Plus, Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center to open after $15 million renovations.
 
05.17.2024 6AM-Top banner logo-small.png

SUBSCRIBE
6AM City In-house

Today’s Forecast

83º | 12% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:03 a.m. | Sunset 8:27 p.m.
 

🪽 Don’t just wing it

Feed birds in Kansas City
A ruby-throated hummingbird perched on a nectar feeder.
Nectar feeders will help friendly ruby-throated hummingbirds fuel up on their long trip. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons
Our local skies house everything from goldfinches to robins. So how can you invite them to your garden?

Feed them, of course. As we come to the end of this season’s major bird migration, it’s a good time to set out feeders to make up for potentially depleted natural food sources. Let’s fly through some need-to-knows to keep you popular with the local birds.

Feeder types 🪶

There are three basic types of feeders: seed, suet, and nectar.
  • Seed feeders are the most versatile. Black-oil sunflower seeds appeal to the greatest number of birds, according to the Audubon Guide to Bird Feeding. They’ve also got homemade recipes that everyone will be chirping about.
  • Suet (or beef fat) is a high-energy treat for bug eaters, and you can make a DIY feeder from an onion bag. Be warned: Warmer weather turns suet cakes rancid, which keeps birds away.
  • Nectar feeders give hummingbirds and orioles a sweet treat. Opt for a low-capacity feeder to make sure you’re cleaning it regularly.
Browse Backyard Bird Center to get a feel for the different types. Then, mix and match to make your home the flock of the town.

The perfect setup 🪶

You want to give songbirds an easy meal — not squirrels, cats, or birds of prey — so set up the perfect perch.

The magic numbers for a feeder pole are 30 ft from any windows and 10 ft from cover, particularly native plant cover. In fact, you can even spruce up your garden with bird-friendly plants.

Maintenance 🪶

Monitoring your feeders is key to keeping the local ecosystem healthy. Clean seed feeders every two weeks, and keep an eye out after rain.

To avoid avian diseases (and connect with other birders), keep tabs on the local Audubon Society. Call the Missouri Department of Conservation or Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks and take down your feeders if something seems amiss.
 
