Fiction

• “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn | Release date: April 22, 2014 | A tale of a marriage gone cold + a sociopath who will stop at nothing to get revenge.
• “The Good Lieutenant” by Whitney Terrell | Release date: June 7, 2016 | This novel unfolds from points of view that are not customarily included in war coverage — a tenacious female officer, jaded career soldiers, and Iraqis, both innocent and not so innocent.
• “Twelve and A Half Hearts” by Ian Cahill | Release date: September 6, 2018 | Follow Sue Anderson from high school valedictorian all the way through her thirties as she attempts to overcome a devastating discovery.

Learn something new

• “Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill” by Candice Millard | Release date: April 12, 2016 | This read spins an epic story of bravery, savagery, and chance encounters with a cast of historical characters with whom Churchill would later share the world stage with.
• “Kansas City’s Historic Midtown Neighborhoods” by Mary Jo Draper | Release date: March 16, 2015 | Learn more about the rich history of Midtown’s growing residential districts, which developed into today’s popular neighborhoods like Valentine and Old Hyde Park.
• “Prohibition in Kansas City, Missouri: Highballs, Spooners & Crooked Dice” by John Simonson | Release date: March 5, 2018 | This book resurrects forgotten stories by revisiting places where they occurred, telling the salacious history of booze in Kansas City.

Personal stories

• “Canoeing the Great Plains: A Missouri River Summer” by Patrick Dobson | Release date: May 1, 2015 | In this book, Dobson recounts his journey along the Missouri River, the country’s longest river.
• “Emotionally Bankrupt” by Jennifer Martin | Release date: March 20, 2019 | This collection of poetry outlines one woman’s experience with love, addiction, and finding innate purpose.
• “Mountain Lines: A Journey Through the French Alps” by Jonathan Arlan | Release date: March 9, 2021 | This read tells the stirring account of a month-long journey on foot through the French Alps — a passionate and intimate book laced with humor, wonder, and curiosity.
  

• Friday Night Sound Bites: The Butch Carson Band | Fri., Oct. 21 | 6-9 p.m. | Lenexa Public Market, 8750 Penrose Ln., Lenexa, KS | Free | Grab a friend, get some grub and groove into the weekend with The Butch Carson Band. 🎵
• Next To Normal | Fri., Oct. 21 - Sun., Oct. 30 | 7:30-10 p.m. | The Black Box Theatre at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS | $20.00 | This popular musical is an unflinching look at a suburban family struggling with the effects of mental illness.

• Artist’s Bash and Pumpkin Patch Coat Drive | Sat., Oct. 22 | 12-7 p.m. | PH Coffee Park, 2233 Lexington Ave., Kansas City, MO | $0+ | Check out live entertainment with local vendors, outdoor games, and a free pumpkin with a winter gear donation. 🧥
• Halloween on the Lawn | Sat., Oct. 22 | 6-8 p.m. | Legends Outlets, 1843 Village W. Pkwy., Kansas City, KS | Free | Wear your spookiest (or cutest) costume, and enjoy fun activities like face painting.
• Scottish Chamber Orchestra | Sat., Oct. 22 | 7-9 p.m. | Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO | $13+ | Featuring world-class Scottish-Italian violinist Nicola Benedetti. 🎻

• Game Day Experience | Sun., Oct. 23 | 1-6 p.m. | KC Live! Block, 13 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO | Free | Cheer on the Chiefs at the biggest screen outside of the stadium, not to mention food, drinks, and outdoor seating. 🏈
• Live Jazz with Bram Wijnands | Sun., Oct. 23 | 3 p.m. | Kansas City Bier Company, 310 W. 79th St., Kansas City, MO | $0+ | Munch on Bavarian pretzels while enjoying live jazz, polka, and German drinking songs.

• Tim Reid, Jr. | Mon., Oct. 24 | 7 p.m. | The Piano Room, 8408 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, MO | Free | Sit up close in this intimate jazz bar and vibe with the Waldo Jazz Collective.

• JOCO Home + Remodeling Show | Fri., Oct. 28 - Sun., Oct. 30 | 10 a.m.-9 p.m. | Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Blvd, Overland Park | $10.00 | Explore 200+ booths to shop for home-related products and services, get inspired for your next home project, connect with industry experts, and more — use code KCTODAY for a ticket discount.*

• 84º | Mostly sunny | 0% chance of rain

• KC City Council approved 210 ReBuild KC proposals totaling nearly $15 million. These grant awards will help rebuild neighborhoods with projects and programs across KC — including categories like home repair, infrastructure, and sustainability. 🏢 (Northeast News)

• There’s a new credit union in town. WeDevelopment Federal Credit Union’s goal is to assist with financial literacy, debt prevention, and emergency readiness. The credit union is cutting the ribbon on its first branch — at 3123 Prospect Ave., KCMO — at 8 a.m., Sat., Oct. 22. 🏦 (Kansas City Business Journal)

• KC Current midfielder Claire Lavogez suffered an ACL tear in Sunday’s quarterfinal match against the Houston Dash. Lavogez will begin her rehabilitation immediately and is expected to make a full recovery — although she will miss the rest of the postseason.
• All that glitters is gold. Royals centerfielder Michael A. Taylor is a finalist for MLB’s Gold Glove award, given to the game’s best defenders. Former Royals Andrew Benintendi and Whit Merrifield were also named as finalists. The winners will be revealed Nov. 1. ⚾

• Clothz Minded boutique is hosting a mobile mammography event — Squeeze, Sip, and Shop on Sun., Oct. 23, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. The goal? Providing a more accessible way for community members to be examined while raising awareness about prevention + early detection of breast cancer.

• The Third Friday Art Walk season finale is here. Enjoy 100+ artists, interactive exhibits, live music, bonfires, and local food up and down 6th Street in Downtown KCK from 5-9 p.m. Don’t worry — the event will return in May 2023. Find participating locations here.

• Think you have the best pumpkin carving skills in the game? Put it to the test with Made in KC’s carving competition — with over $2,000 worth of prizes up for grabs. Tag @madeinkc_ on social media to enter + drop off pumpkins at any marketplace location on Thurs., Oct. 27. 🎃

• The KC Media Collective and Crane Brewing Company are collaborating on the “Brewshound,” a new hazy pale ale that benefits local journalism. A percentage of the new beer’s sales will be going back to local media nonprofits. 🍻 (KCUR)

• The Holiday Treasures Craft Festival is the spot to be this weekend if you’re in the market for unique + hand-crafted goods. Shop 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Shawnee Civic Centre — 13817 Johnson Dr., Shawnee, KS. Admission to the festival is free. 🛍️

• It’s time to start planning your holiday calendar — including the International Big Balloon Build coming to 18th and Vine Thurs., Dec. 1 -Sun., Dec. 4. Buy tickets to this immersive “Enchanted Journey to Toytown” experience made out of 125,000+ balloons. 🎈

• 37% of prospective homebuyers believe that homeownership will improve their quality of life, according to this recent Financial Wellness Study. Plus, more than 78% are considering buying their first home in the next five years, and 53% want to buy within the next two years. 🏡 *

• Here’s a friendly reminder that Halloween is almost here. Have you bought your costume yet? What about the candy? And if you want to be the coolest parent or grandparent on the block — while increasing your trick-or-treater’s nighttime visibility — grab this affordable 100-pack of glow sticks.*

• Sat., Oct. 22 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Union Station
• Tues., Nov. 8 | 6:30 p.m. | KCK Library, 625 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, KS
• Fri., Nov. 18 | 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | Old Shawnee Pizza, 19617 W. 101st St., Lenexa, KS