AROUND TOWN

VALENTINE’S DATES

NO RESERVATIONS NEEDED

WRITTEN BY JULIE BURTON

Valentine’s Day is typically about roses, chocolate, and a nice dinner out. And a Hallmark card. Don’t forget the Hallmark card. This is Kansas City, after all. All of those things are very nice, but why not change it up with your Valentine? Drop the dinner reservation and make a fun date out of Valentine’s Day. Just don’t forget the roses.

Battle It Out at the Cardboard Corner Café cardboardcornerkc.com

There are many ways to express love. Besting your beau at board games is a pretty good one. Cardboard Corner Café has over 800 tabletop games for you to play—for free! They have everything from traditional games like Scrabble and Scattergories to cooperative games, educational games, and deductive reasoning games.

Cardboard Corner Café has a waffle selection on their menu that is almost as expansive as the games. There is a full bar and a coffee menu as well. Come for a quick, 15-minute game or for a three-hour voyage—this is one date night you won’t forget.

Photos Above Courtesy of The Cardboard Corner Café

Cook Together at the KC Culinary Center of Kansas City kcculinary.com

They say love goes through the stomach. KC Culinary Center of Kansas City does love well. Whether you want to learn to cook or maybe want your partner to learn to be a better cook, KC Culinary has a class for you. Each class is taught by a professional chef, and you’re right there cooking alongside the pro. February classes include “Kick-Butt Steak and Seafood,” “La Paella: The Ultimate Spanish Party Dish,” and “Friday Night Sushi Party!” There are many more choices, so head to their website and find a class to share on your date night.

Play Bingo at Boulevard’s Beer Hall boulevard.com

Valentine’s Day is on a Monday this year, but why not celebrate a day early? It’s Sunday Funday at Boulevard’s Beer Hall. Every Sunday, the Beer Hall hosts bingo. The doors open at 10 am and bingo starts at 11 am. Grab your date, grab a beer, and grab a daub-

Photos Above Courtesy of Boulevard Brewing Co.

er. Bingo is free and there are plenty of prizes and snacks. When bingo is over, stick around and check out the beer hall. There’s plenty to do and more beer to drink. After all, it’s Sunday Funday.

Spend the Day at Bar K barkdogbar.com

If you haven’t been to Bar K, you probably don’t have a dog. But that’s the beauty of Bar K. You don’t need a dog to play with other peoples’ dogs. Bar K is a restaurant and off-leash dog park. It’s open year-round, even in the cold February temps. There’s an outdoor bar with heaters in the winter. You can’t help but smile and have a good time at Bar K. Go ahead, bundle up and run around with the dogs at Bar K. If you have a dog, third wheel the dog on your date too.

Take a Day Trip to Weston, Missouri westonmo.com

Take a mini vacation with your love. Take a day trip to the historic Weston, Missouri. Weston is the “best small town in Missouri,” and it’s less than an hour away from Kansas City. Founded in 1837, Weston feels like a simpler time, but it’s loaded with local-crafted beer, wine, whiskey, cigars, and roasted coffee. It’s also an antique lover’s dream with the antique shopping. It’s even better if you reserve a sweet B&B and make a weekend of it. There are plenty of museums to explore and diverse restaurants to try.

Play Pickleball at Chicken N Pickle chickennpickle.com

Whether you live in the Northland or somewhere along U.S. 69 South, there’s a Chicken N Pickle near you. Pickleball (and really good food) is the rage right now. Pickleball is a sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Chicken N Pickle has courts indoors and out for you and your valentine.

Chicken N Pickle was conceived in the Grand Cayman Islands over cold beer and jerk chicken. A love for wood-fired chicken and the game of pickleball led to the 2016 founding of Chicken N Pickle’s flagship location in Kansas City. Chicken N Pickle quickly expanded into other markets, including a new one in Overland Park.

Photo Above Courtesy of The Culinary Center of Kansas City