Port KC Kicks Off New Marketing Effort for Downtown Kansas City Riverfront
By Kevin Collison The Port Authority of Kansas City is making a renewed effort to promote development on the downtown riverfront, seeking to capitalize on a new 410-unit apartment project going up by Berkley Park and a potential extension of the streetcar to the area. The authority, which refers to itself as Port KC, held…
Hello Atelier | From Students to Teachers
Episode 15 | Brandon Mably A chance meeting at a bus stop propelled textile artist Brandon Mably from a career in catering to his life as a designer. Known for his bold and graphic use of color, Mably isn’t content to create by himself; he also shares his colorful talent with his global students. As he puts…
Sympathetic Vibrations | Transplanted Roots
Fate came knocking in Bolivia in 2011 when artist Amado Espinoza was invited to compose music for a project by director Karen Lisondra, an American who had travelled to Bolivia from Kansas City. The two collaborated on the theater project and fell in in love during the process. Their show premiered in Bolivia in 2012,…
Libraries Out Loud | Preview
Libraries have always had their fans, but the hushed, warehouse experience of the past is gone. In fact, there has been an important revolution in what our libraries do, and here in Kansas City we have some of the best in the country. Through a series of four short films, Flatland explores and celebrates four…
UMKC to Seek Alternative Funding for Downtown Kansas City Conservatory; Gov. Greitens Vetoes Legislation for Matching State Money
Despite overwhelming support from the Missouri Legislature, Gov. Eric Greitens has vetoed state funding for the proposed $96 million Downtown UMKC Conservatory project. “Today, Governor Eric Greitens vetoed a bill that would have asked Missouri taxpayers to pay for a new building for dancers and art students in Kansas City,” according to a statement released…
New Church of the Resurrection Under Construction in Downtown Kansas City, Opening in Spring 2018
By Kevin Collison Construction has begun on the foundation of the new, $6 million Church of the Resurrection on a parking lot once used by The Kansas City Star, a symbol of both the church’s rapid growth and the burgeoning downtown residential community it serves. The 15,236 square-foot church will accommodate 440 worshipers and is…
Top Five Ways To Spend Your Weekend
Get Royal Oh, how the worm has turned. A few short weeks ago, Royals fans were talking about a fire sale. Now, somehow, despite the team’s two biggest offseason free agent acquisitions essentially being busts, the 2015 Royals are within striking distance of the AL Central lead. Heading into a four-game set against the Twins,…
United Way Program Propels Students To College, Beyond
Graduating from Park University would’ve been a stretch for a child of immigrants, if not for the United Way of Greater Kansas City. That child, Wendy Medina, 25, of Kansas City, received invaluable financial assistance through United Way’s Launch program. Started six years ago, the cost-sharing program has generated approximately $670,000 for 160 students, including…
Historic New England Building Apartment Redevelopment 40 Percent Leased, Opening Slated For Sept. 1
By Kevin Collison The historic New England building, one of downtown Kansas City’s oldest office structures, has leased 40 percent of its 32 apartments, most of which feature ornate cast-iron fireplaces from the days before central heating. The redevelopment of the 1887 structure at 112 W. Ninth St. is part of a $10 million investment…
Kansas Teens Can Face Bumpy Road As They ‘Age Out’ Of Foster Care System
Aubri Thompson has already had her share of challenges by age 21: She left the foster care system without a designated caregiver, lived without a steady home for more than a year and became a single parent before finishing college. Thompson lived in the Kansas foster care system from age 14, when she was reported…
Tap List | iTap Has Arrived in The Crossroads
iTap is Open and Ready to Serve New taphouse iTap (1801 Oak) quietly opened last weekend. Managed by Jon Whitaker, the latest location of the St. Louis-based chain offers 56 taps and 500 different beers in its refrigerated coolers. Beer is also available for sale to go. The spacious interior features colorful murals, widescreen televisions,…
Union Station Kicks Off New Outdoor Entertainment Venue Backed by Great Downtown Kansas City View
By Kevin Collison Union Station kicked off its new Haverty Family Yards outdoor entertainment venue last weekend with a soulful performance by Anderson East and his band backed by rolling freight trains and a dramatic view of downtown Kansas City. The inaugural show Saturday night attracted about 350 people to the grassy field next to…
Two Major Hotel Projects in Downtown Kansas City Continue Moving Forward in Addition to New Convention Hotel
By Kevin Collison Two major hotel projects continue to move forward in downtown Kansas City, which combined with the planned convention hotel, will add more than 1,200 rooms by early 2020. Last week, New York-based Loews announced it has become a substantial investor in the planned 800-room convention hotel at Wyandotte and 17th Street, and…
Nature’s Own Opens In River Market; Owners Want to be Full-Service Grocer for Growing Downtown Neighborhood
By Kevin Collison It didn’t take long for Jeff Henkle to know he found the right spot to reincarnate Nature’s Own. Residents in the River Market were so eager to shop at his new full-service grocery store at 310 E. Fifth St. he opened several days earlier than anticipated on June 18. “So many people…
Eyes on the Eagle
On the median separating Ward Parkway near 67th Street stands a giant eagle bronze statue. Stephanie Hamil, of Leawood, Kansas, had heard a rumor in high school and asked curiousKC: Who’s responsible for the eagle, and did it really once have ruby eyes? We contacted The Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department, which handles the…