Loews Kansas City: The Ultimate Hotel Stay For A Midwest, Local Experience.

Kansas City has transformed itself into a must-visit modern Midwest location for business conventions, sports, food, and many family attractions. Kansas City, the original Gateway to the West, is known for its warm, welcoming hospitality.

With a brand new airport and a lock as the World Cup 2026 host city, Kansas City has a lot to offer everyday travelers. The Loews Kansas City Hotel has placed itself in the center of all of the action, just mere minutes from the Power And Light District.

Location And Structure

The Loews Kansas City Hotel is directly connected to the Kansas City Convention Center. And the eight-hundred-room, well-appointed structure makes sure that if it is your first time traveling to Kansas City, you will see the downtown district. The hotel manages to achieve this by making sure that there are floor-to-ceiling windows within each room, building sides, and even in banquet and ballrooms. The hotel goes one step further, showcasing art that correlates with the views from the building. So if you are facing the Kauffman Center and are in a ballroom, the artwork will convey the types of musicians and dancers that you would find if you went to the Kauffman.

Hotel Theme

The hotel makes an extra effort to welcome first-time Kansas City guests. First, there are the entryways, walls, and ceilings all adorned with local artists’ work. There are sculptures and paintings and pictures throughout the building that creatively showcase the intention and style of Kansas City. Even the windows in their shapes and sizes have special hidden meanings. The beehive bar is a rebellious homage to the prohibition era with spirits and drinks featuring local booze and ingredients. Even the carpet offers a splash of tongue-in-cheek Kansas City style, depicting dripping honey on the floor.

The Drinks and Eats

The Horsefeather Social is a terrace bar with breathtaking views. Boasting outdoor lounge chairs with fireplaces that take your Springtime and Summer happy hour into the night.

For am and in-room snacks with casual fare, check out the grab-and-go market, Red Wheat Baking Co. There you can pick up artisanal coffee drinks, freshly baked goods, sandwiches, and all with local flavor, supporting small local businesses.

Upscale breakfast and dinner can be indulged in The Stilwell, a nod to The Stilwell Oyster Car, the iconic Pullman car that delivered oysters to Kansas City’s City Market in the late 1800s.

The Lobby Bar and lounge are perfect for local bar bites and mixed cocktails celebrating Kansas City’s past and present.

Amenities

The indoor saltwater lap pool is the perfect addition to the modern workout floor and gym. And there is a jacuzzi with lounge chairs to welcome the weary traveler to chill out a bit, all with stunning city views.  There is a Spa, scheduled to be open soon that will have five treatment rooms.

Throughout the hotel, business travelers have plenty of meeting space and there are plugs and private seating areas to get your zoom on, with a business center to be opened soon.

A concierge will be there to assist you should you have any requests. And the business center is coming soon.

The Rooms

Comfortable beds, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and luxury style and appointments. The rooms also localize their guests with retro TWA plane images throughout. Even the in-room carpet design gives off local vibes using the same graphic pattern from the retro TWA in-flight brochures.

Conclusion

With a hotel connected to the convention center, Avis car rental at your fingertips, the pet-friendly luxury hotel is just steps away from the Kauffman Center, T-Mobile Stadium and all that downtown Kansas City has to offer. The Loews Kansas City Hotel has achieved the rare goal of being heartwarming and midwestern hospitable, while also offering structure, design, travel efficiency, and function. Loews Kansas City Hotel is a must-stay for anyone visiting Kansas City.

For exclusive offers check out their latest here

 

Give Back As A Family: Involve your kids in the non-profit community.

As a Mom and a supporter of the non-profits community, it’s important for me to show my kids the importance of giving back and how our actions, both large and small, can impact our communities. After working for a Kansas City based non-profit HALO for many years, it became clear that many people contributing a little can go a long way. It’s also a good way to get your kids to think bigger.

