A Return to Hyatt Regency Crown Center

You may remember that my first stay at the Hyatt Regency Crown Center in Kansas City was less than ideal. As I mentioned at the end of that post, the hotel contacted me and we agreed to return and give them another chance.

We arrived in Kansas City on New Year's Day. The hotel was hosting a huge wedding party and was very busy. Happily the front desk had plenty of staff to handle the number of guests checking in. There were even enough bellmen- one brought up our luggage, a nice change from our last stay.

Unfortunately we encountered two rather problematic situations when we entered our room. After our long drive a restroom visit was necessary for a couple of girls. We found out very quickly that the toilet was clogged. The second problem was the very strong evidence that the non-smoking room had housed a smoker quite recently.

When the bellman arrived with our luggage I pointed out these problems to him. A call was placed to the front desk and we were moved to a new room before we had even unloaded our bags.

All the rooms are very similar. Two beds- quite comfortable- TV, dresser, mini fridge, desk, reading chair, bathroom. Everything was clean and neat and our room looked out at the World War I Memorial.

I was impressed when, a while later, we received a small "thank you" from the assistant manager of the hotel.


The fruit, bread and water arrived with a note thanking us for giving the hotel another chance. It was a nice touch- and much appreciated as the Crown Center restaurants were all closed on New Year's Day and I had a couple of hungry little girls!

Our check out the next morning was hassle free. We called down for a bellman and one was at our door within 5 minutes.

In retrospect:

The hotel seemed more fully staffed during this visit. The service we received was friendly and quick. It was a very pleasant stay and we will use this hotel for future visits to Crown Center.

What you should know:

Parking is an extra daily charge. A ramp is next door to the hotel. Self parking is around $14 daily, valet is around $18 daily. This is common for hotels in the area. Parking is included in some hotel packages.

Wifi is free in the lobby but is $9.99 in the room. Wireless service in the rooms is provided by Tmobile- which means you have to sign up for an account. (My biggest pet peeve is hotels that charge for wireless.)

Everything in the Crown Center area is in easy walking distance. The shops, entertainment, restaurants... Even Union Station is just a short stroll away.

Hotel Review
Kansas City

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Gastropub Dinner with Irish Celebrity Chef Kevin Dundon at Raglan Road in Kansas City

I'm pretty sure that celebrity chef dinners happen quite often in places like Los Angeles and New York. And maybe even in Chicago. But it's not really something that happens in the center of the country so when I saw that one of my favorite Kansas City restaurants, Raglan Road, was hosting a Gastropub Dinner with Master Chef Kevin Dundon (Ireland's Chef of the Year 2009) we made the drive down for dinner.

Yes, we drove 3 hours- one way- for dinner. And drove back that night. Yes, it was worth it!

Kevin and his wife Catherine own and operate the incredible Dunbrody Country House Hotel in Arthurstown, County Wexford, Ireland. (It is, incidentally, across the road from Glendine House, where we stayed in 2008.)

We were lucky enough to meet Kevin briefly before dinner and again after the meal. It's no wonder his hotel is so highly rated: the man exudes Irish charm. And he can cook! Our meal was incredible! Forget what impressions you may have of Irish food- this isn't typical "pub grub"...

Our four course meal began with a choice of Warm Goat Cheese and Orange Salad with Caramelized Walnuts or Mini Beef and Lamb Shepherds Pie with a Port Wine Jus. I can't speak about the salad, though it looked incredible, because everyone at my table had the Shepherds Pie. The flavors of the meats with the port wine jus...fabulous. I loved the presentation of the potatoes artfully balanced on top with a caramelized onion leaf. Delish!

The second course was Maine Lobster Bisque. I'm not a huge fan of lobster but the bisque was very flavorful and creamy. Of course the presentation was incredible...

The entree followed. The choices were Roast Pork Belly with an Irish Mist and Honey Glaze served with Pickled Cabbage or Crispy Pan Seared Salmon served on a Ragout of Winter Vegetables. I chose the pork belly. I cut it with a butter knife. It was so tender and flavorful. The glaze was so sweet- I'm going to have to do my best to recreate it. Doug had the salmon. He pronounced it perfectly prepared and "excellent".


