JBK-Overflow: December 2018

It had been raining overnight and into the early morning in Independence.

I went to the Independence Center shopping mall to walk around for a while before the stores opened.

When I left the mall, I saw that the rain had let up quite a bit, but there was still some rain coming down.

As I drove home, I noticed a man at the Highway 291 off ramp at Highway 40. I couldn't tell if he was panhandling or if he was trying to hitch a ride somewhere.

It is not unusual to see panhandlers or hitchhikers at this location.

What was unusual was that this man was playing a guitar. He was playing his guitar in the rain!

I thought, "Man, you're going to ruin your guitar!"

But I guess he didn't care.

Anyway, that was something that you don't see every day.

Westin Crown Center, Left. World War I Memorial, Right.

#KansasCity #Kansas City #Missouri #MO #KCMO

Notice light rail tram or trolley, center right.

#KansasCity #Kansas City #KCMO #Missouri #MO #downtown

Yesterday I said that there are only two indoor shopping malls left in the Kansas City Metro Area.

I had forgotten about Crown Center. That is probably because I don't think of Crown Center as being a shopping mall. Crown Center is located downtown, in Kansas City proper. Crown Center is also not as spread out as most shopping malls are.

But Crown Center does have numerous shops and restaurants under one roof. So, in that sense, it could be considered to be an indoor shopping mall.

Saw this sign while on a hike near Weston, Missouri in November 2018.

#sign #surveying

Photo from November 2018 showing Missouri River and floodplain in #Kansas.

#nature #river #MissouriRiver #Missouri River #water #reflection #trees #autumn

This photo was taken last month from a hiking trail at Weston Bend State Park, near Weston, #Missouri.

We see #colorful #Autumn leaves in the foreground and a limestone #bedrock #outcrop in the background.

#hike #hiking #recreation #path #trail #MO #midwest #outdoor #outside #scene #scenery

This photo of the Christmas tree at Independence Center was taken before the shops opened up.

The tree is located in the middle of the mall, next to the food court.

One of the anchor stores at Independence Center is Sears.

It makes me sad to think about what a great store Sears used to be and what has become of it.

I was trying to get some exercise at the mall this morning. The Christmas decorations are still up and they look nice. The shops have not opened yet in this photo.

I was thinking about how there are only two indoor malls left in the Kansas City Metro Area. Both of them were built in the 1970's.

This photo was taken at one of the two remaining indoor malls, Independence Center. The other indoor mall still in business is on the Kansas side, in Overland Park. All of the other indoor malls are gone.

All of the more recent retail developments are strip malls or outdoor shopping centers.

I cannot understand why outdoor shopping centers are coming back. They are hot in the summer and cold and icy in the winter. Why is retail going back to the outdoor shopping center model? I just don't get it.

Monday, December 31, 2018

Sunday, December 30, 2018

Saturday, December 29, 2018

Friday, December 28, 2018

Thursday, December 27, 2018