Fairlane - Kansas City, MO

Fairlane, like many Kansas City suburbs, grew quickly during the late 1940s and early 1950s, when Americans settled away from city centers following the end of World War II. The Fairlane Homes Association was created in 1955 by Ong Aircraft Corporation, one of the developers of this area, when the company completed this massive subdivision in the mid-1950s.

Two parks in the area were acquired in 1974, enhancing the quality of life in Fairlane. Nearby interstate highways also came into being during the 1970s. However, most artistic and cultural events occur in nearby neighborhoods.

Fairlane sits just north of a famous intersection known as Three Trails Crossing, the place where the Santa Fe, California and Oregon Trails met before splitting into three directions going to the west in the early 1800s. The modern-day intersection marks the junctions of Interstates 49, 470 and 435 in addition to U.S. Highways 50 and 71.

Local restaurants, bars and nightlife hot spots exist just outside Fairlane. Nearby restaurants focus on fast food at inexpensive prices. A few ethnic eateries dot the landscape, but most places serve American staples such a fried chicken, hamburgers, pizza and sandwiches. Hickman Mills and Grandview, just to the south, have bars and intimate music venues to enjoy.

Tasty's opened its second Kansas City location in early 2014 along Blue Ridge Boulevard, just north of Fairlane, because workers near downtown Kansas City missed Jawad Salman's fresh-cooked burgers and sandwiches. The restaurant chops fresh vegetables daily for its customers, who drop in for a quick bite to eat. Seven of the restaurant's 21 entrées feature hamburgers, and another seven contain chicken. The giant tenderloin, a huge slab of pork with lettuce, tomato and onions, marks one of two specials of the house. Fresh gyros come with lamb or chicken along with tomatoes, onions and sauce.

Olive Café wows customers with fresh pita bread made every day. Classic halal cuisine, including standard Mediterranean food, makes up the bulk of the menu. Enjoy a heaping plate of chicken surrounded by a ring of delectable hummus. Meats cooked shawarma-style go into pita bread or wraps surrounded by chopped olives and sautéed vegetables. A gyro sandwich fills half a plate with a side of French fries. Bring your appetite to Olive Café, and take home some fresh pita bread for your next meal. Eat the bread within 24 hours, or freeze it, before the pita bread loses its soft texture.

Big T's Bar-B-Q distinguishes itself as one of the area's best barbecue restaurants. Order the gigantic beef rib dinner with two sides to take on one of the largest entrées on the menu. A whole-chicken dinner features a grilled hen with two sides. If you can't decide what meat you like the most, the combination plate contains heaping portions of beef, ham, ribs and sausage with a side of fries. For lesser appetites, a sandwich with meat, buns and fries marks the smallest dish on the menu. If you want Kansas City's famous burnt ends, get to Big T's early because it goes quickly.

Richey's Club, just south of Fairlane on Hickman Mills Drive, has plenty of pool tables, a large shuffleboard table, relaxing chairs and a jukebox for late-night patrons. Happy hour specials feature inexpensive draughts of American beer. While the bar lacks some modern amenities, it makes up for it in atmosphere, featuring attentive bartenders and plenty of regulars that make the bar fun every night.

Some streets have sidewalks, while others do not, so walk with caution through Fairlane. Cyclists do well on side streets during daylight hours when people with cars work during the day but bicycles are generally not used for commuting.

Since the streets are easy to follow, residents easily get around Fairlane by car. If your car breaks down or you need transportation in a pinch, several taxi services operate in the neighborhood, and Uber provides options to pick you up whenever you need a ride. Parks, businesses and public spaces also make plenty of free parking available.

Hillcrest Road divides the neighborhood as the major thoroughfare running north to south. Take this street to Bannister Road and then to Interstate 435 at the northwest end of Fairlane. Use 99th Street to go east to Blue Ridge Boulevard. Blue Ridge then takes you south to U.S. 50 or north to Bannister Road.

KCATA bus route 471 picks up and drops off passengers at Drury and Bannister starting at 5:41 a.m., Monday through Friday. Route 28 stops along Blue Ridge Boulevard on weekdays and Saturdays, and buses on this route also go to Drury and Bannister.

Plenty of parks provide outdoor activities for kids and families during the day. Jerry Darter Park, next to the Hillcrest Community Center, features a playground for kids and wooded, concrete trails for walking. French Tract Park has wide-open fields for running around in, kicking a soccer ball or throwing a baseball. Fairlane Park Trail lets you walk on a concrete trail through the center of the neighborhood for some exercise, and you can bring your leashed pooch for outdoor fun.

The Truman Heritage Festival each May in nearby Grandview marks the closest annual festival to Fairlane. Enjoy the fair by taking in the food, listening to its live music and finding out what life was like when Harry S. Truman lived nearby in the early 1900s. The festival takes place over a three-day span every spring.

The cost of living runs less in Fairlane than in downtown Kansas City, partially due to older homes in the neighborhood and the industrial complex to the west. A one-bedroom apartment runs an average of $669 per month.

A day pass on KCATA costs $3, so getting to the center of Kansas City is fairly inexpensive. Gas runs 18 percent lower than the national average, and a pint of beer at the local pub regularly comes in around $3.

Price Chopper, at the northeast corner of Fairlane, maintains itself as the closest grocery store for residents' basic shopping needs. However,a nearby ALDI provides a less expensive alternative. Home Depot, just across I-435, serves as the neighborhood home improvement warehouse and hardware store. Most chain stores in the area feature inexpensive goods for everyday use. Grandview, just to the southwest, has the nearest farmers market.

Plenty of local specialty shops dot the landscape near Fairlane. DollFace Beauty Salon, a few blocks south of the neighborhood, touts plenty of hair extensions for any style. Different extensions include sew-ins, quick weaves, braidless sews, closers and lace wigs. Stop by for hair coloring, eyebrow trimming, waxing, facials and body treatments to ease your body after a long work week.

Diver's Equipment and Repair Service sells, fixes and maintains scuba diving equipment. The crew also trains prospective divers in the shop's dive pool before novices embark on more advanced dives. Instructors have a kid's club to teach children how to scuba dive, and other programs allow you to become scuba certified thanks to Scuba Schools International training guidelines and techniques. This local store has been in service since 1959.