12.15.2023

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Today’s Forecast

56º | Cloudy, with slight chance of showers | 18% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:33 a.m. | Sunset 4:58 p.m.

Small Business

Pairing your neighborhood with a KC sommelier

Katie Hendley is the Resident Sommelier at Sail Away Wine. | Photo by the KCtoday team

Imagine this nightmare before Christmas:

You’re about to head to a friend of a friend’s holiday party, the itchiest sweater you own is the only thing that fits + you’ve just realized you forgot to buy a host gift... now what?

Well, there’s no helping the first two (sorry, we don’t have that much Christmas magic) — but we do have a solution for any last minute gift-givers or ho ho hosts: a perfect wine pairing for their unique corner of KC.

Editor Maddie sat down with Sail Away Wine’s Resident Sommelier Katie Hendley to hear what she’d pair with the unique flavors of the city.

Will you accept this rosé?

Waldo — Merlot | “It’s smooth, easy to love, and has a nice maturity. The buildings + houses down there all have their individual personalities, but you can tell they all have the same stately sort of mindset.”

Downtown — Cabernet Sauvignon | “It can be from France, California, Australia, but you’re not taking the soul out of it. So I like to think that those of us who moved away from Kansas City and came back are kinda like Cabernet — we’re still ourselves but we reflect the places that we go really well.”

18th & Vine — Shiraz | “It’s kind of spicy, kind of jazzy and there’s a hint of tobacco in the air.”

Columbus Park — Chianti | “That’s Italian — you’ve got some brilliant restaurateurs over there and they’ve put an Italian name on the map.”

Rivermarket — Beaujolais | “A bohemian sort of feel. You’ve got fresh vegetable markets, young people moving into lofts, people on bicycles. It’s kind of a light-hearted wine.”

Country Club Plaza — Champagne | “It’s a little bubbly and bright and all the little lights on the buildings in December... It looks like a glass of Champagne.”

6 more juicy pairings

Asked

🍷 Now it’s your turn, give us your best pairings.

Were we totally spot on? Missed the mark? This is your chance to become a fabulous KC sommelier and pair your favorite spots with your favorite sips.

Wine about it

Events

Friday, Dec. 15

A Christmas Canine | Friday, Dec. 15 | 7:30-8:45 p.m. | The Martin City Melodrama, 702 Blue Ridge Ext., KCMO | $10 | This original performance pays homage to old dogs and new tricks in this classic Christmas “tail.”
Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift | Friday, Dec. 15 | 8:45-10:45 p.m. | Gem Theater, 1615 E. 18th St., KCMO | $27 | Celebrate T-Swift’s (belated) birthday with live music under the gentle glow of candlelight.

Saturday, Dec. 16

Santa Delivers at the Zoo | Saturday, Dec. 16-Sunday, Dec. 17 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium, 6800 Zoo Dr., KCMO | $9.50-$22 | Catch a glimpse of Santa as he delivers gifts to some of the animal residents who have made the top of the his nice list.
Mirrorball Printmaking | Saturday, Dec. 16 | 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Kansas City Museum, 3218 Gladstone Blvd., KCMO | $55 | Join Studio Art Club for an hour and a half of unlimited gel printmaking.
12 Bars of Charity | Saturday, Dec. 16 | 2-6 p.m. | KC Live! Block, 1330 Grand Blvd., KCMO | $10-$35 | Get cheery with a crawl benefiting 12 local charities — no ugly Christmas sweater required.
Saturday Night Jam | Saturday, Dec. 16 | 7-9 p.m. | Island Spice Jamaican Restaurant, 325 Delaware St., Leavenworth, KS | Free entry | Share your talent at this open mic where favorite acts win prizes.

Sunday, Dec. 17

Missouri vs. Seton Hall Basketball | Sunday, Dec. 17 | 4 p.m. | T-Mobile Center, 1407 Grand Blvd., KCMO | $35-$75 | For the first time in four years, the Missouri men’s basketball team is returning to Kansas City and will square off against Seton Hall.