And then came dessert. Merely calling the Chocolate Fondant with Irish Stout Ice Cream "dessert" is almost too plain. Though it appeared unassuming on sight there is really no way to describe the incredible richness of the chocolate, how the surface opened to reveal an interior of molten chocolate or how truly decadent it was.

The Gastropub Dinners at Raglan Road just began in summer 2009 but response has been positive and the restaurant plans to do more- one per quarter at each restaurant (there is another location at Pleasure Island in Downtown Disney, Orlando, Florida.) To keep up to date on upcoming events check out the "Get In Here" page on Raglan Road's website or follow @RaglanRoadPub on Twitter.

If you're really wanting a taste of Ireland try some of Kevin Dundon's recipes for yourself! The mini shepherds pie recipe is in the "starters" section, there is a lovely loin of bacon in Irish Mist glaze in the "mains", and an Irish whiskey chocolate fondant in the "desserts". I have a feeling my annual St. Patrick's feast may have some new dishes this year! Sláinte!

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Model Trains at Union Station

Union Station in Kansas City is still an active depot for Amtrak. During the height of train travel in 1917 nearly 80,000 trains came through the station. Though you won't see as many trains going through the station these days the heart of Union Station is still with that golden age.

One example of this is the amazing Holiday Village Train display in the main lobby. It opens the day after Thanksgiving and stays up until the Sunday after New Year.



It's really quite an incredible display. There were at least 7 full trains (including the Polar Express) and a handful of trolleys rolling on the miles of track. It's truly astounding.

It takes a couple of months to get this display built and running so if you visit in the months of September and October you may see just what goes into the creation of such a huge display.

Not visiting during the holiday season? Not to worry. Hidden off the side of the North Waiting Room is the Kansas City Lionel Club's model train display. This display is staffed by the members of the club, so it may be "hit or miss" on the display being open. Though the set up is permanent the trains running are brought in by the members. And they are happy to answer questions. If you're really good they may even let you blow the whistle!

Things To Do
Kansas City

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Chasing Chocolate: The Chocolate Exhibition at Union Station, Kansas City, Missouri

Like chocolate? Then you'll want to head down to Union Station in Kansas City because the Chocolate Exhibition has been extended thru January 17!

The national tour of Chocolate the Exhibition was developed by the Field Museum and is nearing the end of it's national tour.

(Photos are not allowed inside the exhibit. I was allowed special access to share some of the exhibit with my readers.)

The exhibit takes you from chocolate's humble beginnings as a very large pod filled with seeds. Learning about the cocoa seeds was incredibly informative. From bugs to birds, plants to people, everything has to be "just right" for the large pods to grow.

There were many interactive displays that helped us to keep the girls interested, though I did notice that we had the only children in the exhibit. I did think that was a shame- what kid doesn't like chocolate? And the process from seed to bar is just amazing.

The girls- and even myself- were fascinated by the value chocolate had as money. It was so valuable that most couldn't afford to drink it. Think of it like drinking your money. It was used to buy every day items like eggs, tomatoes, peppers and avocados. It wasn't sold in markets and was kept locked away.

Even when chocolate came to Europe it was only enjoyed by the upper classes for many years. Special cups and pots were used for it. In fact, the saucer was invented to keep chocolate from dripping onto clothes.

Mass production of chocolate is a recent event- and the addition of milk (ie: milk chocolate) made it affordable to everyone.

The large "box of chocolates" wall with televisions was a great ending to the exhibit. The girls sat on "chocolate cup" chairs and listened to scientists and "regular people" talk about the "happiness effect" chocolate has and how it is dangerous for dogs.

Of course you can't end a chocolate tour without a taste of what you've learned about... The samples are available as long as they last. Yum!

There is also a gift shop at the exit. Sadly it seemed to be sparsely populated. I fully expected chocolates galore... The offerings were a disappointment after such an interesting exhibition.

Want to go? Here's the info:






























Disclosure: We were provided tickets to this exhibit. Thoughts and photos are my own.

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Chocolate at Union Station in Kansas City

On our way home from Houston we'll be making a stop in Kansas City to enjoy Chocolate the Exhibition at Union Station.

Did you know that Americans eat, on average, 12 pounds of chocolate per person per year? Or that each chocolate pod is about the size of a pineapple and holds enough seeds to make seven milk chocolate or two dark chocolate bars?

This Saturday (December 12) you can enjoy a chocolate chip pancake breakfast before exploring the exhibit. YUM! Or head down on Thursday, December 17 for chocolate and vodka tasting (advance registration required). Chocolate samples are also available- while supplies last.






































Disclosure: Our tickets to Chocolate the Exhibition were given to us in exchange for this article.

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On the Road Again

I've been working on plans for the past few weeks for a winter getaway for us. Because Doug's family is in Texas it made sense to plan something in the south. We haven't been down in almost 3 years and it will, hopefully, be warmer there than our home in Iowa in late December. Here's the plans so far:

A bright and early departure and 12+ hour drive to Dallas. I'm not yet sure where we will be staying. Any recommendations for family friendly lodgings?

We'll spend 2 days in Dallas then head down to Houston to stay 3 nights at The Woodlands Resort. Hopefully it will be nice enough for the girls to play in the pool. We're looking forward to relaxing and enjoying the nature trails. Any Houston experts have a "not to be missed" attraction?

Our drive back will also begin early, but we won't do it in one day. We'll come back through Louisana and Arkansas with a stop in Ozark, Missouri at Lambert's- the home of the Throwed Roll. We've eaten at Lambert's once, years ago and can't wait to take the girls.

After filling our bellies we'll drive a few more hours to Kansas City for a good night's rest. Then another filling meal: Irish Breakfast at Raglan Road before we visit Chocolate: the Exhibition at Union Station.


We'll need the chocolate buzz for the drive home.

Look for individual posts about our destinations and activities coming soon! And be sure to give me some Houston tips!

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Kansas City Irish Fest, Kansas City, Missouri

Kansas City Irish Fest, one of Kansas City's favorite festivals, takes place Labor Day weekend, Friday thru Sunday, at Crown Center. Though this was our first time at the festival, 2009 marked the 7th year of celebrating Celtic pride in "Cowtown".

Though I had browsed the website and tried to keep up with band announcements and other goings on at Tir na Blog I felt unprepared for the festival itself. I wasn't sure just how family friendly it would be- or how crowded.

I shouldn't have worried. After 7 years the organizers have the festival down to a science. Let me take you on a little tour...

Are you curious about the cows? Kansas City is often called "Cowtown" because, back when cattle roamed the range and cowboys "drove" cattle instead of ATVs, many of those herds ended their journey in Kansas City before becoming a juicy steak.

Entertainment

There's no lack of entertainment. From over a dozen great Irish bands - everything from traditional pub tunes to new sounds that don't compromise tradition- comedians and Irish dancers there is never a question of, "Is there something to do?" it's a question of, "How can we do it all?"

The main stages, the Boulevard Stage and the State Street Stage, are at opposite ends of the grounds; far enough that they don't overwhelm each other.

In between are the children's stage- which features puppets, storytelling, kids bands and workshops- and the Heritage Stage where you'll learn Irish history, tips on genealogy, pick up a bit of the Irish language and maybe take a turn in a Ceili.

This year Barry FitzGerald from Ghost Hunters International was on hand telling stories about the wee folk around Ireland.



For the Kids

Don't even think the kids are going to get bored. Sprinkled around the festival grounds are bounce houses (a fee applies for these), 3 children's areas with activities, Irish Rock Band and Dance Dance Jig Jig Revolution. Trust me, you won't run out of things to do!

Irish Organizations

Whether you're Irish- or you just wish you were- stop by the tents run by Kansas City's Irish Organizations. Learn what they are doing- and what they have helped to do in the past.

Food & Drinks

It's a sad fact... You cannot get a Guinness at Irish Fest. Nor can you get a hard cider of any sort. Blame that on the fact that Boulevard Brewing Company is in Kansas City. Other alcoholic beverages are served as well as sodas and water. If buying from a beverage tent you must have drink tickets.

Food ranges from traditional Irish fare- Fish & chips, pasties- to fair foods like pizza, turkey legs and ice cream. No one will leave hungry. If you can't find anything that suits you just leave the festival grounds (get your hand stamped for re-admittance) and head into Crown Center - where the food may actually cost less!

For a great Irish Breakfast head to Raglan Road. You won't be disappointed.

Shops

No festival is complete without shopping. If it's Irish you'll find it here. Food, clothing, jewelry, penny whistles, art, photography, crafts...

Where to Go When You've Gotta Go

The festival grounds are lined with porta-potties. These aren't too disgusting until late evening. A baby changing station is located near the children's area in the center of the festival grounds.

Irish Museum and Cultural Center

With all the fun going on it's esy to forget about the Irish Museum and Cultural Center in nearby Union Station. We stopped in to buy a book and spent quite a bit of time there listening to Tom Meehan, an Irish balladeer. He was very kind and let Brenna sing a few songs with him- Irish Rover, Leaving Liverpool and Molly Malone.

Where to Stay

Crown Center has two hotels : Hyatt Regency Crown Center and Westin Crown Center.

Things To Do
Kansas City

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Hyatt Regency Crown Center

Note: This post has been updated; please see comments at the end of the post.

This was originally posted 9/21/09
I am, quite honestly, torn about this hotel. While it was nice and the location is on the Link (skywalk system around the Crown Center complex) I really expected to enjoy my stay here more than I did.

I had great expectations before we even arrived. One of the reasons we chose the Hyatt Regency was because I could get adjoining rooms- meaning they have an interior door between them. My mom and cousin were joining us for KC Irish Fest; because I know my girls (and how much they love their grandma) I knew they would want to be with her. But I didn't want them roaming in the halls. Score one for Hyatt.

A few days before we left I called the hotel to confirm that we would have adjoining rooms. I had what was possibly the greatest telephone customer service I have ever received. Score two for Hyatt.

Then came our arrival. We came into town for the most popular festival of the year. Unfortunately the hotel didn't seem like it was fully staffed to service the guests. Check in lines were very long- and very slow. And while a trolley was loaded with our bags by the bellman, it was left for us to take to the room and return to the lobby. (Which wasn't really a problem until time to check out. More on that later.) Strike one for Hyatt.

On top of that, I received tickets to the festival. Which would have been great if the special rates page on their website would have mentioned it. It didn't, so I purchased our tickets from the festival itself. Which means I spent money on tickets I didn't need. And the person handling my check in was a bit snooty when I said that the website hadn't mentioned festival tickets. When she said that she was "positive it did" I opened my computer and showed her the image of the page I ordered from. When she had to admit that I was correct she wasn't very nice about it. Strike two for Hyatt.

On to the rooms. They were adjoining (yea!) and both were quite roomy. Both had a small refrigerator and a nice sized dresser and desk. The bathrooms were large, as well, with marble counter tops and spacious bathtubs.

My only issue with the rooms, and I find this with a lot of hotels, is that there is a charge for internet access. I don't understand this. And, even worse, you had to be online to sign up for the T-mobile service, so you couldn't do it from the room. Luckily I was able to pick up a very weak unsecured signal- possibly from the lobby?- but even with a paid internet connection the signal was spotty and we had to be in front of a window for it to work. Ball one for Hyatt.

Breakfast is not included with your room rate. We knew this, so it wasn't a surprise. Crown Center restaurants are close, including Panera and Einstein Bagels. If you are visiting on a weekend head up to Raglan Road for an exquisite Irish breakfast.

Check out was when things got really annoying. Because we had rolled the trolley up to our room on arrival I sent Doug down to get one. He was told he couldn't have one because, "Those are for our arriving guests." What? It's not quite 10am and people are checking out. I was a bit annoyed and called down to the customer service counter who told me someone would be "right up" with a trolley. Well, right up certainly didn't mean anytime soon as we waited half an hour. I called back down. Seems we were "forgotten". Nice.

I went down to the lobby with the girls to check out, leaving Doug upstairs with the luggage. As I was paying I commented to the clerk at the counter about what had happened. "We only have two bellman on today and they need the carts to do their job." OK, fine. So why were there more carts when we arrived- and why did we do their job then? I received no answer. Strike three for Hyatt.

