Honey so local, all you have to do is look up. | Photo via Bee KC
It’s Pollinator Week, which means it’s time to give bees their flowers (literally). These petite powerhouses pollinate 80% of the world’s flowering plants and a third of what we eat. TLDR: No bees, no brunch.
Luckily, beekeeping is buzzing in KC — it’s low-maintenance, good for the planet, and comes with a sweet reward. Here’s what to know before you don the veil and go full Pooh Bear.
Sweet, sweet regulations
Kansas City, Missouri regulations are relatively lax when it comes to beekeeping — requiring only that each apiary be registered and “maintained in a reasonable and proper manner” so they don’t bother any nearby neighbors.
For our friends on the Kansas side, consult the Northeastern Kansas Beekeeper’s Association’s round-up of state + city-wide codes.
Starting your swarm
Thinking of diving in? Bee KC, a local nonprofit focused on urban beekeeping, recommends starting with 3–5 hives. It may sound like a lot, but here’s the logic: comparing multiple colonies helps you troubleshoot issues early, and stronger hives can sometimes bolster weaker ones nearby.
Garment District Grooves | 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Garment District Place | Free entry | Take your noon break up a notch with lunch from Mai’s Noodle Express and live music from saxophonist Dave Panico in this downtown pocket park.
TrapSocaFlow With Tai | 6:30-7:30 p.m. | ArtsTech | $8 | Culture meets cardio on the dance floor with this fitness class mixing trap, soca, salsa, and R&B with heavy sweat, waist whining, and lots of big energy.
Thursday, June 19
Anything But Brushes | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Sunshine DIY Studio | $37 | From sponges to spatulas, feathers to twigs, unleash your creativity using unconventional tools in the painting studio.
Friday, June 20
Just For Her | Friday, June 20-Saturday, June 21 | Times vary | Overland Park Convention Center | $5 | Grab your girlfriends and get ready for two days of shopping 250+ boutiques, pampering with fashion and beauty services, giveaways, and a VIP party with Tamara Day.
Dollypalooza | 6-11:30 p.m. | ReRoll Tavern | $14+ | Saddle up for a rhinestone-studded evening of glitz, glam, and good ol’ country soul with Dolly Parton trivia, a live tribute from Maggie Moon, a costume contest, and karaoke.
Found A Job — A Talking Heads Tribute | 9 p.m. | Knuckleheads Saloon | $26 | Complete with choreography (a la the classic concert movie “Stop Making Sense”), burn down the house with two hours of sonic eclectics.
Saturday, June 21
Juneteenth KC Heritage Festival | 12-10 p.m. | Parade Park | Free | The city’s official annual commemoration is set to take over the 18th & Vine Historic Jazz District with live performances, a free carnival, kids’ zone, and vendors like Velvet Freeze Daquiris and the Corner Bar & Grill.
Sunday, June 22
Date Night on the Farm | 6-8 p.m. | BoysGrow Farm | $100 | Dine on multiple courses of Triune’s amazing American-fusion fare in a unique setting, meeting the farm’s goats and seeing the fields where some of the evening’s ingredients originated.
A new Trader Joe’s is landing in Merriam’s Grand Station Marketplace, filling the Hen House-shaped void left since 2018. If you’ve ever braved the weekend madness at Leawood or KC locations, you know this is soup-er news. (Kansas City Star)
Eat
Roll out the red napkin. French-inspired café and bakery Paris Baguette is now serving fresh-made pastries + sandwiches near Oak Park Mall. Further north, Zen Donkey Wellness Cafe & Juicery, an organic juice bar backed by a husband-wife duo whose nonprofit connects people with rescue donkeys for therapeutic support, has a summer opening at the Fairway Shops. (Johnson County Post)
Shop
You’ve seen accessory and gift store EB and Co. on the Plaza, Brookside, and in Made in KC Marketplaces — now they’re shining even brighter with a new limited-edition jewelry line inspired by Starlight Theatre’s iconic towers and starry stage. Shop rings, hoops, and studs made for KC superfans.
Sports
ESPN’s SportsCenter is hitting the road, and KC is on the itinerary. As the team travels across 50 states for 50 live shows, our local live broadcast will take place at CPKC Stadium on Saturday, July 5 to spotlight the Premier + Women’s Professional Lacrosse League All-Star Games. Hosting duties go to Christine Williamson and we expect seats will go fast — snag your ticket for $23.
Civic
Prairie Village just green-lit a brand new City Hall Municipal Complex at 7820 Mission Rd., formerly a church site, along with $30 million in bonds to fund the project. The current City Hall will be renovated to expand the police department next door. (KSHB41)
Legacy
After 35 years, Dan Meers — aka the heart and hustle behind KC Wolf — is retiring. The Chiefs gave him a heartfelt sendoff, and fans can expect even more throwback moments in the weeks to come.
Closing
Smallcakes is shuttering its Northland location, leaving just the Olathe storefront for local fans. Once a “Cupcake Wars” contender and 2010s dessert darling, the KC-founded bakery still boasts 100+ locations nationwide — and yes, even one in Dubai.
Pets
We get it — green space is hard to come by in the city, especially for your four-legged friend. Enter: Kansas City’s first urban playground for pups + their people, right in the heart of the Crossroads. Think it sounds too good to be true? Study up on the ground rules for tail-wagging fun.*
Plan Ahead
Does your business have an upcoming event? Promote it in KCtoday. Head to our self-service ad portal to find an option that works for your budget — from eye-catching banner ads to engaging social posts.
Home
Still climbing ladders to clean your gutters? HomeBuddy installs premium gutter guards in just a few hours — and it’s 100% no-clog guaranteed. See your local offer.*
The Buy
A reversible couch cover that’s waterproof, machine washable, and pet hair resistant. Bonus: It seamlessly converts into an outdoor blanket.
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.
Want to make a newsletter editor’s day? Just do what reader Abigail G. did — send a note sharing the joy and value you find in our daily emails. She’s used KCtoday to discover outdoor movie nights and swap date ideas with friends and fam.
Our favorite part of her message? “Emails are usually an annoyance, but this one is the exact opposite. Reading it each morning helps me feel connected to the city at large, and prepared for anytime someone asks me ‘what do you want to do this weekend?’”
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