 

We also have mixed our non-profit careers with our family life. My husband is the Founder and Executive Director of Boys Grow. Boys Grow is a youth farming program in Kansas City, Missouri. Teenage boys in Kansas City get hired to work on the farm. In addition to earning a paycheck, they learn important life skills, farming and culinary experience, public speaking and business knowledge. It also serves as a mentorship program and the boys develop a brotherhood and pride in working together to grow food. On the farm my kids get the opportunity to see first hand how the daily effort we make adds up and makes a huge impact.  We also get to see how much hard work goes into growing food, and how hard work can result in very sweet results.

 

Ways to help involve your kids involved in the non-profit community and giving back.

 

Act of Kindness

Choose one act of kindness to do with your child on a regular basis. This could be daily, weekly or monthly. Whatever you choose. It could be something really simple- like making a meal for someone, petting the cat, helping someone pick up, making a piece of art for someone, sending a little note in the mail. Whatever it is- it’s a good way to get your child thinking about others and expressing compassion and empathy.

 

Volunteer for a local non-profit together.

There are lots of volunteer opportunities kids can help with. HALO is a Kansas City based non-profit that has a specific opportunity for kids to get involved called ClubHALO. Lots of other non-profits offer youth & adult volunteer opportunities and will cater to your schedule and availability.

Donate gently used toys, clothes and supplies that kids no longer play with.

Involve your kids in picking out toys that they no longer need or want. Letting them know they can brighten someone else’s day by sharing them with someone in need.

 

Collect school supplies, art supplies or other needed supplies and donate to local charities.

Many charities will list out high need items and drop off locations and times, making it super simple to contribute.

 

Support local businesses- when choosing to buy something from a big box store, chain or online meca vs. a locally owned business

Teach your little ones to choose the locally owned business. Let them come in the shop with you and they may even get to meet the owner. Explain to them the difference between a chain and a locally owned shop and how making even small purchases can make a difference.

 

Get kids out of their comfort zone by trying out new activities, outings and events.

Bringing your kids to a local farm to pick fruit or see where their food comes from is a great way to expand their horizon if it’s an experience they’ve never had before.

About The Author

Lacy Gordon is a Mom and photographer at Photostreamkc. Motherhood helps her better navigate the challenges of photographing little ones in family photo shoots, and also fuels her passion for capturing special moments, especially candid moments that include Moms. You can find her here.

7 of the Best Creative Photographers in the Kansas City Area

For the last two weeks,  I had the privilege to sit down and speak with these creatives about their process, failures and journey as artists in a city like Kansas City. We spoke about what brought them behind the camera, how they grew their platform, what inspires them and everything in between. 

Stephanie Alba | IG handle: stephaniealbaphoto

Stephanie Alba has grown up in the local photography scene. Her father Octavio Miranda has been a Kansas City photographer for the last fifteen years. 

“I have pictures of myself when I was ten years old, holding a camera, so I have been in it for quite a long time,” said Alba. 

Although Alba has grown up seeing her fathers work, she has stayed true to her own style of photography throughout the last six years of being a freelancer

“A lot of people like his photography, but you also have the other side, where it’s great to see his tips and tricks — but we still have two different styles of photography,” said Alba. 

Alba recently graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City — and has brought her modern-portraiture photography — to a local KC Art Gallery and Photo Studio. 

“Just getting involved with 610 Creatives and local creatives…because when I was in college.. I kind of stepped back, but I wasn’t actively involved in the creative community…so I am excited to get back out there,” said Alba. 

Alba’s work isn’t just behind the camera, she aims to make her photography accessible to all first-generation graduates and the community. 

“I try to keep photography accessible to everyone; it can be expensive. I wanted to focus on first-gen students, and I understand the importance graduation is to our families,” said Alba. 

Jordan Brown | IG Handle: jaayybrown

Jordan Brown is notorious for using film cameras to tell his story through photographs. He aims to portray emotion, music and is deeply influenced by Black culture. 

“I try my best to show the world and what I experience through my eyes. The way my art and myself in general resonate with music, I try to bring my audience on a journey, the vibe and feeling I get specifically to each concept I shoot,” said Brown. 

