2023 marks my second year of being a Yelp Elite Member! I could not be happier to have been selected to be a part of this group. Did you know Yelp Elite is in over 50 major cities and doesn't take too incredibly long to get in?? Free items, events, tours, drinks, and beverages in my home of Kansas City....does it get any better?? Start reviewing today places in your town today! In a few short months, maybe YOU could be getting to check out new locations for free in your city! Kansas City 2023 Restaurant Week VIP Kick-Off Event What a phenomenal experience hosted at J Reiger Distillery/The Monogram Lounge! There were several tasty items to enjoy and try at this event. I was already excited for KC Restaurant Week to start, but now I am extremely pumped! My favorite was the Cuban Pulled Pork tacos from Mesob. The Shrimp & Grits from The Monogram Lounge was also a fan favorite. The most interesting item was the Khanom Chan - the surprisingly tasty floral dessert from Bamboo Penny's! The Yelp bag came with a lot of goodies! I'm looking forward to taking a friend on the J Reiger Distillery tour! The bag will also come in handy for shopping. Screenland Armour & Rewind Video Located: North Kansas City Yelp Elite Perks: Free Drink at Rewind Video & a Free Movie and Popcorn at Screenland Armour We started our Yelp event at Rewind Video & Dive Bar which is located in a lower level/basement behind Screenland Armour Theatre. This neon lit bar has games to keep your whole crew occupied such as Nintendos & older board games! Along with a vintage tv playing classic 90s films, there is also a whole room of VHS tapes to look though. The menu is on the front & back of a video tape case...how unique is that! I enjoyed their special drink of the night for my free drink. The ginger in the drink was fantastic! After Rewind Video & Dive, we went upstairs to Screenland Armour & watched a free movie while enjoying free popcorn in a Yelp branded popcorn bag. I enjoyed watching Scott Pilgrim vs The World. I also ordered the Loaded Nachos which had cheese, BBQ sauce, pulled pork, & pineapples. This movie theatre even has a bar where you can order adult beverages. Such a fun night. Thank you Yelp, Screenland Armour, and Rewind Video & Dive Bar. The Pantry KC Located: 7769 Quivira Rd, Lenexa, KS 66216 Yelp Elite Perk: 1 Free Cheesecake of Your Choice & a Yelp Elite Swag Bag The Pantry in KC is my new favorite bakery to visit on the weekend. Although The Pantry is known for its' delicious cheesecake, there are several amazing baked goods and pastries you can leave with. I left with the Lemon Bar Cheesecake but almost went with the Key Lime Pie Cheesecake...YUM! I even left with a giant chocolate chunk cookie. Need some cookies, cupcakes, or cinnamon rolls for any upcoming events? Order here! The cinnamon rolls are massive! Did you know the menu is always different on the weekends? Whatever is baked depends on who is in the kitchen that weekend! Stop on by and be happily surprised. Link to The Pantry Website Roots KC Located: 818 W 17 St, Kansas City, MO 64108 Yelp Elite Perk: Free Yelp Swag Bag and a free Ponytail Palm plant. Perfect way to spend an afternoon? Exploring at a local plant shop. Roots KC has unique, tropical plants with several fun pots to personally plant them in. We were able to leave with one Ponytail Palm and I cannot wait to watch the little plant grow! I also left with another plant to add some green to my house. There are cute plant hoodies, hats for your plants, jewelry made with plants, stunning fake bouquets, & stickers! If you need any hanging plants, cacti, or plants for your home...Roots KC is the place to visit! Link to Roots KC Website Bimibop Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it to the Bimibop Yelp Elite event, however, I still want to give this business a shoutout! This Asian Fusion eatery has great reviews and the food looks incredible. I definitely have this spot on my KC bucket list!

Looking for a winery or vineyard to visit in the Greater KC area?? Did you know you could find well-known wine brands and long-stretched vineyards in Kansas City?? Pinots, games, tours and more...ready to start winery hopping in KC?? KC Wine Co. Located: 13875 S Gardner Rd #1, Olathe, KS 66061 KC Wine Co is one of the most well-known and popular wineries in Kansas City. This vineyard and barrel room has no admission fee and offers incredible wine, live music, tasty food truck options, fun outdoor games like giant chess and cornhole, a fire place to roast smores on cooler nights, and other specials events. KC Wine Co routinely has special events such as "Pickles & Slushies" or "Pinots & Pups"...how fun! Check out their social media for highlighted events. Looking for a pumpkin patch in KC as well?? KC Wine Co has a full pumpkin patch during the fall months. Link to KC Wine Co Website Holy Field Located: 18807 158th St, Basehor, KS 66007 Holy Field is a romantic and peaceful winery in Basehor, Kansas, a quick drive from Kansas City. We meet at Holy Field Winery once a year to listen to live music while sipping on delicious wine sitting in the long-stretching vineyards with our own food and picnic items. On warm, sunny days, this winery even has some food trucks if you forgot to bring your own picnic items! Link to Holy Field Website Stone Pillar Located: 11000 S Woodland St, Olathe, KS 66061 Stone Pillar is a cute winery to visit with friends, family, coworkers, or on a date! There are benches inside the rows of vines for you to enjoy your tasty wine. Try their wine tasting or their wine slushies...yum!! You can also order some charcuterie items like salami, cheese, and crackers. Short drive from Kansas City. 10/10 recommend! Link to Stone Pillar Winery Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant Located: Couple Locations I have always enjoyed eating at Coopers Hawk because I have never had a bad meal! My all time favorite dish is their roasted vegetable and goat cheese flatbread. If you are craving a salad & flatbread combo, they have a couple options for under $20! If you like chicken, you must try the Danas Parmesan Crusted Chicken...delicious! The grilled chicken risotto had fresh vegetables in it and had a fantastic taste. If you have time, check out the bar and do a wine tasting. Link to Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant Sail Away Located: 309 Armour Rd, North Kansas City, MO 64116 Wine by the tap & unbelievably delicious food...need I say more?? If you are looking to do something a little different with your night in KC...go to Sail Away in North Kansas City! I've been to sail away a few times...must be great if I keep coming back. Monday has buy 1, get 1 flatbreads & on Tuesday's they have live music. Highly recommend trying the California style pizza and the Spinach & Artichoke Dip! Link to Sail Away Website There are several other wineries and vineyards in the Greater Kansas city area that I have not yet had the pleasure to visit. As I tour around more in the lovely KC area, I will update this page. Below are some wineries and vineyards on my KC Bucket List...maybe I'll see you there! Rowe Ridge Vineyard & Winery Stonehaus Farms Winery Crescent Moon Winery Somerset Ridge Vineyard & Winery

Cheesy, loaded with meat, topped with vegetables, smothered in pineapples...what is your choice?? When it comes to pizza there are plenty of combinations of ingredients to complete your cravings. There are countless locations in Kansas City to snag a delectable slice of pizza. KC may not be known for their deep-dish or unique pizza like NYC or Chicago, but our restaurant owners know how to make more than Mid-Westerns happy with their pizza masterpieces! Fat Sully's Pizza Yelp Elite KC hosted an event at Fat Sully's in Westport where we all enjoyed some tasty pizza and cold beer. This was the BIGGEST slice of pizza I have ever ate. I had to fold it in half! I ordered the plain cheese pizza but you can top it with your choice from their list of toppings! They have a large selection of beer on tap as well. Also, if you are feeling like eating more than pizza...you have options! Fat Sully's shares a space with Atomic Cowboy, Denver Biscuit Co (great for brunch), and Frozen Gold (ice cream). Yelp Elite Perks: Free slice of pizza and free pint of beer. Located: 4144 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO 64111 Link to Fat Sully's Pizza Website Lucky Boys Hole in the wall pizza?? Look no further than this dive bar. On Thursday evenings, Lucky Boys cooks up the best pizza in the West Bottoms. Their menu rotates based on the day of the week...don't miss out on pizza day! p.s. add Arugula to your pizza...you won't regret it. Located: 1615 Genessee St, Kansas City, MO 64102 Prime Social Visit one Kansas City's most popular rooftop bars and enjoy one of my favorite pizza's! The ingredients used in the pizza at Prime Social are always incredibly fresh. I wouldn't want to sip on cocktails at Prime Social without ordering a pizza to make my night perfect. I'd highly recommend making reservations at Prime Social. This rooftop bar is popular for a reason: spectacular views of the KC area, crafted cocktails and beverages, and fresh snacks such as my fave pizza and their delicious oysters. Located: 4622 Pennsylvania Ave #1600, Kansas City, MO 64112 Link to Prime Social Website As I'm sure you know, there are plenty of amazing restaurants to snag pizza at in Kansas City that are not on this list. I listed some of my top locations for pizza in the KC area, but if you have a top favorite, please feel free to send me an email and let me know! I love taking suggestions on where to visit/try. Below is a list of places to snag pizza on my KC bucket list: Summit Pizza Waldo Pizza Minksy's Pizza Grinders Pizza Il Lazzarone Buffalo State Pizza Johnny Jo's Pizzeria Artego Pizza Pomodoro Pizza

Kansas City is known around the globe for its' delectable, mouthwatering, and unique BBQ sauces. Although Kansas City is primarily known as the city of BBQ, there are countless restaurants in the area that you can enjoy a top-notch meal at that will have you craving to come back. From fine dining to hole-in-the-wall restaurants and dive-bars, I have listed some of my favorite spots to grab an American meal. Granfalloon Located: 608 Ward Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64112 Granfalloon is my top spot to grab a delicious meal or cold beverage in the plaza. It's a great place to go to watch a game, with friends for drinks, after work hangout with coworkers and/or a date! Every meal has unbelievably fresh ingredients. I highly recommend starting with the nachos...the freshly grated cheese was a great touch! You can't go wrong ordering the classic Fallon Burger with a side of either the Brussel sprouts or the fries. Link to Granfalloon Website Harry's Country Club Located: 112 E Missouri Ave, Kansas City, MO 64106 I've been to Harry's Country Club several times and I have never been disappointed. I've been for happy hours, with friends, coworkers & on a date...left happy each time! I highly recommend trying the buffalo wings, French onion dip with chips, or the cheese curds appetizers...yummmm! Their Cuban sandwich is also one of my top favorites. The patio is very spacious and beautiful if you can snag a table outside! Link to Harry's Country Club Website Red Door Woodfired Grill Located: Multiple Locations Red Door Woodfired Grill is a great spot to go for a date or a girls night out! Every meal I have had here has been spectacular. I highly recommend visiting on a Thursday to enjoy their Fried Chicken special. The salads are always fresh and never disappoint. Try their nacho appetizer with chicken or their chicken enchiladas house special - both tasty! Link to Red Door Woodfired Grill Website Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant Located: Multiple Locations Cooper's Hawk is located in the Plaza district of Kansas City and is a very popular spot to taste wines and enjoy dinner. I enjoy the combination dishes - specifically the flatbread and salad combination. Their soup is always warm and hearty. You can even sign up for a wine subscription/membership where you get their spectacular wines monthly. Link to Cooper's Hawk Website Seasons 52 Located: 340 Ward Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64112 Seasons 52 is a popular spot in the plaza area of Kansas City to enjoy a fancy dinner. Fine dining with delicious meals! Entrée recommendations: 6 oz Wood-Grilled Filet Mignon entrée, Caramelized Grilled Sea Scallops entrée, or the Cedar Plank - Roasted Salmon entrée. ALL entrees were phenomenal. I'd also recommend starting with a house salad, the Lobster Bisque, or the Caramelized Brussels Sprouts. Lastly, make sure to try one of the mini indulgent desserts. My favorite was the Belgian Chocolate S'Mores Mini. Another table favorite was the Salted Caramel Turtle Cheesecake Mini. Link to Seasons 52 Website Union on the Hill Located: 2976 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108 Union on the Hill is a cute and quaint spot to visit for lunch or dinner in the Midtown/39th Street area of Kansas City! I started off with the Dip Duo (Hummus & Whipped Goat Cheese w/ Honey) for an appetizer and I had the Savory Fried Rice for my entree. Also pictured: Pork Belly Bites appetizer and the Soup of the Day (Ginger & Carrot). Link to Union on the Hill Website Michael Forbes Grille Located: 128 W 63rd St, Kansas City, MO 64113 Michael Forbes Bar & Grille is a fantastic restaurant to enjoy a great meal in the Brookside area of Kansas City. My entree recommendations: Steak Demi Glaze entree that is served with mashed potatoes and asparagus, the Chicken Fried Chicken entree, the Salmon entree. Some great starters for yourself or the table include the Brussels Sprouts, the Chorizo Corn Chowder Soup, the Crispy Fried Shrimp appetizer & the Queso Dip appetizer. If you have room for dessert, the Flourless Chocolate Cake was spectacular! Link to Michael Forbes Grill Website Southside Bar & Grill Located: 1144 W 103rd St, Kansas City, MO 64114 I visited Southside during a quick lunch break and really enjoyed my meal!! I tried the Sweet & Spicy chicken sandwich which was topped with a tasty coleslaw, creamy sauce, and fresh sliced pickles...yum! I ordered sweet potato fries as my side. Other top favorites at the table: Rueben Sandwich & the CCOB Burger. Link to Southside Bar & Grill Website Summit Grill Located; Multiple Locations I visited Summit Grill for brunch and LOVED the pot roast nachos. If you have a big group, I'd recommend getting this appetizer so everyone can try how delicious it is! The grilled chicken & goat cheese salad has a lot of flavor and is very fresh. I've came back just for that very salad. Come for brunch to try their omelet! Link to Summit Grill Website Christine's Firehouse Located: 2012 Swift St, North Kansas City, MO 64116 I will go to Christine's Firehouse in North KC when my grandparents are in town because they LOVE the food & the environment. I have become a HUGE fan of the Pork Tenderloin Sandwich and the Fried Pickle Chips. Highly recommend going here to try out their massive Pork Tenderloin Sandwich. You won't leave hungry!! Food is great. Service is phenomenal. Environment is awesome! The Well Located: 7421 Broadway St, Kansas City, MO 64114 I've been to the Well numerous times..for happy hour, with coworkers, with friends, on dates, with family & even solo! The patio is decked with games and great views. The Baja tacos are my favorite but you can't go wrong with any of the burgers! The fries are seasoned to perfection! Check out their happy hour deals...awesome! My grandma enjoyed the fish & chips. The Nashville hot chicken is also a friend favorite...if you can handle the heat! Link to the Well Website Rock & Brews Located: 5701 W 135th St, Overland Park, KS 66223 Rock & Brews in Overland Park offers American style food inside of a rock-inspired environment with wall to wall art and craft brews. If you haven't been to this spot, I'd recommend coming simply because of the environment. The food is very tasty but the ambiance sets this place apart from others. Must try items: 2 topping pizza, blackened chicken lasagna, bbq wings, and the brownie sundae. The pasta will have you craving to come back! Link to Rock & Brews Website Brown & Loe Located: Kansas City, Missouri in the River Market Brown & Loe is a sophisticated restaurant located in the River Market that offers lunch, dinner, a full bar, and even brunch on the weekends. Stop by to grab some brunch after walking and shopping in the farmer's market! Brown & Loe is a perfect spot for a business dinner or even a date! Link to Brown & Loe Website Roots Seasonal Cuisine Located: 940 NW Pryor Rd Suite M, Lee's Summit, MO 64081 Looking for tasty seafood in the Lee's Summit area?? Roots Seasonal Cuisine is a great spot to enjoy a delicious meal made wish fresh ingredients. The risotto and scallops were seasoned perfectly. The mussels are great to start with as an appetizer but also large enough to be a meal! Highly recommend