Kansas
Want to explore Kansas City’s Westside neighborhood? Start with this beginner’s guide
This story was first revealed in KCUR’s Artistic Journey publication. You possibly can signal as much as obtain tales like this in your inbox each Tuesday.
On the bluffs simply west of Kansas Metropolis’s downtown core is the Westside, one of many oldest neighborhoods within the metropolis, with roots that run deep because of the Mexican households who settled right here and introduced their love of household, meals and traditions.
Leaving their houses at the beginning of the Mexican Revolution in 1910, households got here to Kansas Metropolis for railroad jobs or work within the meatpacking stockyards within the close by West Bottoms.
At present the Westside is a family-friendly place the place a number of generations and revenue ranges dwell facet by facet, the place artists are given house to create, and the place you could find houses, colleges, a library, neighborhood facilities, parks, church buildings, eating places, retail, and manufacturing all co-existing in a colourful and close-knit method.
The neighborhood has at all times been self-sufficient; there are nonprofits that assist with housing and supply medical companies or job coaching, all whereas creating gathering spots like Sacred Coronary heart, Guadalupe Facilities, Mattie Rhodes Heart and Tony Aguirre Group Heart, all of which give programming and neighborhood help for residents of all ages.
Carlos Moreno
/
KCUR 89.3
These facilities additionally function the cultural heartbeat of the neighborhood, internet hosting lots of the hottest Westside festivals like Dia de Los Muertos and Cinco de Mayo, which celebrates Mexico’s 1862 defeat of the French empire within the Battle of Puebla.
Like most neighborhoods, the Westside has its personal distinctive architectural fashion, a mix of colourful Victorian houses, modest bungalows and brand-new fashionable containers. The neighborhood enjoys views of the downtown skyline with out truly being immersed within the hustle and bustle of the humanities and leisure choices accessible by bus, automotive, bike, scooter or on foot.
The Westside is damaged into two elements, north and south — and it’s a lot bigger than most individuals understand. Its boundaries are I-670 to the north and thirty first Road to the south, Broadway Boulevard to the east and Beardsley and State Line roads to the west.
There’s lots to discover, so let’s get began.
Take a stroll
Deliver your strolling sneakers and a bottle of water as you hike hilly terrain to see a few of the neighborhood’s fairly parks, playgrounds, trails and fields. West Pennway is an nearly 20-acre inexperienced house that runs by means of the north a part of Westside, from West seventeenth Road and Beardsley Highway southeast to West twenty sixth Road. Sit underneath the shade bushes on benches that line the boulevard.
Climb up the hill to Statement Park, and deal with your self to views of downtown and the Crossroads Arts District that may take your breath away. You possibly can cross both the ”Flock” artwork bridge or the Summit Road bridge and see dazzling views of Kansas Metropolis up shut.
The northernmost level of the neighborhood ends at Mulkey Sq., the place you could find “Bob,” the fiberglass and metal Hereford bull that sits on a platform excessive within the air. It was inbuilt 1954 to sit down on high of the American Hereford Affiliation headquarters, earlier than it was moved in 2002 straight throughout I-670 to the park, the place it nonetheless overlooks the downtown skyline.
Into video games?
Tony Aguirre Group Heart options a big indoor basketball court docket for these seeking to shoot some hoops.
Legacy Skates is a greatest in school retail skate store the place you should purchase indoor or outside curler skates that may have you ever rolling into a close-by car parking zone to strive them out. Take a look at Boulevard’s Excursions & Recreation Heart to play regulation shuffleboard with considered one of Kansas Metropolis’s hometown beers in your hand.
Get a grip at Sequence, a mountain climbing health club, then head throughout seventeenth Road for an incredible therapeutic massage at Inexperienced Leaf Spa Salon.
Time to eat!
Carlos Moreno
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KCUR 89.3
Beginning with some basic, old skool eating places on Southwest Boulevard, get pleasure from a pork tenderloin sandwich on the Tenderloin Grill, birria tacos from Tacos El Gallo, or strive a smattering of low cost and cheerful tacos from Rico’s Tacos Lupe.
