TG Friendly in the Heart of America

“Kansas City Here I Come”

By Cynthia Roberts (CJ)


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There are many legends, songs sung and stories written about Kansas City, Missouri. This city has been made famous by such notorious outlaw’s as Frank and Jesse James, Billy the Kid and many others.

Songs such as “Kansas City”, and “Kansas City Here I Come” have made Kansas City famous far beyond the borders of the United States. Kansas City was home to some of the United States leading Jazz musicians. Our cultural claim to fame comes from having the second largest number of fountains in the world. Our museums are rich in contemporary art and historical perspective. We have a booming movie filming industry here and in Kansas.

When you go to the movies you can’t help but notice the central theme portraying Kansas City as a rough and tumble home to some of the rowdiest cowboys north of Texas and Oklahoma. Recently a movie filmed in and written about Kansas City was nominated for a foreign films award at the Cannes film festival. And who can forget the line “I don’t think we are in Kansas anymore Toto” from the Wizard of OZ?

Yes “ladies” we in Missouri share the same city with the great state of Kansas. You might be asking, all this history is fine but, what about the Kansas City of today? What makes this town so important to those of us in the Transgendered community? How about being home to one of the largest populations of individuals living an “alternative” lifestyle in the nation.

TG Friendly Town

A friendly supportive atmosphere, where you are judged by your deeds not what you look like or how you dress. Or, quite possibly that within an area of 20 miles there are more establishments catering to our particular lifestyle than you could imagine, from clothing stores to museums, restaurants and dance clubs and all dedicated to making your life fun and memorable.

What ever you want you can find it here. Want to try out your new outfit, your new look, order dinner in a upscale restaurant, dance the night away or sing songs until the sun rises or just explore your female personality? To fulfill your wildest dreams come to Kansas City, where it is still anything goes.

Before you take that first dainty step into the alluring and intoxicating night-life of Kansas City, you need some new clothes! What girl would be caught out at a nice restaurant or dancing in last year's fashions (not this girl!)?

Shopping enfemme has never been easier, we have Dillards and JC Penney outlet shops, specialty shops with private fittings, beauty salons that treat you like a queen ( no pun intended ). There are cosmetic counters that cater to the special needs of our skin, wig and beauty stores that will help you select the perfect hair style for your female persona (reasonably priced to).

Girls, don’t forget shoes, from tennis shoes for the sports minded, to flats for casual wear or high heeled pumps for dining and dancing we have the shoes for you in the right size, color and price, right here right now within a thirty minute drive of downtown. To me heaven is Kansas City for the lifestyle I choose to lead. Now, your new outfit fits perfectly, your shoes and accessories match, your makeup is perfect and you have never looked more beautiful and felt so feminine, are you ready to paint the town? Then lets go!

Nightlife

Kansas City night life starts with a delicious dinner at Mari’s Tea Room at 18th and Grand Avenue, were you are seated by the headwaiter and offered a drink from the bar and informed of the specialty of the day. You might start with a tremendous shrimp salad with cocktail sauce, or perhaps the sampler platter with mozzarella sticks, poppers, onion rings and fried zucchini. For your main course you might select the Prime Rib prepared just to your liking (done, but don’t kill it), the Poached Salmon with a simply tantalizing honey mustard sauce or the Chicken Alfredo with creamy noodles. If you are still hungry after your meal you will be offered the desert specials. How about a freshly baked spiced apple pie or a cheese cake smothered in a cherry sauce to put a pucker in even the most discriminating palates? And what would a perfect ladies night out dinner be without a cup of freshly brewed coffee to put the finishing touch on a wonderful meal?

After dinner you could go downstairs and try your beautiful singing voice at the “open mike” Sunday nights with the Missie B’s Bad Girls. Or you could go club hopping at any of the lively alternative friendly nightclubs in town. The Vineyard at 11th and Grand is a fabulous place to catch shows on most nights of the week (Friday and Saturday are tops). If you are into leather and are all that entails you need to go to the Dixie Belle at 18th and Main. You can dance the night away to some of the hottest New-wave and alternative sounds on the their spacious dance floor (always crowded), or enjoy shopping in their leather store. You could go next door and visit “Tootsies” the crowd is always fun and the dancing is close. You will find women with other women or other “women”. The drinks are reasonably priced and always good. If music with more base or rap is more up your alley than the Edge, as one of the premier alternative clubs is were you could see and be seen (the rest- rooms are communal, but that can be fun to). I hate to leave out any clubs or nightspots but, space is limited and “discovering” clubs on your own after being out a few times yourself is fun.

For those wanting to get a fast start on the Kansas City scene, here is a partial list (use the phone book and look up the address and phone number) or keep an eye on the club section of TG Forum for updates: Missie B’s (Shows & Lounge), Buddies (Country Dancing), Sidekicks (Country Dancing), Bottoms up (Lounge, Shows), Utter House (Shows & Lounge), Cabaret (Shows & Lounge), Atlantis (Thursday Night Dancing & Bar & Karoke). If you find you can’t drive back to the hotel or home, the taxi service in Kansas City is always cooperative and non- judgmental. Rather than using a taxi, I suggest a designated driver, besides going out with another “girl” or your SO who shares your taste in entertainment is what being a woman and being out and about is all about anyway (isn’t it?).

To end your first night in Kansas City and quite possibly the most memorable night of your female life, I would suggest breakfast at Nichol’s at the corner of Southwest Traffic Way and 39th street right in front of Missie B’s. The staff is a hoot and they enjoy our business, they often participate in our ribald humor and antics while serving one of the largest proportions of food you have ever had (if you are on a diet, forget finishing your meal). The customers other than TG, TV or TS don’t know what to make of our nightly invasion but, they are very kind and sometimes you can get one of the “straight” crowd to even talk to you. When this happens the questions will always turn to “why do you were a dress” the answer is always the same “why do you?, or why do you were pants”? “Because society tells us this is or is not appropriate”? I almost always end my exchange with, “Do you always believe or do what others tell you”? The exchange of questions and answers is quite fun, and who knows maybe we can spread the word that we are just like anyone else only prettier! When you are done with breakfast, GO HOME! You need your beauty sleep to start all over again tomorrow, or rest up for next weekend. We are always here for you in Kansas City, Missouri! Lets party till the cows come home and start our own piece of history by enjoying our choice of lifestyle to the hilt.


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