Argentine - Kansas City, KS

Argentine started as a Shawnee reservation before settlers from the East turned the area into a silver smeltery, hence the origin of the neighborhood's name. The railroad moved into Argentine, making the region even more prosperous. Abundant timber provided fuel for the smelting process. Eventually, Argentine workers began to forge steel, and the city was incorporated in 1882.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the smeltery moved on and Argentine sought to become part of Kansas City during the town's economic downturn. Historic buildings include a Carnegie library and Sauer Castle.

Argentine Silver City Day celebrates the cultural heritage of the city with a parade, games, food and crafts. The early October evening culminates in an outdoor concert by a local band. Argentine Silver City Day dates back to 1935, and the festival gets bigger each year.

Local restaurants dominate the dining scene in Argentine. A few fast-food chains serve the populace. A couple of restaurants cluster in the south, along Merriam Lane, while one bar brings nightlife to the neighborhood. Several restaurant sit just west of Argentine, along Shawnee Drive.

Don't be discouraged by the rustic decor or simple menu at Woodyard Bar-B-Que on Merriam Lane. The food, once featured on the Food Network, comes to your plate perfectly grilled and smoked. Woodyard, as the name implies, uses real woods, such as peach, oak, hickory, pecan and cherry, to slow cook meats. You can even buy bundles of wood for your own backyard smoker. Choose from six meats on a sandwich, or try the ribs. They make five specialty sandwiches, including the Triple P, which has ham, pulled pork and smoked bacon with melted provolone. For a ton of meat, order a half chicken rubbed with Woodyard's special seasoning, or a pound of burnt ends or smoked salmon. Locals call the burnt ends chili, "a bowl full of comfort food perfect on a cold winter day."

Go Chicken Go focuses on fried chicken to go. Mix-and-match your favorite pieces of chicken in your own to-go box, with your choice of five sides. The real treat lies in deep-fried gizzards and chicken livers. Crispy outside but tender on the inside, the gizzards melt in your mouth with every bite. Add rolls, mashed potatoes and baked beans to form a staple meal in Argentine.

Amigo's Grill and Cantina features several Tex-Mex specialties, including tamales and chimichangas. For an appetizer, try three torpedoes — deep-fried chimichangas — that come filled with Monterrey Jack and chiles along with beef, chicken, pork or shrimp. The dinner specialty includes two huge pork tamales covered in chili, rice and beans. Have the bar mix you a classic margarita to complement your meal.

Big D's on the Hill marks Argentine's sole watering hole. Drink specials occur regularly, with extra-special prices during Kansas City Chiefs games. Other special events include holidays, such as Halloween and New Year's Eve. A DJ plays tunes regularly, and themed happy hours happen on different days of the week.

You need an automobile to get from one end of Argentine to the other because of winding roads, spread out homes and lots of green space between subdivisions. Many, but not all, streets have sidewalks for strolling among houses. Side streets are safe for bicycles, but watch out for hills. Major streets, with the exception of Merriam Lane, have too much traffic on narrow roadways for bikes.

Merriam Lane, in the south, accesses U.S. 69 to the east and Interstate 635 to the west. Shawnee Drive runs through the middle of Argentine and meets I-635 one exit away. Metropolitan Avenue is the main thoroughfare in the north. Woodland splits the town, running north and south. Access I-35 just to the south of town. If you need a taxi, several Kansas City-area services, including Uber, can pick you up.

KCATA buses stop at the Douglas Heights high rise at 40th and Lawrence on weekdays. The first pickup going eastbound occurs at 5:48 am, and the final drop off is at 9:56 pm.

Silver City Park, in the northeastern part of Argentine, features 40 acres of trees and trails. Adjacent Ruby Park contains a small, concrete path to jog, run or bike along, with playground equipment for kids. Bring your leashed pooch so your canine companion can get some exercise.

Matney Park has basketball courts, grills and a picnic shelter to complement a walking trail. Clopper Field, built for athletes, has tennis courts, a sand volleyball area and a soccer field.

Living costs slightly less here than in downtown Kansas City, and your dollar goes further with plenty of public services. A one-bedroom apartment runs approximately $600 per month, although the major apartment complex in Argentine contains two and three-bedroom units.

A day pass on KCATA buses costs $3 to go anywhere on the system, including the city center. Gasoline typically settles at 17 percent below the national average. A pint of beer costs approximately $3 at the local bar.

Most local shops exist along Merriam Lane and Metropolitan Avenue. Save-a-Lot and Walmart Neighborhood Market denote the grocery stores in town. A few discount chains bring low-priced products to Argentine. The Rosedale Farmers Market supplies fresh fruits and vegetables one to the east of Argentine.

Mickey's Surplus bills itself as Kansas City's oldest surplus store. The huge store has shelves and racks filled with military surplus, survival gear, camping supplies and apparel. An Israeli-made gas mask, a formal U.S. Army officer's hat, GI backpacks and a U.S. Navy deck cap characterize some of the most interesting items in the store. Mickey's has served Argentine for nearly 60 years, and the store shows no signs of slowing down.

Farmstead Nuts & Treats, along Merriam Lane, specializes in seasonal selections of nuts, dried fruits and chocolates, put in party trays for autumn and winter gift-giving. The storefront, with a small warehouse in back, opens at Labor Day and closes at Christmas. Owners make trail mix, pecan turtles and other gooey confections fresh for customers every season, and most items are less than a week old when bought.