KC’s first sports bar dedicated entirely to women’s sports
By Joyce Smith
Women’s sports are gaining more viewership than ever, and KC is more than happy to be part of the movement. To continue making female athletes a priority, Monica Brady and her wife Rachel Glenn are opening KC’s first bar dedicated entirely to women’s sports.
The Dub will open in the former Banksia bakery off 9th and Main (105 W. Ninth St, KCMO). While an opening date has yet to be announced, Brady expects the bar to open before the end of the year.
Brady and Glenn were inspired by the first women’s sports bar in the country, Portland’s The Sports Bra, which opened in 2022 and has been wildly successful. As a longtime women’s sports fan, Brady says it will be “a dream” to not only have women’s sports playing on the TV but to also have the sound turned on.
Along with beer, The Dub will offer a solid menu of cocktails and wine—two beverages that can be hit or miss at your typical sports bar. The food menu is still in the works.
The Dub may exclusively show women’s sports, but Brady says her bar is welcome to everyone. “[The Dub] is a place to gather like-minded fans, regardless of gender or orientation,” Brady says. “We want everyone to rally around and support women’s sports.”
Vibe at Vye
By Joyce Smith
At Vye, a newish Crossroads venue, customers can sip craft cocktails in their choice of intimate spots scattered throughout. The first floor lounge with exposed brick walls and chandelier lighting is its own mood, or there’s the rooftop deck and bar with views of downtown.
“We are very much going after a lounge and relaxed vibe rather than a bar or nightclub feel—a place for people to relax and enjoy their time,” says Geno Mironov, Vye’s general manager.
Vye (2018 Main St., KCMO) makes its syrup in-house. Currently, its most popular cocktails are the espresso martini (Grey Goose vodka, Kahlúa, fresh-pressed espresso, vanilla brown sugar simple syrup, cinnamon and espresso beans), and the Lavender Lemon Drop (Absolut Citron, lemon juice, lavender syrup and a lemon twist).
“On the rocks” offerings include the Mariachi with Teremana tequila, peach puree, Cointreau, lime juice and a Tajin rim. Vye also has classic cocktails, beers and wine.
The Otten on Main previously operated in the spot, and according to public records, it had the same owners as Vye. Mironov declined to comment.
Acre is expanding
By Tyler Shane
Parkville’s Acre restaurant is celebrating its second anniversary with the addition of an event space.
The 1,316-square-foot space will seat about 40 people for wine dinners and social and corporate gatherings, from cocktail receptions to catered sit-down events.
Chef Andrew Longres opened the popular Acre restaurant (6325 Lewis St., Parkville) in August 2022 and experienced fast success. “We had to turn away a lot of private events,” Longres says. “There just wasn’t room.”
David Herron of Herron and Partners is designing the new space.
In April, Longres moved past serving dinner only, adding lunch service from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm Wednesdays through Fridays. The lunch menu includes dishes such as pimento cheese hush puppies with a green goddess dressing; a smoked Caesar salad; and a knife-and-fork chicken sandwich on jalapeno bread with butter slaw, a mayo-based “comeback” sauce and kettle chips.
KC’s favorite football mom shares her favorite KC eats via Insta
By Tyler Shane
Last year, we named Hemma Hemma one of KC’s Best New Restaurants of 2023, and it seems Donna Kelce agrees. Kelce paid a visit to Waldo’s Hemma Hemma with a few friends for brunch and praised the breakfast and lunch spot on Instagram.
“You will love the cinnamon rolls,” she wrote.
Hemma Hemma (7122 Wornall Rd, KCMO) opened last year and has a coffee bar, market, dining room and space for teaching cooking classes.
Chef and owner Ashley Bare says Kelce’s visit happened “organically” through a mutual acquaintance. Bare served Kelce and her entourage. She didn’t know Kelce was going to post about her visit so “that was a really kind surprise,” Bare says.
“She’s kind of America’s favorite mom, and it was just really awesome that she was there,” Bare says.
In one of the pictures posted on her Instagram, Kelce has Hemma Hemma’s BEC breakfast sandwich in front of her. The BEC is a Hemma Hemma staple and comes with egg soufflé, bacon, cheddar cheese and a scallion-avocado aioli all packed onto a soft, fluffy brioche bun.
Kelce also posted a picture holding up two plates of Hemma Hemma’s hefty gooey cinnamon rolls.
When asked if Hemma Hemma’s customers or staff were buzzing with excitement, Bare says maybe, but people left Kelce alone.
“She kind of went under the radar,” says Bare. “No one bothered her. It was great.”
As for Bare serving Kelce herself, “I kept it cool and breezy,” Bare says.
Memorial fund for chef Shaun Brady raises more than $100,000
By Tyler Shane
The KC restaurant community has rallied behind the family of slain and beloved chef Shaun Brady, who was fatally shot outside his restaurant and leaves behind a wife and two children. A memorial fund in his honor has raised more than $100,000.
Brady, 44, owner of Brookside restaurant Brady and Fox (751 E 63rd St., KCMO) was fatally shot in late August. His passing took place just days before the annual Irish Fest, which Brady helps organize every year.
The shooting happened right outside Brady’s restaurant as he was taking out the trash. Brady confronted two teens, who were attempting to break into a car, when the altercation turned violent. The teens were eventually arrested and charged in Jackson County family court with second-degree murder.
A father of two, Brady was a popular chef and well-known member of the community, with many remembering him fondly as a beloved Irishman.
The festival canceled Brady’s Kansas City Irish Breakfast, “a joyful tradition following our Catholic Mass the Sunday of the festival weekend,” and instead the mass became a service in honor of Brady.
The KC Irish Fest Board of Directors created a memorial fund. All proceeds will be given to Brady’s family. The Irish Fest encouraged the public to donate $45, the ticket price for Brady’s Irish Breakfast. The GoFundMe account raised more than $100,000 within 24 hours.
