Tell Me A Story: GONDLIER WANTED Part 1

Mary Marcia
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

http://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/

Here's Part 1 of a 2 part series on

Kansas City's Country Club Plaza,

that I wrote in May 2014.

GONDALIER WANTED

Part One

Adventures With The Norwood Girls

Where in the world are they?

What city needs a gondalier?

Kansas City, Missouri - of course!

"City of Fountains"

"Heart of America"

"Paris of the Plains."

The Country Club Plaza

CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser: http://countryclubplaza.com/visitor-info/parking/

CLICK on the map to ENLARGE.

Gondola Boat Rides

History

The Country Club Plaza

(often referred to as The Plaza)

is an American upscale shopping district

and residential neighborhood in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Country Club Plaza
was the first shopping center in the world

designed to accommodate shoppers

arriving by automobile.

There are

many ways

to get

around

The Plaza

today.

Trolley
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:
http://kcfuntours.com/

"Get acquainted
with the popular sights and local favorites
Kansas City has to offer
during a fully narrated 75-minute tour aboard an authentic, air-conditioned trolley with brass rails, bells and all."

CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:
http://kcfuntours.com/

The Metro

CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:

http://www.kcata.org/

Horse Drawn Carriage Rides

CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:

http://www.surreysontheplazainc.com/

Kansas City's

premier professional horse and carriage service

serving the KC metro area since 1977.

Travel in romantic style with an elegant

open-top traditional carriage

or have a true fairy tale experience

with a beautifully lit Cinderella carriage!

CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:

http://www.surreysontheplazainc.com/

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood. Woody was a graduate of DeSoto High School. He was CEO of Surrey’s On The Plaza in Kansas City and Surrey’s at the Pier in St. Petersburg, Florida, and former owner of Ridgeview Carpet in Olathe, Kansas.

http://www.penwellgabelolathe.com/obituary.aspx?src=choice&obitid=61621&name=WoodyAllenbrand&city=Olathe&st=KS

Motorcycles

The 55-acre (223,000 m²) site
is about four miles (6.44 km) south of downtown,
between 45th and 51st streets to the north and south,
and between Broadway and Madison Street
to the east and west.
The Kansas state line is one mile (1.6 km) to the west.

Established in 1922, by J. C. Nichols
and designed architecturally after Seville, Spain,
The Plaza comprises high-end retail establishments, restaurants, and entertainment venues, as well as offices.

The neighborhoods surrounding the Plaza
consist of apartment buildings and upscale houses.

The Country Club Plaza

is named in the Project for Public Spaces' list

60 of the World's Great Places.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_Club_Plaza

The Country Club Plaza
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser: http://countryclubplaza.com/

Architecture of The Plaza

was designed after Seville, Spain.

The Country Club Plaza

CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser: http://countryclubplaza.com/

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood

The Plaza’s popularity and reputation has been recognized around the country. The entire 15-block district, with more than 150 shops and dozens of fine restaurants, makes the Country Club Plaza Kansas City’s premier retail, dining and entertainment destination.

Country Club Plaza Events

http://countryclubplaza.com/events/

About The Country Club Plaza

CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:

http://countryclubplaza.com/about-us/

Plaza Lights

In 1925, a single strand of 16 colored lights was placed above a doorway in the Country Club Plaza to celebrate Christmas. The number of lights have increased annually. The first official lighting ceremony took place in 1930.

On Thanksgiving night,
tens of thousands
of people
visit the Plaza
for the local entertainment/performances,
and to watch the electric lights
to initiate the Christmas season.
A special guest or celebrity
"flips the switch" each year.

In its 84th year (as of 2013),the Country Club Plaza's "Season of Lights" is one of the city's longest/oldest traditions.

The lights
shine
twenty-four hours a day
into mid-January
of the following year.

The one to two-hour ceremony
is broadcast live
on a local
television station.