One-Stop Spots for a Night of Fun
The winter blahs have set in. You’re ready for a night on the town (with the kids, without the kids, with your friends or a significant other), but you don’t want to spend a lot of time going from place to place in the cold and in a hurry. These venues dish up delicious dinners and fabulous fun for the perfect winter (or any time of year) night out!
Laugh Out Loud!
Comedy City at Westport Flea Market
817 Westport Rd., Kansas City, MO, 816.842.2744
All ages welcome, enjoyed best by ages 10 and up.
The family that laughs together stays together…or so we like to think! On weekends at the Westport Flea Market, you’ll find Kansas City’s own improv comedy troupe, Comedy City. At these live all-ages-welcome improv shows, two teams compete for your laughs, matching wits in a fun-filled contest as they think on their feet to create hysterical skits using inspiration and ideas directly from the audience—making each and every show original! The humor is clean and foul language is against the rules during their all-ages shows. The audience is seated at tables where they may order from the Westport Flea Market menu. Westport Flea Market, famous for delicious burgers (as replicated on their driving burger-mobile), serves classic American fare for all ages, making this a fun-filled night out for the entire family!
Kid-Cool Rock ‘n Roll!
The Doo Dads at Record Bar
1020 Westport Rd., Kansas City, MO, 816.753.5207
All ages welcome, enjoyed best by elementary age and younger.
Seven nights a week, the Record Bar hosts live music groups ranging from favorite local artists to national groups. And once a month, the Westport landmark clears the dance floor for Kansas City kids The Doo Dads, one of our favorite local kids’ rock ‘n roll groups. Parents love The Doo Dads’ signature throwback sound. The music is not cheesy and campy, but is high-energy rock ‘n roll. In 2013, you can dance to the fresh beat of The Doo Dads on Feb. 8, March 8, April 26, May 10 and June 7. At the Record Bar, the music is cranked and the kids are invited to dance and sing to their favorite group’s sounds (super moms bring ear plugs to protect young ears from the volume) while enjoying the Record Bar’s much-loved pizza, burgers, fries, drinks, appetizers and fresh popcorn!
World Class Art & Fine Dining
Rozzelle Court at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
4525 Oak, Kansas City, MO, 816.751.1ART
Hours: Wed.-Sat. lunch, 11:00-2:00 and beverages & desserts, 2:00-4:00; Fri. dinner, 5:00-10:30 (last seating at 9:15); Sun. brunch, Noon-3:00 and beverages & desserts, 3:00-4:00; Wed.-Sun. beverages & desserts, 2:00-4:00.
All ages.
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is free to visitors year-round and offers one of the finest collections of art in the world. Visiting the galleries is a feast for the eyes and soul. Complete your visit with a meal at the Rozzelle Court, one of the loveliest settings in Kansas City. The restaurant, at the center of the Nelson-Atkins, offers the ambience of a 15th-century Italian courtyard. With live music and a decadent menu, including selections just for children, this is a great choice for special occasions or a nice evening out. Enjoy the art gallery before or after your meal and use the “Nelson-Atkins Scavenger Hunt” for a custom treasure hunt to add to your fun!
Super Sleuthing!
The Mystery Train of Kansas City
Various Local Restaurants
Recommended for teens and adults.
If you love to play the game Clue with your family, you’ll love the Mystery Train! The Mystery Train of Kansas City performs interactive mysteries at Kansas City’s finest restaurants. The mysteries are full of humor and clues, each story written as a piece of historical fiction with Kansas City as the backdrop. The fun begins as you arrive and are greeted by the conductor who explains the evening's schedule... it is this character’s job to ensure "the train is on time." Each guest is provided with "bribe bucks" to be used at your leisure throughout the show in an attempt to extract information from the suspects. The meal is served between each of the four acts of the live interactive mystery, with appetizers, salad, a main dish and dessert. During these interludes, audience interaction is encouraged, and you're able to compare notes with other guests at your table to try to determine the solution to the mystery. If you're looking for a novel idea for your next night out... the Mystery Train may be just the ticket.
A Slice of Magic!
Minsky's Pizza
Prairie Village on Fri., 6:00-8:00: 6921 Tomahawk Rd., 913.262.6226, live magic at your table.
Leawood on Sat., 6:00-8:00: 12920 State Line Rd., 913.317.9965, live magician and balloon artist.
Perfect for all ages.
Minsky's has been serving gourmet pizza in Kansas City since 1976. Their fresh pizzas are made from scratch on hand-rolled dough with generous portions of fresh ingredients. They also make some of the best Buffalo wings in town and offer a gluten-free menu option as well. Live magicians perform on weekends (see schedule above), dazzling kids with sleight of hand tricks (Our girls’ favorite is the magical signature card on the ceiling of the restaurant…two of our four daughters have cards on the ceiling of the Leawood location!) and custom balloon animals. Enjoy Kansas City’s own gourmet pizza and live entertainment—the perfect family night out!
TIP: Read Magical Meals for MORE Magic Acts at Kansas City restaurants ALL WEEK LONG!
Two Picks for Dinner and a Flick
AMC Studio 30
12075 S. Strang Line Rd., Olathe, KS, 888-AMC-4Fun
All ages, but those under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
AMC offers a one-of-a-kind movie experience for all ages. Fork & Screen® is a casual restaurant in the movie theatre where patrons enjoy upgraded seats, ordering from a full dinner menu and service with the push of a button. A wide selection of appetizers, sandwiches, entrees, desserts and drinks is available.
The Alamo Drafthouse Mainstreet
1400 Main St., Kansas City, MO, 816.474.4545
Located in the KC Power & Light District, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema offers dine-in theatre events showing new release films and classic flicks. They also offer sing-along events, live events and special events throughout the year, creating the perfect girls’ night, date night or kids’ night out. Known for a one-of-a-kind preshow, the venue won’t bore you with movie trailers, but rather entertains with its own custom selection of fun film clips, bloopers and comedy shorts. Visit the website and check the calendar, where you'll find specific details and guidelines for each upcoming event. Tip: Park in the Cosentino's garage, where your first three hours of parking are validated for free!
Kristina Light loves to beat the winter blahs with a night of laughs at Comedy City!