Kansas City

Hey, I’m b-a-c-k!   I considered a ‘vlog’ but...well, for now I prefer the written word. Today I write about “why” California to Kansas:

I upended my life in 2023 by selling California property, packing up essentials and moving half way cross country, back to my home state of Kansas. Many ask, why would you leave Paradise (California)?

One example: Initially, I loved the coastal beauty, the relative ease of getting to the ocean . . . but then, it became difficult to get to the ocean. Bumper to bumper traffic driving ‘over the hill’ from San Jose to Santa Cruz or Aptos. Once there, parking was impossible... challenging even the patient. Finally, after expensive paid parking. . . long walks to. . . overly crowded beaches. After wading through pathways between towels led to ‘the spot’... towels laid down, sunscreen refreshed: bathroom duties call. Oh no! Where are the public bathrooms? Get ready for a long walk to poorly attended beach pubic bathrooms; ugh. Or, you can put your sandals & swim topper on and try to find a restaurant that will allow you to use their restrooms.  Good luck with that.  

That’s one reason. Another is being priced out of the market as dot.comer’s cash buying swelled home prices beyond my middle class budget. Artists and teachers fled the cities a decade ago. I could go on but...this isn’t a bitch fest. I loved the many years I lived there. With no complaints, it was time for a change.

Why Kansas? Kansas City is a precious gem in the middle of the country with a long and interesting history. Businesses support local artists by routinely showing art in their spaces; curated by their own.  Jazz legends still play in clubs that once hosted them all. KC was a notorious mob hub that leaves juicy stories. Many New Orleans transplants transformed the green belts and drew jazz artists to the city. Ernest Hemmingway cut his teeth as a journalist at the Kansas City Star; he attributed what he learned there to his unique writing style. Hispanic influence is seen at the famous Plaza in the architecture. We are a highly diverse population that values art and beauty.

It is an art hub: Kansas City (MO and KS) support the visual & performing arts all around. There is ballet, symphony, opera, theaters, Alvin Ailey II Dance Company, jazz clubs all over the place, improv/standup comedy clubs on top of big screen movie theaters. Add to that football (rabid Chiefs fans), baseball (rabid Royals fans), Negro Baseball Hall of Fame (real name), and well, we’re in basketball country. Community centers abound; pickle ball courts everywhere. Nearby universities: KU (with medical school), University of Mo, KC Art Institute, Kansas University, Manhattan; Emporia State University, not counting professional schools and junior colleges. Art Museums abound – all engaging local artists as well as national & international.

KC, cattle country, is also renowned for the best steaks & BBQ in the country if you’re a meat eater. The cuisine covers everything we had in California: American,Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, French, Mexican, Italian, Portuguese, Cuban, Ethiopian and Vegetarian, etc., restaurants for fine dining or delivered to your door.

Nicknamed ‘The Little Paris of the Plains’, KC has more fountains per square mile than Paris itself along with sculptures and beautifully designed bridges.  It is GREEN with abundant rainfalls and scattered lakes around the region (for fishing or water skiing if you like). There are even deep enough ‘hills’ north of KC for snow skiing in the winter. With few exceptions the verdant growth demands attention and lawns, gardens, roadsides are routinely beautifully groomed.

Top it off: people are friendly. One warning: people drive f-a-s-t.  Drivers can be aggressive. Stay in middle lanes where reason prevails. It is car centric here; freeways are designed so that you can get to destination with ease most of the time.

I found a reasonably priced small ‘villa’(attached home community) where I share one wall with a neighbor. It provides lawn care, eave cleaning, snow removal, some painting maintenance, water costs. It’s perfect as it frees me to continue my art practice at ZhouB Art Center KCMO, about 13 miles away (15-20 minutes). I was lucky to find this studio space...more on that later.

In gratitude,

Phyllis Anne (pánne).