Happy Birthday to us!
That's right, it's our Anniversary issue once again! I've had the pleasure and privilege of learning about the great stories of the Northland since just after I moved to the area myself. It's been a great crash course in the best places to eat, shop, and spend time with my loved ones. I'm a particular fan of the Waggin' Trailz…
Our Summer of Fun
Dear Readers, Our Summer Adventures issue is always one of my favorites and this year is no exception! We hope you enjoy this month’s issue, as we’ve taken delight in its creation. So, take as many vacations as possible. As the saying goes, “you can always make more money – but you can’t always make more memories”. Reward the kids…
An Unexpected Journey Leads to ‘We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym’
The birth of Cassidi Jobe’s first son, Parker, changed her life in ways she never expected. “There wasn’t a single part of my life that wasn’t impacted in one way or another,” recalls Cassidi. Parker’s life started out just like most others. He began crawling and uttered the unforgettable first words. At about 16 months, he stopped. He stopped talking;…
Talking to Kids about money
As your children begin to launch careers and financial lives of their own, it doesn’t mean that your parenting job is over. In fact, your kids could probably use your guidance now more than ever as they navigate their own path toward independence. They just might not know how to ask. And as confident as they may appear, there’s a…
The Great Escape
Since White Heat was the first movie filmed on the island in 1934 to 2015’s Jurassic World, Kauai has been the stunning backdrop of more than 60 movies. Check out some of the views featured in the films, including waterfalls and the Na Pali Coast sea cliffs on a relaxing helicopter tour, or dive deep into a more intimate view…
July 2017 Around Town
CommunityAmerica Credit Union and Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City recently launched JA Finance Park Virtual, an innovative online financial education program in the Liberty Public School District on June 5. The 6-week program will serve 8th grade students in Liberty and will expand to serve middle and high school students across the metro this fall. The program provides a…
Velo Garage and Tap House Unites Beer and Bike Culture
Velo Garage and Tap House hits a sweet spot, the overlapping section of a Venn diagram between groups of cycling enthusiasts and craft beer fans. Co-owners Kiley Sutter and Steve Borden opened Velo in March 2017. The business has two halves – a craft beer taproom and bike shop. That combination might seem odd, but it appeals to many customers…
Chicken N Pickle
To say that Chicken N Pickle is a restaurant is to sell it short. According to Bill Crooks, (whose self-dubbed title is 'pickleball boy') it's really an entertainment hub. The complex, located at 1761 Burlington in North Kansas City, does hum with activity and while an adult beverage may be procured, it's surprisingly family friendly. Chicken N Pickle opened late…
For the Love of the Northland
Roughly 20 miles wide and 20 miles long, the Northland is considered home to many residents. For Bob and Margie Langdon of Parkville, there is no other place they want to live. “We consider the Northland the best well-kept secret. The housing is affordable, it’s central to everything with great schools. It’s family-friendly, and a place we want to raise…
Bicentennial of the Bicycle
On any given Tuesday evening at the pub adjacent to the Rothaus Brewery in Germany’s Black Forest Highlands, you’ll find a table of local cyclists toasting with their mugs of Tannenzäpfle, the brewery’s most popular beer. They’ve been making beer here for 225 years and the cyclists choose this spot to celebrate the end of their weekly 40-kilometer ride through…
And the Snow Flies
Andy Martinez is fast. Very fast. He's fast on dry land and he's fast in the snow and he has the medals to prove it. Although you may not have seen him at Sochi, he is still an olympian--a Special Olympian. Andy, who is autistic, is 32 years old and competes year round in a number of sports, from soccer…
This Daughter’s Dad Left A Legacy of Love and a Reminder to Live By
What difference does it make? If you’re talking about the difference dads make in the lives of their daughters, Susan Dawes, author, teacher, speaker, and counselor, will be the first to provide a list of differences dads make. Especially hers. “My father, Floyd Seibert, was very inspirational in my life by being committed to the dad and daughter relationship, as…
Celebrating 100 Years of Lions Clubs International
When Harley and Jackie Morlock moved to Smithville in 2006, one of their first stops was at Platte Valley Bank to open a new account. A clerk commented on Harley’s attractive ring, a gift from his wife in 1988. One thing led to another and within minutes, Harley and Jackie were committed to a dinner meeting the coming Tuesday, thus…
Beach, Beer, and Bites in South Beach
First impressions are powerful. A few days and late nights in South Beach reveal there’s more to this sun-drenched paradise than meets the eye. Heading from Miami International Airport to South Beach, the route east along the Macarthur Causeway breaks away from the mainland and life’s burdens. Rolling ocean waves, sunshine, and white sand beaches beckon. South Beach, a neighborhood…
Assistance League of Kansas City’s 30th Anniversary Tea
April 19th, 30 ladies dressed in hats and pearls, enjoyed a delightful afternoon tea at Shoal Creek Thornton Mansion. Original members Joy George, Elaine Henderson and Barbara Reynaud, shared the history of how ALKC members were instrumental in raising funds to restore the historical buildings of Shoal Creek Village.
Liberty Farm Equestrian Center Spring Fling
Liberty Farm Equestrian Center hosted two MeetUps. The Family-Friendly MeetUp included games, dinner, and each child rode a horse. At the Adult MeetUp, attendees met the horses, watched a lesson by trainer/manager Jeff Tryon, saw demonstrations, rode horses, and enjoyed a Q&A and dinner with Tryon and owner Rebecca Randles.
