A Princess Promenade

Friday night was the Neighborhood Open House at the Kansas City Museum where the 2010 Princesses were introduced. But first a reminder of the Holiday Homes Tour this Sunday. The home above is on the tour as are six other homes. For information visit this site:

http://www.gsp-kc.org/
The Carriage House of Corinthian Hall was the scene for festive holiday treats both of the musical and "sweets" kind. Northeast residents are invited to visit and to meet the Princesses.

Below, the Mayor stopped by and visited with Christopher Leitch the House Manager.



Above, I told you there were sweets.... Below, Indian Mound President and 1st District at Large Council Candidate Scott Wagner visited with Adam Schieber, President of Scarritt Renaissance.

Above, Truman with Laura. Below, Patrick showed that he could unhinge his jaw if necessary to absorb cupcakes.
Randy, Cate, and Jason but I have no idea what the pointing was about.

Above our neighborhood Doctor Elaine, her husband David and her brother who was visiting from Hawaii.
Above, Christopher prepares the crowd for the Princess introduction. Below, some of the crowd.

A grand Princess entrance.


Left to right, Cara, Rachel, Maddison, and Amber. The Princess will be on her throne to greet kids starting Saturday (12/4). For times and other information: http://www.kcmuseum100.org/fairy.html
Below, Carol Barta was introduced... she was Princess at Kline's in 1956.

Christopher also took the opportunity to announce the winners of this year's Princess Halloween Contest. Pictures were taken during the Scare-It Halloween celebration this year and highly qualified judges determined the winners. Above... one of the winners who, although a princess herself, was a little shy at first.

Above.... reminiscence .....

Left to right, Amber, Maddison, Carol 1956, Bonnie 1951, Cara and Rachel.
Above and below.... another of the Halloween winners.... her expression pretty much sums up the magic of Christmas......

Above, Sam arrived in his regular carriage.... below he posed with Mom Jennifer, Cara and Carol.

Princesses mingled.... and were glad to take pictures with folks....

Pendleton Heights Holiday Homes Tour Part 2

Last Saturday was the Fourth Annual Homes Tour in Pendleton Heights... and a tour highlight was the Folk Victorian home of Greg and Amy. Bradford pears shield the house from view which accounts for the angle of the shot above. This home was built in 1892 for Harry and Rosa Browdy, natives of Russia. Mr. Browdy operated a tavern on Independence Avenue.
The block stained glass window in the image above is original to the house and it has much of its original woodwork and ceiling height. Note the transoms over the doorways.

The owners love art, particularly locally produced, and have adorned their house with wonderful examples. I love it.
Many of the homes on the tour also had goodies... I felt that, since I walked between homes, that I deserved to splurge....



Amy and Greg moved into the home last year and have updated the bathroom, above, and the basement and backyard.
The painting on the wall in the picture above is an original by local artist Hector Casanova Cinderhouse.
Above, the expansive backyard and below the redone garage/basement with an original painting by Betsy Barratt.



Visiting this house is a visual treat.... excellent use of space.

Scuola Vita Nuova was also on the tour this year. A charter school it stands where two Victorian mansions once stood... the stone walls above and portions of a carriage house are all that remain of those. Visitors were greeted by a bell choir below....
There were tour guides for each group of guests... our guide, Maria, talked about the founding of this public charter elementary school that teaches children of many cultures. It's credo is based on the philosophy and service of Dr. J.B. Bisceglia who assisted and motivated Italian immigrants in Kansas City from the late 1910s until his death in 1988.

This portion of the school is a chapel built in 1941 for Christ Presbyterian Church... all the school buildings on the site are owned by the Northeast Community Center.

Above and below is the middle school of Scuola.... very bright and airy...


The library is housed in what is left of a 100-year-old carriage house for one of the mansions that used to be on the site. Below you can see one of the rings where horses were tied up.

Above a tribute to Galileo painted on the window.

Above and below in the gym.... tap shoes and the implements of competition.



Our final stop this year is the home of Benjamin and Angie. Built in 1888 by the Western Lumber Company the first known occupant was Dr. Valcolon W. Mather.... however, by 1893 there was a new owner, John W. Merrill, manager of the Big Four Tea and Coffee Company.
Above two of the neighborhood elves who served as tour guides... Damian and Marcellus... their home was on tour last year.


The house is blessed to have much of its original woodwork and ornamentation.... like cherry and walnut detail, pocket doors, bay windows and the beautiful lower staircase.


Benjamin and Angie just moved in last year.... they have converted the garage and studio into a studio and guest house.....

Stay tuned for word of the Fifth Annual Holiday Homes Tour next year!