Arts & Entertainment
With Longtime Goal Close, Downtown Council Goes Quiet on Ballpark
By Kevin Collison The biggest and loudest civic cheerleader for a downtown ballpark for almost 20 years has gone quiet as its goal becomes achingly close, choosing instead to work behind the scenes. The Downtown Council, downtown’s premier private advocate, has embraced more low-profile tactics including enlisting corporate leaders to write letters of support and…
Manor Records Spinning to West Bottoms in October
By Kevin Collison Shaun Crowley’s effort to help promote the local live music scene is landing in the West Bottoms where he plans to open a new Manor Records shop this October. The new Manor Records is planned for the basement of what’s called the 12th Street Post building at 1501 W. 12th St. It’s…
Royals Unveil Ballpark Development Concepts for Downtown and North KC
By Kevin Collison When it comes to designing a new Royals ballpark district in downtown Kansas City or North Kansas City, both have two things in common, the ballpark itself would hold 38,000 fans and be oriented south-southeast. After that, there are sprawling differences in how the surrounding ballpark developments would unfold, according to the…
Artist Studios, Gallery Space Planned for Historic West Bottoms Warehouse
By Kevin Collison A historic West Bottoms building at 1001 W. Eighth St. is slated to be renovated as a gallery and artist studio space by a pair of artists themselves, one with deep family ties to the area. The $700,000 project is being pursued by Geoff and Cathy Beaham Smith. Her family operated the…
Weinberger Closing Gallery After Dozen Years As Crossroads Arts Fixture
By Kevin Collison The Weinberger Fine Art gallery is closing at the end of this month, ending more than a dozen years of proprietor Kim Weinberger being an important fixture in the Crossroads art gallery scene. Weinberger plans to continue representing her artists online, but said dwindling sales at the gallery at 114 Southwest Blvd….
Annual 816 Day Features Music, Circus Acts and Ice Cream
This year’s 816 Day downtown celebration includes live music, circus acts, specials on food and drinks and a fun way to check out new destinations, the annual Scavenger Hunt Bingo game. The event will be held Wednesday, Aug. 16, and starts with breakfast specials from 8- to 9:30 a.m. at the Strang Chef Collective in…
Jackson County Balks at Starting Royals Downtown Ballpark Talks
By Kevin Collison Last month, Royals owner John Sherman expressed frustration about “waiting on a few people” who didn’t share the team’s urgency about negotiating a downtown ballpark deal. Turns out, that negotiating ball has literally been in Jackson County’s court since at least mid-June, according to senior-level sources close to the concept with the…
Ziplines, Aerial Park Envisioned for Hy-Vee Arena ‘Space Frame’
(Editor’s note: This article originally was published Feb. 17, 2023) By Kevin Collison When Helmut Jahn designed the unique, external framework supporting the roof at the former Kemper Arena 50 years ago, it’s doubtful he imagined it hosting an aerial park someday. But that’s just what Brad McDonald has in mind for the renowned German…
Royals Ballpark Decision Expected Late Summer, Could Open by 2027
By Kevin Collison Royals owner John Sherman says his club will choose a ballpark location by late summer, adding the delay in deciding between downtown and North Kansas City lies with other players involved who don’t share his team’s urgency. “We’re waiting on a few people and we understand their reasons why they’re not as…
Crown Center WeekEnder Event Takes Off Next Week with Top Gun
Crown Center resumes its annual WeekEnder series on July 7, beginning its weekly free Friday event that runs through July with the film Top Gun: Maverick and the band The Vincents. The family-friendly outdoor entertainment event at Crown Center Square begins at 6 p.m. with live music and movies start at about 9 p.m. Crown…