Travel and Local Information
INCS will be held Thursday April 19-Saturday April 21 2007 at the Marriott Country Club Plaza. A room rate of $119 per night will be available until March 29, 2007 by calling 1-800-810-3708 and asking for the INCS conference rate, or by clicking on the following link: http://marriott.com/property/propertypage/mcipl?groupCode=engenga&app=resvlink
The easiest way to get from the airport to the conference hotel is by taking the KCI Airport Shuttle. More information is available at http://www.kctg.com/kcishuttle/hotels.html. Note that reservations are required for the return trip. Be sure to tell them you are going to the "Marriott Country Club Plaza" (not just the "Marriott," which is somewhere else).
A conference reception will be held at the Linda Hall Library on Thursday evening with an accompanying exhibit on Napoleon and the Scientific Expedition to Egypt. A special poetry event featuring B.H. Fairchild, Mark Jarman, and Michelle Boisseau will take place on Friday evening at the Marriott. There will also be a banquet and tour at the Arabia Steamboat Museum on Saturday evening.
Driving Directions to the Marriott Country Club Plaza
Kansas City Airport Information
Some of the features of Kansas City include:
- The Country Club Plaza The first outdoor shopping center in the United States, the Country Club Plaza is home to great shopping and fine dining—as well as some great sight seeing. The Country Club Plaza is within walking distance of the UMKC campus. For more information, please visit http://www.countryclubplaza.com.
- The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Just a short walk from the UMKC campus, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is a world-renowned art museum. Open since 1933, the Museum houses an amazing collection ranging from ancient Eastern art to the shuttlecocks on the front lawn. Best of all, Museum admission is free! For more information, please visit http://www.nelson-atkins.org/.
- The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is located just off the Country Club Plaza, near the Kansas City Art Institute. The Kemper features a permanent collection focused on modern and contemporary art. The museum also features 10-12 special exhibitions each year. More information on the Kemper can be found at http://www.kemperart.org.
- The American Jazz Museum is part of Kansas City's historic 18th and Vine jazz district. It is the premier jazz museum in the United States and features interactive exhibits, educational programs, a jazz club and a performing arts center. More information is available online at http://www.americanjazzmuseum.com.
- The Crossroads Arts District, home to over 50 art galleries, is a short drive from the conference hotel. More information is available online at http://www.kccrossroads.org/.
- City Market offers restaurants, shops, and cafes, and, in season, a farmer's market. More information is available online at http://kc-citymarket.com/.
- The Steamboat Arabia Museum enables visitors to step back in time to 1856 and see what frontier life was like. The Arabia sunk in September of 1856 and was only rediscovered over 100 years later. The Arabia was found with most of its cargo intact, and once the excavation was completes, in 1980, the preservation and exhibition of the Arabia began. For more information about the Steamboat Arabia museum, please visit http://www.1856.com.
- Crown Center is a shopping, dining and entertainment complex located near downtown Kansas City and features the headquarters of Hallmark. Crown Center includes a theater as well as a movie theater and fun, unique boutique shopping. For more information about Crown Center, please visit http://www.crowncenter.com.
- The Liberty Memorial Museum is "America's National World War One Museum." For more information about the Liberty Memorial Museum, please visit http://www.libertymemorialmuseum.org/index.aspx.
- Union Station is a vibrant part of Kansas City. It includes Science City, an IMAX theater and restaurants and shopping. Throughout the year Union Station hosts many special events, exhibits and celebrations. For more information, please visit http://www.unionstation.org/index.cfm.
- The Kansas City Zoo is located on over 200 acres of hills in the nation's second largest urban park, Swope Park. The zoo includes exhibits featuring nearly 900 animals from 6 continents. For more information, please visit http://www.kansascityzoo.org.
- Independence and Liberty, Missouri, both have old squares with some character remaining, as do more distant towns such as Harrisonville, Clinton, and Lexington. More information is available online at http://www.ci.independence.mo.us/tourism/ | http://www.visitmo.com/.
- The Toy and Miniature Museum is located on the main campus of the University of Missouri—Kansas City. The collection includes toys from the 19th and 20th centuries as well as a variety of miniatures. More information at http://www.umkc.edu/tmm/index.html.
- Other information about Kansas City is available at www.visitkc.com.
Restaurants and Coffee Shops Around the Marriott Country Club Plaza
- At the Marriott
- Main Street Grill – located on-site at the Marriott. Serves contemporary American cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Plaza Restaurants:
- Baja 600 – Southwestern cuisine and fresh guacamole. Serves lunch and dinner. Located on the Country Club Plaza at 600 Ward Parkway.
- Blonde – Features an eclectic mix of cuisine, including grilled seafood, meats and veggies. Open for lunch and dinner (only dinner on Sunday). Located at 100 Ward Parkway.
- Bo Ling's – Specializes in fine Chinese cuisine and is open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week. Located at 4800 Main Street.
- Brio Tuscan Grille – Featuring Tuscan and Italian cuisine. Open for lunch and dinner with a brunch menu on the weekends. Located at 500 Nichols Road.
