Just ate at Joe's Kansas City BBQ (2 Viewers)

[Galileo]

I have returned from SLAPs. My menu consisted of Burnt Ends, Brisket, Hush Puppies and Cheesy Corn washed down with a Shock Top Belgian White (not much of a beer selection, but that's not what I came for, so we'll give that a pass).

Burnt ends...Very good, nice bark yet still tender.  Not as good as I recall from Arthur Bryant's, but it was a year ago that I had AB's making it tough to give a completely reliable comparison.  Solid and certainly better than anything I can find at home.

Brisket...sort of bland, no real smoke flavor to it.  I was a little disappointed...needed to drown it in sauce for some flavor, but it was very tender.  I know I could find better in Cleveland and that isn't saying much.

Hush Puppies...fantastic.  I am no hush puppy aficionado, but compared to what I have had in the past, these were excellent.

Cheesy Corn...I was a cheesy corn virgin so I have no standards for comparison, but this was a solid side dish...would order again.

Sauces...they had two sauces available in bottles on the tables.  They were average, nothing to write home about, but not bad  They said one was spicy and one was sweet.  The spicy one had a little more traditional BBQ sauce flavor and look to it.  It had a small amount of heat, but they probably shouldn't be advertising it as spicy...more of a "medium" at best.  Both sauces seemed a little thin when pouring, but they could still cling to the meat so no big deal there.   

Third party commentary - The guy I went with had ribs and thought they were really good (I am saving my ribs experience for Gates tomorrow).  He also had good things to say about the Cole slaw.  I didn't try either of those, so I can not confirm.

 

[ChiefD]

I have returned from SLAPs. My menu consisted of Burnt Ends, Brisket, Hush Puppies and Cheesy Corn washed down with a Shock Top Belgian White (not much of a beer selection, but that's not what I came for, so we'll give that a pass).

Burnt ends...Very good, nice bark yet still tender.  Not as good as I recall from Arthur Bryant's, but it was a year ago that I had AB's making it tough to give a completely reliable comparison.  Solid and certainly better than anything I can find at home.

Brisket...sort of bland, no real smoke flavor to it.  I was a little disappointed...needed to drown it in sauce for some flavor, but it was very tender.  I know I could find better in Cleveland and that isn't saying much.

Hush Puppies...fantastic.  I am no hush puppy aficionado, but compared to what I have had in the past, these were excellent.

Cheesy Corn...I was a cheesy corn virgin so I have no standards for comparison, but this was a solid side dish...would order again.

Sauces...they had two sauces available in bottles on the tables.  They were average, nothing to write home about, but not bad  They said one was spicy and one was sweet.  The spicy one had a little more traditional BBQ sauce flavor and look to it.  It had a small amount of heat, but they probably shouldn't be advertising it as spicy...more of a "medium" at best.  Both sauces seemed a little thin when pouring, but they could still cling to the meat so no big deal there.   

Third party commentary - The guy I went with had ribs and thought they were really good (I am saving my ribs experience for Gates tomorrow).  He also had good things to say about the Cole slaw.  I didn't try either of those, so I can not confirm.

When you go to Gates tomorrow, be prepared. They are going to yell at you. "Hi may I Help Youuuuu!

Do not be a tourist and say: "What? You mean me? What?"

Just yell out:

"Slab to stay"

Then you get your sides and drink when you walk up to the counter. Get a pitcher of Bud. Enjoy my friend.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

When you go to Gates tomorrow, be prepared. They are going to yell at you. "Hi may I Help Youuuuu!

Do not be a tourist and say: "What? You mean me? What?"

Just yell out:

"Slab to stay"

Then you get your sides and drink when you walk up to the counter. Get a pitcher of Bud. Enjoy my friend.

Sage advice here.  Note the "L" in "help" often gets dropped, so it sounds like "Hi may I hep youuuu?"

The top two answers on the board to this question are:

"Slab to stay" (already covered)

"Burnt ends on bun" (this is code for "burnt ends with original sauce on a sandwich roll, please")

 

[Galileo]

When you go to Gates tomorrow, be prepared. They are going to yell at you. "Hi may I Help Youuuuu!

Do not be a tourist and say: "What? You mean me? What?"

Just yell out:

"Slab to stay"

Then you get your sides and drink when you walk up to the counter. Get a pitcher of Bud. Enjoy my friend.

