KCRag Forum

Though we are ardent urbanists, my wife and I really do not go out downtown (in the Loop) often at all. On Saturday night, we went to see Roseanne Cash perform at the Folly. Saturday night was definitely one of those nights where things really congealed downtown and it felt like a very active, vibrant city center. Obviously the Bruce Springsteen show had a lot to do with it, but there were also other events - the shriners circus, a big wedding in quality hill, roseanne cash concert, and probably other events as well. I was actually very pleased to be sitting in traffic congestion in downtown KC, and for the first time ever I actually had trouble finding a (free) parking spot - an excellent problem to have!

Downtown consistently has great energy when there are multiple events going on. Downtown population will need to nearly double in order to have an energy w/out events, and they are working on it.

chrizow wrote:Though we are ardent urbanists, my wife and I really do not go out downtown (in the Loop) often at all. On Saturday night, we went to see Roseanne Cash perform at the Folly. Saturday night was definitely one of those nights where things really congealed downtown and it felt like a very active, vibrant city center. Obviously the Bruce Springsteen show had a lot to do with it, but there were also other events - the shriners circus, a big wedding in quality hill, roseanne cash concert, and probably other events as well. I was actually very pleased to be sitting in traffic congestion in downtown KC, and for the first time ever I actually had trouble finding a (free) parking spot - an excellent problem to have!

Just curious, but why do you think you don't go downtown often? You just don't go out much at all? P&L is too cheesy/geared more for people older and younger than you?

chrizow wrote:Though we are ardent urbanists, my wife and I really do not go out downtown (in the Loop) often at all. On Saturday night, we went to see Roseanne Cash perform at the Folly. Saturday night was definitely one of those nights where things really congealed downtown and it felt like a very active, vibrant city center. Obviously the Bruce Springsteen show had a lot to do with it, but there were also other events - the shriners circus, a big wedding in quality hill, roseanne cash concert, and probably other events as well. I was actually very pleased to be sitting in traffic congestion in downtown KC, and for the first time ever I actually had trouble finding a (free) parking spot - an excellent problem to have!

Bruuuuuce!!

Springsteen, that is.

KCMax wrote:
Just curious, but why do you think you don't go downtown often? You just don't go out much at all? P&L is too cheesy/geared more for people older and younger than you?

when we go out, we tend to stay around midtown. we go to certain destinations in the xroads/SW blvd area sometimes, but rarely go inside the loop or river market (other than the frog). aside from the P+L and a few isolated spots like the majestic, savoy, aixois, etc., there isn't really much inside the loop unless there is an event - and there are fewer arts events now with the symphony/ballet/opera at the kauffman. nothing against downtown at all, we just don't find ourselves there too often. and yes, the P+L is not really our style, though i'm glad it is there!

chrizow wrote:

KCMax wrote:
Just curious, but why do you think you don't go downtown often? You just don't go out much at all? P&L is too cheesy/geared more for people older and younger than you?

when we go out, we tend to stay around midtown. we go to certain destinations in the xroads/SW blvd area sometimes, but rarely go inside the loop or river market (other than the frog). aside from the P+L and a few isolated spots like the majestic, savoy, aixois, etc., there isn't really much inside the loop unless there is an event - and there are fewer arts events now with the symphony/ballet/opera at the kauffman. nothing against downtown at all, we just don't find ourselves there too often. and yes, the P+L is not really our style, though i'm glad it is there!

I generally agree. I can count on two hands the number of times I have been to P&L.

I love going to the Midland and AMC (haven't been since Alamo took over) though. What does DT need to attract you though? More/better restaurants? Retail? I would think a couple of "must visit destination" restaurants would probably get me in the loop more.

KCMax wrote: I love going to the Midland and AMC (haven't been since Alamo took over) though. What does DT need to attract you though? More/better restaurants? Retail? I would think a couple of "must visit destination" restaurants would probably get me in the loop more.

we do actually want to check out some events at the alamo. that is a great "get" for downtown.

more/better restaurants would be great. our recent visit to the downtown aixois was nice, but the crestwood location is far closer to our house and has a patio. with rare exceptions, when we venture towards downtown it is nearly always to go to either le fou frog or ponak's. haha. we did go to extra virgin on saturday before the concert and enjoyed it. i can't remember the last time we went to grinders - it used to be basically a weekly affair (or multiple times per week) but we haven't been in months.

we go out 2-3 times per week, and 99% of the time it is one of the following: bluestem lounge, potpie, ponak's, or westport cafe. creatures of habit, i guess.

couldn't care less about retail, we don't really buy any material goods. we spend all our discretionary money on food and drink!

chrizow wrote:

KCMax wrote: I love going to the Midland and AMC (haven't been since Alamo took over) though. What does DT need to attract you though? More/better restaurants? Retail? I would think a couple of "must visit destination" restaurants would probably get me in the loop more.

we do actually want to check out some events at the alamo. that is a great "get" for downtown.

more/better restaurants would be great. our recent visit to the downtown aixois was nice, but the crestwood location is far closer to our house and has a patio. with rare exceptions, when we venture towards downtown it is nearly always to go to either le fou frog or ponak's. haha. we did go to extra virgin on saturday before the concert and enjoyed it. i can't remember the last time we went to grinders - it used to be basically a weekly affair (or multiple times per week) but we haven't been in months.

we go out 2-3 times per week, and 99% of the time it is one of the following: bluestem lounge, potpie, ponak's, or westport cafe. creatures of habit, i guess.

couldn't care less about retail, we don't really buy any material goods. we spend all our discretionary money on food and drink!

