Midwest

Photography by Caleb Condit & Rebecca NordenIn December, Kansas City lost one of the buildings on the National Register of Historic Places with the demolition of the old Board of Education building on McGee. Local architect Edward W. Tanner designed the building, which opened in 1960, in a mid-century modern style that was inspired by the iconic Mies van der Rohe. It was a … [Read more...] about Historic Kansas City buildings are being demolished—can we do more to save them?

If you were to ask Arlene Ladegaard what makes her stand out from other interior designers, she would probably point to her knowledge of recognizing and utilizing scale in a space. The longtime designer and owner of Design Connection, Inc. can thank her residence in Europe for that—after living in Los Angeles post-college, she and her husband called Switzerland home for seven … [Read more...] about Local designer Arlene Ladegaard shares illusion-worthy tricks for opening up a space

Photo by Annie ShakOverland Park Native Erica Mandy was tired of being a talking head. The former broadcast journalist, who now lives in Los Angeles, worked in broadcast news for ten years, reciting scripted headlines that she felt were alarmist and unfair. In 2017, she shifted gears to start her own current events podcast, The NewsWorthy. The quick-hitting pod—daily episodes … [Read more...] about How a news anchor from KC created a nationally-recognized podcast with over 10 million downloads

It’s no secret that Troost has long been a dividing line in Kansas City, with racial covenants and banking practices prohibiting Black citizens from owning property to the avenue’s west. On the street itself, there’s a tight-knit community. Armando Vasquez and Michael Hastings wanted to be part of it by opening Anchor Island Coffee at 41st and Troost last March—just days before … [Read more...] about A high-profile Midtown coffee shop’s relocation to Troost sparks debate

Photography by Caleb Condit & Rebecca NordenIt’s been forty-six years since the last reel spun to a stop at the old Aztec Theater on the main drag in Shawnee. You’d never know it from the enthusiasm around the recent reopening. Even before a deal was struck, people were packing meetings to show support for the revival of the long-dormant venue, which shuttered amid the … [Read more...] about After 46 years, the old Aztec Theater in Shawnee is back open