Important notice!!
The Garmin Kansas City Marathon will disrupt traffic for several hours tomorrow-Saturday Oct 19, 2024. Major streets such as 75th, Ward Parkway, Troost, Broadway and 47th through the Plaza will be inaccessible most of the morning.
Here is a link to the routes–plan ahead!!
What is Hümanette?? You’ve seen the bright pink letters splashed across the windows of the building at 118 W 63rd St, formerly the home of Brookside Barkery & Bath. It’s not a restaurant or bar or boutique; technically you could say it has aspects of all three of those things! Hümanette is a space for kids to play while parents and caregivers socialize and work. It’s a unique concept that our neighborhood has been enthusiastically welcomed!
I stopped by recently to talk with Jamie Hickey, Co-Founder and Head of Operations, about her new business. Jamie explained she was inspired by the European way of raising children where “kids are more incorporated into adults’ lives. We want everyone to feel welcome here, not just children, or people with children”. Designed for youngsters from 0-6 years old, Hümanette offers two large playrooms where kids can climb, slide, read, and play with toys and art supplies. Parents and caregivers stay and oversee their kids (this is not a drop-off-the- kids place), while socializing with other adults or work at a nearby table. Light meals and snacks are available for purchase; there’s a coffee bar and coming soon–beer and wine options. There is also a dedicated co-work room for private meetings. “We want to support families holistically; all aspects of family life. We plan to roll out parent networking meet-ups, a Moms happy hour, informational meetings, and of course private events like baby showers and birthday parties.”
Like so many other new small businesses, Jamie came up with the idea for Hümanette during the isolating COVID days. She had one child and was working as an urban planner for KCMO; her second baby arrived during the pandemic. As a mom with two children stuck in her home, she really felt isolated as a new mother. She wanted to get out and interact with others. And with so many people working from home full time now, she wanted to find a way for parents to combine work and playtime for the kids, outside of the house. She and her cousin Claire Tully Markus (who lives in Connecticut) started working on a plan for the play/work cafe five years ago. She first looked at this space in November 2022. “We knew Brookside was the community we wanted to be a part of, and our research data confirmed it. It took a while for us to build out this space but we love it here. The Brookside Business Association has been so welcoming and so has the neighborhood.”
Hümanette is a bright, clean space with soft colors and wood accents. There are no TV screens or toys with batteries that make noise. “We want kids to be active and explore the entire space. There’s always a staff person walking around, too, to keep an eye on what’s happening.” Jamie loves to see the spontaneous conversations between parents as the kids play–and this is the point: getting out and meeting other families, striking up new friendships. Although Hümanette focuses on younger children, there are some board games and Legos for older siblings up to age ten. Looking for a unique gift for new parents? Humanette has gift cards too!
Hümanette is a membership based business however walk-ins are welcome, as are people looking for a snack or drink, even without children! Find out more information on their website. Next time you are strolling along 63rd St–stop in and take a look!
One of the reasons people love to live in Brookside and Waldo…all the neighborhood free activities! Kick off your weekend early !
Tonight is the Fall Sip & Shop in Brookside! Centered around the intersection of 63rd St and Brookside Blvd, take your time and stroll around the locally owned shops and restaurants on this mild Fall evening. Stop in retail stores for beverage samples and in store specials while supporting our neighborhood.
And Saturday is the Waldo Fall Festival from 10am-8pm, at Gregory and Wornall on the east side.
Please remember to be extra careful when driving in these areas and watch for pedestrians, kids, bicyclers and families with strollers. Get out this weekend and enjoy the neighborhood!
Finally…..City Barrel Pizza + Patio has opened it’s new location, straddling the unofficial boundary of Brookside and Waldo at 120 E Gregory, in the former Bier Station space. Well friends, it was worth the wait, because this place has the similar beloved vibe of Bier Station with a few extra amenities.
You’ve probably noticed the large, brand new patio built right in front of the space, now featuring more shade, plenty of tables, sturdy swings that face street and outdoor games for the kids. Our neighborhood loves a good patio, and this is one of the best around–plus dogs are welcome! Inside the newly remodeled space, you’ll see a few tomato red booths, the same long (full) bar with several City Barrel brew offerings, an upstairs room for private parties and and an expanded menu.
Co owner Joe Giammanco says “We love being part of the neighborhood. Our staff is awesome, the space is beautiful but it’s the customers that give it the good vibe”. Joe talked with former owner Bier Station owner John Couture for years, expressing his interest in this spot when John was ready to move on. That finally happened in late 2022, (John is currently developing a new project, Local Liquid) and after dealing with all the usual construction and government red tape delays, City Barrel Pizza + Patio opened this sSpring.
