Status and future of the River Market area??

[Czar]

It is a great place but the kitchen is starting to smell of fish sauce and the common bathrooms remind me of the time I spent in a mexican jail.

[LenexatoKCMO]

Whenever I have gone on a weeknight the service is  p a i n f u l l y  slow.

Yeah, I haven't found the service or kitchen to be anywhere near the consistency of their other locations.  Its also telling when its the only place you can walk right into during weekend market time without a wait. 

[TheBigChuckbowski]

There was a pretty good crowd there last night but that might be because it was Sunday and there aren't many options.

[staubio]

I've been a few times but I much prefer Hien Vuong's alternative Asian stylings. The quality at Bo Ling's has been hit or miss but seems to improve each time I go.

[medleyj]

Yeah, I haven't found the service or kitchen to be anywhere near the consistency of their other locations.  Its also telling when its the only place you can walk right into during weekend market time without a wait. 

I don't think it's a good fit for the market square. Think about. Barbecue, pizza, gyros, low-brow Italian, Bo-Ling's. (music starts) One of these things is not like the other. Winstead's would be good.

[AJoD]

I don't think it's a good fit for the market square. Think about. Barbecue, pizza, gyros, low-brow Italian, Bo-Ling's. (music starts) One of these things is not like the other. Winstead's would be good.

Huh?

Habashi House?  Blue Nile?  Bo Ling's?  I'm not following...

[chrizow]

yeah wtf? 

the city market and nearby blocks contain the following cuisines:

* ethiopian (blue nile)
* middle eastern (habashi house)
* mexican (dos hombres)
* italian or italian-ish places (cascone's, al dente, vivace, etc)
* vietnamese (hien vuong)
* bbq (winslow's)
* pizza (minsky's, antonio's)
* random brunch (succotash)
* etc.

you're saying "chinese" doesn't make sense there?  haha!

[rxlexi]

  I think he was trying to make the point that Bo Lings is a little higher rent than the typical City Market square, counter-top type place.  I disagree, however, and I think Bo Lings adds a much needed component to the market itself as well as the neighborhood around it.

[DaveKCMO]

News from City Hall
City Communications Office
City of Kansas City, Mo.
http://www.kcmo.org
CONTACT: Mary Charles, City Communications Officer, (816) 513-1356
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 2008

New public art to be displayed in River Market District

The City of Kansas City, Mo., Municipal Art Commission and City Planning and Development Department today will begin installing two new public art pieces in the River Market District.

Atlanta-based artist Stuart Keeler created the artwork, which will be installed on traffic islands at Second and Main streets and Second and Walnut streets.

Keeler's creations, "Apparent Systems (green grass)" and "Exposed Structures (system mapping)," feature powder-coated steel sculptures and landscaping reminiscent of the Missouri River and its connection with the urban environment.

A panel of design professionals, community representatives and art professionals selected Keeler from a nationwide pool of candidates.

Media inquiries about this issue should be directed to Deanna Nelson, communications specialist in the Capital Improvements Management Office, (816) 513-2757.

[LenexatoKCMO]

The Missouri River is somehow connected with the urban environment?

[KCLofts]

And according to our wayfinding signs, it's just the River District.

[voltopt]

I prefer North End or Old Town.  Why did we ever stop calling it that?

[KCMax]

I prefer North End or Old Town.  Why did we ever stop calling it that?

Or River Quay for that matter.

[moderne]

River Quay=strip joints, Old Chelsea and the mob.  When was it ever called Old Town? (add a couple of "e"s and that would be suburban olde towne.

[voltopt]

I only like Old Town for its suburban similarities, not for its historic significance.
There are fire insurance maps and documents from the 1920s and 1930s that refer to it as the North End or Old Town.  Of course, most of Old Town was demolished in the 1950s.....

[mildweed]

Anybody else notice what DELofts seems to be trying to do on Delaware street?  It almost seems like they're intentionally cityscaping.  Silk Road Travelers opens soon, Artfandango is in full swing, etc.  I'd love to see them put a record store in down there somewhere.  That or a theater / comedy venue now that Comedy City's gone.

[KC-wildcat]

Anybody else notice what DELofts seems to be trying to do on Delaware street?  It almost seems like they're intentionally cityscaping. 

Sorry, I don't know what cityscaping means.  I also haven't been to the rivermarket in a while.  Is cityscaping a good thing or bad thing?

[mildweed]

I may have just made that word up.
To me, it means they're not just trying to lease out these retail places, but they seem as though they're seeking out only those things that they think would make for a good, hip urban neighborhood.
Perhaps other people just call that 'developing'.

[Urban2theCore]

I eat at Bolings at least once a weeka and to take out once a week. The restaurant is always jumping inside and out. Love seating at the bar to nosh and the last time I did the owner was beside me and made sure my meal was to my satisfaction. Pretty cool.

[TheBigChuckbowski]

DELofts has posted its commercial property on craigslist.

412 Delaware (http://kansascity.craigslist.org/off/751068507.html)
restaurant space - $14/ft

510 Delaware (http://kansascity.craigslist.org/off/751081435.html)
Formerly Blacktop Creative, I was hoping they forced Blacktop out in order to bring retail into this space but that's not the case sense they're advertising this as office space. It might be too big for retail.
$16/ft

500 Walnut (http://kansascity.craigslist.org/off/751102533.html)
311 Delaware (http://kansascity.craigslist.org/off/751107150.html)