CROSSROADS ARTS DISTRICT

DESCRIPTION: The Crossroads Arts District is an artistic downtown neighborhood where once-vacant warehouses now house a variety of eclectic, locally-owned boutiques, unique restaurants and a thriving arts scene.

ADDRESS: The heart of the District is located at 19th Street and Baltimore Avenue, but the community stretches from 15th Street to 22nd Street, and from I-35 to Troost Avenue.     

LOCATION: The District is located south of the downtown area and just north of Union Station. 

PHONE: 816-994-7313

WEB SITE: www.kccrossroads.org

SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook-Crossroads Community Association, Twitter- @KCCrossroads, Instagram-@kccrossroads

HIGHLIGHTS:

• More than 30 art galleries are open daily, showcasing work from local and national artists including the Belger Arts Center, Leedy-Voulkos Art Center, Sherry Leedy Contemporary Art, Blue Gallery, Haw Contemporary, Kim Weinberger Fine Art, Archival Designs, KCAI Crossroads Gallery, Cerbera Gallery and more!  Don’t forget to visit the array of artist studios as well! (The Cashew is now Rockhille Grill* )
• From casual fare at Grinders to fine-dining at Affäre, the Crossroads has a wide variety of restaurants. Four award-winning chefs, Michael Smith, Michael Corvino, Martin Heuser and Lidia Bastianich, operate restaurants here. 
• The Crossroads is home to many unique boutique shops. Choices range from East + West KC, Finefolk, Charlie Hustle and Michael’s Fine Clothing for clothing, Hammerpress for your letterpress print needs, Raygun + Flying Pig Local Mercantile for Kansas City favorites and the Webster House for the largest selection of fine antiques in the Midwest,.

HOURS: 6-10 p.m.

ADMISSION: Free

HISTORY: Once a neglected commercial area, the Crossroads has been recently transformed into a vibrant and sophisticated artistic community. Eclectic boutiques, trendy restaurants and art galleries now fill the streets.

WHERE TO GET LUNCH: There are numerous dining choices in this district. Try Manny’s Restaurante Mexicano, known for its traditional Mexican fare. Webster House has the unique atmosphere of a restored schoolhouse and Lidia’s serves authentic Italian fare. For food with a side of fun, check out Tapcade, a bar, grill and arcade located at the Screenland Theater.

WHAT’S NEARBY: While the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts lies in the Crossroads, Crown Center is nearby, along with Union Station and the National World War I Museum and Memorial. Downtown is also close–including the Power & Light District, Sprint Center and much more. 

DID YOU KNOW: The sinful desserts at Christopher Elbow Artisanal Chocolates were named one of the “Best Chocolates in the U.S” by Food & Wine Magazine.

DON’T FORGET: Children are welcome for First Friday events. However, galleries and streets tend to become crowded and most galleries cannot accommodate strollers.

GROUP TOURS: Tours of the Crossroads are offered through the Second Saturday program on the second Saturday of each month. The tour is $10 for adults and free for children.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Take the MAX bus to the Crossroads stop at the corner of Main and 19^th Street or take the KC Streetcar to the Crossroads stop (19^th & Main).

DRIVING DIRECTIONS:

From the north: Take I-35 south to exit 1D. Turn left onto West 20^th Street and turn right onto Baltimore Avenue. This is the heart of the District.

From the south: Take I-35 north to exit 1C. Make a right onto Pennsylvania Avenue and make a left at Avenida Cesar Chavez. Keep left onto Baltimore Avenue and continue to 20^th Street. This is the heart of the District.

From the east: Take I-70 west and continue onto I-670 west. Take exit 2Q and make a right onto Truman Road. Turn left onto Baltimore Avenue and continue to 20^th Street. This is the heart of the District.

From the west: Take I-70 east and continue onto I-670 east. Take exit 2T to merge onto I-35 south. Take exit 1D and turn left onto West 20^th Street. Turn right at Baltimore Avenue. This is the heart of the District.

PARKING: There is an abundance of on-street parking and small lots throughout the area. Be prepared to walk between venues on First Fridays. It can be crowded.

PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT: julie_c@kccrossroads.org or 816-994-9325