Michael suggested that on the days we have fancy dinner reservations, we should spend the day playing tourists in Kansas City. So when I got a message from Terry that he was taking our friend Tom to the newly renovated Kansas City Museum and asking if we wanted to join them, I replied “sign us up!” First of all, this is a museum that Michael and I had never visited. Secondly, it was a chance to spend the afternoon with Terry and Tom, my favorite grumpy old men duo. Tom knows a whole lot about the history of Kansas City. He gave us a guided tour of Elmwood Cemetery once that was fascinating. Having him with us at the Kansas City Museum was like having our own personal tour guide.

The museum was great. I learned a lot about Kansas City, but my favorite part was one little exhibit tucked away in a back corner on the second floor. That one tiny display focused on LGBQT of Kansas City and in the glass case was a Gay Pride button from 1995. When we got to this exhibit, Terry leaned in close to the case and then said “Hey! I made that button!” Terry had designed the Pride Festival buttons for 1995 and here it was on display as a piece of Kansas City history. I looked at Terry and said “Terry! You’re in a museum and you are in a museum!” Then we all went to the basement where they have a pool table and Terry and Tom watched Michael and I attempt a game of pool.

Michael and I had some time to kill before our dinner reservations and Tom suggested that we go to Rieger’s Distillery. He told us that we didn’t even need to do a tour because they have a small history museum in the main lobby. We took Tom’s advice and we were not disappointed. The distillery originally was located across from the Livestock Exchange Building, but now resides in what used to be the Heim Brewery and Bottling Co. In 1907, the Heim brothers built an amusement park called Electric Park, right next to their brewery. Walt Disney and his sister were frequent visitors to Electric Park and was the original inspiration for Disneyland. Electric Park is all gone now, but Rieger’s has turned it into a lovely patio with a restaurant and bar. On the second level, there is another bar and an entrance to the giant metal tube slide that takes you back down to the first level.

After drinking a fancy gin and tonic and sliding down the slide, it was time for the fancy dinner portion of our day. And for the second time this year, I willingly ate fried chicken. I wasn’t even drunk this time. I ordred the sablefish ravioli that was served in a broth with the most adorable mushrooms I have ever seen. Michael ordred half a fried chicken. When his order came out, I took a tiny wing for tasting. Then Michael handed me half a breast. Our server came over with a bowl of hot, damp towels to wash our fingers with right as I was digging into this piece of chicken. I looked up at her in shame and said “I don’t know what has happened to me. I am eating chicken. I do not eat chicken.” She laughed and said “I’m telling the chef!” Our server also helped us pick our next fancy dinner, which we are putting off until maybe August. There’s some traveling happening this summer. So we’ll have to wait and see.

Michael and I both agreed that we can’t wait to play tourist on fancy dinner date day again, but on scooters.