indulge your inner-child (and real children) around Kansas City. But if we included all of them in this blog, we’d be writing until sometime next Spring. So, we’ve narrowed it down to our top 5 favorites.
1. Experience Game Day at the “K”
Catching a Royals game at Kauffman Stadium is a Kansas City tradition that everyone should experience at least once. There’s nothing quite like the boys in blue taking the field with the crowd cheering them on through every pitch, hit, run and win. And there’s nowhere quite like Kauffman Stadium to be a part of it all. Fans young and old alike can enjoy attractions and make memories at one of the nation’s best ballparks. The Royals Hall of Fame is a gameday must-see. This shrine to baseball in Kansas City is filled with exciting exhibits that showcase the franchise’s history and celebrate its most beloved players.
Littler fans won’t want to miss the Outfield Experience. This recreation area located at the north side of the stadium offers kid-friendly fun where they can run, play pitch, hit and even putt at different activity stations made just for them.
2. Go Back in Time at the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead
Located 20 miles and 120 years away from Kanas City, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead shows what life was like on a family farm in the early 1900s. This Kansas City favorite provides the perfect way to get away from technology and get back to simpler times. Young ones and those young at heart can spend hours leisurely strolling through this throwback community which includes a working dairy barn, an old-time general store, a frontier bank, and a turn-of-the-century, one-room schoolhouse.
There so much to see and do, but it’s not really a complete visit to Deanna Rose without taking a wagon ride, feeding the goat and enjoying a cone at Alex and Emily’s Ice Cream Parlor. Deanna Rose is in South Overland Park, off 135th and Switzer.
3. Get Creative at Kaleidoscope
Located in the heart of Crown Center, Kaleidoscope is the center of creativity for kids. Free to the public and staffed by Hallmark volunteers, this colorful creative wonderland is full of hands-on crafts, projects, whimsical creatures, and unlimited imagination. Parents and children can spend their time drawing, painting, designing their own puzzles, crafting and creating glowing light art in the dark room.
After finishing your own artistic masterpieces, you can go next door the Hallmark Visitor’s Center and see Hallmark’s own Art collection. You’ll also be view exhibits that tell the story of America’s largest greeting card company.
4. Feed Your Brain at Science City
From hands-on art creation to hands-on science exploration. Science City is an interactive museum built inside Kansas City’s Historic Union Station where Kids of all ages can experience the amazing wonders of science through fun and engaging exhibits.
Plan on spending the better part of a day at Science City to be able to enjoy all of the exhibits, demonstrations, activities, and attractions. Kids will love defying gravity as they take a high-flying ride on the Sky Bike. And they won’t believe their eyes (literally) when they enter Mr. E’s Hotel of Illusions. Science City’s newest exhibit, Simple Machines at Play, is an outdoor playground guaranteed to exercise kids’ bodies as well as their minds as they navigate their way through ramps, levers, wheels, pulley and more.
5. Travel Around Worlds of Fun
For a more adventurous, thrill-seeking outing, you can’t beat a trip to Worlds of Fun. This Kansas City amusement park has been a family favorite for more than 45 years. It has rides, attractions and fun for kids of all ages. For the daring, there are some of the most exciting roller coasters in the midwest like the Patriot, Prowler, and Mamba. There’s also more mild options for the less adventurous, like the Skyliner Ferris wheel, Autobahn bumper cars, and the Grand Carousel. And for the little ones, Planet Snoopy is filled with rides that are just their size
The good times at Worlds of Fun don’t end with the rides. You can take a breather from the loops, drop and spins by taking in an entertaining show. Worlds of Fun is known for their variety and high-quality of acts from Broadway-style shows to high-flying acrobatic spectacles and high-energy musical performances to beloved character skits.
It doesn’t matter if you are looking for quiet, quality family time, the opportunity to learn while you play, tap into your creative side, or just scream at the top of your lungs in sheer excitement and joy. Kansas City offers a variety of ways to keep you and your family entertained and bring you closer together. Oh, and it’s also a great place to live! Find the perfect Kansas City home for an active, kid-friendly lifestyle today!
