Kauffman Stadium and the Kansas City Royals take center stage this weekend and here is a quick guide for you the visitors. Photo Credit: Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE

Outside of fan fest we hope that you get a chance to check out our fine city which includes going to the Power & Light District downtown, check out the college basketball experience. See the Plaza and Westport in addition to checking out any of the fine places to eat.

Sunday you’ll want to check out the futures game where you can check out the best young talent in the game and stay for the celebrity softball game following. Monday is the annual AL/NL workout day at the K before the homerun derby.

On Tuesday night, baseball looks to Kansas City and it’s our time to shine. If you’re going to the 2012 MLB All-Star Game, here’s a quick primer on Kauffman Stadium. Gone is the grass that used to be around the fountains in the outfield. After renovations, outfield seating had been expanded to include more great seats.

If you want familiarize yourself with the franchise’s history (which I strongly suggest that you do) visit the Royals Hall of Fame located in leftfield. After the tour in rightfield we’ve got Rivals, a sportsbar that you can cool down with food and drinks.

Mike McCarthy is the silky smooth voice of Kauffman Stadium and you’ll be hearing him all night long. Before hearing anything you’ll probably notice crown vision in centerfield aka the big crown video board. It’s one of the biggest video boards in the country and can be seen no matter where you are (unless you’re in the outfield experience somewhere which is a tad harder)

Between innings we’ve got a few things that might not be done in other ballparks so they might be KC-centric. Our in-game race features the hot dog derby where three contestants start from the RF bullpen and end in front of the Royals/AL dugout dressed as Ketchup, Mustard and Relish.

Sluggerrr and his mascot buddies will also be at the K for the All-Star Game. Photo Credit: John Rieger-US PRESSWIRE

Over the last five seasons or so more teams have added in-stadium cheerleaders if you will and we’re no different. We call our ladies the K Crew and they will hopefully be leading you to root on the AL, sing the 7^th inning stretch plus will be around the stadium should you have any questions.

Sluggerrr will be another friendly face as he plays host to his other mascot friends over the weekend. We like out lion and consider him the king of the jungle when it comes to others in MLB, so be on the lookout for him being active from interacting or shooting off t-shirts/hot dogs.

A second in-game feature occurs after the top of the sixth inning when Garth Brooks “Friends in Low Places” plays, featuring a video of Brooks in a Royals jersey. Many KC fans will sway and sing along. If you don’t know the words they are displayed on screen. Honestly, the song might be a bit tired but many seem to still enjoy it when it plays at the stadium.

I highly suggest that during the game you take advantage of the concourses and walk around the stadium to check out the view from behind the fountains in the outfield. The K is known for its outfield fountain display and you should check out the view if you’ve never been to our beautiful stadium.

While walking around you’ll notice that we’ve got a little bit of everything in terms of food selection. Of course the stadium had the ballpark essentials and being KC we’ve got BBQ covered. However, if you want other options we’ve got that covered with out of market food. May we suggest that you enjoy a local brew of Boulevard from right here in Kansas City.

Another food option is the .390 Bar & Grill located on the lodge level of the K which is an AC option should you decide to get out of the heat. 390 is a celebrated number for us as our HOF’r George Brett came close to Ted Williams 400 batting average. One last thing to experience in the stadium is the outfield experience which has several kid friendly things, such as the little K, carousal, face painting and a few other options.

Following the game, another tradition features the song “Kansas City”. When the Royals win at Kauffman Stadium (which hasn’t been as often as we want), you’ll hear the Beatles Kansas City playing the team off. On the flipside, after a loss Wilbert Harrison’s slower version is played.

I think that covers pretty much everything that a first-time visitor will be experiencing at Kauffman Stadium. We hope that you like the experience and find our fans to be courteous and welcoming. Hopefully, we’ll see you back in October soon (one of these years) for a playoff series against our Boys in Blue.

While the game is on Tuesday, that whole weekend is packed with events and attractions for out-of-towners. If you’re coming to Kansas City for the first time or if you’re going to be staying in the city for the full All-Star festivities, there’s plenty to see along with baseball-related events.

Baseball, of course, is the main reason Kansas City will be hopping, so let’s start there with what you should look for.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and American Jazz Museum at 18th and Vine via Wikimedia Commons

Your first stop in that case should be the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Located in the historic 18th & Vine district, the NLBM contains artifacts, clippings, information and exhibits that chronicle the history of the Negro Leagues. The exhibits share a timeline of world events that coincide with baseball, providing a narrative of our nation’s progress toward integration in society and in the national pastime. The design of the museum is symbolic, with the appropriately named Field of Legends which features full size statues of Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard and the famous Satchel Paige and can only be reached after you’ve taken the full journey. (You can check on events at the NLBM during the All-Star Break here.)

While you’re there, the American Jazz Museum is in the same building, sharing the great American art form and features Charlie Parker, Count Basie and others. President Clinton’s saxophone is on display too.

If you’re still in the mood for some sports history but want to grab a bite to eat, Chappell’s Sports Bar and Museum has everything you want. Football helmets, autographed baseballs and other memorabilia are all over the place there, while other items, like the gloves from the film Rocky, are on display as well.

View of the KC skyline from the Liberty Memorial via Wikimedia Commons

If you’re still in an historic mood, another must-see is the Liberty Memorial and the World War I museum. It’s the official national WWI museum and an impressive structure in its own right, but if you walk to the top, you also get a view of the Kansas City skyline, including Crown Center and Union Station nearby.

After all of that, you’re probably getting hungry, and you should try to get into one of the famed barbecue joints Alan talked about previously. Arthur Bryant’s, Gates and Oklahoma Joe’s battle for Kansas City barbecue supremacy, while Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue  also puts up its own solid case. You really can’t go wrong.

There’s famous fried chicken from Stroud’s or Niecie’s, Hereford House if you’re after a steak, or Blanc for gourmet burgers.

Many of these restaurants and others can be found in the various districts of Kansas City. The Plaza features shopping and dining options as well as a plethora of fountains (and you’ll see a LOT of fountains – only Paris has more). Westport has all sorts of bars to stop by, including Kelly’s Westport Inn, the oldest in the city, Harry’s Bar and Tables for fine cocktails and McCoy’s which doubles as a restaurant and brewery (get the Ginger Shandy and thank me later). More nightlife can be found in the Power and Light District, as well.  You could also stop by the Crossroads Art District which has a good selection of watering holes as well as various galleries (and First Fridays showcases artwork each month in the area and happens to correspond to All-Star weekend).

Of course if you’re just looking to make up your own meals, the City Market features a large farmer’s market surrounded by shops and restaurants. Just walking by, smells of spices and fresh produce beckon while carts selling homemade fudge and other treats wait for you to give in.

City Market via Wikimedia Commons

Other great attractions include the Kansas City Zoo, Lego Land at Crown Center, the Nelson-Atkins Museum, the Federal Reserve (always an interesting tour), Worlds of Fun, and up north various casinos if you’re feeling lucky.

And if you happen to need a break from baseball and want to see other athletic competition, Sporting KC hosts Houston on July 7th at Livestrong Park.

Last and definitely not least is the Boulevard Brewery. Boulevard brews all sorts of styles but their signature is Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat and you’ll find it at any bar in the city. If you’re the type to partake in an adult beverage, give it a try. There are also various cab companies in Kansas City as well and the Kansas City Strip, a trolley that takes you from one bar district to another (don’t drink and drive!).

That’s just a sample of things to do in Kansas City if you’re visiting for the All-Star break. By no means is that the full list of places to go, to eat, to explore. To do that, you’d have to spend more than just the All-Star break in town. You can check out VisitKC.com for more information.