D for Downtown: an A-to-Z glossary for KC’s urban workforce

In 2008, the company I work for relocated from a swank office on the Country Club Plaza to a nearly 100-year-old building in downtown Kansas City. When I first saw the architectural rendering, with its cheerful depictions of people walking down a gently shaded sidewalk, I laughed. I knew there were zero trees on that block, and the only people I’d ever seen walking there had either asked me for money or tried to sell me drugs. 

Almost a decade later, things look a lot different in the central business district. Cosentino’s on 13th Street is as bustling a grocery store as the metro has. The Power & Light District packs in fans for daytime sports events and nighttime concerts. Conventions unleash tourists onto the streets. The streetcar ding-dings up and down Main. And yes, there are trees now, and the pedestrians on the sidewalk outside my workplace seem altogether law-abiding (give or take any jaywalking forced on them by construction).

Even if you work within downtown’s so-called renaissance, though, it’s easy to spend your free time on the job in the company breakroom, lost in your phone. I do it, too. But downtown Kansas City rewards your curiosity. Next time you clock out, look for some of the the elements listed below. 

Art

One way to enrich your work day is by taking occasional “culture breaks”: Take an architecture-appreciation walk, stop by an art exhibit or find a midday performance. The Art in the Loop organization makes all of this pretty easy, sponsoring public sculptures, concerts and art installations within the downtown loop. Many of the galleries and art spaces in the Crossroads keep daytime hours, and are much easier to visit over lunch than during people-packed First Fridays. The Charlotte Street Foundation (disclosure: I’ve been one of its studio residents) also regularly hosts art openings, performances and open studios events during the week. 

Bicycles

Biking to work is a much more invigorating — if occasionally terrifying — way to commute (see our June issue for more about Kansas City’s changing bicycle infrastructure). If you don’t own a bike, you can rent from any of the many B-cycle stations. My favorite time to ride is during the Big 12 tournament, when you can cruise past all the annoying traffic barricades. I have yet to snag a keg from a delivery vehicle and ride off, but with a bit of strength training, next year I just might. 

Coffee 

Each downtown coffee shop has its strengths: fancy pastries (and cocktails) at Thou Mayest, rotating single-origin coffees at Kaldi’s, three kinds of cold brew at P.T.’s, an impressive display of man buns and mustaches at Quay. My vote, however, goes to City Market Coffee, which still offers a $1 fill-it-yourself option even after 20 years in business. And yes, there are 16-ounce bottles of robust homemade cold-brew concentrate. 

Delivery vehicles

Don’t bother trying to motor up and down Walnut Street, where trucks servicing Cosentino’s and Power & Light bars line both sides of the street, making visibility bad and driving perilous. 

Entertainment        

So many more options exist now than a decade ago. You can see a movie at the Alamo Drafthouse or Screenland; play video games at Up-Down or Screenland’s Tapcade; go to a concert at the Midland, RecordBar, the Brick or Green Lady Lounge; hear the symphony or an opera at the Kauffman Center; or see a play at the Missouri Rep’s Copaken Stage or the Living Room Theatre. 

First Friday

Downtown workers get to treat First Friday like an extended happy hour. It’s much easier to stay downtown than it is to go home and return for the galleries. (In fact, if you wait too long to exit the loop, you’ll feel lightly imprisoned.) Yes, there are drones, hula-hoopers and suburban teenagers pretending to be rock stars. But this is city living, and if you like your urban experience lively, this is a hundred times more electric than any other night of the month downtown.

Green Roof

The Green Roof above Cosentino’s is an excellent, tucked-away space to read, eat lunch or get a few minutes of fresh air. The landscaping is meticulous and beautiful, with native prairie grass and trees that are beginning to mature enough to provide shade. And the grocery store below offers everything you’ll need for an impromptu picnic. 

History

Even if you’re over the whole Prohibition-revival thing (speakeasies? still?), especially as a backdrop to sell $14 drinks, cocktail culture has helped to spotlight renovation — or even lead to it. (Look no further than the Kansas City Power & Light Building and Pickwick Plaza.) A good place to brush up on local history is the Missouri Valley Room at the Kansas City Central Library. A few local blogs tackle the subject as well, including squeezeboxcity.com and author John Simonson’s paris-of-the-plains.blogspot.com 

Interact

From the guy at the library who tried to sell me a piece of meteorite to the checker at Cosentino’s who’s ever-ready to talk jam-band concerts, downtown isn’t short of conversationalists. Many are worth engaging with, though it’s advisable to know where the nearest nail salon is; a lot of the people I meet seem to be trying to get to a pedicure.

Jimmy John’s delivery people

You’ll see these guys running around wearing black T-shirts and schlepping sandwich bags. It doesn’t look like fun, but their speed and endurance are impressive. (And if you want to see a grateful smile, meet one of them in the lobby instead of waiting for him upstairs.)

KC Pride T-shirts

For someone who grew up in Kansas City in the 1980s, the explosion of wearable local pride in recent years can be a bit baffling. Still, there’s no denying the design ingenuity at play on the racks at Normal Human (1815 McGee) and Raygun (1803 Baltimore), or even at the new Power & Light Rally House.

