Growing More Than Trees

The Arboretum finishes its visitor center, SantaCaliGon is upon us, and Manor Records re-opens in the West Bottoms.

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KC Daily
August 24, 2023

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Opening

Growing More Than Trees

City Of Overland Park

The Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens’ new visitor center, The Long House, is nearing completion after nearly 2 years.

  • Construction: Scheduled to open in September, the 21,000-square-foot center will host exhibits, events, a cafe, a gift shop, and staff offices. The project cost around $22 million, with funding from The Arts and Recreation Foundation of Overland Park and personal donations from major donor Janet Long.

  • Inspired After Nature: Dating back to 2006, the project finally took shape in 2022 when construction began. The structure draws from Native American and Scandinavian communal buildings, featuring a curved roof reminiscent of a maple oak leaf, offering a tree canopy feel.

  • New Art: A new 30-foot, stainless steel sculpture named “Growing Kindness” will stand inside the Longhouse as a tribute to local artist Jeff Hanson, who passed away 3 years ago.

The Long House’s Grand Opening will take place this September 9th at 10 am. For more information, check out the Overland Park, Kansas website.

Events

SantaCaliGon-Cation

Santa Cali Gon Days Festival

The 51st Santa-Cali-Gon Days Festival, which commemorates the Santa Fe, California, and Oregon Trails and their expansion of the United States, is happening in Independence September 1-5.

  • The Fest: The Festival itself will also feature tons of carnival rides, free concerts for all three nights, food-eating contests, and dozens of craft vendors.

  • 1849: Come experience Main Street in 1849 where kids can learn what life was like during westward expansion, write a letter home from the prairie, or even pan for Gold.

  • Honoring Heroes: The Festival, taking place on Labor Day Weekend, will also make time for a special honoring of our veterans on Sunday at 2 pm.

For tickets, merch, or more information on SantaCaliGon Days, check out their website here.

Business

Mind Your Manors

Manor Records

After shutting down its previous location, Manor Records is relaunching on October 6 in Kansas City's West Bottoms.

  • West Bottoms Restart: The new spot, inside the 12th Street Post building, will focus on vinyl sales and aim to support local artists through their record label, Manor Record Fund, and brick-and-mortar location.

  • Strawberry Hill Struggles: Owner Shaun Crowley believes that he has the ability to right the ship this time after the former location in Strawberry Hill struggled thanks in part to poor communication between owners and the implementation of a bar that Crowley felt didn’t play to his strong suits.

  • Drumming Up Support: This time, Crowley is starting small, emphasizing the synergy between the store and the nonprofit. After the success of the Manor Record Fund’s Spring music festival, he feels confident the launch will be met with local support.

The new location will open on October 6th. The 12th Street Post in the West Bottoms is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11-6 and Sunday from 11-4.

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