Christmas LIghts and Dinner Sights

Friday night (December 29), I took the boys out to eat for our Christmas Holiday dinner.  Unfortunately, Mary couldn't join us...which was disappointing, but I understand her need to work to earn college money for 2nd semester. (I plan to definitely get some one-on-one time with my girl before she heads back to Massachusetts.)

So, it was just the four of us for our trip down to the Plaza to see Christmas lights and then to Cascone's for dinner.  

If you have never been to Kansas City, then you might not know about The Plaza.  The Country Club Plaza opened its doors in 1922 as the country's first suburban shopping center.  Over 100 years old, it is a beautifully designed space modeled after Spanish romantic architecture.  The City of Fountains does not disappoint with its Plaza District!

But the very best thing about The Plaza are the lights that illuminate the early darkening skies each November/December/January.  Typically, a local celebrity is chosen to flip the switch that turns on over 200,000 bulbs throughout 15 shopping blocks on Thanksgiving night.  Pedestrians with hot chocolates or frozen lattes stroll arm in arm as children oooh and ahhhh over storefront windows and holiday decorations.  

Although traffic is bumber-to-bumper, it's definitely a favorite holiday tradition to load up the car on a Friday or Saturday night in December while bringing along thermoses of cocoa and lap blankets to "see the lights".  Favorite holiday memories usually include a trip down to The Plaza to the see lights...typically in jammies when the kids were little!  

Although my windshied was dirty...here's a peek of the beautiful Country Club Plaza at Christmastime.  

Holiday Car Tunes

After we drove through The Plaza, we headed to my boyfriend's favorite Italian restaurant, Cascone's.  He is Italian-American...so we trust his judgment.  LOL

Our dinner did not disappoint!  

The restaurant was so beautifully decorated.  It just screamed "Christmas"!  

Buon Natale!