- Buca di Beppo – Southern Italian cuisine, serving dinner throughout the week and lunch and dinner on the weekends. Located at 310 West 47th Street.
- California Pizza Kitchen – Featuring BBQ pizza, hearth-baked breads and unexpected pizza combinations. Open for lunch and dinner throughout the week. Located at 4743 Pennsylvania.
- The Capital Grille – A New York style steakhouse featuring fresh seafood flown in from the east coast daily. Open for lunch Monday through Friday and serving dinner throughout the week. Located at 4740 Jefferson Street.
- The Cheesecake Factory – Home to a unique and huge menu featuring over 200 items to choose from. Enjoy one of their 40 desserts! Open for lunch and dinner. Located at 4701 Wyandotte.
- Classic Cup Sidewalk Café – Features international cuisine from renowned chefs and an extensive wine list. Open from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. Located at 301 West 47th Street.
- Cold Stone Creamery – Featuring mouthwatering ice cream. Open from 12:00 p.m. daily. Located at 114 West 47th Street.
- Figlio's Italian Restaurant – Authentic Italian food and beautiful balcony views of the Plaza. Serving lunch and dinner daily and an award-winning brunch on Sundays. Located at 209 West 46th Terrace.
- Fred P. Ott's – Sandwiches and beer in a casual pub setting. Serving lunch and dinner daily. Located at 4770 J.C. Nichols Parkway.
- George Brett's – Upscale American dining in a casual setting. Open for lunch and dinner daily. Located at 210 West 47th Street.
- The Granfalloon Bar and Grill – The only sports bar on the Plaza, the Granfalloon features a variety of salads, burgers and sandwiches to suit every appetite. Open 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 a.m. every day. Located at 608 Ward Parkway.
- Hibachi Japanese Steakhouse – Your chef prepares your meal at your table following ancient Japanese culinary traditions. Open for lunch Monday through Friday and dinner daily. Located at 4745 Wyandotte.
- Houston's Restaurant – Specializing in traditional American cuisine. Open for lunch and dinner daily. Located at 4640 Wornall Road.
- Jack Stack – see "Barbeque," below.
- Kona Grill – Featuring an American menu of steaks and seafood and a full sushi bar. Open for lunch and dinner daily. Located at 444 Ward Parkway.
- McCormick and Schmick's – Seafood dining at its finest. Open for lunch and dinner daily and featuring $1.95 Happy Hour specials. Located at 448 West 47th Street.
- McDonald's – Open 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. Located at 500 Nichols Road.
- The Melting Pot – A fun fondue feast in a friendly atmosphere. Open for dinner throughout the week. Located at 450 Ward Parkway.
- Mi Cocina – Cosmopolitan Mexican food served with flare. Open for lunch and dinner daily. Located at 620 West 48th Street.
- O'Dowd's Little Dublin – Authentic Irish pub featuring Irish and American cuisine. Serves lunch and dinner daily. Located at 4742 Pennsylvania.
- Panera Bread Bakery Café – Enjoy a full bakery and café cuisine. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Located at 4700 Pennsylvania.
- P.F. Chang's China Bistro – Chinese cuisine and American hospitality in a bistro setting. Serves lunch and dinner daily. Located at 102 West 47th Street.
- Plaza III Steakhouse – Kansas City's classic steakhouse. On the Country Club Plaza for over 40 years. Open for lunch Monday through Saturday and dinner daily. Located at 4749 Pennsylvania.
- The Raphael Restaurant – Upscale continental dining inside the Raphael Hotel. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily and featuring a Sunday brunch. Reservations are recommended. Located at 325 Ward Parkway.
- reVerse – Featuring a Mediterranean menu and an extensive wine and champagne list. Serving lunch Monday through Saturday and dinner daily. Located at 618 Ward Parkway.
- Ruth's Chris Steakhouse – Traditional steakhouse featuring seafood and an award-winning wine list. Open for dinner daily. Located at 700 West 47th Street.
- Tomfooleries Restaurant and Bar – Fun, friendly atmosphere with a huge variety of menu options. Open daily for lunch and dinner and featuring a Sunday brunch. Located at 612 West 47th Street.
- Uno Chicago Bar & Grill – The creator of the Chicago-style deep dish pizza. Featuring an extensive menu of pizza and pasta. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Located at 4710 Jefferson.
- Plaza Coffee Shops:
- Barnes and Noble Café – Starbucks coffee and a delicious selection of sandwiches, pastries and snacks. Open from 9:00a.m. to 11:00p.m. daily. Located inside Barnes and Noble at 420 West 47th Street.
- Latteland Espresso and Tea – The Plaza's original espresso bar since 1992. Open early daily. Located at 318 West 47th Street.
- Starbucks – High quality Italian style espresso shop. Open from 5:30a.m. daily. Located at 302 Nichols Road.
- Barbeque:
- The two best known barbeque restaurants in Kansas City are Arthur Bryant's Barbeque, 1727 Brooklyn, Kansas City, Missouri, and Gates Bar-B-Q, 1325 E. Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd, Kansas City, Missouri, and five other locations. Jack Stack Barbecue has just opened a location on the Plaza (fairly close to the conference hotel).