May 19th Weekend Preview

The main arena event this weekend is the Street League DC Pro Tour, a two-day competition that kicks off at the Sprint Center Friday, May 18, at 7 p.m. (ESPN2 broadcasts the final round Saturday night). This tour features hometown favorite Sean Malto. To kickoff the event McFadden's will be hosting a party for their Beer Mob members with guest Rob Dyrdek. If you are not a member you can still attend and get your membership at the bar.
The Command is on the road again. They travel to Pittsburgh as they try to get their first win of the season. The Power is not having that much better of a season than the Command, having only one victory to their credit.. The game starts at 6:30 pm and will be broadcast on WHB 810 AM & Ustream.
You can also take in the NBA & NHL playoffs. You can watch at home or head to your local watring hole to catch the games. The NHL is in the Conference Finals with the NY Rangers battling the New Jersey Devils (Since my Penguins are out of it I am rooting for the Devils since they used to be the Kansas City Scouts) to represent the East and the LA Kings taking on the Phoenix Coyotes to see who will represent the West. If you want watch the games in a more festive atmosphere head to The Blue Line Sports Bar in the River Market. At noon on Saturday they will have John-Scott Dickson and Simon Watson of the Missouri Mavericks appearing at the bar to watch the Rangers/Devils games.
If you are looking for more indoor activities to take in this weekend then head to your local movie theatre. then take in a movie. The Avengers doesn’t seem to be slowing down and is worth seeing. If you have already seen this movie don’t worry. We are in the summer movie season which means there is a big movie coming out almost every week. This week the big movie is Battleship. It is (very loosely) based on the board game of the same name. I was able to see an advanced screening and it has all the bells and whistles to keep teenage boys coming back to see it more than once. If you are a fan of the Transformers and G.I. Joe (which also has a sequel coming out this summer) movies then you will like action/SciFi mega movie.
Another activity for you can try is at Union Station. Checkout the Titanic Artifact Exhibit and maybe see Dark Matter Concert ‘Ascent”. You will be able to get a view of the state of Missouri that only the astronauts have been able to see. While you are in the area you should make the trek to the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial. The museum is a wonderful place for history buffs and right now you can also checkout "World War I All-Stars: Sports & the Inter-Allied Games" This exhibit explores the important role sports played during the Great War. More information can be found at the event website.
If music, art and culture is your thing then you need to head downtown this weekend. The P&L District will have their Downtown Art Annual Friday-Sunday featuring art from local, regional and national artists. For more information visit www.artfestival.com.
On Friday the master of intergalactic funk, George Clinton will be performing at Grinders. For prices checkout the CrossroadKC site.
If you are more subdued in your taste then Saturday there are two events for liking. The River Market is having the Wine Walk on Delaware and Ramsey Lewis will be performing and the Gem. If you plan it right you can participate in the wine walk and still catch the concert.
On Sunday The Pitch will be hosting the ‘Taste Of Kansas City’ at the P&L District. Six chefs will compete for the Golden Fork award and you can sample offerings from over 20 Kansas City restaurants. The event starts at 5:00 pm for those holding VIP tickets and 5:30 pm for general admission tickets. For tickets and more info call 816-561-6061 go to www.secure.pitch.com.
Have a great weekend.

May 11 Weekend Preview

Well beginning this weekend we head into the slow period for Arena Sports KC. Indoor soccer season was over a while ago and hockey season ended for this area a little over a week ago. Sp right now we only have the Command to satisfy our arena sports craving. So I thought I would also start recommending some other indoor activities you might want to try on the weekends.
As far as sports, the Command travel to Des Moines to take on the Iowa Barnstormers on Saturday night at Wells Fargo Arena. The Command are winless so far this season but will look to get on the winning track against the Barnstormers. The game starts at 7:00 pm and will be broadcast on WHB 810 AM & Ustream.
You can also take in the NBA & NHL playoffs. The NHL is benefitting from the alliance with NBCUniversal. Every single playoff game is on NBC Sports Network, CNBC & the NHL Network. You can watch at home or head to your local watring hole to catch the games. If you want to catch the NHL in a great atmosphere head to The Blue Line Sports Bar in the River Market. It is Kansas City’s only hockey themed bar and has great food. I recommend the Wrist Shot Wrap or the KC Blades BLT.
On Saturday The Midwest BBQ Institute will host the "Festival of Smoke". This is a full-day festival of superlative smoking & glorious grilling education. It will be held from 8:30 to 3:00 at The Culinary Center of Kansas City and across the street under the Downtown Overland Park Clocktower.
Festival Highlights:

• “CCKC PIG-OFF” - A culinary “throw-down” where our own Culinary Center Chefs show off their butts (pork butts that is!) and you get to vote for the best butt.
• FREE Culinary Demonstrations throughout the day (with drawings for free MBQI classes)
• Tastings of Butts and Other BBQ Delicacies
• Live Music
• Chef-Prepared BBQ Dishes Available for Purchase
• “Make Your Own Rub” Interactive Station
• Boasting
• "The Smokin' Schoolhouse Bar" featuring BBQ-appropriate beverages
• Healthy Debate (Wood, charcoal, pellet or propane? Rub vs. sauce?)
• "Ask-a-Chef"
• Tomfoolery
• Drawings & Give-Aways of Valuable (and not-so-valuable) Prizes
• Bakesale (proceeds donated to charity) run by our Junior Chefs Academy