Is this like a Soup Nazi sort of thing?  They going to throw me out if I can't decide between short end or long end?  

 

[TheFanatic]

KC BBQ>Everything else

Austin might argue with you on that one

 

[TheFanatic]

Check out the new kid on the block. Char Bar. 

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

@TheFanatic - couldn't find which thread I initially brought it up, but when I went to the Delmar Loop last week the group ended up eating at Pi Pizzeria.  My favorite thing I tried from there was "The Hill" on thin crust.  Outstanding slice of pizza.  

(On the way out of town the next day we hit up a Pasta House Co way out on I-70 for old times' sake.  No KC red sauce joint can make toasted ravioli like the STL institutions can.)

 

[TheFanatic]

@TheFanatic - couldn't find which thread I initially brought it up, but when I went to the Delmar Loop last week the group ended up eating at Pi Pizzeria.  My favorite thing I tried from there was "The Hill" on thin crust.  Outstanding slice of pizza.  

(On the way out of town the next day we hit up a Pasta House Co way out on I-70 for old times' sake.  No KC red sauce joint can make toasted ravioli like the STL institutions can.)

Pi is outstanding. We go to the one downtown a lot as it seems to be the least packed. I usually just custom order a pie and get whatever I feel like at the time. 

Can't beat an order of good toasted ravioli from time to time as long as it's fresh ravioli and not frozen. I believe the Pasta House makes theirs fresh. 

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

I  ribs.

Got some from Joe's.  Oh are they delightful.  And of course got some fries, too.

Went to Q39 last week.  They have  done an excellent job carving out their own section of the BBQ scene.  Shared a brisket & burnt ends plate and split a triple threat sandwich.  That made me very happy.

Q39 South (119th and Antioch, the old Hayward's Pit) has a sign out front saying "Open Fall 2017".  Looking forward to that.

 

[ChiefD]

I  ribs.

Got some from Joe's.  Oh are they delightful.  And of course got some fries, too.

Went to Q39 last week.  They have  done an excellent job carving out their own section of the BBQ scene.  Shared a brisket & burnt ends plate and split a triple threat sandwich.  That made me very happy.

Q39 South (119th and Antioch, the old Hayward's Pit) has a sign out front saying "Open Fall 2017".  Looking forward to that.

Still have not been to Q39 yet. Need to take my woman there. Maybe next weekend.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Still have not been to Q39 yet. Need to take my woman there. Maybe next weekend.

Their fries are nothing special.  And we know that you know fries.  I'd get the onion straws or the apple slaw instead.

They slice the brisket a little thicker than I like it, but it was like they were showing off how tender it was by not depending on a thin slice.  
Was nice having burnt ends right there on the menu - at my local Joe's they run out of burnt ends so quickly they don't even officially list and price them.  
Can't remember what they called it, but they had a sandwich on the menu of brisket, provolone, onion straws, and original BBQ sauce on a brioche bun.  They did not call it the "Z-Man".

The dining area is informal, but you are seated and they have a wait staff.  They are strict about not seating incomplete parties - we were seated ahead of a family who dropped the wife and kids off at the door while the husband parked the car.  

The plating is pretty.  They are definitely going for diners taking photos of their plates and posting them to social media.  
 
I was driving so I drank soda, but they had a broad beer selection and a few wines.

 

[Nugget]

Their fries are nothing special.  And we know that you know fries.  I'd get the onion straws or the apple slaw instead.

They slice the brisket a little thicker than I like it, but it was like they were showing off how tender it was by not depending on a thin slice.  
Was nice having burnt ends right there on the menu - at my local Joe's they run out of burnt ends so quickly they don't even officially list and price them.  
Can't remember what they called it, but they had a sandwich on the menu of brisket, provolone, onion straws, and original BBQ sauce on a brioche bun.  They did not call it the "Z-Man".

The dining area is informal, but you are seated and they have a wait staff.  They are strict about not seating incomplete parties - we were seated ahead of a family who dropped the wife and kids off at the door while the husband parked the car.  

The plating is pretty.  They are definitely going for diners taking photos of their plates and posting them to social media.  
 
I was driving so I drank soda, but they had a broad beer selection and a few wines.

