However, Vangaurd Airlines has flights from their hub in Kansas City to Minneapolis. So, the thought of real BBQ grabbed me, and I managed to talk Andy into it. (I've wanted to go to KC ever since I read Calvin Trillin's description of it in American Fried.)
Here we've reached "The Best Resturaunt in the World," Arthur Bryant's. Happiness is a slab of ribs and a "bits" sandwich. Mmmmmmm..
I know you're hungry for a closer look at the slab...
<grin>
Here's the (new) exterior of Bryant's. Plain brick building in the center of Kansas City. Bryant's updated a bit when it reopened after Arthur died in 1982. (Critics said that the there were changes: fries were not as greasy as before. The owner defended the fries, saying that they were cut up by the same people as before, and still fried in pure lard. Unfortunately, I'll never know...) The young lady waving to me was one of the servers there. Much fun.
Random Sculpture. I got culture in KC as well. <grin>
Here is one of the 34 fountains in Kansas City, located in the Crown Center Park. Strange people suggested that I tour these sites, but I fought the urge off.
It was fun watching folks frolic there, though. <grin>
And here is a view of the actual jazz festival, from the back of the park. There were probably a couple of thousand listeners there, and this was a lot of fun.
And this was the end of the Saturday.
Maybe it's just me, but there's something odd about a giant green head
in a park. Even though that might be Charlie Parker's head, it's odd.
Especially when it looks like he's getting ready to blow his
horn...Still, cool to see a park dedicated to a jazz cat, eh?
And here's the one vacation shot with me in it. Set the camera up on the ground and snapped away. Andy and I, in KC.
One last shot of the park, with downtown Kansas City in the background. KC had some pretty cool Art Deco towers in the downtown, and at least one half of them had tenents! <sigh>
Mmmmmmm....... Ribs.
A look at the tray with a full slab with a side of beans. This was the last session that Andy and I had at Arthur Bryants. Then it was time to go back home.
Happiness.
Here are some shots of the Oven that was used to cook the ribs. Look at all the happiness inside!
Finally, a little bit of weirdness. Kansas City had several of these. River boat casinos. Quite a odd site along the river. Of course, these weren't really boats, but built on the shore of the river. Impressively tacky, though.