Bike lanes, sidewalks, and bus pullouts, oh my. | Photos by @kansascity
These “road diets” don’t involve counting calories. Lane by lane, Kansas City streets are trimming down and adding safety features in a bid to make roads friendlier for walkers, bikers, and drivers alike.
How does a road go on a “diet?”
Rather than picking up running as a hobby, the city targets streets with fewer than 20,000 average daily vehicles and fewer than 1,000 cars during peak hours for a restripe. The result: two travel lanes and a center turn lane, plus space for bike lanes, sidewalks + bus pullouts.
Not every street needs fewer lanes, but some need to slow down. That’s where “traffic calming” comes in — think speed humps, curb extensions, or roundabouts to reduce speeds and crashes in residential neighborhoods. (Want one on your block? You can submit it for consideration.)
Part of the bigger picture
Both of these methods are part of the Vision Zero initiative launched in 2021, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries on Kansas City streets by 2030.
You can see if your daily commute overlaps with any danger zones on the city’s High Injury Network map, with some perilous standouts including 39th Street, Truman Road, and Independence Avenue.
If you’re in favor of more streets slimming and slowing down, tell us which should be next — or share if you think this push creates too much congestion for a car-centric city.
Gilmore Girls Trivia Night | 7-9 p.m. | Craft Putt, Overland Park, KS | Free | “Where you lead, I will follow...” to this Stars Hollow-inspired trivia night quizzing you and your Luke’s Diner-loving crew for gift card prizes to fund your next night out.
Thursday, Sept. 11
Summer in the City | 12-7:30 p.m. | Oppenstein Park | Free | Soak up the last of summer with live music, art vendors, hands-on activities, and food trucks at this free community festival.
Friday, Sept. 12
DICK’S House of Sport Grand Opening | Friday, Sept. 12-Sunday, Sept. 14 | 9 a.m.-9 p.m. | DICK’S House of Sport, Leawood, KS | Free | Score giveaways galore: Charlie Hustle tees, Chiefs vs. Eagles tickets, gift cards for the first 100 adults, plus appearances by Isiah Pacheco, Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer + Lorenzo Cain.
Red Friday at the Village | 4-6 p.m. | Shops of Prairie Village, KS | Free | Paint the Village red with Chiefs-themed pop-ups, merch, watch party supplies, and a $250 “Homegate” drawing.
Saturday, Sept. 13
Make Your Own Glass Tumbler | 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. | Belger Glass Annex | $75 | Learn to blow glass as pros guide you through adding color + shaping molten glass into your own custom tumbler.
Variety KC Heart & Serve | 3-7 p.m. | Chicken N Pickle, Overland Park, KS | $8+ | Compete for the Heart & Serve Championship Trophy, or cheer on matches while kids of all abilities try adaptive pickleball clinics.
MLB Home Run Derby X | 7 p.m. | Kauffman Stadium | $21+ | Watch monster moonshots and fan-favorite Royals (Hosmer, Moustakas, Gordon) from the 2015 World Series squad take on rivals from NYC and Toronto.
This former Zillow exec is targeting a $1.3 trillion market
Presented by Pacaso
Austin Allison’s Pacaso has already earned $110 million+ in gross profit to date. | Image provided by Pacaso
Austin Allison sold his first company to Zillow for $120 million. Now he’s building another real estate innovator in Pacaso.
Pacaso has already made $110 million+ in gross profits to date by disrupting the $1.3 trillion vacation home market, and the same big investors that backed Uber and eBay have already invested.
But unlike Austin’s previous companies, everyday investors (like you) can invest in Pacaso as a private company. Over 10,000 individuals already have.
A proposal is in the works to allow marijuana lounges in Kansas City — think bars, but for recreational smoking (though alcohol + marijuana couldn’t be served together). Curious about KC’s cannabis culture? Check out the state’s largest blunt manufacturer. (Kansas City Star)
Development
A Royals affiliate may have purchased the mortgage to Aspiria Campus (formerly Sprint HQ), but instead of a stadium, an activity district could rise on an undeveloped portion of the OP site. City leaders continue discussions next month, when more details on tenants + plans are expected. (Kansas City Star)
Eat
We have a menu. Repeat: we have a menu for the highly anticipated steakhouse 1587 Prime. Highlights include a 40-oz Wagyu tomahawk, Togarashi fried chicken with a honey trio, and a Mahomes ketchup flight. Drool over the full preview here. (Sports Illustrated + Kansas City Star)
Drink
To wash it down…Big Grove Brewing is expanding from Iowa to the former Prairie Village Macy’s site in 2026 — renderings show a patio built for pints. Meanwhile, Raytown’s Crane Brewing has closed after 10 years, though its owners hope to find a buyer to revive the brand. (Kansas City Star)
Biz
Goodwill of Western Missouri + Eastern Kansas (MOKAN) and MERS Missouri Goodwill are merging. KC’s Crossroads offices will remain open, and next month brings another milestone: the Excel Center Adult High School, which will grant adults high school diplomas instead of GEDs. (Startland News)
Coming Soon
From pandemic pop-up to Zona Rosa shop, jewelry maker Annie Austen is expanding again — opening a downtown OP storefront on Saturday, Sept. 13. Expect under $30 tarnish-resistant baubles, a charm bar, and new offerings like custom embroidery for hats, sweatshirts, and totes. (Johnson County Post)
Closed
The door at Columbus Park’s Happy Gillis Cafe & Hangout has been locked for weeks, though owners tease a new chapter ahead. Overland Park’s Pinstripes, on the other hand, has closed for good. (FOX4)
Eat
Hosting game day just got easierthanks to Q39’s BBQ Packages. Whether you’re tailgating at Arrowhead or enjoying a watch party at home, customize the perfect menu with your favorite meats and sides — or choose the Tailgate Package with fan-favorite ribs and wings. Preorder online and pick up before kickoff.*
One way to keep the community’s noses in a book? Upgrade your yard’s Little Library from a simple shack on stilts to a not-so-miniature replica of one of Kansas City’s most beloved architectural icons. What, like it’s hard?
A really good collagen peptide serum that repairs fine lines + wrinkles to help reduce signs of aging. We love that it’s made with clean ingredients and priced under $25.
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.
Yesterday’s brisk, gray weather had me craving something fall-flavored, so I trekked to Mission’s Urban Prairie Coffee and sprung for its pumpkin + cookie butter latte. The cup art was a nice touch.
‡‡Finance “investment method” disclaimer: This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving a ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the Nasdaq is subject to approvals. Comparisons to other companies are for informational purposes only and should not imply similar success. Under Regulation A+, a company has the ability to change its share price by up to 20%, without requalifying the offering with the SEC.
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