Holiday Reflections
I was thrilled to be invited to preview this year’s expanded and amplified Holiday Reflections experience at Union Station. We gathered at Harvey’s open-air second-floor perch with cocktails and a sampling of the restaurant’s menu. Santa was working the crowd with greetings and photo-taking.
Guests were then summoned to the Grand Plaza for the big reveal. Upon entering, we strolled through the (all new) Downtown Kansas City 1920’s Petticoat Lane, complete with historic and charming storefronts recalling iconic shopping destinations of KC yore. On the Lane, it reliably snows every 20 minutes. Above, it was impossible to miss the (also new) historic KC crowns. These gleaming creations were carefully fabricated to mirror the same crowns that once decorated nine downtown intersections during the holidays. Each modern crown chandelier is embellished with more than 20,000 crystals.
A brand-new 30-foot tree rose from the plaza’s center. We gathered around as we listened to the affable George Guastello, Union Station’s president and CEO, describe the latest iteration of this beloved annual experience. With plenty of lead up, George ultimately lit the tree with guests leading the countdown. Encircling the tree was the historic Jones Store mini train that holds warm memories for so many. It’s still chugging along and was available to children for rides. Another new addition was the 4D immersive virtual-reality flying sleigh ride. Throughout the experience were also numerous photo ops, practically designed for social media feeds. We posed inside the giant sleigh, horse-drawn carriage, and ice throne.
Despite everything new, Union Station managed to maintain several crowd favorites from years’ past, including the singing reindeer and penguins, daily Santa visits, and the 10,000-square-foot holiday model-train display.
Holiday Reflections is the city’s largest indoor holiday experience that welcomes more than 200,000 visitors annually. Its assembly requires more than 10,000 man-hours but it’s worth every second to bring this cherished holiday tradition to life with its magical sights and sounds of the season.
Spotted: Angie Jeffries, Heidi Markle, Margaret Keough, Will Gregory, Venessa Huskey, Manny Abarca, Charlie Franklin, Winifred Jamison, Dan Tarwater
Christmas on the Square
On a wintery Friday, just before Christmas, I ditched my Crossroads office for a lunchtime injection of holiday cheer. I was off to the very first Hallmark Christmas Experience in the heart of Crown Center.
When I hear the word Hallmark, I immediately think of Christmas. Whether it’s holiday movies on the Hallmark Channel or the (always Hallmark) greeting cards I eagerly shop for and mail every year—Hallmark is synonymous with the winter holiday season. It was no surprise, then, that this pop-up holiday village so magically embodied the enchanting town square essence of so many Hallmark Christmas movies. I could smell roasted chestnuts from the moment I opened my car door inside the distant parking garage.
Prior to visiting the outdoor experience, I detoured to the Hallmark Visitors Center to peep a great friend at work. Bernard Shondell, a Hallmark Creative Studio operations manager, was conducting a live gingerbread house-making demo as part of Hallmark’s “Festive Fridays.” Many Kansas Citians would recognize Bernard’s work from his annual contribution to the Crestwood Shops gingerbread house competition and auction, benefiting Child Protection Center. I learned during Bernard’s demo Q&A that this year’s stunning creation required 85 hours of detailed work! While I’ve seen and eaten his many sweet creations (including my own sister’s tear-inducing wedding cake), I had never seen his deft handiwork in action. It was a truly special start to my visit. And should I ever attempt my own gingerbread house, I’m now armed with a toolbox of insider tips.
Down at Christmastown USA (my description, not Hallmark’s), the square was positively overflowing with visitors. I met people who’d traveled from California, New York, and many states in between. It was a fandom level that reminded me only of Disney. I was unaware that Hallmark has its own cadre of die-hard, traveling groupies.
I strolled through the Christmas Market “streets” lined with vendors—mostly local, but a few national, such as Build-A-Bear Workshop. Numerous artisan purveyors matched the Hallmark vibe to a T. A Rainy Day Books outpost felt right at home on the square, as did the countless other retail shops offering up unique gifts, including jewelry, clothing, artwork, body products, and edible treats. Speaking of gifts, the Holiday Hallmarket had a line well out the door for visitors waiting to purchase Hallmark cards, gift wrap, keepsake ornaments, and other holiday merchandise.