Top 5 Picks for Neighborhoods in KC for Families
Kansas City is indeed a wonderful place for families to settle in, with many excellent neighborhoods to choose from. Each of these five neighborhoods in KC have unique features that make them wonderful for families.
BROOKSIDE:
This neighborhood is known for its walkability, parks, and excellent schools. Families can easily walk to many amenities, including grocery stores, shops, and restaurants. There are also several parks in the area, such as the Brookside Park and Trolley Track Trail, which offer great opportunities for outdoor activities.
WALDO:
Another great neighborhood for families is located close to the University of Missouri-Kansas City. The area is family-friendly and has plenty of attractions, including parks, bike trails, and restaurants. Families can enjoy the Waldo Farmer’s Market, a weekly event that offers fresh produce and artisan goods.
LEAWOOD:
This neighborhood is renowned for its excellent education opportunities and family-friendly environment. The area features many shopping centers, parks, and restaurants that cater to families. Ironwoods Park is a popular destination in the area that features a playground, trails, and a fishing pond, which makes for a neighborhood in KC with wonderful outdoor life.
MISSION HILLS:
With beautiful architecture and safe streets, families can enjoy a stroll around the area and admire the unique homes. There are also many amenities in the area, such as shops, restaurants, and schools. The area features a popular country club with a pool and tennis courts.
PRAIRIE VILLAGE:
This neighborhood is consistently rated as one of the safest in KC and the country. It is conveniently located near downtown Kansas City, with access to plenty of parks, trails, and excellent schools. Families can enjoy the Prairie Village Shops, a popular shopping center that features unique shops and restaurants.
Overall, families looking for the best neighborhoods in Kansas City have many options to choose from. Whether you prefer a walkable area with parks and amenities or a more serene neighborhood with beautiful architecture, there is something for everyone in here.
Tips for Back to School Season
Back to school season is here, and school supply lists have taken over almost every store in town. Seeing those lists remind us that it’s also time to start thinking about morning routines, packing lunches, paperwork, practice schedules…you know the drill. There might be a lot to plan for, but don’t stress. These five simple tips will help make your life easier and get your kids off to a great start!
Clean out kids’ closets
- Before you even think about back to school shopping…Know what you need to buy and what not to. Start three piles: trash, donate, and keep. Throw away the worn-out clothes, and donate the ones that don’t fit anymore.
Enforce earlier bedtimes
- Start putting kids to bed earlier before school even starts, so the wake-up time won’t be as much of a shock on the first day of school. Planning ahead on the sleep schedule will hopefully save you from listening to a temper tantrum on the morning of the first day of school.
Start a supply stash
- You never know when your kid will need a poster board for a project. Don’t stress about not having the board until the night before the assignment is due. Buy several boards in bulk ahead of time, and store away for future use.
Make a DIY lunch station
- With a little training and encouragement, most kids are probably more than capable of packing their own lunches. Try labeling multiple bins in your kitchen with lunch bags, snack items, fruits and veggies, and protein. Your kids can go to the makeshift “lunch station,” grab a bag, choose one snack item, two fruits/vegetables, and two protein options on their own. This method can be easily customized to fit your family’s lifestyle!
Create a drop-zone
- Instead of tripping over backpacks and shoes in the entryway, create a “drop-zone” for your kids to drop their stuff after getting home from school. Add a small storage unit and hooks on the wall to create designated spots for your kids to store their gear and hang their backpacks and coats.
With these back to school tips, you’ll be well-prepared and ready to tackle the upcoming school year with ease.
6 Useful Tips for Every House Hunter
Buying a new home is a very exciting life change, but the whole experience can be even more enjoyable and rewarding when you’re prepared! Working with a real estate professional with area expertise will not only open up a world of helpful resources, but you can also rely on your REALTOR® to provide expert advice and information throughout your search to keep you on the right track. We’ve compiled some useful tips from our agents over the years to share, so you as the house hunter can feel more confident during your next home purchase.
