Jess Pope answers his own phone. This is unusual. Pope is a star athlete. He is one of the best rodeo cowboys on earth. At just twenty-four years old, Pope won his first world championship for bareback riding along with his third consecutive National Finals Rodeo average title, meaning he finished with the highest combined… Continue reading Jess Pope: Rodeo Rider
Here are sixteen great things to do in KC this weekend, June 1-4, including: Little Women at Union Station, Aladdin at Kansas City Music Hall and Clint Black at Yardley Hall. Little Women Adapted from the beloved novel by Louisa May Alcott, Little Women is adapted for the stage by Kate Hamill and Directed by… Continue reading Sixteen Things To Do In KC This Weekend, June 1-4
Clint Black June 2. 8 pm. Legend Clint Black has been a music industry star for more than three decades. His debut album, Killin’ Time, transformed country music and cemented Black as a true country-music traditionalist. Clint’s newest album, Out of Sane, is mostly original songs and recorded with an eclectic group of musicians. June… Continue reading The Best events in KC for June 2023
When Trae Q L Venerable gets to the barn, he immediately texts his wife, Jasmine, to let her know that he’s getting started. Then he slides his iPhone in his back pocket and leaves the world behind. He greets Stormy, his two-year-old filly, with a tip of his hat and a low murmur. It’ll be… Continue reading Missouri native is determined to preserve the legacy of Black cowboys
Before meeting John Harrison, I was told that the current, correct term for his job is “entertainer.” That, however, isn’t how he introduces himself. “John Harrison, rodeo clown and barrel-man,” he says. “I didn’t think we called them clowns anymore?” I ask. He answers in an easy Oklahoma drawl. “Well, you know, some people get… Continue reading Clowning Around
It began with stockyards in the West Bottoms. What is now known as the American Royal was once just dirt-covered fields thick with an overwhelming smell of livestock that could be carried for miles by the strong midwestern winds. In 1871 on the Missouri side of the Kansas River, along the Kansas Pacific and Missouri… Continue reading KC’s American Royal Evolves
The heart of downtown Shawnee is well on its way to becoming known for its drink scene. James Beard Award finalist and cocktail bar Drastic Measures has been a major attraction to the area. And now Friction Beer Co. is soon to be added to Shawnee’s bar roster when it opens the end of June (11018… Continue reading A Shawnee-based craft brewery is opening at the end of June
From fronting Midwestern rock ‘n’ roll band The Rainmakers to his solo endeavors, Americana legend Bob Walkenhorst has been writing songs for forty years. Walkenhorst’s career began in Kansas City in the early eighties, and his music catalog is lengthy. When asked if any of his songs have special meaning for him, Walkenhorst’s response is… Continue reading Songwriting remains Americana legend Bob Walkenhorst’s passion
Itching to get away from the hustle of everyday life? Want to know what a true farm-to-table meal tastes like? Ready to be awoken by a rooster crow instead of your phone’s alarm? Consider taking a cowboy-cation. Cowboy-cations, which are also known as agrotourism, are a growing trend of combining travel with hands-on experiences in… Continue reading Live out your Yellowstone fantasies with one of these cowboy-cations.
Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop has been a KC staple, serving hungry crowds for the past twenty years. With two locations, one in Westwood and another in the Crossroads, the beloved restaurant officially opened a third in Overland Park (7921 Sante Fe Drive, Overland Park, KS). It’s new prime location neighbors the nationally recognized Overland Park… Continue reading Popular Thai noodle shop opens third location in Overland Park
Here are twelve great things to do in KC this Memorial Day weekend, May 25-28, including: Cirque du Soleil’s new show, Corteo, and several festivals throughout KC and Kansas. Cirque du Soleil: Corteo The world’s largest and most popular circus performance group, Cirque du Soleil, fuses high-performance dance with acrobatics to bring their newest show,… Continue reading Twelve Things To Do In KC This Weekend, May 25-28
For Jonathan Garvey, it was a no-brainer to merge fashion and charity. The son of missionaries in Mexico, he always had a giving spirit. After the pandemic hit and impacted so many peoples’ livelihoods, the Garvey family started a nonprofit community kitchen, Feed a Family, which helps provide food to underprivileged communities in Mexico. Jonathan… Continue reading KC Fashion designer Jonathan Garvey talks about his Crossroads’ store, Pancho’s Blanket, and Mexican traditions he’s keeping alive
Not many people in Kansas City have boated on the Missouri River even though it flows right past the city’s doorstep. “It’s big, it’s daunting, it’s difficult to access,” says Steve Schnarr, director of Missouri River Relief. That’s one reason the Columbia-based nonprofit sometimes has a waiting list for its annual cleanup that starts at… Continue reading KC River Restoration: Giving the Big Muddy a makeover
KC native Mike Gregg and his wife Phyllis Gregg are starting their maiden voyage in the restaurant world with McGregor’s Butcher and Bistro (11300 W 135th St. Overland Park, KS). The establishment, which officially opened last week, consists of a butcher shop on one side, and a fine dining bistro and bar on the other. Chef… Continue reading A full-service butcher shop and bistro opens in Overland Park
In today’s world, gambling is easier than ever. Gone are the days of traveling to a casino with a pocket full of cash. Now, with the swipe of a finger and a credit card number, a bet can be made. Studies have shown that with the increased accessibility there has also been a rise in… Continue reading A study shows one in five Missourians could become gambling addicts.
Construction of a highly anticipated family-friendly resort with rides and entertainment at Lake of the Ozarks is set to begin this year, with plans to dazzle tourists by summer 2024. Developers of the $350 million project known as Oasis at Lakeview promise the new resort and entertainment district set in Osage Beach will be packed… Continue reading Resort and entertainment venue coming to Lake of the Ozarks.
Last year, the Overland Park farmers market was voted the nation’s No.1 Farmers Market by America’s Farmers Market Celebration, an organization that highlight’s markets across the country that “make a difference for farmers, ranchers, and communities.” Located in downtown Overland Park, the market is a breeze to navigate and conveniently shaded under a massive awning. Throughout… Continue reading New 2023 food vendors at KC’s nationally recognized farmers market
Mamas, do let your babies grow up to be cowboys. Despite very rough and lawless beginnings, the modern-day cowboy mystique and culture that’s emerged is a blend of rugged individualism, personal honesty and chivalrous behavior. It’s said that the hazardous work and isolated conditions of early frontier life bred a tradition of self-dependence and the… Continue reading Cowboy Code
Betty Rae’s Ice Cream has been a KC staple since it opened in 2016. Alec Rodgers, who took ownership of the beloved shop in 2021, is officially handing the reigns to Shatto Milk Company Vice President Matt Shatto. Selling the ice cream company to Shatto includes Betty Rae’s KC two locations in Waldo and River… Continue reading KC’s Betty Rae’s changes ownership again…but this time more amicably
Folks don’t usually head to the city tow yard for a good reason. More often than not, it’s to collect an impounded car. “Nobody’s really leaving that place happy—they pay a lot of money to get their car, and it can be hard,” says artist Matthew Dehaemers, who thought a lot about how people experience… Continue reading Seven massive parking gates wave goodbye to drivers at KC’s tow yard.
