Hop on, KC. We’re pulling into Southmoreland — the fourth stop on the Main Street Extension tour — for fine art, funky bars, and more good eats than you can fit in a to-go box. (Plus, it’s walkable to Westport — so, yes, you can make it a twofer.)
Travel back in time
In 1965, Kansas Citians could sip cocktails inside a decommissioned TWA airplane at Flight 42 Cocktail Lounge — parked right off 42nd + Main. Decked out in aviation memorabilia, it served sky-high vibes without ever leaving the ground. Today? It’s an H&R Block parking lot, but the legend lives on.
Grab a bite
Worked up an appetite en route? These nearby bites + bars, all within a ~15 walk, will have you cruising past your final stop:
Ragazza Food & Wine
Brix Modern Mexican Cuisine
Chewology
Westport Bar & Rec
Harry’s Bar & Tables
Gambal’s Social Club
Jungalow
Things to do
While a walk around the neighborhood is always recommended, we have a few more ideas to stretch your legs:
Get inspired at The Artspace at KCAI, then stock up on supplies at Blick Art Materials
Hunt for retro treasures at Hula Hoop Vintage and Clothz Minded
Don’t forget to look up — these streets are sprinkled with murals, installations, and even a mysteriously placed phone booth
Ireland’s Neil Byrne in Concert | 7-9 p.m. | Kansas City Irish Center | $40+ | The multi-talented singer, songwriter, and gifted guitarist brings his traditional folk tunes and charming knack for storytelling across the Atlantic.
Friday, April 18
Community Project: Keep Knitting | Friday, April 18 + Friday, April 25 | 4-8 p.m. | Englewood Arts, Independence | Free, RSVP | People of all skill levels are invited to explore arm knitting to collectively create a large-scale work of art.
Tulsa Oilers vs. Kansas City Mavericks | 7:05 p.m. | Cable Dahmer Arena, Independence | $15+ | Catch Kansas City’s pro hockey team on the road to the Kelly Cup in the first game of the ECHL playoffs.
Saturday, April 19
Late Night Jam Session | Saturday, April 19-Sunday, July 20 | 1:30-5 a.m. | 1823 Highland Ave., KCMO | Menu price | When the bars close, it’s tradition for local musicians and late night stragglers to stop by this historic jazz show.
Easter Egg 5K/10K | 8 a.m. | 7200 W. 132nd St., Overland Park | $33+ | Work up a sweat before you hit the brunch buffet with this family-friendly race fundraising for Cornerstones of Care.
Hop, Hunt & Brunch | Saturday, April 19-Sunday, April 20 | Times vary | Chicken N Pickle, multiple locations | Free activities, menu price | Dine on scratch-made Easter brunch and an array of family-friendly activities, including an egg hunt, pictures with the Easter Bunny, and bingo.
Bad Poetry | 7-11:30 p.m. | Arts on Broadway | $10 | Unleash the cringe as grown-up writers read the worst poems they wrote in college.
City in Motion Spring Show |7:30-9:30 p.m. | Union Station | $25 | Celebrate the company’s 40th anniversary as it premieres new works and revisits highlights from its past, with a special appearance by its youth dance theater.
Sunday, April 20
Area 420 | 4:20-11 p.m. | The Dogwood Gardens, Peculiar | $50+ | Expect a whole lot of green when you step into this Area 51-style experience featuring spaces like Oddity Alley, Invasion Station Stage, and Peculiar Planetariums.
18th & Vine has another makeover moment on the way: an $8 million pedestrian mall transforming a stretch from Paseo to Woodland with new lighting, landscaping, and seating in place of street parking. Also ongoing in the area: a 500‑space garage, Parade Park Homes rebuild, and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum expansion. (Kansas City Star)
Trending
You may remember her from last summer’s Olympics — now USA rugby sweetheart Ilona Maher is making her way to Kansas City. CPKC stadium will host USA vs. Canada women’s rugby on Friday, May 2, with over 7,500 tickets sold — tripling the current attendance record for the sport. Get in on the action with tickets starting at $20. (Kansas City Star)
Sports
Rather wait for Red Kingdom’s return? Kill time with a little pre-season speculation featuring the Athletic’s guide to the Kansas City Chiefs NFL Draft 2025, starting with pick No. 31 in Round 1 on Thursday, April 24.
Health
Mayo Clinic care, right here in the metro. North Kansas City Hospital has joined the Minnesota-based health giant, granting its physicians access to Mayo Clinic Platform’s digital and consulting services while keeping NKCH independent. Interested in healthcare? Consider becoming a KCMO Community Wellness Ambassador + receive a $255 stipend.
Community
This chapter is closed on the former Antioch Library, as the Merriam City Council approved plans to demolish it this month. The developer of nearby Merriam Grand Station has submitted plans to create a similar concept in its place featuring a 210-unit apartment complex, grocery store, and restaurant space. (Johnson County Post)
Calling all small business owners. Features in our 2025 Parents Gift Guide are now 20% off. Secure a spot for your business’s product or service by using code PGG2025 at checkout.
The Buy
Really cute waterdrop earrings, with one pair of gold and one pair of silver for $12.99. The minimalist earrings hug ears + look heavy while feeling surprisingly lightweight.
While I’ve attended neither Kansas’ nor Missouri’s state fairs, I might have to make the trip out to Sedalia this year to catch a colossal celebrity’s tour stop: the world’s largest rubber bath toy, Mama Duck.
Answered
Answered
Before they hopped to the Plaza, which neighborhood was first home to its iconic rabbit statues?
33%. That’s how many of you knew that Crestwood was the OG stomping ground for KC’s famous 6-ft-tall, 200-pound plaster pals. They held court there for nine years before migrating through Brookside and finding their forever home on the Plaza in 1931.
This rabbit once stood in front of what is now Sharyn Blond Linens and O’Home in the Crestwood Shops. | Photo via State Historical Society of Missouri
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