“O”h boy! It’s time to plan your monthly date night!
For almost 25 years now, Osteria il Centro has been serving up some of Kansas City’s finest Italian food. Being that their sister restaurants are Eggtc. and Minsky’s, we just knew it had to be good. It’s a small place with comfortable, intimate seating and Italian artwork adorning the walls. Their weeknight happy hour features half-price appetizers and select glasses of wine for $8. The restaurant is open for dinner only Monday through Saturday and closed on Sundays. We enjoyed kicking off our meal with salads, wine and focaccia bread, which is to die for! For his entree, my husband had salmon with cilantro beurre blanc, saffron risotto and almond green beans. The green beans were absolutely delicious and perfectly cooked. I opted for the spaghettini della casa with chicken, of which I savored every bite. I am not a big meat eater, but I really loved the chicken. And because of the portion size, I was able to enjoy leftovers twice!
Open year-round and boasting of 300 acres to be explored, the Overland Park Arboretum entertains audiences, both young and old. I had been wanting to go check it out for the past several years, so we finally made it happen when we attended their ever-popular Luminary Walk this past December. We enjoyed the lights, the candle-lit walk through the winter woods and the large model train exhibit (plus the heat lamps and campfires!). There were also several “selfie spots” which were fun. But the Luminary Walk is just one of many events held at the Arboretum each year. They have everything from light and sound shows to lawn and garden events, as well as yoga, candlelight strolls and wine tastings. Plus, they have hiking trails for those looking for some serious exercise. It’s a long drive for us from north of the river, but it was definitely worth a visit.
Outlaw Jim & the Whiskey Benders is an outlaw country band with sounds that beckon to Merle Haggard and Waylon Jennings. They also have been influenced by southern rock and New Orleans funk. The band travels extensively in the Midwest and South, but they call Kansas City home. You can see them play at various venues around the area, both indoors and out. Most recently, they were at Knuckleheads, a very popular music venue in town. Their complex houses four different stages and is a fantastic place to see a show! Outlaw Jim & the Whiskey Benders play original songs and sing-a-long favorites. If you like country music, especially the older stuff, then you will definitely like them. It makes for a great date night, and their music is guaranteed to get your toes tappin’.
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.