Arts & Entertainment
‘Greenline’ Concept Would Loop Downtown with Recreational Trail
By Kevin Collison An ambitious plan to create a 10-mile “Greenline” recreational loop around downtown similar to the popular BeltLine in Atlanta is being championed by developer Vince Bryant. “It’s not a new idea,” Bryant told the Downtown Council board last week. “Most progressive cities have rails to trails projects. “The goal is to have…
New Blade & Timber Finds Mark in Power & Light District
By Kevin Collison Blade & Timber is now open in the Power & Light District and so far, the owners have found their best advertisement has been passersby lured by the noise of axes chopping into wood. “We’re excited to open the doors because of the sound of axe throwing” co-owner Matt Baysinger said. “People…
SpraySeeMO Draws Global, Local Street Artists to Crossroads
The third annual SpraySeeMO Mural Festival is returning to the Crossroads Arts District for a seven-day run beginning Sunday and is drawing street artists from around the world and country to add even more color to the walls of greater downtown. An estimated 40 walls will be the canvases for the event, which also includes…
First Friday Reset Planned Following Murder at August Event
By Kevin Collison In the wake of last First Friday’s tragic shooting, organizers want to calm the event closer to its roots as a celebration of the Crossroads art scene, not the loud, crowded street party it’s become in recent years. The Crossroads Community Association announced Friday that next week’s First Friday temporarily will ban…
Irish Fest Plans a ‘Mix Tape’ Finale for This Year’s Annual Weekend Party
By Kevin Collison This year’s 17th annual Irish Fest had a dilemma. For the first time since its soggy inception in 2003 at Berkley Riverfront Park, the festival’s favorite band, The Elders, wouldn’t be performing. “Obviously, The Elders are gone, which means we’re looking for a new tradition,” said Keli O’Neill, whose firm produces the…
‘Best-in-Class’ Entertainment Venue Planned for Plaza’s Jack Henry
(Editor’s note: Denver-based Punch Bowl Social announced in November 2019 it would be the tenant for this project) By Kevin Collison The vacant Jack Henry building at 47th and Jefferson is slated for a $44 million renovation to ready it for a hot entertainment tenant that would be new to the Kansas City market, according…
Quixotic Bringing Extended Cabaret Run to Crown Center This Fall
By Kevin Collison Quixotic, the dazzling Kansas City-based troupe best known for its singular performances, is staying put for two months this fall at Crown Center for an extended “cirque-style” cabaret run. The new show is called “Sensatia” and it’s billed as a “multi-sensory experience that tells the tale of two uninspired artists–a mechanical ballerina…
New Playground Coming to West Terrace Park
By Kevin Collison West Terrace Park is getting a new $260,000 playground that will include the first “Bamboo Jungle” climbing posts installed in the city by KC Parks. Work is expected to begin this week on the new playground that serves not just the Quality Hill downtown neighborhood, but kids on recess at the nearby…
Beloved City Market Flutist Marvin Hollinshed ‘Played Right Up Until the End’
He was the Saturday soundtrack for visitors to the City Market for many years. On hot mornings, Marvin Hollinshed was often the first person you’d encounter entering the Market from the west, staying cool in the shady passageway to the vendors’ stalls before he ventured outside. But you heard his flute sweetly piping tunes long…
816 Day Celebration Returns to Downtown Friday
The city’s newest civic celebration, 816 Day, will focus on downtown again this Friday with the City Market and the Power & Light District as anchor locations. The event got the official seal of approval at City Hall last year when the Council passed a resolution endorsing it, and was originally launched by the Downtown…