Plan a fun date around one of these September holidays!
Pot Pie Day
National Pot Pie Day is Sept. 23, and we couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than to visit PotPie in Westport. It’s a cozy, unpretentious, come-as-you-are kind of place that just so happens to also have great food. For my meal, I ordered the vegan root vegetable pie. Not because I’m vegan but because I love veggies. It was loaded with parsnips, turnips, mushrooms and carrots that were tender and flavorful, swimming in a rich, savory and creamy sauce. It enveloped me in a warm hug. My husband had the chicken and vegetable pot pie, which he enjoyed as much as I enjoyed mine. And let me just say that neither one of us left any of that crust behind. Tender, flaky, buttery and worth every last calorie! This place is comfort food at its best.
Dance Day
National Dance Day is Sept. 17, and one great way to honor that is to plan a fun night out at Funkytown. After 20 years in business, this dance club is still going strong. Open 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, this is truly the place to get your groove on. They play mostly ’70s and ’80s music. And though the crowd is overwhelmingly middle aged, you’ll see everything from 20-somethings to 70-year-olds. For many people—including us—part of the fun is dressing up in funky retro attire. The décor is festive, the atmosphere is fun and carefree, and the dance floor is almost always full. It’s impossible not to have fun here! If you plan to visit, do make note of the fact that they accept cash only (with an ATM on site) and have a $10 cover charge. And whatever you do, don’t miss out when they play “Car Wash.”
Pancake Day
One of my absolute favorite foods is pancakes, so, of course, Sept. 26 is one of my favorite holidays. That’s right—National Pancake Day! And boy, do we know the best place for that! Snooze, an A.M. Eatery, has the most amazing pancake flight. The signature flight includes the pineapple upside down, blueberry danish and sweet potato pancakes. Or you can build your own from any of their pancake choices, which also include regular blueberry, chocolate chip, buttermilk, strawberry shortcake and vegan bliss. When we went, we opted for their signature because they all sounded so heavenly, and they certainly were. The sweet potato pancakes are probably the best pancakes I have ever had anywhere. I dream about those. And while the pancakes, in my opinion, are the stars, they also have other great dishes, like the breakfast pot pie, crab and asparagus omelet and Juan’s breakfast tacos.
Hannah Berry is a freelance writer who lives in the Northland with her husband. They love to explore Kansas City and try new restaurants and activities.