Carolyn Anderson, Visit KC social-media manager, talks running, restoring the Cosby Hotel and more in The Pitch questionnaire
Name: Carolyn Anderson
Occupation: Social-media manager, Visit KC
Hometown: Blue Springs
Current neighborhood: Downtown KCMO
What I do: I create and curate social-media content to build excitement for Kansas City as a destination for leisure and business travel.
What’s your addiction? Social media and sea salt
What’s your game? Texas hold ’em. I love playing with new friends and trying to figure out their tells — and hide mine!
What’s your drink? Anything with Buffalo Trace bourbon. #yum
Where’s dinner? Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen for small bites and big red wines. Dining alone or with good friends, I always leave happy!
What’s on your KC postcard? A comfortably crowded, dimly lit jazz club, with locals and visitors raising their glasses for a toast.
Finish this sentence: “Kansas City got it right when …” The historic Cosby Hotel building was saved. It was days away from demolition and it is now home to Milwaukee Deli, where people have food, drinks and conversation once again in a 134-year-old building. Saving one building matters and shows what possibilities are within the walls of currently neglected, empty buildings.
“Kansas City screwed up when …” We chose highways over historic neighborhoods.
“Kansas City needs …” An awesome local bagel shop in the downtown area. There aren’t a lot of grab-and-go local breakfast options right now — and I love bagels, so they get my vote!
“In five years, I’ll be …” 38. Can’t comfortably speculate on anything else in my life! (And I’m OK with that.)
“I always laugh at …” Blooper reels or watching people break on live TV. There’s nothing quite like laughing when you’re not supposed to, and it always makes me smile.
“I’ve been known to binge-watch …” House of Cards. (Insert quote that makes viewers uncomfortable here. Take your pick — the show is loaded with them.)
“I can’t stop listening to …” Skrillex. Most of my music listening these days is during long runs, and he keeps me moving!
“I just read …” Wild. The quote that stuck with me: “The PCT [trail] had gotten easier for me, but that was different from it getting easy.” Experience in life and in my career gives me confidence, but I know I can’t predict what challenges are still to come.
The best advice I ever got: “Focus on being a strong writer no matter what profession you are pursuing.”
Worst advice: “Avoid running at all times.” — Satchel Paige
My sidekick: My family! They’re the best cheerleaders a girl could ask for, and they get to meet all the other sidekicks in my life.
My dating triumph/tragedy: Honestly, I’m Team “Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved before.” Terribly cliché but terribly true. You won’t hear me trashing past relationships!
My brush with fame: Many years ago, I got to interview Lewis Black for my college newspaper. He’s much calmer one-on-one than when he’s performing onstage (thank goodness!).
My 140-character soapbox: Don’t say, “If you don’t like it here, move.” Some things need fixing. But remember to celebrate the good and be a part of your city’s fabric.
What was the last thing you had to apologize for? Being late to [anything].
Who’s sorry now? Still me. All my clocks at home are 10 minutes fast, and I’m not sure that’s enough!
My recent triumph: I ran the Twin Cities Marathon, my first marathon, in October. Having never really been an athlete before, I was especially happy to cross that finish line feeling awesome and with a smile on my face!
Follow Anderson on Twitter: @hellocarolynj and @visitkc.
