Special Events

During the 2012 Transforming Local Government Conference, our hosting partners are creating a conference experience to rival those of previous TLG conferences.  Through nightly special events, conference attendees will be treated to unique networking opportunities while getting the full Kansas City experience.

Tuesday, April 17

Golf at Adams Pointe
12:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Event Cost $55

Adams Pointe Golf Club is just minutes from downtown Kansas City. This 18-hole Championship golf facility is set in the rolling hills of Blue Springs, Missouri. The course has a challenging front nine skillfully carved out of forest and wetlands, with a scenic back nine that offers links-style golf with dramatic changes in elevation. Adams Pointe is definitely the talk of the town, and annually regarded as a "premier places to play" in all of Kansas City golf. Registration includes transportation to and from the Westin, golf car and buffet lunch at the club.

Dine Around at the Plaza
5:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Event Cost $$

Before the conference is under way, join your colleagues for an evening of camaraderie and revelry while getting a taste of Kansas City’s premier dining, shopping and entertainment venues. Built in 1922, the vision of J.C. Nichols, the Country Club Plaza became the first suburban shopping district. Today it has over 150 shops and many fine restaurants. Take your pick of these special menus prepared by some of the fine dining establishments. Transportation will leave at 6:30 p.m. to drop you off for a 7 p.m. seating.

Ticket price includes transportation to and from the Plaza and the meal as described in the menu for each restaurant.  Alcohol may be purchased for an additional cost at the restaurant.  Please note that gratuity is not included in the ticket price (except for Buca di Beppo), and the standard gratuity rate in Kansas City is 20%.   

Plaza III Steakhouse—$45

Kansas City’s classic prime beef steakhouse and a Plaza institution for over 40 years.  www.plazaiiikcsteakhouse.com

Dine Around Menu: Includes choice of coffee, tea or soda.  The first course includes a Plaza III Garden Salad with Monterey Jack, hard cooked eggs, house made croutons and tomato, topped with creamy herb dressing. The main entre includes petite filet mignon and grilled chicken breast served with Bearnaise and Diable sauce accompanied by roasted red potatoes and grilled mixed vegetables. Finish off the evening with a slice cheesecake with strawberry sauce. Maximum of 50 spots available.

Bucca di Beppo—$42

A re-creation of the Italian-American supper clubs of the post-War era the atmosphere will keep you entertained by all the memorabilia and photos that line the walls. Meals are served family style and are real taste of the Old Country.  www.bucadibeppo.com

Dine Around Menu: The first course includes a Mixed Green Salad and Caesar Salad. Pastas served include Penne San Remo and Baked Rigatoni pastas with an entre of Chicken Parmigiana. Dinner is topped off with a slice of homemade cheesecake with sweet raspberry hazelnut sauce. Maximum 110 spots available.

Brio Tuscan Grille—$40

Brio brings Tuscany to Kansas City. Their chef-inspired Tuscan recipes are sure to delight. At BRIO they believe that "to eat well is to live well." www.brioitalian.com

Dine Around Menu: Dinner starts with your choice of Chop Salad, Field Green Salad, or Caesar Salad. You can choose from grilled pork chops, grilled salmon with citrus pesto, Shrimp & Lobster Fettuccine, Shrimp Diavolo Pasta, Chicken Milanese Pomodoro, or Shrimp & Crab Cakes for an entrée. Finally top off your meal with your choice of Dolchino (small dessert). Maximum 64 spots.

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro—$45

Combines a unique blend of traditional Chinese cuisine and inviting American hospitality served in an upbeat bistro setting. A menu featuring fresh, high quality ingredients is made to order by highly trained chefs, and served by a knowledgeable staff in a striking post-modern environment. www.pfchangs.com

Wednesday, April 18

Innovation Tour 1 – Stream Corridor Restoration and Open Channel Master Plan Implementation
The City of Mission Hills, KS
3:30 pm to 5:00 pm
Event Cost FREE

A natural feature of Mission Hills is six miles of streamway that meander throughout the City contributing to its unique, countryside community character despite the fact that it is in the heart of the Kansas City metropolitan area. A study of the stream corridor, revealed that exposed sanitary sewer crossings, stagnant pools, and failing stream channels walls were putting the open channel system at risk. While none of the corridor was categorized as being in disrepair, it was determined that resources should be allocated to protect the riparian corridor so that the City would not be forced to underground and pipe the creek and its tributaries.

Attendees on this tour will visit the three restoration demonstration projects and learn first hand how implemented innovative approaches to stormwater modeling and bioengineering have mitigated channel degradation, restored stream bank stability, improved water quality, and protected adjacent property and infrastructure as well as vegetation and aquatic life.

“Speak Easy” Welcome Reception in Exhibit Hall
5:00 pm to 6:30 pm
Event Cost FREE

No special password or knock necessary, but you will have to show your conference badge to go back in time to the Roaring Twenties and join us in the Exhibitors’ Hall for a speakeasy experience complete with “illegal” gambling.  Prizes will be awarded for testing your luck and making the right bet. drinks and hors d’ouevres will be available to everyone, including the risk-adverse or those who are down on their luck!

Liberty Memorial Uphill Battle Run/Walk

7:00 am to 8:00 am
Event Cost FREE

Get your creative and innovative thought processes firing on all cylinders with a One Mile Run/Walk at Liberty Memorial, the United States’ official World War I museum.  While this course is short on distance, it is an uphill battle!  Located across from the conference hotel, participants will be able to walk or run directly to it.  Afterwards, enjoy the picturesque Kansas City skyline from the memorial; a great way to start your morning! 

Innovation Tour 2 -- Re-using Existing Buildings to Innovate New Businesses
The City of Independence, MO
2:45 pm to 5:00 pm
Event Cost FREE (refreshments provided)

The opening of a new state-of-the-art regional hospital combined two existing hospitals within the community. This presented a unique challenge for Independence; how to successfully re-use key buildings in central and western Independence. On this tour you will learn how Independence worked with community partners to create one of the most unique environments to foster entrepreneurship and innovation in the metropolitan area.

Attendees will take a tour of the Independence Ennovation Center -- a multi-faceted business incubator established to support the growth of early stage businesses in three primary areas: Culinary, Bio-Technology and Business & Technology. Completed in 2010, the 225,000 square foot former hospital building has been repurposed and is now home to over 30 individual start-up businesses. The Ennovation Center houses one of only 70 kitchen incubators in the United States and is a truly unique example of adaptive re-use of a former hospital into an economic development cornerstone of a community.


Conference Festival – The Three B's of Kansas City!
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Event Cost $25

Come experience the 3 Bs of Kansas City—Blues, Brews, and Barbeque!  This event is held in the Grand Hall of the historic Union Station in Kansas City located across from the conference hotel.  Enjoy a locally-brewed unfiltered wheat beer from Boulevard Brewing Company, the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest located on Southwest Boulevard in Kansas City, while devouring some finger-licking, lip-smacking Kansas City style barbeque!  Live music will be provided by the band the Wild Women of Kansas City.  Ticket price includes dinner, refreshments, and live entertainment.