November 30, 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.

🚧 Coming soon to the Crossroads...maybe

East Crossroads busy bee cafe outside shot from across the street kctoday

There’s a lot of buzz in East Crossroads KC | Photo by KCtoday

The Crossroads Arts District is experiencing a renaissance. What was once a mostly vacant concrete jungle is now home to many small businesses. This sudden boom has ironically led the district to a crossroads:

Should it form a Community Improvement District (CID)?

What is a CID?

Basically, it’s a homeowners’ association, business edition. Funding for the Crossroads CID would come from membership fees paid by property owners and a sales tax.

Using those funds, the Crossroads CID would paint the district with:

First Fridays management complete with security, port-a-potties, traffic control, EMS, additional trash cans, and staff assisting the amazing artists + tasty food trucks.
Green trees, planting 100 annually, plus streetscape maintenance.
An on-duty officer as well as social workers for the unhoused population.
Installation + maintenance of 50 trash cans (one every few blocks so Oscar the Grouch can have his pick of the litter).
Speedy graffiti removal.

How is the district currently managing?

Volunteers from the Crossroads Community Association are the unseen superheroes, managing all of the above. CID advocates want to hire staff so that the Crossroads Arts District can become more picturesque as it grows.

“We’re definitely focused on making the Crossroads safer, cleaner, and greener,” said David Johnson. He’s the project manager for the Crossroads CID, a Crossroads Community Association board member, and he owns a home in the neighborhood.

“We’re looking to maintain that at a higher level. Unfortunately, the city just doesn’t have the resources to address that properly, so that’s why we’re forming the district.”

Crossroads-MainMap-11-09-23-NoLegend_1.pdf — This is the area that would be overseen by the Crossroads Community Improvement District.
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Photo by Crossroads Arts District

Want a Crossroads CID?

If you are a property owner within the proposed Crossroads CID boundary, you can download this petition and sign on Page 7 by the end of 2023, get it notarized, then give it to the Crossroads team.

Registered voters within the boundary can vote in 2024 to authorize a 0.5% sales tax which would support the CID budget.

For more info visit the Crossroads’ website or email them.

Asked

What would you MOST like to see in the Crossroads?

A. First Fridays management
B. Planting trees
C. Security + social workers
D. Adding trash cans
E. Graffiti removal
F. I’m indifferent

Share your two cents

Events

Thursday, Nov. 30

Holiday Choirs | Thursday, Nov. 30-Sunday, Dec. 17 | Times vary | Crown Center, KCMO | Free | Beautiful music will fill the halls of the Crown Center Shops as nearly 100 school, church, + community choirs perform.
Cookies with Santa | Thursday, Nov. 30 | 3 p.m. | Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop & Farm, 1200 E. Kansas City Rd., Olathe, KS | $18-$20 | Enjoy cookies, cocoa, and a meeting with the jolly guy himself, complete with photographic evidence.

Friday, Dec. 1

MidCoast LIVE! | Friday, Nov. 17-Friday, Dec. 29 | 12-1 p.m. | KKFI 90.1 FM, KCMO| Free | Each week, a rotating crew of KKFI programmers will present different artists from Kansas City and the surrounding areas live from KKFI’s studio.*
Dope Black Dads KCK Meetup | Friday, Dec. 1 | 6-7:30 p.m. | 2100 N. 13th St., Kansas City, KS | Free | Meet up with other Black dads in the area for food + chats about mental and maternal health.

