GET TO KNOW KANSAS CITY

With Indygo Junction’s Amy Barickman

Welcome back to Kansas City! It’s been seven years since Quilt Market’s most recent stop here, and nearly 30 years since Indygo Junction’s first Quilt Market in Kansas City. Known as America’s Creative Crossroads, Kansas City has a legacy of 125 years of artistic and entrepreneurial innovation.

Downtown Kansas City has truly come into its own in the last decade! To make it easier than ever to explore KC, we now have the free-to-ride KC Streetcar that can shuttle you down Main Street and all of the way to Union Station/Crown Center and back to River Market, a 2.2 mile route that runs daily. As a proud member of this vibrant community, I am thrilled to share some of my favorite spots for food and creative inspiration.

Kansas City has a connection to our industry as it was once second only to New York in apparel manufacturing, and was also home to the American College of Dressmaking, founded in 1906.

​My muse, and fellow Kansan, Mary Brooks Picken was educated at this school before heading to Scranton, PA to establish the Woman’s Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences. The lessons and newsletters from this school were the basis for my book Vintage Notions. Kansas City was also home to one of the world’s most successful businesswomen. Garment manufacturer Nell Donnelly Reed employed 1,300 people, manufactured over 75 million Nelly Don dresses, and invented the popular Handy Dandy apron. I was lucky to find that Nell also licensed a sewing pattern line, pictured below.

​She has a fascinating story, which includes her kidnapping and eventual rescue thanks to the Kansas City mafia and political boss Tom Pendergast (grab a hand-crafted cocktail at Tom’s Town Distilling Company). This story was recently made into a Broadway-caliber musical that debuted here in Kansas City earlier this year. Visit my recent AmyBarickman.com blog post to learn more about this pioneering Kansas City businesswoman!

You may also want to visit the Garment District Museum which is just a few blocks from the convention center and grab a photo at the commemorative monument—a giant needle, thread, and button.

​Another favorite “vintage made modern” spot of mine is the Webster House. The building was originally the Webster School, dated 1885, and is located just south of the convention center. This is one of Kansas City’s most unique dining and shopping experiences! The food is fabulous. Eat on the second floor, and then shop on the first floor.

​It’s all about food when I travel! So here are some of my favorite local restaurants to consider during your visit:

Crossroads District

Parlor, Lulu’s Noodles, Lidia’s, La Bodega, Michael Smith’s Extra Virgin, and the James Beard nominated The Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room, the latter of which is located in the former Nelly Don office building and factory, the Corrigan Building (1927-1948). Note the light fixtures in the building are giant buttons with the cord as thread!

​Power & Light
The Bristol, BRGR, County Road Ice House (featuring Joe’s KC BBQ)

West Side
Bluebird Bistro, The Westside Local

Union Station
Pierpont's (reserve a private room on lower level for private dining). Fresh seafood and steak is the board of faire.

No trip to KC is complete without a visit to the Country Club Plaza to see the beautiful Seville-Spain-inspired architecture and fountains.

​Locally owned spots on the Plaza that I recommend: Classic Cup,  Jack Stack BBQ, and Rye (owned by authors of the Made in America cookbook, Colby and Megan Garrelts).

​If you are all about getting barbecue in Kansas City, my recent favorite is Q39! It is an Uber ride away from Downtown, but well worth the trip! But you won’t miss with traditional favorites: Arthur Bryant’s, Gates BBQ, or—just across the state line—Joe’s BBQ (yes, it’s a gas station), Slaps, Woodyard BBQ, or Rosedale BBQ.

​Museums
The Nelson, The Kemper, The Toy and Miniature Museum (they have a wonderful toy sewing machine exhibit currently on display!), or the National World War I Museum.

​Shopping Around Town
(Pictured below) My mom, Donna, standing at her favorite store, Donna’s Dress Shop. Other favorite stores include West Side Storey, Asiatica, and FineFolk!

​I hope I have wet your culinary and creative appetite for Kansas City! See you very soon!

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