These are a Few of my Favorite KC Things…
Well I can’t believe I’ve been away from KC for about a week now and in about a week will depart for Spain. Before I turn all of my posts over to my adventures across the pond, I thought I’d share some of my favorite things about the City of Fountains. So here’s a list of some of my favorite KC things…
1. The love of baseball (and other sports too)
Gosh, I’m already missing my Royals so much – especially since I can’t even watch their games on TV in North Carolina without paying for the MLB network. I just love how passionate everyone in KC is about this team – I mean people talk about it everywhere, in everyday conversation, at work, and – heck – even in Sunday’s sermon! The games were especially exciting. I love how they had college sports nights; for example, we went to the Kansas State night and got K-State colored Royals baseball caps for free. The tickets to the games are so cheap too (student night is only $8!).
People are very passionate about all kinds of sports here though, not just their beloved baseball team. After the women’s world cup game, KC was rated the #1 best city to watch soccer in. Crowds would gather in Power and Light – the coolest bar area I’ve ever seen – to watch games on a big screen. I definitely felt this passion when I went to a KC Sporting soccer game and had a blast. Tickets were a lot more expensive than the Royals, but they were totally worth it because of the passion and enthusiasm in the crowd.
2. The food
While it’s known for its barbecue (see my last post on Kansas City), this city is filled with a ton of great food – both some of the best chains as well as some of the best authentic KC restaurants, and there’s definitely a variety. From Cajun food and a cool jazz scene at Jazz, to amazing Thai food at Hot Basil, this place has it all. I enjoyed eating at an authentic Argentine restaurant, Piropos, as well as a Spanish restaurant, La Bodega, and some of the best tacos I’ve ever had at Taco Republic and Ted’s (Ted’s complementary handmade tortillas are to die for.). Kansas City really has it all when it comes to good food. Even if all you did was eat barbecue, you’d be pretty happy in KC.
3. It’s green!
Before coming to Kansas City, I had never seen an electric car charging station before. In Kansas City, they’re everywhere – at the grocery store, movie theatre, art museum, etc. I love how Kansas City is trying to be greener and also more innovative in this way.
4. Influencia Sevillana
Until recently, I hadn’t realized that Kansas City and Sevilla, Spain, both known as “The City of Fountains,” are sister cities! I particularly enjoyed this about Kansas City this summer since I will be living in Sevilla for four months this fall. My internship was located right by Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza, which is architecturally inspired by Sevilla – there’s even a replica of Sevilla’s Giralda Tower in the Plaza! Walking down these streets felt like what I imagine walking the streets of Sevilla will somewhat be like – I mean KC even flies a Spanish flag in the middle of the Plaza.
5. The jazz
Many people know KC for it’s barbecue, but many people also know the city for its jazz. There’s a jazz district and even a jazz museum here, which shows just how important it is to this city. While I didn’t get to enjoy as much jazz as I had hoped, I loved going to Jazz, a Cajun restaurant and listening to a live jazz band play. The restaurant hosts bands almost every night. While the food wasn’t my favorite (although I’m not a big seafood person), the restaurant’s definitely worth the visit just for the jazz music!
![My "host" family and I at my going away party. I loved spending the summer with my aunt and uncle and cousins, as well as their grumpy dog [not pictured]. I'll never forget my experiences and can't wait to see them again once I return from Spain.](https://unanchoredpassenger.files.wordpress.com/2015/08/11822475_10205011661798088_6328430937273541335_n-2.jpg)
I LOVE the people in Kansas City. Whenever people talk about “Southern hospitality,” I think they really have it confused with the Midwest because the people are some of the friendliest and most fun I’ve been around. I felt incredibly welcomed and valued at my internship, something that not every internship necessarily brings, as well as by my family who let me stay with them over the summer and treated me like one of their own.
Overall, there’s a lot to love about Kansas City. It’s definitely somewhere I can see myself living, especially because after coming home about a week ago, I’m already remembering why I will never live in Winston-Salem again. Who knows, maybe I’ll find myself in Kansas City in a few years!