If that is not to your liking then take in a movie. I recommend The Avengers. This is a movie the whole family can enjoy. It has some great action for the kids (and the kid in all of us) and some nice humorous moments to break up the tension. It has to be doing something right since it has already made over $650 million worldwide. If you are looking for something a little more mature there is the comedy, The Five-Year Engagement or the mystery, The Raven
Sunday is Mother’s Day and there are several places around the metro area that offer special brunches. I suggest Granite City Food and Brewery. The brunch is extensive and they have some of the best cinnamon rolls you have tasted. There are three locations in the KC area. You can find the exact locations at their site.
Also next week is American Craft Beer Week? To do so properly, you must drink beer — in great quantities. Start the week off right with the 75th Street Brewery’s  Tastes of the Regions Beer Dinner (520 West 75th Street) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 15. The five-course dinner includes shrimp and grits paired with Coney Island albino python and pheasant stuffed with persimmons and morels, with the Nebraska Brewing Co.’s Melange A Trois. Dinner costs $50 ($45 for mug club members). Call 816-523-4677 to reserve a spot.
So have a great weekend and all you mothers have a great Mother’s Day.

April 14th Weekend Preview

Well, it is a very light weekend for arena sports in Kansas City. The Command have a bye this week (didn’t they just have one 4 weeks ago) so there is no Arena Football to watch. The Mavericks kick off the Turner Conference Finals against the Fort Wayne Komets on Friday in Fort Wayne. If you do want to catch some of the playoff action you have two options. You can attend the official watch party at the Lee’s Summit Brew Top Pub & Patio (700 NE Woods Chapel Road) or you can watch it online at http://chltv.neulion.com/chltv/ (and also watch the Wichita Thunder in the Berry Conference Finals against the Texas Brahmas).
If you rather catch the NHL Playoffs, you can head down to The Blue Line Sports Bar where they will have every single playoff game. Hopefully, the Penguins can bounce back from that massive choke job in game one last night. The Blue Line has great food and great service. If you try them once I am sure you will be back again and again.
For those of you that have a sophisticated taste for alcohol then Saturday afternoon the Power & Light District has the event for you. INK Magazine is presenting The 1st Annual KC Whiskey Tour – the midwest's premier whiskey tasting event at KC Live! from 2–6pm. The event features 50+ North American bourbons & whiskeys, live music from the 51% Blues Band, hand-rolled cigars, giveaways & more! The event benefits KC Young Variety & KC Fire Historical Society. Check out a variety of great items available at the Silent Auction, benefiting both organizations (cash or check only please).   
A Limited Number of Tickets Are Still Available – Don't Miss Out! Festival tickets are just $40 and include: 12 tasting tokens, souvenir glass, informational pamphlet & map.
Purchase your tickets today at www.missiontix.com/KCWhiskeyTour or inside Maker's Mark Bourbon House & Lounge.
Thats it for the weekend. Have a great time no matter what you choose.

Easter Weekend Preview

This weekend is lite on home team activity. The Mavericks are waiting to see who they will play in the next round of the CHL Playoffs and the Command are on the road against Chicago. You have a couple of avenues to get a hockey fix this weekend. You can head west on I-70 and catch the Topeka RoadRunners in the NAHL Playoffs. The RoadRunners will host the Texas Tornado for the first two games of the South Division playoffs on Friday, April 6th and Saturday, April 7th at Landon Arena. Both games will begin at 7:05 p.m.

The RoadRunners went into the final weekend of the regular season tied with Texas for the second seed and the right to have home ice for the first postseason series. Texas applied the pressure by winning on Friday and Saturday. Topeka responded by dominating the Odessa Jackalopes, winning 6-3 and 3-1 , securing their playoff position.
If you decide to catch these games. I suggest that before the game you stop by Blind Tiger Brewery and Restaurant for an early dinner. The place has great food and some nice beers on tap, you won’t be disappointed.
If you rather stay close to home, you can head to The Blue Line Sports Bar. The place is paradise for the KC hockey fan. There are televisions all over the place and every available game able to be viewed. The menu is outstanding also. I suggest the Mavericks Mac & Cheese or the Scouts Meat Loaf.
You can still get a Mavericks fix this weekend. Carlyle Lewis and Mac will be at Shocking Prices on Saturday from 12:00-1:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00-2:00 p.m.
The Kansas City Command are heading to Chicago for a Saturday night game against the defending Central Division champion Rush!  It will mark the fourth straight game for KC against a 2011 AFL division champ.  The schedule has been tough but the players and coaches are working hard to improve and get that first win to begin the build towards a playoff run.  There is still a lot of season remaining with 15 games left to play.
The game will be broadcast on Sports Radio 810 WHB. The game can also be viewed on the web via the team's Ustream channel, accessible at www.kccommand.com/webcasts.
While none of the local teams are hosting games this weekend you still have some nice options to enjoy some arena sports.