Why I love Kansas City: Part II

Some time in the last couple years, a fella I know called Kansas City a "hole".  This proclamation was hilariously inaccurate in my eyes, and it was also quite ironic considering his current abode is in a small country town where the Olive Garden is considered the height of sophistication.  For one reason or another, I have been unable to forget his statement, and every time I learn about something awesome in KCMO or Eastern Kansas, I think "Ah-HA!  This is a booming metropolis, fool! You call it a hole.  I call you A-Hole!".

Aaaaaanyway, I'm still in love with my new city.  So let me give you a few more reasons why, other than BBQ.

A couple of weeks ago, we went with Ryan's parents to Deanna Rose Farmstead in Overland Park, KS, and spent the morning petting goats and smelling poop (it IS a farm, where poop is plentiful).  There's fishing, pony rides, playgrounds, gardening, and just downright fun in general there, and Monday thru Thursday it's FREE.  Even on weekends, only $2/person.  Awesome.  The kids had a blast, and so did I.

Speaking of super fun, we visited Science City when my dad and stepmom were here last month.  I had more fun than the kids, and they loved it.  You can make music in a dozen ways, build towers with neat stuff, do balance and reflex tests, explore what plumbing is like, try out mechanical advantage, build a dam, dig in the dirt for fossils...the list goes on and on.  It is kind of expensive, so if you think you'll go more than once, buy a membership and you'll make your money back very quickly.

But you know what's got me the happiest about Kansas City lately?  Our local 1/4 beef.  The pastured chickens we ordered. The local eggs and milk.  The dozens of CSAs to choose from.  In short, we can get good food here.  At restaurants, sure.  But also for our own kitchens.  The last town we lived in, only the fringe really participated in the local food movement.  Chain restaurants abounded, and I could only find one CSA.  I'm sure it's better now--that city does not exist in a vacuum-- but it's still constrained by small-town politics and a huge resistance to change.

I am so happy to be in my awesome hole of a city, where the exotic peacefully exists next to the bland, the suburbs are pleasantly urban, and the aging hipster and militant youth can enjoy their supremely delicious bbq side by side, humming a rousing rendition of Kumbaya without the slightest hint of irony.

Kansas City, it's the Paris of the Plains!