Library

The Central Library (14 West 10th Street) offers a nearly daily stream of author events, public speakers, historical exhibits and cultural programming. An exhibit of photographer Mike Sinclair at the library, for instance, showcased not only his own work but also photographs by homeless people whom he had provided with cameras to document their daily lives. The result was an illuminating slice of art and life that you wouldn’t see at a conventional art venue. The library is also an oasis for families with small children, with a well-appointed kids area on the third floor, a friendly staff and weekly storytimes. 

Mexican

There are days when no amount of caffeine, junk websites or even productivity can make me feel like myself. On those days, I require something stronger: Mexican food. Los Tules (1656 Broadway) is the best sit-down option. Chipotle and the City Market’s Burrito Bros (a local version of Chipotle) are popular options. The best Mexican food downtown, however, is at Wrap It Up, a family-owned lunch counter in the City Center food court. Wrap It Up serves delicious tamales (on Monday), chorizo and tacos al pastor, as well as Americanized favorites like quesadillas and hard-shell tacos. 

Nature’s Own

Health-food stores can burn a hole in your chip card, and I’m hesitant to endorse one over another. But I have enjoyed the organic treats and on-tap kombucha at the new Nature’s Own location in the City Market, at 310 East Fifth Street. 

Oppenstein Brothers Park 

A humble patch of concrete and green space, this tiny park still has a big-city feel, with trees, fold-out tables and chairs and the occasional food truck. Art in the Loop project holds concerts here during the summer, and the park is occasionally a jumping-off point for protests or rallies. Also one of the few spots to take your dog. 

Pedestrians

Pedestrians in Kansas City sometimes seem like they have no regard for their own safety. I see people look at the light, see that it’s red, look down the street, see that cars are coming, and then decide to cross anyway. And those are the ones who aren’t communing with their phones. 

Q

In 2015, Plowboys Barbecue admirably filled the void left when Danny Edwards got pushed out of Power & Light. Plowboys is too filling for me to mess with during the workday, but that long line of business-casual bros ain’t there for nothin’. Burnt ends served on Wednesdays and Fridays. 

River

The river feels a lot farther away than it actually is, and it makes a good change of scene during a lunch or exercise break. Stroll to the end of the Town of Kansas bridge to watch the planes, trains and occasional barges, or walk a bit more to get to the Riverfront Heritage Trail for some of the best views of the city. 

Streetcar

Admit it: You like the streetcar. My kids love riding it, I use it to hop to the City Market or Union Station, and its covered stops and friendly chime make KC feel more like a real city. On the other hand, technical issues or someone’s stupid car lead to regular delays. Until further notice, my rule remains “if you can’t see it, don’t bother waiting for it.” In the meantime, there’s always the bus, which isn’t free but is more reliable.

Trucks

Food trucks, to be specific. You’ll find them throughout downtown sporadically, and all over the place on First Friday. Some are delicious (Bochi Wings) and others look like they’ve seen better years (the one with the dirty, faded painting of a gyro on the side).

Underground

Talk to people who worked downtown in different decades, and you’ll hear interesting stories of speakeasies, street art, Mardi Gras parades, concerts at unofficial venues and other such off-the-radar high jinks. Outside the pages and website of this publication, Informalityblog.com and KCdiy.info are fine places to keep abreast of art shows, events and concerts you might not hear of otherwise. Night Blooms Darkroom, Bookstore and Coffee, a short walk from downtown at 529 Southwest Boulevard, regularly holds avant-garde events in the evenings. 

VisitKC.com 

Meanwhile, well above ground, VisitKC.com (formerly the Kansas City Convention & Visitors Association) maintains a comprehensive list of events, attractions and resources taking place across the metro. A good site to look at when hoping to impress or accommodate out-of-town friends or family. 

Walking

You can walk in any direction from the Power & Light District and be in a distinctive neighborhood within minutes. Explore the Westside, the City Market and the Crossroads, or head a little east for Ilus Davis Park, in the shadows of City Hall and other government buildings, but not a lot else. 

Xenopus

Any of various aquatic, tongueless, clawed frogs of the genus Xenopus of southern Africa. These are not native to downtown Kansas City, but if we ever get a professional lacrosse team as a Sprint Center anchor tenant, bingo: team name or mascot. 

YJ’s

A cornerstone of the Crossroads art-weirdness before that was officially a thing, YJ’s emerged from artist David Ford’s studio complex. An all-night, alcohol-free outfit staffed by artists and musicians, YJ’s features sandwiches, homemade pies, a variety of sodas and some of the best dirty rice in the region (served for lunch on Tuesdays). 

Zoo Bar

This isn’t one of those places that calls itself a dive bar but actually has $10 Belgian sours glowing under dozens of flat-screen TVs — it’s a cash-only joint with graffiti on the walls, bars on the windows, and folks who will probably tell you their life story for the price of a pint (no taps, though). If you want a glimpse of Kansas City’s drinking scene pre–Power & Light, this is your spot.