Kansas City Wellness Club

First, I want to say that the venue is gorgeous. The space is absolutely beautiful and I am so glad we got married here. We actually booked the Kansas City Club just three months before our wedding, because our first venue closed down unexpectedly. We were so lucky the Kansas City Club was open for our date. We did have to provide everything aside from the tables and chairs. We had originally booked a venue that was full-service, so it was just a change for us. Overall, however, I could not have imagined getting married anywhere else. It was so nice that we could have the ceremony and reception at the same venue, and the bridal suite was the perfect place to get ready beforehand! Also, there are so many beautiful spaces to take pictures- we had to take them all inside because it was raining, and they turned out great!

Several years ago, I attended a professional convention in Kansas City. When I first looked at the convention materials, I was happy to find a listing for the Kansas City Club (est. 1882), as opposed to just another Downtown hotel. At the time, they offered sleeping rooms and total access to the entire club (including the dining and athletic facilities). The place was a complete throwback to a different time, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

The Kansas CIty Club, just writing the name brings back fond memories of my post-college/early professional life. Sadly, the original 12th/Baltimore KC Club building has been converted to Condos/Apartments. The current incarnation of the KC Club is the result of a merger between the University Club and KC Club; the building at 918 Baltimore is very nice and well maintained but I shed a small tear when I visit there and remember the former glory of the 12th and Baltimore location.I was a loyal member for about 10 years but I finally gave it up when a whole year went by and I never visited. The old clubhouse had so many amenities and so many activities that I was at the clubhouse nearly every day to play squash, swim laps, attend an inner club party at the 1212 Club House or to generally have a good time. The new clubhouse is nice, but small. New college graduates who work downtown in the banking industry are no longer joining the club as a rite of passage like they have in years past. The Rat-Pack/Frank Sinatra vibe is no longer humming through the halls of the KC Club.The KC Club is a relic from the last century, it had a great, great run. I attended the best/wildest parties at the club in the mid 90's when they were still in the old location. There is nothing like it in the city today.Some of the bigger cities in the US and cities across Europe and Asia still have thriving City Clubs. I've recently been to the Jonathan Club in downtown LA and it still has its Mojo going. I attended a black tie event at the Makati Tower Club in the Philippines a few years ago and it was a great event! Filipino movie stars, politicians and industry leaders were all out in full force.I'm hopeful that the day of the city club will return to Kansas City in the future as downtown KC becomes more of a place to live, work and play.

I attended the 2011 New Year's Eve party at the Kansas City Club and was very disappointed. It is one thing to pay $85 a ticket ($150 per couple) for a good atmosphere but that is not what I experience. The food was marginal, the bar ran out of tonic water by 10:00 pm (and not because the place was packed because there was hardly a crowd) and the DJ was TERRIBLE. It was very apparent that the DJ was not a professional and he allowed someone to continuously yell "Dance Floor" in a voice that mimicked a mentally handicapped person, which I found slightly offensive. To top the night off, the count down was lame and the host was a cocky "gentlemen" that obviously didn't care much about his guests as he picked a fight with a group of people standing right next to me as I exited the party. As many options as there are in Kansas City, enjoy your New Year's Eve celebration elsewhere and please do don't waste your money on the Kansas City Club NYE 2012.

Kansas City Club was a gentleman's club back in the late 1800's and it was just recently restored/reopened. They did an amazing job. It is the PERFECT venue, not only is it perfect, but Marvin and Deborah Williams from Shining Star Catering made it perfect for us. I live in Miami, Fl, and imagine planning your only daughter's wedding from Miami in Kansas City with no wedding planner. No pressure, right! That's what I did with the help of Marvin and Deborah. They both made it so easy and the communication was fast and on point. They both made themselves available at all times. The venue was gorgeous! Starting with the grand entrance, to the top of stairs, floors, casing around the doors, the list goes on and on. It's a must see!!! The food from Shining Star Catering was so flavorful. Everyone was commenting on how great the food was (we had Italian). I could have not asked for a better turn out, and I owe it all to Marvin and Deborah. They made it possible to create a beautiful wedding for my daughter.