Brown’s journey into media has been an all-around experience. He studied broadcasting and public relations at Hastings College in Nebraska. Brown constantly added his own perspective into this work. 

“I anchored, practiced journalism, reported on stories, created my own visual content, worked as the head of social media in multiple departments, and a lot more — even put on sports broadcasting alongside NAIA and ESPN,” said Brown. 

Nevertheless Brown can take a concept and add pungency to his work. He is deeply influenced by vintage looks, ancestoreal storytelling and 90’s streetwear. 

“A lot of storytelling has a vintage taste to it — it has a lot of art — movies, music, fashion, paintings,” 

Brown continuously excerpts Black culture into his inspirations and creative process. 

“Fashion is a big thing for me and a lot of fashion comes from New York — Brooklyn, Bronx, Harlem — thats all Black prevalent areas that we stay in, we build our culture, and to be honest a lot of America follows and takes inspiration from all different ethnicities…starts with Black culture,” said Brown. 

Brown has gone from broadcast journalist to a prodigious visual artist in the Kansas City area. Whether mixing song lyrics into his captions, telling a story or his portrayal of skin tones through his work — it is all a part of his creative recipe. 

“It’s like cooking. The concept, the model, scene, and location are all ingredients. Say you are saltating vegetables or meat, what are you going to put on there? Seasoning. The seasoning is me, the film and what am I going to do to add the little spasazz. Mines cajun seasoning — it goes good on everything — it’s not for everybody, but for people who have good taste, they like it a lot,” said Brown. 

Makayla Camille | IG Handle : thedigitalmc

Incorporating brown undertones, empathy and composition Makaylaa Camille captures the ethereal beauties of life. Camille grew up with her grandmother taking photos of her. 

“Cameras were always around me growing up; she used to always have those disposable cameras to take pictures of me…cameras were always in my area — in my vicinity,” said Camille. 

Camille uses different forms of visuals and arts to portray her ideas in her photographs. 

“My process as a creative just goes all over the place; I have a sketchbook…I am a big Pinterest person,” said Camille. 

In one of her shoots she was inspired by her favorite film — Mr. and Mrs. Smith — to recreate a toxic relationship with a twist. And she is inspired by songs and music videos. 

“I am at a point in my life where songs like — Chloe and Halle produced the Ungodly Hour — I want to make a whole visual for that…I don’t know how I’m gonna do it yet…but it’ll get done,” said Camille. 

Camille uses repetitive colors through her work to enhance her illusive images. 

“Brown Sugar Baby. When people notice my work they notice a lot of brown undertones, I like to incorporate it into my pieces; the reason why I put sugar is because my work gives out a dreamy sense; and just baby goes with me — that’s my code thing,” said Camille. 

Yessica Ramirez | Instagram handle: enchiladuhs

Ramirez grew up around cameras and video recorders. At a very young age, she remembers watching her mother film and taking photographs of their family. 

“My mom inspired me, because when we were younger she would always film and take photos,” said Ramirez.

Ramirez’s confidence has grown as a local photographer. From comparison with other artists, she strives to focus on her own style. 

“There is no reason to be so focused on everyone else in Kansas City — everyone has their own unique style,” said Ramirez. 

Scrolling through her Instagram feed there is a transition from lifestyle photos to semi-nudity portraits. The interpretation for the extravagant change roots from Ramirez’s self-love mantra. 

“My own insecurities — I despised the way I looked — the way I began loving myself was capturing other people [bodies],” said Ramirez. 

Ramirez’s neutral style of photography brings out a sense of self-love through her images. 

Ramirez tackled the field by shooting for Chiefs Cornerback Charvarius Ward back in the fall of 2019. 

“It felt unreal. I was overthinking everything, there are so many lines where you are blocked off. But everything turned out great. So many emotions…super exciting,” said Ramirez.