Panaderia de las Americas has a scrumptious tres leches cake. A number of doorways away is Palacana, a Mexican ice cream retailer promoting paletas, bowls and fruit cocktails in conventional flavors. As a Westside ceremony of passage, get a margarita at Ponak’s Mexican Kitchen.
Lastly, don’t miss the Mexican breakfast alternatives at Los Alamos Cocina, on the nook of seventeenth and Summit streets.
There are not any scarcity of domestically owned locations to pattern on the Westside, together with Fox & Pearl (with Chef Vaughn Good’s Night time Goat BBQ accessible Sundays solely), Chez Elle, Westside Native, Blue Chicken Bistro, Clay & Hearth, Seven Swans Creperie, Café Ollama (recognized for its Mexican café de olla), La Bodega, Rochester Brewing & Roasting Firm, Alma Mader Brewing, Goat Hill Espresso & Soda, Minsky’s Pizza, and, opening quickly for the season, Panther’s Place and Outpost Social Membership.
Discover it on the Westside
Carlos Moreno
/
KCUR 89.3
You’ll find loads of retail retailers dotting the Westside, every with its personal distinctive vibe. Westside Storey is the place to get all of your favourite KC T-shirts and classic sports activities attire, together with different native items.
Store rOOTS KC for his or her superior information and choice of tropical vegetation, pots, equipment and reward objects. Pop into Zero Zero Pasta for a field of freshly made pasta, lasagna or focaccia bread for dinner.
And browse MADI Attire to seek out eco-friendly and moral vogue made right here in Kansas Metropolis. For each merchandise bought at MADI, a pair of underwear is donated to somebody who wants it.
Carlos Moreno
/
KCUR 89.3
One ultimate factor to notice: Due to its location on the sting of downtown, the Westside produces some scrumptious, quintessential Kansas Metropolis staples.
Yoli Tortilleria (not too long ago acknowledged as a James Beard Award semifinalist), The Roasterie espresso, Christopher Elbow Goodies, Perez Meals Merchandise corn chips and tortillas, Parisi Espresso, and Boulevard Brewing Firm beer are all made in factories positioned on the Westside.
Industrial Service Technologies (IST) specializes in turn-key design, manufacturing and installation services for food production clients and other manufacturing operations nationwide, with company headquarters and its metal fabrication division based in Tonganoxie.
IST’s recent growth to meet evolving demand in the industry included construction of a 6,400-square-foot facility in Tonganoxie with options to expand as the company grows. The new facility and corporate headquarters cover over nine acres in the Kansas City-area community, with three facilities and over 25,000-square-feet of manufacturing and metal services on one city street. The $6.8 million project also added 37 new jobs.
CEO Ricky Paradise said most everyone in key IST leadership positions previously worked in food processing plants, so they know full well how to work with those businesses to help improve their operations. Paradise also is managing partner of The Harvest Group, which invested in IST – and other great businesses – to create new, sustainable futures for the companies.
Paradisesaid IST offers one-of-a-kind solutions in a two-fold way: one side of the business involves production of equipment for food processors, while the other side focuses on skilled millwright services with one of the largest millwright teams in the region and possibly the nation. These highly skilled workers are experts at putting machinery or equipment into place with the flexibility to meet a timeline that best suits the customer.
“(Customers) get really skilled help on demand when they need it,” Paradise said. “A talented and driven IST team makes that happen.”
The Kansas Department of Commerce has delivered training-based support for IST through the Kansas Industrial training (KIT) program, which is available to firms with net new job creation. Through KIT, IST is equipping its workers with more modern technology to help them be more efficient and effective in the field — often with digital solutions — as they address customers’ unique needs.
IST’s success reflects a key initiative of the Kansas Framework for Growth – the state’s economic development strategic plan – in helping companies leverage advanced manufacturing technologies to be more competitive in a growing and evolving global marketplace. The growth of the advanced manufacturing sector has been a significant force in Kansas’ run of record-breaking economic development successes.
