From crafting and milkshakes to drive-through shopping, here are some things to do and see in Kansas City this month.
Lemonade Park – 1628 Wyoming Street – Facebook: Lemonade Park
To offer Kansas Citians a safe place to socialize amid the pandemic, Voltaire Restaurant, recordBar and Moxie Catering are collaborating to bring a new outdoor venue for dining and live music to the West Bottoms neighborhood. All activities at Lemonade Park feature distanced tables and benches, online ordering for food and beverages, hand washing and sanitizing stations, and other precautions. Only 100 tickets are available for each event, and must be purchased online in advance. Concerts are currently scheduled for July 25 and 31; August 7, 15, 22, and September 5.
Midwest Black Restaurant Week – BlackRestaurantWeeks.com/Midwest-Directory
Cuisine from Kansas City’s African-American, Africa, and Caribbean-owned restaurants will be celebrated during the first-ever Midwest Black Restaurant Week July 24 to August 2. The 10-day event, which will include specials and prix fixe menus, encourages people to get delivery, carry-out, or dine in at participating locations.
Creative Culture – 207 Westport Road – CreativeCultureKC.com
This new drop-in art studio in Westport supplies all the materials you need for self-guided craft projects, pottery painting and custom planters. There are also workshops that cover topics like wood burning and acrylic painting. BYOB or order a gourmet milkshake at the bar, where flavors like s’mores, key lime pie, birthday cake, strawberry cheesecake, and brownie fudge are topped with cookies, pastries, candy, and other sweet treats.
Royals Watch Parties – 13 Grand Boulevard – PowerAndLightDistrict.com/Events/Royals
Baseball will look different this year due to COVID-19, but the Kansas City Royals will take the field at Kauffman Stadium for their home opener against the White Sox on July 31. While fans won’t be allowed in the stands this season, you can attend watch parties at KC Live! in the Power & Light District. Games are shown on a jumbotron and there’s outdoor seating options, ballpark-style food, yard games, entertainment, and more.
Yoli Tortilleria – 1668 Jefferson Street #100 – EatYoli.com
For nearly three years Marissa and Mark Gencarelli’s stone-ground corn tortillas have been served in restaurants across the metro and sold at Kansas City-area grocery stores and the Overland Park Farmers’ Market. On July 14, the couple expanded their Yoli Tortilleria brand with the opening of their first retail shop. Located in the Westside neighborhood, the store showcases fresh white and whole wheat tortillas made from Midwest-sourced flour, pork lard (or avocado oil for the vegan version), water, and salt —a recipe that’s popular in Marissa’s home state of Sonora, Mexico. They also have gluten-free white, yellow, blue, and red corn varieties and weekly specials such as tortillas infused with chive and onion, chipotle and other flavors.
Parking Lot Provisions – 2700 Guinotte Avenue – JRiegerCo.com/ParkingLotProvisions
When the pandemic hit Kansas City, J. Rieger & Co. distillery turned their facility into a hand sanitizer factory to help the community. Now, they also use their parking lot to host a low-contact, drive-up marketplace on Saturdays where people can purchase items like fresh bread, cold-pressed juices, bottled spirits, coffee, plants, and more from local makers. Patrons can drive-through or mask up to visit the vendors on foot. Food trucks are on-site and J. Rieger’s Provision Cafe is open for cocktails and small bites.
