by Cara McClain

Is this a sick joke?

Last week, Forbes magazine published the a list of America’s best downtowns and included Kansas City.

My mom told me about it in passing, and I thought she was kidding.

I mean, I love Kansas City and think it’s great, but I didn’t think other people did too. I’ve always thought of Kansas City’s downtown as kind of an underdog you root for but never expect to win anything.

Forbes judged these cities based on “entertainment options, navigability, attractive architecture and a thriving downtown.”

Based on those criteria, I still don’t understand how Kansas City shone above other places.

1. Entertainment options

Well, the Sprint Center and the new Kauffman Center are obvious landmarks in this respect, but they’re hardly ever an option I seek for entertainment, given their pricey tickets.

2. Navigability

I agree with this one. Downtown may seem intimidating to drive through, but it’s actually fairly easy. Walking around it is even easier. Ok, so I understand their thought process here.

3. Attractive Architecture

True, Kansas City does have some especially pretty architecture, like my favorite, the New York Life Insurance building. I guess in terms of quantity of skyscrapers, Kansas City may be lacking, but not quality.

4. Thriving Downtown

This is the one I just don’t see as true. Maybe it’s just that downtown does not have a lot to offer people in my age range, so I don’t see many hanging out there. Still whenever I’m downtown, I feel less crowded than I do when I’m on the Plaza. Since Kansas City spreads out as a large metropolitan area, the concentration of people spreads too across different entertainment districts.

I’m assuming that the relatively new attractions (Power and Light, Sprint Center, Kauffman Center) are the reason Kansas City was chosen for this list. But those places only cater to those old, rich and white enough to go there.

What makes this city wonderful and entertaining are not those obvious, gimmicky places. The better parts of Kansas City are spread out just as much as the city. Neighborhoods like the West Side, Crossroads District, 39th Street, Brookside, and Waldo show more personality and attractiveness than our downtown. Kansas City, as a combination of all these parts, is far more attractive than our semi-barren dowtown alone.