Joe is especially proud of the pizza they are selling here; besides the usual topping options there are some unusual offerings that are quite popular: the “smash burger” and “sweet heat” pies, plus the “krab rangoon”. The New York inspired style thin crust was developed by Javier Nunez of Aurora Cafe and Bakery in Overland Park. In addition, there is a kids’ menu, three types of salads, a lunch special for $12 (large slice, salad and fountain drink) and coming soon: sandwiches. Joe says they have been very busy, especially on weekend nights; if you are in a hurry–order your food ahead for pick up. And when the snow hits this winter, Joe plans to do “snow days” like Bier Station did–they will open up with whatever staff can come in, and nearby residents can walk over to hang out.
Go by and check out City Barrel Pizza + Patio soon–the cooler fall weather is perfect for enjoying a beverage with friends on the patio or bringing the family over for a meal. City Barrel is open every day except Mondays. You’ll be welcomed by the friendly staff and tasty food!
There is a beautiful, large old brick building on Main St in Waldo you have probably driven by many times…perhaps you wondered, what is this place? Surrounded by residential homes and across from a church, Kansas City Academy is an arts focused middle and high school, located at 7933 Main St. KCA has a 40th birthday this year, and everyone is invited to celebrate with them. I stopped by the school earlier this summer and spoke with Development Director Katie Wells to find out more about this unique school.
KCA was started by a group of runs and lay persons when Loretto Academy in Westport closed. The Loretto (now an event venue) was a girls only day/boarding school with a reputation for personalized educational instruction and religious and racial tolerance. The original KCA founders first opened a school in a basement on Troost when they left Loretto, incorporating it as a “learning cooperative” . After several years they purchased the current building, formerly an engineering school, on Main St. Fun fact: one of those founders is still teaching at the school!
Wells explained there are several aspects of this tuition based school that make it unique: classes are under 20 students each, with about 75-80 teens total enrollment. The majority of teachers have worked at KCA over ten years, creating their own accredited curriculum emphasizing cooperation between classes along with a social justice component. Students with a creative streak appreciate the emphasis on music, theater, art and culinary classes. LGBTQ kids feel especially comfortable here. Wells is also proud of the fact that KCA is a “trauma informed school” with several specially trained teachers equipped to deal with sensitive situations. “We try to prepare students for actual life, not just teach facts and figures. I love to see how these incredibly dedicated teachers work to bring out each student’s individual talents.” Prospective students take an entrance exam and participate in a shadow day to be sure the school is a good fit.
Kansas City Academy’s 40th birthday celebration kicks off on Saturday September 7 with a Pancake Breakfast from 9:30am-11am on the school grounds–only $5! If you are interested in KCA, stop by to check it out!
Last week, representatives from the Metro Patrol Division of the KC Police Department, along with County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker hosted a meeting for residents and businessowners in the Brookside/Waldo area at Research Medical Center. Leaders from the Brookside Business Assn and the Waldo Area Business Assn put the meeting together in response to the increased crime in our neighborhood. I attended the meeting and wanted to share several takeaways from the 90 minute presentation/discussion*:
–Property crimes and auto thefts have increased in our area. This includes stolen cars, business break ins, porch pirates and car looting. There are five people working property crimes, with 15-19 crimes as a daily average.
–KCPD doesn’t have the active duty police force it once did–due to persons retiring, COVID, not as many people applying to be officers. The process to become an active duty officer takes almost 2 years. However, trends are “going in the right direction” according to the KCPL human resources head who spoke.
–When someone calls 911, depending on who is available, the officer responding could be coming from north KC or far south KC. Response can take longer than expected due to travel time.
–Juveniles are responsible for much of these property and violent crime. The police are aware of a particular group of these kids. Their motivation? Could be money, drugs-but also it’s very much a macho group thing, posting on social media and knowing there is a slim chance they will get caught and prosecuted.
–As for houseless people roaming the streets, setting up camps, harassing pedestrians and small shops, urinating in public, etc–a low barrier shelter is desperately needed in KCMO. And last week the KC City Council did approve funding for such a shelter in the NE area of the city.
–Jean Peters Baker, Jackson County Prosecutor, along with the officers, did seem to express frustration with some of the current laws on the books, evidence needed and paperwork involved with trying to prosecute these people when caught, especially the younger kids. Witnesses often won’t talk.
–The police had several suggestions to deter property crime: keep your cars empty of any valuables and locked at all times; set up security systems; keep your vehicle in a garage. One attendee suggested the police staff a small pop up storefront in Brookside and Waldo for quick response to the community; it didn’t seem like that suggestion would be implemented. Several neighbors and small businesses are setting up phone trees to keep the lines of communication open and immediate when something happens.
Overall, I think it was a productive meeting; personally, I would like to see this meeting conducted every other month so we can get accurate reports on any progress being made by the KCPD and prosecutor’s office. The police seem to be frustrated with the higher level of crime and just don’t have the staff to be more pro-active; that was my main takeaway. Here’s a summary of the meeting from one of the news stations:
To track crime in the neighborhood, here’s a link from the KCPD website:
https://www.kcpd.org/crime/crime-mapping/
*Disclaimer: I am not a journalist and my notes from this meeting may not be 100% accurate! The AV equipment broke down early in the meeting so the written stats being presented were not readily available.