I am 15 minutes into a 40 minute wait in front of Q39.  First time here. Going my to go for a meat sampler but skipping the sides that are not Keto friendly. 

 

[The Ref]

Crown Prime Beef Ribs

$125.... GTFO

 

[Nugget]

$125.... GTFO

They are cheaper at the restaurant. That is he shipped price. 

 

[The Ref]

Zagat was at the gas station yesterday

Sweet Jesus.... if I'm ever within 50 miles im going

 

[fightingillini]

Austin might argue with you on that one

Agree.   While I love the beef brisket at Joe's KC, I think the best beef brisket that I have eaten came from a BBQ place in Austin.....unfortunately I don't remember the name of it.

BBQ ribs.....pretty hard to beat various BBQ places in KC.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Sweet Jesus.... if I'm ever within 50 miles im going

In 2011, Anthony Bourdain wrote the article "13 Places To Eat Before You Die".  Joe's KC (then called Oklahoma Joe's) made the list.  It's the only restaurant he featured twice on No Reservations.  That may be a bit of an oversell - it is, at its core, a BBQ restaurant - but thanks to Bourdain's love of the place and a savvy social media campaign where the restaurant had a brief run ranked in the top 5 overall worldwide on Yelp, it's gotten pretty famous for visitors to hit up.  There is the occasional celebrity sighting, and reps of celebrities or famous groups - I was there once when the travelling secretary for the Minnesota Twins came by to pick up 30 Z-Mans to go for the team.  

 

[OrtonToOlsen]

They are cheaper at the restaurant. That is he shipped price. 

How much cheaper?

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

How much cheaper?

Those ribs a la carte at the restaurants are $40.  The mail order package comes with a pint of baked beans, a bottle of their original BBQ sauce, and a shaker of their all-purpose rub.  So about $58-60 total. 

 

[Chemical X]

Is Joe's BBQ run like the board?  i.e. - If you don't like your food, can you use the report function?  If you want to search for a menu item, does it fail repeatedly?  If you use a credit charge, there are no signatures?

 

[Limp Ditka]

Is Joe's BBQ run like the board?  i.e. - If you don't like your food, can you use the report function?  If you want to search for a menu item, does it fail repeatedly?  If you use a credit charge, there are no signatures?

And if you say mean things to other patrons, regardless of how moronic they might be, you can't come back for 17 days.

 

[Chemical X]

And if you say mean things to other patrons, regardless of how moronic they might be, you can't come back for 17 days.

Unless you don a disguise and slip in with an alias.

 

[Nugget]

I am 15 minutes into a 40 minute wait in front of Q39.  First time here. Going my to go for a meat sampler but skipping the sides that are not Keto friendly. 

Q39 was good but not top 5 in my book.  Burnt ends and ribs were solid, pork and sausage were below average, brisket was fair by KC standards.  Sampled the fries, beans, potato salad, and apple slaw - nothing here was note worthy.  

I'll give it another shot when they open off of Antioch, but I'm not going to drive to Westport and wait for it.  Everything they served Jack Stack does better and is closer for a similar price.  

*Q39 may have had more beer/booze selection, but I am an iced tea guy.

 

[Moe.]

Every time this thread gets bumped up to the first page I end up getting bbq for my next meal. Leaning Gates tonight.

 

[[icon]]

Zagat was at the gas station yesterday

Ha! I believe that is the same Southern Pride smoker we use at Memphis in May. Great cooker that can churn out a ####load of quality chow. 

 

[Galileo]

Every time this thread gets bumped, a little tear forms in the corner of my eye.

 

[sbonomo]

Crown Prime Beef Ribs

That looks great but the prices seem way out of whack 125 for:

Pork Spare Ribs (1 slab)

Pork Burnt Ends (1 lb.) 

Chopped BBQ Beef Brisket (1 lb.)

Fire-Kissed Chicken Wings (1 lb. plus)

KC Original BBQ Sauce (18 oz.)

I live in LA where prices are outrageous so folks from that area must really think it breaks the bank.   

 

[Nugget]

That looks great but the prices seem way out of whack 125 for:

Pork Spare Ribs (1 slab)

Pork Burnt Ends (1 lb.) 

Chopped BBQ Beef Brisket (1 lb.)

Fire-Kissed Chicken Wings (1 lb. plus)

KC Original BBQ Sauce (18 oz.)

