Plus, an update on the KC Streetcar shut down.
 
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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 a World Champion barista coach

Drink Up Month: Dive into the coffee industry with Holly Bastin from PH Coffee
PH Coffee KCtoday
Take a sip of the Historic Northeast at PH Coffee. | Photo by KCtoday
Drink Up Month is in full swing, and today we’re starting your morning with coffee knowledge from a World Champion barista coach, Holly Bastin.

Holly is the Director of Coffee at PH Coffee (2200 Lexington Ave., KCMO) and instructs the Coffee Geek Out Classes where coffee enthusiasts can learn how to make barista-level beverages.

Editor Bella sat down with Holly to chat about her journey through the world of espresso in Kansas City.

Where did your love of coffee begin?

“I was 19 when I got into coffee, as I was going to be a music education major and very quickly that fell apart. But, I found cafe culture in Lawrence, KS and that’s how I got attracted to it. It was more the culture — I didn’t actually like coffee. The shop I was working at was bought by PT’s Coffee, and that’s really how I got my start.”

How did you get involved on the coaching side?

“Well, I’ve been training people since 2004, plus I did judging in the barista competition circuits. The same time I left that job, someone I was coaching at the world level actually won. That’s when I started fully doing consulting and training on a global scale. I traveled around the last ten years and have trained three world champions.”

Tell us more about Geek Out at PH Coffee

“No one is teaching in this more public facing way, at least that I know of, integrating professionals and just people who love coffee. It was PH’s owner who brought up the original idea. He had a friend who really wanted to get on the espresso machine, and Geek Out was born from that. Basically, I adapted what I teach professionals to make it as accessible as I can, and we ended up stretching it into a series.”


Join us for a KCtoday meet up at PH Coffee’s “The-Pop-Up-That-Must-Not-Be-Named!” on Thursday, July 13 at 7:30 p.m.
The University of Kansas Health Systems
 
Events
Tuesday, July 11
  • PawsAbilities Charity Event | Tuesday, July 11 | 3:30-8 p.m. | Before the Lens, 12755 S. Mur-Len Rd., Olathe, KS | $35 | Come get professional photos + a live painting made of your best furry friend.
Wednesday, July 12
  • Free Yoga | Wednesday, July 12 | 10-10:30 a.m. | Green Utopia KC, 329B E. Gregory Blvd., Kansas City, MO | Free | Channel your inner zen (and bring your own mat) for this beginner class.
  • Pepper | Wednesday, July 12 | 8 p.m. | The Madrid Theatre, 3810 Main St., Kansas City, MO | $25-$49.50 | Get your groove on with this three-piece reggae rock band.
Thursday, July 13
  • Harry Potter Quiz Vol. 1 | Thursday, July 13 | 6-8 p.m. | Boulevard Brewing Co., 2534 Madison Ave., Kansas City, MO | Free | Test your Potterverse knowledge at this themed trivia night.
  • Concert in the Park | Thursday, July 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Thompson Park, 8045 Santa Fe Dr., Overland Park, KS | Free | Bring a chair and listen to Americana singer-songwriter Michael Shaun Brown. Plus, shop the Downtown Overland Park Sidewalk Sale.
Friday, July 14
  • Breakaway KC 2023 | Friday, July 14 | 5 p.m. | Azura Amphitheater | $99-$999 | Lose yourself in the lyrics or jam out to your favorite artist at this festival.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
BRKTHROUGH
 
News Notes
Transit
  • The KC Streetcar track is continuing repairs on the Main Street Bridge over I-670 — meaning the full route is still shut down. The work is estimated to last two to three weeks. The failure was likely due to thermal expansion + degradation of the track slab and related materials.
Edu
  • Huddle up. Chiefs safety Justin Reid’s foundation, JReid Indeed, will host its first signature coding + computer science boot camp at UMKC. The three-week Tackling Tech Computer Science Camp includes hands-on projects and mentorships for high school students. (Kansas City Business Journal)
Development
  • After years of planning, 3G Development LLC’s Third and Grand apartments have a groundbreaking date. This transit-oriented complex will begin construction in October if it passes final city approval. The project will cost ~$61.6 million and could open in 2025. (Kansas City Business Journal)
Biz
  • The Learning Tree, a toy store in Prairie Village, is looking for new owners. Current owners Jane and Jonny Girson are ready to travel + volunteer after 30 years of running the store (4004 W. 83rd St.). The couple wants to keep the spot up and running — send inquiries here. (Shawnee Mission Post)
Sports
  • Winner winner. Royals pitcher Ryan Yarbrough returned to the mound last weekend after suffering facial fractures to help the team win 4-1 over Cleveland. The Royals’ next home game is Friday, July 14 at 7:10 p.m. (KY3)
Watch
  • It was rare, 100,000+ Swifties were there. The Taylor Swift takeover in KC has come and gone, but you can relive the magical moments with us. Watch as Arrowhead Stadium lights up for the pop star.
Health
  • Summer is here — which means more time in the sun. It also means remembering to protect yourself from skin cancer. In a recent episode of the Bench to Bedside podcast, Ashley Adorante from Pool Cool shares her top tips for staying safe in the sun + preventing skin cancer.*
Trending
  • It’s Amazon Prime Day. Browse deals including up to 75% off Amazon devices, 60% off Gap apparel, and 40% off appliances from Ninja, Keurig, and Breville.*
 
Community

Finance

Charitable giving slumped 10.5% in 2022 — here’s how to give back locally
Someone's hand adding a coin to a clear plastic piggy bank.
Individual donors gave 13.4% less in 2022 than in 2021, after adjusting for inflation. | Photo by Joslyn Pickens via Pexels
Giving USA released its latest report on charitable giving in the US — and after a record high of $517 billion in 2021, 2022 saw Americans give $499 billion total.

That’s a decrease of 3.4% without adjusting for inflation, and 10.5% in inflation-adjusted terms — making it the largest slump in charitable giving the US has seen since the Great Recession.

What caused the decline? Factors include individuals having less to give. While cost of living rose nationwide — most rapidly in Oregon and Washington — disposable personal income fell over 6% in 2022 when adjusted for inflation, and the stock market saw its worst overall performance since 2008. Meanwhile, charitable gifts that were given were economically less valuable due to inflation’s steep rise.

Support local causes that matter to you:

Wayside Waifs | For the animal lover.

Harvesters | Volunteer in person or from home.

Big Brothers Big Sisters KC | Donate clothes, mentor, or give financially.
 
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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
Drink Up Month events are not slowing down — with two on the calendar this week.

Join Servaes Brewing for bingo and beer on Wednesday, July 12, but save room for the pop-up at PH Coffee on Thursday, July 13. Check out the full details.
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