While I'm sure the poor customer service can be chalked up to the business of the festival weekend it seems to me that a hotel that is directly beside the festival grounds would be staffed for the occasion. Overall the hotel seemed short-staffed and the staff appeared stressed. Whatever the reason I am unsure if I will stay here again.

Note: parking rates are additional to room rates unless included in a package. This is common around Crown Center.

Update: I received an email, followed by a phone call, from the manager of this hotel within a week of my review. We spoke at length about my stay and the problems we experienced. While the manager acknowledged that the hotel was very busy due to the festival that was going on she also said that the lack of customer service was unacceptable. I truly appreciate that the hotel contacted me directly and is working very hard to rectify the problems we experienced.

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Raglan Road Irish Pub, Kansas City, Missouri

The Raglan Road website gives a great visual of the pub being built in Ireland and "plunked down" in the US. Of course they are talking about the first Raglan Road in Orlando. They did the same thing with the Kansas City pub- you can even see how right here. Just go back through the archives.

The pub's two bars were hand crafted from salvaged materials found in Ireland- some from past pubs. The wood shines, the bottles stacked behind the bar sparkle and the atmosphere makes you want to dance a ceili in entry.

We visited Raglan Road for the traditional Irish breakfast they were serving during Irish Fest. It was almost like being in Ireland again. It was delish! And, according to Tir na Blog, the inside guide to the KC Irish Fest:

In other Raglan Road news, that delicious traditional Irish breakfast they served Irish Fest weekend, the one my mother raved about, is now a regular feature on weekends from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

My cousin, who was a bit put off by the thought of black pudding, pronounced it "really good". Will they have the rest of their amazing breakfast menu? I'm not sure. But I can totally vouch for the French Toast with berry compote and fresh cream. Oh. My. Gosh. Yummy.

If you can't make it for breakfast Raglan Road has a wonderful dinner menu. I wish I had remembered to take my camera along because the presentation was beautiful. The Scallop Forest appetizer was presented on the tines of forks, the Not Bleedin' Chowder was filled with huge chunks of seafood, the Salmon of Knowledge looked good enough for me to eat it (and I don't like salmon) and the Sod the Stew was presented in a small cauldron.

Of course we weren't hungry after eating that but we couldn't resist the Bread & Butter pudding and the Bailey's Creme Brule Tart. Both were incredible. Truly, there are no words to describe how good they were.

Next time you're in Kansas City head downtown and take in Raglan Road Irish Pub. Whether you enjoy their breakfast or dinner- or skip the food altogether and just head in for a pint and the live music- it's as close to Ireland as you're likely to get in the middle of the US.

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Gateway Arch Riverfront, St. Louis, Missouri

I was totally unprepared for how stunning the Gateway Arch is on a sunny day. The stainless steel shone brightly in the sunlight, sparks seeming to shoot from the angles as the sun hit them just right. I was happy just sitting beneath the arch enjoying the vertigo as I watched the clouds float swiftly past the peak.

The Gateway Arch Riverfront includes the Arch itself, riverboat cruises, a cafe, the Museum of Westward Expansion, the museum stores and the Historic Old Courthouse. It can be rather confusing because this area can also be referred to as the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial; both are correct. I'm honestly not sure there is a difference other than promotionally. Here's our experience, one bit at a time...

The Gateway Arch

I admit to being clueless about the Arch. I had no idea that it was actually built as a memorial to commemorate St. Louis' role in westward expansion. The park that surrounds it is huge with walking paths, lots of open green space and small lakes.

The Arch is the highest national monument of its kind at 630 feet- taller than the Washington Monument (555 feet) and the Statue of Liberty (305 feet)- and can be seen for 30 miles. It is truly striking and we spent a lot of time just looking at it.

To enter the Arch you approach either base. The north leg is always busier so I suggest heading to the south. It is free to enter the Arch but be prepared for airport-style screening; all bags will go through an x-ray machine and belts, coins and other items must be removed from your person before going through the metal detector.

Once below the Arch a huge expanse spreads before you. To one side is the ticket counter. Here you can buy tickets "to the top", for river boat cruises or to see the documentary of the arch.

On either side of the ticket counter is a store. To the right is the Mercantile. While you won't find bolts of calico or sacks of flour and sugar you will find sticks of candy, honey, handmade soaps and other "olden" goodies.