I live in LA where prices are outrageous so folks from that area must really think it breaks the bank.   

We don't have to waste any money on beaches or mountains. All our disposable income goes to BBQ and new elastic for our suspenders. 

 

[Jobber]

Q39 is fantastic.  Not as big a name as the "Big Four" (Gates, Jack Stack, Arthur Bryant's, Joe's) , but they are on a HOF trajectory.

Another less-famous name that's really good is Jon Russell.  If either of those tournaments is at the Scheels Overland Park Soccer Complex, the Jon Russell restaurant is about a mile away.

Damn I forgot about your post. We were in KC twice this spring for tourneys. We went to Jack Stacks one of those times. Jon Russel next spring for sure.

 

[dhockster]

It looks like my brother and I are going to KC in September to watch the Eagles-Chiefs game. We will be there 2 nights. Give me one BBQ place and one other restaurant that we should eat at while in KC. We both have lived in Texas, so we like Texas BBQ, if that helps pick the BBQ place. Thanks for any recommendations.

 

[Nugget]

It looks like my brother and I are going to KC in September to watch the Eagles-Chiefs game. We will be there 2 nights. Give me one BBQ place and one other restaurant that we should eat at while in KC. We both have lived in Texas, so we like Texas BBQ, if that helps pick the BBQ place. Thanks for any recommendations.

Any ideas where you are staying?  If I had 2 nights in KC, I'd probably aim for the Plaza and then maybe Westport, River Market, or Power & Light.  Are you looking for more of a boozy atmosphere or something else?

 

[TheFanatic]

It looks like my brother and I are going to KC in September to watch the Eagles-Chiefs game. We will be there 2 nights. Give me one BBQ place and one other restaurant that we should eat at while in KC. We both have lived in Texas, so we like Texas BBQ, if that helps pick the BBQ place. Thanks for any recommendations.

Char Bar for BBQ

Gram and Dun for an all around great meal

 

[Joe Bryant]

It looks like my brother and I are going to KC in September to watch the Eagles-Chiefs game. We will be there 2 nights. Give me one BBQ place and one other restaurant that we should eat at while in KC. We both have lived in Texas, so we like Texas BBQ, if that helps pick the BBQ place. Thanks for any recommendations.

If you're from Texas and more old school Texas BBQ (no frills the way God intended it), I'd by far recommend the original Arthur Bryants on Brooklyn. The shark move is order it to go but eat there. To go means they wrap in butcher paper and pile stuff high way beyond what a plate can hold. The Brisket is 70% as good as what you'll get at the top Texas places but the experience is true BBQ. Fries are some of the best fries you'll get anywhere.

I've been to the original Joes and was meh. I know tons love it. I just don't like kaiser roll and provolone cheese on brisket though. 

 

[ChiefD]

It looks like my brother and I are going to KC in September to watch the Eagles-Chiefs game. We will be there 2 nights. Give me one BBQ place and one other restaurant that we should eat at while in KC. We both have lived in Texas, so we like Texas BBQ, if that helps pick the BBQ place. Thanks for any recommendations.

I would go to the original Kansas City Joe's on 47th Street for your BBQ. Get the burnt ends if possible. 

And the other restaurant would depend on where you are staying. 

 

[ChiefD]

A couple of local options:

Stroud's. Fried chicken and is served family style, so you get a ton of food.

Chappells. Bar food, but the memorabilia in this sports bar is off the charts. If you are staying anywhere close to downtown this is a GREAT place to go for lunch. 

Will post more as I think of them.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Tell me more about Strouds @ChiefD   I'm especially interested in the family style thing.

 

[Nugget]

Sporting KC should be playing Saturday night.  They can be fun down in P&L district at the pubs or you can go get tickets and head out to the stadium - fun atmosphere.

 

[TheFanatic]

A couple of local options:

Stroud's. Fried chicken and is served family style, so you get a ton of food.

Chappells. Bar food, but the memorabilia in this sports bar is off the charts. If you are staying anywhere close to downtown this is a GREAT place to go for lunch. 

Will post more as I think of them.

I've never eaten there, but my FiL has. Raves about it. He proudly wears a shirt from them that reads, "Strouds. Choking our chickens since 19__" (can't remember the year). 

