OK, let’s take a look at Christmas. If anyone is like me out there, there is still holiday shopping to be done. My dad always has the notion that Christmas gifts are not necessarily the most practical in nature.
There are some great places around town to shop for unique gifts. There’s the American Jazz Museum’s Swing Shop, described as a jazz enthusiasts’ dream store. Located within the American Jazz Museum, the Swing Shop offers a unique selection of jazz related memorabilia: books, classic jazz CDs, CDs by Kansas City’s finest artists, apparel and more.
The museum store at the National World War I Museum is a favorite place for me. For the history buffs in the family, this is the place to go. There are models, posters, souvenirs, music/DVDs, apparel, postcards, toys and more. Another cute store that people may not think about is inside the Toy & Miniature Museum. The store has a lot of nostalgic items like jacks and marbles. It’s pretty cool.
For the more artistic in the audience, there’s the store in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. They even have a limited-edition ornament to aid in the Joplin Business Recovery Fund, established by the Greater Joplin Chamber of Commerce. The benefit project is a collaboration between the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and renowned ceramics artist Irma Starr.
Designed by Starr, the “Joplin Angel” takes its inspiration from the Museum’s Burnap Collection of English pottery. Starr works in the same 17th Century slipware method. Her work is in the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery, on the White House Christmas tree, and prized by private collectors.
Starr has collaborated with the Museum since she graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute forty years ago, with the Museum Store offering much of her work for sale to the public. The “Joplin Angel” will be available for sale to the public at the gift shop at the Museum and in their online store.
Another sort of artistic joy might come in memberships to museums like the National World War I Museum or the Toy and Miniature Museum. At the Nelson, membership gives the holder a ticket to featured exhibitions, invitations to members-only events, free parking, discounts at Rozzelle Court and the Museum Store, and discounts on classes and lectures.
One more thought – what about tickets to a favorite hometown group? The Bach Aria Soloists offers a special three-concert package. Other organizations like the Liberty Symphony Orchestra offers concert tickets. What could be better than to support a local performance group that might help that group out? I can’t think of much else.
I know this list is short and I am sure there are hundreds of other gift options. If you have suggestions, post them on our KC Studio Facebook page.
