If you’re a teen, you probably hang out on the Plaza. If you’re a twenty-something, you probably hang out in Power & Light or Westport. You might come to Crossroads for First Fridays (and if you don’t, you really should), but if you’ve never been here any other day of the month, you’re missing out. The raucous party vibe of Power & Light and Westport can be fun, and the homogenized corporate-ness of the Plaza is apparently something that some people like, but here’s why the Crossroads Arts District is the place to be.

1. Our cafes, bars, restaurants, and confectionaries.

From local cafes like YJ’s and Mildred’s, to local bars like Up-Down and Snow & Company, to local restaurants like Nara and Town Topic, to local confectionaries like Christopher Elbow and Bizz & Weezy. Our nosheries are not only some of the best in town, but a number of them show up on best-in-the-country lists.

2. Our street art.

Art is everywhere in the Crossroads, including the walls, telephone poles, and sidewalks.

3. Our gallery art.

As the center of the Kansas City art scene, we have a number of fantastic galleries, and even some glass-walled workshops where you can see artists actually making their art. A lot of these galleries are open to the public, and even the ones that aren’t have great window displays to look at.

4. Our greenery.

Not only do we have a number of cool local plant stores, we also have a great community garden and the sweeping (and open to the public!) grounds of the Kauffman Center.

5. Our shops.

When it comes to local shops and goods, Crossroads has you covered. Clothes, jewelry, home goods, furniture-- you want it, we got it. Sure, you could head to Plaza for the same giant chain store you and millions of people have been to a hundred times before, or you could come here and get something unique.

6. Our music.

Our art isn’t just limited to the visual stuff. We’ve got a great indie rock scene, and the Kauffman Center is Kansas City’s performing arts mecca.

7. Our prime location.

Even the best neighborhood isn’t enough to hold your attention forever. Good thing Crossroads is at the center of all that is cool-- the free streetcar can take you south to Union Station or north to Power & Light, downtown, and River Market, or you can walk to a variety of places like the Westside and West Bottoms.