Home of the One and Only Kansas City #BBQBible!
Home of the One and Only Kansas City #BBQBible!
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FCS: Best of 2023
For me, this edition of Fountain City Superlatives is always special as I get a chance to recap the year that I had. However, after a year of focusing on almost-exclusively barbeque, I worried that I may not have much more to give. Thankfully, that was not the case. This breaks down the best new things I tried in Kansas City in 2023. Some of the categories you know and love are missing. Some others are brand new. But here lies a, mostly, non-barbeque recap of my year.
The City Board
Earlier this year, Hasbro Gaming and Top Trumps USA announced the release of a Kansas City Edition of Monopoly for the first time in over 25 years. As someone who loves this game and loves this city, I was so excited. But quickly excitement became disappointment as I learned about the nature of property placement in these city edition games. Yet still, I held out hope that this game would be a good thing for KC. With the release of Monopoly: Kansas City Edition yesterday afternoon, this is my first look at the board.
Devan’s Dozen: Heartland Edition
Similar to the worldwide sensation, the Cow Parade, that came to our city 20 years ago, the Parade of Hearts is a public art installation of 154 fiberglass “KC hearts” by 123 local artists spread throughout the Metro until the end of May. If you don’t have time to see all 154, no worries! These are the 12 you must be sure to visit!
Mr. Monopoly Goes To Kansas City
Last Monday, it was announced that Hasbro would be releasing an official Kansas City edition of the popular Monopoly boardgame later this fall. With the company taking suggestions from Kansas Citians, I decided to design my own gameboard. And let me tell you, with so many great neighborhoods and landmarks (and so few spaces!), it was much tougher than I could have imagined.
Crying For Ol’ Buck
I will never forget where I was on December 5, 2021 when the seemingly impossible happened - legendary Kansas City Monarchs first baseman and manager Buck O’Neil was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. And even though, he always told his fans not to cry for him - how could I not?
blaKC (4/5)
Many would say that Kansas City’s professional sports run of the last decade is “unprecedented”. What Sporting KC, the Royals, and the Chiefs have accomplished has made this the golden era of Kansas City sports. But, it is not without precedent. This city was home to one of professional sports’ earliest dynasties. While the Chiefs, Royals, and even Athletics, called Municipal Stadium home, it was the house that the Monarchs built. The Kansas City Monarchs were this city’s first champions. Our first dynasty, they are the team that created our tradition of passionate sports fanaticism. These are their stories.
blaKC (3/5)
In Pendergast’s Kansas City, America’s truest original art form flourished. Hundreds of nightclubs sprang up across this midwestern den of wanton decadence which created ample opportunity for aspiring musicians. In the neighborhoods of 18th & Vine, new sounds were discovered. New Orleans may have given birth to jazz, and New York may be where it eventually settled down, but it was in Kansas City that jazz came of age.
blaKC (1/5)
Kansas City history IS black history. You cannot separate the two. Today, Kansas City is widely known and celebrated for the contributions of our vibrant black community. Our city’s passion for sports? Cradle of Jazz? The Gateway to the Southwest? World Capital of BBQ? All of these were shaped by members of our black community. These are their stories.
Devan’s Dozen: The Paseo Edition
Less than a week from now, on Tuesday, November 5, Question 5 will appear on ballots in Kansas City, Missouri giving voters the long-awaited chance to preserve the legacy of our city’s most historically significant boulevard for future generations. This edition of Devan’s Dozen breaks down my 12 reasons to vote YES on Question 5 and #SaveThePaseo.