Monday, August 17, 2009
One click of a mouse could help Lawrence and the Spencer Museum of Art become top tourist destinations in the Kansas City area.
The Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association nominated these two attractions to be part of an online poll that will designate the best places to visit in the Kansas City area. The association nominated Lawrence as a top day-trip destination and the University’s Spencer Museum of Art as a favorite art museum or gallery in the area.
The Spencer Museum of Art has been nominated for the KC Visitors' Choice 09 competition as the favorite museum or gallery in the Kansas City area. Carolyn Chinn Lewis, the museum's assistant director, said the museum offered a "laboratory for new thinking, creative energy."
Amy Woodmancy, who moved to Lawrence 19 years ago, said Lawrence deserved the nomination because of its “old town” friendliness.
“It is really unique because it doesn’t have many big businesses like Wal-Mart,” Woodmancy said. “It still has smaller places that actually know you when you come in. You can’t get that at Wal-Mart.”
Woodmancy’s husband, Glenn, said he thought the town had a lot to offer visitors with different interests.
“It’s got variety, historical interest,” he said. “There are activities for young and old alike.”
Cars stream up and down Massachusetts Street late Thursday evening as seen from atop the Eldridge Hotel. The city's quaint downtown, which offers a venue for local businesses, has earned Lawrence a reputation as a great shopping destination, says longtime resident Amy Woodmancy.
Asisa Asseily, Kiel, Germany, graduate student, said Lawrence deserved recognition for the restaurants and entertainment downtown, but that a person needed more than a day to fully appreciate the city.
“It’s all about the people here, really,” Asseily said. “That’s what makes it a good place — getting to know the people.”
Heather Putnam, Los Angeles graduate student, examines the Asian art exhibit at the Spencer Museum of Art. The museum has been nominated for the KC Visitors' Choice 09 competition as the best museum or gallery in the Kansas City area. Voting continues through Aug. 31
Asseily said the museum was also a worthy destination for visitors because it offered a “sophisticated collection” of art.
Carolyn Chinn Lewis, assistant director of the Spencer Museum of Art, said the museum had one particular advantage compared with its competition.
“It’s a university art museum. We can provide a laboratory for new thinking, creative energy,” Lewis said. “There’s always something new going on here.”
Greg Weseloh, Liberty, Mo., senior, said the museum had a unique selection of art that merited respect.
“They’ve got really good stuff there,” Weseloh said. “The exhibits are usually pretty interesting.”
The Spencer Museum of Art is competing with four other museums for the vote — the Dolphin Gallery, the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art.
Lawrence is competing with Independence, Mo., Weston, Mo., Parkville, Mo. and Overland Park.
Although the competition is tough, Lewis said she wasn’t concerned about winning but was just thankful to be nominated.
“We’re thrilled,” Lewis said. “And that will be the icing on the cake if we can win it.”
Anyone can vote by going to www.visitkc.com, then to “Visitors’ Choice Awards.”
People can vote every day until Aug. 31.
Winners will be featured on the www.visitkc.com Web site.
— — Edited by Michelle Sprehe
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Comments
KU museum up for top tourist recognition
Saying "Anyone can vote" isn't accurate; according to the visitkc website, "To ensure that the winners are true visitor choices, only votes from outside the five-county metro area will be counted."
I'd assume they'll validate location based on the computer's location & routing...
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