From the renowned lights of Country Club Plaza, over 80 miles in total, to Longview Lake’s Christmas in the Park, Kansas City is a place for fa-la-la. One Kansas City hotel, the downtown Marriot, even has falling snow and 20-foot candy canes with its hypnotizing lights display. If Santa left a little green in your stocking, you can enjoy the decorations while hitting the post-Christmas sales. I was recently in Kansas City, where I found a plethora of opportunities to lighten my wallet, along with holiday spirit galore.
Kansas City is filled with neighborhood shopping areas that showcase independent stores and restaurants. If you want to spend some of that Christmas cash, head straight to the Crossroads Arts District. This neighborhood is definitely a “destination” for locals and out-of-towners alike who seek out cool commercial art galleries, interesting restaurants, and funky retail establishments.
My first stop at Crossroads is always Black Bamboo. Owner Tim Butt has assembled an intriguing collection of Asian antiques, modern furnishings, and unique accessories that are a pleasure to peruse. You could easily spend an hour in the various rooms of the store discovering the treasures hidden within. I bought a pair of Christmas ornaments there that was a big hit at my annual ornament exchange — maybe you can even find some on sale.
From Black Bamboo you can head down the street to Peruvian Connection, a boutique that specializes in clothing made from the soft wool of South American’s alpacas, along with clothing made of smooth pima cotton, supple leather, and radiant silk. You’ll find an eclectic mix of original designs and one-of-a-kind accessories here.
From there it’s a quick jog across the street to birdies. This tiny store displays its unique lingerie in vintage Bitterman’s candy cases. Don’t be surprised when you walk in and they ask you your bra size. Before you know it there will be a number of options out and ready for you to try on.
Give your pocketbook a break while you enjoy the art of the various galleries located in the neighborhood and then refuel at Pizza Bella. With innovative topping combinations and fresh ingredients, these wood-fired pizza are just the ticket for reenergizing after a morning of retail fun.
After lunch head to Brookside. This primarily residential neighborhood on the Missouri side of the state line is home to a handful of fun and charming shops. Start at World’s Window, a store showcasing unusual jewelry, masks, clothing, folk art, gifts, and home accessories from Kansas City and the far-flung corners of the world. Stuffed with treasures from floor to ceiling, this is another store where it’s easy to get lost amongst the riches.
From there you can visit STUFF, a store “stuffed with wonderful stuff”. Showcasing creative, unique home accessories, gifts, and fine arts, STUFF features original works made by mom and pop shops all over the country. Every time I go in there I find items that tickle my fancy at every turn.
Shoppers with kids will appreciate Reading Reptile, a unique children’s bookstore, along with Brookside Toy and Science, the kind of old fashioned toy store that features items like microscopes and experiment kits. The Dime Store is another hit with both the young and young at heart.
My last stop on the Kansas City day of shopping tour is the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. This wonderful museum, with its stylish display areas, soaring atrium, and articulated skylight, offers not only a chance to enjoy interesting exhibitions, but also the opportunity to shop for contemporary hand-crafted works in the museum shop and to enjoy exquisite fare at Café Sebastienne. There is no better way to end the day than sipping wine surrounded by works from the museum’s permanent collection.
