Union Station is Making a List & Checking it Twice

Events

Winter Wonderland Incoming

Happy Monday, Kansas City! Union Station is gearing up for its Christmas display that goes up next month and this year will be the biggest ever!

• Big Things To Come: Union Station’s walk-through holiday village “Holiday Reflections” is returning for the fourth year, and Union Station president and CEO George Guastello says this year will outdo any previous designs.

• Water Feature?: Beyond the walk-through village display that lit up the station last year, Holiday Reflections will add a liquid fireworks indoor water show called “Fountain Forest.”

• Exclusive Drinks: Also adding to the holiday cheer, Union Station will feature an after-hours pop-up bar called “Tinsel and ‘Tinis” that will only be operating for 3 days.

Holiday Reflections will open to the public starting November 20, while Tinsel and Tinis will only be available Dec 15-17. Tickets can be purchased on the Union Station website here.

Business

VMLY&R Goes From Big To Biggest

VMLY&R, the Kansas City-based creative firm owned by WPP, has now solidified itself as the world’s largest creative company after merging with a fellow WPP company.

• #1 Meets #2: VMLY&R is officially the world’s largest creative company after merging with New York-based Wunderman Thompson. The move brings VMLY&R to more than 30,000 employees across 64 markets.

• Maiden Name: With the move, the company will rebrand itself as simply VML, dropping the Y&R it added after an acquisition in 2018.

• KC Leadership Leads: VML’s John Cook will take over as the global CEO. The Kansas City location employs around 800 people locally.

The move comes as WPP looks to simplify its business structures. VMLY&R currently works with large companies like Wendy’s, Colgate-Palmolive, Ford, and The Coca-Cola Co.

Opening

West Bottoms Funded By You & Me

SomeraRoad, the New York-based developer recently secured a public financing framework that will aid in the redevelopment of the West Bottoms.

• Public Funding: The developer will receive $64 Million in public funding over the next 15 years as it pushes forward its 5-phase plan that will turn the West Bottoms into a more beautiful live-work-play area.

• Financing Woes: The vote by the Planned Industrial Expansion Authority was a contentious one after PIEA members pushed back on public financing. SomeraRoad had difficulty finding 3rd party financing due to the West Bottoms’ untested economic benefit for development.

• Phase 1: SomeraRoad’s first phase will redevelop 5 buildings in the West Bottoms, turning them into 411 apartments, a 40-room hotel, and several businesses and retail spaces as well.

The first phase of SomeraRoad’s plan is expected to begin next year and be completed by 2026. The next 4 phases will be completed slowly over the next 15 years.

KC Daily Picks

In Other News

• 🎤 What Are Friends For?: Gladys Chapman, singer of “That’s What Friends Are For” would be happy to explain at her tour stop at the Kauffman Center on Nov 19.

• ⚡ Switching Power: Due to the United Auto Worker strike, Kansas Citians are considering switching to electric vehicles.

• 🍸 Running Scared: The Muehlebach Hotel’s VOO Lounge & Piano Bar is turning into a Halloween-themed pop-up bar named “BOO".

• ✈️ New Month, Same Story: KCI broke another record in September after it serviced nearly 1 million passengers.

• 🎁Advertise for the Holidays: It’s almost that time of year! Share your product or service with thousands of Kansas Citians by checking out our advertising opportunities.

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