At the Messner Bee Farm shop, I dropped in seeking a bee-pollen replenishment (I sprinkle it in my blended lunch smoothie every weekday, and it has essentially eliminated my once-serious seasonal allergies). I restocked my bee pollen, but while checking out, I also spotted hunks of raw honeycomb. I grabbed a stack. They’re the perfect way to elevate an impromptu, otherwise dull charcuterie platter. Plus, honeycomb is easy to keep on hand as it never spoils or expires.
Elsewhere in this makeshift village was a card-sending station, a Crayola community mural for guests to add their own crayon strokes, and plenty of photo ops, including a giant snow globe. Towering over this Hallmark Who-ville was the Mayor’s Christmas tree—this year with new, tricked-out, festive light shows. While lovely, I’d be remiss if I didn’t raise my perpetual bewilderment as to why we annually lob off the bottom third of our city’s otherwise-graceful tree’s branches. Alternatively, we might allow the feathery boughs to reach the ground naturally, like a certain iconic and inspiring tree in Rockefeller Center. Oh, how I wish we could skip the buzz cut in Christmases future. But I digress.…
It was lunchtime, so I headed toward the outdoor food hall for a (non-smoothie) lunch out. Despite many great options (I nearly went for tamales from The Tamale Kitchen), the force for barbecue proved too strong. I wound up with a beef burnt-end sandwich from Burnt End Barbecue (also with a permanent location in Crown Center). Because a sweet ending to any meal is a must, I also picked up some of Pearl’s Mini Donuts. With multiple firepits crackling, I cozied up to one and enjoyed my local lunch. As I nibbled, I watched those ice skating on the neighboring terrace. With the sights, smells, and tastes of Christmas, I was fully immersed.
Worth noting—this month-long event was executed in partnership with United Way of Greater Kansas City, which is relied on for support by one in three Kansas Citians every year. It was the continuation of a 73-year relationship where, in just the past 25 years, Hallmark has raised more than $61 million for the organization. Now that’s the Christmas spirit.
Santa Paws in the Park
Thanks to Kansas City Parks & Recreation, I was overcome with howl-iday spirit after spending an afternoon at the very first Santa Paws in the Park event.
Though I am (what my friends jokingly refer to as) “pet poor,” I was nevertheless elated to serve as a guest judge for the pet parade competition portion of this event. After all, if there’s one skill I have in plentiful supply, it’s judging (for a good cause, of course).
I arrived at Jacob L. Loose Memorial Park and joined my fellow judges: Kathy Quinn of FOX 4, Taylor Smith of the Kansas City Rose Society, and Erika White of Three Dog Bakery. We were hyped with anticipation to see the pets serving lewks and Fashion with a capital F.
Armed with very official clipboards and seated at a rose-draped table, I felt like Hoda quipping to a TV audience at the Rose Bowl parade. If only I had some quirky parade facts to rattle off and a glass of wine in hand. Despite these minor distinctions, Taylor graciously picked up the role of Kathy Lee in fulfillment of my media commentary fantasy. As we bantered, The Tinseltones provided the most festive, melodic caroling backdrop throughout the entire parade.
But back to business. We had more than 100 parade entrants vying for top dog in four categories: ugliest sweater, most creative, best matching set, and best group. The paws strutted down the red carpet at a fast and furious pace as we frantically flipped through our ballots, jotting scores and notes. The job involved more pressure than I imagined. In the end, we collectively settled on four winners and compiled a list of our other favorites for honorable mention. Winners were announced to a rather massive audience, and each received generous prize baskets from Three Dog Bakery.
Speaking of the crowd, I was blown away by the attendance for this first-ever event. The mid-50s sunny weather certainly did not hurt. It was the perfect day for pet promenading in the park.
Elsewhere, pets and parents lined up for photos with Santa that could be incorporated into a commemorative tree ornament. Complimentary “pup cups” awaited those who landed on Santa’s good list. KC Wolf (also served as the parade’s grand marshal) and several Kansas City Chiefs cheerleaders were also greeting visitors and taking photos.
There were wreath kits available for purchase, where attendees could craft a treat-laden holiday wreath. And, in the craft section, there was a Furever Tree pet memorial for remembering pets having traveled the rainbow bridge.
For this event, KC Parks partnered with the KC Rose Society to further the group’s “Save the Pillars” fundraising campaign established for restoring the 64 limestone pillars encircling the Laura Conyers Smith Municipal Rose Garden. Those donating to the cause were entered into a drawing for a stunning Tiffany & Co. dog bowl.
Congratulations to Heidi Markle, of KC Parks, who envisioned and executed this unique and popular event. I hope to be back next year—at the judge’s table.