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Explore 6 stories that highlight Kansas City’s creative traditions and vibrant culture

Stories by Kansas City Star journalists, with AI summarization

Kansas City's creative tradition shines through its unique cultural events and community leaders. The new CurlChella Festival celebrates natural hair, bringing together stylists, advocates, and local residents for workshops and panels.

The enduring Plaza terracotta warriors on the Sister Cities International Bridge have faced several decapitations, but now stand strong as a symbol of international friendship. Vintage neon sign hunters like Rob Latimer document the city’s changing landscape, while Monica Pena keeps lowrider traditions alive by honoring friends at Dia de los Muertos. The Blakk Co. Social Club, first a safe space for Black men, now uplifts the wider community through wellness and networking events.

When Kansas Citians shopped for bread a century ago, they often got it from the Smith family. In 1888, B. Howard Smith opened the first Smith’s Steam Bakery on East 17th Street. By the time this postcard was published some twenty years later, he owned a chain of thirty bakeries. Three of them were local, most notably this one on the northeast corner of 18th & Cherry Streets. By Monty Davis

NO. 1: WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FAMOUS HONEY BREAD BAKERY IN KANSAS CITY?

The owner of Smith’s Steam Bakery eventually owned 30 bakeries, most notably this one at 18th and Cherry Streets in Kansas City. | Published June 19, 2024 | Read Full Story by Randy Mason

Two bronze castings of Chinese terracotta warriors stand just off the Country Club Plaza. A gift from Kansas City’s sister city of Xi’an, the statues were vandalized multiple times in their first year in Missouri. June 11, 2024. By Eleanor Nash

NO. 2: THESE KC WARRIORS HAVE SURVIVED 3 DECAPITATIONS. LEARN THE HISTORY OF THE PLAZA STATUES

A Star reader asked about these gifts from a sister city. Turns out, they had a rough first year in Kansas City. | Published June 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Eleanor Nash

Rob Latimer stands beneath the Town-Topic Hamburgers sign on West Baltimore Avenue on Saturday, June 22, 2024. For the last 25 years, the Kansas City graphic designer has photographed vintage neon signs. By HG Biggs

NO. 3: WHY THIS KANSAS CITY MAN IS ‘OBSESSED’ WITH FINDING VINTAGE NEON SIGNS AROUND TOWN

Check out his tips on how you can find your own glowing gems. | Published July 2, 2024 | Read Full Story by Eleanor Nash

Salon owner Tippi Shorter Rank styles the hair of Vantania Pelzee at Hair Love KC. By Roy Inman

NO. 4: TRAILBLAZING HAIR STYLIST CELEBRATES THE BEAUTY OF NATURAL HAIR WITH NEW KC FESTIVAL

“I think it will give them a sense of community and a sense of belonging. It will give them education and that’s really what it’s about.” | Published October 11, 2024 | Read Full Story by J.M. Banks

Monica Pena, the first female president of the KC Estilo Car Club, has honored fallen members of the local lowrider community with a Dia de los Muertos altar in the trunk of her 1948 Chevy Stylemaster coupe. Here, the car buff is seen in her 1959 El Camino Chevy. By Emily Curiel

NO. 5: LAST RIDE: KC’S ‘QUEEN OF LOWRIDERS’ HONORS FRIENDS WITH DIA DE LOS MUERTOS ALTAR

Monica Pena is the first female president of the KC Estilo Car Club. | Published October 31, 2024 | Read Full Story by Lisa Gutierrez

Christina Williams and her partner opened the Blackk Co. Social Club to create a safe space for Black men to congregate and network with fellow men of color

NO. 6: THESE WOMEN STARTED A MEN-ONLY SOCIAL CLUB AS A “SAFE SPACE,” FOR BLACK MEN IN KC

“One of the things we hear the most from people who attend is that they leave better than they came. “ | Published March 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by J.M. Banks

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.