- Location, location, location!
How far is the commute? How good are the schools, hospitals and local services? Keep these questions in mind as you consider which areas to buy your home.
- Know what you want
Take the time to write down the home features you must have, the ones you’d like to have and others you absolutely do not want. Outlining specific needs and wants of your dream home will help you and your agent narrow down your search to only those homes with the best match for your requirements.
- Get the power of pre-approval
A pre-qualification letter from a mortgage lender tells you how much you’re qualified to borrow and allows you to shop for homes with confidence. One of the most important aspects of buying a home is knowing your budget, and understanding what loan programs are best for you will give you a better understanding of where you are financially.
- Wear comfortable clothes and shoes
House-hunting can be exhausting, especially when touring a dozen homes in one day. Dressing for comfort can make looking at the last home as pleasant as the first. Opt for casual and comfortable walking shoes that will support your feet throughout the tours.
- Be ready to make an offer
You should walk into each home prepared to make an offer. If you fall in love with the home on the spot, be ready to make a move.
- Breathe and get some perspective
Buying a home is a life-changing event. But it’s not worth driving yourself, or your family, crazy. Trust us. We’ve done this before. If you’re viewing several homes, write down comments about the different homes you tour to keep track of the pros and cons of each. Don’t forget to consider the neighborhoods, the commute time to shopping and work, and the school district. Keeping a list of comments for each house will give you a chance to take a break and come back later to revisit your options with a new and refreshed mindset. Of course, feel free to browse houses in the KC area by visiting our website, Kansas City Homes.
Clip Tips
How many hours do you lose each day scrolling through Facebook, Instagram or Twitter? Why not spend some of that time toward cutting costs on something we all spend probably too much money on each month: groceries. These seven tips on couponing can help get you started on a couponing journey.
Start a stockpile
Extreme couponers have a stockpile of stuff in their garage or closet. The reason for having a stockpile is not to become a hoarder, but it allows you to buy stuff only when it’s on sale.
Secure a coupon source
Find out which Sunday paper has the best coupons, and subscribe to it! Set aside a time with your scissors, and sift through the paper each week to find the most beneficial coupons for your needs.
Compile your clips
Cutting coupons means there will be small pieces of paper that are easily lost or mistaken for trash. Keep your coupons organized and safe in one binder to make it easy to find and access for your next shopping trip.
Join the store loyalty program
Most stores have loyalty programs, and it’s free to join! So there’s no reason to not join – you’ll pay more if you don’t.
Be aware of the coupon expiration date and exclusions
Sunday paper coupons usually expire within 30 days, so utilize the discounts while you can. Check the fine print for exclusions on certain items.
Shop at more than one store
The way extreme couponers are able to save 90% or more on their purchases is because they shop at multiple stores, multiple times.
Avoid brand loyalty
Buying from only one specific brand limits your ability to use a lot of coupons. It’s rare for the same brand to continuously offer the same discount, so try to keep an open mind when it comes to brands if you can.
Moving Checklist
Are you moving soon? Maintain a sense of order, and help keep track of important tasks with this moving checklist.
4 Weeks Out
- Contact and hire a trusted moving company
- Transfer school transcripts, medical, dental and other important records (if needed)
- Schedule transfer of your home and auto insurance
- Send out change-of-address cards
2 Weeks Out
- Cancel and order utilities (gas, electric, water, telephone, cable/internet)
- Close or transfer bank accounts (if needed)
- Transfer newspaper and magazine subscriptions
- Arrange for transfer of vehicle and driver’s license(s)
Move Week
- Keep money, valuables and important documents with you
- On closing day, the home purchase documents will be recorded
- Move in and enjoy!
If you’re earlier in the process, check out our 5 Best Neighborhoods in KC for Young Professionals and our Useful House-Hunting Tips articles to get motivated before starting a moving checklist.
BHGREKCH Creates New Position of Director of Agent Growth and Coaching
At the end of February, Christian Barnes, CEO of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate (BHGRE) Kansas City Homes, announced the continued investment in leadership and technology resources by creating a new executive position, Director of Agent Growth & Coaching.
