Tag Archives: brookside blog

The Picnic Project at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art

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OK, this isn’t a blog about Brookside…but about an event I know many Brooksiders will attend!

It’s “The Picnic Project” this Sunday, July 15 2012 on the lawn at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art.  Everyone loves the   front lawn of the Nelson…it’s magnificent, I never tire of looking at it. On Sunday the lawn will be transformed into a huge picnic area, open to the public.

For the past several weeks, there have been several fabric painting workshops around the city.  Anyone could paint a 5ftx5ft red or white canvas ‘blanket’.  These individual  blankets will be assembled into one huge  10,000 sf picnic blanket on the lawn Sunday from noon-2pm, and the picnic is 2-4.

Picnic Project blanket squares

Kansas City based artist Alison Heryer is the creator of this public art piece.  She teaches fiber art at the Kansas City Art Institute.  What a fascinating sight this will be for everyone to enjoy!

If you decide to make a day of it at the Nelson, remember their featured exhibition this summer is Inventing the Modern World: Decorative Arts at the World’s Fairs 1851-1939.

Summer 2012 Exhibit Nelson Atkins Museum of Art

Hey Anthony Bourdain, Try Dining in Brookside!

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So Anthony Bourdain’s excellent travel show, No Reservations, broadcasts an episode tonight that filmed in Kansas City last fall.  According to the article in today’s’ Kansas City Star, the visit focuses on many of our beloved barbecue joints.  It’s been done, Anthony!   We know how much you love Oklahoma Joe’s….you need to make a visit to Brookside for dining!  And if you did….here’s where I would take you….

First, a short stop at Waldo Pizza for an appetizer of their St Louis Style pizza.  OK, so maybe this pizza with provel cheese originated in St Louis, (and it’s in Waldo) but this is the kind of place Tony would like:  locally owned, crazy busy all the time, interesting artwork on the walls and a wait staff with lots of tats. My personal favorite is the fresh mushroom and pineapple pizza..go ahead and groan.  Along with our cheesy treat, Tony can try several of the freshly brewed beers from Boulevard.

Julian in Brookside

Our next stop for the entrée:  Julian.  No need to hop in your chauffeured limo, Tony, we can just walk along the Trolley Track Trail.  We’ll dine outside, as it would be a perfect spring evening.  Knowing what a pork fanatic Tony is, I would suggest we order the crispy pork shoulder with sweet potato puree.  This is SO tasty, I almost have to order it every time I go to Julian.  It must be a house specialty, as owner Celina Tio once told me how it’s made—it takes two days to concoct this dish!  Of course, Celina and Tony may recognize each other from their appearances on Top Chef—and don’t all those famous chefs know each other anyway? As tempting as it would be to stay for chocolate pudding and a ginger doughnut, we move on for dessert…

Tony isn’t big on eating sweets, but who could resist the profiteroles at Aixois?  A light pastry puff, split open and topped with vanilla bean ice cream, toasted almonds and chocolate sauce…so simple yet so good.  He would appreciate another casual, locally owned restaurant with a warm  atmosphere and reasonable prices. Tony might compare it to his old French bistro, Les Halles.  We’re not done yet, though, there is one more stop…

Heading back south on the trail, we would order lattes at The Roasterie Café.  Notice, Tony, the wide rimmed cups that provide a creamy sip of foam with

The Roasterie Cafe in Brookside

every drink of locally roasted coffee!   Ok, it’s not like drinking espresso in an Italian courtyard, but still, the people watching is good, the service friendly, and if you  crave another shot of chocolate…indulge in  a Christopher Elbow chocolate with your beverage. Or we could walk a bit further to Glace and try scoops of their artisan ice creams:  basil lime sorbet, salted pretzel, goat cheese and wildflower honey.  Sounds interesting, doesn’t it?

You see, Tony, our barbecue has  a well deserved great reputation..but there’s more to Kansas City than big smoky meat, fries and a cream soda.  Brookside is your kind of place…the next time you come to KC to satisfy a craving for Oklahoma Joe’s, spend some time dining in Brookside. Like all other  die hard New Yorkers, you’ll be surprised at what’s happening here outside of the barbecue scene.

Highlights from Armour Hills Homes Assn Meeting June 21, 2011

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Fellow Armour Hills residents, here’s a brief recap of some of the issues discussed at the Armour Hills Homes Assn board meeting earlier this week:

*KCATA has planned a beautification project for the park and ride lot on the south side of Gregory just east of Wornall.  An additional “WALDO” monument sign will be erected at the site.  KCATA would like to improve the appearance of the seldom used park and ride lot on the north end of Gregory–estimated cost is $50,000-$60,000.  No plans or funds in place right now for this area.

*Gunnar Hand, board member, will be applying for PIAC (Public Community Advisory Committee) grants on behalf of Armour Hills.  If awarded, we would like to use the grant money for  Arbor Villa park improvements and tree maintenance. Applications are due in August, and the grants are awarded in February.

*The board approved funds for another black iron bench to be installed in Arbor Villa Park.  This bench will be the memorial to long time park supporter Pete Egan, who died earlier this year.  There will be a memorial plaque on the bench.  We hope to have it installed by September for the ice cream social.

*Plans are underway for the annual Freedom Parade July 4.  Festivities start at 9am; the parade begins at 10am near Gregory and 70th Terrace. Prizes will be awarded in several categories–see the recent edition of the Clarion for more info.

The next board meeting is July 19, 7pm –all residents are welcome!