also trying the salmon plate. Link to Roots Seasonal Cuisine Silo Modern Farmhouse Located: 17501 West 87th St. Pkwy, Lenexa, KS 66219 Silo Modern Farmhouse is a popular spot for a fancy dinner date or a business meeting. This restaurant is located on a golf course, so if you enjoy golfing, play a round and then enjoy a delightful meal. Silo offers brunch, lunch, dinner, and even happy hour. I always order the Shrimp with Angel Hair dish that is mixed with homemade fresh tomato marinara. Link to Silo Modern Farmhouse Website As I'm sure you know, there are plenty of amazing American cuisines in Kansas City that are not on this list. I listed some of my top locations and places I have visited, but if you have a top favorite, please feel free to send me an email and let me know! I love taking suggestions on where to visit/try. Below is a list of American restaurants on my KC bucket list: Westport Flea Market Rye Fox & Pearl BRGR Kitchen & Bar

Looking for something fun to do in Kansas City?? Why not check out one of the many distilleries in the KC area! Prohibition didn't stop some of these distilleries from re-opening, so what's stopping you from visiting?? J Rieger & Co. Located: 2700 Guinotte Ave, Kansas City, MO 64120 A distillery founded in 1887 that was once shut down in 1919 due to Prohibition and is now a popping and vibrant place to visit in Kansas City: Jacob Rieger & Company. After opening back up a century after Prohibition, Kansas City is proud to be this distillery's home. Take a tour and learn all about the history of this brand, along with some of their methods in making one of Kansas City's tastiest spirits. Finished with the tour? Step outside into the Electric Park area. There is plenty of seating and spots to take cute pics! Warm or cold, this patio is a phenomenal spots to hang out with friends, family, or on a date! Feeling hungry after the distillery tour?? Go upstairs to the Monogram Lounge to enjoy delectable dishes while sipping on freshly distilled spirits. You cannot leave without going down the slide from the top floor to the bottom! ps - you get a sticker if you go down the slide ;) Link to J Rieger Distillery Website Lifted Spirits Distillery Located: 1734 Cherry St, Kansas City, MO 64108 Lifted Spirits Distillery is located downtown Kansas City/Crossroads and serves some of the best drinks in the area! Our tour was led by the owner and CEO himself. You could tell just how passionate and educated he was when it comes to distilling spirits and trying new recipes. Take a tour, visit their tasting room, and grab a bottle to go! You can also find some food trucks parked outside. The smoked mac and cheese side dish with pork belly and kimchi is from Smoke'n Seoul....YUMMMM Link to Lifted Spirits Distillery Website I have been to a few of the distilleries below, but unfortunately.....I have no pictures to prove it! Below are some additional distilleries in Kansas City that you MUST put on your #KCBucketList. Tom's Town Distilling Co. Mean Mule Distilling Co. Restless Spirits Distilling Co. West Bottoms Whiskey Co. Holladay Distillery p.s. - I will update this section as I visit these spots....stay tuned!

Unique sponge destination?? YUP...you read that correctly! Tarpon Springs is a short drive from Clearwater, Florida and is known for the legacy of the Greek sponge divers who originally settled in the area. As you walk along the Dodecanese Boulevard, you will notice an abundance of sponges, boats, and Greek restaurants. If you are visiting Clearwater or Tampa and have some time in your agenda to visit Tarpon Springs, make sure to add this location to your list of fun things to do/see! Buy a Sponge There are countless stands and shops that you can purchase a sponge at along the Dodecanese Boulevard. If you get a chance to step inside the Spongorama Sponge Factory, you will get to read about the history of Tarpon Springs and the large presence of sponges in the area. At this cute & quaint shop, you can purchase natural sponges, and bath & beauty products. Fun Gift Idea for Kids: Monkey Farts Sponge (sponge that has the aroma/smell of "monkey farts". There are plenty of other smells...this one had to be shared & purchased because of how funny it is). Sip on Greek Coffee Tarpon Springs has a heavy Greek business and cultural emphasis. With that being said, you must step inside one of the many Greek coffeeshops or cafes to try Greek coffee...unbelievably tasty! There are also plenty of fresh fruit smoothie stands and cafes to sip on while walking next to the docks. Sponge Dock Stroll - Port Tarpon Marina Take a nice stroll along the dockside in the Port Tarpon Marina area. We had a long, nice discussion with a captain of one of the sponge boats and he was more than thrilled to talk about his history of sponge diving/hunting! Miscellaneous Fun Things To Do There are plenty of other activities to do in Tarpon Springs. Below are some additional recommendations. Of course, there are an abundance of activities in/near Tarpon Springs....this is just a starting place for you! If you love to shop, there are an abundance of retail shops with clothes, beauty products, accessories, and more. There are also Greek groceries stores. Step inside to buy some feta cheese or olives! Buy/smoke a cigar at Don Esteban Cigars located at the entrance of the Sponge Exchange shopping area. Buy some different meat/jerky at the Tarpon Springs House of Jerky. If you are feeling courageous, buy some Python jerky! During the warmer months, paddle out in Tarpon Springs in a clear kayak tour. You may even get to see some manatees! Visit the Tarpon Springs Aquarium and Animal Sanctuary. Enjoy a peaceful picnic at A.L. Anderson Park.

