In The Loop: Jan 9, 2022
Your weekly email from The KC Downtown Loop
This Saturday, January 15, marks the anniversary of Super Bowl I, played in Los Angeles in 1967. The Chiefs lost to the Green Bay Packers, 35-10, and—despite nearly 62,000 fans in attendance—it was the only Super Bowl not to be a sellout. (And, technically, it wasn’t called the “Super Bowl” when it was played; it was known then as the "AFL-NFL World Championship Game.")
Back home in KC, the Chiefs played their games at Municipal Stadium, near 22nd and Brooklyn—where the Royals, A’s, Monarchs, and Blues also played at one time or another in their histories.
It wasn’t truly a Downtown stadium, but it was closer than you might think: A trip from the Western Auto Building (an office building at that time) to Municipal was less than a mile and a half—well within walking distance from today’s Crossroads District and much of greater Downtown. (Unfortunately, the Kansas City streetcar system had been shut down nine years earlier, so that wasn’t an option in the 1960s.)
After hosting games, concerts (including The Beatles), and other events over 53 years, Municipal Stadium was torn down in 1976.
For some really cool images of that very first AFL-NFL title game in L.A., check out this Super Bowl I story and photo gallery from Life Magazine.
Friday marks the beginning of the 10-day Kansas City Restaurant Week, during which noshers can enjoy prix fixe dining options at participating restaurants for $15, $35 or $45, depending on time of day, restaurant, and meal choices.
The KCRW website includes a way to search for your favorite restaurants—or those you’ve been meaning to try—using various criteria, including location. Among the greater Downtown districts listed: 17th & Summit/Westside, Crossroads, Crown Center, Downtown Area, Midtown/39th Street, Power & Light District, and River Market.
Influenced by Covid-19, this year’s Restaurant Week will include options for carryout, delivery, or dine in. A portion of proceeds goes to the Guadalupe Centers, Kansas City Regional Destination Development Foundation and the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.
Seems there are a million places online to see vintage photographs of Kansas City, which I love, but this one posted recently to social media really stood out. If the writing on the image is to be believed (and it wouldn’t be unreasonable to believe it), then this photo was taken near 4th and Grand, looking west, in 1886.
This, of course, was a period of time in our city’s history when the early inhabitants were carving their way through the river bluffs on the south side of the Missouri River in order to create their new city. This photo is as dramatic as any I’ve ever seen of our 19th-century “Gulley Town".”
But what really blows my mind is how flat and modern the scene is today. And, unfortunately, no traces here of gullies, cliffs, or 19th-century architecture.
Pictured here is the City Market, anchored by the Arabia Steamboat Museum on the market’s east side. Fourth Street, for all intents and purposes, no longer exists between Oak and Wyandotte in the River Market today. (The steamboat Arabia, by the way, had sunk and had settled either underwater or underground for 30 years before the 1886 picture above was taken!)
In 1955, photographer Michael Mardikes (who passed away at age 94 on December 29) took more than 1,000 photos of famed Missouri artist Thomas Hart Benton at the painter’s home and studio in the Valentine neighborhood, south of Downtown.
Only four of the images were ever published.
Now, 32 of those unpublished photos are on display at the Central Library branch of the Kansas City Public Library in an exhibit entitled, “An Artist at Home in America.” The display was installed in November and will run through May 15.
Last year, Julie Denesha of KCUR 89.3 FM wrote about the re-discovery of the images:
As progress is made toward replacing the Buck O'Neil Memorial Bridge and re-routing highways and streets, here’s a link to MoDOT’s website for the project. In addition to basic information and updates, there are also traffic alerts, renderings of the new structures—and a live camera feed (scroll down after following the link). There, you can watch the new bridge go up (and, sadly, a few structures come down).
LINK: MoDot Buck O'Neil Bridge Design-Build Project
Artful City: One weekly selection with a Downtown connection
Quick Clip: The city in motion—just a few seconds at a time
Downtown Lens: A single image depicting the urban aesthetic
Give a friendly Downtown-Kansas City welcome to….
Music lovers going to see The Brentano String Quartet this Friday at The Folly Theater
Fans of comedian Sebastian Maniscalco, Saturday at Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
Ticket-holders for the Jeff Lorber Fusion Trio, also Saturday at The Folly Theater
Spectators at Monster Jam, January 14-15-16, at T-Mobile Center
Fans of Hoosier ArenaCross Outlaws Nationals this Friday and Saturday at Hale Arena
Attendees of Kansas City Engaged Wedding Show, next weekend at Bartle Hall.
Audiences for Wicked: The Broadway Musical, running through January 23 at the Music Hall
Participants and spectators at the Heart of America Region USA Volleyball – Martin Luther King Day Tournament, January 15-17 at Bartle Hall
Got something to share about Downtown KC?
Know a favorite artwork by a Downtown artist, or a piece located in a Downtown art gallery or art museum? Let me know, and I might feature it in “Artful City.”
Take a recent snapshot of Downtown that you’d like to share? Send it my way for consideration in “Downtown Lens.”
Live in a cool Downtown home, or know someone who does? Drop me a line to be considered for “Downtown Digs.”
Have an upcoming Downtown event? Let me know. Send details and links.
Know the scoop or have a question about what’s happening in your Downtown district, neighborhood, or street?Please share by sending me an email.
Write to: tips@kcdowntownloop.com or contact me via social media
Thanks for reading!
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Until next week—enjoy the city!
I love the Thomas Hart Benton stuff. I think it is so amazing that you can just walk through his studio and home.