Addie Linn, Author at OneKC

A/E/C Firms Are Betting on KC’s Future

Kansas City’s A/E/C sector continues to scale — with in-market expansions proving this is no coincidence. These recent investments reflect a deeper commitment to the region and reinforce KC’s position as a global hub for design, engineering and construction innovation.

Here are some of the firms that have put that belief into action:

Black & Veatch is advancing a $1.12B headquarters expansion in Overland Park, anchoring a 1-million-sq.-ft. mixed-use campus that will include a 750,000-sq.-ft. HQ, 788 housing units and 137,000 sq. ft. of retail space.
DRAW has relocated to the historic 1892 Henney Buggy building at 1400 W 13th St in the West Bottoms, creating a larger, more sustainable workspace.
Forge Construction invested more than $2.9M to relocate and expand its Kansas City headquarters, transforming a 10,000-sq.-ft. Crossroads building and creating nearly 20 new jobs in one of the city’s fastest-growing districts.
HDR opened a new health-focused architecture studio near the plaza that focuses on healthcare design, including pediatric and research facilities.
Helix Architecture + Design deepened its commitment to downtown Kansas City with a new 6,700-sq.-ft. headquarters in the Crossroads’ historic Film Row, blending adaptive reuse with modern workplace design.
HNTB reaffirmed its commitment to downtown Kansas City with its relocation to the 591-foot Town Pavilion — the city’s second-tallest building — signaling continued reinvestment in the urban core.
JE Dunn Construction invested $20M to renovate its 190,000-sq.-ft., six-story Kansas City headquarters, reimagining the workspace to support evolving work styles, enhance collaboration and deliver a modern, flexible environment.
TREKK Design Group more than doubled the size of its Kansas City headquarters by moving to a new South Kansas City office, supporting continued growth for the 120-person, woman-owned civil engineering firm.
POPULOUS relocated its global headquarters to a new 100,000+-sq.-ft. collaborative workspace at 1400 Baltimore, consolidating teams downtown and reinforcing Kansas City’s role as a global hub for sports design.

Have a recent expansion or relocation to add? Let us know.

How KC is Attracting Global Firms — Without Being Asked

By Ashley McDonald, KC Global Design Managing Director

KC Global Design exists to amplify something truly special: an ecosystem of creativity, expertise and impact that stretches far beyond our region. Yes, world-class design + construction work is happening right here in Kansas City. But just as importantly, KC firms are shaping skylines, power systems, stadiums and communities across the globe.

As managing director of KC Global Design, I have the unique privilege of working alongside these firms every day, telling a story that continues to surprise even those of us closest to it. While many know KC for its deep roots in sports architecture — and rightfully so — there’s so much more beneath the surface. This is a multibillion-dollar design + construction industry, powered by more than 80,000 professionals, spanning disciplines and influencing projects at every scale imaginable.

But the real differentiator? It’s not just what happens here. It’s how it happens.

In Kansas City, competition and collaboration coexist in a way that’s rare. You’ll often hear it called “coopetition,” but it’s more than a buzzword. It’s a mindset. Firms compete at the highest levels, yet there’s an unmistakable willingness to share ideas, support one another and elevate the industry as a whole. It’s the belief that when one firm succeeds, our whole ecosystem moves forward — and it’s something people don’t just talk about. They live it.

That culture has created a growing sense of curiosity (and yes, even a bit of FOMO) from outside the region. Firms want to be part of what’s happening here.

While KC Global Design isn’t focused on the recruitment of more A/E/C firms to the region, the pull toward Kansas City is undeniable. The recent expansions of Gensler and Perkins&Will into Kansas City, along with Pape-Dawson’s acquisition of BHC to establish a regional headquarters, are clear signals that this ecosystem is resonating on a national scale. That momentum is also reflected in a number of local firms doubling down on Kansas City with recent in-market expansions.

And we’re just getting started.

With Kansas City preparing to welcome the world in the months ahead, the spotlight is only getting brighter. The foundation is already here: talent, collaboration and a shared commitment to excellence across design + construction. What comes next is an even bigger opportunity: to showcase not just what we’ve built, but how we’ve built it, together.

Because in Kansas City, design + construction isn’t just an industry, it’s a collective force. And its impact is only growing.

To keep up with KC’s design + construction industry, follow KC Global Design on LinkedIn.

