KC is having a moment ✨ or 12

12 huge events that will change Kansas City by 2026

Here’s a look into KC’s not-so-far future. | Photo by @kansasdroneguy

There’s a buzz in the air, and it’s not just from winning another Super Bowl. Kansas City is on the precipice of several city-altering events. Can you feel it?

We brainstormed some of the big ways KC is stepping up these next four years — get a load of this:

🕒 2023

New KCI terminal | Feb. 28 | The largest single infrastructure project in KCMO’s history is now open, revolutionizing the region’s welcome mat for the first time in half a century.

NFL Draft | April 27-29 | KC is once again in the national spotlight as every NFL team (and as many as 600,000 fans) converge on football’s championship city.

West Bottoms | Begins 2023 | Developers will kick off a ~$500 million “micro-village,” adding 1,250 apartments and rebuilding crumbling infrastructure through 2035.

Pennway Point | Late 2023 | 3D Development officials confirmed to KCtoday they are on track to open this new entertainment district by the end of the year.

NFL Draft at Union Station rendering — Here’s what the 2023 Draft will look like in Kansas City. | Rendering by the NFL via @sport_kc

🕓 2024

KC Current Stadium | Spring | The world’s first stadium dedicated to professional women’s sports will open for the 2024 NWSL season.

Rock Island Bridge | March | This old railroad bridge is set to become an entertainment district and the nation’s first cross-state aerial park.

Buck O’Neil Bridge | December | This project seeks to establish a 100-year-long connection between I-35 and 169 Highway (with better pedestrian access).

Meta | TBD | This tech giant is already investing $800 million in its first KC data center — with the possibility of a full $40 billion campus down the line.

Aerial photo of the KC Current stadium construction site. — History, literally in the making. | Photo by @kansascityinphotos

🕔 2025

KC Streetcar extensions | Early 2025 | Both the Main Street Extension and the Riverfront Extension are underway, sparking millions of dollars in investment.

Panasonic | March | This $4 billion electric vehicle battery plant will create at least 4,000 jobs and position the KC region as an integral part of EV technology.

🕕 2026

South Loop Project | Before the World Cup | Leaders are pursuing an aggressive timeline to finish a four-block park over I-670.

World Cup | June-July | The world comes to Kansas City. “It’s going to be bigger than we think it’s going to be,” Tim Cowden, president and CEO of KCADC, said.

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Today, March 2

Alive After Five: International Beer Crawl | Thursday, Mar. 2 | 5-8 p.m. | 416 Cherokee St., Leavenworth, KS | $15 | Sample international beers at 15+ participating businesses (and have a bite from a food truck while you’re at it).
A Bird’s Eye View: Pixels & Paint | Thursday, Mar. 2 | 6-9 p.m. | Leawood Fine Art, 11709 Roe Ave., Leawood, KS | Free | This new art exhibit shows photography and paintings from a drone’s perspective — with light refreshments provided at the opening reception.
Hedwig and The Angry Inch | Thursday, March 2-Saturday, March 11 | 7:30 p.m. | The Arts Asylum, 824 E. Meyer Blvd., Kansas City, MO | $20 | Experience glam rock music and lyrics while Hedwig tells the audience her tumultuous life story.

Friday, March 3

Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Cooking Class | Friday, Mar. 3 | 6-7 p.m. | Premier Integrative Health, 101 Armour Rd., North Kansas City, MO | $5 | This interactive class will show you creative, delicious ways to utilize anti-inflammatory ingredients in your home kitchen.
Free Glassblowing Demo | Friday, Mar. 3 | 6-8 p.m. | The Belger Glass Annex, 1219 E. 19th St., Kansas City, MO | Free | Visiting artist Rob Stern will display his glassblowing techniques during a free First Friday demonstration.
The Folly-Bridge Americana Series: Sweet Honey in the Rock | Friday, Mar. 3 | 8 p.m. | Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St., Kansas City, MO | $25-$45 | This iconic Grammy-nominated, women-led African-American vocal ensemble marks its 50th anniversary with this powerful show.*

Saturday, March 4

Steppers Lounge: The Black Carpet Experience | Saturday, Mar. 4 | 8 p.m.-1 a.m. | American Jazz Museum, 1616 E. 18th St., Kansas City, MO | $12-$15 | Learn how to Two Step to jazz music and dress to impress at this First Saturday in the 18th and Vine District.