Here are fourteen great things to do in KC this weekend, May 18-21, including: The Princess Bride in concert, Thomas Rhett at T-Mobile Center and Willie Nelson at Azura Amphitheater. Peter Pan and Wendy Taking the original spirit of adventure and wonder from J.M. Barrie’s classic, Lauren M. Gunderson’s fresh adaption, Peter Pan and Wendy,… Continue reading Fourteen Things To Do In KC This Weekend, May 18-21
We’ve seen craft cocktails with homemade syrups and shrubs, fancy charcuterie boards, and, recently, even butter boards as trendy artisanal food meant to wow and to share. But our newest obsession is small-batch vanilla extract. In recent years, there has been an increasing emphasis on specialized and unique artisanal products, especially as gifts or for… Continue reading KC business making small batch gourmet vanilla
Although the concept of a “darkness retreat” has been around from time immemorial, a spiritual practice used in many religions, it recently started trending when Aaron Rogers announced he was going to hunker down in utter darkness for a few days and contemplate his life choices. Dark therapy is about depriving yourself of light and… Continue reading A twelve-acre farm near Lake Jacomo is home to a “darkness retreat”
Is it true that opposites attract? What makes relationships work? How can we find the best potential match? Sean Prall, an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of Missouri, is close to answering those questions. He’s been observing and studying the behavior of Himba, a group of semi-nomadic agro-pastoralists in northwest Namibia, for five… Continue reading MU anthropologist says relationships are better between people with similar levels of desirability
Restaurateurs Andy Lock and Domhnall Molloy will be adding a third location of their popular Third Street Social restaurant in the Northland. The restaurant, known for its classic American burgers and comfort food, will occupy a seven thousand-square-foot space as the anchor of Woodstone, a $60 million luxury apartment and mixed-use project within the Metro North Crossing… Continue reading KC’s Third Street Social expands into the Northland
Nowadays, it seems every time you open a menu, or even just your phone, there’s a charcuterie board. While the wildly trendy spread of deli foods is more accessible, elaborate and awe-inspiring than ever before, Vintage ’78 Wine Bar wants to bring it back to the basics—impeccable meats and cheeses. Instead of the vague offering… Continue reading New wine bar with make your own charcuterie boards comes to Overland Park
Sugarcane and agave spirits, oh yeah! Bryan Arri has been working in KC’s craft cocktail scene for the past six years. He has been a fixture at such notable bars as Rieger’s Manifesto, Monarch Cocktail Bar and Lounge, Corvino Supper Club and others. Three years ago he created the cocktail pop-up concept, Fern Bar and… Continue reading What’s new in Kansas city food & drink: May 2023
Here are ten great things to do in KC this weekend, including: Billy Idol, Steel Magnolias at Crown Center and a country music festival. Peter Pan and Wendy Taking the original spirit of adventure and wonder from J.M. Barrie’s classic, Lauren M. Gunderson’s fresh adaption, Peter Pan and Wendy, focuses on budding scientist Wendy Darling,… Continue reading Ten Things To Do In KC This Weekend, May 11-14
Missouri Governor Mike Parson’s 2024 state budget has sparked a debate over the future of how state funds its transportation infrastructure needs. The initial budget proposition included setting aside $859 million to expand the number of lanes on I-70 in three areas: from Blue Springs to Odessa, in Columbia, and from Warrenton to Wentzville in… Continue reading Rocky Road: Dispute over highway funding could lead to constitutional amendment
Tucked away in a wooded valley about twenty minutes west of downtown Kansas City are one hundred and fifty-three acres of secluded wildland ready to be explored. Known as the Hollis Renewal Center, the private Lutheran camp in Kansas City, Kansas, has five miles of hiking trails free to the public—no need to be an… Continue reading Hollis Renewal Center in Wyandotte County has five miles of trails open to the public to explore.
