kansas city
A couple weekends ago we went down to Kansas City for a couple of days to spend some time with Kevin’s parents. We kicked off Saturday morning with a long run (16 miles for me, 13 for Kevin) and despite super hot and humid temps and the fact that it was raining the majority of the time, we got it done. I always think it’s going to be such a bummer to run when we’re out of town, but usually I really end up enjoying the sights and sounds of running in a new place. Our route in KC took us along a trail in a really pretty park and also up some pretty killer hills.
After getting back from our run and a delicious lunch with Kevin’s parents, Kevin and I decided to head down to the Plaza for some shopping and walking around. We scored some awesome Lululemon items on sale. Earlier in the day, I’d see this delicious concoction on my friend Ruth’s instagram and knew we had to have one, so we made a stop. Yep, it’s as good (better?) as it looks. And who doesn’t love a pink drink?!
We had our fill of the Plaza after awhile and headed over to Fervere, a small bakery in the Crossroads District. On Saturday nights in the summer, the bakery opens up for a couple of hours and exclusively sells their cheese slippers (ciabatta bread stuffed with various cheeses) topped with ingredients from local farms. The events have become rather popular, and the other time we tried to get one, they ran out before our turn in line. We got there much earlier this time and got in line with the rest of the crazies.
Thank goodness Little Freshie is just a couple shops down. Their blackberry lavender and mango ginger snow cones really hit the spot while we waited…and waited…and waited in line for our bread.
Finally we got closer to the entrance and it seemed pretty likely there would be enough for us to get a couple. They had run out of one of the types we wanted, but we were able to snag two others – an heirloom potato, and a peach. There’s no seating inside the bakery so we followed suit and did what the locals do — found a spot on the sidewalk and ate them right then and there. Totally worth the wait, and I think heading here at least once each summer is going to become a tradition. I mean, just look at those things!
Still on our cheese slipper high, we decided we’d check out a couple of breweries on our way back to Kevin’s parents house. First up was Cinder Block Brewery. It was in a weird industrial area so we didn’t expect much but when we got there, there was a food truck outside, a band playing inside, and the place was packed! We shared a flight here and really liked their Weathered Wit and the champagne cider.
Next stop was Big Rip Brewing Company, not too far down the road from Cinder Block. A much smaller, calmer feel here, but we were able to talk to the bartender a bit about their beers and also catch the end of the Royals game on TV. We shared a flight here, too; we really liked the Sweet Brown and ended up getting a mini growler of that for later that night.
Sunday morning we got up early for a recovery 5-miler before church, followed by mass and brunch. Then we headed home to get changed and headed out to Kauffman Stadium for the afternoon Royals-White Sox game. My first time seeing the Royals play at home!
It was raining up until the game started but cleared up just in time and eventually the sun even peaked out. We enjoyed a giant bucket of extremely salty popcorn, a couple of hot dogs (a must for any baseball game), and a few $11 craft beers (I know, so painful, but you have to have a Boulevard at the Royals game!). I always tell Kevin that I will sit with him at a baseball game as long as I get my hot dog and remain sufficiently buzzed on overpriced beer, so he did his job and we both got our way.
Overall a really fun weekend visiting with the in-laws, eating lots of delicious food, checking out new breweries, and of course, seeing a Royals game!