Events
Friday, May 17
  • Friday Night with Lonnie McFadden’s Dinner & Show | Friday, May 17 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Lonnie’s Reno Club, 1111 Grand Blvd., KCMO | $110-$115 | With a simple delectable menu and Prohibition-era cocktails, music lovers and foodies will enjoy an unforgettable dining experience.
  • Kansas City Ballet Presents “Jewels” | Friday, May 17-Sunday, May 19 | Times vary | Kauffman Center, KCMO | $34-$149 | The beauty of precious gems + the music of three very different composers create a ballet in three unforgettable acts.
  • Summer Fireworks at the K | Friday, May 17 | 6:40 p.m. | Kauffman Stadium, 1 Royal Wy., KCMO | $23-$125 | Stick around after the game for the iconic stadium lightshow.
Saturday, May 18
  • Volker Homes Tour 2024 | Saturday, May 18 | 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Volker, KCMO | $25-$30 | Quintessential Volker homes will be open for self-guided tours for any architecturally curious Kansas Citians.
  • Turkey Creek Festival | Saturday, May 18 | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Antioch Park, 6501 Antioch Rd., Merriam, KS | $5 | It’s all fun and games at this annual tradition featuring the Creek Chic Arts and Crafts Market.
  • May Festival + Backyard BBQ Competition | Saturday, May 18 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Historical Rice-Tremonti Estate, 8801 E. 66th St., Raytown, MO | Free | Shop unique crafts and eat delicious food while supporting the 180-year-old historic estate + KC Honor Flight network.
  • Black Expo | Saturday, May 18 | 11 a.m.-10 p.m. | Kansas City Convention Center, 301 W. 13th St., Ste. 100, KCMO | Free | Experience the vendor marketplace, beauty pavilion, kids activities, and live entertainment celebrating Black culture + community.
  • Playful Printmaking Workshop | Saturday, May 18 | 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Kansas City Artists Coalition, 3200 Gillham Rd., KCMO | $50 | Put your creativity to paper by learning gel printmaking with the KCAC Studio Art Club.
  • Kelce Jam | Saturday, May 18 | 5 p.m. | Azura Amphitheater, 633 N. 130th St., Bonner Springs, KS | $49-$249 | It’s No. 87’s biggest party of the year featuring performances by Lil Wayne, Diplo + 2 Chainz and a Jack Stack backyard barbecue with Jim Beam cocktails.
Sunday, May 19
  • KC Metro Pickleball Clinic | Sunday, May 19 | 5-6 p.m. | Westburo-Canterbury Pickleball Courts, 1030 S. Withers Rd., Liberty, MO | Paddle up to this weekly training sesh for one of the nation’s hottest sports.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Edu
  • A new partnership with the United States Cyber Command will place UMKC at the forefront of cybersecurity education + research in the country. The first university to partner with this arm of the Department of Defense, the partnership grants students access to special facilities and internships.
Drink
  • In case you thought your Whataburger order needed a cuppa joe, Patrick Mahomes announced his investment a new cold coffee brand: Throne Sport Coffee, which aims to make delicious coffee for active adults. It’s the first time the Chiefs quarterback has been a business’s lead investor. (FOX4)
Eat
  • Marco Polo’s Italian Deli & Market is celebrating 40 years in the metro with an Italian Sausage Party this Saturday, May 18 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Stop by the store for outdoor grilling + the KC institution’s classic sausage sandwiches.
Coming Soon
  • Local wing spot Mr. Wingz plans to move from its current home at the Crossroads Food Stop ghost kitchen into Overland Park’s Cherokee Hills shopping center later this year. The restaurant offers sweet and spicy wings, shrimp, and tenders. (Kansas City Star)
Development
  • The Overland Park Planning Commission is revisiting a shopping center 10+ years in the making. New plans for the 15-acre Wolf Creek Plaza include two drive-thrus, two office buildings, two retail buildings, a daycare, and a gas station. (Johnson County Post)
Finance
  • Ah, the art of the balance transfer. This card offers not one, not six, but 18 months of 0% intro APR on balance transfers, giving you nearly two years to save big. (Plus, you can earn 2% cash back on purchases with no annual fee.) Learn more and apply.*
 
Active

⛱️ Pack your pool bags

Lenexa’s Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center to open after $15 million renovations
An aquatic center prominently featuring a lazy river, with a zero-depth entry pool and play equipment on one side and a water slide on the other. A nearby competition pool also includes diving boards, rock walls, and swimming lanes.
Get ready to hear “just five more minutes” a lot this summer. | Photo by Greg Turcotte
Sar-Ko-Par Aquatic Center is back and ready to make a splash this summer.

After two years, a new name + $15 million in renovations — partly based on survey data from 430 elementary school students (aww) — the Lenexa pool paradise is ready to open.

What can you expect?
  • A 512-ft lazy river. Among the most requested additions, the river flows between the park’s other amenities.
  • Two slides — one for a slow descent, and a speedy slide for thrill-seeking swimmers, which lets out into the lazy river.
  • Rock walls. Kids can take a dive from the top of either climbing wall, placed side-by-side. Perfect for friendly races.
  • New accessibility features. The new zero-depth entry pool + splash pad will let small children and people with disabilities enter without the use of ladders or stairs.
Be the first in line when the park opens on Saturday, May 25 — at which point it will be open daily, 12-8 p.m., until September.
The Buy
Small biz. Celebrate National Small Business Month by exploring our retail shop, Six & Main, featuring local brands from across the country. Find unique gifts for your friends or treat yourself to something new.
 
The Wrap
 
Dayten Rose

Today’s edition by:
Dayten
From the editor
Another way to help migrating birds: put out the lights. Birds use the stars to wayfind on long migrations, so upward-facing lights may cause them to fly off course.
Missed our previous newsletter?     ›
Send Us A Scoop, Question, or Feedback     ›
Advertise     ›
Shop     ›
 
 

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

Copyright © 2023 6AM City Inc, All rights reserved.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY