Peep the Plaza location circa 1965. | Photo via MVSC
Once upon a time, before the two-day shipping and targeted ads, shopping was an event. You dressed up. You lingered. You tried on perfume just because. And if you were in Kansas City, you probably did it at Halls.
From cards to chandeliers
You might know the Hall family for Hallmark, but Joyce C. Hall had more than greeting cards up his sleeve. Just three years after founding the now-global company, Hall dipped into the retail world, opening the first Halls location along Kansas City’s famed Petticoat Lane.
In 1965, it staked its claim on the Country Club Plaza with a jaw-dropping 55,000-sqft store that spanned an entire city block. Picture Baccarat crystal chandeliers, ebony-adorned pear wood furnishing, and fine fashion from around the globe.
The silverware section — that’s something you can’t find at Target.
Photo via MVSC
Nostalgia, wrapped in a ribbon
What keeps Halls close to so many Kansas City hearts? The memories.
Reader Anita M. simply loved “having everything purchased put into their signature green boxes with a gold bow.”
Other locals recall buying wedding china, picking out the perfect tea cup for their dad, or — in one case — accidentally breaking a trinket and immediately fleeing the scene.
Just For Her | Friday, June 20-Saturday, June 21 | Times vary | Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, KS | $5 | Grab your girlfriends and get ready for two days of shopping 250+ boutiques, pampering with fashion + beauty services, giveaways, and VIP party with Tamara Day.
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 Big Time Grain Company with Dylan Gerard.
Jackie and Jan’s Joyride | 9-11 p.m. | Hamburger Mary’s KC | $31 | These two NYC queens are trading in tropical beaches for highway hijinks as they embark on the ultimate drag road trip.
Saturday, June 21
Make Music Day Kansas City | Times vary | Multiple locations | Free | Celebrate the longest day of the year with a free, live musical celebration featuring concerts on streets, sidewalks, venues, and parks across the city.
Midsummer Festival | 6-8 p.m. | Heritage Park — Shelter 6, Olathe, KS | Free | Bring an abundance of flowers for crown-making and traditional activities, games, and a dance around the midsummer pole.
Sunday, June 22
Slow Solstice | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Percheron Rooftop Bar | $37 | Realign with a grounding guided meditation, and find an intentional slow flow before melting into savasana with cool eucalyptus towels and a soothing sound bath.
Cherie Scents — Tea Party | 1-5 p.m. | The Hobbs | $11+ | Indulge in over 10 unique tea blends and herbs, enjoy curated charcuterie bites, and shop scents exclusively available at this celebration of five fragrant years.
Monday, June 23
Monday Night Jam Session | 7-10:30 p.m. | Blue Room | Free | The incredible Kelly Gant will perform a 45-minute set and then open up the Blue Room stage to other musicians looking to play.
Weekend plans? Make it a two-fer. Start tomorrow, June 21 with the Flavors of Central Tour — a passport-powered foodie adventure through KCK’s Mexican cuisine scene kicking off at 9:30 a.m. Then, roll south for the 15th Annual Summer Swing, a vendor fair set among the rolling hills of Aubrey Vineyards. (The Pitch)
Development
Two vacant buildings in the North Loop — the Poindexter (near the Buffalo Bones statue) and Centennial — are slated for a major glow-up. Arnold Development Group plans to convert them into 100+ mixed-income apartments as part of a $76.6 million first phase, with potential for more housing and retail to follow. (KCBJ)
Announced
Brick River Cider Co.’s former taproom is set to become Beckett’s. The modern sports bar — which opened its first location in Minneapolis last year — is expanding to the Crossroads with a menu featuring 32-oz buckets and a spiked, frozen version of Mountain Dew’s Baja Blast. (Kansas City Star)
Eat
Beloved ice cream shop Betty Rae’s is opening a new location inside the Raintree Price Chopper in Lee’s Summit. It’ll be a full-service spot with a walk-up window — perfect for grabbing a cone without leaving the sunshine. (KCTV5)
Read
From bags to books. Elyce Arons — co-founder of Kate Spade and Frances Valentine — just released a new book about her decades-long friendship with the late Kate Spade, which started on KU’s campus. You can snag it now via Simon & Schuster ($29).
Plan Ahead
This weekend’s KC2026 Kickoff is more than fun + games — it’s your chance to sign up for World Cup volunteer updates before apps open this August. Bonus: See how KC is prepping a regional transit system to move fans seamlessly across the metro. (KCUR)
Sports
Your pickleball paradise awaits. With 80+ courts at the Kansas City Convention Center, PickleCon brings players of all ages and skill levels together for tournaments, clinics, vendors, glow-in-the-dark games, and the biggest names in the game — all under one roof. Sign up to be part of pickleball history.*
Number
5. That’s how many minutes it takes to be ready for every trending topic at tonight’s dinner party, thanks to 1440’s unbiased, fact-based daily newsletters. Subscribe for free.*
The Buy
Check out some of our warm weather favorites from lululemon:
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.
It’s a sad day for my stomach. A personal fave, Brewer’s Kitchen & Corner, is holding its last day of service today, so snag the best pairing on the menu — the Inflation Burger and a side of fries with Louisiana Aioli and Drunk Mustard — before they take over Independence’s 3 Trails Brewing.
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