Always in Motion

Lo'eau LaBonta bouncing a soccer ball on her knee

Midfielder, captain, connector — Lo’eau LaBonta brings passion to the pitch and her life in Kansas City.

By Michelle Bacon | Photos by Simon Kuo

Whether it’s her love of fostering animals and spending quality time with her dog Amigo, eating her way through her Westside Kansas City neighborhood or enjoying a game of padel, Lo’eau LaBonta never stops moving.

“I thrive off chaos,” she quips.

It’s that endless vitality that has made her a pillar of the National Women’s Soccer League-leading KC Current team. A starting midfielder, Lo’eau’s decade of experience has set her up for athletic excellence both on and off the field. But even as the team captain and one of the sport’s most public figures — most notably going viral for her Celly Dance in 2022 — she’s quick to attribute the Teal Rising success to team players, leadership and the city that has invested in it.

“We are the standard right now,” she says of the team, which leads the NWSL with its state-of-the-art training facilities, having the first stadium in the world purpose-built for professional women’s sports and most importantly, producing a viable collective of competitors.

Though soccer was always her passion, the payoff was anything but immediate.

“Sports were life,” Lo’eau says of her upbringing in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Raised mainly by her father, Mark, she and her younger brother, Koa, were entrenched in different sports as kids. She was most drawn to the ever-changing, always immersive game of soccer.

“It’s 45 minutes straight and another 45 after that, but there aren’t many breaks — you’re constantly going,” she says. “It’s a team sport — everything about it, I’ve always loved and have been really passionate about.”

As a student at Stanford University, Lo’eau continued playing but prioritized her education as the end game, pursuing an engineering degree. In that time, she helped the Stanford Cardinals win the 2011 national championship, and a year later, the National Women’s Soccer League was formed.

“I thought, let’s just try this professional soccer career. I’ve been playing my whole life — why not continue?” she recalls. But the path forward was slow, and challenges revealed themselves early on. “I was a semifinalist for the Herman Trophy in college. I was projected to be drafted in the top 10 and I ended up going second to last, so that was already the first big setback.”

From there, she inked a professional contract with Sky Blue FC (now Gotham FC) in 2015, for a modest $7,500 salary. Struggling with the league’s newness and lack of organization, the rookie was cut from the team. Lo’eau returned to Stanford for that engineering degree, and a year later was called to preseason tryouts with FC Kansas City. “And the rest was history,” she says, but not without a few extra barriers.

By then, in 2016, the league’s minimum salary was $10,000 per season, a mere pittance compared to the men’s Major League Soccer team, which guaranteed its reserve players a minimum of $51,500. “Just trying to be a pro athlete at that pay is insane, almost impossible, so I tried to figure out the other things to do to get by,” Lo’eau recalls. “I was having oatmeal for breakfast, lunch, and it was probably an appetizer for my dinner.”

It was also around this time that her now husband Roger Espinoza — at the time a Sporting KC midfielder and now an assistant coach — began to endear her to Kansas City.

Lo'eau on a couch with her husband and dog.

“Being from California, I have the beach, the mountains,” she says. The rolling Midwestern plains were a change of pace. “[Roger] had lived in KC for almost 10 years, and he was the one who helped me look at KC from a different lens and actually embrace it for what it is.”

Just as she began finding her footing in the city of fountains, she was sent to the Utah Royals in 2018. Under the team’s steadier foundation and clearer direction at the time, Lo’eau’s career ascended. She became a starter, began doubling her number of goals and assists, and rose among the ranks of the NWSL as a true utility player –– quick to support and defend her teammates all over the field.

When 2020 upended the world with the pandemic — and then shattered her own with the loss of her brother, Koa — Lo’eau turned to what she knew best: structure, movement and care. Fostering animals gave her purpose beyond the field; soccer kept her grounded.

“As pro athletes, you’re just wired to always show up and be on time,” she says. “[Soccer was] the only thing that really kept me healthy and eating. Having that structure helped me maintain my sanity after losing my only sibling.”

Toward the end of 2020, the Utah Royals sold and transferred back to Kansas City, returning Lo’eau to the Midwest with her fellow teammates. At the time, Sporting KC was the established men’s soccer team, but professional women’s sports were still largely underground. After all, Lo’eau remembers being a part of FC Kansas City when the team won back-to-back NWSL championships (2014-2015), to little local fanfare.

