East Bottoms detours

Space to change

Wide-open 900 square feet (and lots more cubicly, to heat above that Styrofoam ceiling). Convenient power to second floor right in the middle of the room. Not a crusty element, but certainly the kind of "what were they thinking" thing that it sucks to pay to have changed.

Ask the ghosts

It's 100 years old. Mostly nice woodwork. Lots of energy-inefficient windows and crusty elements to repair.

Time spent

It's gone to daydreaming about houses such as this.

Coney Island (of the mind)

Even if you do not know Lawrence Ferlinghetti (who changed his name at the age of 36 back to the surname that his Italian immigrant father had changed to the more "English" Ferling), perhaps you envision hot dogs, wooden roller coasters and tawdry, beach-front entertainment.

For, I apparently pay "no attention" to things as they develop, despite my unreturned phone call, and outside of so many hours spent with all four (now) of the groups concerned.

Thank you, fellow Hermit Crab, for alerting me to the Star's breaking news such as I plagiarize 'eretoforthwith:

KC, Union Station reach temporary agreement on Kansas City Museum

KCMuseum is second fell swoop for doing-good-job Union Station. No offense to anyone who can't, but I enjoy being able to walk to that palatial and free space sunny indoor space. I drive there from time to time, to go to the post office, too.

Anyway, just as Christopher Leitch had told the faithful attending members of the Indian Mound Neighborhood Association this month, the Corinthian Hall-based portion of the Kansas City Museum civic-dino-casa "will remain open while Kansas City and Union Station officials continue to negotiate a new contract" (it was announced Wednesday, but I have no idea where or when. I was at the e-mail until after 5 p.m. today.)

Spider frown!!

:::: (

"The city" (who the blazes is "the city?" Did I miss a bellowing announcement from my local pavement?) "had said it would terminate its contract with Union Station to operate the museum next Tuesday in a dispute over ownership of the collection. Both the city and the station claim ownership."

Because, you know, "cuidad del Kansas redundant Cuidad" knows a lot about running museums.

When I came to live here about nine puny years ago, the Liberty Memorial was a crumbling, roped-off oddity. Now, even though it requires still some tax crutches flung at it by a benevolent city council, it is doing much better. Yes, having to repair a substructure again is a bit of a drag, but they do have a museum they tout as unique. It's an interesting bunker-place, and one that I hear has a great experience of a museum. And, I was able to go and stand and see the view.

And there has been the Zoo, now also under control of a "Friends" group. But the official Friends of the Kansas City Museum is "siding" with Union Station and its decent management thus far, despite reported deficits, towards more exhibits, better maintenance and brainier programs, for adults and children. At any rate, "the city" is not quite qualified to run any museum.

Even mini museums, threatened albeit by encroaching city "development," such as the Fire Brigade one, in a quaint brick building, no less, are casting their lots with the train station in faith that it's going places.

So, the good news is that Union Station's good job is acknowledged legally for the next six months by a contract hammered out in front of some reporters.

Glad they agreed to "try to reach a resolution in two months, however, so as not to interfere with the renewal of Union Station’s professional accreditation."

Worker bees

The Colony Collapse Disorder of genuine honey bees in the United States is probabaly well-known by now. If not, wait until you try to buy some almonds later in the year.

It struck me how many humans are out working in certain parts of the city. Take Crown Center/Grand/Washington Square Park/Union Station (collectively called __?). A quick spin shows quite a few people doing things I guess are necessary.

Temptation

This is bad, very bad. Badder than Friday the 13th or snow in mid-April: impulse shopping for snacks.

Not just any snacks, of course, but the ones that made me gain 15 pounds 10 years ago.

However, since many of these come with trinkets and such, I don't know how much longer I can resist.

Pocky is my downfall!

Smart human moves #1245

Wearing protective gear and a breather mask, this chemical-applicator person was out applying weed killer or whatever in the rain today at Troost and Truman. Regardless of the creatures who live in the waterway where the streets' sewers drain, he's exercising an acute form of job preservation, I should say.

Note to self: Do not go barefoot at Truman and Troost.

Windy things

The Kansas City Kite Club was floating fanciful undersea things through the rain-spitting gray by Liberty Memorial.


They got my attention, so I was late to pick up my taxes, froze my fingers and had to hear a guy say "yeah, we fly our balls a lot." Still I'll promote the Flights of Fancy kite festival planned at MCC-Longview on April 21.


There will be 100s of kites, and about 25 of these giant fun things.



Susie Gilson of Olathe, Kan. made some of them, though the main source these days (since KC's kite place, Wind Wizzards, closed a decade or more ago) is Into the Wind.

Thirteen-year-old Elizabeth Gilson, who took fourth place at last year's national kite flying competition, told me that 10 to 15 mph is the right wind speed for good kite-flying. In this region, the season lasts from about April to September.

I think I want to buy a bunch of these and tie them to everything I own.

Easter Monday

It's a holiday in the UK.

And Canada

Hi, Mom