Category Archives: Community

JJ’s Restaurant, Country Club Plaza

Posted on by annandmeg

At about 6:00 p.m., February 19, I heard an explosion at my home by Loose Park.  The local news almost immediately began coverage of a gas explosion at 48th and Belleview at JJ’s Restaurant.  The explosion caused serious damage to the restaurant.  The resulting fire leveled JJ’s and caused damage to adjacent buildings.  The extent of the damage was not yet known.

The death of Megan Cramer and the injuries to others in the area was tragic. The fact that most had left the area due to warnings or the smell of gas is no comfort to those who suffered loss.

Terry and I visited the area last Sunday morning. The damage done to JJ’s, the salon next door and the building to the North of JJ’s is evident in these photographs.

JJ's

JJ's

Our hearts go out to those who were affected by the explosion. JJ’s has always been a favorite, and the people and atmosphere will be missed.

Yesterday, Perceus, the dog that fled the salon next to JJ’s as a result of the blast,was found.  He endured the blast as well as life “on the streets” through two significant snowstorms that paralyzed the city in late February.  After a visit to the vet he has been returned home.  It is good to have some happy news in the midst of the tragedy.

Wall Art–Slater Style

Posted on by annandmeg

Driving through Slater, Missouri, we found this train gracing the wall of the local park.

DSC_0024Proof positive wall art isn’t limited to the city.

View From My Window

Posted on by annandmeg

Oh, how I envy Meg’s California vistas.  The ocean, the rocks and the shore.  I haven’t even mentioned the vineyards.

But late last week I was reminded that Kansas City also has some great views.  When my co-worker encouraged me to look out my office window I was surprised and delighted with the simple beauty of the late afternoon skyline.  Hope you like these photographs “from my window”.

These pictures are taken facing West from the Jackson County Courthouse.  They were taken at about 5:00 p.m. as the sun was setting.  The combination of the rich color of the sky, combined with the lights from the city structures are a simple reminder of the loveliness of city life.

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Even within the course of a few minutes, the colors of the sky changed dramatically.

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Enjoy, and have a great weekend.

Passing Of An Era

Posted on by annandmeg

Terry discovered this rickety old house as we were driving along Highway NN near Slater, Missouri.  Perched on a hill in the middle of the country, it is surrounded by rusting farm implements, a rusted out barbecue grill and evidence of agricultural activity that continues around it as it slowly sinks into the earth.  It looks to me as though it could have been the inspiration for one of the sets for the Harry Potter movies.

As rickety as it appears in this photograph, it is almost impossible to capture the image as we first encountered it.  The debris surrounding the house, and the utilitarian farm buildings built almost on top of it, detract from a more distant image.

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In her heyday she must have been a beauty.  Now she has been abandoned and is literally falling apart at the seams.  While not the only house we saw in a shambles, she was the most elegant.  As such, she captures most effectively, the tragic death of an elegant country residence and, at some level, the changing way of life in rural Missouri.

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She was a grand lady.

Welcome To Fighter Town

Posted on by annandmeg

My recent trip to Phoenix included a visit to Luke Air Force Base. Visit any military base and what initially captures your attention is the spirit and enthusiasm of its inhabitants.  Next are the slogans. Luke’s water tower greets you with “Welcome to Fighter Town”.

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A prominent building encourages: “Aim High Fly Fight & Win”.

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The focus on physical fitness suggests athletes preparing for competitions. Football, soccer, basketball?

None of the above.  Luke Air Force Base is all about jet planes and the pilots who fly them.  Jets are constantly taking off and landing as the pilots constantly hone their skills.  They are supported by ground and air crews without whose capabilities the pilots could not fly.  The F-16 is being phased out at Luke but it has been designated as a pilot-training site for the new F-35.

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Luke is as clean, crisp and appealing as Mayberry. Families here live their lives both intimately entwined with the lives of their military fathers and mothers and filled with the daily activities of families outside military bases.

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The legacy of the base is ever-present through the displays of generations of jet aircraft that have been housed at, and flown out of the base.

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The jets themselves are covered with the symbols of their power and purpose:

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Hate war, love peace?  So do they.

National Day of Service: Participate in an event near you this Saturday

Posted on by annandmeg

In 1961, JFK said in his inaugural address, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” Our President is carrying that notion forward this Saturday.

President Barack Obama began the National Day of Service in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. in 2009. As part of the Presidential Inaugural events, the National Day of Service is a day for all Americans to come together and give back to our communities.

Presidential Inaugural Committee - Day of Service

This Saturday, January 19th, please join your friends and family in an event near you. Whether you can pull weeds, clean up a beach, donate blood, or help out in a local soup kitchen, there are all kinds of activities, and our communities need our help.

Visit http://www.2013pic.org/service/serve to find an event near you.

Amigoni: An Urban Winery

Posted on by annandmeg

What happens when Leawood, Ks. home owners discovers a passion for wine?  Well, usually they would build a wine cellar and fill it with great wines.  But not Michael and Kerry Amigoni.  They began growing grapes in his back yard.  Eventually they bought land in Centerview, Missouri, just 45 minutes East of Kansas City to grow more and better grapes.  Mike selects traditional French grapes which are grafted on  vines that are sturdy enough to withstand Missouri’s extreme temperatures.

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But they don’t stop there.  After they grow and harvest the grapes, they turn them into wine.  Amazingly good wine by Missouri standards.  But the Amigionis didn’t stop there.  They restored a building in the bottoms across from the Livestock Exchange Building, and opened an urban winery.

The building is now inviting and offers Amigoni wines, Boulevard beers and Roasterie coffees. There is even a “barrel room” stocked with wines aging in Missouri made oak barrels.

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When Terry was the successful bidder on a wine tasting at Amigioni’s, we had never heard of the place.  But, we found it at 1505 Gennessee, in the Bottoms.  We visited on a cold weekend afternoon.  It was a great experience. The owners are gracious and accommodating.

As a friend of mine would say: “Definitely a repeat!”

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This Is For You, Bill

Posted on by annandmeg

A friend told me he likes our posts that feature Kansas City.  I love my city, and love taking pictures of wonderful places throughout the metro area.  Here are three photographs of the downtown Kansas City skyline.

From the Liberty Memorial:

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From the Jackson County Courthouse Parking Lot:

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From Truman Road:

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Have a great weekend.

Footprints

Posted on by annandmeg

What do you believe in?  What do you care about?  What upsets you?  What do you believe matters to you enough to determine to make a difference?

Join a club.  Run for office.  Commit your time, money and/or creativity to making the world a better place.  How?  That is for you to decide.  Figure out what you are passionate about and strive to make a difference.

DSC_0866What do you want your footprint in life to be?

Open For Business: Truman Road

Posted on by annandmeg

My visits to my dad involved a trip across town from Kansas City to Independence.  While my routes vary a lot, I often drive on Truman Road.  It is just wonderfully urban.

I particularly love this corner store East of downtown on Truman Road.  The storefront is covered with cartoon characters.  I never could figure out the name of the store, but it appears that it sells hats, CD’s and “skull candy”?  Seriously.  I don’t know.  The owners came outside to see what I was doing, but seemed pleased that I considered their art worthy of attention.

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These gentlemen were hard at work.  They appeared to be having fun as they worked. When they saw me, they waved and let me take their photographs. their work stopped for a moment.  They were in a good mood and so was I.

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xxx