Columbus Park is a very unique and diverse neighborhood that is actually part of downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Originally referred to as the North End, the neighborhood is defined by the highways that were cut through downtown and now surround it, making it one of the most accessible areas in town. Columbus Park is walking distance to the City Market and the Civic Plaza, a 5 minute drive to Crown Center, 10 minutes to Westport, 15 minutes to the Country Club Plaza, and 20 minutes to the Airport. There are many great restaurants within blocks, including Garozzo's, Vietnam Cafe, Happy Gillis Cafe and LaSala's Deli. The River Market is a ten minute walk, where you can find many more great bars and restaurants, as well as the City Market. The neighborhood was originally settled by Irish immigrants, but shortly thereafter became dominated by Italians, with the Holy Rosary Church as its anchor (two blocks from the Soda Lofts- you can hear the bell toll). Many Italian Americans still live in the neighborhood, and it is not uncommon to meet an elderly lady or gentleman in their 80's or 90's who still live within three blocks of where they grew up and, in at least one case, the house they were born in!