Tapas on outdoor patios, spirited celebrations, foliage-shrouded museums: In Kansas City, fall is a long, leisurely and definite last hurrah to summer season.
A tunnel of trees bows in greeting as my other half and I go into the Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden in Kansas City, Missouri. Residents conversing with good friends or with noses buried in novels perch on wooden benches tucked in between painstakingly cultivated beds. This October mid-morning visit is our very first, yet something feels nostalgic about the spheres of yellow and fuchsia mums, meandering brick paths, and elegant fountains. A few beats pass, and after that we smile at each other in a tacky, light bulb minute of recognition: This regal sanctuary down the roadway from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art reminds us of the Sunken and Italian gardens at Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island, which we checked out on our honeymoon practically 4 years ago to the day.
The memorial garden’s design was motivated by the parks the Kauffmans, noteworthy Kansas City benefactors, encountered on their world takes a trip. Today, KCMO’s warmth and worldly influences can be felt through its growing international restaurant scene and history-steeped areas that host more activities than we can suit our weekend stay.
Droves of visitors are in town for a marathon, the Chiefs video game, a Lizzo show and fall festivals. I, too, fall under his spell and enjoy a row of rugged teeth emerge as it changes into a monster.
Mural-splashed buildings signal our arrival in Crossroads Arts District, an innovative enclave just south of downtown representing more than 400 local artists. Finest checked out on foot, the district’s hyper-concentrated gallery and studio scene is the main draw, but you can likewise browse diverse vintage and wares shops, catch a stand-up show, or sit back at a distillery.
When we pull up at Baba’s Pantry, a tiny Palestinian deli on the south side, the line is out the door, and my stomach is rumbling so loudly it could disturb the underworld. It’s a minor wonder that we poach a tight, upholstered bench by the refrigerator to await our shawarma and fries. A quiet voice behind me says, “You’re in my workplace.” Prior to I can spring up to ask forgiveness, Baba himself smiles warmly and states, “Best seat in the house.” I could not concur more.
What to Do
You don’t need to be a history enthusiast to value the National WWI Museum and Memorial. Catch effective exhibits like Bespoke Bodies: The Design and Craft of Prosthetics, which checks out developments in prosthetic style, through April 2024. After checking out the museum, ride the elevator to the top of the 217-foot-tall Liberty Memorial Tower to see the city (and fall colors) from an incredible vantage point.
The 22-acre park around the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is a popular spot in the succumb to minigolf and leaf-peeping amongst sculptures– including works like a cast of Rodin’s The Thinker by Alexis Rudier. Inside, see more than 100 vintage pictures of American and European cities in Evelyn Hofer: Eyes on the City. (Exhibit opens September 16.).
About a half-mile south of the museum, the Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden features regional and exotic botanicals, gathering spaces, an orangery and sculptural water fountains.
Galleries, shops and acclaimed dining establishments speckle the Crossroads Arts District. Find houseplants and botanical-themed gifts at Verdant and a gorgeous selection of house decoration and devices at Duet. On the very first Friday of monthly, the district changes into a full-blown street celebration with art and food vendors.
Where to Eat and Drink.
Perennially packed Mildred’s satisfies with hearty breakfast sandwiches (served in pie tins), invigorating coffee drinks and delectable baked goods. The line may appear long, but it moves quickly.
As soon as a simple freight home, Grünauer has actually been changed into one of the city’s most romantic fine-dining areas. If beer’s more your speed, find more than a lots German and Austrian varieties on tap.
Cherry red-framed paintings decorate spice-colored walls at Baba’s Pantry. The counter-service joint is best known for its delectable Palestinian meals– comfort meals like falafel, shawarma and baba ghanoush– but do not leave without stocking up on pickled veggies, spreads and sugary foods in to-go containers.
On fall evenings at La Bodega, outdoor patio diners cozy up around firepits with Spanish tapas, paella and Rioja.
Take advantage of your wild side at Casual Animal Brewing Company. Inside this urban jungle, plants waterfall from the ceiling, murals overtake walls, and there’s ensured to be a heated shuffleboard match– all set to a rating of hip-hop from the early 2000s. Search for the Local Motive beer on tap; a part of earnings from each pour supports a local nonprofit.
Seasonal brews– like Cinnamon Bun Ale, Nutcracker Ale, and Cranberry Apple Cinnamon Hard Seltzer– draw visitors to Boulevard Brewing Company’s beer hall, situated across the street from the brewery.
Where to Stay.
Not far from the Power and Light District, 21c Museum Hotel seems like a boutique hotel and an art gallery got hitched. Capture complimentary exhibitions on the primary and 2nd floors, plus initial operate in each room.
The previous house of Pabst Brewing Depot was reimagined as Crossroads Hotel, an industrial-cool 131-room shop hotel in the Crossroads Arts District– complete with a seasonal roof bar.