With its state-of-the-art manufacturing campus, highly skilled workforce and strong sense of community and collaboration, IST has its own strong foundation for success in Kansas. In playing the long game, the company has a number of scholarship opportunities and sponsorships at the local high school as they look to build relationships and encourage young Kansans to stay home for excellent job opportunities.
“We believe deeply in the community,” Paradise said. “What’s good for Tonganoxie is good for IST, and what’s good for IST is good for Tonganoxie.”
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self reflects on season, Gonzaga loss
Check out what Kansas basketball coach Bill Self had to say recently after the Jayhawks’ season ended with a NCAA tournament loss against Gonzaga.
LAWRENCE — Zeke Mayo and AJ Storr are now officially members of the Kansas basketball program, after their signings were announced by KU on Thursday.
Mayo, a senior guard, is transferring in from South Dakota State. Storr, a junior guard, is transferring from Wisconsin. Both are set to be key pieces for the Jayhawks’ next season, as coach Bill Self continues to reshape the roster into another Big 12 Conference and national contender.
How Kansas basketball’s roster looks next season after transfer portal, recruiting
AJ Storr, a highly sought-after college transfer, commits to join Kansas basketball
“Zeke has had a terrific career at SDSU and led them to the NCAA Tournament two of his three seasons there,” Self said in a Kansas release. “Most importantly, Zeke is a proven shooter. He made 92 threes last year and will be able to help us in that area. Being a local kid, it will mean so much to him and his family to put the Kansas jersey on and run out of the tunnel.”
Self added in the release: “AJ is a great athlete, and one of the top wing players in the portal. He pulled his name out of the (NBA) draft and we are happy he chose to come to Kansas. We feel AJ will fit in well with our style of play. He comes from a winning program at Wisconsin. He actually visited Kansas out of high school when he was at IMG Academy.”
As Self stated, Mayo comes to Kansas as a Lawerence native. Storr started his college career at St. John’s and is from Rockford, Illinois. Both will have the opportunity to earn roles on a Jayhawks squad that has enjoyed Big 12 and national success in recent seasons, but went without any new championships during the 2023-24 campaign — which ended with a loss in the round of 32 of the NCAA tournament. Both have showcased an ability to hit shots from the perimeter.
Mayo, listed at 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds, was described as a combo-guard and is multi-time, All-Summit League honoree. He earned recognition as the Summit League’s player of the year this past season. While at South Dakota State, he helped the program to two Summit League regular season championships and a pair of Summit League conference tournament championships.
Storr, listed at 6-foot-7 and 205 pounds, earned All-Big Ten Conference recognition at Wisconsin this past season and All-Big East Conference recognition at St. John’s the season before that. At Wisconsin, he helped the team to the NCAA tournament. Before this past season he also played for the Bahamian national team, when Kansas played it during a trip to Puerto Rico.
“With great excitement and humility, I announce my commitment to the University of Kansas Basketball program,” Storr said Thursday in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “Joining the Jayhawks is a dream realized, and I’m incredibly honored for this opportunity to be a part of the tradition and culture of Kansas Basketball.”
Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He is the National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas for 2022. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) – A Kansas City middle school was placed on “Hold Status” after an adult threatened a student on school property during dismissal.
The Kansas City, Kan., Police Department says that on Thursday, April 18, emergency crews were called to Gloria Willis Middle School, 1735 N. 64 Terrace, with reports of an individual who had threatened a student during school dismissal.
When police arrived, they said they attempted to intercept the suspect, however, they took off running in the woods next to the school. Officers and K-9s scoured the area for the suspect.
During the incident, first responders noted that the school had been placed on “Hold Status.” Most students were able to leave school with their designated rides, however, a few students remained on school property.
As of 5:45 p.m., no arrests have been made and no further information, including suspect identification, has been made available. The school’s Hold Status has also been released and no injuries were reported as a result.
Copyright 2024 KCTV. All rights reserved.
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