Kansas City is home to many artists and artist collectives. Here are a few places around the city where you can engage with local artists, makers and craftspeople—most offer inclusive studio classes and workspaces for you to tap into your own creativity. Kansas City Textile Arts Center @kctextileartscenter Kansas City Textile Arts Center is a… Continue reading Creative Spaces in Kansas City
This year’s Halloween weekend is packed with events in Kansas City, from paranormal investigations to a disco night at one of the city’s swankiest nightspots. Here are our seven favorite Halloween events in KC for the weekend of October 29-31, 2021. Dark Forest | Thursday, October 28-Sunday, October 31 Quixotic’s Dark Forest is returning to… Continue reading 7 Things To Do In KC This Weekend: October 29–31, 2021
Strang Hall, the food hall in Overland Park, is expanding to the Lightwell building in downtown Kansas City. Menlo Food Labs, Strang Hall’s parent company, announced today that they will be opening The Strang Chef Collective at Lightwell, bringing two new restaurant concepts, with breakfast, lunch, dinner, organic coffee, tea, juice and a full-service bar,… Continue reading A new food hall is coming to downtown KC
Kansas City has long been a city of artists, but the last year and a half of pandemic living led to more people than ever making things like kiln-fired porcelain earrings, custom resin-filled charcuterie trays and fine art prints that forever capture floral arrangements from important life events. After talking to makers around the city, we’ve cultivated a new collection of art and goods. From plant-derived perfume oils to hand-painted ceramic teeth, our list… Continue reading Meet the Makers: Handmade products from 34 locals we love
Mark Alford, the former co-host of Fox 4’s morning show, will run for Congress. Alford, who has voiced complaints about being “a conservative Christian who supports small business” in Kansas City media will run for U.S. Congress in Missouri’s sprawling fourth Congressional district, which currently runs from Raymore in the west all the way to Columbia and… Continue reading Former Fox 4 TV host Mark Alford is running for Congress
Aztec Shawnee Theater is showing its first film in forty-seven years tomorrow night: The original 1931 Dracula with Bela Lugosi. It’s been ninety years since the film was first shown at Aztec Theater. Located on the main drag in Shawnee, Aztec Theater stirred major enthusiasm when it announced its reopening earlier this year. The theater… Continue reading The Aztec Theater will show its first film since closing in 1974
Wayside Waifs partnered with His & Her Fitness to host a family-friendly event to raise money for animals’ food, shelter and veterinary care. Fluff Your Pup featured a day full of doggy activities with a photo booth from Insta KC, music from DJ Ashton, a photoshoot with Kansas City magazine, and more. The event also held dog… Continue reading The Scene: Fluff Your Pup: His & Her Fitness
A lifetime ago, before retinol cream entered my bedtime routine, many nights included a stop at MiniBar. (It helped that, for a time, I lived in a duplex right behind the establishment.) It was usually my last stop, the place I’d go when I wasn’t quite ready for the night to end, and I would sip a three-dollar Hamm’s or knock back a shot of… Continue reading Nice cocktails at MiniBar? Ryan Miller has a plan
In September, Mayor Lucas tweeted that the first of hundreds of Afghan refugees have been welcomed to Kansas City. Now, three organizations designated by the Department of State are working in Kansas City to resettle Afghan refugees who fled the conflict in Afghanistan after the Taliban took over the country. The organizations help refugees feel… Continue reading What can Kansas Citians do to help Afghan refugees?
Chiefs superfan X-Factor, the nom de guerre of local man Ty Rowton, has just announced his retirement, saying that he was “becoming a monster.” Rowton, who is known by his signature red triangle hat, has been a polarizing figure among Chiefs fans for years. The attention accelerated after the Bills game, in which he became… Continue reading ‘I was becoming a monster:’ Chiefs superfan X-Factor will retire
Van Gogh Alive | Saturday, October 23–Friday, December 31 The much-hyped show makes use of moving images, sounds, lights and fragrances to create a multi-sensory experience designed to transport you into the world of one of the most influential artists in history. This weekend is the opening weekend for the installation, and while it runs… Continue reading 7 things to do in KC this weekend: October 22–24, 2021
“As you well know, a record must break on radio in order to actually make a living for the artists involved. Up until now, you’ve had to make these decisions on your own relying on perplexing intangibilities like taste and intuition. But now, there’s a better way. The cut that follows has been analytically designed to break on radio…” In the… Continue reading Why ‘The Lester Bangs of DJs’ Ray Velasquez is bringing back his groundbreaking electronic music show
Fall restaurant and bar openings in Kansas City include a drive-thru coffee shop from Southern Oregon and a post-pandemic revival from Crossroads Hotel. New Amsterdam Kansas City is about to get just a little more stoked with the help of an Oregon import. Dutch Bros. Coffee is a chain of drive-thru coffee shops from sunny… Continue reading ‘Stoked’ Oregon coffee chain, local beef in South OP and more restaurant news for November 2021