Many have heard of Yelp or use the app/website to find where to eat dinner, unique places to explore while on vacation, or even to find services in the area such as salons, spas, car shops, and more. I use Yelp multiple times throughout the week. I love to leave reviews at businesses to increase their customer traffic and explore new areas in KC and around the United States. While many are aware of Yelp, have you ever heard of Yelp Elite Status?? Let me introduce you to the November and December Yelp Elite events in KC! Glitz & Glam at Hollywood Casino My favorite Yelp Elite event thus far was the incredible Glitz & Glam night at Hollywood Casino. What all did this experience include? • free 3 course meal at the Final Cut Steakhouse located inside of the casino - appetizer: crab cake with chipotle remoulade, seared elk with cranberry apricot compote & chili lime sauce, and a jumbo Gulf shrimp with Guajillo cocktail sauce. - soup or salad choice - choice of entrée: I chose the 14oz Certified Angus beef ribeye served Oscar Style - asparagus, jumbo lump crab, and béarnaise. • free sports book class • free poker class • $10 to spend at the casino...the best part about this free $10 was that I turned it into even MORE money at the slots...what a night!! Link to Hollywood Casino Website Link to Final Cut Steakhouse Wreath Making Experience at Shop Local KC Wreath making workshop and experience while meeting other Yelp elite members. Such a FUN event at Shop Local KC! Crafts, shopping, drinks/snacks, and making new friends: does it get better?? I had never made a wreath before this event and I'm so happy that I was able to thanks to Yelp & Shop Local KC. Although I'm not the most creative or crafty, my wreath looks great in my house! We also received 50% off any item inside of Shop Local KC. I purchased a KC beanie hat for the cold weather and a red Kansas City make-up/travel bag. This event also came with a free gift from Yelp: a branded collapsible shopping bag! Link to Shop Local KC Website Mid Coast Modern One swag bag with a little gift from Mid Coast Modern and Yelp KC. This bag had a 2023 Yelp Elite calendar (with national food holidays listed...awesome!), a Yelp Chapstick, a Kansas City koozie, a Kansas City ornament for a Christmas tree, and 1 free bath bomb or shower bomb of choice from Mid Coast Modern. This business is a Kansas City based retail shop with design-centric home goods, jewelry, artwork and limited edition gifts. They also support artists and indie businesses from the "mid coast" to offer a unique, fresh edition. Follow their business insta: @midcoastkc Link to Mid Coast Modern Website Plaza Experience Have you ever visited the Plaza in Kansas City? If not, I have some suggestion for you! There are several places to grab a tasty meal, enjoy a fun adult beverage, or shop at one of the local businesses in Kansas City's finest: The Plaza. Zocalo Mexican Cuisine & Tequileria offers modern & unique traditional Mexican meals with fresh ingredients. The Rye is another popular restaurant in the Plaza that you can enjoy a fabulous meal and cocktail for brunch, lunch, or dinner! You must order their famous fried chicken that comes with homemade pickles and ham gravy. While you are shopping in the Plaza, step inside Charlie Hustle to buy a Kansas City custom t-shirt! Yelp Elite Perks: Plaza keychain, 1 free margarita at Zocalo, all day happy hour at the Rye, 1 free Brigaderio from Sweet Brigaderio and a free koozie from Charlie Hustle. All of these items came in a large Yelp tote bag that can be used for shopping or storage! A bonus gift was inside: a Plaza engraved keychain! Link to Sweet Brigaderio Website Raising Canes Raising Canes is a popular fast-food choice for chicken. This business has somehow perfected how to make a chicken strip with mouthwatering juicy meat on the inside but lightly crunchy on the outside. The dipping sauce will have you craving to come back! I'm not huge on eating toast with my meal, but I LOVE the toast at Raising Canes...don't you touch it! Yelp Elite Perks: free combo meal of choice for you and a friend Link to Raising Canes Website

Although Kansas City is known for their deliciously smoked and spiced BBQ places & sauces, you don't want to miss out on some of KC's finest Italian restaurants. From fine dining to quick grab & go, there are plenty of places to grab a tasty Italian meal in KC. Garozzo's Located: 526 Harrison St, Kansas City, MO 64106 A city favorite, loved by locals and tourists! Pop open a bottle of wine, dip some toasted raviolis in their tasty marinara, and/or enjoy homemade pasta sauces. Garozzo's is perfect for a date or family dinner. I highly recommend trying the Chicken Vincenzo...chicken, mushrooms, and linguini in a creamy sauce..YUM! Link to Garozzo's Website Trezo Mare Located: 4105 N Mulberry Dr, Kansas City, MO 64116 Trezo Mare is located in the Briarcliffe shopping district and offers a lot of delicious dishes. Dishes below: Fusilli Shrimp Diablo pasta dish (with fettuccini noodles substituted) and the Shrimp & Risotto dish. You can add a side salad for only $5! The environment was beautiful inside and the service was spectacular. Highly recommend eating at Trezo Mare in Kansas City! Link to Trezo Mare Website Jovito's Located: 7408 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64114 Jovito's is a quant and delicious Italian cafe & deli in the Waldo/Brookside area. I live in the area and anytime I'm craving a fresh salad or homemade marinara sauce, I know I can count on Jovito's! I love their homemade tomato meat sauce and Greek salad. Make sure to try their cheesecake....amazing!! The seating is limited t outdoors, but you can always take the food to go and enjoy it in the comfort of your own home. Link to Jovito's Website Carmen's Cafe Located: 6307 Brookside Plaza, Kansas City, MO 64113 This Italian restaurant is located in the Brookside neighborhood of Kansas City. It is tucked in between several other amazing spots to grab food in this cute & quaint neighborhood. I had visited Carmen's Cafe on a birthday dinner with some family. The seafood pasta did NOT disappoint. Carmen's Cafe Website Lidia's Located: 101 W 22nd St, Kansas City, MO 64108 Lidia's is easily my favorite place and top recommendation in Kansas City for people visiting the area. I always tell friends or family to eat at Lidia's if they are coming to town. Imagine this: ordering a pasta trio entree...and you can eat as much as you want of it because it's UNLIMITED! For $24, you can eat unlimited samplings of the chefs daily menu at Lidia's Are finished all of the food on your plate but want more?? Fear not! The chefs bring out hot pans loaded with more pasta to fill your plate. Make sure to start off your meal with one of their many appetizers. Our table started with the happy hour ravioli and Fritto Misto appetizers. We also split a fresh Caesar salad along with the house bread and oil. If you still have room, end your meal with the strudel dessert! Lidia's Website Cupini's Located: 1809 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111 I unfortunately don't have any pictures saved of my meal at Cupini's which is SOOOOO very unfortunate! One of my good friends lived right near Cupini's so we would also grab a meal at this place if we were craving some freshly made pasta. The toasted raviolis were a fan favorite as well! Cupini's Website Brio Italian Grille Located: 502 Nichols Drive, Kansas City, MO 64112 One of my first meals in Kansas City was at Brio Italian Grille in the Plaza area of Kansas City! If you are looking for a sophisticated place for a date, birthday, or important event, Brio is a fantastic place to celebrate at. You MUST start your meal with their calamari appetizer which comes with two different sauces to dip the calamari in. The Pasta alla Vodka is my favorite pasta dish at Brio....10/10 recommend! Brio Italian Grille Website Below are more Italian restaurants known in the KC area. Once I visit these places, I'll update the post with more information and pictures. Stay tuned! Ragazza Maggiano's Little Italy Bella Napoli Anthony's Cascone's Italian Restaurant Lazia at Crossroads Hotel Osteria IL Centro V's Italiano Ristorante

