Stroll through an alternate, illuminated universe.
Photos via Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium
Think of cooler nights ahead. When the fireflies retreat, you can still experience twinkling lights at night with GloWild’s newly-announced “Time Traveler” theme, this fall.
Journey through glowing lanterns that take you along a 1-mile path from 19th-century Paris to a sci-fi future, with photo ops, food, and entertainment. The event runs Sept. 5-Dec. 28, with special fall lanterns (Sept. 5-Oct. 31) and holiday fun featuring Santa (Nov. 1-Dec. 28).
Early bird tickets are available now with a $7 discount — plus, grab a season pass starting at $36 for kids.
Events
Events
Saturday, June 21
Survival of the Fittest | Saturday, June 21-Sunday, Aug. 24 | 10 a.m. | The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art | $22 | Witness breathtaking scenes of our natural world by the Big Four, as well as a rare look at an original copy of Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species.”
Tuesday, June 24
Tampa Bay Rays vs. Kansas City Royals | 6:40 p.m. | Kauffman Stadium | $21+ | Enjoy Dollar Dog Night, snag a City Connect cooler bag, and maybe leave with a week’s worth of stadium snacks.
Wednesday, June 25
Art in the Loop Art Walk | 5:30-8 p.m. | KC Streetcar — River Market West | Free, RSVP | Ride the KC Streetcar and discover this year’s public art installations with a guided tour featuring local creatives and fresh city sights.
Thursday, June 26
Country Stampede - Thursday | 4:30 p.m. | Azura Amphitheater, Bonner Springs, KS | $99+ | Dust off those boots — Luke Bryan, Miranda Lambert + more hit the stage for a weekend of country under the stars.
Friday, June 27
Great Lenexa BBQ Battle | 4:30-11 p.m. | Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, Lenexa, KS | Free admission | Kansas’ smokiest showdown returns with hundreds of pitmasters and finger-licking samples at the state’s largest barbecue bash.
Thousands of Kansas Citians already check Skycast daily — don’t be the only one out of the loop. | Photo courtesy of Mid-America Regional Council
It’s June, which means it’s time to be air aware. Ozone season is in full swing, and summer brings the highest levels of ground-level ozone — a pollutant that can impact your health, especially on hot, sunny days.
The Mid-America Regional Council’s Air Quality SkyCast is issued daily at 4 p.m. Like a weather forecast, SkyCast provides the air quality conditions expected for the next day and issues an Ozone Action Alert when an unhealthy amount of ground-level ozone pollution is anticipated.
There are also ways to help keep our air healthy to breathe. When pollution levels are elevated, try:
Walking, biking, carpooling, or riding the bus to reduce emissions
Scheduling outdoor activities before 10 a.m. and after 7 p.m.
Waiting until after sunset to fill your gas tank (be sure to stop at the click, so the tank doesn’t overfill)
Mowing your lawn in the evening
Don’t let bad air ruin your plans. Breathe easy this summer by getting air quality alerts so you know when it’s safe to be outside.
Live inside a legacy. The 10,028-sqft Mission Hills estate of Don Hall Sr. — former Hallmark CEO and son of the company’s founder — just hit the market. This sculptural stunner blends white brick, limestone, steel + wood across three distinct structures, linked by a palazzo-style promenade. Take the tour.
Stat
Have you clocked in yet? According to recent data, 40% of people online at 6 a.m. are checking their work email. If that’s you, this is our gentle suggestion to put your phone down and don’t come back until you’ve gotten some coffee. (Microsoft)
Eat
Nature is healing. After skipping last year’s Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest due to a contract dispute, Joey Chestnut will return to the 2025 competition. We think he should give our signature KC-style hot dog a try. (AP)
Number
1.1 million. That’s how many Nintendo Switch 2 units were sold in its first week, breaking the record for launch week video game hardware sales. If you weren’t able to get one, don’t worry, it’s not the only source of summer fun in Kansas City. (Game Rant)
Seasonal
New season, new sign. It’s officially time for Cancers through Tuesday, July 22. This water sign is known for being loyal, empathetic, and somewhat emotional — if you’re a Cancer, we think Brookside would be your perfect neighborhood companion.
Number
62. That’s the age when homeowners qualify for a reverse mortgage to turn home equity into cash without monthly payments. See how it works and view Money’s list of best lenders with A+ BBB ratings and competitive pricing.*
It’s past 10 p.m., and you’re hungry. Don’t sleep on an empty stomach. We’ve got you covered with these 10+ restaurants open late in Kansas City.
Open past midnight
Anton’s Taproom | Open until 12 a.m. Monday-Thursday, 1:30 a.m. Friday + Saturday
Farm-fresh foods, Fido-friendly spot, and open late, too... what’s not to love? Fair warning to any vegetarians, this steakhouse serves up roasted bone marrow and beef tartare — specializing in all things meat.
Double Tap | Open until 12 a.m. Sunday-Thursday, 1 a.m. on Friday + Saturday
Between a build-your-own-burger bar and the bacon Parmesan popcorn, this Rivermarket virtual reality arcade + pub is bringing new meaning to gamer food.
Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen | Open until 12 a.m. Monday-Thursday, 1:30 a.m. Friday + Saturday, and 11 p.m. on Sunday
Steps away from Power & Light, dine on this specialty late night menu which features everything from shareable selections of fudge-stuffed peanut butter cookies to braised pork belly BLTs.
The No. 1 best-selling apparel item on Amazon and your new shoe of the summer: Crocs. If you haven’t tried them, Crocs are having a comeback, beloved for being lightweight, comfortable, and easy to slip on and off. See what the fuss is about.
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.
3.3%. That’s how much the price of bananas rose in May, according to Consumer Price Index data. The good news is that it’s peach season anyway, and you can find plenty at local farmers markets. And it could be worse — remember the $6.24 million banana duct taped to a wall?
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