All About Kansas City: January 20, 2010
All About KC is an exclusive feature on KCParent.com. You ask and we answer your questions about Kansas City! From Family Fun in KC, to Date Night ideas, to the Best Places to take out-of-town guests, to inside tips on local attractions and restaurants, we have the answers! Submit a question for All About KC here.
Questions Answered:
- Q: Where can we take the kids out for a Parent/Child Date Night?
- Q. Where is Kansas City's Frozen Fountain?
- Q. Who is Swope Park named for?
My husband and I like to take our kids out for one-on-one "Date Nights." We're looking for new ideas this winter beyond movies. Where can we take an 8 and 10 year old out for fun in the evening? ~ Janet
A: What a terrific tradition! There are several great family outings you can enjoy at night, and several of them include great discounts! Be sure to call ahead for hours.
- Ice Skating: Take the kids to the Crown Center Ice Terrace (2500 Grand Blvd, KCMO. 816.274.8411) or The Ice at Park Place (119th and Nall in Leawood, KS. 816.663.2070). Both offer buy one get one free night on Tuesdays!
- Paradise Park: (1021 NE Colbern Rd., Lee's Summit, MO. 816.246.5224). Go Karts, Miniature Golf, Rock Wall, Foam Factory (use air powered guns to fire foam balls at your kids!), Bumper Cars, and a Game Room make for a great night of fun!
- Paint Pottery: There are several terrific paint-your-own-pottery places around town. We like Paint, Glaze and Fire (12683 Metcalf, OPKS. 913.661.2529) with theirpottery shop and coffeehouse where they serve lattes and fruit smoothies... and they are open till 8pm Tues-Friday!
- Roller Skating: Landmark Skate (701 SE Oldham Pkwy, Lee's Summit, MO. 816.524.2000) offers Family Night on Wednesdays where a family of four can skate for $12 or $3.50/ea for additional skaters (skate rental included).
- Hunt for Art at the Nelson: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (4525 Oak, KCMO. 816.751.1278)... the Nelson is FREE and open till 9pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Challenge the kids to our exclusive scavenger hunt for more fun!
- Go Kart: Race the kids at Sadlers Indoor GoKart Racing (325 Mur-Len Rd., Olathe, KS. 913.788.7700)
- A Night of Comedy: Comedy City (817 Westport Rd., KCMO. 816.842.2744) is a family-friendly Improv Comedy house located in the Westport Flea Market Restaurant. The comedians make jokes based on ideas from the audience and the rules and procedures keep it good clean wholesome fun for the entire family!
- Go Out to Eat: Check our Kids Eat Free Guide for great deals!
I hear there is a frozen fountain in Kansas City over the winter, but I've never seen it. Where is it? ~ Erin
A: There are two fountains that run year-round and freeze in the winter, but those who live and work on the south side of town rarely see either of them. The Northland Fountain at North Oak Trafficway and Vivian Road is the centerpiece of Anita Gorman Park. The Concourse Fountain near the Kansas City Museum's Corinthian Hall also freezes in the winter. It is located near the JFK Memorial between Gladstone and Benton Blvds... if you check it out, be sure to check out the scenic view at nearby Cliff Drive as well!
When we visit the zoo, we always wonder... who is Swope Park named after? ~ Joy
A: Colonel Thomas H. Swope (1827–1909) was a real estate investor who moved to Kansas City in 1855 after graduating from Yale he moved to Kansas City and began investing in land in 1857, becoming one of the city's wealthiest men by age 30. In 1896, he donated the land for Swope Park (1,350 acres) to the city. However, it is his mysterious death that has become a Kansas City Legend. Swope was a lifelong bachelor and, although a multi-millionaire, he was famously frugal. Swope spent his final years living with his brother's widow and seven nieces and nephews. In his final days, he was under the care of his niece's husband, Dr. Bennett Hyde... the doctor was by his side when he died on October 3, 1909 after a brief and violent illness. The death was sudden and shocking, and public suspicion arose. Three months after Swope's death, the Doctor was charged with murder by strychnine in a "plot for money." After an autopsy and three trials over seven years, Hyde was freed with inadequate evidence to prove guilt. In 1918, Swope's body was buried at a memorial high on a hill at Swope Park. You can read the original Kansas City Journal article here or read the original New York Times Article about the trial here.