Continuing “The Brookside Story”

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Why is Brookside such a desirable, classic neighborhood?  Read these sentences below, from LaDene Morton’s book, “The Brookside Story”:

To be a child in the neighborhoods around the Brookside Shops after 1950 would be akin to living around the corner from paradise.  On a Saturday afternoon, kids could ride their bikes into Brookside and fill their entire day with childhood adventures.

She goes on to talk about The Brookside (movie) Theater, the Velvet Freeze, Katz Drugs and the Brookside Record Shop..these places and many more could entertain kids for hours on a weekend afternoon.

Those specific spots are gone now, but children (and adults) can still ride their bikes to Brookside and spend the day exploring.  My daughters do–they shop at Beauty Express, Stuff, World’s Window, The Dime Store, Baskin Robbin’s.  During the warmer months, we’ll walk down with neighbors to The Roasterie for coffee and smoothies.  It’s this walkability and sense of a close, local community that keeps Brookside thriving.

At one point there was a proposed freeway through the Country Club District.  In 1959, Kansas City started to condemn the streetcar right-of-way to plan the highway–from 85th north to Westport.  This six lane, non access highway would have cut through the heart of the district, starting and Oak and continuing west past Wornall.  Homeowners in the area close to the Trolley line rebelled, citing the inevitable loss of value in their homes.  Outrage grew among the residents, who retained several lawyers and threatened litigation.  Eventually in 1965, a Jackson County court dismissed the case, citing the City could not condemn the line. What eventually happened was the construction of the Bruce R Watkins Drive (Missouri 71 Highway) to the east.

What a nightmare that would have been, a highway cutting into the heart of Brookside!  It hurts to even think about it.  Nothing would ever happen like that now–once again, the local shopowners and residents would rise up in protest.  I think there are similarities to this situation and  the proposed new Posinelli building on the Country Club Plaza.  Unfortunately, the Plaza is no longer under local ownership and the building will probably get built, despite the continuing protests from persons all over the world.

Thanks for reading my blog, your comments are welcome!  You can reach me at mary.hutchison@prukc.com

A Birthday in Brookside

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Recently my younger daughter turned 13.  As the kids get older, I remember more of my younger days–what I was doing, thinking, feeling at the ages my girls are now.  Siena and Erin are growing up in a neighborhood similar to my old neighborhood in St Louis–do you think that’s why I chose Brookside as my home?

Growing up in University City, the homes were older ,the  lots smaller, street corners sprinkled with locally owned stores.  My siblings and I walked to and from school.  We walked to the park–where we would just sit and talk, flirted with boys and hide in the bushes.  On weekends we would walk a mile or so to “the Loop” on Delmar, where we would buy (vinyl) records at Streetside, stop in the ‘head shop’  and have a lunch of french fries with a hot fudge sundae at Dairy Queen.  The Loop is still a thriving area in U City–the head shop, record store and DQ are long gone. Sometimes we would walk to Clayton and shop at Famous Barr–that building now an annex of Washington University. We felt safe, free, trusted by our parents–to be responsible and act properly in the shops as we were crusing the neighborhood.

Seems to be the same with my girls.  When school gets out early–Siena  and her friends meet in Brookside on 63rd Street.  They shop at Beauty Express, browse through Stuff, eat at Jalepeno’s and buy smoothies at the Roasterie Cafe. They meet up with the boys…although somehow my daughter never says the boys will be there.  They  walk to the park and hang out, sometimes they ride bikes.  Surely they are doing the same things I did at that age, in the same environment…with cell phones so they can check in.   The circle of life.

Yes I do worry somewhat about the kids getting hit by a car, not using the crosswalks, someone offering them drugs or cigarettes.  But at this age they must learn, on their own, to be aware and handle various situations alone–like I did.  I want them to be self-reliant and alert, watching for traffic, for suspicious persons — and act accordingly.  Our family loves the walkability of Brookside and that’s one aspect that makes this area so special. 

And when my girls are adults, searching for a home, where will they want to live?  I hope it’s in a neighborhood just like the one they grew up in.

Thanks for reading my blog–you can comment below or reach me via email at mary.hutchison@prukc.com

Habitat ReStore Comes to Waldo

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Everyone loves a bargain…especially Brookside/Waldo folks.  It’s always a pleasure to walk into area homes that have trashed furniture they have turned into chic decor.  That’s one reason why Habitat ReStore will be very successful with their new Waldo store at 303 W 79St, opening mid November.

The 24,000 square foot facillity will carry gently used furniture, building supplies, fixtures, hardware and appliances.  Although the store isn’t open yet, it is accepting donations of furniture.  Private individuals, contractors and building suppliers are encouraged  to donate unused and unwanted materials to the store. It will be open six days a week (Monday through Saturday) and have a volunteer staff.

Four years ago when I remodeled my kitchen, I had Habitat Restore come out and do the kitchen demo.  They took the old unwanted everything:  sink, oven, fridge, countertop, cabinets–and the work was done in a professional, friendly manner. I paid a fee as a donation and then took the donation off on my income taxes. This year Habitat ReStore is charging me $500 to demo my bathroom (a contractor quoted me $900) and again, I’ll get a tax donation from their work.  It’s a win – win situation for each party.  Habitat ReStore gets materials, I get the tax benefits.  And they do a great job.

Remember Habitat ReStore when it’s time to remodel your home or business–they are doing a great community service that benefits everyone. 

And…thanks for reading my blog.  You can comment here or contact me at maryhutchison@prukc.com