76,000 of your closest friends

Arrowhead Stadium: A KC Chiefs Game Day Experience

Kansas City, MO

 

A pleasant fall Sunday in Kansas City with 76,000 of your closest friends OR to put more simply..   

A huge back yard barbeque with a long list of different people and personalities from all different walks of life who are united as ONE with the same goal in mind = Tailgate HARD and a Chiefs WIN.

…Flags fly valiantly throughout as the cool morning breeze kicks in as you pull in with your crew into the Truman Sports Complex parking lot at about 8:50 AM.  Crack your first cold beer or take a drink from a spicy bloody marry with just the right amount of worsheshere and pepper.  Open the bags of chips, plow through them until you get serious and have to help set up the chairs and get your area set up to enjoy this Chiefs Sunday with your friends and family.   

Next, and probably the most important thing, get the football out.  Lick your fingers find the grip along the laces, feel the tact of the worn leather, do a couple of arm swings and tell your friend to go deep.  Footballs are flying everywhere where you take your place in the fray of competition with old athletes and younger ones just beginning their journey.  

As the sun rises higher in the east providing an invisible surge of power, the atmosphere in the complex is changing, metamorphosing, and taking on a life of its own.  You actually FEEL like you are a part of a living, breathing thing with its own rhythm and heartbeat, it’s incredible. 

The anticipation for game day, matchups, rivalries, hope, play-off aspirations, deep conversations, reminiscing about good stories of the past, jersey’s, team colors, team hats, sunglasses, THE COLOR RED, pumping music, trembling base, delicious smells of food in the air, taking a shot, chasing it down with another beer, barbeque, laughter, pictures, washers hitting the concrete and rolling around, more bottle caps falling and the sound of “ting” as they hit the ground with hundreds of others; A daring cook sets out their famous chili and insists it’s even better over your hot dog you are eating.  And then an errant pass wobbles into your zone from another group..the person apologizes to be cordial, but why?  You are now friends with everybody.  WE are Chiefs fans. 

“NO PROBLEM, I got this, Just go deep.”

It’s at this moment, when you take a seat, take in the beautiful morning and embrace where you are, Football USA.  You crack your last beer and get one ready to take with you as you prepare to make your way towards the front of the stadium.  But don’t forget..eat a couple more of those homemade brownies, “Who the hell made these?, they are awesome!!”  

A sleeping giant has just been awakened and they are your 76,000 Chiefs fans.  Make your way to your seats, settle in, fire up your vocal cords and cheer as our team bursts through the stadium tunnel.  The crowd noise is deafening and the game is about to begin.  You are in Arrowhead Stadium, home of the Kansas City Chiefs where memories have been and will continue to always be made. 

98.9% A+

Special Note:  As today is the 15^th anniversary of 9/11, I can’t imagine the pride and respect our NFL cities and fans will give when the Star Spangled Banner is sung in stadiums around the country.  Special thank you and hats off to our local Whiteman Air Force Base when they send out their military fly over today.  We will feel it in our bones.

Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice

Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice

It's here.  The huge movie blockbuster you have been waiting to see for years, and from what I learned it cost Warner Bros. Studios $400 million dollars to make, and as a sci-Fi and comic book movie fan in all spectrums this movie ...

DELIVERS.

I will do my best not to give anything away, but Ben Affleck is solid as the new Batman. Henry Cavil, great performance as Superman (Vs. the timeless Christopher Reeves)., One thing you have to understand is these new and forthcoming DC comic book movies are NOT like the happy go lucky and often at times comedic Avenger character movies. DC, Batman has always been dark, violent and criminals will be unmercifully disposed of. This movie follows that path. Trust me you will gasp in awe in one particular scene when violence is like candy, but awesome.

My advice is do not allow your 6-10 year old son see this flick. This is an adult super hero flick, very entertaining once it gets going. The only part that sucks is how Zack Snyder the director trys to make it a serious drama with deep emotions and confuses the hell out of you at times, but.. Once it gets rolling it's bad ass, especially the epic battle between B vs. S. Jessie Eisenberg as Lex Luther is good, Gal Gadot as the new Wonder Woman is another good choice, and all the other characters have a good place. This movie is massive and I would love to be a fly on the wall in a secret Hollywood office and hear their plans for the next Justice League in a couple years.

88.6% B+

Family Man's Escape: Restuarant Review - STROUD'S

A great day of work between me and my wife on a regular Wednesday turned into celebrating with our family at Stroud's in Independence, MO (The restaurant's newest location near Lees Summit, MO)

I had not been to Stroud's in KC for at least 20 years, and my expectations were high because everybody talks about their fried chicken and how you have to wait a little longer for it to cook, so that's exactly what I was getting!  Unfortunately, the food was good, not great.  I have had this meal several times over at various grandmother's houses and regular kitchens with average cooks.

It's pan fried, but there was nothing really special about it.  It came out within 40 minutes after ordering it which was right on, it was moist and tender, I ate over 3/4 of my plate of food, but the main star, the chicken had NO real flavor.  The Green beans were ok, mashed potatoes and gravy all the same.  The house made cottage potato fries were also bland and mundane, plus when I picked up one and had to shake off oil that was resting at the bottom of it and my plate, it was over.

I will say their "Choker Chicken Drink" is really good and will sneak up on you.  It is listed with all of the beer selections, but is actually a cocktail.  It's a take on a hurricane drink you would order in Memphis, TN.  If you get invited to go there with your family or for another occasion order that.

My next visit will be to Rye in Mission Farms, KS.  I understand they have excellent fried chicken with some unique flavor.  Keep an eye out for my review on that soon.

Stroud's = 74% C

Have a great Easter weekend everybody, thanks -


 

 

 

 

Movie review: Mission Impossible Rogue Nation

Awesome action scenes, highly highly recommend checking this flick out!  The motorcycles scene is phenomenal and Tom Cruise is still a huge movie star and can carry more of these movies. Grab a date or your buddy or wife and enjoy.
95.2% A.
Thx for reading guys, your favorite family man

MLB Spring Training, Cactus League - Scottsdale, AZ

I was very, very impressed with my first experience seeing a MLB Spring Training Game in the Cactus League, The Colorado Rockies vs The LA Dodgers at Salt River Fields in the brand new Talking Stick Park in Scottsdale, AZ.

It was an official MLB field but in a much smaller stadium, perfect venue to spend an afternoon and enjoy the AZ sunshine, cold beer and top notch stadium food. The entire outfield is grass for the fans to lay out on beach blankets and be apart of the place to be.  It looked like a grass beach in a baseball desert. See pictures.

Everybody was partying, a college like atmosphere, fans representing their favorite teams, in this social sporting hotspot in Scottsdale.  If you are a baseball fan and want to be with thousands of your own kind from all parts of the country check this place out!
I highly recommend taking in a game at this facility the next time your in AZ during the spring months or when you take your next family man's spring break.

93.3A

Sheppard's Pie, Summit Grill and Bar, Lees Summit, MO

I have already reviewed this restaurant in Lees Summit, MO in a previous post, but I had to post these pictures of their special St. Paddy's Day Dinner Selection - Sheppard's Pie - FANTASTIC, ask for it!

Food Review: Morton's Steakhouse, Scottsdale, AZ

Food Review:  Morton’s Steakhouse – Scottsdale, AZ

Well , it finally happened, I had hands down the best 24 oz. Chicago Style bone in rib eye of my life! See picture attached.  The picture does not give it justice, this steak was absolutely ridiculous.

I had never been to a Morton’s restaurant before, and this was a real treat.  A very creamy and not too thick lobster bisque started the meal (see picture) paired with a stiff Manhattan with Makers Mark topped with marachino cherries.   The bisque did not fill you up, which was a good thing... because more times than not a bisque is to heavy or over does the brandy on top.  Morton’s did not and I was eating the broth up as fast I could like finishing up the milk in a bowl of Cheerios, deeelisshh!

Now, the steak – BRUTAL!!, the Chicago Style bone in rib eye 24 oz. came out with a nice crispy charred crust and bringing a smoky aroma of holy shit this going to be good!  As I graciously cut into it, I was rewarded to a picture perfect medium rare inside, warm, buttery, satisfying and it tasted delicious.  Side dishes were lionase potatos with grilled onions, roasted brussel sprouts and earthy green creamed spinach with plum mushrooms bursting with flavor, just like you were eating from the garden, outstanding! 

I inhaled the bisque, the steak, apps.. I ate the whole damn thing feeling overly full but well worth the little discomfort which eventually subsided.. because of…

The Hot Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream Dessert! (see picture).  This is a dessert that has to be ordered in advance because the chocolate melts inside the cake and keeps it warm, so when you cut into the crispy crust, out she comes.. plus with the vanilla ice cream, it gives it a sensational finish.

A very big thank you goes out to Dr. MJ for inviting me with him and his associate, Dr. G., excellent evening out from our technology work weekend in Scottsdale!

If you have a chance to eat at a Morton’s, EAT AT MORTON’S!

96.5 A