Kansas City, Missouri

The fitness facility at the Denver Ritz-Carlton is one I remembered from 2008 and is a tie with the San Francisco Four Seasons facility for best gym. I left an 8 o'clock wake up call in order to do a good 90 minute push in there and still get breakfast before they quit serving at 10. Bags out the door at noon and we departed for the airport at 1 for an 90 minute flight to Kansas City, Missouri.

Tonight's venue, The Midland Theatre, was built in 1927 and is a jewel with a domed, ornate ceiling, crystal chandeliers, yards of gold leaf, red velvet and white marble. It was a full house with 2,200 capacity in attendance. Like Denver, K.C. was a wildly enthusiastic audience and MK and band delivered by the truck load. The thing I find remarkable is that the 2+ hours go by in what feels like 20 minutes, the sign of a well paced show and everyone loving what they're doing.

And so, we were in the cars and heading for the Kansas City executive airport feeling like we'd only got warmed up. It was a good thing that we were warmed up as air hostess Diane had our work cut out for us with dinner. Massive slabs of the most spectacular ribs in history from a little joint called Oklahoma Joe's. Serious Kansas City barbecue, beautifully smoked, dry rub, tender and massively delicious accompanied by red beans, rice and cool creamy coleslaw. Cries of ecstasy came from every table in the plane and pictures were taken. There was so much meat on each of these slabs that I filled my flesh quota for the decade in one sitting. I'm proud to say the only thing left on everyone's plate were the bones. About the time dinner was cleared we were landing in Chicago where we'll base for the next 6 days.

So long,

Richard