This is the big one…the Kansas City Marathon happens tomorrow October 17, and vehicles will not be allowed along the route for several hours, starting at 7am through early afternoon. Take a look at the course and plan accordingly!

It’s time to think about plans for the weekend!!! and the first weekend of May always brings us the Brookside Art Annual! It seems like this year, the date snuck up on us quickly! Yes, May 1st is tomorrow so plan to visit the art fair sometime this weekend.

This is the 40th anniversary of the Art Annual and the theme is….Back to the 80s! Over 100 artists will be showcasing their work–you’ll find everything from jewelry to pottery to painting to photography to sculpture to ….hmmm, what is this? There will be snacks, food and beverage to purchase plus children activities on Saturday. You are sure to see someone you know while browsing through the booths.

Hours for the Art Annual are Friday 5-9pm; Saturday 10am-9pm and Sunday 11am-5pm. The location is 63rd and Brookside Blvd; be extra careful driving in the heart of Brookside this weekend as there will be many, many pedestrians and some street closures.

Thank you for supporting the artists and our local Brookside merchants!

Property values in Brookside keep rising…so far this year, the median price is up almost 10% over last year. Here are the details for single family home sales, in the main Brookside zip code of 64113:

That’s a pretty high jump in the median sales price-40%!– more expensive homes sold last month than a year ago. The highest closed price last month was $1.7 million ($50K over list price) and the lowest was $325K, also over the asking price. Here are the year-to-date numbers:

So far this year, prices are up 9.8%; about the same number of homes have sold; most going under contract quickly and often selling for more than the asking price. Currently there are 20 active single family homes for sale in Brookside, with a median price of $585,000 and 44 days on market. The lowest asking price is $379,000 and the highest is $2,950,000.

(All stats taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

Good news for homebuyers..it looks like home prices are dipping down somewhat in Waldo compared to 2024. Still, this is the busy homebuying season and there is still quite a bit of demand. Let’s take a look at the numbers:

Prices were slightly higher this year, by .5 percent–last month, homes sat on the marekt a bit longer before going under contract. The lowest closed price was $210K, the highest was $585,000. Below are the year-to-date numbers:

So far this year, prices are running about 2% lower than 2024, a few more units have closed. And again, some homes linger on the market longer. There is a positive aspect to that: buyers can take a little more time to look around and decide if a house feels right to them, rather than having to immediately jump into a bidding war.

Currently there are 13 single family homes for sale in Waldo, with a price range of $160K on the low side to $515 tops. The median asking price is $275,000 and 60 days on market.

(All stats taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

A new year and possibly…a new home?! Most buyers want a property well under the 1 million dollar price tag; however Brookside had several high dollar properties close last month, which pushed up the median list price. Let’s take a look at the numbers:

Some perspective on that median sales price approaching $800K–of the eleven homes that closed last month, five homes were over the million dollar mark. That’s why the median price is 78% higher than last year. The highest closed price was $2.6 million and the lowest was $378,000. The longer days on market also reflects the fact that the $1 million plus homes can often take longer to go under contract.

Currently there are 11 homes for sale in the Brookside zip code of 64113; five of those are asking over 1.2 million dollars. That brings the median list price way up to $679,000. Just two homes are listed under $500K.

(All stats taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)

It’s time to celebrate our wonderful and unique Waldo neighborhood with the 10th Annual Waldo Week, starting tomorrow and running through Friday Feb 28. You are also welcome to stop by the kick off event tonight at 75th St Events, from 5-8pm.

Several businesses are participating this year, including Pizza Tascio, Eclectic’s Gallery, Genter Pest Management and Hemma Hemma. Find the complete list at Waldokcevents.com. These locally owned businesses are offering special discounts and deals for you –just ask about the specifics when you visit the vendor. Also a portion of all proceeds this year will go towards D.A.V.E.’s Place, a community impact center with a food pantry, counseling and education services.

Thank you for supporting Waldo–one of KC’s most unique and interesting neighborhoods!

The annual Brookside Trick or Treat Street event is happening this afternoon between 4 and 6pm. There will be hundreds of little ones and adults walking along 63rd St between Wornall and Main, stopping by our local shops for treats and goodies. Please watch for extra pedestrians in the area!

I don’t write this blog for money or fame or freebies; I write this blog specifically to highlight locally owned businesses in Brookside and Waldo. In our neighborhood, we have a strong tradition of supporting the locals. And it’s really fun to meet these folks: the entrepreneurs with a dream of running their own business and being a part of our community. They all WANT to be in Brookside and Waldo, and often LIVE within a few blocks of the storefront. They are so very excited to start and grow their business in this specific location. They are all…so sincerely friendly.

Back in April 2022, shortly after the restaurant opened, I stopped by Brady and Fox to interview Shaun for this blog. I didn’t know him, but he welcomed me in and spent about an hour talking with me. Of course, he was interrupted a few times–greeting people that came in, checking in on an order, stopping by to check on a table. He was so very proud of the traditional pub food he served, the 50 types of whiskey he stocked, the way he slow cooked the corned beef. My husband loved the fish ‘n chips. He was excited about getting the outdoor patio ready for use. I loved his easy smile, Irish accent, his specific dedication to family and community, saying he wanted to “bring back the family meal”, encouraging children at the table to converse and not just stare at screens. The Irish community is strongly connected here to each other in KC, by blood and friendship, and proof of that is the big Irish Fest held every Labor Day weekend at Crown Center. Shaun was proud to be a part of it.

So Shaun takes out the trash on a normal August summer day,…there is traffic whizzing by, dog walkers around, folks heading home from work, people stopping in the bar for a refreshing drink on a hot day …he’s tending to his customers and business and ends up getting shot dead. Walks outside to take out the trash, doesn’t walk back in. That’s it. Each of us, every day, we carry on as usual: working, going to school, making deals, shopping, meeting up with friends, taking out the trash. But for some people, carrying on as usual means stealing cars, slashing tires, breaking into storefronts and shooting innocent citizens nearby. Yes, THAT IS THEIR NORMAL DAY. THAT IS THEIR NORMAL DAY. THAT IS THEIR NORMAL DAY.

I don’t have any answers or remedies to stop the violence, the break ins, the senseless theft . You or I could easily be the next victim. At any time. But I wanted to write this blog today to thank Shaun for bringing his Irish charm to Brookside for a few years, and for the good times and good food he gave us. I am so so very sad his life ended this way. It’s not normal, is it?

The Waldo home sales stats for the month of May are in, and there was a surprising drop in prices compared to May 2023. Yet most buyers are still paying list price or above. Let’s take a look at the specifics; I’m using the boundaries of State Line to Holmes and Gregory to 85th St for the numbers, single family homes.

Home prices dropped by 17% compared to last year, and fewer homes sold. One explanation could be more of the smaller, lower priced homes closed last month compared to a year ago; also the higher interest rates have shrunk the buyer pool. The lowest closed price last month was $85,000 and the highest was a new build on the 7600 block of Main at $675,000. Here are the year-to-date numbers:

For the year, Waldo home values are up 5.5%–a healthy increase. Homes are still selling quickly even though fewer are changing owners. Currently there are 22 single family homes for sale in Waldo–that seems like quite a few! The lowest priced home is $200K and the highest is $669K–the second new build on the 7600 block of Main St.

(All stats taken from Heartland MLS; deemed reliable but not guaranteed.)