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(Updated for 2024!)
You might have heard that last night, the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl! Because Mr. Donovan and I lived in Kansas City for over two decades, we are still huge fans. We’re visiting Kansas City soon to see old friends! I don’t think the rest of country knows much about Kansas City, which is too bad, because it’s a great town. So I thought I’d share some of the things I love about it!
1. The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. (Beautiful photo by Michael Stano.)
Look at this thing. Moshe Safdie designed it, and it’s like an elegant space station rising up out of the prairie. It’s just as lovely inside, and the view from it at night is magical. (Here’s me inside, a while back…)
2. The barbecue at Joe’s.
Kansas City is famous for barbecue. Anthony Bourdain named Joe’s Kansas City, a Kansas City institution, as one of the 13 places to Eat Before You Die. Joe’s even makes a vegetarian bbq sandwich, and it’s to die for.
3. The parking garage at the downtown Kansas City Public Library. (Terrific photo by Tom Childers.)
Isn’t it great?! Here’s a great closer-up view by Auntie G.
4. Kansas City Union Station. (Gorgeous photo by Notley Hawkins.)
Long, long ago, I had a dinner party that unexpectedly ended on our balcony, watching fireworks over Union Station. It turned out the city had just passed a referendum to renovate the neglected building. It is a gem, inside and out.
5. The Meyer Circle fountain on Ward Parkway. (Lovely photo by Michael Krueger.)
Fun fact: I participated in the world’s longest continuous poetry reading at this bookstore. It’s a great independent store stuffed full of books. Don’t forget to check out the basement!
7. The J.C. Nichols fountain on the Plaza. (Beautiful photo by David Arbogast.)
(Here, it’s turned blue in honor of the baseball team, the Royals.) Kansas City is called the City of Fountains, and they have more than any other city except Rome. This is very close to where our haunted apartment stood.
8. The Plaza holiday lights. (Another stunning photo from David Arbogast.)
While I’m talking about the Plaza, this an obligatory item on the list.
9. Crown Center holiday lights. (Beautiful photo by Jonathan Tasler.)
10. Loose Park. (Lovely photo by Canicuss.)
Most Loose Park photos are of the beautiful rose garden in the summer, but it’s pretty in the fall, too.
11. Laura Little’s Candies. (Great photo by Ben Hartman, from Kansas City Blogger Local.)
This is a shop around the corner from my old house that sells homemade chocolates and cookies and other delicious things, at very low prices, and it’s the cutest place in the world.
12. Rozelle Court, Nelson-Atkins Museum. (Super cool photo by Patrick Emerson.)
I love everything about the Nelson, and this is a really special place. The last time I was here, I was interviewing a museum conservationist about her work for my forthcoming novel Her Knight at the Museum.
13. Caravaggio’s John the Baptist in the Wilderness.
This is one of my favorite pieces in the Nelson. I guess it’s probably everybody’s favorite.
14. The Kauffman Memorial Garden. (Great photo by Mike Day.)
The prettiest little public garden, right in the middle of the city.
15. Liberty Memorial and the National World War One Museum. (Another awesome photo by Mike Day.)
I am always trying to get people to go to this fascinating and beautifully designed museum.
16. The Power and Light District. (Photo from KMBC news—read about the Super Bowl watch party!)
This is where a lot of Kansas Citians watch the away games! Years and years ago, downtown Kansas City was kind of bleak. Now it’s hopping. This town is good at comebacks.
17. The people.
Kansas City is full of writers, artists, performers, directors, and combinations thereof. In my experience, creative people in Kansas City build one another up. Where others would see competition, they see opportunities for collaboration and growth. Instead of thinking about doing things, and theorizing about what it means to do things, and defining who they really are as an artist, and criticizing other people who do things (such a popular pastime elsewhere)… they just do things.
I learned from that. I think it’s beautiful.
18. The Kansas City Chiefs!
The greatness of Pat Mahomes…the absolutely iconic American couple, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift…the mental discipline of a team that never panics…they’re ridiculously entertaining and inspiring.
~
Thanks so much for reading! (If you’re from Kansas City, what did I leave out?)
I would just add Sprint Center, Starlight and the River Walk by the Missouri River. Also, GO CHIEFS!!!!!
Great additions!! 😀 Thanks for commenting Allyson!
thank you sir!
🙂
You have done a wonderful job encapsulting our city! My Congratulations. We could make the number much bigger! The only thing that comes to my mind right now is the woderful architecture in Hyde Park ( Jantzen Place ) and The Northeast Area. Some of the houses are simply breathtaking. Thank you,
Oh, that is really a good addition. Thanks for commenting!
