News & Issues
Stories from around the Kansas City Metro area on a variety of topics.
Trump Protesters Take to Downtown Streets
By Kim Mueller Before President Trump’s plane even touched down in Kansas City, Tim Kelly of Raytown sat waiting at 8 a.m. for the streetcar to take him from River Market to the protests downtown. “I called in sick from work to do this,” Kelly explained as he held his cardboard sign saying, “Veterans Resist…
Spokes Serving White Russians and Tacos to ‘Celebrate’ Trump’s Downtown Meltdown
By Kevin Collison Downtown Kansas City is expected to be disrupted mightily by President Trump’s visit to the national VFW Convention today, so the folks at Spokes are making a party out of it. “We’re calling it a “Celebration of America” party,” said owner Dan Walsh. “Our regular business will be significantly slowed down. “Downtown…
Weinberger Fine Art Opens Second Crossroads Space for Smaller Shows
By Kevin Collison One of the Crossroads most respected art galleries, Weinberger Fine Art, has opened a satellite space at 1903 Wyandotte to provide artists an opportunity for more individual exhibitions. “Artists wanted a room where all you see is their work,” said Courtney Wasson, director of Weinberger Fine Art. “It’s another opportunity to show…
West Bottoms Flats Starting Soon, First Major Renovation Project in Historic Warehouse District
By Kevin Collison Construction is expected to begin soon on the $68 million West Bottoms Flats apartment development, the first major renovation project in the downtown warehouse district that fueled Kansas City’s economic growth in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. MCM Company plans to renovate three historic buildings on the north side of…
Historic Norman School Reopens as 61-Unit Apartment Development
By Kevin Collison The historic Norman School, a prominent stone landmark that overlooks Southwest Trafficway as it approaches downtown, has reopened as a 61-unit apartment project following a $14 million renovation. The school started as a two-room wood building in 1901 and was named after the school board president at the time, Joseph Norman. In…
Sympathetic Vibrations | Setting the Record Straight
For many musicians, writing and performing music for the public is a privilege. And though artists rights typically don’t factor into the general perception of being a kick-ass rocker, that doesn’t mean those rights should be ignored. But safeguarding those rights can often be more difficult for female artists. In my time as a practicing…
Reimagining Schools at Maker Faire Kansas City
Organizers call Maker Faire the Greatest Show (And Tell) on Earth, and Kansas City held its eighth annual version of the international event at Union Station in June. The two-day faire drew crowds to celebrate all things creative — from science to art and anything in between. As part of our Take Note education project,…
New 21c Museum Hotel Kansas City Wraps Hospitality Around Art
(Updated July 31: AccorHotels, a French firm, has acquired 21cMuseum Hotels, paying $51 million to purchase 85 percent of the firm. 21c founders Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson will retain a 15 percent ownership share. AccorHotels owns 4,000 hotels throughout the world making it the largest hotel group outside the United States.) By Kevin…
Local Pig Relocating to City Market, Taking Former Winslow BBQ Space
The Local Pig & Pigwich is leaving the East Bottoms for the former Winslow BBQ space at 20 E. Fifth St. in the City Market with an opening expected in mid-October. After six years at 2618 Guinotte Ave., co-owners Alex Pope and Matt Kafka began exploring ways to expand Pigwich, a stationary food truck adjacent…