10.02.2023

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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.

🎃 Let’s give them pumpkin to talk about

Try this: KCtoday’s 2024 pumpkin carving contest

A peek at last year’s finalists. | Graphic by KCtoday

Carve some time into your schedule. We’ve got a festive contest for you to take part in this spooky season — the KCtoday Pumpkin Carving Contest.

Whether you planned to carve a pumpkin this season or not, this is your excuse to run to the nearest pumpkin patch or garden store, pick out your perfect pumpkin, and get creative. Don’t forget the carving kit.

The rules + details:

Create your own pumpkin masterpiece; carve, paint, shave, use stickers, or get creative in a way that is fun for you.

To make a submission:

Take a picture of your pumpkin + submit it here.
Include a name for your art, a short description, your name, and your email address.

Submissions are open through 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 15.

While traditional pumpkin carvings and designs will be accepted, bonus points will be awarded to original and locally-themed designs. (Think: local landmarks, businesses, and icons.) Any submissions with offensive language or artwork will not be accepted.

Finalists will be selected by our team and announced in our newsletter on Friday, Oct. 20. These finalists will go head-to-head for the chance to be crowned best jack-o’-lantern of 2023 — you, our readers, will be the ones to vote — and the winner will be announced on Friday, Oct. 27.

Want some pumpkin art inspo before you get started? Here are a few no carve ideas as well as some pumpkin carving pro tips.

Asked

Will you have the winning pumpkin?

Go big or goard home.

Submit your pumpkin

Events

Monday, Oct. 2

Pumpkin Hollow | Monday, Oct. 2-Tuesday, Oct. 31 | Times vary | Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, 13800 Switzer Rd., Overland Park, KS | $9-$10 | Take a horse-drawn hayride, play games, climb a hay pyramid and pick a pumpkin.

Tuesday, Oct. 3

The Eric Andre Explosion | Tuesday, Oct. 3 | 6 p.m. | Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland | $49.50-$69.50 | Comedian, actor, and host of the hit series “The Eric Andre Show” is ready to make you laugh uncomfortably.
Pumpkin Fest | Tuesday, Oct. 3-Sunday, Oct. 29 | Times vary | Faulkner’s Ranch, 10600 Raytown Rd., Kansas City, MO | $15-$25 | Enjoy old-fashioned fall fun while picking pumpkins and trying delicious food + drink.

Wednesday, Oct. 4

National Coffee with a Cop | Wednesday, Oct. 4 | 9-10:30 a.m. | Strawberry Hill Povitica, 7226 W. Frontage Rd., Merriam, KS | Free | Join Merriam police officers for coffee, snacks, and conversation.

Thursday, Oct. 5

Harvesting Hope Fall Fundraiser | Thursday, Oct. 5 | 4-8 p.m. | Strang Hall’s Outdoor Space, 7313 W. 80th St., Overland Park, KS | $75 | Shop, listen to a panel discussion, and enjoy cocktails at this annual fundraiser.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Sports

The Chiefs defeated the Jets with a final score of 23-20. Now they head to Minneapolis to take on the Vikings and defend their winning streak this Sunday, Oct. 8 at 3:25 p.m.

Civic

Last week, Overland Park raised minimum wage for city employees to $15 an hour, effective immediately. Community center workers, Parks and Recreation staff, gardeners, and pool cashiers are the most impacted as these positions had lower pay. (KCTV)

Ranked

An A+ for OP. Overland Park was ranked No. 9 on the “Cities with the Best Public Schools in America” list by Niche. The ranking views the grades of all public schools in a district and gives weighted scores based on student population.

Film

For a limited time you can watch “Nelly Don The Musical Movie” in regional theaters. The movie highlights Kansas Citian and fashion mogul Nelly Don, journeying through key points of her life like surviving a kidnapping. Find movies and show times. (KSHB)

Number

1,267%. That’s how much “Travis Kelce jersey” Google searches increased worldwide after Taylor Swift attended the Chief’s game last week. Local businesses Rally House and Charlie Hustle also reported upticks in Kelce and Swift-Kelce merchandise. (Shawnee Mission Post)

Coming Soon

Duck...duck...donuts. Duck Donuts is opening a new location — at 4002 W. 83rd St., Prairie Village, KS. It will take over the former Great Harvest Bread Co. spot to serve hot and fresh donuts daily. An early 2024 opening is planned. (Shawnee Mission Post)

Fact or Fiction

The University of Kansas Cancer Center is the only cancer center in the region to offer Intraoperative Radiation Therapy for breast cancer patients. See the answer.*

Finance

One platform is unlocking the $1.7 trillion “billionaires asset class” for everyday investors. Introducing Masterworks, an award-winning platform for investing in blue-chip art. Investors have benefited from 16 sales with returns including 13.9%, 27.3%, and 35.0%. Interested? KCtoday readers can skip the waitlist and join.†*

† Past performance is not indicative of future returns; investing involves risk. See disclosures masterworks . com/cd

Answered

🦅 Why does KC have a giant eagle statue?

Answered: Why is there an eagle statue on Ward Parkway?

The eagle has landed. | Photo courtesy of KC Parks and Recreation

Earlier this year, we asked which Kansas City sites you needed a history lesson on. Several of you mentioned the eagle perched at Ward Parkway and 67th Street. Here’s what we discovered about our avian friend.

According to KC Parks and Recreation, this seemingly American symbol is actually Japanese. Dating back to the 18th century, it originally resided in a courtyard of a Japanese temple. In 1935, J.C. Nichols’ company purchased it from a New York art dealer and donated it to the city.

The bronze eagle:

Stands 3 ft tall
Has a 14-ft wing span
Weighs 2,000 lbs

And that’s the word on the bird. Have any more sites around the city you want us to research? Let us know.

The Buy

The Buy 10.2.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

These Halloween glass can cups. Because Halloween ghosts have never looked cuter. Plus, they’re sold from a Star Seller on Etsy (read: smooth shipping + great reviews).

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Charmaine

From the editor

Fun fact: I’ve never actually carved or painted a pumpkin before. Maybe I’ll unofficially enter the pumpkin carving contest just to see what I can do.

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