Walking past Arizona Trading Company (ATC) where Central Street meets Westport Road, it’s hard to tell whether it’s a consignment clothing store or a dismantled mannequin shop. These plastic, armless figures with teased hair and blacked out teeth line the windows, masking the somewhat softer atmosphere that lies inside.
The great thing about ATC is that it’s a consignment shop, meaning you can buy, sell and trade your clothes.
Yes, ATC is quite the little shop of treasures. You can find items from a vintage suede vest to $40 True Religion jeans. It’s a great place to get some bang for your buck with quality used clothes, and hipster or not, who doesn’t love that?
It’s a Beautiful Day
Walking around the store the sweet smell of patchouli fills your lungs and there are racks of band t-shirts arranged alphabetically. From AC/DC to ZZ Top, they’ve got it all. And don’t forget the extensive collection of records, tapes and CDs in the back where you can almost always find an album to match one of those shirts.
Bunker
Theater in Kansas City is great what with companies like the Coterie and the Kansas City Repertory Theater, but if you’re looking for an edgier experience, make your way down to the Crossroads and visit the Living Room. Right off of 18th on McGee sits this quaint little production house.
They also provide a homey feel by seating the audience in couches and lounge chairs, making them feel as if they were at home in their own living room.
Another aspect they emphasize is audience involvement in the shows which may include the actors squirting fake blood on the first row. But the gooey red stains on your clothes won’t be the only thing that stays with you from the show. The performances are shows like no other, ensuring a unique, memorable experience for all.
Some may say the Nelson Atkins is an art museum, but to a hipster, it’s Kansas City’s most glorious collection of Instagram-worthy items.
With so many different rooms to explore and new exhibits coming to town all the time, you are bound to find something new every time you visit. You could spend an entire day there and even stop in to the café to grab a bite to eat.
But you don’t have to go to the Nelson just to look at art. The huge front lawn provides a nice look over the plaza area, which goes perfectly with a sunset on a summer night. The neoclassic building itself is gorgeous, so give it a go and don’t forget your camera!
Loose Park
Loose Park, which sits on the corner of 51st St. and Wornall Rd., is the 75-acre beauty of Kansas City, our very own Central Park, if you will.
Loose is a place you find yourself when you have nothing else to do. A lunchtime picnic can easily turn into a whole afternoon of ultimate frisbee. And with loads of free space to run around, you never have to worry about another group interrupting your game.
Lying on a blanket in the shade of a tall maple tree could be all you need to relax, at Loose. And without the traffic and noise of a place like New York City, our little, big park is the perfect addition to Kansas City.
Broadway Cafe
Just down the street it’s named after lies Broadway Cafe. However, contrary to its name, there isn’t anything musical or theatrical about this little coffee house.
Now if you aren’t a coffee drinker, like me, I highly recommend the Chai Tea. Iced or regular, it sure beats the heck out of anything Starbucks could whip up. Plus, it comes with that brown and white design in the foam that you see all over Instagram. No wonder hipsters love this place.
Before you head out the front door, make sure to check out the information boards. They’re on either side of the door and are overflowing with flyers, ads and business cards. You never know when you might need that Tae Kwon Do lesson.
Tea Drops
It worked. They never knew for a second that I had no idea what I was talking about. And after pouring in a good third cup of cream in, it wasn’t half bad. So I sped off to school with a warm cup of joe and a new developed taste for caffeine.
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