'Tis the season to visit a Christmas holiday themed pop-up bar or decorated restaurant in Kansas City! I was lucky enough to visit the four main Halloween Pop-Up Bars in Kansas City and now I am on a mission to visit as many Christmas themed bars as possible. Several restaurants and bars are getting into the holiday spirit this year. Although I have only been to a couple, I will update this article as I cross more off of my list! PS: Make Reservations!!! How the Conductor Club Stole Christmas Located: Conductor Club in Union Station Dates: Nov. 11 - Jan How The Conductor Blub Stole Christmas: Grinch style! Step inside Who-ville to enjoy a decked out bar with lights, Grinch pictures and decorations, clever drinks, and unbelievable tasty appetizers. Some of the signature cocktails include fun names like "Cindy Lou Who", 39 & 1/2 Foot Pole Martini, Where Are You Christmas, and You're a Mean One. The Hate, Hate, Hate, Double Hate, Loathe Entirely Drink was my top favorite drink! There are also some delicious sharables like Who-Buffalo Cauliflower Bites, Rosemary Who-Fries, and Fritto Misto Di Who. Snowbound Located: Chicken N Pickle Dates: Nov. 11 Looking to enjoy some drinks and tasty appetizers while getting the chance to play some pickle ball? You are in lunch! Chicken N Pickle is mixing pickleball with Christmas time! This pop-up bar is located inside of Chicken N Pickle in their upstairs area. There are cozy couches and chairs along with a large Christmas tree and ski decorations. You will want to make reservations at this location as the reservations fill up very quickly. I was lucky enough to enjoy this beautiful set up at one of the Kansas City Global Entrepreneurship Week events. Fetch The Halls Located: Vignettes Bar "You can't sit with us" at this Mean Girls-themed holiday pop-up bar. Located at Vignettes Bar, you can enjoy tasty beverages such as "On Wednesdays We Wear Pink", "She Doesn't Even Go Here", and "Jingle Bell on the Rocks". Vignettes Bar hosted the spectacularly decorated Stranger Things Halloween pop-up bar a in October. Feeling hungry?? This pop-up bar offers food as well! From "Gretchen's Weiner" to "Gretchen's Dad's Toaster Strudel"...so fetch!! A Pop-Up Before Christmas Located: Deep Roots A Nightmare Before Christmas-themed pop-up bar is located inside of Deep Roots. This location also hosted the Hocus Pocus Halloween themed bar in October! This bar features live music, karaoke (if you are courageous enough to give it a try), fun trivia, and more. Krampus Bar Located: West Bottoms Do you dare to enter this Krampus themed pop-up holiday bar inside of 9th & State in the West Bottoms of Kansas City?? The designer of this layout promises this pop-up bar "to be the weirdest of the holiday season". If you enjoyed the Krampus movies and stories...this bar is for you. 9th & State hosted my TOP favorite Halloween bar: Rocky Horror Picture Film. The entire basement was completely decked out and the drinks were top-notch. Deck the District Located: Iron District The Iron District in North Kansas City is known for making their upper deck incredibly fun by hosting holiday themed bars. They hosted a Halloween themed event (Beetlejuice) and now it is hosting a Christmas pop-up bar: Deck the District. The holiday' handcrafted spirits are crafted by the Tiki Huna Bar also located in the Iron District. If you have not had the opportunity to check this area out in the Northland of Kansas City...you won't want to miss out this cozy time! Tinsel Town Located: Tom’s Town Tom's Town is hosting Tinsel Town yet again this holiday season! Although this is not necessarily considered a "pop-up" bar...the entire area is converted into a warm and welcoming Winter Wonderland! Tom's Town is an incredibly popular distillery in Kansas City and has an abundance of well-known signature drinks. Have a date coming up or need to plan a romantic date?? Make sure to stop at Tom's Town to enjoy Tinsel Town this season. Miracle Located: Plaza + Power & Light locations Miracle is a Christmas-themed pop-up cocktail bar that is hosted in two locations: the Plaza and Power & Light. The drinks/cocktails are the same but the food offered is slightly different based on the restaurants in that area. Enjoy fun themed drinks like Bad Santa, Yippie Ki Yay Mother F****r, Visions of Sugar Plums, and Christmapolitan. The plaza food items includes pizza, breadsticks, and salad. The Power & Light Miracle menu has items such as "Winter Weenies", waffles, meatballs, cannoli's and churros. Nine Zero One Igloo Bar & Lounge Located: The Fontaine The Fontaine brings back their rooftop igloos by popular demand. The Nine Zero One promised new additions this season and they did NOT disappoint. I have heard nothing but great things about this experience. You can choose from different themed igloos such as a glamping experience or a log cabin experience. Have you ever visited The Bobby in Nashville? The Nine Zero One set up is very similar and just as cute! Winter Skies Located: Sheraton at Crown Center After 11 years of closure, the Sheraton Hotel has opened up their circular rooftop to host a Winter Wonderland-themed popup bar inside of the Skies Restaurant. Personally, I have been unable to book a reservation but if you get the chance to....BOOK IT! You can enjoy the Winter Wonderland vibes while sipping on tasty cocktails and enjoying an aerial view of beautiful Kansas City. Who's Holiday Party Located: The Social Have you ever visited The Social in the Plaza area of Kansas City?? If not, you are missing out! This is easily one of my favorite bars in KC. The Social is inviting you to visit their Who themed holiday party! You MUST try their pizza and oysters...they are quite the hit! 10/10 recommend The Social if you are planning a romantic date but don't want to hassle with the downtown traffic/parking. Rec Deck the Halls Located: Boulevard Brewing Company Another "back by popular demand": Boulevard Brewing Company features a large cocktail menu of holiday-inspired beverages. The entire building is decked out in Christmas decorations, trees, and more. If you have the availability to take a tour, make sure to book a reservation to learn more about the company and their processes of making their well-known brews. Sippin’ Santa KC Located: Julep/Taco Republic Sippin' Santa is back in Kansas City and has THREE locations this year: Julep, Taco Republic on Corinth Street, and Taco Republic in KCK. You can enjoy this incredibly fun Santa in Hawaii theme at all three locations. Santa WILL be watching as you sip on their cocktails: Jingle Bird, Yule Tide, and Rum Rhapsody! You can't miss out on ordering the 3 for $13 taco deal while trying Christmas themed drinks.

