06.20.2024

Today’s Forecast

91º | 18% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 5:52 a.m. | Sunset 8:47 p.m.

🎷 The hills are alive with the sound of...

Make Music Day returns to Kansas City

Would you look at that — it’s concert-o’clock. | Photo via Getty Images

A day without music is like a day without rain... or however the saying goes. If your ears have been feeling parched lately we have good news — Make Music Day is on the way.

The worldwide “live, free musical celebration” is happening this Friday, June 21. The event celebrates the longest day of the year (aka the summer solstice) with “concerts on streets, sidewalks, venues, and parks across the city.”

This year, 104 local artists will play across 60 metro locations with a total of 120+ performances. From Main Street in Platte City, to Marina 27 in Lake Lotawana, to the Downtown Olathe Square, there’s likely a spot near you.

Just check this interactive map for locations + times of each performance. Some musicians we’re itchin’ to see include:

Broken Finger Quartet | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | Bach to Rock, 3630 W. Leawood, KS | Four passionate ladies dig into their strings across a multitude of genres.
Bombay Jay | 7:45-8 p.m. | Town Fork Creek Park, 5701 Agnes Ave., KCMO | This R&B singer makes music about all aspects of life.
Ember & Oak | 7-8 p.m. | Loose Park Shelter, 5200 Wornall Rd., KCMO | This cover duo sings everything from Taylor Swift to Kacey Musgraves, with their own tunes sprinkled in.

Picture of Back Alley Brass Band — KC is alive with the sound of music. | Photo via @kcmoparks and @makemusickcmo

Need to find music while on the move? This year organizers created a mobile app, so you can make sure you C sharp performances. Here’s how to get it:

1. Download “Grandstand Events + Guides” from your phone’s app store — Android and Apple are both supported
2. Search “Make Music Day”
3. Click “Make Music KC”
4. Click “Load App”

Events

Thursday, June 20

Kat Singleton Release Party + Author Signing | Thursday, June 20 | 7-9 p.m. | El Torreon KC, Inc., 3101 Gillham Plz., KCMO | $23 | Celebrate the finale of the “Black Tie Billionaires” book series — make sure you wear black and white.
Modernist Happy Hour | Thursday, June 20 | King G (Deli and Bar), 500 E. 18th St., KCMO | Menu price | These history buffs are passionate about three things: the National WWI Museum, good times, and even better drinks.

Friday, June 21

Just For Her | Friday, June 21-Sunday, June 23 | Times vary | Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS | $5 | It’s a summer shopping spree for all at this expo offering the latest in fashion, wellness + home goods.
Remember When | Friday, June 21-Sunday, June 23 | Times vary | City Stage Theater, 30 W. Pershing Rd., KCMO | $15-$25 | Tap your toes to this nostalgic 1950s love story, Kansas City Dance Collective’s newest production.

Saturday, June 22

Terrarium Workshop | Saturday, June 22 | 11 a.m.-5 p.m. | Garden in a Glass KCMO, 7338 W. 162nd Ter., Overland Park, KS | $50 | Unleash your creativity and create an ecosystem with geodes, pottery, vintage figurines, and plenty of plants.
3rd Annual Tamale Fest | Saturday, June 22 | 4-10 p.m. | Mattie Rhodes Cultural Arts Center, 1701 Jarboe St., KCMO | Free entry | Take a bite out of the tastiest fest of the season with local vendors, a tamale tasting competition, and a jalapeño eating contest.
Stems: A Garden Soirée | Saturday, June 22 | 7-10 p.m. | Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, 8909 W. 179th St., Overland Park, KS | $175-$275 | Support local orgs, like Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, and partake in a weekend of food, wine, music + fireworks.

Sunday, June 23

Berkley Riverfront Festival | Sunday, June 23 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Berkley Riverfront Park, 1298 River Front Dr., KCMO | Free entry | The city’s weekly hub for all things art, entertainment, and community connection is back for the summer season.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Drink

Here’s the tea — a locally-owned HTeaO will open at 705 W. Foxwood Dr., Raymore, MO this Friday, June 21. The first of its kind in all of the state, the tea biz will serve up fresh flavors like Ryan Palmer (its take on an Arnold) and Sweet Mango Fresco. (Kansas City Star)

Kids

KCPL North East Branch (600 Wilson Ave., KCMO) reopened its kids cafe for the summer. Meals featuring milk, protein, veggies, fruits + grains will be served Monday-Thursday, 3-4 p.m., now through Monday, Aug. 12. Kids up to 18 years old can claim the free meals. (Northeast News)

Watch

“The Heroic True-Life Adventures of Alvin Brooks” — that’s the new documentary sharing the titular KC activist’s story. His highlight reel includes being one of KC’s first Black police officers and a civil rights leader. Watch the flick at Screenland Armour on Monday, June 24, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $13.

Closed

After six years, The Wild Way Coffee camper is closing. According to an announcement posted to its Instagram, the biz will remain open through Sunday, June 30. Business assets like the coffee camper + espresso cart are up for sale. Interested parties can reach out to owner Christine.

Travel

Family coming to town soon? Need a staycation? We made a list of unique places to stay across the KC metro, like an Elvis Retreat House with a guitar-shaped pool. Go ahead and treat yo’self.

Try This

Ready to unleash your inner child? Wonderscope’s adults-only playtime is happening tomorrow, June 21. From 6:30-9:30 p.m., play familiar games, get artsy with activities + snack on local favorites including Kona Ice (psst… it can be spiked) and Taco Cacao. Snag tix.*

Environment

Ground-level ozone pollution commonly occurs during the summer. SkyCast is a free daily alert that indicates expected pollution conditions for the following day, so you can stay informed about air quality. It also issues an Ozone Action Alert when a particularly unhealthy level of pollution is anticipated. Sign up.*

Civic

🎩 Mayor mania

Mayor Q brings Mayor Con to KC for the first time

mayor q in vine street brewing speaking to a group of world leaders kansas city missouri

Look at Mayor Q. in his natural habitat — leading sessions in local businesses. | Photo courtesy of Mayors’ Institute on City Design

Tomorrow, 200+ mayors will mingle at Loews Hotel for the 92nd annual United States Conference of Mayors Meeting (USCM).

This is the first time that KC will serve as the event’s backdrop — and our own Mayor Quinton Lucas is at the helm.

“Mayors are on the front lines of solving complex issues every day,” Mayor Lucas said. “And our time spent at USCM meetings provides a critical opportunity [...] to help us serve our communities more effectively.”

During the three-day working conference, the many mayors will brainstorm solutions to problems such as homelessness, gun violence, drugs, and mental health issues.

Mayor Lucas will lead two sessions:

Criminal and Social Justice
Preventing and Reducing Gun Violence

Leaders from public + private sectors will also attend, making for a total of 1,000+ attendees.

Want to see what all our local government leaders will be discussing? Check out the full agenda.

The Buy

The Buy 6.20.24 (Affiliate + Six & Main)

A dependable, comfortable running short — like Lululemon’s Hotty Hot High-Rised Lined Shorts (are those fun summer colors we see?).

Answered

Which Chiefs Super Bowl ring takes the crown?

Answered: Which Chiefs Super Bowl ring takes the crown?

The Chiefs Super Bowl rings for LVIII and LVII side-by-side.

There’s a difference of ~100 diamonds, can’t you tell? | Photo via Kansas City Chiefs

Last week, we asked readers to pick their “diamond of the season” out of the Kansas City Chiefs (now) four Super Bowl rings. And let us just say, bigger is definitely better when it comes to our readers’ taste in fine jewelry.

Two tied for first place with exactly 75% of the votes: the recently revealed LVIII and 2023’s LVII rings. Roughly 1,400 diamonds have been used in all four Chiefs championship rings, ~1,100 of those are found in these two rocks alone.

Curious which one took last place? Turns out only 10% of readers care for 2020’s LIV ring. Must have been the lousy diamond count — a measly 255.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Charmaine

From the editor

Because I definitely don’t have enough on my plate — with a newsletter, book biz, video game streaming, and a newborn — I decided to start a dinner club with my friends.

We’ll be going to every kind of restaurant we can find across the metro, from dive bars to five star spots. Have any suggestions to toss in the hat? Bonus points for spots with non-alcoholic options.

Missed our previous newsletter?

›

Send Us A Scoop, Question, or Feedback

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.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY