Chaz on the Plaza

MIGHT be my favorite restaurant in Kansas City.  There are SO many amazing restaurants, so it would be hard to decide, but I REALLY love scallops, and am quite particular about how they are prepared.  This restaurant has the former chef from the Webster House, and since they were the only ones who prepared scallops properly, I tried them at Chaz.  True to form, AMAZING.  The rest of their dishes are incredible as well!

Let's see if I can remember what were in the meals!

Here are some pictures:

Fried Green Tomatoes with a creme basil base- appetizer

Entree- Filet Migon accompanied by Veal Cheek, Asparagus and roasted mashed potatoes with a demi glaze

Entree- Bamboo rice, cherries, pine nuts, terra chips and roasted duck

Appetizer- Grits with seared spinach and tomatoes

Appetizer- Arugula salad with asparagus and truffled eggs (and some sort of amazing mushroom)

Entree- Scallops with a fall succotash

Abilene

One of the days off when my parents were here, we went to Abilene, KS to see the Presidential Library, Museum, and childhood home of Dwight Eisenhower.  It was a great museum...a definite must see when visiting Kansas City.  Only about 2 hrs east.  Plus, if you have extra time that day, you can visit Ft. Riley and Kansas State University!

Abilene also has the Greyhound Racing Hall of Fame and Museum.  It was across the street from the Presidential Library, and I insisted we go when I saw it!  It makes me so sad that the beautiful dogs are ever mistreated, but it seems as though they are trying to do something about it, and the museum SERIOUSLY promotes adoption of former racing dogs.  They even had two dogs there!  Gary and Jade.  They were HYSTERICAL.  :)

Dad with Gary (ironically, his brother's name)

Gary was a lover!

"Jade doesn't give kisses, don't worry" the lady says.  :)

Opening Weekend

The opening weekend for the new Kaufmann Center for the Performing Arts was simply stunning.  There was no attention to detail spared.  I was so excited to be a part of the whole production, I didn't even care we were there ALL day and practically ALL night.  My parents came in on Friday afternoon, because they had bought tickets for Saturday's concert. 

There were two nights of this spectacular.  Friday night was filled with Patti LuPone, Tommy Tune, Canadian Brass and Placido Domingo.  Saturday night was the Bobby Watson jazz band, Diana Krall and Itzhak Perlman.  Amazing.  Both nights.

Friday night was the opening of the Muriel Kaufmann theater, primarily used for opera...1800 seats.  Saturday was the opening of Helzberg hall, primarily used for orchestral performances...1600 seats.  Both share the same complex.  It's a spectacular building, the whole complex is about 3 blocks long, and 2 blocks wide.  Simply stunning.

Here are a few pictures:

The tickets were delivered to my parents via this box!  It was like a fairy tale!

Although sideways, there were three separate envelopes in the box, Tickets, Parking and Details!!

Friday night- backstage looking at where we were sitting.

Friday- from the side of the stage.  Those panels are HUGE LED screens that displayed different things during the show.

SOMEHOW they installed fountains in our stage.  For the Canadian Brass.  :)