Wednesday, September 7, 2011

And she goes on and on and on

Are you getting tired yet of my yammering about what we did over the Labor Day weekend?  Too bad if you are I suppose, because today I am continuing where I left off.


Overhead view of Jacob L.  Loose Park

After we left the Country Club Plaza area on Saturday, we went directly to feed our faces at a cute little breakfast joint near Loose Park. 


The Monnett Battle Field Cannon

At 75-acres, Jacob L. Loose Park is one of Kansas City's most popular, beautiful and historical. The park is well-known locally as being a major site for the Battle of Westport where Confederate forces were defeated by Union forces in the area in which the park is now located. It is estimated that 29,000 people were involved in the battle. The battle took place on October 23, 1864 and was the largest battle ever fought west of the Mississippi.  There are a number of memorials and markers within the park denoting the battle.








In modern day Kansas City, the big draw to the park is weddings.  Women vie for the chance to get married in the Rose Garden.  Anyone that wanted to get married in the park in 2012 they needed to register last April 1st.  (that right...April 1st in 2011 to get married in 2012)  For those wanting to get married in 2013 in the park they need to book it April 3rd, 2012.


My pictures of course aren't showing the beauty of the roses
because this is the hottest, crappiest, driest summer that
has ever been the pleasure of Kansas Citians.

The trellises go in a circle around the fountain





following the path

keep following
 
You guessed it...The center fountain

While we were walking around taking our pictures
there was a lady planning her wedding.  As we
passed we could hear her talking about how
the procession would come in.
heading out of the Rose Garden



over to the pond





The Good for the Day....Beautiful park especially when all 4000+ rose bushes are in bloom.


The Bad for the Day....The disappointed brides that either can't get a reservation or get rained out.



The Weird for the Day .... In 1978 artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude that are famous for doing environmental works of art around the world came to Kansas City to wrap the walkways in Loose Park in Saffron (their words...most people called it yellow).  The project costs came in at $130,000.00. (doesn't that translate to a gazillion dollars in 2011) Christo ended up paying for it himself through sales of pictures and sketches. 






After 52,000 feet (15,850 meters) of seams and hems had been sewn in a West Virginia factory, professional seamstresses, using portable sewing machines and assisted by many workers, completed the sewing in the park. The cloth was secured in place by 34,500 steel spikes (7 x 5/16 inch/17.8 x 0.8 centimeters) driven into the soil through brass grommets along the sides of the fabric, and 40,000 staples into wooden planks on the stairways.





Let's all go spend the day at the park

15 comments:

Nicky said...

Were they recreating the "yellow brick road"? Saffron? $130 000? Sometimes, I just don't get art. Or maybe it's the "artistes".

That park is gorgeous, though, and the trellises are amazing.

00dozo said...

I guess because of its name, I've always envisioned Kansas City as part of the Dust Bowl. I also forgot it was in MO. Doh!

Anyway, what a beautiful park! If I were that young, in love and getting married, that would be the perfect venue. As it is, I'm older and still single. If I were to get married now, it would be on the beach, everyone barefoot and - with my luck - during a frigging hurricane.

;-)

Cheryl P. said...

I, too, thought that was weird. Evidently Christo has done these yellow fabric things all over the world. I remember a few years ago he did them in Central Park in NYC. I don't get it. What a waste of money and time. I guess I don't get art or the artiste either.

Cheryl P. said...

The fact that half of the town is in Kansas and half the town is in Missouri confuses everyone that isn't from here. I live on the KS side but all of Kansas City is pretty heavily treed and hilly. (both cities really as Kansas City, KS and Kansas City, MO are two seperate cities with 2 seperate governments that are seperated by State Line Rd.) If you drive a few hours west in Kansas it becomes flatter and more what you would expect in the Plaines States. Even then there are areas like the Flint Hills that don't fit what people imagine.

00dozo said...

Well, that's interesting - something I didn't know. I've heard of "sister cities" but with different names. So, you have two cities, almost considered as one city, but in two different states? Dang, woman. No wonder you are conflicted. Move to Canada - 10 Provinces, 3 Territories - it's easy peasy. Oh, wait ... I forgot about Sault St. Marie. Never mind.

;-)

Kimberly Wyatt said...

I love those trellises. And that yellow pathway is just strange. I don't "get" a lot of modern/contemporary art. At least it's cheerful! That walkway around the pond is very pretty! It does look like a pretty place for an outdoor wedding.

Cheryl P. said...

I have seen pictures of some of the weddings and it is a really pretty place for one.

I don't get the art "thing" either. The wrapping of the walks was way before I ever lived here but the city agreed to pay Christo $40K for the display that was for (only) two weeks in Oct. of 1978. What a waste.

bodaciousboomer said...

I'm such a Neanderthal I don't understand installations like that one. They had one in Central Park. It's was several hundred panels of bright orange fabric hung along the pathways.

That's art?

Cheryl P. said...

Yes, Christo and Jeanne Claude did that Central Park "art" for $21 Million. Yeah, MILLION. So I am thinking of submitting a business plan to you as you are the "artiste" of the two of us and I am a more than decent "seamtress". I am thinking we could become enviromental (whatever the hell that means) artists and start doing fabric "installations". Damn, I don't know where they are buying up all the saffron yard goods but I have a half off coupon for any fabric at JoAnnes. What would you say we need 60,000 yards or so? What is your favorite color? I will work on the business plan and cost vs. profit sheets if you want to pick the park and the fabric color. Be thinking about this as I may post my business plan as one of my Wed. posts.

meleahrebeccah said...

Seriously, Kansas City = KICKS ASS!

And that really looks like such a BEAUTIFUL place for a wedding.

Cheryl P. said...

I think it is a beautiful park and the area around there is awesome.

Mike said...

That circular layout totally reminds me of Stonehenge. Not that I've been there, but I had been, it would still remind me of it.

Cheryl P. said...

It does resemble Stonehenge, doesn't it? I am thinking the roses would make Stonehenge less stark. Perhaps someone over in England should start planting.

Leah Griffith said...

Cheryl, You had an amazing weekend! I’m glad that you shared it with me because all I did was hang around the house;)

Cheryl P. said...

Sometimes just hanging around the house sounds so Gooooddddd. I have to run errands today and I would rather just watch a movie. That isn't going to happen.

Have a great weekend.