June 1, 2023

Today’s Forecast

90º Sunny | 5% chance of rain | Sunrise 5:53 a.m. | Sunset 8:48 p.m.

🌱 Happy birthday, Virgil’s Plant Shop

A jungle oasis on Cherry Street. | Photo by KCtoday

Virgil’s Plant Shop is turning four years old — that deserves a party and two green thumbs up. Thankfully, the shop will make both a reality at its birthday block party this weekend. Let’s dig up the history behind Virgil’s, plus the details for the big celebration.

Editor Bella sat down with Virgil’s owner Reba Hamilton to learn how they planted the seed for the plant shop.

Back to the roots

“So I was living in Brooklyn actually and had been getting more and more into plants. I loved the challenge of trying to have a jungle in a tiny Brooklyn apartment with one little window,” Reba shared.

“I also had so much family (in Kansas City). I have a little niece now. At the time, there were no boutique plant shops or anything, and I felt like that could be something that the city would really love and would work really well.”

Going mobile

It all started with a bus. The original Virgil’s Plant Shop bus can be seen at various events + stops throughout the month, or outside the shop’s brick and mortar location at 2763 Cherry St.

“I moved back in late December, right before Christmas of 2018, and bought a mini school bus in April. By July, I opened it. I wanted to start out as a mobile shop also because I felt like I had been gone for 10 years and didn’t know the community very much anymore.”

Virgil’s Block Party details

To celebrate the growth and success of Virgil’s in just four years, the shop is putting on a block party for the community to enjoy.

Where: 2763 Cherry St., KCMO
When: Saturday, June 10 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Shop: 25+ different local makers
Eat: Bites from Peaches Fry Bread and Brown Suga*.
Try This: Get a new tattoo or a sparkly tooth gem.

Keep digging

Events

Thursday, June 1

2023 Sidewalk Celebration | Thursday, June 1 | 4:30-7 p.m. | Start at Zero Offices, 5506 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO | Free | See Start at Zero unveil its multi-year strategic plan and celebrate the newest board members with food, drinks, and entertainment.
“Close-Up” | Thursday, June 1 | 7-9 p.m. | Stray Cat Film Center, 1662 Broadway Blvd., Kansas City, MO | $7 | Watch this fiction-documentary hybrid film about the arrest of a young man on charges for impersonating the well-known filmmaker Mohsen Makhmalba.

Friday, June 2

Women’s Wine & Nine | Friday, June 2 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Great Life Golf Course, 455 W. Eisenhower Rd., Lansing, KS | $75 | Get your clubs and a group of friends for this boozy golf event.
West 18th Street Fashion Show | Friday, June 2 | 8-11 p.m. | W. 18th St., Kansas City, MO | $35-$100 | Watch models walk the runway, get a new tattoo, and shop thrift stores at this fashion show.

Saturday, June 3

I LOVE THE 80’S TO DEATH Murder Mystery Dinner | Saturday, June 3 | 5:45-9 p.m. | Belvoir Winery and Inn, 1325 Odd Fellows Rd., Kansas City, MO | $65 | Put your detective hat on for this interactive mystery event and dress accordingly to the 1980s theme.

Sunday, June 4

Babies & Bumps | Sunday, Jun. 4 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Marriott Hotel, 10800 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS | $20-$60 | Shop a curated collection of local businesses, brands, and nonprofits dedicated to serving new and soon-to-be parents.

Events calendar here

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Wellness

👀 Trivia time: Dirty Dozen or Clean Fifteen?

Athletic-Greens-Fruits-Vegetables-Dirty-Dozen-Clean-Fifteen.gif

Can you guess what’s “clean” vs. “dirty?” | Photos via Athletic Greens and public use

Spring + summer = fresh produce seasons — so you need to know which fruits and veggies are pesticide heavy (vs. more on the clean side).

Kale: Dirty Dozen or Clean Fifteen? Find out.
Papaya: Dirty Dozen or Clean Fifteen? Find out.
Tomatoes: Dirty Dozen or Clean Fifteen? Find out.

Know exactly what you’re putting into your body by incorporating AG1 into your diet (bonus: there’s a special offer available now).*

Get the full Dirty Dozen vs. Clean Fifteen list

News Notes

Edu

The Hispanic Development Fund awarded 550 scholarships to students across the KC metro area. The fund gave out a record $1.17 million in scholarship money. See the winners.

Development

Only a few months left. The Three Light Building in Downtown KC is almost ready for residents to move in. Watch our hard hat tour and check out the progress and learn about the amenities — which include a pool, coworking space, and a sauna. The building will be complete this September.

Closed

Steve’s Villa Capri, an Overland Park business open for over 60 years, permanently closed. The Italian restaurant announced the closure on their social media, stating the decision was made due to staffing issues. (Shawnee Mission Post)

Outdoors

This Saturday, June 3, is National Trails Day. Kansas City will celebrate all weekend long with events like a community clean up on Saturday and networking at River Bluff Brewing Company on Sunday. Check our favorite trails.

Plan Ahead

Boulevard Brewing Company is gearing up for Pride Month. The brewery will host Pints for Pride Bingo on Wednesday, June 28 at 5:30 p.m. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for the return of the Pride rainbow logo shirt. All initiatives will benefit the Kansas City Pride Community Alliance.

Kids

Looking for a way to keep the kiddos active all summer long, rain or shine? Enter: Kids Bowl Free, a national program that connects you with local bowling alleys like Ward Parkway Lanes where kids can receive two free games of bowling each day. Learn more and sign up.*

Travel

✈️ Our nonstop flight wishlist

Introducing your new departures zone. | Photo by KCtoday

Last week, we asked you what nonstop flights you’d like to see departing from KCI. From coast to coast, and even international, you answered.

“Need a non-stop flight from KC to Memphis, TN.” — Susie W.

“San Antonio” — Monica C.

“A direct from Kansas City to Europe — Heathrow, Amsterdam, Frankfort. Just think how different international travel would be from KC!” — Karen D.

“I would like to see nonstop flights from KC to Tucson.” — Carol L.

“KC to Sarasota, please!” — Sherry L.

“To Atlanta!” — Kim R.

“Would love to see a non-stop to Memphis!” — MaryAnne F.

“To Ft Myers, FL, Cincinnati, OH, and Dayton, OH” — Terry B.

“My family and I would love to see non-stop flights to Canada! Vancouver, Montreal and, Halifax would be ideal. Thank you in advance from this Canadian transplant.” — Roby W.

Find the current list of nonstop flights.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Bella

From the editor

I can’t wait to celebrate four years of Virgil’s Plant Shop next weekend. Pro tip: if you want to get a flash tattoo, get there early.

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