CitySceneKC
KCAI Launches Liberal Arts Project, Part of $30M Campus Overhaul
By Kevin Collison The Kansas City Art Institute kicked off construction of a new liberal arts building last week, part of a $30 million campus building program that’s creating a new future for the 134 year-old school. “This is a pivotal moment in our college’s history,” said Tony Jones, the Nerman Family President of KCAI….
New River Market Restaurant ‘Chicken Please’ Goes Beyond Brazil
By Kevin Collison Two Brazilian volleyball buddies who brought a “Taste” of their home country to the River Market six years ago are opening a new restaurant aimed at a larger audience, “Chicken Please.” “We always wanted to expand,” said Cristian Maciel. “Taste of Brazil is doing great, but we talked about what we could…
ARTerra Opening Spurs Call for Continued Downtown Incentives
By Kevin Collison City Manager Troy Schulte used the grand opening of the $40.7 million ARTerra apartment tower in the Crossroads Wednesday to urge continued public support for downtown revitalization, saying it also helps the overall city. “All 475,000 people in Kansas City benefit from a strong downtown,” he told the audience gathered in the…
College Basketball Experience Refreshing Its Game
By Kevin Collison The College Basketball Experience next to the Sprint Center is replacing some dead wood, specifically its center basketball court which has gotten tired after 12 years of abundant bouncing. “We have 100,000 visitors annually and 100 basketball tournaments every year,” said CBE spokeswoman Celeste Lupercio. “It’s also our main space for corporate…
North Loop Pedestrian Accident ‘Robs’ Downtown of Huge Advocate
By Kevin Collison Downtown Kansas City lost one of its most enthusiastic champions when Jared Miller was struck and killed by a semi-truck late Saturday morning while crossing the North Loop freeway from the River Market. The eastbound trucker didn’t see the pedestrian until it was too late to avoid striking him, according to Kansas…
Craft Beer Fan Adding ‘Oak & Steel’ to Crossroads Garage
Editor’s Note: Oak & Steel is now open for business at 17th and Wyandotte. Owner Kyle Howard hosted a soft opening event last Friday that was partnered with the reintroduction into the local market of beer produced by St. Louis-based 2nd Shift microbrewery. At this point, no formal grand opening has been scheduled. The hours…
Keystone Innovation District Seeks to Transform East 18th Street Corridor
(Editor’s note: Updated March 11. The Keystone Innovation District initiative has announced its Governing Board: Doug Girod, Chancellor, University of Kansas; Mauli Agrawal, Chancellor, University of Missouri – Kansas City; Kimberly Beatty, Chancellor, Metropolitan Community College; Elizabeth MacLeod Walls, President, William Jewell College; Denise St. Omer, VP of Grantmaking and Inclusion, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation;…
Pioneering East Crossroads Apartment Project Kicks Off Construction
By Kevin Collison Construction of a $72 million East Crossroads apartment development in the works for 16 months is scheduled to begin today with the first residents expected to begin occupancy by Fall 2020. John McGurk, an official with the Indianapolis developer, Milhaus, said the 341-unit project, which will be called “Artistry KC,” received its…
Streetcar Extension Plan Fails to Make FY 2020 Federal Budget Cut
By Kevin Collison The planned extension of the streetcar from downtown to UMKC failed to make the funding cut in the proposed new federal budget, a setback local streetcar officials hope to overcome next year. The Federal Transit Administration’s budget recommendation for FY 2020 did not include the $151.6 million being sought by the Kansas…
Vibrant Crossroads Street Art Scene Subject of New Guided Tour
By Kevin Collison To the uneducated eye, when it comes to the explosion of street art brightening the alleys and buildings in the Crossroad Arts District in recent years it’s hard to know the difference between a “tag,” a “throw up” or a fully realized “burner.” Much less who some of the better artists are…