KC Live! Block

Went to the Three Days Grace concert here. It was my first time being here. Loved it, first because it was outside so you could get some air; you could walk into different bars to refuel and come right back out to the band. I was so close to the stage! Definitely want to see more events here!

If you are the frat and sorority type that goes bar hopping and black out drunk, this is the place for you. And I’m dead serious.
There are a bunch of bars and restaurants next to each other in a «Town Center» type feel with live bands every week during the summer. It’s also 3 to 4 floors and the concerts are Free so it gets packed very quickly on the weekends.
They show the US Soccer matches on the big screen here which is fantastic if you want to watch among thousands of people.
I wouldn’t recommend families coming here for a Saturday night dinner unless your goal is to drink and drink all night.
Parking can be difficult for free concert nights, but try the garage by Constentino’s!

Fuq the power and light district, up against the wall with crazy glu on they lips and handcuffs. Fuq Em!!! I knew better and I went anyway. I entered from the parking garage and went straight up to PBR got a wristband. I go down to pizzabar to get some pizza and the guard wont let me go back to PBR because I don’t have a blue wristband. He told me to walk around outside the main entrance and pay $ 5 to get a blue wristband!!! KISS MY ASS, That’s the stupidest s*** I’ve ever heard in my life! You see I have a wristband from PBR why do I have to walk all the way around to pay $ 5 for a concert that I’m not even going to. I’m patronizing a bar in this area anyway. To make matters worse this idiot refuses to call his manager after I repeatedly requested that he call one. So after my cousin comes down from PBR and request that he call a manager, the manager comes around and says that if I just walk around and show them my PBR wristband they will give me a blue one! I said «Then why couldn’t the idiot just say that?» The manager tells me I’m doing that as a favor!!! Its 210 degrees with 110% humidity are you fuqin kidding me?!
I will never patronize this P&L again. Too many strikes!
Y’all fuqed up with that whole dress code thing when y’all first opened (hence the lawsuit)
Y’all fuqed up when DJ Jazzy Jeff came
Y’all fuq up with these wack watered down drinks
Now yall just tryna get Extra money with bad customer service, do what you do but you could have posted a sign. «$ 5 fee for reentry without a blue wristband» problem solved.
If I never go back again in life it’ll be too soon…

I came out to visit a friend who recently moved from LA/​OC to KC and while we were out bar hopping in the area it popped up on Unilocal that Neon Trees were playing a free concert here, so we finished up our drinks and wandered over. Kansas City, you are way cooler than anyone on the west coast talks about. Seriously. We bumped into a girl who had just moved up from Arkansas to start a job in KC and was so excited for city life, you wouldn’t believe. She wandered with us to find the show, then we all showed our IDs to the dude at the entrance and managed to get spots about 3 people back from the stage for the show.
The show was great, the people around were all amazingly friendly and the whole experience was awesome. The only slight bummer was that the only beverage options in the courtyard area were bud products and as we’d been drinking awesome Boulevard beers and craft cocktails all evening, I didn’t really want to switch to water-​beer so they missed out on our booze sales.
My one other little grump was that the venue was hard to find as it is NOT at the listed address. Unfortunately, as I’m pretty unfamiliar with the area, I’m not super helpful with explaining how to get there, but it’s in the open courtyard area behind the Maker’s Mark bar if that helps at all.

I love P&L during fun times like March Madness and the Big 12 Tournament.
HATE it on the weekends (Saturday nights especially).
As much as it seems like a place where tool bags hang out on the weekends, it was so much fun last week that I was on overload. Kansas City is way lucky to have the Sprint Center across the street from such a cool Live! Block area. Nice work KC!