To the left is the museum store with amazing Arch photos on everything from mugs to magnets as well as the de rigueur tshirts, puzzles, keychains and other novelties. Brenna chose a scale model of the Arch.

Directly across from the ticket desk is the Museum of Western Expansion. The museum follows a circular pattern with areas very clearly marked.

Begin by standing beside President Jefferson gazing westward. The Lewis and Clark Expedition comprises the outer ring that ends at the wall of American Indian Peace Medals. Inside you will see a tipi and bullboat, learn about the buffalo, explorers, cowboys, the railroad and everything else that took the United States past the Mississippi River.

Getting to the Top

A tram ticket will cost $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 3-15. It's really an interesting experience- even if you have a bit of hesitation about heights, like I do. The first area you enter gives the history of the arch. A bank of phones explains how the arch was built as images appear before you. You are surrounded by images of the arch being built and have the opportunity to have a souvenir photo taken. The entries in the north and south leg do differ a bit with the south being a bit less stark once in the actual loading area.

Once you enter the loading area it's a tiny bit surreal. Almost 50's sci-fi. You line up at your assigned door and wait for your "pod". There are eight "pods", each holding 5 people. It's a very smooth ride and interesting as well, as each "pod" has windows so you can see the interior of the Arch. The ride up takes 4 minutes and the ride down takes 3.

It's rather surreal to walk the final steps to the top of the arch. The area is large enough for 200 people and, unless you are incredibly tall, you can stand straight in it. Of course most people are bent over, leaning against the ledge, peering out the window.

The view is staggering. Behold- very large river boats as viewed from 630 feet:

And the view of downtown... Breathtaking.

To truly "do the Arch" I would allow 3 hours; more if you like history as the museum is very interesting. If architecture is your thing be sure to check out the documentary of the building of the Arch.

Riverboat Cruises

Having grown up on Mark Twain tales I have a fondness for riverboats. There are many types of cruises to choose from; dinner and brunch cruises, blues cruises, lock & dam cruises and the one hour sightseeing cruise, which is what we did. Prices range from $14 for adults, $8 for children for the one hour cruise to $52 for an adult dinner cruise. You can buy your tickets at the Arch or at the riverfront. We got ours at the riverfront and the girls bought sailor hats ($5) in anticipation of their first cruise.

The boats are large replicas of early 19th century steamboats. We boarded the Tom Sawyer. The other riverboat, in sticking to theme, is the Becky Thatcher.

We had a fine day for a cruise; the Arch is incredible when seen from the river. We had both the riverboat captain and a park ranger from the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial serve as our guides, each sharing information about sites along the river.

The second photo in my collage is the Captain's Return statue (Lewis,Clark & Seaman) by Harry Weber. It sits at the edge of the Mississippi and is in sight of William Clark's house.

The third shot is the President's Casino- built on an actual riverboat. The boat itself has an amazing history beginning in 1907 as a side-wheeled steamboat, being remodeled in 1940 to an art-deco excursion riverboat and then becoming a nightclub in 1979 before being purchased, restored and becoming the President's Casino on the Admiral.

The riverboat has a snack counter on board. If you need more sustenance casual dining options are available at the Arch View Cafe, near where you board the boat, and can be taken on board the cruise.

If a riverboat tour isn't your idea of fun you may be interested in the helicopter tours nearby. If we would have had more time I would have loved to rent a quad bike which can seat 4-6 people and has up-front seating for little ones. It just looked like fun!

If you get hot or thirsty look for this distinctive ice cream truck.

Historic Old Courthouse

In 1846 Dred Scott, a slave, and his wife Harriet sued for, and won, their freedom in this St. Louis courthouse. The US Supreme Court later overturned that decision which helped to hasten the beginning of the civil war.

Virginia Minor also had a rather significant case here dealing with the womens suffrage movement in 1872.

Directly behind the Old Courthouse is Kiener Plaza and amphitheater. Many city events take place here but the day we discovered it all was quiet and children were playing in the waterfall and pool.

St. Louis surprised us with all it has to offer- and we didn't do as much as we would have liked to. It's a great family destination.

Family Travel Tips
St Louis

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