In The Loop: April 17, 2022

Happy Easter, Blessed Ramadan, and Happy World Hula Week, Loopers!

I’ll be at the Downtown Council’s Annual Luncheon this Friday, so please say hello if you plan to be there, too. (Should be fun, especially with the president of a certain football team who mentioned his club might be exploring options to move to Kansas being on a sports-downtown panel).

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This Friday the 22nd marks the date in 1947 when a group of 70—yes, seventy—B-29 bombers flew in formation over Downtown Kansas City, targeting 12th and Main as its bullseye during two simulated bombing runs. The squadron—with crews of 11 men on each plane—used photographs rather than actual explosives (duh) to determine the accuracy of their “bombs.”

B-29 Superfortress. US Air Force

The training operation was watched by thousands of Kansas Citians on the ground who, as the Kansas City Star wrote, “still had vivid memories of World War II.” The bottoms of the planes were painted black for night-time camouflage, but these exercises occurred in the middle of the day, so the “attackers” were quite visible to citizens on the ground. (A morning haze had lifted by the time the aircraft had arrived from their rendezvous point in Texas.)

After this mighty display of American air power was completed, the results of the operation’s success were not known for another couple of days—because they had to wait for the “bomb” film to be developed.

Bystanders on the northwest corner of the operation’s “bullseye”—12th and Main—look skyward to witness 70 B-29 bombers flying over Downtown on April 22, 1947. This image looks west along 12th street. The Kansas City Times

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I’m always amazed at the things I stumble onto researching one thing, then discovering something completely unrelated. A few days ago I was on the web looking for a piece of Kansas City history when I saw a Reddit post that proclaimed “The best garage band in the world practices in the Historic Northeast Kansas City.” I had to take a look. And, ohhhhh, I’m glad I did. (But these brief clips left me wanting more….)

thesalvationchoir

A post shared by The Salvation Choir (@thesalvationchoir)

thesalvationchoir

A post shared by The Salvation Choir (@thesalvationchoir)

If you want to know more about the Congolese rumba band based here in KC, check out their official website (then book them for your business or party and invite me):

• LINK: The Salvation Choir

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Free monthly concerts recommence this week at 8th and Broadway with the Garment District Grooves Concert Series presented by KC Parks, the Downtown Council, Downtown Neighborhood Association, and Crossroads Charter School. Bring your lunch or order from the rotating food trucks on site each month. For the schedule of performers and culinary options, click here:

• LINK: Garment District Grooves Series Begins April 20

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Also from KC Parks: An Earth Day (April 22) event as part of the two-day “Great Kansas City Cleanup.” Volunteer to pick up litter or remove invasive brush from sites around the metro. In the Downtown and adjacent area, help is needed at Blue Valley Park, Kessler Park, Cliff Drive, The Colonnade, and Indian Mound Overlook. Check out these links for details and all other parks across KC needing volunteers.

• LINK: The Great Kansas City Cleanup (Friday Earth Day)

• LINK: The Great Kansas City Cleanup (General Info)

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1910

Saint Joseph's Orphan Home, on the corner of what was then known as Karnes Boulevard and Pennsylvania Avenue, housed 250 girls at its peak. The home was closed in 1958. Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City, Mo.

The site of the orphanage is now occupied by the One Park Place condominiums in the former BMA Tower (opened 1961).

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Artful City: One weekly selection with a Downtown connection

Marcy Lally, “Cecilia,” American Bison skull with vintage toy instruments, patron Saint of Music Cecilia, 27”H X 20”W X 12”D.

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Quick Clip: The city in motion—just a few seconds at a time

The Folly Theater was the destination for attendees of the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey 2022 Annual Benefit Gala on Saturday, April 9. The Loop

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Downtown Lens: A single image depicting the urban aesthetic

An early spring vista, looking east from 11th Street behind the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. The Loop

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Give a friendly Downtown-Kansas City welcome to audiences and attendees of….

TODAY

• ASICS Show Me National Qualifier (volleyball) at Bartle Hall, Municipal Arena/Exhibition Hall, and HyVee Arena

• An Officer and a Gentleman, the musical, at Kauffman Center

WEDNESDAY the 20th

• Primus at Grinders KC

THURSDAY the 21st

• My Brother, My Brother and Me at the Midland

FRIDAY the 22nd

• Jump & Jive: The music of Louis Prima, Billie Holliday, & Duke Ellington at Music Theater Heritage, Crown Center

• Planet Comicon Kansas City, through Sunday at Bartle Hall

• VIP Dance Competition, through Sunday at the Music Hall

• Kansas City Symphony presents Miraculous Mandarin with Rachmaninoff's Fourth Piano Concerto through Sunday at Kauffman Center

• Singer-songwriter LP at the Midland

• The M80s at KC Live! Stage

SATURDAY the 23rd

• Downtown Wine Walk in the Power & Light District

• Comedian Kathleen Madigan at the Midland

• Jeff Lorber Trio at the Folly

• The Zero’s at KC Live! Stage

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Got a tip about Downtown KC?

Write to: tips@kcdowntownloop.com or contact me via social media

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Direct links to all social media available at the bottom of this link

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Until next week—enjoy the city!

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