07.07.2023

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Today’s Forecast

40º | Rain/snow mix | 98% chance of rain |
Sunrise: 7:37 a.m. | Sunset: 5:12 p.m.

🥃 Meet master distiller Alex Lindsey

DrinkUp Month: Meet the founder behind West Bottoms Whiskey Co.

Whiskey Neat sign at West bottoms whiskey co

We think whiskey is pretty neat, too. | Photo by KCtoday

Bottoms up. West Bottoms Whiskey Co., a whiskey-exclusive distillery, is joining the Drink Up Month festivities with their spirit of innovation, optimism, and industrialization found in the historic West Bottoms district.

Editor Bella sat down with founder + master distiller Alex Lindsey to chat about the biz — plus, stay tuned to the end for details on the KCtoday drink special.

Q: What is the origin of WBWC?

A: I started distilling on my own over a decade ago. Loved the process, was bad at home brewing. I started experimenting with what I was distilling and sharing that with friends and family, and really I started getting consistent feedback of “I don’t like whiskey but I like this.” So maybe I could come up with a good whiskey and market it like that.

Q: Tell us more about your whiskey.

A: We are a whiskey distillery and pride ourselves in making really interesting whiskey. Our Kansas City Whiskey is comprised of a bourbon and a rye, with a very dry sherry — which was used very traditionally in the pre-Prohibition time period. Our goal is to make innovative American spirits.

West Bottoms Whiskey Co — History + whiskey = a necessary KCtoday feature.
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Photo by KCtoday

Q: Why the West Bottoms?

A: We’re down here in the West Bottoms because of our appreciation for the history of the pre-Prohibition time period — we’re actually located in a pre-Prohibition train tunnel. When you walk around, it just reeks of history.

Q: What is the experience you want people to have here?

A: I want people to experience the West Bottoms in general through our taproom. Plus, getting people to really experience whiskey through cocktails. We want to be a welcoming space for people.

Drink Up special

The KC Sour will be 25% off when you mention KCtoday, Tuesday, July 11-Saturday, July 15. The cocktail is like a NY sour cocktail and has a red wine float. Cheers.

Events

Friday, July 7

Dave Smith | Friday, July 7-Saturday, July 8 | 7 p.m. | The Comedy Club of Kansas City, 1130 W. 103rd St., Kansas City, MO | $25-$225 | Get your giggle on with the host of “Part of The Problem” podcast.
80s Movies, Music, and Culture Trivia | Friday, July 7 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Weston Wine Company, 540 Main St., Weston, MO | $7 | Answer trivia about 1980s movies, music, and pop culture for the chance to win a prize.

Saturday, July 8

Mission Summer Family Picnic | Saturday, July 8 | 6-8 p.m. | Broadmoor Park, 5701 Broadmoor St., Mission, KS | Free | Come out and celebrate our annual picnic. Enjoy a hot dog dinner while playing family activities, live music and beer garden.
Cruise Night | Saturday, July 8 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Merriam Marketplace, 5740 Merriam Dr., Merriam, KS | Free | Get your motor running and head to the first Cruise Night of the season.

Sunday, July 9

Day in the Life: Trench Warfare | Sunday, July 9 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | National WWI Museum and Memorial | Free | Watch history come to life as the Living Historians focus on this month’s topic: trench warfare.
Art Garden KC | Sunday, July 9 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Berkley Riverfront, 1298 River Front Dr., Kansas City, MO | Free | Shop handcrafted local works from KC makers every Sunday.

Monday, July 10

LoTemp | Monday, July 10 | 8 p.m. | Uptown Theater | $20 | Check out this Kansas City-based electronic duo.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Number

1 million. That’s how many passengers arrived + departed through KCI’s gates in May, according to the Aviation Department. This is a 15.6% increase from May 2022, and the airport’s first 1 million-passenger month since October 2019. (Kansas City Business Journal)

Development

The South Loop Park Project secured another $28.6 million in funding — this time, from the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The project has raised $85.8 million total from local, regional, state, and federal contributions. (Kansas City Business Journal)

Transit

KC Area Transportation Authority announced it will cease bus services to and from Gladstone beginning this September. The cut is due to significant price increases. Instead, the city will focus on IRIS, an on-demand transit service. (Kansas City Star)

Sports

Sporting Kansas City signed Felipe Gutierrez, sealing the Chilean midfielder’s return to KC following his three-year stint as a designated player from 2018 to 2020. Felipe’s MLS contract runs through 2023 with a club option for 2024.

Award

Another one. The NWSL announced Kansas City Current midfielder Debinha as one of 11 players for the Best XI of the Month in June. This is her second award this season after being part of the Best XI for March/April.

Opening

Curbing the zoomies. Zoom Room, a new franchise indoor dog training gym, is opening in Overland Park on Saturday, July 8. The spot — at 11670 W. 135th St. — focuses on positive reinforcement for dogs with small group classes and private training.

Travel

Summer is here — AKA the season for road trips — and no matter what vibe you’re looking for, StLouisArts.org has you covered. Spend a day in St. Louis (a ~3-hour drive from Kansas City) and discover 30+ theaters, 40 live music venues, and 50 galleries and museums. What will you do in St. Louis?*

Finance

Refinance rates are skyrocketing. But home equity rates remain relatively low — which means that now is a great time to borrow against your home. Calculate your payment.*

Wellness

Hear this: The world’s first hearing aids featuring dual processing — and backed by cutting-edge German technology — were just unveiled by Hear.com. Transform your hearing with a 45-day, no-risk trial and join the 385,000+ customers hearing with double the power and double the clarity.*

Concert

Know before you go: “The Eras Tour” edition

Know before you go to Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour”

Only a few hours away from Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” kickoff. | Photo by Ronald S Woan via Wikimedia Commons

We’re sure you know by now. This weekend, Friday July 7-Saturday, July 8, is Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” at Arrowhead Stadium. Whether you’re attending the concert or not, here are the things you need to know about stadium dos and don’ts — plus, traffic advisories for those of us watching from Instagram stories all night.

Dos and don’ts

Purchase your parking in advance — gates to the lots open at 2:30 p.m. both days.
All GEHA Field gates will open at 4:30 p.m. both days.
Fans cannot tailgate or enter the parking lot without tickets to the concert.

Traffic + transit

Once the concert is over, westbound I-70 to Blue Ridge Cutoff and southbound Blue Ridge Cutoff north of I-70 will be closed. Northbound Blue Ridge Cutoff will be closed at Raytown Road, and all traffic exiting Gate 4 will be directed westbound to Ozark and Eastern.

Find more traffic information.

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The Wrap

City Editor Bella Rainey poses on a rooftop overlooking Kansas City, KCtoday.

Today’s edition by:
Bella

From the editor

Last night’s event at KC Bier Co. was the perfect way to kick off Drink Up Month.

Check out our other events + happenings this month.

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