Coffee Shop Obsessed!
Happy 4th of July!! I started my day running the 4 on the Fourth annual race - and it poured the entire race. Also lots of thunder. Made me run faster and then Laura and I went for coffee and an amazing cinnamon roll at Dolce Bakery in Prairie Village. Definitely the best part of the morning. Which leads into my new favorite topic - Coffee Shops!!
At my current age I think a lot about retirement, and what I will do when I get there. Traveling is super high on my list - and lots of it! But I also think about having the ability of going to coffee shops when ever I want - starting my day in one sounds so great. Sometimes I can be dense - I realized that you don't have to be retired to go to coffee shops - I could do it right now! Duh!! Well not every morning, but maybe once a week. So I am making a list of the great coffee shops in the Kansas City area - and have a goal to visit them all! More and more opening all the time and we already had lots. Side note - Kansas City is actually ranked pretty high for coffee. We have quite a few local roasteries and even more if you add those across the state of Missouri - so I have lots to get me started.
My first spot was out to Lenexa, KS to Blackdog which is conveniently attached to The Ibis Bakery. I confess I have been there a few times before, but it is amazing! The toast alone is worth the drive and they serve Messenger Coffee which is local and excellent!
The croissant gave me a few minutes to pretend I was in Paris. This place is open every day and packed all the time.
Place number 2 is Heirloom Bakery & Hearth located in Brookside at 63rd and Oak. They are open every day but Monday and are really known for their baked goods. I had planned to go on a Thursday morning early before heading to work and it was really raining. I went anyway and it totally improved my day. In spite of the weather I was happy all day! I have had their scones and muffins previously but had heard the breakfast biscuits were to die for so opted to try one. It did not disappoint and kept me full till dinner. Coffee was also good and really a nice attractive interior.
You can customize the breakfast biscuits - I chose egg, Gouda cheese and tomato. The biscuit is a cheddar herb and it was light and delicious.
Coffee Shop number 3 was Crow's in Waldo (75th & Wornall). My running group is running from Crow's the month of July so we ran and then treated ourselves to breakfast. Crow's used to be Coffee Girls and they have done some nice things to the space. Still kept the really nice outdoor seating but put in glass doors all across the front that open on a nice day. They make breakfast burritos and have a decent selection of pastries. They also serve Messenger Coffee - and that's a good thing!
Laura doing her best Vanna White impression at the entrance to Crow's. My morning selection - a lemon poppyseed scone and lower right in the blue shirt - our KC Express coach Helen talking to Amity. I've been running with this group for 6 years now and couldn't have a better group to encourage and support me - in addition to keeping me laughing all the time!
So those were my 3 stops in the past couple of weeks - in addition to Dolce today. No picture from Dolce but I will get back there and take a picture to show you how great it is. If coffee shops don't make you happy like they do me - then I bet you can figure out some small change to make in your day that would make you happy even on a gloomy wet day. Throwing out a challenge!! Because everyone is responsible for their own happiness.
Arts Alive Update
Arts Alive is an organization here in Kansas City that is for anyone that loves art in all it's forms - that would be me! Once a month an event is planned and it's first come first serve for the available tickets - usually 100 to 120 tickets per event. The June event was held at the home and studio of world-renowned potter Irma Starr, who just happens to live in the Loose Park area. Irma creates pottery modeled after 17th-century slip ware. Her work can be found at leading museums around the world, and she was gracious enough to allow our group to tour her home, studio and magnificent gardens.
Some photos of the beautiful outside area. Her husband is responsible for the gardens and they are gorgeous!
Her home and studio sit on about 2 acres of land and the house itself is not large - but to say it's a visual extravaganza is an understatement. It was too much to take in in one visit - maybe she will let me come again!
It reminded me of a jam packed store, but there was evidence that she actually lives there. And lots of her pottery displayed which was very beautiful.
We got to meet Irma and she was lovely. She offered to give Linda and Julie and I a private pottery lesson - but that would definitely be a waste of her time - at least with me. I will stick to admiring her work.
Linda, Irma and Julie in her studio. She makes a lot of Christmas ornaments including the entire Wizard of Oz collection.
We enjoyed drinks and delicious appetizers from Cupini's in Westport, and then headed to Unity Temple on the plaza to hear a wonderful music concert. What a fun and interesting evening!
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art new exhibit!
Have you been to the Kemper lately? If not go!!! People it is FREE!! Their newest exhibit is my favorite to date. It opened June 8 and last day is September 17, 2017. It is called Magnetic Fields - Expanding American Abstraction 1960s to Today. The exhibit focuses on women artists of color and honors 21 artists born between 1891 and 1981. It features a range of media including painting, sculpture, printmaking and drawing. It was organized by the Kemper but will travel to the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington , DC fall 2017.
Mildred Thompson born 1936, died 2003. Magnetic Fields 1991 oil on canvas, triptych
Here are a few of my favorites!
Top left clockwise - Lilian Thomas Burwell, Menageri 2006, oil on canvas over carved wood. Howardena Pindell, Untitled 1972-73, acrylic on canvas. Shinique Smith, Whirlwind Dancer 2014-17, acrylic, ink, paper and fabric collage on canvas over wood panel. Shinique Smith, Bale Variant No. 0017, 2009, fabric, ink, twine, ribbon, wood.
There is another small exhibit called Women to Watch that I loved also. This exhibit explores metal as an artistic medium, and is women artists within the first 10 years of their career currently living within 60 miles of Kansas City.
Top left clockwise - Cheryl Eve Acosta, Fossilium 2015, copper and organza. Desiree Warren, Cracked Earth 2017 Hard Sky 2017, aluminum, paint, vinyl. Jessica Thompson-Lee, Untitled 2017, bronze with marble base. Debbie Barrett-Jones, Navy to Aqua to Brown Waves 2017, digital print of original weaving on aluminum, triptych edition of 5.
The Kemper is such a manageable size. You can spend an hour and see everything - but they also have a wonderful restaurant called Cafe Sebastian so stay and have lunch or brunch on Sunday.
Yes that is Chihuly glass top right!
Looking for a good book to read? 2017 is my Year of Reading and this is what I'm working on now.
My goal is 25 books and this is number 9. I need to pick it up!
That's my philosophy - next adventure coming soon!