World-class art, picnics, and sweet treats are getting Kansas Citians through the dog days of summer.

Nelson Atkins Museum of Art reopening – 4525 Oak Street – Nelson-Atkins.org

Closed since March 14 due to COVID-19, the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art will reopen September 12. To keep staff and visitors safe, everyone two years and older are required to wear a face mask or shield. Guests are encouraged to reserve a free timed ticket online, via phone or in-person at the information desk to limit the number of people in the museum and galleries. The museum will be closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays for deep cleaning. Special exhibitions include Muhammad Ali photography by Gordon Parks, modern American printmaking by Robert Blackburn, enamel portrait miniatures, and a selection of prints and paintings of the human body that represent the beauty ideals of two prominent artists of the Northern Renaissance: Albrecht Dürer and Lucas Cranach the Elder.

Picnic in the Vineyard – Vox Vineyards – 19310 Northwest Farley Hampton Road – VoxVineyards.com

Every Saturday from August 29 to September 26, Vox Vineyard is welcoming guests to enjoy their outdoor space. Bring your own snacks and blanket for a laid-back day among the grapevines. Their award-winning, food-friendly, dry-style TerraVox wines will be available for purchase by the glass and the bottle. The $5 admission fee also includes a self-guided tour of the grounds. 

Veggie pickup and pizza at Howard’s Farm – 515 Wabash Ave. – HowardsKC.com 

Howard’s Farm, located in the Pendleton Heights neighborhood, is open to the public on Thursdays from 4-7 PM. Stag Pizza serves Napoli-style pies while Howard’s offers homemade ice cream, garden salads, $25 veggie boxes full of produce and tours of the one-acre property. The farm tours are $35 for groups of up to four people and include a complimentary beverage of choice for each participant. Guests are welcome to bring a lawn chair or blanket for a picnic on the farm’s front lawn. Physical distancing is encouraged and visitors are asked to wear a mask when not eating or drinking. 

The Chive Cafe & Market – 14501 White Ave. Grandview – TheChiveSimplyGood.com

On August 22, Mark and Michelle Brown celebrated the grand opening of their new restaurant. Located sixteen miles north of Kansas City, the eatery specializes in from-scratch food made mostly with ingredients from Missouri and Kansas farms. The breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus feature choices for meat-eaters, vegetarians, vegans, and those on gluten or dairy-free diets. Patrons can expect cuisine like spiced zucchini muffins, egg sandwiches with prosciutto, peppers and onions and cheese, eggplant torta with jalapeno relish and garlic crema, beer-braised chicken street tacos, and salad with mixed greens, watermelon, goat cheese, prosciutto, roasted beets, candied pecans, and orange shallot vinaigrette. There’s also a market with grab and go items such as salads in a jar, breakfast burritos, and yogurt parfaits, as well as, sauces and salad dressings, premium ice creams, local honey, coffee beans, soy candles and more. Thirsty for a cold one? Chive shares a space with the Transparent Brewing Company taproom, which is owned by Michelle and Mark’s son, Nolan.  

Queen of the Cones – @QueenoftheCones on Facebook and Instagram

Kansas City baker Deangeleia “Leia” Kennar has built a sweet new business from a unique idea. She makes from-scratch waffle cones in strawberry, brown sugar, and chocolate varieties and fills them with homemade cheesecake in flavors like strawberry crunch, Oreo, banana pudding, maple bacon, German chocolate, peach cobbler, and more. Deangeleia tops the decadent creations with fruit, candy, cookies, whipped cream, and chocolate drizzle depending on the type of cheesecake. She recently added bubble cones—thick cones with large hexagon-shaped bubbles that are crispy on the outside and chewy inside—to the menu. Queen of the Cones doesn’t have a storefront, so customers place orders for pickup or delivery and pay via apps like CashApp, Paypal, and Venmo.