Going Gondola

Hidden deep within the transit plan that voters approved this year is the requirement that Kansas City build itself a way for tourists to travel easily between Union Station and Liberty Memorial. The mode of transportation? Gondolas.

The plan requires a $10 million aerial tram system between the two historic attractions. Clay Chastain, the author of the plan, says he envisions gondolas that look like enclosed cars such as those at ski resorts.

But the ballot that voters passed doesn’t specify the kind of gondolas, so we could just as easily end up with some pretty fancy dinghies zipping across our skies.

Anyway, if we’re going to have flying gondolas, we figured we ought to have well-dressed gondola drivers.

So the Pitch put out a call to several Kansas City artists who have experience designing clothes and costumes. The request: Outfit Kansas City’s gondola captains. And sweet Grand Canal of Venice, did they answer the call. Their work includes military-inspired jackets, oversized boutonnieres and a button-down inspired by a chain restaurant. Check out their work by clicking here or with this slideshow: