The Heart of America: Senior Explores Love for Kansas City

graphic by Catherine Erickson 

We’ve all heard it. The inevitable “Ugh. I hate Kansas City.” The “There’s nothing to do here.” And the “I can’t wait to move to New York.”

And while I love NYC as much as the next born-and-bred-Midwesterner (the hustle and bustle is fun, but only for a few days), we shouldn’t discount our hometown. And National Geographic Travel agrees, ranking Kansas City number 10 of 28 places to visit in 2019, beating French Polynesia and Mozambique.

Why?

“The city has soul,” according to National Geographic.

And as a senior preparing to move halfway across the country, I couldn’t agree more. From good ‘ole KC pride and literally being located in the heart of the nation, KC proves that it has soul.

Just walk the streets of KC, and you will see the city pride. As a proud owner of more than five “KC” T-shirts that I rotate regularly, nothing screams city love more than locally-owned businesses producing shirts that pay homage to the city they love. Ask anyone about their top-five KC icons, and I bet a Charlie Hustle T-shirt is one.

On Sunday nights in the fall, the streets of KC and the shelves of grocery stores seem to be empty. Why? Every family is decked out in their red, gathered around the biggest screen in their house with some chicken wings and a bowl of queso, cheering on the Chiefs — and our spirit works, judging by our playoff streak this year.

Sorry Mahomes, but the fans are the real MVPs. Not even negative temperatures will deter fans from making their way to Arrowhead. While many fans may go through harsh winter, what makes KC fans special is the tailgate line at 8 a.m., and, of course, being ranked the loudest stadium in the country literally screams city pride. And that pride makes this place special and isn’t something you will find elsewhere.

And we can’t forget about our boys in blue. Salvy splashes, screaming MMOOOSSEEE and Gordon’s home runs from the World Series team will forever remain KC icons. Going to a World Series game will forever be one of my favorite memories — a sea of blue and white, screaming at the top of their lungs and cheering in unison. This memory serves as a reminder as to why I love this city, and the people who make it.

Have you ever been to the Cauldron at Sporting Park? Try to convince me that chanting “I believe that we just won” to the beat of a drum is not city pride.

And that’s not even the best part. With KC’s small-town atmosphere and midwestern hospitality (southern hospitality who?), it’s not uncommon to see Matt Besler at the Corinth Hen House or George Brett on a walk through PV, both KC celebrities who are active in our community. And that just shows our true roots: one community, coming together to celebrate where we call home.

But sports aren’t the only source of KC pride. We can’t forget about the longstanding debates over the city’s best barbeque spot. Forget New York pizza or southwestern Tex-Mex, nothing beats KC barbeque.

It doesn’t matter if you are a die-hard Oklahoma Joe’s fan (it will forever be called that) or prefer something more upscale like Q39, it’s the culture of endless paper towels, bottles of sauce and socially-acceptable finger food that makes KC — and barbecue — great.

I may be heading to Virginia and they may have the 1776 historical clout, but KC’s deep history has shaped the city into what it is today, and the city initiative to preserve it continues the original KC legacy.

From the newly-renovated Savoy hotel (which is supposedly haunted), to the World War I museum, to the restoration of Tom Pendergast’s 1920s speakeasies (just ask his relative staffer Elizabeth Ballew), to the birth of basketball, KC goes beyond just a midwestern city surrounded by farmland.

Don’t try to argue that KC wasn’t influential in history — just take a look at the Jazz District and the Negro League Baseball Museum. Your mind will change.

So the next time you think KC is pretty bland, remember that there are not many places where the NFL’s MVP would show up at a local Chick-Fil-A and where you are guaranteed to see at least five people you know on a quick trip to the Village for eggs. And if you think you’ve done it all — think again. KC is constantly growing, and new restaurants and attractions are popping up everywhere. And it’s all part of that KC charm. And don’t worry KC, you have my heart, and I’ll be back.