If you’ve tried Malört, you know it’s comparable to chewing the pages of a two-hundred-year-old library book. Or, as local food writer and Pitch restaurant critic Liz Cook says, “The shot tastes like asphalt and citronella, like licking the floor of a shop that sells tires.” That quote comes from someone who likes Malört—so much… Continue reading Minibar will host a festival dedicated to notoriously bitter Malört
Overland Park will officially declare October 18 as “Jason Sudeikis Day.” The Ted Lasso star, who recently won an Emmy and Golden Globe for his new hit show, is being honored for his continued commitment to his hometown. Sudeikis, a Shawnee Mission West grad and Overland Park native, has been active in local charities and… Continue reading Jason Sudeikis Day is October 18 in Overland Park
If you look out the window while driving through the rolling expanses of the Flint Hills, you’ll see some of the best views Kansas has to offer—rolling hills full of native grasses and wildflowers that give the area its unique beauty. However, that beauty could soon be lost because of a subtle, unexpected and serious threat: Old World bluestem, an invasive… Continue reading Not all bluestem grass is good for the prairie
There are no pit tours at Snow’s BBQ. At the best Texas-style barbecue pit in the world according to The New Yorker, and the defending best in the state according to its monthly magazine, they’re busy manning the t-shirt stand, and not showing looky-loos around the ancient pits around back. I waited three hours for… Continue reading Goldee’s Has Got To Be The Best BBQ in Texas
Elisa and Marjain Breitenbach “hate politics.” The owners of Doughboys Donuts in Raytown wake up at 1 am to start their day so they can be stocked with Bismarks and red velvet cake doughnuts when they open before dawn. Making doughnuts, they say, is enough to keep them busy on most days. “This doughnut business… Continue reading Three local restaurants became embroiled in the Covid culture wars—results varied
Legends of Hip Hop | Friday, October 15 Finally rescheduled from its early pandemic cancelation, this tour will take you straight back to that drank-fueled, micro-golden era of Gulf Coast hip-hop. Don’t miss the chance to see Mystikal, Juvenile, Scarface and Bun B on one bill. One day you’re here, baby, and the next day… Continue reading 7 things to do in KC this weekend: October 15–17, 2021
After temporarily closing like many restaurants during the pandemic, Lazia is set to relight its candelabras and little pink neon sign on Friday, November 12. The restaurant’s location in a hotel led to its slow return compared to most KC establishments, and it’s among the last of highly anticipated returns from the pandemic. The Italian… Continue reading A signature Crossroads restaurant will finally reopen from covid closure
When Casey Lueck opened his business on the main drag in Grandview, he intentionally left the word “barbecue” off the sign. “I was kind of afraid to put barbecue on the sign just because it’s such a saturated market here,” he says. “But the barbecue took off because that’s what everyone wanted.” Right now, that… Continue reading Belton’s oldest building will soon be home to a craft barbecue spot
Paul Dorrell, owner of Brookside’s Leopold Gallery, isn’t done raising hell yet. His gallery is celebrating its thirty-year anniversary on the Kansas City art scene this Friday, October 8 from 6 pm-9 pm. Dorrell remembers that in the late ’80s, Kansas City considered itself a cultural backwater. Now, the art scene is highly regarded on… Continue reading ‘Nothing can compare to this time culturally’: Paul Dorrell on 30 years of Leopold Gallery
Kansas City wants the 2026 World Cup. If you’ve driven by Main Street in downtown Kansas City lately, chances are you’ve seen the massive ninty-by-ninty-foot sign with the message “We want the World Cup” written in bold white letters. With the upcoming FIFA representatives visit expected in late October, Kansas City is one step closer… Continue reading We want the World Cup: Kansas City prepares for visit as 2026 FIFA Host City decision nears
The Riot Room in Westport is officially closed. With no bands touring and no audience buying tickets, the live music venue was forced to shut its doors after taking large financial losses during the pandemic. Riot Room co-owner Tim Gutschenritter confirmed the news to KCUR Monday, stating that the landlord has leased the property to… Continue reading The Riot Room closes its doors after 13 years
Braden’s Hope For Childhood Cancer is a local organization that raises awareness and funds for targeted treatments of childhood cancers. Their biggest event is the Hope Gala which was held on September 25, 2021 at the Overland Park Convention Center. This year’s event featured a brunch, dinner, and a virtual program as well. People from all… Continue reading The Scene: Braden’s Hope Annual Hope Gala
We’ve seen a lot of creative ideas come out of Kansas City during the pandemic. However, not many of them are quite as memorable as a Honda Element completely covered in shag carpeting, sporting dog ears. Andy Wiltz, the owner of Kansas City’s Woof’s Play & Stay, and his father Dan are the innovative minds… Continue reading Totally redeemed! Local doggie daycare makes a ‘Dumb & Dumber’ inspired car
A Halloween pop-up bar modeled after a Victorian parlor has just arrived in the Westport neighborhood. “It’s meant to tell a story and leave an impression,” says Julep owner, Keely Edgington. “You’ll feel like you’ve just entered the space after a seance has gone awry.” Something Wicked is located in the back lounge area of… Continue reading ‘Victorian parlor’ Halloween pop-up bar now open in Westport