Review caveat: This place is totally not my scene. I really don’t care for P&L, and I would be fine if it were renamed Wankerfest, Tennessee, as it often lives up to that, BUT there are some positives to this outdoor space.
Positives:
1. Big outdoor area with lots of areas for sitting/​standing, balconies for extra views etc. I prefer the balconies for concerts because it gives you a great view without all the pushing around, and you have the perfect viewpoint for ultimate people watching.
2. FREE CONCERTS. Yes, they hold free concerts here, and I have to give them props for that.
3. Port-​a-​bars and regular bars everywhere so you don’t have to wait long for drinks.
4. Free public restrooms (on the first level).
5. Free or cheapish parking.
6. Semi-​covered pavilion allows for shelter and breeze.
7. Bands seem to love how packed it appears, and people can pile in around and above them.
8. Beer isn’t cheap, but it isn’t astronomical either.
Negatives:
1. PARKING — -What a nightmare! For crowded shows there are long lines to park in the free garage. After waiting in a non-​moving line for 5 minutes, we eventually gave up and went to a $ 5 garage (directly North of KCLive — 12^th & walnut). Due to all the reserved parking spots, we had to park on the 4^th floor. I didn’t think anything of this, until we left the show. WE WAITED IN THE PARKING GARAGE EXIT QUEUE FOR 1 HOUR TO EXIT. I repeat, ONE HOUR TO EXIT A *&^**&^ GARAGE. It was wild. The garage appears to have 2 exit lanes, and a lot of incompetent people parking in it. It was ridiculous. The logistics of this are absurd and need to be corrected. For example, perhaps for big events they should temporarily turn the entrance into a cash only exit. Make this some urban planning/​engineering major’s semester project and fix this mess. It’s idiotic. (Oh and the free garage appeared to be empty way before the paid one…:-/)
2. The acoustics can be rough here. The bands sound good, but the lyrics and talking sound is so garbled it might as well be in another language.
3. Some douchey-​ness is always present… some pushing, fighting, chest puffing, etc. but it’s usually pretty managed.

alot has changed in my hometown kcmo in the last 10yrs… one of the best things is the kc power and light district!
this kc live block is an awesome place listen live music!

Great area for entertainment and food the website has a list of up comming free events. There is also a trolley car that travels down to it so you don’t have to battle parking or if you want to drink.

I stopped down to meet some friends who were visiting and when I walked up to the venue and presented my ID I was told there was a $ 10 cover charge (with a couple of drink tickets included.)
I will freely admit that the Power and Light District is not my normal scene, but I absolutely will not pay a cover to walk in the middle of an open facility that my tax dollars paid (and are still paying for.) If the individual bars want to charge a cover that’s fine, but I find it unconscious that the Cordish Group is charging just to walk through the area.
No thank you. I will go and support a local business instead.

Meh. This place leaves me lukewarm. I am not a big fan of chain restaurants or bars. Most of the crowd seems to be bachelorette parties, out of towners or suburbanites. If that is your demographic, this is probably a good fit.

This place has a split personality. This area is KC Live, kind of inbetween all the mediocre bars and restaurants in the P and L district. I don’t like the P and L district.
During the day, when it’s warm outside, this area can be kind of cool to walk around, but face it, there’s not much to do. Sit around. That’s it. No shops, atleast I can’t think of any. The bowling alley is kind of cool. I’ve not been though, at night when it’s hella crowded. I doubt if they’d let us in, my son’s girlfriend is just 18.
During the night, well, if you are under 21, forget it. Sometimes they have concerts. Saliva played at KC Live. The concerts maybe under 21. They also have the Chiefs pep rally. If you get there early enough, you can actually get a legit place to park. I went to the Chiefs rally. It’s during the day, an all ages event. Lame, they serve the same drinks at night that they do during the day.
Frankly, the area is void of anything that does not include alcoholic beverages. I don’t get that. I don’t get the idea of an area based on a bunch of stuck up bars, with an outside area, no shops? I can drink elsewhere. I can walk around in more interesting places. Granted a couple of the bars are on my list to visit in this area. Unless they have decent shows, why even bother? It’s just an outside venue, and not any fun. It’s actually my reasoning to not even go to that area in Kansas City. I’d rather the Crossroads.,

If you’re visiting KC and need something to do, then the KC Live! area will offer something for everyone. It’s more of a chain/​corporate type of entertainment venue. However from a beer brewery to a bowling alley, a bourbon lounge and a club I’m certain you’ll be able to enjoy something!
It’s open late so you can always end your night in the heart of KC or start your night and head else where. Keep in mind most of the club/​bar places will charge a cover and have your ID handy b/​c you will need it to enter the main area.
I find this to be the collection of young and old and mostly party going young bucks having an awfully good time, drinking shots by the handful and acting a mess. But hey it’s worth the visit at least once or twice in the evening to get the feel. During the day it’s great to bask in the sun, enjoy the live music and sip a cocktail from the Makers Mark Lounge! Or maybe hit up Flying Saucer and sip one of the beers on tap out of about 50.
I’ve always found myself enjoying the Power and Light district even if it is a little touristy.

Honestly, I’m just not sure how to rate this place. I live a couple of blocks away, so part of me absolutely hates the P&L in general due to obnoxious, loud drunks populating the streets and puking/​dumping trash/​passing out in my park on weekend nights. But another part of me is happy to see so many people coming downtown, even if ¾ of them are d-​bags.
I tend to only go when friends are visiting from out of town. The free summer concerts are nice and it’s a convenient spot to pop in for a drink pre-​Sprint Center show.
But I like coming here during the day when not so many people are around. They call it the Living Room, I guess because of the couches and chairs. But it’s a nice place to hang out and read a book or bring your laptop. Two things would make it perfect: 1. If they let you actually bring food in from outside and 2. If you could bring your dog. I understand they want you to buy food from their chain restaurants right there, but forcing you to do it is a little assholish. If those restaurants actually served good food, maybe I wouldn’t mind.
And come on, it’s OUTSIDE. Why can’t my dog come in a lay at my feet while I eat crappy food from McFadden’s and read a book? Lame.
I had high hopes for this place while it was under construction that it didn’t even come close to living up to.
It’s nice to see activity downtown… so to all the dbags, I say, «Come on downtown and spend your money!» I’ll be hanging out somewhere else.

Amateur hour. Young people acting stupid.
And somehow they manage to keep the place totally «white,» if you know what I mean. I hear they use the «dress code» to profile. Yuk. I wish for good things, really I do, because the city dropped so much $$ on this ordeal. But for now its a giant frat party in the city.

I thought it was bad before, but now one of my friends got roofie’d there.
Keep it classy, KC…

This isn’t your local flavor.
It’s mostly filled with chains and has a very corporate feel to it. That being said. It’s still pretty fun and like I always say, it’s not where you go, it’s who you go with.
Yes, it is expensive. A couple tips: hit up Raglan Road for good beer for the same price as the rest of the area. Go inside the bars to buy your drinks, it’s usually cheaper unless one of those stands is having a special. Drink heavily to fit in.

What’s not to like? I mean seriously?
KC Live is the closest thing Kansas City has to Bourbon St. With the ability to go bar hopping (alcohol in hand), it’s definately a different feeling from Westport or other parts of town.
Being from New Orleans, this is only natural to me. To others it may be a little off fthe wall. The «Living Room» concept has to be one of the best ideas i’ve seen ahywhere in town. It’s nice to be able to get a drink and chat it up with friends. Keep in mind, im not a drunkard, and hard to believe, I’ve never been drunk. As opposed to the majority of the population, I prefer to always be in my right state-​of-​mind. I’m crazy enough as it is anyway without the need of being trashed.
KC Live is one of those things that makes you proud of living in Kansas City. I have yet to bring any out of town friends and family, and them not be awestruck by the place.

YES, the Power & Light district is trendy. YES, there’s douchey people there. But I’m sure those people think you’re lame and douchey, too.
That’s actually what I found cool about KC Live! The variety of people is great for people-​watching. It’s a little like hanging out on Mass St in Lawrence, except with a lot more fake boobery.
Grab a big group of people. Go early so you can grab a couch. You’re only going to have a bad time if you’ve got the idea set in your head.

I love the outdoorsy feel of this place, and the live music, cheap beer– and good hang out spots. A great place to meet up then split up at all the surrounding bars.
I am curious though how great this place will do during the freezing winter months…

3.5 stars.
This is a cool concept. I’m not too sure if I like the Power & Light District yet. I haven’t made it down during the day to check out its shopping or the places beyond the KC Live! Block yet. But being able to carry drinks from bar to bar in the open courtyard (covered by a translucent canopy that keeps the elements out) is a pretty awesome idea.
I’ve been to the P&LD at night a few times, but last Saturday was the first time we’d ventured into the courtyard. Each bar had a line with at least 10 people in it, and we were told at a few places it was one in/​one out unless we had a table reserved. Umm… nope, didn’t think that far in advance. Also, for just the two of us? We were definitely not going to be spending $ 100 or more for a table reservation, thankyouverymuch.
But fortunately for those people who didn’t feel like waiting in lines and didn’t reserve tables, there’s a bar in the middle of the courtyard. Except… beers are $ 5. Small beers. Five buckaroos. I could get bigger beers at concerts for $ 5! And even that’s a rip off.
So, my suggestion: pre-​drink, pre-​drink, pre-​drink. And also, beware of the stairs. They’re killer when you’re tipsy and wearing heels. Of course, this is something we should all know by now.
The Power & Light District would be a fun place to go with a group of people. I can imagine it will be CA-​RAZY crowded this summer and fall. I’ll probably be making it down to the district for a few nights of heavy partying… but not every weekend. Definitely not every weekend. Too many people. And too much for beer.