"We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started... and know the place for the first time." -- T.S. Eliot
Growing up outside of Kansas City, I never really spent time exploring what the metropolitan area had to offer. Surrounded by the inherent self-concentration of adolescence, I was content on remaining contained to my suburban life. After venturing off to the east coast for over seven years, I had occasion to return on short visits, but still never really discovered the heart and soul of the City. Recently I've moved back to the Kansas City area and I am finding myself constantly wondering what defines this City. In my experience, every city has a certain character, a certain culture, a certain romance. People often define themselves by their city. Bostonians, New Yorkers and Portlanders all carry certain tangible characteristics. While applied individually, these characteristics are merely stereotypes; but when applied in a collective, a certain truth about their respective cities emerges. What then, is a Kansas Citian? ...
The focus of this blog will be dedicated to exploring what gives Kansas City its identity. We'll look into characteristics that define the city: the food, the music, the neighborhoods, the culture and arts, the sports teams, the history--everything that contributes to the identity of Kansas City. I imagine this blog taking many forms. We'll take the role of amateur restaurant reviewer when we explore the City's barbeque joints. We'll become a local sports enthusiast when we venture out to Kauffman stadium. We'll convert into a musical connoisseur after breaking into the local jazz scene. We may even sample a few local brews.
The journey should be exciting. Whether you are new to the City and want to learn with us, or you've comfortably defined your urban identity and want to share some advice along the way, join us! If we conduct our journey properly, we should end up right where we started, back in Kansas City. But at the end of all our exploring, we'll know the place for the first time.
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