The formation of KC Current took some time, but Lo’eau was at the forefront for its rapid evolution. “We didn’t have an identity yet, we were playing on a baseball field,” she remembers of the early days. “We were trying to progress the game but were brought back to the reality that it’s just not there yet.”

Five years on, the Current is one of Kansas City’s cornerstones — from its historical significance for women’s professional sports to the community ethos of its team. Lo’eau, who originated the infectious “KC BABY!” chant in a team huddle, has played a significant role in the accelerated development. It’s a role she takes seriously.

As she reflects on the team’s roots, she looks at her early years as a rookie in a fledgling new league. “Being here at the beginning compared to what it is now — there was no culture, no standards,” she says. “That’s what we fought for, so that the younger generation had the best facilities and equality.” She credits co-owners Chris and Angie Long for spearheading the Current’s training facility and stadium, along with head coach Vlatko Andonovski, for rebuilding the team on the field and charging her to set the tone off the field.

A natural-born connector, Lo’eau looked beyond the team’s early setbacks and cultivated unity, starting specifically in the locker room.

“When I get to a place, I’m like, what does the locker room look like? Are we all spread out? Is it tight-knit?” she says. “That is where the true conversations happen and you see the true sides, personalities and character of your teammates.”

With this particular team, she praised each player for setting the same standard of good-natured competition and authenticity. “It was the easiest job for me, because not only were these good quality players, but they were also genuine human beings,” Lo’eau says. “It’s everyone picking each other up and pushing them over the line, and there’s no organization if your players don’t believe in each other and put a product out there on the field.”

The city itself has followed in step with fervor for the 2025 playoff-seeded team, routinely packing out the 11,500-capacity CPKC Stadium since its 2024 opening. That spirit of community is something Lo’eau recognized early on in her time in Kansas City. She and Roger have since bought a home in the Westside.

“I love being in new spaces and meeting new people — I feed off the energy of others. You can find whatever you want in these different communities — that’s what I’ve enjoyed the most,” Lo’eau says of KC, often emphasizing her personality as a social butterfly. “Especially when they find out you’re with the Current, they immediately think it’s the coolest thing because of what we’re doing in the city.”

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The veteran midfielder has firsthand experience inside the evolving perspective on women’s sports within the city. “We’re in a pretty unique situation in KC. They embrace their sports teams,” she says, pointing to the Chiefs, the Royals and Sporting KC. “When [Roger and I] would go around town, it always used to be like, ‘Roger, can we get a photo?’, and now it’s actually ‘LaBonta! Lo’eau!’, and he’s right there with me, so I’ve seen the shift. I’ve seen the city now supporting us, and I’ve also been at the beginning, where our name was never discussed at all. So I think it’s the coolest, proudest moment for me.”

As the “cool big sister” of the KC Current, Lo’eau is a team leader in every sense of the word. She contributed to their record-breaking 2024 season, where they scored the most goals in a single season and established the longest team unbeaten streak at 17 games. In May 2025, she made history as the oldest player to debut on the U.S. Women’s National Team, and only the second player of Hawaiian heritage.

There’s no stopping Lo’eau off the field, either. With her dog Amigo, Lo’eau has teamed up with Purina to showcase Kansas City as a pet-friendly destination. She and Roger are involved with organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters and have started offering soccer training and clinics on the side. Most recently, they also had a hand in opening the first padel center in Kansas — La Casa del Padel.

“Padel is the fastest-growing sport in the world, so we wanted to bring it to KC. It’s a true athlete’s sport. It’s so fun, it’s so quick. The ball is always moving,” she says of the sport, somewhat of a mix between tennis and squash, a more physically demanding contrast to pickleball. “Padel is known around the world, so whoever’s coming here to play the World Cup, they won’t have just soccer games. They can go play padel like they would at home.”

As for the future of Lo’eau and her beloved Kansas City team? According to her, there’s no expiration date in sight. “I don’t ever want to stop playing, [the Current] will continue to grow and I’m just seeing it develop in front of me.” Her legacy, as she sees it — the infamous Celly Dance — is characteristic of the traits that make her the leader she’s become.

“If that’s my legacy, I’m more than happy with it because it is my true personality on the field; it’s exactly who I am,” she says. “At the end of the day, I don’t score that many goals, but I celebrate the little moments, the big moments. I always try to have a good time and celebrate my team.”

She continues to be in awe of the Current’s growth and its stature within the city, the sport and the culture that surrounds it.