Saturday, Dec. 2

Music and Movement Fall Session 2 | Friday, Dec. 1-Friday, Dec. 15 | Times vary | Johnson County Arts and Heritage Center Dance School, 8788 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, KS | $100-$110 | Your child age 18 months to three-years-old can enjoy curated age-appropriate activities that incorporate rhythm, movement, and creative play.
KC Arts Institute End-of-Semester Exhibition and Sale | Friday, Dec. 1-Sunday, Dec. 3 | Times vary | Kansas City Arts Institute, 4415 Warwick Blvd., KCMO| Free | Original artwork + goods created by the school’s talented students will be on display for art lovers.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

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Every Upway e-bike is eligible for a 14-day return and backed by a one-year warranty. | Photos by Upway

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News Notes

Traffic

Traffic is a bit thicker over the I-70 bridge, starting at US 40 in Independence, MO. Urgent repairs to a bridge joint near Manchester Trafficway are the culprit. Repairs are expected to last through Saturday, Dec. 9. (Kansas City Star)

Opening

Bigger and Billie-er. Billie’s Grocery will open its second location this Saturday, Dec. 2 at 3614 W. 95th St., Leawood, KS. The new spot will be inside of Ranch Mart and offer the same tasty menu found at its flagship storefront. (Kansas City Star)

Environment

Prairie Village’s future is looking greener. Its City Council approved a climate action plan aimed at achieving net zero greenhouse gas emission by 2050. The city will look for ways to improve residential greenhouse emissions and eliminate emissions from public buildings + city vehicles. (Shawnee Mission Post)

Biz

The Black Pantry — a local biz full of products from Black makers — is expanding. Its second location will be located at 3108 Troost Ave., KCMO, near the Troost Village Project. A spring opening is planned. (Kansas City Business Journal)

Kansas Citian

ICYMI — East High School’s soccer team made history by winning the school’s first state title ever. Now their co-captain, Esube Byoke, is one of 40 students nationwide selected to play in the 2023 High School All-American Game. The game is Saturday, Dec. 9 in Charleston, SC. (KCUR)

Coming Soon

Calling all coffee connoisseurs. 151 Coffee will open two new Overland Park locations — one near 91st and Metcalf Avenue + one near 199th Street. Construction on the first location has begun, with plans including patio seating and two drive-thru lanes. Opening dates are TBA. (Shawnee Mission Post)

Featured Deal

Last call for this exclusive deal: Score 50% off everything online at Harlestons — the Golf Digest/Golfweek/Golf Channel-featured premium men’s apparel brand — with code BF50. (We especially love their performance polos.) Bonus: Free shipping on $125+ and easy returns, always.*

Try This

🥪 A turkey tune-up

PARADISE LEFTOVER TURKEY SANDWICH WITH STUFFING WAFFLE BREAD (1).jpg

This turkey was given a new lease on life. | Photo by Paradise Locker Meats

Thanksgiving may be over, but those leftovers won’t let you forget it. If you’re looking to turn that tired turkey into treasure, try this recipe from local biz Paradise Locker Meats.

Ingredients

Leftover turkey stuffing
Arugula
Slices of leftover turkey
2 slices of jellied cranberry sauce
Quark cheese
Eggs
Turkey stock
A waffle iron

Instructions

In a mixing bowl, combine three cups of stuffing, an egg, and one tablespoon at a time of turkey stock using a wooden spoon.
Let sit until thick enough for a waffle iron.
Heat waffle iron. Spread a layer of turkey stuffing. Cook until golden.
Let waffle cool. Slice into quarters.
Place arugula onto one of the waffle slices. Top with a slice of cranberry and slices of turkey.
Spread quark over another waffle slice. Place on top to create a sandwich.
Now, build your second slider.
Gobble it up and enjoy.

The Buy

That thing for your bathroom you’ve always thought about but never actually gone for. Yeah, that one.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Charmaine

From the editor

For those of you who read The Wrap regularly, you’ll remember I am a “Christmas Queen.” In order to honor my crown, I play Christmas music + movies as much as possible.

A traditional movie I watch every year is “The Year Without a Santa Claus.” I grew up watching it with my family. One unusual movie I always watch is the 1978 “The Lord of the Rings” animated film. My dad is a huge fan and I became one, too, by watching that movie with him every year.

What’s one weird movie you watch every holiday season? Let me know.

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