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'The Toy Shop' Holiday Pop Up Bar

A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE INSIDE AN ART EXHIBIT AT THE CROSSROADS HOTEL

Article by Mindy Hargesheimer

Photography by Mindy Hargesheimer

And you get a bar! And you get a bar! With the oh so in-demand “holiday pop-ups bars” springing up all around town, how does one decide on which to get to? The answer is easy: ALL! So, let’s now unwrap the details on The Crossroads Hotel holiday pop-up bar The Toy Shop, in Kansas City’s Crossroads district. 

RELATED: Christmas Magic at Miracle Pop Up KC  

Inside The Toy Shop

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December is the season to remember for an overabundance of toys, layers of tinsel, more than the norm glammed up nights, and seasonal drinks in full sip-ready supply. This year, The Crossroads Hotel partnered up with local distiller, Tom’s Town, for a unique pop up experience, inclusive of holiday-themed craft cocktails, eggnog, and even a delectable Christopher Elbow Hot Chocolate bar.

As you keep your Holiday Pop Up Bar trot going and land next at the Crossroads Hotel's The Toy Shop, recognize that it’s not like all the others.

"We're doing that holiday pop up bar thing, but just a little different,” says lifestyle director Jeremy Bennett.

With that in mind, The Toy Shop is located inside The Crossroad Hotel's artist studio. The winter art installation is called “Gasoline Rainbow,” and features a colorful compilation of vintage toys, décor, and keepsakes, envisioned and brought to life by artist and Kansas City Art Institute student Jimmy Trotter.

Housed next to the in-house DJ with tables and chairs to sit back and enjoy your surroundings, you might find yourself mesmerized by the twinkling lights while reminiscing about your own storied past as the neighboring art unleashes buried memories tied to these familiar and nostalgia-inducing figurines.

With a cocktail menu on draft, ask for the Sugar Plum Fairy made with TT Blueberry Butterfly Pea Tea Infused Vodka, or maybe opt for the Yule Logroni with TT’s Candy Cane-Infused Vodka. Open through Dec 28!

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Experience The Crossroads Hotel

If you haven’t yet experienced The Crossroads Hotel, you are missing out on this part hospitality, part art gallery concept. One of KC's hippest and MOST stylish new hospitality masterpieces, the Crossroads Hotel lives up to my philosophy of "traveling" amongst your own metropolis and is mega-worthy of a much-deserved staycation. Come experience all aspects of this storied property and appreciate the attention to design and Kansas City history. 

RELATED: Spot Who’s Who at The Crossroads Hotel

Built in 1911, The Crossroads Hotel is home to the original Pabst Blue Ribbon Brewing; a prohibition-era property formerly under the ownership of the infamous Tom Pendergast. All throughout you'll find the conservation of vintage materials cleverly and modernistically styled, from beer cans to booze vaults; add local maker details, like the richest Fox Trot Supply door hangers you ever did see, or the sweetest pillow chocolates Christopher Elbow could dream up, and the entire property exemplifies Kansas City culture, old and new, at its finest.

Resident restaurant, Lazia, serves up the most unique Italian dining experience you will find; with old world-inspired Italian dishes devoured amongst an unexpected playlist of hip-hop tracks. And, settle into the lobby's XR bar, where you can sip cocktails while soaking up works of modern art and playing your hand at bar games. 

RELATED: Historic Meets Modern at The Crossroads Hotel

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