Bloom Fest: Play Outside – Powell Gardens – 1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50, Kingsville – PowellGardens.org  

Photo courtesy Powell Gardens

Embrace the beauty of spring with a vibrant celebration of art, botanical displays, and family-friendly activities Thursday to Sunday from April 15 to May 9. Seven regional artists—John Rufenacht, David Bird, Will Brown, Gina Carlyle, Kristopher Dabner, Duane Hoover, and Craig Sole— will be spotlighted throughout the four-week festival as they reimagine works of art through plants and other natural materials. 

In addition, Kansas City Ikebana will showcase their Japanese floral arrangements April 15-19. Lyric Opera of Kansas City is slated to present an outdoor concert on April 17, and the Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair will provide a one-of-a-kind shopping experience April 23-25. Visitors can also check out a newly installed living wall inside the Powell Gardens greenhouse, and purchase desserts, and local and seasonal goods in the Perennial Lounge.

Tickets for Bloom Fest are available online for $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (age 60+) and $5 for children age 5-12. 

Art Course 2021 – The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art – 4525 Oak Street, KCMO – Nelson-Atkins.org/Art-Course 

Photo courtesy The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Putt your way through an artist-designed mini golf course located on the south lawn of the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park. It will take about 45 minutes to an hour to complete this creative nine-hole experience, with each stop inspired by a different work in the Nelson-Atkins collection. Food and drink from Foo’s Frozen Custard, Martin City Brewery, and other local favorites is available for purchase at the The Country Club Bank Terraces Snack Bar. 

Art Course will operate through October 24. Reservations are required for all players and can be made online, by calling 816-751-1278, or at the museum’s information desk. Tickets include museum admission and are $16 for adults, $10 for children ages 4 to 12, $12 for members, and free for children 3 and under. 

Le Chronic Cafe – 419 Main Street, KCMO – ChronicCafeKC.com

After being forced to shut down his Cajun and Creole restaurant, Beignet, in April 2020 due to COVID-19, Bryan Merker is back in action with a new quick-service concept that blends various culinary styles. Le Chronic’s meals span offerings such as Hungarian goulash, mozzarella-stuffed meatloaf, cream puffs, and eclairs (inspired from Merker’s memories of his childhood family dinners) as well as chicken gumbo, goat cheese and smoked mozzarella crepes, and chili packed with garlic, onion, heirloom beans, and tomatoes. In addition to the eclectic menu, Merker keeps customers intrigued at his City Market eatery by decorating the space with eye-catching art and novelties. 

Cafe Ollama – 523 Southwest Boulevard, KCMO – OllamaKC on Facebook 

Photo courtesy Stephanie Reyes

At Cafe Ollama, husband and wife entrepreneurs and native Kansas Citians Francisco Murguia and Lesley Reyes are sharing their Mexican culture through coffee. Located in the Crossroads Arts District, the shop serves up caffeinated drinks made with ingredients from Latin America. 

The Cafe de Olla, a popular beverage in rural Mexico that consists of slow-brewed coffee flavored with spices like cinnamon, unrefined whole cane sugar, and an optional salted sweet foam, is their current top seller. One of the more unique sips is the CDMX smog, a mix of chamomile tea, citrus, and Mexican coffee that’s slow-brewed in a clay pot with cinnamon, piloncillo (similar to brown sugar), and other spices before being topped with a little foam cloud. 

To further honor their heritage, Murguia and Reyes named four of their drinks after their grandmothers, including the Mamá Inés (espresso with sweetened condensed milk), the Chatita (iced or hot espresso with rice water), the Abuelita Lupe (Mexican hot chocolate prepared with steamed milk and topped with foam,) and the Mami Gloria (three shots of iced espresso with Mexican Coca-Cola). 

Dari-B Drive-In – 901 Isley Boulevard – Excelsior Springs – DariBDriveIn on Facebook

Photo courtesy Kat Stano

Since 1954, Dari-B Drive-In has been serving up sweet treats in northwest Missouri. The classic ice cream stand opened for its 2021 season on March 1 and offers flavors like black walnut, rainbow sherbet, cotton candy, birthday cake, and triple chocolate fantasy in addition to more traditional fare like vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry. Sundaes range from peanut butter hot fudge and strawberry banana to caramel brownie, banana boat split, and more. There’s also a variety of shakes and malts and plenty of flavors and toppings, such as pecans, shredded coconut, pineapple, marshmallow, butterscotch, and French vanilla cappuccino, to customize your frosty feast.