Plus, here’s how to watch the Paralympics at home.
 
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Today’s Forecast

94º | 15% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 6:44 a.m. | Sunset 7:53 p.m.
 

🌳 The good, the bad, and the tasty

The good, the bad, and the tasty: Kansas City’s Black Walnut trees
KCtoday_Black Walnut
Missouri is home to more black walnut trees than anywhere else on earth. | Photo via Canva
Autumn conjures images of apple picking and pumpkin patches, but there’s another native plant that deserves its moment in the sun: black walnut trees.

Perhaps most well known for the large green shells they drop into our backyards every fall, these trees can be found across the metro — more grow in MO than anywhere else in the world.

Why should I care?

A more apt name would be money trees. Though not as popular as their British cousins, every part of the Black Walnut tree has commercial uses in furniture, cosmetics, and most of all, food.

Folks wrestling with shells every time they mow are sitting on a tasty treasure trove. While there are specialty farms that cultivate them, most of Missouri’s annual harvest of 12-16 million pounds (65% of the total US supply) is brought in by foragers.

KCtoday_Black Walnut

Here’s where to spot Juglans nigra, aka the eastern American black walnut. | Photo via Wikimedia Commons

How to spot + where to hull

Seeing dollar signs yet? If you’re interested in sharing your local harvest, regional producers like Hammons Black Walnuts are ready to buy.

Here’s how to identify your haul:
  • Large leaves 1-2 feet long, made of 11-23 leaflets
  • A large, straight grayish-brown or black trunk
  • Distinctive spicy smell
  • And most importantly — green, round husks 1½–2½ inches across that enclose a dark brown or black nut
Peak harvest season is almost here — aka September through October. When you’re ready to go nuts, locate your nearest hulling station and sell your bounty anytime between Oct. 7 through Oct. 20.

Other ways to enjoy

If you prefer to keep your walnuts to yourself or find your yard nut-free, no worries — there are more ways to enjoy these wild trees.

Interested in a taste test? Stop by your grocery store for a pint of Black Walnut ice cream, like Belfonte’s version found at Sun Fresh.

Crafters can use the nut as a natural dye for yarn or for ink-making.

Have another favorite way to tend to or use one of the metro’s most ubiquitous plants? Let us know and we might share it in a future newsletter.
 
Events
Wednesday, Aug. 28
  • Chiefs Cookie Decorating Class | Wednesday, Aug. 28 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | McLain’s Bakery — Waldo | $78 | Cheer on the Chiefs cookie style in this class which will teach you how to decorate your own Chiefs-themed royal iced cookies.
  • Jammin’ on the Green: A Summer Concert Series | Wednesday, Aug. 28 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Shawnee Town 1929 | Free | Bring a chair or blanket and listen to AnnaLee and the Lucky So & Sos perform at the season’s second-to-last show.
Thursday, Aug. 29
  • Creative Club Meet Up | Thursday, Aug. 29 | 5-7 p.m. | ScrapsKC | Free | Meet up with other creatives, work on your crafting projects, and have a great time.
Friday, Aug. 30
  • Library Benefit Book Sale | Friday, Aug. 30 | 10 a.m.-9 p.m. | The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art | Item price | Book lovers can shop a variety of art books at incredible prices, all supporting the Spencer Art Reference Library.
  • Victorian Etiquette Trivia | Friday, Aug. 30 | 5:30-7 p.m. | Alexander Majors House Museum | $15 | Ladies and gentlemen, show off your antiquated etiquette skills and answer questions ranging from dining decorum to dating rules.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
Learn

Culture

Back to school learning cool new skills as an adult
Presented by Rosetta Stone
Person seated at table wearing headphones and using a laptop to complete a Rosetta Stone language lesson
A new school year is a great reminder that learning is a lifelong skill. | Photo provided by Rosetta Stone
Name three reasons Rosetta Stone has been a trusted name in language learning for over 30 years? Easy:
  • The immersive platform offers expert-crafted courses in 25+ languages.
  • Just 13 hours of study with Rosetta Stone is equivalent to a full semester of college Spanish.
  • With lessons as short as five minutes, you can hone your skills between classes or meetings, on your commute, or even replace some mindless social media scrolling.
Ready to start learning? Get 50% off 25 languages with Lifetime Unlimited.
Explore the world
News Notes
Sports
Closed
  • For now. The original Summit Grill location (4835 NE Lakewood Wy.) has shuttered for renovations. After 12 years, the flagship location is getting a fresh look and will reopen at 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6. (Kansas City Magazine)
Trending
  • We never thought we’d be saying this... but watch where you step, there may be tarantulas. A species of arachnid native to MO are currently looking for mates and most likely to be spotted in rural areas south of the river this September. (Kansas City Star)
Eat
  • Fresh local ingredients, handcrafted crust... it can only mean one thing: Ibis Pizza Night at Black Dog Coffee House. Stop in this Friday, Aug. 30 for pizza pie perfection from this top-secret menu.
Community
  • Sidewalks are finally coming to the northeast community of Chaumiere. In an effort to make the area safer and more walkable, the neighborhood is undergoing a $1 million+ renovation to add sidewalks on NE Russell Road, add bus stops, and improve storm drains. (KSHB)
Biz
  • Evergy Missouri West, which controls power for a portion of the eastern metro, is asking for a 13.99% rate hike from its regulators. Have some thoughts? Here’s how to make sure they’re heard. (The Beacon)
Travel
  • Our favorite travel hack? Flykitt by Fount. It’s trusted by Navy SEALS and pro athletes to conquer jet lag. Try it for yourself — use code NOJETLAG for 10% off.*
 
Eat

🍷 For one night only
KCtoday_
No, this isn’t the original Westport location — it’s Bluestem’s pop-up spot, Rye. | Photo via Country Club Plaza
Fans of fine dining, you’ll want to write this down.

New American local fave, Bluestem, is returning to the metro after closing its doors in 2020 — but there’s a catch: it’s back for one night only.

Snag a $265 ticket to the limited-seating pop-up event and you’ll be treated to a six-course dinner, held at Rye on the Plaza (4646 Mill Creek Pkwy.) on Monday, Oct. 28.

Want a taste of what’s to come? Preview the menu on Tock, featuring dishes like Elysian Fields lamb with potato fondant + truffle, all paired with wines from Domaine Clos De La Chapelle.
The Buy
🛍️ Labor Day weekend sales have begun. Check out some of the best markdowns we’ve found on Amazon:

This walking pad treadmill is 63% off.

Snag a Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner while it’s 26% off.

These pretty lab-grown moissanite earrings are 50% off.

Great for kitchen prep, this mixing bowl + air-tight lid set is 54% off.

Get a weighted blanket 50% off.

This multiple device USB charging station is 48% off.
Shop Amazon's Labor Day sale
Answered

Last week we asked “Which month does KC get the most rain” and here’s what you said:
April showers bring May flowers, or so you thought. A not-so-surprising 60% of readers pegged April as the historically rainiest month in the metro, but the correct answer is actually June.

We’re recruiting the 43 of you who chose correctly to KCtoday’s trivia team.
 
The Wrap
 
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Today’s edition by:
Madison
From the editor
If you need a new place to celebrate Taco Tuesdays, try Tiki Taco off Troost (too many T’s?) for $2.50 street tacos. Editor Charmaine and I enjoyed the swanky retro digs, complete with neon signage and margarita machine, on our lunch break yesterday.
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