CitySceneKC
Downtown Living Gets High Marks from People in Survey, Less So Dogs
By Kevin Collison It still may be a challenging place to shop or bike ride, but regardless, a new survey of downtown residents finds an overwhelming majority very satisfied they chose to live in the heart of the city. The 45-question survey conducted last winter by the Downtown Council found 92 percent of the 830…
‘From the Earth’ Marijuana Dispensary Sprouts Near T-Mobile Center
By Kevin Collison Downtown’s first medical marijuana dispensary, From the Earth, is scheduled to open at the beginning of June at 1222 McGee, near the T-Mobile Center and Power & Light District. Tyler Diltz, a From the Earth employee, said the new downtown dispensary is a relocation from a previous site on Independence Avenue in…
Community Christian’s Iconic ‘Steeple of Light’ Returns Saturday Night
By Kevin Collison Community Christian Church near the Plaza will rekindle its iconic “Steeple of Light” this Saturday night, celebrating a successful repair fundraising effort and the return to live services the following day, Mother’s Day. “We had originally hoped to turn it on Easter, but there were some supply chain issues and we pushed…
Canary Opens New Rooftop Cocktail Roost
By Kevin Collison Canary bistro opened its rooftop bar atop the restored 10-story Netherland Hotel building last weekend and the early reports are its new roost overlooking midtown and beyond is a hit. “It was a whirlwind,” said co-owner Keely Edgington. “It’s been a long time since we’ve served so many people and it went…
Downtown Gets New Park Where Dogs Run Free
By Kevin Collison Downtown’s growing canine population–and their owners–will have another place to romp free next month when the Downtown Council opens a one-half acre dog park at the southwest corner of Seventh and Walnut. The new, off-leash dog park will be the second operated by the Council’s Community Improvement District, the other is in…
Lemonade Park Squeezes Great Music and Food in West Bottoms
By Kevin Collison Voltaire owner Wes Gartner and some friends were sharing another lemon of a day during the depth of the Covid-19 quarantine last summer when inspiration hit. “I was sitting with friends enjoying the outdoor weather and said, ‘we ought to enjoy this on a grander scale,’” Gartner recalled. So he reached out…
Former Dairy Plant on Gillham Slated for $12M Apartment Project
By Kevin Collison A former dairy plant near Linwood and Gillham is slated to be redeveloped as 48 lofts and a fresh food market by Exact Partners, the latest investment in a burgeoning redevelopment corridor along 31st street from Main to Troost. Exact, which also is redeveloping several buildings at nearby Martini Corner and recently…
Plaza Jack Henry Redevelopment Plan Now Includes Endangered Church
By Kevin Collison A big Country Club Plaza redevelopment that will renovate much of the former Jack Henry building as a fitness club has expanded to include an endangered church next door prized by historic preservationists. Matt Pennington, president of Drake Development, recently announced a Chiefs Fit, a joint fitness venture between the Kansas City…
Rightfully Sewn Expands in Crossroads; Grocery Plan Falls Through
By Kevin Collison Rightfully Sewn, a non-profit seamstress training and apparel manufacturer, is substantially expanding its Crossroads space and hiring more people thanks to a pair of big new garment contracts. The expansion however, signals that plans for a gourmet grocery and wine store at the northeast corner of 18th and Wyandotte have fallen through….
Italian Gardens Pizza Revives Memories in East Crossroads
By Kevin Collison It’s off the beaten path, tucked in a still gritty industrial corner of the East Crossroads next to Tension Envelope, but once you spot the bright Italian colors emblazoned on the cinder-block building, your taste buds will remember the way. “Once people find us, they know where we are,” said John David…