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WHY I CHOSE KC

By Hampton Stevens

As The Great Gatsby opens, Nick Carraway describes returning to the Midwest after a jaunt overseas. His hometown, Carraway says, feels different. Growing up, the city seems like the warm center of creation. After seeing some of the world, the city feels like the ragged edge.

Growing up in Kansas City, my hometown also seemed like the center of creation. Going off to see the world, though, didn’t change my opinion of the place. In fact, it confirmed my original impression. Okay, maybe “center of creation” is an exaggeration, but Kansas City is a special place. Living in other cities helped me appreciate that in a whole new way.

After college, like a lot of kids, I searched for a city that fit my style. Portland, Oregon, was fun before the weather got me down. Grand Junction, Colorado, was cool for camping but didn’t have enough opportunity for a then-aspiring writer. New York City was my last stop. My time there was wondrous. Ultimately, though, the demands of the city outweighed the rewards.

About five years ago, I moved back to Kansas City and haven’t regretted it for an instant. My friends on the coasts don’t get it—until they visit. Once they see our tree-lined streets and fountains, they like KC immediately. Once they experience our world-class shopping, restaurants and museums—and the remarkably low cost of living that makes it all attainable—they usually fall in love.

Why not? Kansas City makes it easy. This place lets you live the life you want—whatever life you want. We have luxury loft space in renovated skyscrapers, graceful mansions in historic neighborhoods and lush suburbs for raising kids. The city has elegant dining and the best barbeque on earth. We have world-class performing and visual arts, along with the NFL, MLB and NASCAR. There is every sort of live music: rock, hip-hop, country, classical and, of course, our legendary jazz.

Once you discover Kansas City, other cities seem slightly off. Call it the Goldilocks Syndrome. Places like Phoenix, Dallas and Atlanta are too hot. Chicago, Minneapolis and Milwaukee are too cold. Charlotte is too small. New York and L.A. are too big. Kansas City is like the Baby Bear’s bed; neither too soft like the West Coast, nor too hard like cities of the East. Visit. You’ll see. Kansas City feels just right.