Sunday, March 5

Cookie Run 5K Run/Walk | Sunday, Mar. 5 | 8 a.m. | Waterfall Park, 4501 S. Bass Dr., Independence, MO | $12-$42 | Raise money for local Girl Scout troops and treat yourself to Girl Scout cookies (and a shiny finishers medal) after the run.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Experience the opera version of “The Shining” with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City 🎤

Lyric Opera of Kansas City Shining March 2023

Here comes Johnny. | Photo by Ken Howard

First it was a Stephen King novel, then it was a Stanley Kubrick film, and now it’s an opera. With both music and libretto (that’s Italian for “words”) composed by two Pulitzer Prize winners, this adaptation of the classic King novel is haunting as it is beautiful.

Catch it at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts for three performances only on Saturday, March 11, Friday, March 17, and Sunday, March 19 (times vary). If you’re interested, get tickets soon because we hear they’re going quickly.*

HERE COMES JOHNNY

Weather

50º | Mostly cloudy | 20% chance of rain
In like a lamb... but not for long. The first winter storm system of March is marching its way into the metro, scheduled to reach KC overnight tonight. Rain could start late today, which might end as a heavy, wet snow tomorrow morning. ❄️ (KSHB 41)

Development

Developer Lux Living is proposing a 30-story apartment + hotel tower at the northeast corner of Wyandotte and 14th streets. The plan calls for 300 apartments and 200 hotel rooms in the same high-rise, plus ground-floor retail, a rooftop bar, and a 421-space garage. 🏗 (Flatland KC)
Crews are set to tear down Terminals B and C at KCI this summer. The cleared area will be used for additional tarmac space and a de-icing area. The parking garages for these terminals will not be demolished, and operations at the new terminal will not be affected. (Kansas City Business Journal)

Community

KC nonprofit Thank You Walt Disney will receive $2 million in federal funding to restore Walt Disney’s original Laugh-O-gram animation studios — at 1127 E. 31st St., KCMO. The aid will help transform the space into a digital media studio, a movie theater, and a museum. ✏️ (Startland News)
The City of Kansas City will receive $1 million in federal funding to study reconnecting the Westside neighborhood with the city center. The grant was established as part of Congress’ infrastructure bill. KC will receive one of 39 planning grants awarded across the country. 💰 (Startland News)

Arts

Parade of Hearts announced its final charitable beneficiary — The Family Conservancy. The local organization supports families, parents, and educators to prepare children for success. The 2023 hearts will roll out mid-April and last through the Fourth of July. 💙

Cause

Worlds of Fun is offering 32 people the opportunity to be the first ones on the new Zambezi Zinger roller coaster — all you have to do is donate to Big Slick. Every $10 donation will provide 100 entries, which will enter a random drawing. The contest closes at the end of Sunday, April 2.

Wellness

Our go-to product to relieve tension and decrease under eye puffiness: an ice roller. Not to mention, it’s the perfect way to cool off your face after an intense workout or morning run. These ice globes are also a great skincare addition to help soothe and depuff. *

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3 new coffee shops in Kansas City ☕️

New coffee shops Post, Grand, and Waterbird open in Kansas City

Every time we’ve visited, we could tell co-owner Brian loves his craft. | Photo by KCtoday

Three new coffee shops are operating in Kansas City’s downtown and Midtown areas after relatively quiet openings in recent months. Naturally, we went to them all.

Waterbird Coffee Company, 1200 McGee St., KCMO | This corner coffee shop sources beans from Repetition Coffee (Lawrence) and highlights artwork from local artist Brett Crawford. We recommend the single-origin drip.

Grand Coffee Company, 2345 Grand Blvd., KCMO | The owner of this Italian café-themed shop roasts at Brewed Behavior, and the spacious interior is perfect for meet-ups + co-working. We recommend visiting with a friend or colleague.

Post Coffee Company, 3550 Broadway Blvd., KCMO | This Lee’s Summit-based roaster isn’t new, but its shop in Midtown is... sort of. The former location of Monarch Coffee opened under its new ownership late in 2022. We recommend the breakfast burrito.

Know of any other new businesses? Let us know.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Travis.

Editor’s pick: On Tuesday, I asked you if you remembered which year the old KCI terminals first open to the public. 63.3% of you guessed correctly — it was 1972.

Either y’all cheated, or you’re really smart (I’m choosing to believe the latter option).

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Editor Bella’s got her recs (and yours) for local espresso martinis.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Bella Rainey, Travis Meier, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Amanda Munsey | Advertise with us.

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