If you’re staying downtown or at any of the conference hotels, the Power and Light district provides convenient places to eat, drink, and connect with friends due to its close proximity. Only a couple of blocks from the convention center, this district offers a WIDE variety of retail & restaurants. Although some of the restaurants are national or regional chains, the offerings here represent a variety of ethnicities and styles of food and many are roomy enough for large parties of people. Cosentino’s Market is right on the edge of Power & Light. If you missed our earlier blog about the magnificence of the market, check that out here. 
Johnny’s Tavern, which is a small regional chain that began in Lawrence, KS, is always a great place for an incredible “world famous” burger, or wings. And while Johnny’s also has delicious Pizza, it’s hard to compete with the an actual Pizza Bar, which is a Kansas City original. Take a few friends and share a few ‘zas, because with the wide variety of options, it would be hard to pick just one! Looking for a healthier option? Locally owned and operated, the Mixx offers the freshest ingredients and a variety of creative concoctions in the form of its homemade salads, soups and sandwiches. 
The Mixx serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and also features seasonal grab-and-go meals and advance ordering options, which are ideal for conference attendees! On the other hand, if you want to treat yourself, try the family owned and operated, Mema’s Bakery. If you’ve never had Povitica, definitely don’t have theirs. It will spoil you for the rest of your life. Power and Light is also one of the biggest hotspots for night life. You’ll find plenty of bars, clubs and often live music. You can Howl at the Moon at a trendy dueling piano bar, or feel a little devilish at Angel’s Rock Bar, or be independent and do your own thing at the 
Indie Bar, which, although it’s designed to be a pre-show-at-the-midland drink or post-show nightcap spot, is too hip & chill to skip. Wherever you chose to get your groove on, know that bars in KC close at 3am. Check out Dine-Drink-Play for a list of more places to eat, shop, and drink in the nearby Power and Light District.
If you’re looking for something more upscale, The Plaza is Kansas City’s upscale central district for shopping and dining and is a short drive from the exhibitions located at the Nelson Atkins, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City Art Institute and UMKC. It’s Spanish architecture is covered with vast amounts of tile work and is surrounded with fountains. There are many chain clothing stores there including H&M, Banana Republic, American Apparel, and Urban Outfitters to name a few. You can also catch a movie at the Cinemark Palace at the Plaza for an evening break from shopping. If you’re in the mood for some family size portioned Italian eats, head to Buca di Beppo. Their maze-like restuarant could keep anyone entertained, as the walls are covered with hilarious decorations (just be sure to ask where the bathroom is before you go looking for it). From just spaghetti to Chicken Parmesan, their food is exceptional. Here are a few more of the many choices the Country Club Plaza has to offer:
Buca di Beppo
310 West 47th Street Kansas City, MO 64112
Chuy`s
209 W. 46th Terrace Kansas City, MO 64112
Tomfooleries Restaurant and Bar (Breakfast Buffet)
612 West 47th Street Kansas City, MO 64112
Scooter’s Coffee and Yogurt
446 West 47th Street Kansas City, MO 64112
P.F. Chang`s
102 West 47th Street Kansas City, MO 64112
Potbelly Sandwich Shop
4725 Broadway Kansas City, MO 64112
Zoes Kitchen
100 Ward Parkway Kansas City, MO 64112
The Cheesecake Factory
4701 Wyandotte Kansas City, MO 64112
Cold Stone Creamery
114 West 47th Street Kansas City, MO 64112
Bo Lings
4701 Jefferson St, Kansas City, MO 64112
Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse
222 W 47th St, Kansas City, MO 64112
