Help these four-legged friends find their fur-ever homes. | Photo by Wayside Waifs
Maybe you have some extra time on your hands, or maybe you’re just in the giving spirit. All we know is there are more than enough great causes in Kansas City to support with your time.
If you want to help your neighbors in need
Save Inc. | For 35 years, Save has provided permanent, transitional, and emergency housing — including Pride Haven, a shelter for older youth (18-24) experiencing homelessness.
HappyBottoms | Wrap orders, deliver to community partners, or host your own drive to keep ~500,000 diapers a month flowing to families in need.
Natural-born teachers and mentors
Ability KC | Lend a hand with a variety of therapeutic programs for people with disabilities, including helping at youth adaptive swim sessions as occupational or physical therapists prepare kiddos for summer fun.
For the animal lovers
Always and Furever Midwest Animal Sanctuary | Donate from its wishlist or volunteer on-site at the beautiful barn sanctuary saving unwanted pets from a life spent in kennels.
American Royal | Take part in Kansas City’s cow town history by delivering ice at the World Series of Barbecue, operating a tack taxi at the livestock show, handing out ribbons, and more.
If you’re interested in health care
Children’s Mercy | If you’d like to bring light to patients + their families during difficult times, consider offering your skills in a variety of inpatient and outpatient roles.
Tower After Hours | 5-8:30 p.m. | National WWI Museum and Memorial | $6 | Following a five-month cleaning and restoration, the Liberty Memorial Tower has reopened for visitors looking to summit its 217-ft vantage above the Memorial Courtyard.
Marquee Night Out | 7:30-9 p.m. | Johnnie’s Jazz Bar & Grille, Liberty | $43 | This isn’t a class, it’s a tasting teaching you to craft three different margaritas at home — that is, after you’ve thoroughly quality checked each with your besties at the bar.
Friday, June 13
Grooves & Glass | 6-8 p.m. | Englewood Arts, Independence | $50+ | Witness the fascinating glassblowing process by a renowned artist, brought to life by the improvisational acoustic guitar performance of a local jazz musician.
Tom Arnold | Friday, June 13-Saturday, June 14 | Times vary | The Comedy Club of Kansas City | $35+ | Best known for his roles on “Roseanne,” “Austin Powers,” and “True Lies,” the actor and comedian is taking his latest set on the road.
Ghost Hunt at the State Pen with Apex Paranormal | Friday, June 13-Saturday, June 14 | 7 p.m.-1 a.m. | Former Kansas State Penitentiary, Lansing, KS | $127 | Tour the grounds of this never-before-investigated site ahead of lights out, when you’ll search for spirits still lurking along its corridors.
Saturday, June 14
Swap Con | 11 a.m.-7 p.m. | Municipal Auditorium | $13+ | Buy, sell, and swap at this 100+ vendor fair offering everything from vintage apparel and sneakers to collectibles and trading cards.
Sunday, June 15
Future Stages Festival | 12 p.m. | Helzberg Hall | Free, RSVP | From powerful vocalists and breathtaking aerialists to rhythmic jazz bands and graceful Chinese folk dancers, this showcase features local youth performers offering their exceptional talents to the community.
The clock’s ticking, KC. Yesterday, Union Station hosted the grand reveal of the region’s World Cup countdown clocks, with local leaders and influential business execs (including Lo’eau LaBonta’s dog, Amigo) in attendance. Be sure to hit up the Kansas City Kickoff on Sunday, June 22 for even more soccer excitement and local business buzz.
Open
We’ve been dreaming of condensation dripping off pint glasses and waterfront yard games for a while now. Two Birds One Stone, Berkley Riverfront’s new beer garden, debuts today from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m — and menus are already live. Personally, we’re eyeing its one-pound order of onion rings with avocado green goddess, paired with Cinderblock’s “Juicy Pils.” Heaven, here we come.
Coming Soon
Step aside, Weinermobile. The Barbie Truck Tour is rolling into Leawood’s Town Center Plaza this Saturday, Juen 14 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in front of Whole Harvest. Bring cash to shop its exclusive, limited-time lineup of active-inspired apparel, accessories, and drinkware, themed “Barbie Sports Club.”
Announced
Get ready for the Green Street Project in Lee’s Summit — a lively space with an updated farmers market, open-air performance space, and events scheduled all year long. Mark your calendars for the grand opening weekend, Aug. 15-17, and sign up to stay in the loop.
Development
After years of decay, the historic Saur Castle in KCK is getting a makeover. Renovations are underway, and plans are set for this $8 million project to transform the Italianate beauty into a 180-person event venue complete with a bar and short-term lodging — all set to wrap sometime next year. (Kansas City Star)
Eat
85°C Bakery Cafe has finally arrived in the metro. The Taiwanese chain’s first KC location is serving up everything from mango brulee cake to garlic cheese bread and spicy sausage buns. Grab a sweet or savory bite and experience why this chain has over 1,000 locations worldwide. (Johnson County Post)
Real Estate
Need your property to sell fast? Feature it here, in front of our 74,000+ highly engaged readers. Visit our self-service ad portal to get started and see your property in KCtoday in as little as two days.
Finance
If “Yellowstone” taught us anything, it’s to protect what’s yours. With gold projected to hit $4,000 an ounce by 2026, a gold IRA is a tax-advantaged way to saddle up for uncertain times.†*
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New sheets at a great discount. Get 70% off these cooling bamboo blend waffle hem sheets, with a queen set only costing $28.99. The 1800 thread count sheets are hypoallergenic, machine washable, and crafted from bamboo-derived fabric that keeps you cool in summer.
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.
Which neighborhood hosted the first ever Boulevardia?
56% of respondents remember it like yesterday — clutching a Boulevard Pale Ale while Nate Ruess or Andrew McMahon played beneath the shadow of the 12th Street Bridge at the very first fest. It’s been over a decade since those early fests, which means Boulevardia is officially old enough to have a tween attitude and a killer playlist.
If it’s been a while since you wandered the Historic Northeast, consider this your sign. Columbus Park Nights is a mini First Fridays-style hang with open doors, local vendors, and bites galore running tomorrow, June 13 from 5-9 p.m. Pro tip: stick around for Café Cà Phê’s 7/11 Nights for even more up-late eats worth staying awake for.
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