Arts and Entertainment Editor Nina Cherry
Nina Cherry, our arts and entertainment editor, lives where creativity meets city life. Cherry’s holiday gift picks reflect that same sense of discovery and flair.
The Freedom Affair Vinyl
Cure the winter blues with some funk. Released in May, The Freedom Affair’s self-titled sophomore album is one of the best records to come out of KC this year. Recorded at Memphis’ historic Royal Studios, the nine-piece group is led by a trio of powerhouse vocalists—Shon Ruffin, Seyko Groves and Paula Saunders—and is backed by a tight rhythm section and punchy horns. Find the LP at Josey Records (1815 McGee St., KCMO) and Mills Record Company (4045 Broadway Blvd., KCMO).
Zum Vanilla Spice Soy Candle
While candles aren’t the most original gift, they’re a foolproof option for those who are hard to shop for. Made with soy wax, Zum’s high-quality candles are far more fragrant and long-burning than the average mass-produced product (the company estimates 30 hours). Unlike many fir-heavy seasonal fragrances, this cozy, gourmand vanilla spice scent outlasts the holiday season. Zum’s products are widely available at grocery stores around the metro, but I recommend heading to their very fragrant Midtown warehouse, where the selection is vast. Shop online and browse the store locator at indigowild.com or visit the factory store (3125 Wyandotte St., KCMO).
Broadway Roasting Company’s Room 39 Blend
There’s a reason Broadway Café has been bustling since it opened its Westport doors in 1992. You’ll be hard-pressed to find better beans in the metro. This bright and balanced blend, tailor-made for Room 39—one of my favorite restaurants in KC—is my go-to for pour-overs. Made with Ethiopian and Indonesian coffees, this medium-body brew is complex while remaining an easy sipper. And with notes of clove and bergamot, it has a festive flavor profile. Although the company does fulfill online orders, slow down and sip on a cortado in the café while you buy a pound for someone in need of a good pick-me-up. Shop online at broadwayroasting.com or in-person at Broadway Roasting Co. (4012 Washington St., KCMO) or Broadway Café (4106 Broadway Blvd., KCMO).
Editor-in-Chief Dawnya Bartsch
Balancing deadlines, family life and a love for all things KC, our editor-in-chief Dawnya Bartsch’s picks celebrate creativity and calm.
Kul and Krafty Live Painting or Pet Portrait
For the loved one who has everything, consider commissioning a live painting. Local artist Natasha Rubinetti-Kul is part of a growing trend of event artists who capture celebrations on a canvas in real time. Whether it’s a birthday party, wedding, corporate event or gender reveal, her paintings provide a unique and lasting keepsake. She also offers custom pet portraits, a thoughtful option for anyone whose camera roll is brimming with their four-legged friends. Check her work out online at kulandkrafty.com.
Rainy Day Books Gift Card
Quaintly tucked into the Fairway Shops, Rainy Day Books (2706 W. 53rd St., Fairway, KS) has been a Kansas City institution for 50 years. What’s kept it thriving isn’t just its shelves but its spirit: a fiercely loyal community, a passionate staff and an author lineup that rivals the biggest names in publishing. A gift certificate here is more than a stand-in; it’s an invitation to explore one of the country’s top independent bookstores. Whether hunting for a bestseller, local author or a quiet surprise from the staff recommendations shelf, it’s the perfect pick for anyone who loves getting lost in a good book. And you can always order online at rainydaybooks.com.
Bee Organized Session
Give the gift of a calm space—or at least a color-coded closet. Founded here in KC, Bee Organized has since gone national, spending the last decade helping people clear clutter and find peace of mind one pantry and garage at a time. The professional home organizers work with clients to sort, simplify and create organization systems that actually work. Book a session with Bee Organized at beeorganized.com for the bestie or family member who just bought a new home or has a laundry room that looks as if a tornado swept through.
Contributing Editor Nicole Kinning
As a contributing editor (and new mom), Nicole Kinning somehow manages to juggle deadlines, date nights and diapers with effortless flair. Her gift picks are part practical and part playful.