Many have heard of Yelp or use the app/website to find where to eat dinner, unique places to explore while on vacation, or even to find services in the area such as salons, spas, car shops, and more. I use Yelp multiple times throughout the week. I love to leave reviews at businesses to increase their customer traffic and explore new areas in KC and around the United States. While many are aware of Yelp, have you ever heard of Yelp Elite Status?? Let me introduce you! Yelp Elite is a status that may be given individuals after leaving multiple reviews of businesses in a specific region/area. There are Yelp Elite squads across the United States, but I have recently become a member of Yelp KC! What does this mean? Yelp Elite status provides its members free food, drinks, merchandise at business as well as tickets or experiences at local greater Kansas City events. Uptown Lounge KC's latest upscale jazz bar, Uptown Lounge, had me completely speechless! The jazz was beautiful and the artists took breaks to talk to the crowd. Our bartender even sang while making us drinks at the bar. Spectacular performance all around. The drinks were delicious and packed a punch. 10/10 recommend Yelp Elite Perks: one free cocktail of choice and one free Yelp shot glass. Location: 3400 Main St, Kansas City, MO 64111 2022 Yelp Haunted Halloween 2022 Yelp Elite Haunted Halloween Party at Slater St. Antiques: At this event we got to eat a slice of freshly cooked pizza from Devoured Pizza, a taste of a pumpkin spice gin drink Lifted Spirits, a tasting of Mac & cheese fritters with dipping sauce from KC Mac N' CO, one unbelievably tasty taco and maragatita from Taco Naco KC, and a rib/rice dish as well as a taco from Smoke ' Seoul. Yelp provided fun tote bags & hosted the costume party we loved taking pictures on the film cameras. SUCH a fun event...thank you for putting this event together! Yelp Elite Perks: All food and drink items listed above. Yelp elite tote bag. Stickers and coupons from each vendor. Fat Sully's Pizza We enjoyed some tasty pizza and cold beer at Fat Sully's in Westport. This was the BIGGEST slice of pizza I have ever ate. I had to fold it in half! I ordered the plain cheese pizza but you can top it with your choice from their list of toppings! They have a large selection of beer on tap as well. There is plenty of places to sit inside - at a regular table, booth, at the bar, or on their patio. If you are feeling like simply grabbing a slice of pizza to go, they have a walk up window for your pizza craving convenience! Also, if you are feeling like eating more than pizza...you have options! Fat Sully's shares a space with Atomic Cowboy, Denver Biscuit Co (great for brunch), and Frozen Gold (ice cream). Yelp Elite Perks: Free slice of pizza and free pint of beer. Location: 4144 Pennsylvania Ave, Kansas City, MO 64111 Link to Fat Sully's Pizza Website Immersive King Tut Experience Whether you have visited Egypt in person or not...this immersive experience will give you chills! I went to Egypt in early 2022 to see the pyramids along with ancient ruins and I was thrilled to see the quality of work and art that went into making this experience so stunning. Find a seat and listen to the story that takes you back to the time of King Tut and Egypt! You don't want to miss this! Yelp Elite Perks: free ticket ($40 value) Crane Brewery Tour Located in Raytown (short drive outside of KC), you'll find an awesome, family owned brewery that offers tours, tasty drinks, food truck options, and a place to park your bicycle (right next to a trail). The beer was delicious and the tour guide was very knowledgeable & passionate. We were lucky enough to have the owner show us around the brewery. Try a slushie while you are there! Fun fact: Thundergong is brewed at Crane Brewery! This beer is crafted for the Steps of Faith Foundation events hosted by Jason Sudeikis. The Steps of "Faith Foundation presented the 6th annual celebrity benefit concert for amputees in need. Jason is known to frequent Crane Brewery while he is in the KC area...how cool is that!?! Yelp Elite Perks: Free brewery tour, two free draft beers, free Yelp pint glass Location: 6515 Railroad St, Raytown, MO 64133 Link to Crane Brewery Website Cafe Olloma My first Yelp Elite experience was at Cafe Ollama in the crossroads area of downtown Kansas City in September. This cute and quaint Latin American coffee shop served me the best cold brew I have ever tasted...and I'm not being dramatic. I am usually a straight black hot coffee drinker...but this drink and their homemade whipped cream was fantastic! Yelp Elite Perks: Free beverage, free pastry, and free Yelp and Cafe Ollama stickers Location: 523 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108 Link to Cafe Ollama Facebook

Caffeine. Caffeine. More caffeine. Multiple different routes. Multiple stops at local coffee shops and roasteries per route. Caffeine at each stop. This crawl stretches across the nation annually but made a stop in Kansas City. If you haven't heard of it yet, let me tell you all about it. Introducing.....the 2022 KC Fall Caffeine Crawl! The 12th annual KC Caffeine Crawl took place on November 5th and 6th, 2022 making it the 129th caffeine crawl ever hosted across the United States. This crawl highlighted almost 30 participating coffee shops and roasters in the Greater KC area. There were a total of 9 routes with 4-5 different stops each...your choice on which route to go on! The 2022 KC ticket price was $36.50 per person which was SUCH a steal considering we were given large samples of coffees, lattes, teas, and pastries at each stop. We were also educated on the history of the business/roastery and given the opportunity to meet KC local owners and managers. Lastly, we were provided swag such as stickers and coupons for free beverages and pastries. I was on route 4 with a