New apartments with modern amenities–difficult to find in our Brookside/Waldo neighborhood. Waldo’s 222 Flats just east of 75th and Wornall opened in 2021; now a few blocks north we have The Romanelli Reserve at 200 West Gregory, developed by longtime Kansas City resident Marshal Blount.
Driving along Gregory you probably noticed this project took quite a while to finish–but it’s worth the wait. The 9 unit building has several special features that show the extra thought and care Blount put into the apartments: high density insulation for energy efficiency and sound absorption; exterior stone accents and Hardie siding; high ceilings, dimmer lights, quartz counters, upgraded appliances and balconies for each unit. Blount even got KCMO to sign off on a new outdoor material called aluma board; this product looks like wood but is actually a powder coated aluminum that resists water and other weather elements. The result is a sleek, modern building with open floor plan apartments in an older, walkable neighborhood.
Units rent for $2195 per month, plus a $100 monthly fee to cover water and trash service. The all electric apartments also feature walk-in pantries, in unit washer and dryer, double closets in bedrooms, tiled baths and surface parking behind the building. Each unit is approximately 1100 square feet, with two bedrooms and two baths; Pets are allowed.
Marshal has lived in the Brookside area since he was 7 years old, attending Visitation grade school and Rockhurst high school.. He is a commercial broker with Block and Company–you’ve probably seen their signs in the Waldo area. Over the years he worked in the restaurant industry, trained as a chef, worked for a wine distributor and eventually got a license in the real estate industry to work for himself. Marshal is very proud of his apartment baby, and really enjoys getting to know the new tenants. “Brookside is a friendly place where neighbors like to know each other, support one another and the locally owned businesses here. It’s exciting to provide such a high quality building in this walkable neighborhood for those that prefer to rent rather than own a home–there’s much less maintenance.”
Most of the building is leased; as of this writing there are a couple of apartments left. For more information and a personal tour, contact The Romanelli Reserve through their website.
If you are a bagel lover as I am, you know how challenging it can be to find a bagel like the kind you can buy in New York City. The situation is similar to pizza: so many different kinds and ways to make them; buying frozen bagels or pre packaged bags at the grocery store – NOT even worth the money in my opinion. So I was very excited to learn about Brookside Bagels, available at the Brookside Farmers’ Market…and lovingly made nearby at a Brookside home kitchen.
Owner James Holler would visit NYC a few times a year and loved the bagel sandwiches he bought there; however he was discouraged that he could not find a comparable bagel here in KC. Along with his wife Carley, he started to bake them at home, tinkering with various recipes. His home based CPA job originates in Phoenix, so due to his later business hours, James spent early mornings watching YouTube videos for inspiration. He started giving samples to friends, getting good feedback and kept on baking, finally settling on a recipe using only organic flour, yeast, salt, water and barley malt syrup. In April, James and Carley opened their stand at the market… and now sell out every week.
If you’ve ever tried to make bagels from scratch, you know it is a time consuming process. James mixes and preps the dough on Friday, and gets up at 4am on Saturday to start baking hundreds of bagels. He hand rolls and boils each one and even makes his own “everything” seasoning–the everything bagel is his top seller; he also sells sea salt, sesame seed, poppy seed, blueberry and chocolate chip flavors. Customers can order ahead and pick up at the market; on rare Saturdays Carley can’t operate the booth, she will deliver the bagels to your Brookside area home–that is rare, dedicated customer service!!!
At this time, there are no plans to expand to a commercial bakery operation or retail storefront; James likes controlling the quality and output from his Armour Fields kitchen. “We are relatively new to the Brookside area and really feel the love from our customers. We are excited to stay here, grow as a family and keep providing high quality bagels to Brookside” says James. As the website states, the mission is to “craft each bagel with care, using traditional techniques and high quality ingredients” for the customer. And if you are a bagel lover, you’ll agree these are very high quality bagels!
Find out more about Brookside Bagels at their website or Instagram page (brookside.bagels) –or just stop by their booth on Saturdays at the Brookside Farmers’ Market!
It’s the annual Brookside Sidewalk Sale, starting today and running through Saturday. Browse the shops along and around 63rd St and pick up some bargains! Many of our favorite shops will be offering deals, including A STORE NAMED STUFF, Corner Candleshop, Sierra Winter, LADYCO and more.
In addition, the Shred Event is Saturday from 8am-11am, in the parking lot between the tennis courts and Red Door Grill.
Thank you for supporting our locally owned Brookside businesses!!
What a great idea….Brookside does it again! The first PatioFest is tomorrow night and everyone is welcome. Come out and celebrate the Summer Solstice with your neighbors and friends! The shops will be open till 7 as well.
There will be live music at several places in the core area of Brookside-including near Jalepeno’s, the Brooksider, Brookside Toy and Science and Foo’s. Check the website for details on who is performing where and exact showtimes.
Inside Brookside (And Waldo) 