UPDATE: DECEMBER 7TH
WE PURSUED THIS IDEA TODAY AND HAVE A STORY AIRING DURING THE 6 P.M. NEWSCAST. THE WEB COPY AND VIDEO VERSION SHOULD BE UP AND RUNNING SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
We were at McFadden's -- the new sportsbar in the Power and Light District -- covering the MU game on Saturday night. The place was absolutely packed wall-to-wall, but I noticed something was missing: the cloud of smoke expected at any bar around Kansas City.
I asked the manager about my observation and he informed me the establishment is completely smokefree. He had to rush off before I could inquire further, but I found this to be an interesting development. There was a large patio available for folks who wanted to slip outside during commerical breaks.
Currently, Kansas City restaurants and bars still allow people to light up. The ordinance in place says KCMO needs to prohibit smoking once 85-percent of surrounding suburbs follow suit. Many of the larger cities (i.e. Lee's Summit, Independence, Overland Park and Olathe) have passed smoking bans, but the percentage is still hovering around 72-percent. That's why some people think the KC council needs to act earlier and get a smoking question on the 2008 ballot.
At any rate, I wonder if some of the other new bars and restaurants in the Power and Light District will follow in the footsteps of McFadden's. There is a list of places in Kansas City that are already smokefree, but from my quick browsing, the majority of the businesses look like places more known for their dinner menu than drink list. Don't get me wrong, the cheesesteak I had on Saturday was tasty, but a lot of patrons seemed more concerned on keeping their pint glasses full (especially when the Sooners pulled away).