“The stadium is always packed, it’s always loud, it’s teal and red everywhere. It’s such an advantage to play there and be that home team, and I think everyone’s looking at us now,” she says, believing that it sets a standard for other teams in the league as well as seeing how it will impact those coming after them.

“I can probably speak for every player on our team… that’s just the role we have in life — we want to inspire off the field and be in the community,” Lo’eau says. “Anybody on this team will immediately put up their hand to volunteer because that’s the human beings we have. They make you better on the field, but also off.”

Be Our Neighbor

Children waving glowsticks in front of Aztec Theater.

No matter your pace or place in life, there is a corner of KC waiting for you.

By Abby White

Don’t let the “city” in Kansas City fool you, the KC region is more than just skyline and sidewalks. It’s a collection of lifestyles: downtown living with cityscape views, tree-lined suburban streets, sprawling rural escapes and everything in between. Whether you’re chasing culture, community or quiet, KC has a spot that fits.

What makes Kansas City truly special? It’s flexible. Start your journey in a downtown loft surrounded by nightlife, trade it for a few acres and a chicken coop. Or, find your sweet spot in a “sorta-suburb” — where metropolitan energy intersects with a classic neighborhood feel. No matter where you call home, you’re never far from the flavors, festivals and community that define this one-of-a-kind region.

Urban: Where the City Comes Alive

RIVER MARKET (MO)
This historic district hugs the Missouri River and pulses with weekend energy. Home to one of the oldest farmers markets in the country (est. 1857), it’s a place to grab fresh produce, groove to live music and live in cool, converted lofts steps from the streetcar.

CROSSROADS ARTS DISTRICT (MO)
The creative heartbeat of KC. Think exposed-brick lofts, world-class galleries, First Fridays art walks and a culinary scene that punches way above its weight, all in a neighborhood that feels like one big canvas.

POWER & LIGHT (MO)
KC’s nightlife central. More than 50 bars, restaurants and shops are packed into nine buzzing blocks, with everything from concerts to happy hour rooftop views.

PENDLETON HEIGHTS (MO)
Tucked along KC’s first boulevard, this historic neighborhood boasts the largest collection of true Victorian homes in the region.

Not Quite Suburbs: City Edges with Neighborhood Vibes

DOWNTOWN KCK (KS)
Home to communities like Strawberry Hill and historic Rosedale, KCK is a revitalizing area with a strong cultural identity, historic buildings and proximity to the West Bottoms and Riverfront.

NORTH KANSAS CITY (MO)
Technically its own city, NKC is a hidden gem. Great breweries, walkable pockets, luscious parks and a growing arts and food scene — all just minutes from downtown KC.

BROOKSIDE (MO)
Tree-lined streets, historic charm, cafes and boutique shopping help make Brookside feel like a little village within the city — community-oriented, but still urban-adjacent.

VOLKER / 39TH STREET (KS/MO)
A cozy, character-rich strip with vintage homes, quirky apartments and an international food scene that delivers. This “sorta-suburb” is close to KU Med and always full of life.

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Suburban: Space, Schools and Easy Living

OVERLAND PARK (KS)
Frequently earns top accolades for its exceptional quality of life, offering beautiful housing, great schools and renowned amenities like the Museum at Prairiefire.

LEE’S SUMMIT (MO)
Where small-town charm meets urban convenience. Award-winning parks and trails, a vibrant downtown and a food scene that keeps locals loyal.

PARKVILLE (MO)
Quaint and historic, Parkville sits along the Missouri River and offers art galleries, antique shops, scenic views and a prestigious golf course — plus the charm of Park University’s college-town vibe.

SHAWNEE (KS)
Travel back in time at the Shawnee Town 1929 living history attraction or have a pint in one of its many thriving breweries.

Rural: Slow Down, Spread Out and Savor More

LOUISBURG (KS)
Home to one of America’s most beloved cider mills, Louisburg offers a cozy small-town quality, scenic drives and a calm, country pace just beyond the city’s edge.

WESTON (MO)
This rural town invites you to step back in time with its unique shops and thoughtfully crafted meals and treats, including local beer, wine, whiskey and roasted coffee.

ATCHISON (KS)
A riverside town with rich history and small-town heart. Best known as the hometown of Amelia Earhart, it’s also home to a new, immersive aviation museum that takes her legacy sky-high.