Javier Rivera | IG Handle: riveraeyephotography

Javier Rivera picked up the camera out of the blue. Five years later, his camera and talent have landed him bookings back to back to back. 

“I bought a camera for fun and it just went from there, I learned from my own mistakes, Youtube and other people that I like,” said Rivera. 

Rivera has been growing as a Latino creative in the city. He shares  the components and challenges many photographers face in K.C. 

“I would say growing. Making sure your work is out there, there are a lot of people out there, other than that…we all have different styles to offer,” said Rivera. 

Rivera has been noticed as a professional wedding and portraits photographer. From shooting three to four weddings a week to smaller portrait projects. Rivera’s eye has captured the hearts of his clients and the Latino community. 

“Weddings and anniversaries are my proudest projects. When I take a picture, I think about if my pictures look like a photo you could take from your phone, then I did a terrible job; I want to take advantage of using my camera,” said Rivera. 

Rivera found his own style and signature through trial and error — he encourages Latino creatives to take the chance — one click at a time.

“Make sure you enjoy photography. Because if you have a bad day, you gotta enjoy your work either way. Pick up the camera and practice, you learn from your mistakes, and reach out to other people,” said Rivera. 

Meagan Taylor | IG handle: meagantaylorr

Fashion is another Kansas City staple. Meagan Taylor brings nature and clothing into a contemporary mix. 

Taylor was influenced into pursuing photography because of her love for art and her older sister.

“I have always loved art. So, my sister would have her camera and we would go out and do photoshoots together,” said Taylor. 

Taylor’s feed is filled with beautiful female models and her interpretation roots from women empowerment. Taylor wants to create a community and safe space for female models, to avoid awkward encounters with male photographers. 

“I want to put myself into this world and be for women, make them feel comfortable and safe around me,” said Taylor. 

The Kindred Shops is a collective boutique in the Kansas City area that Taylor has been shooting for since October of 2018. Taylor has worked closely with — social media manager Ashley Jewell —  on styling shoots and getting a community of women together through clothing. 

“The owner of Kindred reached out to me,  and said to make this [shooting] a regular thing and I was like yeah, a job in this world,” said Taylor. 

Abdul-Amir B. Williams | IG handle: amirabdul_

From using an iPhone 6s to a Canon Canonet G3-QL Amir has grown his devotion with photography. 

He recalls seeing his mother’s images from London, and since then has been inspired to capture timeless images. 

“Life in general. My mom always exposed us to different stuff, seeing she wasn’t from the States, just looking at pictures around the house. It just started from there and I added my own creativity to it,” said Amir. 

Amir’s work shows details and perspective through his choice of color, editing and angles. His main objective is to capture life behind the camera in a calculated and timeless manner. 

“We don’t see the same things. The way I shoot…I don’t want it to be looking the same as any other persons, I want it to be distinguished in a certain manner,” said Amir. 

Amir encourages new photographers to follow their calling and stay true to their art. 

“Be themselves. They can’t be me and I can’t be them. The only way you will get to a certain level is just by doing you — one hundred percent,” said Amir. 

These individuals are brilliant, master minds who portray people, buildings, things and visuals one project at a time. For more of their work check out their Instagram handles and websites. 

 

Six Boutiques To Shop At This Summer In The Kansas City Area

How to source sustainable clothing to support local boutiques.

In this post, I am compiling my favorite local boutiques in the Kansas City area, to encourage anyone and everyone to shop local. I have been shopping locally for about two years now. And these are a few boutiques that I find myself going back to every-time.

 

Array — The Mall of Boutiques

The first time I physically walked into Array, I felt like I could find everything in one place. Because it is like a mini mall of wonders. And they offer a variety of clothing — from dresses to skirts, graphic shirts to sets, athletic wear to denim and a baby clothing line — it’s all there. In addition, Array does a great job including all types of women of different shapes and sizes to model their clothing — via their Instagram page. And that’s something that I will always root for. So you can find a variety of styles for women of all ages. And it is a great boutique to find unique pieces and treat yourself too. 