BHGRE Kansas City Homes is the fifth largest affiliate in the Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate network, with seven area locations and altogether more than 350 agents spanning the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Barnes and her leadership team did not have to look far for the perfect candidate, Patrick McDowell. He originally joined BHGRE Kansas City Homes in 2012 as an agent and was then promoted to managing broker of the Lee’s Summit office in April of 2021. McDowell has consistently shown a passion for and commitment to coaching, resource development, and leadership training. He has now fully transitioned to this new role within BHGRE Kansas City Homes.
Within this new role, McDowell oversees the education, growth, and coaching of more than 350 agents through BHGRE Kansas City Homes. He will continue to give the ongoing skills-development training and business coaching that he has been providing Kansas City Homes. However, he will also introduce nationally-recognized productivity programs that include new technologies for both lead generation and agent support tools.
“When Christian assumed ownership of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Kansas City Homes, one of the longest-standing real estate companies in Kansas City, she identified a need for agent growth and education,” says McDowell.
“Now, with me in this new role, our agents will have an even greater advocate in their corner, helping to take their business to the next level as an investment and service provided by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Kansas City Homes.”
Barnes says, “I am proud to introduce Patrick McDowell in the newly created role of Director of Agent Growth & Coaching. He is a champion of agents with a passion for development and technology. Working closely with Patrick, we are filling a need that will fuel agent success.”
See original article on the Kansas City Business Journal site:
https://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2023/03/02/better-homes-and-gardens-kansas-city.html
A Tale of Two Kansas Cities
The story of two cities with the same name. Most of the U.S. may not know the difference between Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri – they may not even know that there are two Kansas Cities! However, when you ask a Kansas City area resident, they’ll tell you there’s a stark contrast between the two.
Although KC area residents tend to know the exact differences between the two cities – oftentimes down to the difference in road construction – most don’t know how both cities ended with the same name. Click HERE for more Fun Facts about Kansas City.
The Man Who Started it All
During the 19th century, John Calvin McCoy became the “Father of Kansas City” when he purchased farmland near a trading post called West Port in Missouri.
In doing so, McCoy started the Town of Kansas, which was named after the Kansas River and the Kansa Indians, also known as the Kaw people.
In 1853, the City of Kansas was officially incorporated in Missouri, a whole year before Kansas was even established as a territory.
When Kansas gained its statehood in 1861, the City of Kansas in Missouri was already thriving. To avoid confusion, the City of Kansas changed its name to Kansas City.
Another Kansas City
According to historical folklore, Kansas gathered small areas in Wyandotte County and deemed the area Kansas City for two reasons. The first was to try and profit off Kansas City, Missouri’s (KCMO) success, which worked.
Because KCMO was booming and rapidly growing in population and economic wealth, it’s believed that Kansas City, Kansas (or KCK) wanted some of that wealth and growth.
The multiple names confused visitors and industries alike, and still does at times, which allowed KCK to gain more money and expand, much like KCMO.
The second supposed reason for the two Kansas Cities is jealousy. It’s rumored the residents of Kansas were angered with Missouri and KCMO. In the eyes of Kansas residents, Missouri had taken the name of their state and used it, and created a wealthy successful city.
So Kansas City, Kansas was born and centered just a few short miles away from Kansas City, Missouri. The two cities still stand today, have maintained their historical roots, and are separated by State Line Road that hovers over the Kansas-Missouri border.
The Cities Today
Today, KCMO is the largest city in Missouri with a population of more than 488,000 people, and KCK grows with a population of more than 150,000. Both cities combined create the Kansas City Metropolitan area, with a population of more than two million.
Although completely distinct from one another, the residents of both KCs share a passion for second-to-none barbeque, craft beer, various sports teams, and a deep love for their respective city.
As the Kansas City metro area continues to expand in culture, wealth, and population, it becomes a great place to call home.
Discover more about Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas and find your next home in the Kansas City Metro area!