BELTON (MO)
Home to scenic parks, a close-knit community and the two-day Belton Fall Festival, featuring local vendors, food and live entertainment.

Cultural Passport

A woman in a colorful dress dances at the Ethnic Enrichment Festival.

Your guide to KC’s most vibrant celebrations.

By Michelle Bacon | Photo by Ali Nassir

KC’s presence on the global stage may be a recent development, but its ethos as a cultural hub has long been ingrained in its food, art and celebrations. From eagerly anticipated festivities to newly established customs, these events highlight the vibrant communities that live and thrive in the metro area.

AANHPI HERITAGE FESTIVAL | May
In 2021, the same year Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month was officially recognized by the city, local activists organized the modest inaugural event. Now, Vietnamese coffee shop Café Cà Phê and its nonprofit arm Hella Good Deeds draw large crowds to a wide berth of Eastern cultures — encompassing 50+ local businesses, food trucks, visual and performing artists, fashion shows, live tattoo demonstrations and the endlessly captivating Chinese lion dance.

FIESTA FILIPINA | June
Observing its 50th anniversary in 2025, Fiesta Filipina marks the Philippines’ independence from Spain. Held by the Filipino Association of Greater KC, the event preserves cultural traditions with food staples including pancit and lumpia, folk dance troupes, martial arts demonstrations and storytelling.

JUNETEENTHKC HERITAGE FESTIVAL | June
While Juneteenth wasn’t recognized as a federal holiday until 2021, KC was one of the first Midwestern cities to commemorate the occasion. Introduced in 1980, JuneteenthKC now takes place at 18th & Vine — against the backdrop of a celebrated jazz history and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Honoring the city’s African American foundations, the fest boasts 150+ vendors, gospel entertainers, a literacy zone and a health/cooling center with onsite medical and dental services.

ETHNIC ENRICHMENT FESTIVAL | August
Most of us are introduced to unfamiliar cultures through food — a big reason why the Ethnic Enrichment Festival has been a premier summer meetup for nearly 50 years. Grab a passport and stamp your way across 70+ represented countries, filling up on Jamaican beef patties, Greek moussaka and Egyptian sambusas.

KC FIESTA HISPANA | September
With roots dating back to 1981, Fiesta Hispana remains one of the Midwest’s largest Hispanic/Latino gatherings. In addition to 60+ vendors, a bevy of local entertainers/makers and children’s activities, the fiesta fosters community development through youth outreach efforts, employment opportunities and health services.

Let’s Dance

Feel the beat and find community on Kansas City’s dance floors.

By Kelly Bunch | Photo by Denis Nicholson

Kansas City’s music roots run deep with live music venues in every corner of the metro. But it’s not just about hearing great tunes — sometimes you want to bust a move. The KC region is known for its welcoming vibe, and the dance scene is no different. If you’re looking for a place to let loose, come as you are to shake it out — no experience required.

TWO STEP
Swap your ballcap for boots and bolos, and head to the West Bottoms for Honky Tonk Tuesdays. The Ship, one of KC’s most beloved live music venues, clears the dance floor every Tuesday night for two-step lessons and dancing with a live band.

SWING
Kansas City Swingout teaches the Lindy Hop, a social swing dance originated during the Harlem Renaissance that celebrates rhythm, connection and improvisation to jazz music. With weekly social dances on Wednesdays, classes every Saturday and quarterly live music events, the organization’s mission is to keep the legacy of swing jazz alive in Kansas City.

“Partnered dancing is such an amazing way to connect and create with another human being,” says Ariel Lacey, KC Swingout’s community engagement director. “And KC Swingout is such an incredibly welcoming community to start in.”

HI-FI
You can feel the music with the powerful sound system at In the Lowest Ferns in the West Bottoms. Enjoy craft cocktails and a moody garden atmosphere while you move to electronic beats from a rotating tap of DJs.

RETRO
When retro vibes are calling your name, Funky Town delivers each Friday and Saturday night with music from the 70s, 80s and 90s under neon lights. Decade-driven outfits are welcome and encouraged, so comb through your closet for your best vintage threads before a night of singing your favorite classic songs at the top of your lungs.

SALSA
Johnnie’s Jazz Bar & Grille in the Kansas City Power & Light District will transport you on a Latin getaway without ever leaving KC. Feel the heat each weekend with Salsa Saturday, a night of pure energy celebrating this vibrant dance. Lesson included!

