Quick heads-up that there are two intriguing events through the Kansas City Public Library this week. The Postwar Dream Home: The Ranch House, a presentation by Mary van Balgooy, is at the Plaza Branch Tuesday, April 28 at 6:30. I would be there with bells on, but everything in my life is happening between 3 and 8 pm Tuesday evening. Balgooy is a leading authority on ranch houses and has written a biography on architect Cliff May. There is a reception preceding at 6:00. More information here.
Equally intriguing, for those with curious and creative minds, Joshua Wolf Shenk will discuss his new book Powers of Two: Finding the Essence of Innovation in Creative Pairs, on Wednesday, April 29th at 6:30 pm at the Central Library downtown. Again, there is a reception at 6:00. More information on this event here.
In general, there’s loads of good stuff happening at the library and you’d be smart to sign up for their weekly newsletter.
Image lifted with only the purest intent from KC Modern.
OMG – talk about bringing back OLD memories! When my parents were first married, they lived in KC. My mother saved her singing money (paid soprano soloist at 2nd Presbyterian church) and they bought a lot on Terrydale Rd in Johnson County. Then they had an architect draw up plans for their "dream house" – a ranch house much like the one pictured. WWII came along and no building could be done. After the war, building costs skyrocketed and they could no longer afford to build their dream house, so they started construction on a small Cape. The day the foundation was poured, my father was transferred to Topeka KY by SW Bell. They never got to live in that house. One hundred families were transferred and there were very few houses for sale, so prices skyrocketed there – couldn't even build the same house from KC in Topeka – had to build a much smaller Cape, in which I grew up. Thanks for the memories!