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

It looks like my brother and I are going to KC in September to watch the Eagles-Chiefs game. We will be there 2 nights. Give me one BBQ place and one other restaurant that we should eat at while in KC. We both have lived in Texas, so we like Texas BBQ, if that helps pick the BBQ place. Thanks for any recommendations.

The "big four" are Gates, Jack Stack, Arthur Bryant's, and Joe's KC (formerly Oklahoma Joe's).  Two up-and-comers are Q39 and LC's.    

My favorite is Joe's, which I talk about a lot in this thread.  The original location is in a gas station (no shtick), and they have a couple satellite locations that are more like real restaurants, but are still the style where you order at the counter, get your food, and then take your table.  

KC people overall are friendly and polite, but at restaurants like these there will be an expectation that your entire group waits in line together and sits together - sending a scout ahead to reserve a table, especially when lines are long and tables in short supply, is frowned upon.  Just wanted to give you a heads-up on a local custom.    

Probably the closest to Texas-style brisket and sauce is Arthur Bryant's.  
If you prefer being seated and having wait staff, Jack Stack or Q39 is the way to go.  Q39 is hot right now so getting seated on a weekend will take a long time - their house isn't big enough to meet demand.  Jack Stack manages that process a little better.


Gameday.... Arrowhead Stadium doesn't have anything else really nearby - it's in the Truman Sports Complex, which consists of Arrowhead and Kaufman Stadiums, the Chiefs offices and practice facilities, and a gigantic parking lot surrounding both stadiums.  So game day is a big tailgating scene where vehicles start rolling in 5-6 hours before kickoff to get the grills going and start beverage service.  It's like a college football gameday experience, and probably a big reason why the game crowd is so loud.  It's a big part of the culture here - "Friday business casual" in the fall is "wear Chiefs gear".  But wanted to give you a heads-up if you're used to downtown stadiums where you meet up at a bar/grill ahead of time then walk to the stadium.  That's not gonna happen here.    

For other restaurants... recs are largely going to be based on where you're staying and what else you might do while you're in town.  My favorite pizza place is Spin, a local/regional chain that has several locations in the area.  Favorite Asian fusion is Bo Lings (think "bowling" without the 'w', like the Christmas dinner scene from A Christmas Story), about 4-5 locations in the area.  Nightlife areas will be the Power and Light District (downtown by Sprint Center), Westport, (little south of downtown just west of the state line), and Country Club Plaza (big shopping/eating district a little south of Westport).          
 

 

[Joe Bryant]

The "big four" are Gates, Jack Stack, Arthur Bryant's, and Joe's KC (formerly Oklahoma Joe's).  Two up-and-comers are Q39 and LC's.    

My favorite is Joe's, which I talk about a lot in this thread.  The original location is in a gas station (no shtick), and they have a couple satellite locations that are more like real restaurants, but are still the style where you order at the counter, get your food, and then take your table.  

KC people overall are friendly and polite, but at restaurants like these there will be an expectation that your entire group waits in line together and sits together - sending a scout ahead to reserve a table, especially when lines are long and tables in short supply, is frowned upon.  Just wanted to give you a heads-up on a local custom.    

Probably the closest to Texas-style brisket and sauce is Arthur Bryant's.  
If you prefer being seated and having wait staff, Jack Stack or Q39 is the way to go.  Q39 is hot right now so getting seated on a weekend will take a long time - their house isn't big enough to meet demand.  Jack Stack manages that process a little better.


Gameday.... Arrowhead Stadium doesn't have anything else really nearby - it's in the Truman Sports Complex, which consists of Arrowhead and Kaufman Stadiums, the Chiefs offices and practice facilities, and a gigantic parking lot surrounding both stadiums.  So game day is a big tailgating scene where vehicles start rolling in 5-6 hours before kickoff to get the grills going and start beverage service.  It's like a college football gameday experience, and probably a big reason why the game crowd is so loud.  It's a big part of the culture here - "Friday business casual" in the fall is "wear Chiefs gear".  But wanted to give you a heads-up if you're used to downtown stadiums where you meet up at a bar/grill ahead of time then walk to the stadium.  That's not gonna happen here.    