May 2017 Around Town
Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, presented the annual Crystal Kipper & Ali Kemp Memorial Award today to Synergy Services in recognition of the organization’s valued contribution to preventing and responding to the exploitation of children.
Relay for Life
“You have cancer”. These three little words are ones no one wants to hear. For Lori Ewing, one of the three chairs for the Relay for Life of KC North, she volunteers her time so that no one would ever hear those words again. New for 2017 is a combined relay from three existing ones-- Liberty, Kearney, and Gladstone/Northland-- into…
Hooked On Politics
Each night, approximately 35,000 people in the Northland go to bed with one thing in common. They all live in communities governed by mayors that are women. Mayors Nan Johnston, Jean Moore, and Kathy Rose of Parkville, Gladstone, and Riverside, MO, respectively, serve as leaders of their cities. Though they each traveled different paths to arrive at this same destination,…
Mudbug Cajun Po’ Boy Sandwiches
PO' boys. If you've ventured far enough south of the Mason-Dixon line you may have been lucky enough to stumble upon the great American South's answer to the hero, the submarine, or the hoagie sandwich. Po' boys are sort of ironic--sure they are peasant food, but they can certainly get pretty rich, pretty fast.
A Mother’s Prayer
“[Motherhood is] the biggest gamble in the world. It is the glorious life force. It’s huge and scary—it’s an act of infinite optimism.” – Gilda Radner Oh, Gilda, you were as wise as you were funny. It's true, you know. It is huge and scary to hold someone as small and vulnerable as your newborn child. I had held babies…
Jane Bromberg Crafts Quilts Into Memorable Works of Art
Vibrant lime, purple, black, and white colors define the visual appeal of Jane Bromberg’s current project. The quilt’s bold aesthetic hardly resembles the traditional patterned quilts stereotypically associated with doting grandmothers in rocking chairs and hand-me-down keepsakes.
April 2017 Around Town
Do you like to dance to the Big Band sounds of yesteryear? If so, then the Kansas City Symphony Women’s Association Swing Fling is just the ticket for you. The third annual Swing Fling is 6:30-10 p.m., April 8 at a private, class automobile museum in Grandview, Mo. The museum, which is not open to the public, houses one of…
The Local Red Carpet: Film Festivals
It might not have been Sundance or Cannes, but when A-lister Don Cheadle walked the red carpet in Kansas City last spring, the cameras flashed, the microphones surged and the excitement literally crackled at the Cinemark Palace on the Plaza for the 20th annual Kansas City FilmFest.
Haw Jaw Brew and Q
In a BBQ town like Kansas City, it takes a lot to stand out. So when the Silvio brothers, Nick and Sam decided to expand their meat kingdom from the Brazilian stylings of Em Chamas Brazilian Grill to a BBQ joint, they knew they had to take a different tactic. After buying existing BBQ restaurant Hawg Jaw Fritz in Riverside,…
Dr. Jonathan Philippe Leads Medical Mission
Hurricane Matthew made landfall as a Category 4 storm on southwestern Haiti on the morning of October 4. Force winds, estimated at 74 mph, battered the island nation and its citizens. One month after Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti, UNICEF reported that nearly 600,000 children remained in need of humanitarian assistance, facing disease, hunger, and malnutrition.
Farm-To -Table, Local, And Organic…
Have you heard the latest dirt on farm-to-table food? It’s all about communication, partnership, and innovation. And Kansas City is right in the middle of all the action. Foodies and farmers depend on one another now more than ever. Foodies want to know the source of what they’re putting in their mouths. Farmers want to engender long-lasting and loyal relationships…
Heritage Landscape
Tucked onto the side of 9 Highway, close to historic downtown Parkville, is Heritage Landscape, formally Miller’s Landscape and Lawncare. It has been around since 1963, but in 2013, Mike and Lauren Perdue became the primary owners, and along with Mike’s father Randy, are working to make the company their own while maintaining the family-owned values and ties to the…
Swim Safe!
Drowning is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. On average, 3,533 people die as a result of drowning each year, and most of those deaths are children under the age of four who drown in backyard swimming pools. The tragedy of these statistics is nearly all drowning deaths are preventable. However, if a drowning incident…
Home Sweet Home
Welcome to the Home issue! As someone that has stayed in quite a bit lately with a new baby, the issue of home is especially near to my heart. Finding the space where you can really relax is a tricky thing. Luckily here in the Northland, we have plenty to choose from so there's something for everyone!
YMCA of Greater Kansas City’s 10th Annual Challenge our Fashion
Professional athletes and YMCA Challenger athletes walked the runway on January 28. The event benefited the YMCA’s Challenger adaptive sports and social programs for kids with physical, developmental and intellectual disabilities. It raised a net total of $151,402. Guests enjoyed dinner, auctions, the fashion show, and music by Dolewite.
March 2017 Around Town
Northland’s Precision Collision Centers’ Owner, Chris Jones, was recognized and featured by the national collision repair magazine, FenderBender. It’s easy to see by reading the featured article, ‘Family Treatment,’ that FenderBender recognized Jones for his refreshing, selfless and humble way of running his two successful collision repair shops. The fact that a national magazine like FenderBender recognized and featured Kansas…
Samsara Vintage Home
A 200-hundred-year-old apothecary cabinet from Mongolia, elm wood chairs from India, and cabinets crafted by Missouri Mennonites all vie for space within the same setting, an eclectic mix of old and new, the forgotten and recovered. Collectively, they represent Samsara Vintage Home, a unique trove of home décor treasures located at 12 East Street in historic downtown Parkville.
