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FEATURE
By Susan Melgren smelgren@kansan.com
Here's my Fall Break dilemma: I can't afford to go anywhere fun,and even if I could,I'm too cheap to spend a lot of money on entertainment. But if I sit
After fighting traffic on Band Day and problems with my car (the speedometer frequently plumms to zero for no reason and the gears resist shifting from first to second), my friend Allison and I hit the road for KC. First stop: Zona Rosa shopping center.
around Lawrence for two extra days staring at my unusually bare walls and frequenting the same spots I have for three years, I'm going to lose it. I need a break. And a cheap one at that.
Sound familiar? Luckily, we don't have to travel far from Lawrence to find entertainment and we don't have to spend a fortune doing it. One weekend in September, I took two day trips to places only an hour from Lawrence, and I found a variety of things to do: shopping, hiking, good nightlife, interesting art and even a little bit of history.
Zona Rosa
Although the Legends is closer to Lawrence, a trip to Zona Rosa in north Kansas City, Mo., is well worth the extra 20 or 30-minute drive. You can find stores here you won't find in Lawrence, such as Victoria's Secret, Forever 21 and Men's Wearhouse, but Zona Rosa's charm isn't in its shops. It's in the layout and architecture.
Built in 2004, Zona Rosa is modeled after the original Zona Rosa, a business and entertainment district in Mexico City. When the second phase of development is complete this fall, it will cover about 500,000 square feet, almost twice as much area as the Plaza.
Shopping here feels like taking a step into another city, where life moves a little slower. Benches and street lamps adorn wide sidewalks. Interspersed among the stores are parks. Green lawns surround fountains and invite me to relax for a bit. Because the architecture of each store differs from that of its neighbor, Zona Rosa evokes days when shopping was downtown on Main Street. It has a nostalgic feel to it, but with a modern twist. Big anwings cover large glass doors and
olequently dressed mannequin grace the expansive window displays of storefronts.
Allison and I arrive at Zona Rosa midafternoon and park in one of its 2,700 spaces. It even has some metered, street-side parking, the proceeds of which go to six charities each year. During October, money will go to Sheffield Place, a housing program for homeless mothers and children.
Neither Allison nor I feel like shopping, so we casually stroll in and out of stores window shopping, laughing at a sequined skirt and intently studying what appear to be black leather leggings. Even though it's a Saturday afternoon and the weather is nearly perfect—75 degrees, blue sky, puffy white clouds—Zona Rosa doesn't feel crowded, even with lots of people there.
Before we leave, Allison and I stop at the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. After ooiling the glass displays of fudge and sampling Pop Rock Bark, I settle on a frozen banana.The rich chocolate melts smoothly and contrasts nicely with the simple, sweet taste of the banana.It's well worth the shame of eating so phallic a treat in public.Allison orders a Tiger Butter Caramel Apple, and we enjoy our treats in another of Zona Rosa's parks. It's the perfect ending to a relaxing afternoon.
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art sits in a neighborhood a few blocks east of the Plaza near the Nelson-Atkins Museum and the Kansas City Art Institute. It opened in 1994 and houses 10 to 12 special exhibitions a year as well as a permanent collection, which includes the art of Jackson Pollock, Georgia O'Keefe and others.
The museum sits on a sloping, meticulously manicured lawn. Random sculptures dot the grass: a depressed-looking clown, an oversized spindly-legged spider. The building is an impressive architectural structure. In the atrium, polished black tile floors reflect 22-foot high walls that lead to a skylight. The museum is unnaturally quiet, but the silence is alive. Whispers and the sound of movement reverberate off the walls and floors.
We turn off our cell phones and walk to the first wing, it's massive and quiet. Lightwood floors stretch across the room, broken
by a few pieces: a reposed horse called *Ahulani* by Deborah Butterfield, an arrangement of black orbs by Robert Chambers called *Ethanol* and two yellow-cream walls that hold more art. In the middle of the room I find my favorite piece. Twenty-one butterflies sit atop slender silver poles that lead down to aluminum boxes. With a click and a whir, tiny wires connected to the butterflies move their wings up and down. Slowly. Methodically. Rhythmically. Mesmerized by the soothing motion and the nearly inaudible sound, I can't help but stare.
The museum has quite a variety of pieces; paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs and installations.The permanent collection includes more than a thousand pieces, although not all are displayed.
Kemper provides an enjoyable experience for everyone, not just for art lovers. The silence of the museum and the beauty of the art stimulate the mind and calm the soul.
Main photo:The Town Square of Zona Roso shopping center surrounds the popular Children's Fountain. Far left:"Ethanol," a sculpture by Robert Chambers, is on display at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art's temporary collection." "Transfigure." Far center:The scenic overlook in Weston Bend State Park provides a picturesque view of the Missouri River. Close left: A chef cooks up a delicious burger at Chef Burger in the Power and Light District. Upper right:A football game is shown on the big screen in the Power and Light District where bands frequently play. Close right: O'Malley and Son,a bar inWeston,Mo.,is a popular venue for local bands.
Power and Light District
Kemper was relaxing, but after being silent for so long, I needed something loud. Something flashy and exciting. So Allison and I
We poke our heads briefly into Lucky Strike Lanes, a swanky retro-themed bowling lounge that takes up half a block. We also
KC Live! has a variety of themed bars and restaurants, most of which are 21 to enter. After having our IDs checked, Allison and I walk into a partially covered courtyard consisting of two levels and 14 entertainment venues. The combination of the enclosure, the lights, the noise and beer makes KC Live! feel like a circus or a giant party. At one end of the massive courtyard, a tall video screen hangs above a stage. From there to the other end of the courtyard—nearly a block long—patrons stand around tables, buy beer from a Budweiser kiosk and lounge on deep benches covered in thick black cushions that protrude from stone walls.
headed for the Power and Light District.
The Power and Light District packs a lot of restaurants, bars and shopping into eight blocks next to the Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City, Mo. We spend most of the evening in KC Live! one block of enclosed nighttime entertainment. Parking was relatively easy to find, close to the entertainment and only $2.
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October 9.2008
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