What? You don't like Asia/ethnic cuisine? You're missing out not going to Pho KC or Vietnam Cafe (Columbus Park) and there's the Opera Coffee house which is a wonderful place to just grab a beverage and relax with friends or Happy Gillis (also CPark) which is eclectic and wonderful bohemian vibe.

I felt the same energy after we left the Springsteen show on Saturday. We were full of energy still and wanted to go out and talk about the show, etc. Unfortunately, knowing that P&L is just a cash-sink, we left the Loop and walked down to Harry's for some whiskey and beer.

smh wrote:I felt the same energy after we left the Springsteen show on Saturday. We were full of energy still and wanted to go out and talk about the show, etc. Unfortunately, knowing that P&L is just a cash-sink, we left the Loop and walked down to Harry's for some whiskey and beer.

I can't wait for the day when you can jump on the streetcar and go to Harry's.

I was just talking to my girlfriend about this. We live downtown and walk around downtown constantly...but there really isn't that much to do downtown besides eating and big events. I think the most obvious thing missing from downtown is retail. More people moving downtown might help Cordish fill up those empty storefronts...fixing this problem somewhat. Also, I know it has been brought up on here, but how great would an urban Target be? I would have no reason to leave downtown.

Pork Chop wrote:

smh wrote:I felt the same energy after we left the Springsteen show on Saturday. We were full of energy still and wanted to go out and talk about the show, etc. Unfortunately, knowing that P&L is just a cash-sink, we left the Loop and walked down to Harry's for some whiskey and beer.

I can't wait for the day when you can jump on the streetcar and go to Harry's.

Hear, hear! We wanted to go to Anton's for dinner (it was packed, so we ended up at Pizzabella) and both thought how awesome it will be in the future to jump on the street car outside our house in River Market and ride to Anton's, Pizzabella, whatever. It is really going to expand the distance we can cover on foot.

smh wrote:

Pork Chop wrote:

smh wrote:I felt the same energy after we left the Springsteen show on Saturday. We were full of energy still and wanted to go out and talk about the show, etc. Unfortunately, knowing that P&L is just a cash-sink, we left the Loop and walked down to Harry's for some whiskey and beer.

I can't wait for the day when you can jump on the streetcar and go to Harry's.

Hear, hear! We wanted to go to Anton's for dinner (it was packed, so we ended up at Pizzabella) and both thought how awesome it will be in the future to jump on the street car outside our house in River Market and ride to Anton's, Pizzabella, whatever. It is really going to expand the distance we can cover on foot.

This topic passed through my mind each night this past weekend. Friday, while sitting at the Jacobson, then Saturday while at Grunauer, and finally Sunday at Pierponts.

I came to the conclusion that where I now have to stop drinking in order to be in proper shape to make the drive home, at some future date I'll have to determine how much fun I can indulge in and still make it onto the streetcar.

loftguy wrote:
This topic passed through my mind each night this past weekend. Friday, while sitting at the Jacobson, then Saturday while at Grunauer, and finally Sunday at Pierponts.

I came to the conclusion that where I now have to stop drinking in order to be in proper shape to make the drive home, at some future date I'll have to determine how much fun I can indulge in and still make it onto the streetcar.

An entertaining problem to confront!

mgh7676 wrote:Also, I know it has been brought up on here, but how great would an urban Target be? I would have no reason to leave downtown.

If they could see how much money I spend at Cosentino's, I feel like they would be here yesterday. I'm not 100% sure how Cosentino's does business-wise due to Cordish, but it has to more than meet their researched expectations.

Going to the crossroads to eat is as supportive of downtown as going inside the loop. Why is there ever a delineation?

Probably because most of us, for most of our lives, have thought that "downtown" was the loop. Hard notion to part with.

mean wrote:Probably because most of us, for most of our lives, have thought that "downtown" was the loop. Hard notion to part with.

Agreed....not to get off topic but say the south leg of the loop wasn't there...where would "downtown" end to the general population?

KCPowercat wrote: Agreed....not to get off topic but say the south leg of the loop wasn't there...where would "downtown" end to the general population?

River to the railroad tracks. Occasionally Crown Center.

In any case, nice to see such vibrancy. Hope to see said energy sustained during Sun-Thu nights when no events are around as well as diffused throughout the Loop.

Sustained energy is always tough w/o an event....on a typical tuesday night with no event, just not going to be that many residents out, no matter how many live down here....not sure that's any different than 99% of other cities in the nation.

Been over this a ton of times but Crossroads is hard due to the numerous surface lots and long time industrial tenants who have no desire to move.

Loop is always going to be tough north of 12th. I don't think the goal should be every street bustling at every hour...just not feasible...need to continue to concentrate on activity centers.