With the World Cup on the way — and plenty of festivals, art walks, and block parties in between — we’re curious: Should Kansas City lean into social districts?
If you’re new to the term, social districts allow you to carry open alcoholic beverages (from permitted businesses) within a designated boundary. KC’s Power & Light District already has a similar setup: drinks are fair game in public spaces, as long as they’re served in plastic cups.
Where it’s working
We asked our colleagues across the country how their cities are sipping and strolling:
ATXtoday | Living Streets temporarily closes blocks to traffic so neighborhoods can throw walkable block parties.
TBAYtoday | Buy a drink in a branded cup from a participating bar along the Riverwalk and take it for a scenic stroll.
NOOGAtoday | Visitors can roam with drinks in hand on Station Street, hopping between restaurants, bars, and dance clubs.
AVLtoday | City officials are exploring a social district that would activate during events like street fairs and art walks.
Follow the Recipe | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Linda Hall Library | Free | From military manuals to school lunches and homecooked Sunday dinners, take a nostalgic dive into the classic cookbooks that graced American tables and shaped our communities.
Thursday, Aug. 7
Triple Crown PickleCon 2025 | Thursday, Aug. 7-Sunday, Aug. 10 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Kansas City Convention Center | $10+ | Join thousands in a pickleball paradise, complete with 75+ courts for tournament and open play, 80+ vendors, workshops led by top professionals, and a glow-in-the-dark kickoff party.
River Market Melodies | 5-7:30 p.m. | River Market Park | Free | Bring a blanket, grab a bite from a nearby favorite, and soak in the local sounds of this monthly live music series.
Friday, Aug. 8
DO YOUR WORST - A Shameless Art Auction by KCAC | 5:30-10 p.m. | Don Bosco Community Center | $25+ | Brave local artists are donating their 2 a.m. experiments gone wrong, that one piece mom didn’t hang on the fridge, those beautiful mistakes — all will be auctioned off in support of KCAC.
Swiss Cheese Kokedama Workshop | 6 p.m. | 244 E. Broadway St., Excelsior Springs | $55 | Get your hands dirty as you learn the art of Japanese moss ball planting by creating your very own Swiss Cheese Plant kokedama, with a mini game matching your vibes with a rare plant to win a prize.
Saturday, Aug. 9
Cardboard Boat Regatta | 9-11:30 a.m. | Merriam, KS | $30 | Combine cardboard, tape, creativity, and engineering to build a boat to race across the outdoor pool.
2025 Heart of America Hot Dog Festival | 3-11 p.m. | National WWI Museum and Memorial | $50+ | Celebrate the historical connection between our national pastime and the All-America hotdog with a sizzling musical lineup and your favorite ballpark foods.
Sunday, Aug. 10
India Fest 2025 | 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Overland Park Convention Center, Overland Park, KS | Free | Get a glimpse of the subcontinent by experiencing the tastes, sounds, and sights of India with live music, dance, food, and entertainment.
The KC Current was so nice, they decided to do it twice. The NWSL team announced a second team — called the Kansas City Current II — becoming the first in the league to have a fully formed second team. The KC Current II will bridge youth and college players to create a pathway for developing players.
Closing
The Embassy Suites by Hilton Kansas City Plaza will close permanently on Monday, Sept. 15. Guests will be able to book stays at the hotel between now and then, but it’s unclear what will happen to the property after the closure. (FOX 4)
The Word
Sold. Every single season ticket for Mizzou football’s 2025 season is sold out for the second straight year. Single-game tickets for the Alabama, Louisiana, and Border War games are also already sold out, but you might have some luck snagging seats at another home game. (Kansas City Star)
Coming Soon
Metro North Crossing will soon have two new tenants: Imo’s Pizza and Feng Cha Boba Tea, both slated to open this fall. Imo’s will serve up its St. Louis-style pizza in 1,500-sqft space, and Feng Cha will offer boba + other teas in an 1,800-sqft space near Thai Orchid. (Kansas City Magazine)
List
H&R Block, Turner Construction Co., and Walz Tetrick Advertising are all local businesses that made the Kansas City Business Journal’s 48 Best Places to Work in KC. Check out the full list, which ranges from 10-person businesses to workplaces with more than 500 employees.
Development
Ace Hardware opened a 1.5 million sqft retail support center in north Kansas City last month, a half-mile-wide distribution hub meant to help quickly deliver products to stores across the US. The facility, one of more than a dozen across the country, contains advanced automation technology. (Retail Dive)
Trending
Two words: Meat. Mountain. The Upper Cut KC is going viral for its burger challenge, which involves eating a $75 stack of burgers in 30 minutes for a prize. (Kansas City Star)
Job
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Fact or Fiction
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Luca Bagel’s newest location is now open in Brookside, at 633 E. 63rd St., Ste. 110.
The menu of Jersey-style bagels includes classics like sesame and everything, plus specialty flavors like cheddar serrano. Don’t skimp on the toppings + schmears, either — we’re eyeing that hot honey.
A plumping and hydrating eye cream with 20,000+ five-star reviews. It features a caffeine-infused peptide complex that depuffs, brightens, and helps prevent wrinkles. Psst — Add the natural brand’s charcoal face scrub or gentle retinol to your routine for even more benefits.
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.
This is a new take on a season preview. Bet Missouri is predicting how many + which Chiefs games we’ll see Taylor Swift at this season.
Right now, the site thinks we’re mostly likely to see the pop star cheering on her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, at the Los Angeles Chargers game in Brazil on Friday, Sept. 5. If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse closer to home, Bet Missouri projects a 90% chance Taylor will attend the home game against the Eagles on Sunday, Sept. 14.
^This content was created by our Client Success Team. Let’s work together — explore affordable advertising options at advertise.6amcity.com.
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