Imagine the views rolling into town. | Photo by Mick Haupt
Itching to get out of town, Kansas Citians? Skip those pesky airport security lines and jump in your car for a road trip to Tulsa, OK instead. From exploring the lush gardens at its world-class art museum to the table steak at Bull in the Alley — we’re spilling all the details on how to have an unforgettable time in T-Town.
Essential info
Drive time: ~4 hours
Year city was established: 1898
Est. population: 413,066
Wander the 1920s Italian-style villa + its 23 acres for just $18.
Originally the home of wealthy oilman Waite Phillips and his wife Genevieve, the modern-day museum contains ~16,000 objects and 25 acres of gardens. Want more to do outside? Try Gathering Place.
The 1920s garage-turned-music venue is a must-visit for music lovers making their way to T-Town any time of the year. As the resident home of Western Swing King Bob Wills, we recommend adding “Take Me Back to Tulsa” to the roadtrip playlist.
We couldn’t not include it. While it’s not the same as its former name twin, the current Joe’s Kansas City, you can try the region’s most unique barbecue delicacy: smoked bologna.
Want something a little fancier? You’ll need to place a reservation before you hit the road, but we hear this speakeasy-steakhouse’s impeccably designed digs and killer drink menu make this a top spot.
Each of its 26 rooms are inspired by pieces of Oklahoma’s history, from the Wiemann Room (featuring original metalwork from the local company) to its 1960s mid-century modern Lunar Eclipse Room.
Walk one block from this Airbnb to reach Route 66 where you can bask in the glow of its iconic neon and snap a pic with the 21-ft-tall Buck Atom, right in the heart of the Pearl District.
Spooky Cemetery Paint Party | 6-8:30 p.m. | 25110 E. Strode Rd., Blue Springs | $35 | Paint creepy jack-o-lanterns in an equally creepy cemetery.
Wednesday, Oct. 30
Jurassic Quest Dinosaur Meet & Greet | 3-5 p.m. | Museum at Prairiefire, Overland Park | Cost of Admission | Whether you’re a curious child, a dinosaur enthusiast, or looking for family fun, you’ll love bumping claws with your fave prehistoric creatures.
Evening Run/Walk | 6 p.m. | 3 Trails Brewing, Independence | Free | Enjoy a three-mile run/walk through historic Independence followed by socializing at the local brewery.
Sourdough Starter Workshop | 6-7 p.m. | Iron District, North Kansas City | $30 | Learn everything you knead to know about prepping your sourdough.
Thursday, Oct. 31
Halloween + Nosferatu with Live Soundtrack | 11 a.m. | Kansas City Bier Company | Menu price | Enjoy the silent film set to a live score and nab 10% off your tab for wearing a costume.
Corporate Hell | 8-11:30 p.m. | Stray Cat Film Center | $6.66 | Clock in, leave your soul at the door, shred those files, then leave some “Blood on the Dance Floor.”
While Missouri is switching to a streamlined driver licensing system next month, Kansas City is looking for new ways to shorten its DMV wait times. One possibility? Breaking from the private-business precedent and opening a city-run DMV — a model that found success in nearby Grandview. (The Beacon)
Award
Another win for KC. The Royals’ longtime catcher and team captain Salvador Perez received the Roberto Clemente Award, baseball’s most prestigious individual honor. Nominated for his dedication to community building in both his native home Venezuela + here in the Heartland, Perez is the first Royal to ever receive the award. (FOX4)
Eat
Char Bar, Third Street Social, and Pizza 51 are all planning to open new locations in downtown Olathe. While exact opening dates haven’t been announced, we know one thing: you’ll need your stretchy pants. (Johnson County Post)
Open
Roughly 420,000 sqft of pure fun and fitness opened in Overland Park last weekend. We’ve been keeping up with the AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk for some time, and couldn’t be more excited to experience the ice hockey arena, turf fields, bowling alley, and arcade for ourselves. Check it out during its daily hours.
Arts
Sign up for free and score $10 tickets, major discounts, and no-cost parking through ArtsKC’s newly launched program, The Drop. Intended to make metro-area cultural experiences more accessible, its partners already include Lyric Opera of KC, Nelson-Atkins, and Starlight Theatre. Editor Maddie’s already onboarded and it only took two minutes.
Health
Noise filtering, nearly invisible, rechargeable, long-lasting: Check, check, check, and check. This tiny hearing device turns noise into clarity, isolating the voices you care about for crystal-clear convos.*
Sharing a pint has never been sweeter. | Photos by @annapetrow
Turn your sweet tooth into tangible change. At least, that’s our newest excuse for grabbing a delicious pint of ice cream from Brookside’s French Custard.
The sweet shop’s latest initiative, Token Tuesdays, awards customers who buy a pint of any flavor on Tuesdays (ahem, like today) with a $1 dollar token to share with a local nonprofit. Drop your token into one of three jars — currently Kanabe’s Markets, First Call, or Pawsperity — and, at the end of the month, French Custard will tally the total and donate the equivalent to each charity. That’s a win-win in our book.
The nonprofits change each month, along with the flavors. We recommend trying the shop’s rotating Traveler’s Series, which features ice cream inspired by its owners’ trips abroad — on the itinerary this month: Mexico City.
The Buy
The Buy
A 60% off deal on an LED floor lamp perfect for your entertaining space. The minimalist lamp can be set to dozens of color combinations + light effects for the exact ambience you desire.
In the least creepy way possible, one of my favorite activities is quietly people-watching — especially when I’m “working from home” at coffee shops.
As a journalist, it helps me tune in to local fashion and food trends, but it also make me wonder: “What do these people do for work that allows them to be here at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday.” And then the irony hits me...
Answered
Answered
If you rode the entirety of its current loop, how long would a trip on the KC Streetcar take?
‘Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to ride...
As for the 15% that answered “one hour or more” for the 2.2 mile route, we’re worried that all 60 of you may have been lulled to sleep by the tracks a time or two.
