Rene & Dan
Things To Do
River Market
Best on Saturday or Sunday morning. Farmer's market with local vendors and restaurants and plenty of fresh flowers!
The Phoenix
Great brunch, but good any time of day. Live jazz music right across the street from where Dan used to live!
National WWI Museum and Memorial
We went here on our first date on Halloween 2020. There was one of the most beautiful fall trees there that Rene has ever seen! You can explore the scenic park, go to the museum itself, and/or venture up to the observation tower overlooking the city.
Union Station
Right at the base of World War I Memorial is Union Station with good food and special exhibits that change throughout the year.
Crown Center
Good shopping and restaurants within walking distance or a short streetcar ride from the hotel/reception location. There is also a LEGO retail store and an aquarium in this area. We ran a 5K and finished right outside the main entrance!
Power and Light District
Lots of restaurants and bars, great for a night out.
Country Club Plaza
Modeled after Seville, Spain, this area has lots of great shopping and restaurants and is a great place to view a selection of the city's famous fountains.
Jacob L. Loose Park
This is where Kansas City goes to enjoy a nice day outdoors. Lots of walking paths, green space, tennis courts, and a very special rose garden that will be featured in our ceremony :)
Children's Mercy Adele Hall Campus
Rene's second home for 3 years during pediatrics residency. The new research tower lights up the sky beautifully at nighttime!
Lawrence
Home of Dan's alma mater, University of Kansas. Take a tour of the campus and visit historic downtown Massachusetts Street. (Also, Rene took one class there...even though she completed her med school at the dreaded MIZZOU!)
Messenger Coffee Co. + Ibis Bakery
Try the heirloom polenta bread loaf. You won't regret it.
Zoo Bar
This place is small, dark, dirty, kind of disgusting, and the best place to get a cheap drink if you like dive bars. :)
Kansas City Streetcar
Free to ride, the streetcar will get you to many of the places on this list.
Up-Down KC
Arcade bar with vintage games galore, and Rene's favorite game...Ski Ball
PaleterĂas Tropicana
Mexican helados (ice cream) in every flavor you can imagine and more. Try the elotes if you're in the mood for something savory/spicy!
Peanut Downtown
The oldest bar in Kansas City and the standard by which all chicken wings must be judged per Dan
BRGR Kitchen + Bar
I miss the totchos here so much!
Mission Taco Joint - East Crossroads
Fast, cheap, delicious tacos
Grinders Pizza
Good pizza and hopefully live music in the large backyard area
Jack Stack Barbecue | Freight House
This BBQ will even make vegetarian Rene eat meat.
Manny's Mexican Restaurant
Make your reservations now, because if you try to make it the day of, you will be laughed at. We know this because we were! We still haven't been there, although it routinely shows up on lists of the best Mexican food in KC.
Tom's Town Distilling Co.
1920s themed bar serving upscale cocktails featuring Kansas City-made liquor and appetizers.
Cafe Gratitude Kansas City
Seriously delicious vegan food
Mud Pie Vegan Bakery & Coffeehouse
Delicious vegan baked goods and coffee
Succotash
A famous quirky brunch location next door to Rene's old house. Many a post-28-hour-call breakfasts were had here.
Betty Rae's Ice Cream
Take a quick ride on the streetcar towards the River Market and find a KC ice cream staple. There might be a long line!
Cosentino's Market
This grocery store is accessible by the free streetcar. It was also featured in Queer Eye Season 4, episode 8!
Cluster Truck Food Delivery
Not a physical location, but a quick and delicious option for food delivery. Dan says, try the hot chicken sandwich!