Crossroads

The new Pennway Point entertainment district, which makes use of space that sat empty for years as industrial storage, is already making some neighbors in the Westside neighborhood uneasy. Developers are building the project without using tax money, but say they plan to seek incentives for the years ahead.

A pedestrian-friendly walkway near the Crossroads is being filled with dozens of neon throwbacks to Kansas City's past, like a 50-year-old sign for the downtown airport and a recreation of the iconic Katz Drug Stores logo. The alley will sit in the middle of the planned Pennway Point entertainment district.

Mid-America Arts Alliance has a relatively low-key presence in Kansas City, but it has a big impact across the Midwest — enriching cultural and creative life through exhibition programming, grant making and professional development for artists.

Andi and Dianna Sanesanong opened Nang Nang Lao-Thai in late February at the Crossroads Food Stop, a “cloud kitchen” with 10 local restaurants under one roof. But they only accept delivery and takeout orders.

Kansas City is well represented in the national food competition this year — with The Town Company, Yoli Tortilleria, Drastic Measures and The Restaurant at 1900 all competing against the best in the country.

In neighborhoods like Power & Light and the Crossroads, where stunt driving and car sideshows have become a nuisance, city crews are installing small black discs that are meant to disrupt the movement of sliding or skidding tires.

Lifted Spirits, which is based in the East Crossroads, was named Missouri’s best gin distillery at the New York International Spirits Competition this summer. Founder Michael Stuckey credits a tight-knit and respectful environment for their "wild" growth.

The Garvey brothers partner with artisans in central Mexico to design and make wool jackets, blankets, and sweaters. A portion of the proceeds go to Feed a Family — a nonprofit started by the Garvey family— which provides food and clothing to families in Tlaxcala.

When John David DiCapo decided he wanted to sell Italian Gardens Pizzeria, which has stayed in his family since it originally opened in 1925, he only had one person in mind: Theresa Santos, the owner of Ting's Filipino Bistro.

Kansas City's Casual Animal Brewing picked KCUR to create a collaborative beer as part of its Local Motive program. Proceeds from every Local Motive pint sold during the months of September and October go directly to KCUR.

Santos, who was born in the Philippines and moved to Kansas City in 1998, opened the Filipino restaurant inside Parlor’s food hall in January. Her menu features recipes passed down from her late mother and grandmother.

The metro lost beloved bars and restaurants to the pandemic, but this year will see both new and familiar names stepping in to fill the void.