Letter Q Date Night

Are you on a “Quest” for great date ideas? If so, why not try one of these?

Kansas City is, of course, known for great barbecue, and one place that has made a name for itself in a short time is Q39. Some of the best-known barbecue joints have been around for decades, but Q39 just opened in 2014 and is often listed in the top five barbecue restaurants in the city. We have been there a few times, but our most recent visit was by far my favorite. I had the barbecue veggie burger, which has a white bean and lemon base, topped with barbecue sauce, provolone and onion strings. I loved it! I also enjoyed some of their baked beans. My husband settled on the combo plate with brisket, pulled pork and smoked chicken with beans and steamed veggies. He had no trouble cleaning his plate of deliciousness.

The Book of Questions by Gregory Stock was originally written in 1987 and then updated in 2013. My husband and I have quizzed each other through this entire book. From the slightly mundane and silly to the downright serious and thought-provoking, there is a question in here that is guaranteed to get the conversation going—as well as some that will make you think twice. For example...For $100,000, would you put on 40 pounds and keep it on for three years? What is the most outrageous thing you've ever done? If you had to either change professions or move to another part of the country, which would you choose? These are just a few of the approximately 300 questions in this book. Now truthfully, the questions are hit or miss. Some will resonate with you, some will not, and some are just a little bit out there. But you can skip over the ones you don’t care for—like we did—and still get plenty of good use out of it.

The Queen is an excellent movie from 2006 that my husband and I recently watched. Academy Award-winner Helen Mirren plays Queen Elizabeth II and does a spectacular and flawless job. The movie begins with Tony Blair being elected the new prime minister in 1997, followed by the sudden death of Princess Diana in a car accident about four months later. What unfolds is several stories in one and is a chronicle of the week following the princess’s death. It’s a history of the private life of the royal family and their long-held traditions. It’s a story of the British people and their love for the princess. And it’s a tale about the struggle between the prime minister and the queen on how to handle Diana’s death and funeral. We highly recommend this film, especially if you know very little about the royal family. It was superb from start to finish.

Hannah Berry is a freelance writer who lives with her husband in Kansas City. They enjoy regular date nights and love trying new restaurants and activities.