11.03.2023

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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 talk about the wheel in the room

Take an inside look: Pennway Point and the KC Wheel

It’s wheely happening. | Photo by KCtoday

We’re wheely close now. The KC Wheel — one section of the developing Pennway Point entertainment district — is set to open by Thanksgiving, Thursday, Nov. 23.

Editor Charmaine met up with developer Dante Passantino of DaVinci KC for an exclusive first look at the wheel and Pennway Point’s other attractions.

❓Answers to your questions

We know there are a ton of questions floating around about this project — we collected some from our readers and Instagram followers, and took them directly to Passantino.

Why this location?

“We really feel that this is a gem of Kansas City that we helped uncover,” said Passantino. “One of my partners, Vince Bryant, his background is historic office rehab. He bought it for the historic office that sits on Pennway.”

Originally, Bryant was going to scrap everything else. But walking the yards, the duo realized these buildings were “way too cool” to tear down.

“We really feel this site was overlooked and underutilized for 100 years,”

Will there be parking? Where?

Passantino says there will be ~400 parking spots available. About 180 general parking spots will be under the I-35 bridge, around 100 on the Pennway bridge, and then 30 in a parking deck. VIP parking + rideshare pick-up will be beneath the parking deck. Prices are TBA.

tailgate space (1).gif — Welcome to the Tailgate Zone
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Photo by KCtoday

🥾 Walk through

Remember, the KC Wheel is just one of five parts making up Pennway Point. Let’s look at the other four districts.

Tailgating Zone

Take a seat in the giant, built-in stands, and you’ll be gazing out at a jumbo screen surrounded by trees. This courtyard will also transform into an ice skating rink in the winter.

Tucked to the right of the stands in the courtyard, you’ll find a large refrigeration trailer that dates back to the 1940-1950s. It was one of the first refrigeration trailers ever built and is one of many historic features salvaged for Pennway Point.

pennway point refrigeration truck — How *cool* is this soon-to-be beer truck?
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Photo by KCtoday

This cool piece of history will serve as the center point for the outdoor beer garden after completing its transformation into a walk-in cooler with 12 taps.

3 more answers + 3 more districts

Events

Friday, Nov. 3

Opening Day at Crown Center Ice Terrace | Friday, Nov. 3 | 6-9 a.m. | Crown Center, 2405 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, MO | Free | Dust your ice skates off and be the first to glide across the rink before regular hours and admission kick off at 10 a.m.
Disney Pixar’s Coco in Concert | Friday, Nov. 3 | 7-9 p.m. | Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St., Kansas City, MO | $12.50-$100 | View a screening of “Coco” with a live musical score performed by the Orquesta Folclorico Nacional de Mexico.
Adult Craft Night | Friday, Nov. 3 | 6-8 p.m. | Big RIP Brewery, 216 E. 9th Ave., North Kansas City, MO | $20 | Create an antler dream catcher with the artist and owner of Black Rose Co.

Saturday, Nov. 4

Project Warmth Donation Drive | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | All KC Metro Sam’s Club locations and KCTV5, 4500 Shawnee Mission Pkwy., Fairway, KS | Free | Bring your coats, blankets, hats, and gloves to help keep KC warm this winter.
Indoor Introductory Triathlon | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | The View, 13500 Byars Rd., Grandview, MO | $20 | If you want to get your feet wet in triathlon racing, give this a try.
Roaring 20s Murder Mystery | Saturday, Nov. 4 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Weston Wine Company, 540 Main St., Weston, MO | $14 | Great gasp-by — someone’s been murdered. Can you figure it out over a glass of wine?

Sunday, Nov. 5

Dia de los Muertos Festival | Sunday, Nov. 5 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art | Free | Observe the Day of the Dead with live music, local artists, and an altar on site.
“Tour de Lights” Bicycle Ride | Sunday, Nov. 5 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Winter Magic, 1800 Cliff Dr., Kansas City, MO | $0-$10 | Ride through the holiday lights on the brand new bicycle path.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Seasonal

Let the holiday sales begin

A snow-topped cottage with a star and dripping string lights hanging.

