Street Cred: Union Hill According to Travis Joyal – 435 Magazine

PR pro and Union Hill resident Travis Joyal curates his beloved historic neighborhood.

BY NANCY STAAB, PHOTOS BY LANDON VONDERSCHMIDT

Don’t let his fresh-faced appearance fool you; Travis Joyal is a seasoned PR professional who currently serves as partner and co-owner of his own public relations firm in KC, Page Communications. There he juggles big-ticket and smaller boutique clients with aplomb from Legends Outlets to bastion of barbecue Q39, in fields including hospitality, retail, charity, health care, education and entertainment. With a special focus on restaurants, Joyal has developed strategic and creative solutions for clients such as Kansas City Restaurant Week (Jan. 15-24, 2016), the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association, and multiple well- known area restaurants via traditional media and social media, as well as creative promotions. Turning his PR skills to good use, Joyal spearheaded the marketing effort for the Dining for JJ’s fundraising effort in 2013 in the wake of the tragic gas explosion. This year his Dining for Heroes campaign raised more than $125,000 for the families of local fallen firefighters John Mesh and Larry Leggio. Joyal’s media savvy has also landed clients in the national spotlight via placement on CNN, Time magazine, The Chicago Tribune, The View, American Idol and the Food Network.

Joyal may have grown up in Rock Valley, Iowa, but he has taken to KC like a fish to water, including his historic neighborhood of Union Hill — a charming and refurbished little pocket of residential life in the heart of urban KC and just a stone’s throw from Crown Center and Liberty Memorial. In his rare spare time, Joyal is active in promoting Page Communication’s pro bono work for clients such as the Kansas City Repertory Theatre and Kansas City CARE Clinic’s annual Bloom Party fundraiser. He also enjoys spending time with his dogs outdoors, traveling, sports, dining out, games (he’s a sucker for “anything involving trivia”) and of course counts himself a “die-hard Royals fan.”  Below he rates some of his favorite haunts in his idyllic and historic nabe — from the perfect coffee fill-up and a sleek showroom for Italian designs, to the best fish tacos in town.

 

Joyal’s Picks:

Union Cemetery

The oldest public cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri, Union Cemetery i the final resting place of more than 55,000, including many pioneers who shaped the city. Occupants include renowned painter George Caleb Bingham; Thomas J. Goforth, the first mayor of Westport; and Alexander Majors, the creator of the Pony Express. The 49-acre cemetery is a secluded respite within the bustling urban core, much like Central Park is to New York City. It’s prefect for meditating strolls and historic revelations. 227 East 28^th Terrace, Kansas City, Mo., (816) 472-4990, uchskc.org

 

Buttonwood Art Space

A community-focused art space and gallery, the facility is housed in the Buttonwood Financial Group building on Main Street. The 7,500-square-foot space hosts two-month-long exhibitions featuring local artists with a portion of all proceeds benefiting a local nonprofit organization. Buttonwood also throws some really fun art shows during First Fridays that are open to the public. 3013 Main St., Kansas City, Mo., (816) 285-9040,buttonwoodartspace.com

 

Museo ​

Museo, a provider of classic modern furniture and lighting, specializes in contemporary European brands such as Alessi, Kartell, Tom Dixon and B&B Italia. Waking through the showroom is like walking through a museum — leaving me longing for new furniture and lighting in my home every time I visit. 3021 Main St., Kansas City, Mo., (816) 531-3537, museousa.com

 

Barrel 31

Barrel 31 is housed in a completely renovated 125-year-old building with fun, modern design elements like a leather-wrapped bar rail. While the lunch and dinner menus are solid, and weekend brunch (available on Saturday and Sunday) is one of the best in the area, what brings me back to Barrel 31 time and time again is the vast selection of whiskeys and bourbons. The Appalachian Sangria is Barrel 31’s take on the traditional sangria, but replaces brandy with whiskey! 400 E. 31^st St., Kansas City, Mo., (816) 569-3801, barrel31.com

 

Filling Station

Union Hill’s immediate neighbor to the east, The Filling Station, is a locally owned coffee shop that features my favorite espresso in the city from Messenger Coffee Company. Housed in a former filling station, the coffee shop also offers great breakfast and lunch options, including an array of baked goods and pastries, sandwiches, salads, wraps and fresh pressed juices. 2980 McGee Trafficway, Kansas City, Mo., (816) 931-4335, fillingstationcoffee.com

 

Tower Tavern

With 16 beers on tap and 17 high-definition TVs through the restaurant and bar, Tower Tavern is the local spot to catch any sporting event. A killer happy hour menu is offered Monday – Friday from 3-7 p.m. and includes $3 off well drinks and $1 off draft beers. 401 E. 31^st St., Kansas City, Mo., (816) 931-9300,towertavernkc.com

 

Sol Cantina

The best fish tacos in the city. Enough said! 408 E. 31^st St., Kansas City, Mo., (816) 931-8080,solcantina.com