Friday evening began at El Patron, continued to Gallery 19, and ended with that ubiquitous Kansas City activity, driving down a many-laned road.
El Patron Cocina and Bar is located on Southwest Boulevard, 
across the street from Ponak’s. My friend and I sat on the roof, even though it was a breezy night in November, and the tequila master came out and helped me choose a tequila. The one he recommended, Clase Azul blanco, surprised me. I usually prefer aged tequila, but this blanco was really smooth.
I ordered Los Tres Grandes, and my friend had rather bland but creamy guacamole and a tostada. Of my three tacos, 
my favorite was the carne asada (left), which was spicy and a little burnt, followed by a tasty taco al pastor (right), and then the taco marinera, which had a sweet and spicy sauce. The fish was cooked properly, but the entire package didn’t come together for me.
By the time we finished, we were glad to get off that roof and into a warm car. We drove northeast to Crossroads, and I was stunned to see people filling galleries, crowding the sidewalks to listen to the bands scattered about, and tumbling into the streets. What a change from my weekday visits!
I’ve been to one or two First Fridays in Denver, but I don’t remember crowds like this, perhaps because Denver has several such events every month.
The only difficulty was finding a parking space (and then remembering where it was at the end of the night).
At the first gallery we visited, the theme for the night was established: brightly colored abstract art. 
We visited several galleries, including Blue Gallery, where a William Rainey painting reminded me of Denver-area artist Catherine Carilli’s Abstract Symbolist phase; Elements of Green, featuring countertops made from recycled material 
and an anemone by Margie McDonald;
and Kemper Gallery, where the minders in shockingly blue shirts reminded me of the line from Firefly or Serenity (I can’t remember which), “Two by two, hands of blue.”
My friend commented about Side Show 2009 by Keltie Ferris,
“I’m seeing a really advanced form of tagging here.”
My favorite artists were twin brothers Paul and Phil Gayter. 
I liked the self-conscious, playful aspects of their work.
Five galleries were my friend’s limit after a day spent watching six toddlers. But driving from Crossroads to Overland Park turned out to be a breeze. I can see why so many people live in Kansas and commute downtown; it took less than half an hour.
***
On an earlier trip to Crossroads, I visited Hilliard Gallery at 404 18th Street and loved this found-object horse by Guinotte Wise.
Turns out it’s a great way to get a weapon across state lines.
hoping to spend several hours there copyediting. Unfortunately, Mildred’s, a well-lit space with a soothing vibe, closed at 4. 
One cannot live on truffles and mocha breve, much as one might wish to, so I chose YJ’s Snack Bar as my dinner stop. (Mildred’s has a small but enticing menu. I suggest going there for lunch.)
you have to turn sideways and sidle by the people at the bar.
Later I wished I’d skipped the ravioli and had more salad, but everything tasted fine and it filled me up.
(named after the multicolored Power and Light Building in downtown Kansas City, north of Crossroads). One of the staff at Peruvian Connection lamented the city’s decision to pour a lot of money into Power and Light. City council brought in chains, she said, nothing related to Kansas City, and drove up real estate values so much that artists couldn’t afford studio space in Crossroads. According to her, they’re migrating to the West Bottoms, northwest of Crossroads, nearer the Missouri River.
but I liked the look of the buildings, and there were actually people strolling the streets (apparently, after I took this picture). A band was setting up in a large courtyard. It wasn’t crowded since there wasn’t a show at the Sprint Center, but I felt more comfortable walking around there than in Crossroads or downtown.
were so pretty that I bought a 9-piece box, along with a cherry-flavored pate de fruit, and laid them out next to the Sweet Guy’s key lime and hazelnut truffles. 
If the Sweet Guy’s truffles look the worse for wear, it’s not the fault of their maker. I was carrying them in a bag in my pocket.
was like sipping a good wine: the banana flavor came in, and then the curry took over. Same with the strawberry (upper left): first fruit and then a hint of balsamic vinegar. The Earl Gray truffle (top center) had a definite EG flavor, unlike most tea truffles, which taste vague to me.
It is the coolest faucet* I have ever seen.
Of course, people disagree on what art is.
And for some reason, artists aren’t content to have us look at their art. They want us to buy it.
and a bit of a skyline. (Crown Center hotel, which is south of Crossroads, is on the left; the billboard above is on the right.)
You can get to Crown Center, or the Liberty Memorial, or Union Station, via bike
or take this rocket if you’re in a real hurry (I believe that’s the old TWA building).
Crossroads has design covered. Besides the office of the AIA (under construction here), there are also two “green building” stores, Elements of Green and Straw, Sticks, and Bricks.
and stand-alone stores like Michael’s that have been around for a while.
This option is not as healthful but is probably open more often. (At the back of this photograph is a sign for the President hotel, although you probably can’t see it.)
You know the area will stay clean with women in charge of it (even if this woman can’t frame her pictures correctly). 
I know someone who will be hopping on a plane to get to this store.
Best of all? No bills are allowed. Everything is free. 
has been around quite a while because I remember shopping there in 1986, when I worked at the UMKC Dental School. Bob (or Jones?) sells Dansko and Sanita and Italian-made shoes with leather soles, as well as Maruca purses, which are made in Boulder. Here’s a sample of the wares 
(in which I unfortunately decided to focus on the center instead of on the shoes. Sorry).
Remember the days when clerks at shoe stores measured your feet and put them on you? And even used a shoehorn? I can. And on Wednesday I had that experience again, with a clerk named Gregory.
to go with my dark brown wool pants, and then I bought a pair of green suede shoes just because I’d never seen anything quite like them before.