New Yorker here. 8 surprises

There is truly good live music on several street corners.

I encountered some outstanding musicians.

Craig Clark

In contrast to the chaos of street performers in Times Square, the live music in Kansas City was wonderful.

Everyone I encountered in the downtown area was playing an instrument. And the majority were instruments other than guitars, such as banjos, trumpets, and saxophones.

As soon as I landed in New York City, I longed to hear the deep sounds of the trumpet everywhere I went.

The free shuttle makes the $2.75 New York City subway far less appealing.

The streetcar facilitated our mobility.

Craig Clark

I went to retrieve a payment method as I boarded the shuttle, only to discover that it was free.

Along a two-mile stretch, the KC Streetcar provides free transportation to visitors and residents of the downtown region. Union Station, the final stop, is placed in close proximity to popular museums and tourism destinations.

Even though it was free, it was cleaner and better maintained than any New York City subway vehicle I’ve ever ridden. It was extraordinary.

Perhaps I don’t get out much, but calling a “bill” a “ticket” confused me.

I was unaware of the linguistic differences between New York City and Kansas City.

Craig Clark

After a great brunch at the Farmhouse — I strongly recommend the cinnamon bun — our server inquired as to whether or not we desired the ticket.

Before realizing that she meant the bill, my first thought was “a ticket for what?”

I suppose it’s dialectical, like the difference between “soda” and “pop.”

Normally, I find museums somewhat monotonous, but that changed in Kansas City.

Our group visited the Museum of Illusions.

Craig Clark

On my vacation to Kansas City, I spent the majority of my time in museums, which is not something I generally do.

The Museum of Illusions was my favorite attraction. Even though there are sites worldwide, including in New York City, I’ve never considered visiting. It had numerous opportunity to capture interesting photographs.

The American Museum of Jazz was about 10 minutes away from there. I learned so much about the history of jazz and listened to so much beautiful music that reminded me that I wasn’t in New York City.

Additionally, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum was close. Even though I didn’t have time to visit the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, its existence is astounding.

I erroneously believed that the metropolis in the Midwest could not match with the contemporary cuisine I am accustomed to in New York.

City Market was an excellent eatery in Kansas City.

Craig Clark

As a New Yorker, I am always in search of delicious meals.

I did not anticipate discovering a large trendy market in Kansas City, but I was mistaken. City Market boasts thousands of venues to get your hands on excellent food like fish, burritos, sandwiches, and burgers.

In addition, Saturday afternoons include a street market where local sellers sell handmade earrings, yard decorations, and tasty popcorn treats.

The ubiquitous street paintings give the picturesque city a more modern and urban appearance.

I enjoyed observing all of the bright street art.

Craig Clark

Don’t get me wrong, there’s some great street art in NYC. But in KC, there were dozens of wonderful murals painted by artists – sometimes on behalf of a company or a brand.

The painting for a local ice cream business in the downtown area was my favorite. It was so brilliant and vibrant.

The artworks were fun to look at and offered fantastic photo sites.

I found one of my new favorite snacks.

The dessert resembling s’mores was really amazing.

Craig Clark

Everywhere I turned, “moon pies” that appeared to be homemade replicas of the branded dessert were for sale.

I’m not from the South (where the treat is most popular) and I had no notion what they were, so I asked. Apparently, they’re akin to s’mores, with two graham-cracker cookies sandwiching a marshmallow and topped in chocolate.

I opted to sample one from Chip’s Chocolate Factory for the sake of novelty, and boy, was it tasty! I can see why they are so popular in Kansas City.

I didn’t encounter the “don’t talk to me” attitude that many New Yorkers have.

People were helpful in providing me with directions and suggestions.

Craig Clark

As a native New Yorker, I was apprehensive about visiting Kansas City since I did not know what the locals would be like.

Surprisingly, I encountered no impolite individuals on my trip. While I was in town, everyone I met was exceedingly friendly and eager to offer directions and advice.

Kansas City also proved to be more LGBTQ+ welcoming than I had anticipated, which was a pleasant surprise.