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First Friday
Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2022 11:44 pm
by GRID
Is this still a big event in KC? I have not heard much about it. Will probably be staying at Crossroads Hotel and noticed the prices were really low especially for a first Friday. Hoping it's still a thing as it's been a long time since I have been in town for one.
Re: First Friday
Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2022 11:51 pm
by normalthings
No not really. Smaller than the P&L KC Live concerts
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 12:09 am
by AlkaliAxel
The one in July was packed for blocks. I'm puzzled why that wouldn't be considered a big event...
But Grid if you're here in town, you'll see for yourself
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 6:49 am
by KCPowercat
Dave would be best to give the details of the politics behind it but from what I've gathered being around for 2 this summer it's like the neighborhood isn't too keen on hosting it but it's become such a known event people come anyways. Galleries are open but not long and not many publicize what they are exhibiting. West bottoms hosts a lot of artists now that crossroads got too pircey for them.
The death of that teen summer 2019 turned the neighborhood off of it and then covid of course so it felt like it just was time to end it.
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 10:17 am
by GRID
Bummer. Oh well. I guess nothing last forever.
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 11:01 am
by KCPowercat
I mean the Star still does a monthly "this first friday" type rundown
https://www.kansascity.com/kc-city-guid ... 50661.html
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 11:09 am
by Cratedigger
KCPowercat wrote: ↑Thu Sep 01, 2022 6:49 am
Dave would be best to give the details of the politics behind it but from what I've gathered being around for 2 this summer it's like the neighborhood isn't too keen on hosting it but it's become such a known event people come anyways. Galleries are open but not long and not many publicize what they are exhibiting. West bottoms hosts a lot of artists now that crossroads got too pircey for them.
The death of that teen summer 2019 turned the neighborhood off of it and then covid of course so it felt like it just was time to end it.
Yeah this has been my experience as well. It's still a thing but not quite the same as it used to be
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 12:32 pm
by WoodDraw
There’s a group that basically shut it down. Very nimby people that live in the crossroads that wanted it to only be an arts day.
Never really recovered from that because they have a lot of sway.
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 12:37 pm
by KCPowercat
To their defense they were being asked to host a city wide event and did not get city level support/funding to host it. I'd probably have wanted it shut down too given that resource demand.
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 1:16 pm
by DColeKC
normalthings wrote: ↑Wed Aug 31, 2022 11:51 pm
No not really. Smaller than the P&L KC Live concerts
Well that's like 5,000 people. I'd think anything over 3500 people for first Fridays would be a solid turn out.
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 1:18 pm
by KCPowercat
Hard to measure but I'd say prime FF was way over 5k.
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 1:21 pm
by earthling
It turned into a monthly street fest, not as much about art last several years for most attending. Would be great to get another tamer street fest going perhaps focused on blues/jazz. Finding location that would allow monthly probably most difficult part.
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 1:27 pm
by DColeKC
KCPowercat wrote: ↑Thu Sep 01, 2022 1:18 pm
Hard to measure but I'd say prime FF was way over 5k.
Very hard to tell unless someone pays for the data. I think at the peak popularity it was for sure over 5k.
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 1:31 pm
by DColeKC
earthling wrote: ↑Thu Sep 01, 2022 1:21 pm
It turned into a monthly street fest, not as much about art last several years for most attending. Would be great to get another tamer street fest going perhaps focused on blues/jazz. Finding location that would allow monthly probably most difficult part.
And there's the problem. If it's solely about the art, most of the bars and food places won't do that well. When it turned into the big street party all the bars and restaurants crushed it but it came with issues.
If I were involved in leadership over there, I would be cautions about going back after the street festival idea and dictating the music direction. You'll 100% get backlash and accused of keeping certain people away.
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 3:32 pm
by WoodDraw
KCPowercat wrote: ↑Thu Sep 01, 2022 12:37 pm
To their defense they were being asked to host a city wide event and did not get city level support/funding to host it. I'd probably have wanted it shut down too given that resource demand.
Sure, and they opposed that.
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 3:36 pm
by AlkaliAxel
Well how about you guys go check it out tomorrow and see what you think
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 3:58 pm
by DColeKC
AlkaliAxel wrote: ↑Thu Sep 01, 2022 3:36 pm
Well how about you guys go check it out tomorrow and see what you think
Only if I can see KCPowercat painting his latest masterpiece!
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 4:07 pm
by WoodDraw
AlkaliAxel wrote: ↑Thu Sep 01, 2022 3:36 pm
Well how about you guys go check it out tomorrow and see what you think
I live there. I’m there every month.
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 4:43 pm
by KCPowercat
Yeah I'm there every weekend I'm in KC I'm not sure the request
Re: First Friday
Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2022 4:46 pm
by AlkaliAxel
KCPowercat wrote: ↑Thu Sep 01, 2022 4:43 pm
Yeah I'm there every weekend I'm in KC I'm not sure the request
Oh, didn't know you lived outside of KC