Garmin Lily 2
Kinning swears that this is the best smartwatch out there—and she’s tried them all. “I’ve cycled through more smartwatches than I can count, always hoping one would last longer than a year (and keep me motivated),” she says. “The Garmin Lily 2 is the first one that I genuinely look forward to putting on every day.” It’s undeniably stylish, and the Garmin Connect app that powers it puts Apple Health to shame. To learn more about the Kinning’s favorite watch, check out garmin.com.
PubPass
There’s no better way to spend a free Saturday afternoon than sidled up at a brewery, right? KC’s PubPass gets you BOGO beers at 25 spots around the metro, from Liberty to Grandview to Grain Valley. To learn more about what pubs you can head to on the pass and how to purchase one, check out getpubpass.com. It’s easily one of my favorite annual purchases of the year.
Food Editor and Dining Critic Tyler Shane
As our resident food guru, Tyler Shane spends the year tasting, testing and writing about all things delicious. So when she shares her favorite finds for the season, we listen.
Zero Zero Pasta Making Classes
You can buy Zero Zero’s Pasta Basics cookbook in its Westside shop (1702 Summit St., KCMO), but an in-person lesson at one of their pasta making classes is the best. Attendees learn how to make pasta favorites, such as lemon garlic agnolotti or mushroom ricotta cappelletti, all from scratch. The restaurant’s cozy, and there’s only room for six per class, so they’re intimate. Sign up on their website (zerozeropastakc.com) to reserve a class, or purchase a gift card that can be used later to book a class. (Insider tip: You can bring your own wine.)
Hallmark and Tom’s Town Spirits
Two Kansas City favorites have joined forces just in time for the holidays. Tom’s Town and Hallmark have created a limited-edition spirits collection, which marks Hallmark’s first-ever venture into booze. Double Oaked Bourbon and Double Grain Vodka come wrapped in Hallmark holiday packaging, but if you’re looking for a stocking stuffer, there’s a mini-bottle trio that includes bourbon, gin and vodka. Find them at Crown Center’s Hallmark Christmas Experience, local liquor stores or online (toms-town.com).
Booth Creek Wagyu Gift Box
For the home cook or grill master in your life, Booth Creek Wagyu offers gift boxes full of different American and Fullblood Wagyu cuts. The Flint Hills ranching operation uses innovative technology that analyzes each beef carcass for an exact percentage of fat marbling and labels each cut with this specification. Go into the Overland Park (13412 Metcalf Ave.) or Prairie Village (5328 W. 95th St.) stores and it’s like shopping for wine. What flavor profile are you looking for? Marbling percentages range anywhere from 20 to 40 percent. Depending on which box you choose. You can also get summer sausage and steak seasoning. If you prefer to shop online, you can always check out the butcher’s offerings at boothcreekwagyu.com.
Heartland Masala: An Indian Cookbook from an American Kitchen
Jyoti Mukharji has been teaching cooking classes out of her Prairie Village home for the past 15 years. Her cookbook, Heartland Masala, is a compilation of all those lessons and more. The book blends 99 Indian recipes and essays by her son Auyon Mukharji. It’s a vibrant celebration of Indian flavors and the immigrant experience, filled with beautiful photography and dishes that bridge tradition and the American Midwest. Find the book at Rainy Day Books (2706 W. 53rd St., Fairway, KS) or on Amazon.
Art Director Kevin Goodbar
Art Director Kevin Goodbar sees the world in palettes and patterns, and his gift pick is just as inspired as his layouts.
Forget All the Rules You Ever Learned About Graphic Design—Including the Ones in This Book
Goodbar says that this design book by famed graphic artist Bob Gill was the most influential design book he has ever read—it completely changed his mindset when it came to how he approached his work. A pioneer of modern graphic design, Gill believes great design starts with an idea, not a style. Known for his witty, concept-driven work and bold approach to visual storytelling, Gill inspired generations to think differently about creativity. This irreverent book is considered a classic in the art world and is equal parts design guide and creative manifesto—and it still feels fresh decades later. Although it is not currently in print, it is still widely available at used book purveyors and online, including amazon.com.
