Perhaps my new blog timing could use a little work, since I decided to launch just a couple weeks before finishing my Kansas City guidebook manuscript. Things will remain quiet the rest of the week; D-Day is Thursday, so I’m chained to my computer until I press that magic button, “Upload,” on my publisher’s FTP site. The anticipation I feel for that moment cannot be described in words!
Until then, get out and enjoy Kansas City and this insanely awesome July weather we’re having! I’ve heard some complaints, but I’m a happy, happy girl. Dripping sweat and flat hair don’t look good on anyone, and that’s how I roll when it’s 95 with a 105-degree heat index.
Cheers!
Streetscape outside the Kansas City Public Library's downtown branch.
Categories: Metropolitan miscellany
As a Columbia, Mo. native, it’s safe to say I bleed black and gold. Yet I confess I’m becoming increasingly attached to Kansas City’s charming college town neighbor, home to a mythical red and blue bird known to cause temporary blindness. Still, I avert my eyes from the enemy mascot and instead stuff my face with sushi, or traipse down Mass(achusetts) Street, quite a little shopping mecca.
During today’s quick visit, I made yet another discovery — one so profound and amazing it shocked even me of the (sometimes) bottomless appetite and fondness for carnivorous cuisine. I found the holy grail of food items. The meaty temple to which so many of us bow in humble adoration.
I found the world’s best burger. LOOK:
The mouthwatering Kobe burger and truffle fries available at Dempsey's (Lawrence, Kan.)
Burger aficionados, meet your maker: Dempsey’s Pub. Step up to the counter for the Kobe burger, an incredibly flavorful blend of sirloin, Kobe beef and other top-shelf cuts that creates a hearty, palate-pleasing patty not for the faint of heart. Pickled onions and a sprinkling of greens add a zesty crunch that complements the richness of the burger, made even more delicious by a healthy dollop of truffle butter.
Although the fries were delicious, I couldn’t discern any pop of flavor from their truffle oil coating. They were well-salted, though, and made for a classic accompaniment to the burger. Should you shun calories like the plague, try your burger with a side of sinfully indulgent duck-fat fries.
I drove back to Kansas City in a drowsy meat coma, but the unforgettable meal was well worth the fatigue. My list of Lawrence cravings grows each time I go — perhaps my future will bring a second home in Larrytown.
Categories: Local love · crave.eat.swoon
Tagged: dempsey's, kobe burger, lawrence, truffle fries
The Plaza in bloom earlier this spring.
When you’re notorious for juggling multiple projects at once, there arises a periodic need to shake the dust off, make some changes and get a fresh start. And that’s exactly what I’m doing. I loved and miss my old blog, but it was becoming increasingly irrelevant, adrift in a sea overridden with topics and too much background noise.
So here I am, with a different blog provider, and a whole new look, dedicated to one purpose: my love of Kansas City. Oh, and there’s my infatuation with writing, too, and that ties in. You may have heard I have a local guidebook coming out next year, and in addition, I edit two magazines and write lotsa freelance. Needless to say, I’m out and about a lot, and I want you to accompany me on my adventures.
Sure, there might be some random commentary thrown in–opinions, I have them! And maybe a random link or two I think you might like. But at its essence, this is a blog about a city, a writer in that city, and all of the magical things that can happen in a day, a week, a month.
For more instantaneous updates, follow me on Twitter, and don’t be shy! Introduce yourself, leave comments, let me know your favorite Kansas City haunts. It’s all about the love, baby, and I’m in this relationship for the long haul.
Categories: Introductions