Monday, Dec. 18

Blood Drive | Monday, Dec. 18 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Museum at Prairiefire, 5801 W. 135th St., Overland Park, KS | Free | Save a life by donating blood at this American Red Cross drive.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

Announced

Helzberg Diamonds is teaming up with the Kansas City Current

Says the Current’s co-founder and owner Chris Long, “Helzberg Diamonds is one of the most beloved Kansas City success stories. They have a special place in our hearts, embodying our shared commitment to community in every way.”
| Rendering provided by Helzberg Diamonds

Prominent local brand Helzberg Diamonds (which has called KC home for more than 115 years) recently announced its partnership with the Current, helping bring the expansion of women’s soccer — along with a fully dedicated stadium — to our community.

The new partnership will include visibility for Helzberg at the Current’s new CPKC Stadium (like the Helzberg Diamonds Main Gate) and during games, from on-field contests to theme nights.

The Current will also join Helzberg in support of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Stay tuned as the season approaches

News Notes

Civic

Overland Park is trying to keep the lights on after requesting $850,000 in federal aid to replace traffic signal controllers. Of the city’s 270 total, ~190 of the boxes that program traffic lights are close to kaput. (Shawnee Mission Post)

Edu

The pitch isn’t the only place players get schooled — UMKC has teamed up with the KC Current as their Higher Education Partner. Starting next year, current players will be offered undergraduate + graduate opportunities for mentoring Roos athletes and sharing CPKC facilities.

Kids

Passing classes won’t guarantee graduation for rising Kansas freshmen thanks to new high school requirements. Students will need to complete two “postsecondary assets” from a list of 22, all geared toward preparing them for higher education or the workforce. (Kansas City Beacon)

Coming Soon

Lenexa City Center will soon have another star in its Restaurant Row: Enjoy Pure Food + Drink. The health-conscious food, coffee + juice joint joins North Carolina’s Tupelo Honey and Kansas City’s Cactus Grill on the stretch off 87th Street and Renner Road. (Kansas City Star)

Transit

New tech has hit Independence roads this winter. The 17 new sensors monitor everything from pavement temperatures + precipitation levels to weather models + available weather data to inform city winter operations.

Feel Good

Retirees are whittling joy for Kansas City kids in a Northland woodshop. Knights of Columbus’ John Hiatt, Aaron Walden, Pete Wilkinson + Charles Schroder have made 1,300+ toys for the 2023 holiday season. (KSHB 41)

Finance

This no-annual-fee balance transfer offer now lasts until 2025. Transferring your existing balance to a no-interest card could be the simple solution you’re looking for to finally get ahead of your payments. (Oh, and it offers cash back rewards on everyday purchases.)*

Wellness

Planning for personal growth and emotional well-being in 2024? Connect with a licensed therapist on BetterHelp in just 48 hours + get 25% off your first month.*

Arts

💃🏾 Tap in to the Kansas City Canaries

Tap in to Kansas City’s premier chorus line troupe

A night with the Canaries is a swingin’ good time. | Photo by J Michael Strange

Forget Radio City Music Hall, the best in local chorus dancing is tap-tap-tapping right in your backyard. Enter the Kansas City Canaries — KC’s one and only chorus line troupe since their inception in 2015.

Their specialty routines have taken them everywhere —from historic former-speakeasy The Phoenix to a residency at VAMP Kansas City to a performance with the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra. Amanda Bernice, founder and co-director of the troupe, says there’s big plans as the group nears a decade of dancing: “We plan to put on our own cabaret towards the end of the year and then we’re going back to our roots + finding a new residency, preferably in a jazz club.”

You can step in on the magic this weekend by attending the Canaries’ all-levels-welcome Chorus Girl Workshop on Sunday, Dec. 17 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. The class is inspired by Consuela Harris, “a Black originator of jazz dancing + the best of the shake, hot, swinging dancers in the 1930s.” Heels are preferred, but never required — so bring your best dancing shoes (whatever they may be).

The Buy

The Buy 12.15.23 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

This smart mug warmer that keeps beverages the temperature of your choice and has automatic shut-off.

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The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Madison

From the editor

We’ve stared at it while stuck in gridlock traffic on I-35... now the KC Wheel is finally here. The anchor attraction at the new Pennway Point opened yesterday after a few delays and A LOT of anticipation.

Are you excited? Do you hate it? Should Editor Charmaine + I hop in a gondola and livestream the whole thing? Let us know how you feel about KC’s biggest and brightest roadside amusement.

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