Andre’s Conifiserie Suisse. If you’ve never been there you’re desperately missing out!
Carriage rides on the plaza to look at those pretty lights.
The tulips on Rockhurst University’s campus briefly in the spring.
Donna’s Dress Shop. I know vintage fashionistas all over the world that order things from them that hardly anyone carries, and they’re all jealous that I live nearby.
Murray’s ice cream.
Foo’s Fabulous Frozen Custard.
These are all really good! Except I’ve never actually done the carriage ride … maybe this year! 🙂 Thanks for adding to the list!
Great list! How about one of the most beautiful ballparks in the MLB? Kauffman Stadium?
It’s true. Kauffman Stadium is gorgeous! And I definitely should have mentioned that as long as I was talking about our fountains 🙂
Thomas. Hart Benton’s hometown. Harry S Truman’s home
The bend in the river from Clarks Point. The City Market on Saturday. That giant bull on the Hertford Association building aimed at the KCMO’s Mayor’s office. If you never noticed, look and try not to laugh.
KCMO is my hometown and I miss her. Warts and all.
🙂 These are all so good! Except I didn’t notice about the bull… I will have to look!
I was here last year at the same time and boy did I enjoy my 2 weeks of stay. It being my first visit to the states and the first city to be in. Wouldn’t wish for anything more. I second the author, the people in Kansas are more kind and lovable. Would love to visit this place again.
That’s so great that we were your first place to be in the States! And I’m so glad you enjoyed the visit. 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
My guess is you were in Kansas City, Missouri
I knew this would get mentioned. Ha. #kcmo
Thanks great review!
Thanks for reading! 🙂
You mentioned quite a few great places to visit in KC, but here are a few more that are unique to our city:
• Steamboat Arabia Museum
• Toy & Miniature Museum
• First Fridays in the West Bottoms – all the antiques/flea market finds, etc.
• Leila’s Hair Museum in Independence
I didn’t know about Leila’s! I did think about both Steamboat Arabia and Toy & Miniature Museum — both such great places. I need to do more First Fridays… I think I’ve only gone down a couple of times, and I don’t know why. They’re great!
The Lewis & Clark Outlook at W 8th & Jefferson Sts, catching the small planes land and take off from the Charles Wheeler Downtown airport, and the long freight trains rolling by below next to the Missouri River.
I love this list, but here are a few more.
-Saturday morning tours of the Roasterie. We happen to have a gem of a local roaster, along with a national recognized barista. It’s a must visit.
-Cliff Drive! It was JUST reopened to vehicle traffic, with major improvements throughout. One of the best driving spots in the city, with gorgeous views.
-Third Fridays in the 39th street West neighborhood.
I didn’t know that about Cliff Drive!
I still have yet to tour the Roasterie (which almost made it on my list, just as an institution, but I couldn’t find a good picture, haha. 🙂 ) It’s what I always drink at home! Maybe I’ll go this Saturday 🙂 Thanks for the reminder!
Boulevard Brewery!
😀 Good one! I am not a beer drinker, myself, but it’s a great institution!
Don’t forget the arts, Kansas City Ballet (Nutcracker), Lyric Opera, the Symphony, and Kansas City Rep (Christmas Carol).
Definitely!
All lovely and the suggestions. I always think of the unique Winstead’s spire and sign, and a skyscraper shake!
Oh, I have a special spot in my heart for Winstead’s! A few of my writer friends and I meet there now and again to write. I always get grilled cheese and tater tots 🙂
Thanks for including my photo of the Roselle, Bryn. This is truly a lovely collection of images and I feel honored to be included!
Thank you for letting me feature it — I love it so much!
Oh Bryn~~I found your post on “The Write Life” (excellent)~~noting that you work at Hallmark and live in KC (my hometown) I visited your blog & signed up! Surfing it, I found this post on KC, Royals YAY!!! The memories stirred by the beautiful photos made me cry. The Plaza at Christmas is like no other experience, the fountains, and the Nelson-Atkins Museum~~all childhood experiences I’ll never forget. Thank you to Jeanie for mentioning the Kansas City Ballet; I was a member (many moons ago) and we once gave a performance in the main hall of the museum. I haven’t been in KC for many years, so the photo of the library with its “BOOKS” is a delight. Thanks, to you & the others who added to your list, for taking me down Memory Lane. I look forward to your 2016 book writing posts.