Ingrams June 2023

Entertainment & Culture (continued)

BEST PERFORMING ARTS VENUE

BEST THEATER The best theater experience is one where the focus is on the screen, and B&B THEATRES , the Gold standard for ex perience. Of course, they’ve had a lot of time to perfect the experience: The family-owned theater chain turns 100 next year. AMC THEATERS take Silver for their accessibility and comfort, while Bronze belongs to STARLIGHT THE ATRE , KC’s favorite outdoor venue. BEST WEEKEND GETAWAY A full weekend to recharge from the rig ors of the office is not far away, which is why our readers are huge fans of mid Missouri’s LAKE OF THE OZARKS . Lake life earns Gold for its array of hotels, fine dining, caves, water parks, and theaters— there’s plenty to discover and more to be had. If you like shopping, fishing, the oc casional game of golf, and theme parks, you can’t do better than BRANSON, MO. , a shining Silver nugget in southern Mis souri. Bronze belongs to Missouri’s wine country with HERMANN, MO. Situated in Gasconade County, this wine-rich coun tryside is a slice of small-town heaven.

music and a solid pick for Gold . Part of the American Jazz Museum and located in the 18th & Vine district, THE BLUE ROOM honors the street musicians who created the distinct sounds of Kan sas City jazz—a worthy Silver winner. Bronze is split between THE PHOENIX and KNUCKLEHEADS —and honestly, can you argue with that? With so many wonderful musicians and clubs, voters just couldn’t decide between the two. BEST LOCAL ENTERTAINER The greatest entertainers in Kansas City are steeped in our rich history of music, and though not all of them can be jazz mu sicians, our Gold winner, LONNIE MC FADDEN , most certainly is. Raised in the heart of the 18th & Vine district, he keeps KC Jazz alive, touring all over the USA and appearing at clubs (including his own, Lonnie’s Reno Club) around town. From jazz to performance art, QUIXOTIC’s unique blend of dance, music, and pro jection clinch Silver —if you haven’t seen them, it’s a real treat. Two bands round out our list for Bronze : THE ZEROS and THE M-80’s , both bringing distinct styles and rhythms to music lovers.

The whole world might be a stage, but sometimes you just need to set a place apart to perform. Embracing both the Kansas City Symphony and Lyric Opera, KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE PER FORMING ARTS has brought grand music and grand performances to Kansas City since 2011. STARLIGHT THEATRE easily claims Silver with the 8,000-seat outdoor capacity to host everything from Broadway musicals to touring bands. BEST SPORTS EVENT TO ENTERTAIN CLIENTS The KANSAS CITY CHIEFS have been on a hot streak for a solid decade, so naturally, the voting tilts heavily to ward Arrowhead Stadium. Though it’s been a tough stretch for the KANSAS CITY ROYALS since packing fans into Kauffman Stadium for those World Se ries glory days in 2014-15, the team and venue still earn Silver status with our baseball-loving readers. For Bronze , look to SPORTING KANSAS CITY and Chil dren’s Mercy Park, where professional soccer draws ’em in.

KANSAS CITY'S BEST OF BUSINESS - ENTERTAINER - LONNIE MCFADDEN "Lonnie brings the history and vibe of KC Jazz to life...and man oh man, is his energy contagious! You will hear songs take on an entirely new life just by their enthusiasm, timing and artistry." - Kurt, Google Review

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Best of Business Kansas City 2023

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