Start flexing those foam fingers. The NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournaments begin this week — and local fans have three regional schools to root for in the NCAA Tournaments: Mizzou and KU men’s teams, and K-State’s women’s team.
Fans who don’t mind a bit of a drive can catch first and second-round games tipping off at Wichita’s INTRUST Bank Arena on Thursday., March 20- Sun., March 22. Tickets are already in high demand, so fans may need to keep an on the NCAA ticket exchange. Otherwise, best to click on that remote.
Koi Pond Paint Party | 6-8:30 p.m. | 25110 East Strode Rd., Blue Springs | $35 | Unwind with a little brush therapy sesh that’s as calming as a backyard water feature.
Wednesday, March 19
KC Royals Hall of Fame Exhibit | Tuesday, March 18-Wednesday, March 19 | 12-6 p.m. | Commerce Bank Building, 1000 Walnut St. | Free | Swing by and relive Royals glory days with photo ops alongside legendary memorabilia, including the ‘85 and ‘15 World Series trophies and Salvy’s 1,500th hit gloves.
Thursday, March 20
Official Planet Comicon Pre-party | 4-8 p.m. | Boulevard Brewing Tours & Recreation Center | Free | On PCKC eve, join us to celebrate of the creativity of comic book culture with cosplay pros, Space Camper Saga IPA flights, and ticketed Dr. Who Trivia.
The Spring Fling Country Jam | 7 p.m. | recordBar | $14 | Shake off that winter chill with an evening of boot-stomping tunes from Mike Tipton & The Scoundrels, Lovelle & The Midnight Spliffs, and Travis Fuetz & The Stardust Cowboys.
Disney On Ice: Let’s Dance! | Thursday, March 20-Sunday, March 23 | Times vary | T-Mobile Center | $57+ | This on-ice experience remixes your favorite Disney films with classic tunes and colorful performances.
Friday, March 21
Glow Pickleball Tournament | 7 p.m. | SERV, Overland Park | $130 | Get ready to dink in the dark at this friendly tourney serving up fast volleys, glowing courts, and a chance to flex your paddle skills.
“Created by Chaos” | Friday, March 21-Saturday, March 22 | 7-9 p.m. | Union Station | $15+ | Inspired by Greek mythology’s fiercest female figures, the Kansas City Dance Collective brings bold new choreography to the stage in this powerful, all-ages performance.
Saturday, March 22
Empower: Modern Self-Defense | 10:30 a.m. | National WWI Museum and Memorial | Free, RSVP | Channel your inner warrior with a self-defense workshop inspired by the suffragettes of the early 1900s.
KC’s patio season has arrived, pending any surprise snowstorms. Enjoy rooftop views and al fresco dining as spots like Crossroads rooftop bar Percheron reopen for the season on Thursday, April 17. Grab your shades, order a local brew, and soak up that sweet spring sunshine with our full outdoor dining guide.
Sports
For the first time ever, FIFA is dropping host city-specific World Cup posters. Kansas City’s official design will debut at the St. Louis CITY SC vs. Sporting KC match at Children’s Mercy Park on Saturday, April 5. Whether you’re a die-hard soccer fan or just here for the hype, we’re thinking this is a must-have keepsake.
Ranked
DYK, one of the nation’s most affordable neighborhoods for renters is in Kansas City? Nestled near Martini Corner and Gates Bar-B-Q, the Broadway Gillham neighborhood — and its average monthly rent of ~$1,016 — landed No. 5 on Joybird’s rent-to-income report of the US’s top 50 most populated cities. (Kansas City Star)
Award
Kansas City is full of shakers, movers, and changemakers bringing good to our local communities. Meet the five people + businesses recognized as this year’s 2025 Urban Hero Award winners, including MADE MOBB, Care Beyond the Boulevard founder Jaynell “KK” Assmann, and Iconic Development owner Chris Sally.
Shop
Speaking of MADE MOBB.... The local streetwear brand is celebrating the season with a spring cleaning sale. Freshen up your wardrobe with graphic tees, hoodies, and signature styles like its KC Dad Hat for 30% off.
Open
Two metro restaurants have reopened with new names and fresh menus. Once Bo Lings on the Plaza, the famed eatery is now Heritage Asian Kitchen — but don’t worry, its famous dim sum service is still there. A bit further south, Lee’s Summit locals can now dine at Vetta Italian Eatery, which replaced Main Street taco bar Calaveras. (Kansas City Star)
Trending
Self-driving cars, AI assistants, and now, firefighting robots. The KCFD deployed a brand-new, remote-operated robot during last weekend’s riverfront recycling center fire. Designed for extreme conditions, this high-tech rover can battle blazes in large commercial structures, underground caves, and conditions unsafe for humans. (FOX4)
Stat
0%. That’s how much interest this card offers into 2026 — no wonder experts call it “hands down” one of “the best balance transfer cards."*
Outdoors
With spring comes outdoor concerts + music festivals — luckily, these hearing aids are the world’s first with multi-stream processing, designed to help you engage in conversations effortlessly (even in noisy environments, like that must-see show).*
Travel
The opposite of sticker shock? Going’s free travel membership, which alerts you when flights leaving your airport are 40-90% off. You’re welcome.*
The Buy
The Buy
A reusable, exfoliating soap bag. Slip any soap bar into this bag and use it like a body scrubber to get a rich, soapy lather fast.
While I may spend most of my time now writing hyper-local happenings, I specialized in photojournalism and documentary filmmaking for the better part of a decade. That’s why I can’t wait to wander around the Nelson’s new photography exhibit “Strange and Familiar Places,” before investigating its new design proposals in person.
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