It’s like eating bubbles... just more sugar + less soap. | Photo via Blackhole Bakery
Whether you take it sprinkled or simply powdered, celebrate National Donut Day with 15+ of the best spots to grab warm, fresh donuts in the Kansas City metro. Doesn’t that bring a glaze to your eye?
KCMO proper pastries
Donutology | Multiple locations | Lovers of creative donut concoctions know there’s no better spot in the city — especially when they’re enjoyed in an original KC Streetcar.
Yummy’s Donut Palace | 3120 N Stadium Dr., KCMO | Tues.-Sat. 6 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun. 6 a.m.-3 p.m. | Donuts, boba drinks, and breakfast sandwiches are all available at this drive-thru location.
Northland nibbles
Donut King | 2320 Armour Rd., NKC | Take advantage of its daily Happy Hour from 2 to 5 p.m. for a $2 donut + small coffee.
West side sweets
Fluffy Fresh | Multiple locations | The Johnson Drive mainstay made the list by popular demand, thanks to its hungry fans flooding our inbox.
Fairway Creamery | 5938 Mission Rd., Fairway, KS | Its ice cream, donuts + Messenger coffee can be eaten inside its chic digs or out on the sunny patio. New WFH spot, anyone?
Mochi or bust
Blackhole Bakery | 5531 Troost Ave., KCMO | Made with tapioca or rice flour instead of the typical all-purpose, these mochi donuts will take you to another dimension.
Bubbles & Beauty Pool Party | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | The Elms Hotel & Spa, Excelsior Springs | $61 | Sip champagne poolside, take a dip in The Elms’ luxurious pool, and soak up the vibrant summer ambiance with express facials in private cabanas.
Summer Concerts in the Park | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Zona Rosa — Central Park | Free | Come early to grab dinner at a nearby restaurant (Bravo’s patio is perfect to listen in), before settling in on the green space for live music from Perpetual Change.
Saturday, June 7
Free Fishing, Boating + Archery Weekend | Saturday, June 7-Sunday, June 8 | 5 a.m.-11 p.m. | Multiple locations | Take advantage of this annual permit-free weekend for boating (Shawnee Mission, Kill Creek, and Lexington Lake parks only) and archery (Shawnee Mission only).
Old Shawnee Days Parade | 10 a.m. | 15440 W. 65th St., Shawnee, KS | Free | Dust off your lawn chairs and get ready for a morning of fantastic floats, music, dancing, and fabulous entertainment at one of the state’s largest annual parades.
Booties & Bellinis | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | 215 E. 18th St., KCMO | $20 | Start your morning with a glute-focused workout on the rooftop, then sip on bellinis (or sparking mocktails) while sampling on-the-spot Botox specials, chair massages, and wellness vendors.
Global Neighbors & Flavors Fest | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Lenexa Public Market | Menu price | Around the world in eight performances and countless meals, this experience features diverse vendors spanning Kenya, China, Tahiti, Germany, and many more.
Party on the Prairie | 5-8 p.m. | Jerry Smith Park | Free | Celebrate National Prairie Day among the plants and animals of Jackson County’s last remaining remnant prairie, with guided trail hikes + bird walks, a plein air painting competition, and more.
Moirafest 2025 | 7 p.m.-1 a.m. | ReRoll Tavern | $14+ | Look through Rose-colored glasses with themed cocktails plucked straight from Café Tropical and a VIB (Very Important Bébé) ticket featuring a randomly selected colored wig + glasses combo.
Sunday, June 8
Impressive Waterlilies: Paint & Sip Workshop | 1-3:30 p.m. | Genevieve’s, Blue Springs | $87 | Using impressionist techniques with a modern twist, paint a waterlily pond with acrylic on clear-primed birchwood under step-by-step instruction.
Monday, June 9
“Baking Across America” | 7-8 p.m. | Unity Temple on the Plaza — Unity Hall | $44, copy included | Journey through the culture capitals of America to savor the very best vintage-style bakes the nation has to offer, with a moderated author conversation + book signing.
Tell us your favorite Hall’s Department Store memories.
Was it the twinkling piano soundtrack during the Plaza’s holiday season? That one time you felt way too fancy trying on perfume you couldn’t pronounce? Don’t hold back — we’re here for the details.
Prepare your plate for Akoya Omakase, a new dining option inside Hotel Phillips debuting this July. Fronted by Peter Hoang (whose family has run numerous local sushi spots, including Parkville’s Sakae Sushi), expect an à la carte menu plus three omakase experiences starting at $55. (Kansas City Star)
Civic
After this week’s intense storms, Independence’s Vulnerable Neighbor Assistance Program arrived just in time. Originally expected to debut next month, the city initiative — which pairs community volunteers with resources (trucks, tools, etc.), with those financially or physically unable clear brush + limb debris themselves — is now accepting sign-ups. (Kansas City Star)
Listen
You have two more days to soak up the sounds of Kansas City Hip Hop Week, a citywide festival highlighting local talent through concerts, workshops, and cultural experiences. We’re eyeing tomorrow’s stacked line-up, with the KC Fit Check Fashion Show + the Summer Jam Music Mixer at Vine Street Brewing on the docket.
Festival
Today marks the 50th Pride celebration held in Kansas City, a legacy that started with a three-day festival held out of houses off 39th + Paseo in 1975. You can be part of history by attending this weekend’s line-up of events, including tomorrow’s parade through Westport + the Plaza at 11 a.m. Check out even more local events in this month’s roundup.
Watch
Sundance Film Festival is moving to Boulder, CO — but not before its Short Film Tour makes its way to KC’s Screenland Armour on Friday, Aug. 22. The 100-minute program features seven juried selections from this year’s lineup — and we’ll be sure to share when tickets go live.
Closed
After five years, Pathlight Brewing is pouring its last with a farewell celebration set for the weekend of June 20th. The Shawnee hub was well-known for hosting community events, staying open late to supply sips for Formula 1, Sporting KC, and KC Current watch parties.
Question
Think you can decipher the clue Made in KC Cafe shared on its Insta? We’re thinking it has something to do with the building’s upper floors, maybe a second-floor marketplace downtown, per the angle of the second slide pic. Either way, we’re sipping on the edge of our seats.
Jobs
Tired of wading through resumes from applicants that are states away? Ditch oversaturated national job boards for our locally focused KCtoday Job Board. Get started at no cost — post unlimited job listings for free.
Games
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Stranded in Westport without a car yesterday, I made the most of it — laptop open at Broadway Café, people-watching in full swing, and a lunchtime detour to the new Tiffany Bakery. I’m a sucker for sweets, but the real scene-stealer? The chicken banh my — crusty, crunchy, saucy perfection, and a strong contender for our next lunches under $10 guide.
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