 

Etiquette — LA to NY fashion 

For the west coast and east coast wardrobe, Etiquette is where you can find just that. They offer the trendiest outfits as seen on Hailey Beiber or Kendall Jenner. And you can find body con dresses, tanks, two piece sets, and a variety of accessories. The two items that I really love to source from them are their bralettes and their dainty jewelry. I had recently purchased a sky blue lace bralette from them and I am in love with it. And they also offer casual clothing like hoodies, graphic tees and basic tees. 

 

Ensemble — Inspired for the everyday woman 

If you are wanting to find a boutique where it caters to the everyday woman, then Ensemble is your go to boutique. It has a little bit of everything for everyone. Because Ensemble strives to make every woman who enters their shop in store or online  feel beautiful.  While also leaving with their favorite curated pieces. Ensemble carries a variety of clothing pieces, home goods, shoes, accessories and jewelry. Also if you are a local to the Kansas City area, you can utilize their open event space catered for baby showers, bridal showers, graduations, or any special event you’d love to celebrate. Kassie Murphy is the owner of this beautiful boutique and what I find the most inspiring about her, was the way that she made it all happen. She had a dream and she made it come true by opening the doors to her ideal boutique in May of 2018. And she has given me the opportunity to create a fashion blog for their subscribers and anyone who likes to stay up to date with their merchandise. I upload every other Sunday sharing how to wear clothing, what is trending, gift guides and I feature local vendors like The Babe Standard.

 

Frankie and Jules — For the Free Spirited Woman 

Frankie and Jules is every boho-loving woman’s dream of a boutique. Their staples are bold pieces like dresses, tops and skirts with a mix of shoes, accessories and local branded clothing. And I absolutely adore seeing their Instagram stories, how engaging they are with their guests and they provide the best customer service in store. You can find a mix of brands like She + Sky, Flying Monkey Denim and Ermish Jewelry. I recently purchased an A-line denim dress perfect for any upcoming summer event and a tie-dye Kansas graphic tee. Frankie and Jules is an in-store and online boutique. So you can shop from the comfort of your own home or you can pop into the store if you live in Kansas City. 

 

The Kindred Shops– The Collective Boutique 

These three collective boutiques strive to elevate your boutique experience in-store and online. The Kindred Shops offers a variety of clothing pieces — dresses, skirts, shorts, denim, KC Merch and jewelry — alongside home items, vintage apparel and apothecary. And Kindred makes it easy to find pieces you can wear for an everyday look or for statement finds. So I personally love shopping for blouses, graphic tees and denim. And most of my pieces featured on my instagram are from Kindred. I find myself going back to Kindred often because they carry quality clothes that are both sustainable and very affordable. And Kindred is the ideal boutique for any college student looking for an affordable boutique with a variety of pieces. Or for any woman who is on the lookout for a new wardrobe — Kindred should be your first stop. 

 

Luxxe Apparel — The Trendsetters 

If you want a place where you’ll see all of the latest trendy clothing, Luxxe is definitely the place to shop. Because their goal is to make all women feel confident in their apparel. And without breaking the bank. Luxxe boutique is owned by Kassidy Harrenstein and her sister Lucy Harrenstein. And they are two of the most hard working women who treat their customers like royalty. Luxxe Apparel specializes in providing the most popular pieces like wide legged pants, two piece sets, fashionable accessories and Quay Sunglasses.  “We strive for customer service by giving our customers a very personal shopping experience. Which allows us to develop ongoing relationships with all of our customers,” said Kassidy Harrenstein. Luxxe always features local bloggers or models to showcase their new arrivals. And Luxxe has new arrivals every Thursday.  Also they recently launched their app for easy shopping.

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About the Author

Melanie Oliva is a student journalist at the University of Missouri. She is majoring in Journalism with an emphasis in Magazine Writing and Investigating Journalism and a minor in Women and Gender Studies. Melanie loves shopping local, oat milk lattes, and listening to music. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

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