For other restaurants... recs are largely going to be based on where you're staying and what else you might do while you're in town.  My favorite pizza place is Spin, a local/regional chain that has several locations in the area.  Favorite Asian fusion is Bo Lings (think "bowling" without the 'w', like the Christmas dinner scene from A Christmas Story), about 4-5 locations in the area.  Nightlife areas will be the Power and Light District (downtown by Sprint Center), Westport, (little south of downtown just west of the state line), and Country Club Plaza (big shopping/eating district a little south of Westport).          
 

Great breakdown.

And FWIW, the "don't send one person to save your group a table" custom SHOULD be a local custom everywhere. 

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Tell me more about Strouds @ChiefD   I'm especially interested in the family style thing.

Stroud's is a local institution.  Pan fried chicken and sides done family style.  Get seated, make an estimate of how much the group is taking down, place one order for the table, wait for deliciousness to arrive.  

They might serve proteins other than pan fried chicken, but that not why were here.     

 

[Moe.]

I was going to type something up but then figured I would just wait for Bruce to do it and then say I agree with everything he posted. He puts his pants on the same way as the rest of us, but once those pants are on he makes some outstanding recommendations.

Post where you are staying and if you'll have a car or not, that will help with the other stuff. 

 

[Nugget]

Tell me more about Strouds @ChiefD   I'm especially interested in the family style thing.

I used to enjoy Stroud's when they were on 85th under the bridge.  They have more locations now and don't have the same feel that they used to.  

Lambert's and their thrown rolls is how Stroud's felt 25 years ago.   Now it is still good fried chicken but it feels more like I should be wearing a polo shirt.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Sporting KC should be playing Saturday night.  They can be fun down in P&L district at the pubs or you can go get tickets and head out to the stadium - fun atmosphere.

 the Speedway/Legends area isn't a bad way to spend an evening.  Sporting KC is out there, the KC T-Bones (independent minor league baseball team), of course the Kansas Speedway, Hollywood Casino, a Cabela's that has to be close to half a million square feet, several good restaurants to pick from including an Arthur Bryant's. 

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

I used to enjoy Stroud's when they were on 85th under the bridge.  They have more locations now and don't have the same feel that they used to.  

Lambert's and their thrown rolls is how Stroud's felt 25 years ago.   Now it is still good fried chicken but it feels more like I should be wearing a polo shirt.

The Lambert's in Ozark is a must-stop for the group I visit Table Rock Lake with annually.  Either saddle up early enough in the morning to hit Lambert's when it opens on the way down, or catch it on the way back.  Throwed Rolls FTW.

 

[dhockster]

Any ideas where you are staying?  If I had 2 nights in KC, I'd probably aim for the Plaza and then maybe Westport, River Market, or Power & Light.  Are you looking for more of a boozy atmosphere or something else?

Probably staying at the Westin downtown.

 

[dhockster]

It's going to be my brother and Sister-in-law and myself. We're all in our 50's so not looking for a big party scene. Good food and good people watching is probably what we are looking for. We are excited to rub elbows with some friendly Chiefs fans. As Eagles fans go, we are not obnoxious like most, but will wear our colors and cheer loudly. This is year one of going to an away Eagles game (one per year) to see as many NFL cities and stadiums as possible.

 

[Bruce Dickinson]

Great breakdown.

And FWIW, the "don't send one person to save your group a table" custom SHOULD be a local custom everywhere. 

 Once you get used to it, it's weird going to places that don't have that policy.  

Q39 has wait staff, but they honor the custom by not seating incomplete parties.  Last time we went there we got seated ahead of a group that dropped off the wife and kids at the door.  Our group all walked in before their driver got done parking the car, so we got sat while they waited for their driver to join them.

 

[Joe Bryant]

 Once you get used to it, it's weird going to places that don't have that policy.  

Q39 has wait staff, but they honor the custom by not seating incomplete parties.  Last time we went there we got seated ahead of a group that dropped off the wife and kids at the door.  Our group all walked in before their driver got done parking the car, so we got sat while they waited for their driver to join them.

I have a friend who will sit down at the table with his food when someone is saving a table. The person will say, "Sorry, I'm saving the table". He does the Ron Swanson, "No you're not". 

 

[ChiefD]

Another thing totally off the topic:

If you are looking for something to do on Saturday and like baseball and history, head over to the Negro Leagues Museum. It is really close to downtown and is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. It really is awesome.