07.04.2024

Today’s Forecast

84º | 43% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 5:57 a.m. | Sunset 8:48 p.m.

🍴 Dig in

Kansas City’s Barbecue History

Meat Kansas City’s oldest barbecue restaurant. | Photo by @tgray713.

If there’s one thing Kansas Citians are passionate about, it’s barbecue. After all, we were voted the “Best BBQ City in America.” Since it’s the unofficial National Barbecue Day, aka Independence Day, let’s fire up the grill and flip through our rich + juicy barbecue history.

Henry Perry | 1908

Kansas City’s barbecue scene began blazing thanks to Henry Perry, the “Father Of Kansas City Barbecue.” In 1908, Perry sold smoked meats from a pushcart, cooking animals like possums, hogs + raccoons. This ultimately created KC’s local barbecue style.

Arthur Bryant’s | 1946

Charlie Bryant took over Perry’s business after he passed. Then he sold it to Arthur Bryant in 1946. When Arthur Bryant took over, he modified the barbecue sauce to be more universally appealing + renamed the business after himself.

Known nationally for its barbecue, former presidents Harry Truman, Jimmy Carter + Barack Obama have even popped by.

Rosedale Bar-B-Q | 1934

This spot initially began as a neighborhood hot dog + beer stand. The smell of smoking meats down the road would cause the owners to crave barbecue, so they started their own barbecue business.

Rosedale is the metro’s oldest major barbecue restaurant continuously owned and operated by the same family.

Gates Bar-B-Q |1946

“Hi, may I help you?” is the first thing you’ll hear when you enter the restaurant. It initially opened as “Gates Ol’ Kentucky,” with Arthur Pinkard, a former employee of Henry Perry, helping in the kitchen.

Gates now has six metro locations, with its barbecue sauce + seasonings sold in supermarkets.

KC_Jack Stack BBQ — You can see why Jack Stack is one of the go-to recommendations.
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Photo by @jackstackbbq

Jack Stack Barbecue |1957

This spot was started by Russ Fiorella with only ~five items on the menu. The eldest son, Jack Fiorella, worked alongside his dad until 1974 before cooking up Fiorella’s Jack Stack of Martin City. To stand out, the business cooked gourmet meats over hickory wood.

Today, it is the largest wood-fired cookery in the country.

LC’s Bar-B-Q | 1986

Founder L.C. Richardson started by smoking meat in a steel drum before moving to a pit. It is one of the few barbecue spots in the city that still uses a brick pit built by local pitmaster Bill Chaney.

Honoring legacy

Today, we have 100+ barbecue restaurants across the metro, all having sprung from Perry’s petite pushcart. To honor his contributions, the city declared July 3 “Henry Perry Day.”

And the barbecue city brushes on.

Asked

What barbecue business should be a part of our Big Book of KC BBQ?

Fire up the grill

Events

Thursday, July 4

Stars and Stripes Picnic | Thursday, July 4 | 4-10 p.m. | National World War I Museum and Memorial, KCMO | Free entry | Celebrate the day with live music, local vendors, and Kansas City’s largest fireworks display.

Friday, July 5

Matt Hopper + Gerald Spaits | Friday, July 5-Friday, Aug. 30 | 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand Blvd., KCMO | $10 | This jazzy duo is ready to ease you into a chill night in a swanky spot.
00s Trivia | Friday, July 5 | 7:30-9:30 p.m. | Weston Wine Company, 540 Main St., Weston, MO | $7 | Step back in time to the era of flip phones, frosted tips, and MySpace for a chance to win a prize.

Saturday, July 6

KantCon | Friday, July 5-Sunday, July 7 | Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS | $13-$55 | The metro’s premiere tabletop gaming convention is back with tournaments, vendors, and good old dice rolling fun.

Sunday, July 7

Berkley Riverfront Festival | Sunday, July 7 | 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Berkley Riverfront Park, 1298 River Front Dr., KCMO | Free | Pop by the city’s weekly hub for all things art, entertainment, and community connection.

Thursday, July 11

Concert in the Park: Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra | Thursday, July 11 | 7 p.m. | Thompson Park, 8045 Santa Fe Dr., Overland Park | Free | Experience an evening of vibrant rhythms and melodies as the Kansas City Latin Jazz Orchestra performs live at Overland Park’s Concert in the Park.*

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Eat

Barbecue is amazing but sometimes you just want a simple sandwich. If that sounds like you, then check out this list of the 11 best sandwiches in KC which includes Travis Kelce’s pregame go-to, Succotash’s Monte Cristo. (In Kansas City)

Outdoors

Did you know that The Oregon Trail still exists — yes, the one from the video game — and it even features stops within the KC metro? Sounds like it’s road trip time. Just make sure you don’t get dysentery.

Today Is

Independence Day. America has been celebrating this day for 246 years, since the Declaration of Independence was formally adopted on July 4, 1776. Round up the kids, friends, or just yourself and head to the Four on the Fourth run.

Pets

KC Pet Project has tips for keeping your animals safe during the celebrations today — including updating their identification tags, keeping them away from fireworks, and securing their environment. Following these tips can help put your mind at ease about leaving Fido behind while you enjoy the Stars and Stripes picnic.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Charmaine

From the editor

My in-loves are in town so I’ll be taking them around town. Say hi if you see me in the River Market this weekend.

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