07.30.2024

Today’s Forecast

98º | 9% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:17 a.m. | Sunset 8:31 p.m.

🐯 A Midwestern safari

Cedar Cove Sanctuary: the KC metro’s big cat oasis

Hey girrrrrl. | Photo by KCtoday

Editor Charmaine here. Let me tell you about my latest adventure not too far from home.

I hopped on 69 Highway and drove 40 minutes south until I arrived at one of the metro’s lesser-known attractions: Cedar Cove Sanctuary, a big cat rescue + education center.

After parking my car on the gravel lot, out came head cat wrangler, Steve Klein. He ushered me across a short bridge + small building until I was face to face with the ferocious felines.

Two tigers pose for birthday cedar cove conservatory — Twin sisters Olivia and Sundari pose for their ninth birthday.
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Photo couresty of Cedar Cove Conservatory

These cats didn’t care much for my psps psps psps, instead they paid close attention to Klein, their caretaker and advocate for more than a decade.

“I came out here with a friend of mine in 2001 and just took a tour,” Klein said. That tour eventually turned into weekends volunteering under Billy Pottorff, the sanctuary’s then-owner.

After serving in Vietnam + seeing the plight of these wild animals, Pottorff opened the sanctuary in 2000. When he died in 2012, Klein became the leader of the pride.

Every animal at Cedar Cove has been rescued from precarious situations — like 19-year-old retired circus tiger Jai, or twin tigers Olivia and Sundari, former petting zoo attractions.

Here at the sanctuary, the cats relax and play, without being entertainment.

Cedar cove conservatory — Just *lion* around in the football field-sized playground.
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Photo courtesy of Cedar Cove Conservatory

“If the animals are there to enhance somebody’s persona, that is entirely the wrong reason,” Klein said. “We are their family. We don’t trade them. We don’t breed them. We don’t sell them. They’re here for the rest of their lives.”

Klein, whose previous life included being an aerospace engineer, has big plans for the sanctuary’s 25th anniversary in 2025.

“There’s new things coming that can be used to change how we live on this planet, to give these animals a chance,” Klein said.

The sanctuary is always accepting donations — of both the meat and monetary variety. They’re also open to adult volunteers, especially someone passionate about social media.

See the sanctuary's future plans

Asked

Which of these prehistoric big cats did NOT roam the Midwest?

A. Saber-toothed cats
B. Giant Cheetahs
C. American Lions
D. Mountain Lions

Let us hear you roar

Events

Tuesday, July 30

JOCO Library Foundation Happy Hour | Tuesday, July 30 | 5-6:30 p.m. | Made in KC Marketplace, 8703 Penrose Ln., Lenexa, KS | Free entry | Get in on shuffleboard, raffles + giveaways with your first drink paid for by Rainy Day Books.
2024 Johnson County Fair | Tuesday, July 30-Sunday, Aug. 4 | Johnson County Fairgrounds, 136 E. Washington St., Gardner, KS | $0-$35 | See what makes JoCo special with exciting exhibitions, rodeo events, and a nightly carnival.

Wednesday, July 31

Chats for Change | Wednesday, July 31 | 6-8 p.m. | Chicken N Pickle, 1761 Burlington St., North Kansas City, MO | Free entry | Community members + conservationists can chat with elected officials to advocate for the local environment.

Thursday, Aug. 1

Hunt for the Philosopher’s Stone | Thursday, Aug. 1-Thursday, Aug. 15 | 12-6 p.m. | Weston Wine Company, 540 Main St., Weston, MO | $8 | Wander Weston to find the Philosopher’s Stone by solving puzzles, taking pictures, and sampling wine along the way.
Rolling Record Store Pop Up | Thursday, Aug. 1 | 5-7:30 p.m. | Kansas City Museum, 3218 Gladstone Blvd., KCMO | Menu price | Dig into hundred of hand-picked vintage vinyls from local non-profit Manor Records.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Coming Soon

Cigars with a side of cocktails. Olathe’s Fireside Cigar is getting a new sister business: Quaint. Found next door at 15995 S. Bradley Dr., the new cocktail bar will serve drinks made from spirits like bourbon + rum. A September opening is anticipated. (Johnson County Post)

Civic

Know a restaurant that could use a fabulous patio? Tell them about the KC Outdoor Dining Enhancement Grant. Yesterday, the City of KCMO started accepting applications for the grant, which awards businesses up to $15,000 to enhance outdoor dining spaces. Applications close Friday, Aug. 16.

Development

ICYMI... UMKC has several development projects currently under construction — including a new medical building in St. Joseph, Foodiverse food parlor being added to its Volker campus, and 51st Street Pedestrian Plaza. Read more about the projects.

Plan Ahead

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to attend Library Lets Loose on Saturday, Sept. 21, 6:30-10 p.m., at the Central Resource Library (9875 W. 87th St., Overland Park, KS). Enjoy cocktails, bites, live music + raffle prizes at the “Top Secret” themed night. Tickets start at $85.

Closed

But not gone. On Sunday, Café Cà Phê poured its last cup of coffee at 12th Street Post. The biz will now fully focus on its main brick and mortar at 916 E. 5th St., KCMO + getting its mobile cart going.

Finance

2024’s “it card” is here. Not only does it offer a $200 bonus, but also unlimited 1.5% cash back and 0% intro APR until 2025. (Annual fee? We don’t know her.)*

Shop

Ditch the men’s dress pants — the Dealmaker Pant is the ultimate pant for work or play, with an impeccable fit and feel. Save 15% with code READ15.*

Sports

KC is ballin’ out

Weekend Recap: Current, Sporting, and Royals games

Allie Long has the moves like Jagger. | Photo via @kccurrent

It was quite the weekend for KC sports. Let’s recap.

On Saturday, the KC Current kicked it off by washing out Pachuca, 3-0, defending their unbeaten streak in the 2024 Summer Cup.

Then, Sunday, both the Royals and Sporting KC faced Chicago opponents.

The Royals were unable to stave off the Chicago Cubs, losing 7-3 in the final game of a three-game series. The team finished their nine-game homestand 5-4.

Sporting KC won the opening 2024 Leagues Cup Match, 2-1, and put a damper on the Chicago Fire. They started off slow but managed to make a comeback, fueled by Robert Castellanos leveling the score with a header.

Need more of a sports fix? You can catch KC on the world stage at the Olympics.

The Buy

The Buy 7.30.24 (Affiliate)

These quick drying women’s water shoes — they’re perfect to slip on during any aquatic adventure, from summer beach trips to waterfall hiking.

More worth The Buy

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Charmaine

From the editor

🐯 Rawr. What a wild ride the big cat sanctuary was. Are there any more obscure attractions around the metro that we should know about? Let me know and I’ll check it out.

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