GAY TRIPPING continued from page 15

early '70s, this feminist and lesbian community was founded on a shared vision of cooperative living (and, of course, monthly potluck suppers). In recent years a few groovy gays and straights have settled here, too.

A bit south you'll enter Lower Midtown, a residential district that includes Westport, the Country Club Plaza, and Brookside Plaza. Westport is an artsy, picturesque community with old-fashioned lampposts, Victorian buildings, offbeat shops, bars, and neighborhood cafes, including the queer-popular Corner Restaurant, famous for its hearty breakfasts and lunches, and the funky Planet Cafe coffeehouse. On Thursday nights, it seems as though every queer in town

drops by an otherwise-straight megadisco, CLUB ATLANTIS. Always-gay Westport favorites include MISSIE B's, a locals joint with lively drag shows; the OTHERSIDE, a dishy cocktail lounge that's especially popular with the over-40 male set; and SIDEKICKS, a mostly male but lesbian-friendly countrywestern dance hall.

A few blocks south lies America's first planned shopping center COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA, a 55-acre Spanish-style district of ornate buildings patterned after K.C.'s sister city, Seville, Spain. A feast of fountains, sculptures, murals, mosaics, and elaborate archways, the Plaza was designed in 1922 and has been accented with new works of art every few years since. The Plaza overlooks BRUSH CREEK,

Clip & Save! The Little Black Book

(KANSAS CITY'S AREA CODE IS 816)

Arabia Steamboat Museum...

Canyon Cafe.......

.471.4030

.561.6111

753.0112 753.6504 800.767.7700 931.6630

Club Atlantis....

Club Cabaret....

Convention and Visitors Bureau..

Corner Restaurant...

Country Club Plaza....

Main St. and Ward Pkwy.

Crown Center..

Dixie Bell Warehouse....

Folly Theater...

Hallmark Visitors Center...

274-8444 471-2424 474-4444 274-5672

Missie B's...

561-0625

Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art..

751-1278

Old City Market.

842-1271

The Otherside....

931-0501

561-2369

756-1010

561-7287

842-3890

931-1430

471-7704

Osteria Il Centro.. Otto's Malt Shop....

Planet Cafe The Savoy..

Sidekicks...

Tootsie's.

a 6-mile-long park with a landscaped promenade on either side and bridges.

Of the many fine restaurants around the Plaza, two stand out in particular. CANYON CAFE serves outstanding Southwestern fare such as grilled yellowfin tuna topped with sliced avocado and a piquant chipotle sauce; and romantic but affordable OSTERIA IL CENTRO offers delicious northern Italian fare, from light pastas to a memorable panzanella (Tuscan bread salad with grilled chicken).

Set in nearby South Moreland Park, the NelsonAtkins Museum of Art has works by Rodin, Rubens, Van Gogh, and Rembrandt; one of the best Asian art collections in North America; and the 17-acre Henry Moore sculpture garden, which trails behind the Nelson.

Across the street is the city's most popular cruise and dance bar (and also the largest gay club in the Midwest), CLUB CABARET, the performing home of Flo, one of the funniest drag performers you'll ever see. When you've had enough dancing and partying, be sure to do as the local queers do and pay a visit to '50s-inspired OTTO'S MALT SHOP, open 24/7 and serves the most luscious malted milkshakes you'll ever have the pleasure of sucking down.

Andrew Collins authored the greatly expanded second edition of Fodor's Gay Guide to the USA, as well as six gay guides covering the West Coast, New York City, South Florida, and Amsterdam. He can be reached care of this publication or via email at MWFeedback@aol.com.

The

Crew

CLUB

1321 14th St, NW Washington, DC 20005 202.319.1333 www.crew-club.com

GREAT MEN

Design: R.Skippon 483.5947

Private dressing rooms Lockers

Free-weight gym Lounges

Free pool table Game room Showers Free tanning

ID required

THE CREW CLUB

Membership also good at The Safari Club 90 Wareham St. Boston, MA 02118 617.292.00TT

24 HOURS A DAY!

Downstairs lounge now open!

SPECIALS!

MONDAYS

Free non-sexual massage

7pm-11pm

TUESDAYS

1/2 price lockers 8am-12pm

WEDNESDAYS

Free non-sexual massage

7pm-11pm

THURSDAYS

Over 35 & the men who love them. Specially priced.

4pm-midnight