Today was the first day we have eaten out at a restaurant this holiday. We headed down to the plaza to the Cheesecake Factory, one of our favorites, and also to see the plaza lights! The Kansas City Plaza Lights are one of this country’s most spectacular Christmas lights and one of Kansas City’s most favorite traditions and is the official kick off of the holiday season. The famous ceremony, which began as 16 lights hung over a doorway, now includes over 80 miles of lights with 280,000 multi-colored bulbs outlining and illuminating the buildings and tower of the Country Club Plaza. The first official Plaza Lighting ceremony began in 1930, and now draws thousands to the Country Club Plaza on Thanksgiving night.