Local Lingo

Large wall mural in Kansas City, Kansas.

How to sound like a Kansas Citian.

KCK
Kansas City, Kansas.

KCMO
Kansas City, Missouri.

BOULEVARD
You may think this is a street, but locals know this as Boulevard Brewing Company, the largest specialty brewer in the Midwest.

P&L OR PNL
The Power & Light District, a downtown hub complete with more than 50 restaurants, bars, apparel stores and nightlife attractions.

THE K
Kauffman Stadium, home to the Kansas City Royals baseball team.

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KCI
Another acronym for MCI, Kansas City’s primary airport.

Two girls drawing on the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

THE NELSON
The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, where you can find KC’s signature giant shuttlecocks.

THE RIVER
The Missouri River. Not to be confused with the Kansas River, aka the Kaw, though both rivers meet up near downtown KC.

NORTHLAND
Anything north of the river.

Tulips in front of a tower on the Country Club Plaza.

THE PLAZA
The Country Club Plaza, an outdoor shopping oasis architecturally based on Seville, Spain. (Pro tip: Locals pronounce it PLAHzuh, not PLAW-zah.)

435 LOOP
Interstate 435 forms a loop that encircles much of the Kansas City metropolitan area.

JOCO
Johnson County, a Kansas county in the southern region of KC that encompasses Overland Park, Prairie Village, Olathe, Shawnee, Lenexa and more.

WYCO OR “THE DOTTE”
Wyandotte County, a Kansas county in the western region of KC that encompasses KCK, Bonner Springs, Edwardsville and Lake Quivira.

MAHOMIE
According to Patrick Mahomes himself, a Mahomie is “someone who loves to help others and loves to be a part of the community and make the world a better place.”

KANSAS CITY NICE
Kansas Citians take pride in the hospitality we show — there must be something in the water here.

New & Notable

Raccoon figurines on display at The Rabbit hOle.

Explore the latest innovations, expansions and coming attractions.

By Randy Mason and Abby White

From its earliest days, Kansas City has been a crossroads — a place where journeys began, routes intersected and travelers chose to say.

Today, the metro’s future is shaped by the same forces that built its legacy: connection, innovation and bold ideas that drive us forward.

A man playing with an interactive installation at Atlas 9.

ATLAS9
Part immersive art, part cinematic adventure, Atlas9 is a choose-your-own-path experience unlike anything in the region. Think museum, movie and performance — all in one. Designed by local firm Dimensional Innovations and evocative of esoteric projects like Meow Wolf, Atlas9 is now open in Kansas City, Kansas.

THE RABBIT HOLE
Step inside your favorite storybook — literally. Recognized as one of TIME Magazine’s World’s Greatest Places 2024, The Rabbit hOle in North Kansas City is a radically immersive museum where beloved characters and scenes from over a century of children’s literature come to life.

SW19
SW19 at the Stadium is Kansas City’s new pickleball hot spot. This former hotel and water park offers a vibrant indoor venue with high-tech courts, local eats and is the proud home of the pro pickleball team: the Kansas City Stingers. The building has plans to convert the unused hotel space into 275 mixed-income apartments and enough hotel rooms to accommodate pickleball tournament guests.

KC STREETCAR MAIN STREET EXTENSION
The KC Streetcar added 3.5 miles to its route, extending the existing downtown loop all the way to UMKC. That means 16 new stops and a smooth ride through Midtown, Westport, the Plaza, the Art Museum District and more. This always-free ride is the easiest (and coolest) way to explore the heart of the city.

BERKLEY RIVERFRONT
The confluence of two major rivers kick-started Kansas City. Today, the Berkley Riverfront developments remind us of the metro’s beginnings. New apartments, shops and restaurants are all bringing folks back to the banks of the Missouri.

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PENNWAY POINT
Yet another link to the city’s industrial past, Pennway Point is a growing place that reconfigures warehouse space as an “urban playground.” Featuring miniature golf and a giant Ferris wheel that provides a bird’s eye view of the downtown skyline, the entertainment district will soon add restaurants, live music stages and a neon sign alley.

ROY BLUNT LUMINARY PARK
Want to enjoy the great outdoors? Soon you will be able to — right in downtown KC. Plans are underway to “cap” the south downtown freeway loop, creating a public green space suitable for all kinds of gatherings and events.

AMELIA EARHART HANGAR MUSEUM
Air travel is a big part of KC’s legacy, and no aviator fuels our imagination like Amelia Earhart. Her hometown of Atchison, Kansas, highlights her many achievements (and the mystery of her disappearance) in this interactive museum.

BLACK MOVIE HALL OF FAME
The historic 18th & Vine neighborhood boasts a reborn addition. The Boone Theater harkens back to the area’s heyday as an entertainment mecca. It’s also home base for the Black Movie Hall of Fame, which inducted its first class in 2022.

NEGRO LEAGUES BASEBALL MUSEUM
Before Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier, the Negro Leagues gave Black ballplayers a place to showcase their skills. The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in the 18th & Vine district is building a new space to tell even more stories about these amazing athletes and their achievements.

A family viewing a shark at the aquarium.

SOBELA OCEAN AQUARIUM
OK, one thing KC has never had is an ocean. But the newest addition to the Kansas City Zoo is the next best thing, featuring a diverse, exciting mix of otters, turtles, sharks and other sea-faring creatures in a beautiful 650,000-gallon exhibit.

HISTORIC WEST BOTTOMS REDEVELOPMENT
KC history is truly alive in the historic West Bottoms neighborhood, where the Kansas and Missouri rivers meet. An ambitious new undertaking reimagines the former hub for trading, stockyards and industry into a live-work-play-stay community with new residential units, innovative restaurants and local goods everywhere the eye can see.

Changing the Game

Monica Brady and Rachel Glenn, standing in front of a mural inside The Dub.

The Dub is “not-your-dad’s-sports-bar.”

Photo by Paul Andrews

Kansas City knows sports, but founders of The Dub, Monica Brady and Rachel Glenn, are proving there’s still room to raise the bar. As the minds behind KC’s first-ever women’s sports-focused bar, they’re creating an inclusive environment for fans to gather, watch and celebrate.

KC Options sat down with Monica and Rachel to get the scoop on what it’s all about.

WHAT INITIALLY INSPIRED YOU TO BRING A WOMEN’S SPORTS BAR TO KANSAS CITY?
Monica: We have spent years going to “traditional” sports bars trying to watch a women’s game. The response usually ranged from annoyance to a flat-out “no, we can’t put that on,” so we wanted to create a space where women’s games would always be celebrated. We wanted to create a space we’d want to go to!

WHAT MAKES KC A GOOD BACKDROP FOR A CONCEPT LIKE THIS?
Rachel: Kansas City is rich with community, especially around our local sports teams. Not just our men’s and professional teams — but sports in general, including women’s. Being in a city that was already championing women’s sports, we knew we were in the right place at the right time to bring the vision to life.

WHY IS INCLUSIVITY SUCH A CENTRAL VALUE FOR THE DUB, AND HOW WILL YOU BRING THAT TO LIFE?
Monica: Sports bars tend to have a stereotypical environment that not everyone feels comfortable in, and we believe that sports should be accessible to everyone. More than that, it’s rooted in our own beliefs that all people deserve to feel seen, welcomed and respected, no matter their life situation. We lead our lives with a sense of intention and purpose to build community and inclusion, so it only makes sense that The Dub be centered on those values as well.

A bartender stirring a drink at The Dub.

MONICA, AS A CERTIFIED SOMMELIER, HOW DOES YOUR BACKGROUND SHAPE THE DRINK EXPERIENCE AT THE DUB?
Monica: My first love is soccer, and my second love is wine, so the environment of The Dub is my haven for combining the two. Much like my belief about sports, I believe that wine should be inclusive to all people. The wine list is approachable and experimental, featuring both classic drinks and fun, on-theme house cocktails. There are also great mocktail options because enjoying sports at The Dub doesn’t require drinking alcohol.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR COLLABORATION AND GUIDANCE FROM OTHER WOMEN’S SPORTS BAR OWNERS. WHAT HAVE YOU GAINED FROM THAT NETWORK?
Rachel: There’s always a feeling of sisterhood when you talk to women, especially in business, and knowing there are women out there who have done exactly what we are doing gives a sense of community unlike anything we’ve ever experienced before. It’s extremely exciting to see the U.S., Canada and other parts of the world fall in love with women’s sports, and the women we’ve met opening these businesses share that excitement and pride.

WHAT WOULD IT MEAN TO YOU, PERSONALLY AND FOR YOUR COMMUNITY, TO SEE THE DUB BECOME A GATHERING PLACE WHERE FANS OF WOMEN’S SPORTS CAN FEEL CELEBRATED AND CONNECTED?
Monica: I truly believe that bringing The Dub to life in KC is what I’m meant to do with this era of my life, so I will feel very proud that I was able to give something back to the community and grateful that it is received well.

Rachel: I believe The Dub has already become a place where women in sports and fans of women’s sports feel celebrated. We’ve had nothing but an outpouring of support from this city so far — and when we can look around and see people building community through our space, I will feel a sense of fulfillment, but also a drive to create more spaces like The Dub throughout the city.

A Little Slice of Heaven

Jhy Coulter sitting on a couch inside with a gallery wall behind her.

International travel inspired Jhy Coulter to create some of KC’s favorite pizza.

By Weston Owen | Photos by Paul Andrews

Pizza is communal — a familiar, approachable dish that brings family, friends and loved ones together. Yet, for native Kansas Citian Jhy Coulter, its purpose has served a much greater role, one that helped her launch a thriving business and altered her life trajectory.

Originally from Olathe, Kansas, Jhy began studying graphic design at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) in 2014. Like many college students making their way through school, she began working in the service industry, specifically at a local pizzeria, making deli sandwiches. During one shift, due to short staffing, Jhy was shown how to make pizza. She quickly found that she loved the process — from the methodical preparation to the creativity involved. Everything about pizza-making was fun to her, especially seeing how happy it made people.

While Jhy was in school and after she graduated in 2017, her partner was teaching English in Spain. When in need of a long-overdue vacation, Jhy visited for what was only meant to be a few weeks. Yet, she found herself drawn to Spanish culture, energized by the community and its shared love for food. So, not only did Jhy end up staying longer than expected, she also decided that she’d join in teaching English abroad.

After months had passed and her teaching program had concluded, Jhy came back to the States and began looking for roles that aligned more closely with her degree in graphic design. Yet that time spent overseas and her exposure to new cuisine had altered her worldview and aspirations. Recalling how much she’d enjoyed her time in the restaurant industry, Jhy chose to return to the kitchen. By 2019, she was learning and growing within Kansas City’s food scene.

It was then that she entered an Instagram giveaway sponsored by Chef Matty Matheson and Gozney, a manufacturer of commercial ovens. The prize? A Roccbox — the company’s flagship portable pizza oven. While she knew the odds were long, she gave it a shot. Ultimately, despite thousands of entries, it was Jhy who received a direct message that she’d been drawn as the winner.

Jhy Coulter standing behind the counter at Orange by Devoured.

Elated and with her newly acquired pizza oven, Jhy viewed this as an opportunity to begin forging her own path and perfecting her pizza-making craft, but that didn’t come without some growing pains along the way.

“At first, I was burning a lot of pizza for family and friends in my backyard,” joked Jhy. “Pushing my boundaries and gaining a deep understanding of the process really helped drive me to create something unique, yet approachable. That’s how the Devoured Pizza brand was born.”

During the height of the pandemic and shortly thereafter, Devoured Pizza skyrocketed. From selling pizza out of her home to partnerships and local pop-ups — more than 200 over a four-year span — Jhy’s pizza gained immense popularity within the community. So much, in fact, that she had to buy another oven to keep up with public demand.

Jhy Coulter throwing pizza dough in the air.

Understanding that opening a brick-and-mortar storefront was the next logical step in her journey, Jhy began raising funds to create a space of her own. After finding the perfect location in one of Kansas City’s favorite neighborhoods, Martini Corner, and spending nearly a year retrofitting and carving out her niche, Orange By: Devoured opened to the public in August of 2024.

Now, a thriving pizza business focused on communal dining experiences and unique topping combinations inspired by her time abroad, the continued support from her community has propelled Jhy’s career in ways she’d never before imagined. While the journey hasn’t been easy, each decision she made led to this moment in time, welcoming a community to gather and exist over a slice or two.

“While Spain’s approach to offering fresh ingredients, approachable plates and communal gathering areas served as my ultimate inspiration, it’s Kansas City and this community that’s given Orange By: Devoured life and personality,” said Jhy. “The namesake may have been born of the bright, vibrant colors of the Spanish countryside, but the warmth and positive energy of KC is why I couldn’t imagine doing this anywhere else.”