friend of mine from college (MIZ BABY)! This route encouraged us to meet several new friends in the KC area (including those who drove 4 hours to come). Route 4 started at 10:00am and ended at 1:55pm. Our route had 5 stops with a total self driving distance of 17.5 miles. We started at Joy Coffee at 10:00 am and then we made our way to Main Street Coffee, Parisi Coffee at Union Station, ​The Filling Station (Gillham location), and ended at ​Mother Earth Coffee Co. Joy Coffee Location: 14300 E US Hwy 40, Independence, MO 64055 Joy Coffee is a locally owned coffee found inside of a church in Independence, Missouri. It is actually the closest locally owned coffee shop off the highway headed into Kansas City. Joy Coffee was explained as a base level experience and introduction into elevated coffee. Not only do locals visit this coffee shop, but the travelers from Colorado and Illinois are known to frequently visit! At this first stop we enjoyed an oat milk maple brown sugar latte, drip coffee, and an autumn spice biscotti with an almond crunch topping. Link to Joy Coffee website Main Street Coffee House Location: 107 S Main St, Independence, MO 64050 Our second stop on the crawl was at Main Street Coffee House. This coffee shop is also locally owned and can be found in the historic Independence town square. At this stop, we enjoyed a cup of their seasonal Witches Brew - orange spiced tea cider. This cider is so delicious it will have you questioning how there are NO apples in the drink! Planning a trip to this area? There are plenty of museums and tours that you can take in this historic downtown square. Link to Main Street Coffee House website Parisi Coffee Location: 30 W Pershing Rd #100, Kansas City, MO 64108 (Multiple - Union Station) The third stop on the KC Caffeine Crawl was at the Parisi Coffee found inside of Union Station. There are a few locations for Parisi throughout the city if this location isn't near you! Parisi is known for roasting the highest quality of beans around the world. We tasted an iced apricot and almond latte with an amaretto cherry on top. We also enjoyed a Mexican Bourbon Oaxaca warm beverage paired with a cinnamon scone. The bourbon for this drink was procured from Weston, Missouri! Take a look around Union Station while you are visiting this coffee shop! Link to Parisi Coffee - Union Station website ​The Filling Station Location: 2980 McGee Trafficway Kansas City, MO 64108 (Multiple - Midtown location) The fourth stop for route 4 was at The Filling Station in Midtown. The Filling Station can also be found at a few other locations throughout the Greater Kansas City area! This stop was unique because we tried two of their coffees paired with the fruits/nuts/flavors from the region the beans were grown in. The Maria Reyes coffee was paired with almonds and mango juice to highlight the tastes within the beverage. The second drink was the Alex Ponce coffee paired with green apples and chocolate water. Both coffees were uniquely different in taste and smoothness! The Filling Station is a great spot to grab breakfast or coffee with a friend or significant other. It was pretty busy when we went but the vibe was fun and exciting. There is seating outside if you enjoy sitting on patios. Link to The Filling Station website Mother Earth Coffee Co Location: 3504 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111 Our last stop was at Mother Earth Coffee Co at the Gillham location (there are multiple Mother Earth Coffee shops within the KC area as well). We tried their drip coffee, iced vanilla latte, and their cinnamon rolls. The cinnamon rolls were so tasty that several of the people on the crawl purchased extra to go! This spot is spacious and very clean. If you work remote in the KC area, this would be a great spot to get some items accomplished in a quiet area! Link to Mother Earth Coffee website Disappointed you missed it? Don't be! This is an annual fun-packed crawl that can be found in several other cities like Houston, San Diego, Denver, Indianapolis, and more! See a list of where they hosted events in 2022 here. I can't forget to give a HUGE shoutout to Yelp KC for providing our two tickets for free. We had such a blast adventuring to unique coffee shops in the Greater Kansas City area. Check out @YelpKC on Instagram! Link to KC Crawl information

Nestled inside of the Great Smokey Mountains, you will not want to miss the Bush's Baked Beans visitor center! Watch the manufacturing process of baked beans and walk through the museum to learn about the history of this classic brand and product. Have you visited this intriguing baked bean museum, café, and general store centered around the Bush's brand?? If not, this beany post is for you! Although there are no actual tours of the plant, the Bush's baked beans museum, store, and restaurant will teach you everything you desire to know about the production of canned baked beans! Can you believe it is completely free to enter the museum?? Inside of the museum, there is a detailed video on the production and shipping process. The general store has bean swag, country decorations, and classic cans of baked beans. Along with the museum, there is a delicious café/restaurant that serves everything Bush's. Believe it or not...you can order a slide of Pinto Bean Pie. There are also some entrée items like chicken tenders, meatloaf, sandwiches, chili and beans & cornbread. Don't forget about Duke!! Duke the dog visits the visitor center on specific days, check out their Facebook page to find out exactly when he will be making an appearance. There are several kids trivia and educational games. You can even walk inside the massive empty can of Bush's baked beans! Most groups and couples take about 1-1.5 hours during their time at the Bush's Baked Beans visitor center. Address: 3901 US-411, Dandridge, TN 37725 Link to Website