West Plaza - Kansas City, MO

West Plaza started as part of the burgeoning retail development known as Country Club Plaza in the early 1900s. J.C. Nichols bought several tracts of land and built one of the first subdivisions in the United States. Older homes denote most of the original structures in West Plaza, and many old businesses have red-brick facades that symbolize a throwback to their original construction.

Swinney Elementary School, closed by Kansas City Schools in 2010, sold to Kansas City Sustainable Development Partners in 2013. The anticipated converting the old school into multifamily housing with retail space. The redevelopment of West Plaza, while changing the character of the neighborhood, helps change possible blighted areas into newer buildings for the 21st century.

Local businesses frequently host art events for painters, sculptors and foodies. Country Club Plaza features several annual events that typify the cultural scene of the neighborhood.

West Plaza and areas to the east and northeast feature plenty of restaurants, bars and nightlife options to satisfy your need for relaxation after a long day of work. High-end bars, ethnic cuisine, gourmet restaurants and inexpensive sandwich shops dot the landscape along Westport Road at the northern edge of the neighborhood. Country Club Plaza, just to the east, contains plenty of music venues.

Cupini's Italian Food has been a Kansas City staple since 2003 when Franco Cupini and his son Eddie brought family recipes and great pasta to the area. The Cupinis make noodles and ravioli fresh daily, including exotic vegetable noodles with a distinctive green color. Try the savory vegetable lasagna with eggplant, peas, spinach, zucchini and carrots between layers of noodles, two cheeses and two sauces. Pizza bianca, or white pizza, has garlic oil instead of tomato sauce, covered in mozzarella cheese. Add fresh tomatoes, Italian sausage, portabello mushrooms, fresh basil and spinach to your pizza bianca for one of the freshest pies in Kansas City.

JJ's second building, just west of its original location, opened in November 2014 after three decades at its classic spot across the street. The new place shows Kansas City residents that the popular, high-end eatery returned better than ever with its huge wine selection, succulent dinner menu and new executive chef T.J. Stack. To start, try the wild boar sausage appetizer, grilled bratwurst style and served with caramelized apples, horseradish blinis and whole-grain mustard. The specialty of the house includes a cooked-to-order 12-ounce, center-cut fillet rubbed with porcini mushrooms. The tender steak comes with roasted garlic mashed potatoes, asparagus and veal demi-glace. JJ's uses local suppliers for desserts, mushrooms, honey and locally grown produce.

Eden Alley Vegetarian Cafe feeds hungry people at its lower-level location in Unity Temple. Since 1994, Eden Alley has served local, organic produce alongside traditional ingredients to make nutritious, delectable food worth coming back for. Try the pumpkin, kale and chickpea heaven, which includes pumpkin puree, candied onions, toasted fennel seeds and plenty of fresh herbs piled on top of potato flat bread, hummus, grilled kale and pumpkin seeds. Avocado eggplant street tacos contain locally made corn tortillas, cumin cashew cheese sauce, brown rice and roasted eggplant mixed with guacamole. Tacos come with a side salad topped with red wine dressing.

A dotting of nightlife choices give you places to unwind throughout the week. When you want to catch a live music performance, head to Grand Boulevard in Downtown Kansas City and discover the Record Bar.

For something a little more laid-back, Twin City Tavern stays open 365 days a year. One of the oldest bars in Kansas City (dating back to the 1930s), Twin City serves steak, burgers, pizzas and plenty of beer. Enter the trivia contests to prove your intellectual moxie.

Many streets have sidewalks covered by huge shade trees, so feel free to walk on hot summer days. Smaller side streets provide no problems for bicyclists, since most homes in West Plaza contain driveways, sidewalks and garages. Busier streets, such as Roanoke Parkway, with faster speed limits may be too much for everyday cyclists.

Area businesses have plenty of free, public parking spaces, although traffic near Country Club Plaza can get hectic on busy days. Roanoke Parkway marks the major north-south street in West Plaza, while U.S. Highway 56 takes you to other major thoroughfares. Reach downtown Kansas City by driving Summit Street due north. If your car breaks down, several taxi services can pick you up, and Uber drivers represent alternatives to taxis.

KCATA route 51 delineates public transportation options in West Plaza. Buses pick up and drop off passengers at 47th and Roanoke starting around 5:30 a.m. until about 9:30 p.m. on weekdays. This route takes passengers up to 10th and Main in downtown Kansas City.

A few notable green spaces exist near West Plaza. Westwood Park, in the southwest corner of the neighborhood, lets you walk through 9 acres of rolling hills and open fields with a concrete path. Bring your leashed dog so your canine companion gets some exercise. Walk or bike Bush Creek Trail, just to the south, for hours of blood-pumping enjoyment.

The Plaza Art Fair in nearby Country Club Plaza presents artists and their wares for three days every September in outdoor booths. This festival dates back to 1932, and 2014 noted the 83rd year in a row for the Plaza Art Fair. More than 250,000 people attend this 9-block event.

Living costs more in West Plaza than downtown Kansas City due to the upscale nature of nearby businesses and developments. A one-bedroom apartment runs approximately $708 per month.

A one-day pass for KCATA buses costs $3 to go anywhere on the transit system. One gallon of gas typically stays around 20 percent lower than the national average, while a pint at local pub costs about $5.

Several local businesses, shops and boutiques call West Plaza home along Westport Road. Country Club Plaza, a huge, 15-block retail bonanza, sits just to the east of the neighborhood with high-end clothing chains and posh restaurants. A few discount stores cater to customers who need basic necessities in a pinch. A small hardware store contains home improvement products.

Travel three blocks north of the neighborhood on Summit Street to find the nearest grocery store. Marsh's Sun Fresh Market at Mill Street Station has plenty of food, groceries and sundries. Find locally grown harvests at the Westport Plaza Farmers Market, at Westport and Wyoming, every Wednesday from May to October.

Hook Gallery & Framing features custom mattes and frames in thousands of combinations. Enjoy painting parties twice a week, or book your own private party for 10 or more guests. Artwork from local talent adorns the walls. Owners Scott and Danny represent more than 40 years combined experience framing artwork, so put your wall decorating in their capable hands.

Relax, unwind and work up a sweat at Westport Yoga. Eight instructors work with you to unlock your inner peace by bringing your mind and body into balance. Clients who learn more advanced techniques can register for yoga classes with Westport Yoga's certified teachers. Pitch Magazine readers voted Westport Yoga the best yoga studio in Kansas City for 2014.