Anyone who grew up reading the stories of Mark Twain has probably had at least a fleeting fantasy of floating the mighty Mississippi River. It remains a daydream for most given the intimidation factor of the continent’s largest river, especially in populated areas where cargo barges lumber by. Last fall, though, I found myself paddling… Continue reading If you’ve ever dreamed of canoeing down the Mississippi, this is your chance
Top cowgirls and cowboys from across the nation are competing at the annual American Royal Pro Rodeo today, May 6. Events tonight begin at 7:30 p.m. So saddle up! Along with bull riding, barrel racing and other standard rodeo events, there are theme parties, live music and a beer garden. This rodeo attracts top talent… Continue reading KC’s American Pro Royal Rodeo is here
In April 2019, a local jazz calendar suddenly went offline. The site, owned and managed by an area venue, wasn’t encyclopedic, but it was a resource for many. Saxophonist Herschel McWilliams noticed soon after and quickly got to work creating a new and improved calendar now known as Live Jazz KC. “I started putting together… Continue reading All that Jazz! Building a music community with an online jazz calendar, Live Jazz KC
Isaac Meek works with almost any artistic medium you can think of now, but when recalling the beginning of his artistic journey, Meek gives credit to lowrider bicycles. Building the hyper-stylized bikes with his brother and friends gave Meek his initial insight into creating something entirely his own. As high schoolers, Meek and his friends… Continue reading Isaac Meek talks lowriders, art and his perfect day in KC
In 2018, actress and comedian Alyssa Limperis tweeted: “The airport is a lawless place. 7 a.m.? Drink a beer. Tired? Sleep on the floor. Hungry? Chips now cost $17.” In all its hilarity, the viral tweet was a spot-on depiction of the chaos often experienced in airports. Manners of civility change in a place where… Continue reading KCI has lots of food options on the table, but not without some turbulence.
James Huey’s journey to owning a barbecue restaurant is closely tied to his job as a traveling salesman of industrial equipment. It was through coworkers at Wear-Concepts, a Liberty-based supplier of abrasion-resistant plow bolts and induction-hardened pipes, that Huey was introduced to competitive barbecue. Along with a team of coworkers, he did five years on… Continue reading F325 Barbecue brings full-service, hot-smoked barbecue to the Northland.
Looking for a Lake Escape that isn’t a day’s drive away? We’ve found a dozen spots to help you enjoy the great outdoors without having to fill a tank of gas. Imagine the smell of hot dogs cooking on the grill, the anticipation of s’mores around the campfire, and kids capturing fireflies in a grassy… Continue reading Lake Escapes!
Journey south for the perfect day trip or weekend getaway nestled in the heart of the Ozarks. Finley Farms, a nature-based gathering place and farm-forward dining destination, rests on the banks of the Finley River in Ozark, Missouri. Located just south of Springfield, Missouri, guests can shop, tour the urban farm, grab coffee or cocktails,… Continue reading A Reimagined Ozark’s Destination, Finley Farms is Blooming With Discovery
Here are sixteen great things to do this weekend in KC, including: Les Misérables, Brooks & Dunn at T-Mobile Center and several Kentucky Derby Parties throughout KC. Les Misérables One of the most popular musicals of all time, Les Misérables, based on the Victor Hugo novel of the same name, follows various characters as they… Continue reading Sixteen Things To Do In KC This Weekend, May 4-7
A perfect day on the lake beckons—blue water, blue sky and endless hours of complete joy. Then real life hits. Hours of carefree joy are slowly whittled away by the reality of boat ownership. The boat needs to be hauled out of storage, maintained, the tank filled, loaded with equipment, brought to the launch and… Continue reading A members-only boating club comes to Clinton Lake
Barbecue isn’t the only food genre KC excels in. Within the last decade, KCK’s authentic taco scene has gained national notoriety, even by the likes of Forbes. Just in time for Cinco de Mayo, Visit KCK has relaunched the Taco Trail, a guide to more than fifty-five taquerias in Kansas City, Kansas. The trail acts as a guide… Continue reading Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with KCK’s taco trail relaunch
The portmanteau “mocktail” is aptly suited for nonalcoholic cocktails because, oftentimes, it’s hard to take them seriously. Dry libations are a slow trend to catch on, possibly because in their very essence, mocktails are trying to be something they simply aren’t. As bars and restaurants attempt to cater to those who choose not to imbibe,… Continue reading Wild Child creates its own nonalcoholic spirits elevating mocktails