Top your house with a star and string lights decoration. | Photo via Amazon

Ready to dive into holiday decorating? Grab great finds while they’re still on sale:

Snag Christmas trees and garlands at a discount exclusively for Prime members.
Shop dripless Hanukkah candles with a burn time of 30+ minutes.
Hang this star and string lights decoration for cheery, twinkling warmth outdoors or indoors.
Invite winter coziness into your living room with a flannel electric blanket that’s soft and warm.
Add an elegant light-up birch tree to any space.

Browse more holiday decor

News Notes

Environment

Stop and smell the native plants. Overland Park now allows native plants in gardens and yards following a unanimous vote from OP City Council on Wednesday, Nov. 2. Want to start your own native plant garden? Check out our guide. (Shawnee Mission Post)

Health

To help decrease overdose incidents, free naloxone vending machines will be placed across Kansas by the end of the year — including in Johnson, Wyandotte, and Douglas counties. The machines will also have free fentanyl test strips. View their locations. (KCUR)

Announced

Have Worlds of Fun at Six Flags. Yesterday, Worlds of Fun and Six Flags announced their $2 billion merger. Combined the companies will oversee 42 parks across the US and operate under the Six Flags name. (FOX4)

Seasonal

New to KC Live! starting Friday, Nov. 24: Tinsel Tavern. The pop-up bar at 1323 Walnut St. will feature holiday-inspired cocktails and food, themed events like Christmas karaoke, Christmas DJ nights, and ugly sweater contests through Saturday, Dec. 30. Reservations open this Friday, Nov. 3.

Gallery

Guten Tag, KC. The Chiefs officially docked in Frankfurt ahead of their game against the Miami Dolphins this Sunday, Nov. 5 at 8:30 a.m. The team yacht, the “ChampionShip”, is wrapped from bow to stern in red and gold. View the pics.

Cause

Now through Thursday, Dec. 14, the Overland Park Convention Center wants you to gift new toys. The center has partnered with Toys for Tots to donate gifts to children across the metro. Requested items include board games, skateboards + helmets, books, and purses.

Biz

Small Business Saturday is just around the corner — Saturday, Nov. 25, to be exact. What local businesses will you be supporting + which local deals should we check out? Let us know and we may feature your recommendation in an upcoming newsletter.

Finance

This five-star-rated card offers not one, not six, but 21 months of 0% intro APR on qualifying balance transfers — giving you nearly two years to save big. (All with no annual fee, to boot.) Learn more and apply.*

Wellness

Why optimize hormones as you age? You can improve strength, bone density, libido, blood pressure, and mood. Learn about your testosterone levels with Wellcore’s At-Home Assessment Kit.*

Civic

A new season for KCMO Parks and Recreation

Say hello to Kansas City’s new Parks and Recreation board

New Board 10-31-23 kcmo parks and recs.JPG

The board members from left to right: Comissioner Tom Gorenc, Commisioner DePrice Taylor, President Beth Haden, Commisioner Stephenie K. Smith, Commissioner Pat Contreras | Photo by Jesse Frazier, KCMO Parks and Recreation

KCMO has new protectors of the parks (and recreation programming). Mayor Quinton Lucas swore in a team of five volunteers earlier this week, who will oversee the Parks and Recreation department through July 31, 2027 — the end of Mayor Q.'s term.

Let’s meet the squad.

Beth Haden is the board’s president and a partner at the Lathrop GPM law firm.

The Parks and Recreation board is also comprised of four new commissioners: Pat Contreras, Tom Gorenc, DePrice Taylor, and Stephanie K. Smith.

Contreas is the VP of McCownGordon Construction. Gorenc is a property investor. Taylor gets her kicks as the executive director of community relations for the KC Current. And Smith is the co-founder of Sophic Solutions, a local business management + consulting firm.

Visit the KCMO Parks and Recreation website to read more about them and follow their progress.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Charmaine

From the editor

I am wheely afraid of heights, but many of you have wrote in asking for a view from the top of the KC Wheel. So, I plan to take a ride as soon as it’s cleared for takeoff and report back. Stay tuned.

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