Wednesday May 16, 2007

Kansas City - Top 10

by Brent Stephens in Business

1 comment

Not wanting to let our Geniant guys in Dallas have all the fun, and in celebration of the first quarter of operations in the newest Geniant office, here are the Top 10 things I like about Kansas City. In true Letterman style, the list will be presented in reverse order to build suspense. Of course, feel free to just skip down to the bottom and read the page backwards, if need be.

10. Geographic Center of USA

While there are of course benefits to living in a coastal city that bustles with commerce – such as Los Angeles, Seattle or New York, there’s a lot to be said for living in a mid-America location like Kansas City. The reason being, because it is (arguably) at the midpoint of the nation, it makes possible getting to any other destination with relative ease. If business travel to either shore is necessitated, it’s a lot quicker to only fly halfway rather than coast to coast.

9. Cinco De Mayo

Obviously, the Geniant office in Dallas can boast a slightly more authentic Tex-Mex celebration, but the May 5th events in KC aren’t anything to scoff at. Kansas City has one of the largest Hispanic and Latino populations in the Midwest. I like the diversity and love the food! It’s the next best thing to having a shared border on the Rio Grande, not to mention the weather is a bit more bearable. For a summary of all the Cinco De Mayo happenings, check out this article on About.com.

8. Kansas City BBQ

Along those same lines is barbecued cuisine. Kansas City is known for it’s distinctive BBQ joints. Don’t take my word for it though. There is even a restaurant all the way in San Diego, CA which specifically serves KC-style food. Check out their website at – KCBBQ.net. If you need further proof, there’s also the Kansas City BBQ Society – KCBS.us. Needless to say, this city has cultured a unique a flavor all its own.

7. Great Sports

I also love the many sports teams in this area, both professional and collegiate. We have the Chiefs for the football fans and the Royals for the baseball aficionados. For a variety of college sports, Kansas State University and the University of Kansas are within driving distance. On the Missouri side of the state line, there is Mizzou (nickname for University of Missouri-Colombia).

6. Diverse Business Climate

Since Geniant is a technology and web consultancy, we enjoy collaboration with other companies. KC affords us a number of opportunities because of its varied economy. Many types of businesses call Kansas City home, including (but not limited to): Agriculture, Banking, Energy, Health Care, Real Estate, Sports (obviously) and Travel. For a complete list, see the KC Business Journal.

5. Cultural Opportunities

Of course, all work and no play is no way to live. It is important to get out and enjoy life. That’s why I’m thankful for Kansas City’s many museums and art exhibits, as well as theaters and (as mentioned before) restaurants. For jazz fans, there’s a yearly outdoor festival at the Starlight Theater. There’s also a good club scene, with a number places offering live music.

4. Cool “Mob” History

Another cool aspect of Kansas City is its notorious mafia roots. While Chicago, with a musical by the same name, might be the city most commonly associated with mobsters, KC had its fair share back in the day. I won’t get into the whole history here, but if you’re curious, you can read the history of KC on Wikipedia, or more specifically – an article on Organized Crime Research.

3. Free Beer

No, seriously. The Boulevard Brewery tour is one of the must-see attractions of this area for many reasons, not the least of which is a free sampling of their fine fermented beverages. It has been around for nearly 30 years, and is a staple location of the city’s Southwest Boulevard. There is no charge to go on the tour, but they just ask that you make reservations ahead of time.

2. Minimal Traffic

Compared to some large metropolitan areas, and despite the bad rap it might get, the traffic in Kansas City isn’t all that bad. Statistically, it’s not even the city that’s the problem but many of the suburban areas, such as shopping malls, which account for most of the fender benders. Driving within the city is actually relatively tolerable, versus to other highly populated US cities.

1. Great Place to Live

According to CNN‘s Money Magazine survey in 2006 of Best Places to Live, the Overland Park area of Kansas City ranks as #6 in the nation. While that’s not necessarily an authoritative measurement, it does factor in such things as average salary, home price, crime rate, entertainment, and overall quality of life. KC has a many benefits of big cities without all of the drawbacks.

---

We’re Hiring

I might add that another important factor is who I get to work. Our team is guided by world-class leaders who are energetic, entrepreneurial, and passionate about keeping Geniant at the forefront of the industry. Our culture attracts motivated, talented people who thrive on challenging work and are committed to customers’ success. If you think you fit the bill, let’s talk.

Comments on “Kansas City - Top 10”

1. Christian Bradford said:

   Great list, Brent. I’ve been to KC a couple times and found it a fascinating place. I’ll be back up there in June to check things out, and I’m especially looking forward to partaking in #8.

   ---