The Rock the Parkway Race is happening this Saturday morning, April 9, 2022. It starts at Burns and McDonnell near Bannister and Wornall and continues through Ward Parkway, around Loose Park and Brookside. There is a 5K and half marathon, starting at 7:30am..
I’m posting the route here; be aware and avoid these streets Saturday morning, vehicles will not be able to get through!
*UPDATE!* Due to weather conditions, the Parade has been rescheduled for Saturday March 19 at 1pm. The route remains the same.*
It’s been two years since the parade happened in Brookside (and you know why) so this year’s celebration will be extra special: people want to get outside and socialize! Plus this is the 40th anniversary of the event, officially called the St. Patrick’s Day Warm Up Parade.
One of the things I like best about this parade is you can get pretty close to see all the floats, musicians, dancers, cars and participants along the route. Over 100 businesses and organizations are participating, so there is a lot to see! This is a family affair and everyone is welcome. The parade starts at 2pm Saturday March 12; be aware that several Brookside streets will be blocked off before 2pm for staging and crowd control. Watch for strollers and pedestrians! I’m posting the parade route below.
Plan on spending Saturday in Brookside! Support our local businesses by coming early for breakfast or lunch; stay after for a beverage, dinner or shopping. It will surely be a festive atmosphere all day Saturday in Brookside!
What is there to do on a snow day? Celebrate another Waldo Week! Very understandable if you stay in today, though. This event promotes our locally owned businesses in Waldo and encourages you to explore places you may not be familiar with. Waldo Week starts today, February 17 and runs through Friday Feb 25, 2022. So plenty of time to take advantage of the specials!
Several businesses are offering special discounts over these dates, including CoWork Waldo, Hawthorne and Ivy, SOAP Refill Station, Mike’s Wine and Spirits and Strips Chicken. , Eclectics, The Well, and Lew’s Bar and Grill. In addition, there will be a virtual auction happening online with proceeds going to Happy Bottoms diaper resource. Many participating businesses will also offer diaper drop off bins if you would like to help out that way.
This is the seventh annual Waldo Week–make plans to take advantage of special deals and support our locally owned businesses! More info, and a complete list of participants, at the Waldo business association site.
“Treat yo’self” – one of the memorable lines from the TV series Parks and Recreation. We all feel the need to pamper ourselves every so often, and there’s a new massage therapy studio in Brookside that will do just that! Crossing Paths Massage Therapy opened recently in east Brookside, at 751 E 63rd St.
When I heard about Crossing Paths, I had tto indulge in a massage for myself—research for the blog of course! I had the basic 60 minute relaxation massage, and it was…wonderful! A couple of days later I called Stephanie Cross, the owner, for more information about her and her business.
Stephanie started as a nail technician, yet always had it in the back of her mind that she also wanted to do massage therapy. She enrolled at WellSpring School of Allied Health (massage therapy is their main program) and graduated in September 2019. While working at The Elms Hotel and Spa, she decided to open her own studio as well after seeing a friend’s space in the building—“I really like the vibe of Brookside”. She also wanted to make more of a personal connection with her clients, as the people she sees at the Elms are more transient. “I have seen the change massage therapy can make in your life and wanted to offer those services to regular customers”.
Stephanie offers 60, 90 and 120 minute relaxation and therapeutic massages. All include hot towels and aromatherapy. She offers add-ons including foot and back scrubs, CBD and cupping therapy. Services are offered Saturday through Tuesday, and gift certificates are available (still looking for a Valentine’s day gift??). The studio entrance is on the south side of the building, easily accessible on the ground floor and right next to the covered (free) parking garage. The best way to reach Stephanie is via text (417 894 2456) or her Facebook or Instagram (@crossingpathslmt) page. Mention this blog post and get $10 off your first massage, valid through June 1st.
Next time you need to treat yo’self, try Crossing Paths—another locally owned and operated Brookside business!
You may have heard that Waldo’s beloved Classic Cookie has reopened again under new ownership. It’s true—and the new owners are ready to welcome you back into this warm and cozy neighborhood café with a new menu and redesigned interior.
Owners (and engaged couple) Bryan Sparks and Hailey Allen, along with Anthony Quirarte, purchased the business last November. Both Bryan and Hailey have extensive restaurant experience: Bryan as the Executive Chef of True Food Kitchen, and Hailey has worked with her chef/father. The duo started a meal prep service that was so successful they expanded to catering events. They were renting a commissary by the hour but wanted their own kitchen, so when Bryan’s family saw that the Classic Cookie space was available—they jumped on it. With help from family and friends, Hailey and Bryan redesigned and remodeled the space themselves: moving the main counter, adding a full expresso bar, revising the menu and adding a a few more seats. Plenty of sun streams in to accent the light wood surfaces and white walls; tables are set with fresh flowers and cloth napkins and diners are greeted with a sincere hello! The restaurant has that loose, friendly, local corner spot vibe. Even the background music changes to set the mood!
Now a few words about the food… Classic Cookie is open for breakfast and lunch. Just about everything is made from scratch: a pastry chef bakes fresh breads, cookies, granola and other sweet treats, and locally sourced produce and meats are used as much as possible (easier in the spring and summer growing season). Hailey says the menu items are priced to be “approachable for any budget” – you can get half orders of several menu options. When I asked Hailey if the cookies are the same as in the “original” restaurant, she explained they were given ingredients for the cookies, but no measurements! So they are experimenting with different combinations. ( I noticed the cookies are much larger than before!). The beloved chicken salad is the same though, and Parisi coffee is served.
Something else the new owners are planning: once a month special dinners, collaborating with local chefs. They have a special Valentine’s dinner planned on February 14, with two seatings offered at 5 and 8pm. For $75 per person, you’ll enjoy a four course meal with wine pairings! The earlier seating is almost sold out—so if interested, make reservations soon. The Classic Cookie can also be rented out for private evening functions. Hailey and Bryan are very excited to have this new space; “The feedback from the customers has been wonderful “ Hailey says, “we are overjoyed with the reception we’ve been getting from the neighborhood”.
Treat yourself to a meal at Classic Cookie soon—you’ll feel right at home once you walk in and a friendly server greets you. Take out and delivery are also available. Hours are Wednesday through Friday, 7am-2pm and Saturday/Sunday hours are 7am-3pm. The Classic Cookie is located at 409 West Gregory.
Have you stopped in the newly remodeled Price Chopper grocery store in Waldo? It’s worth a visit! We now have a large, full service grocery with all the extras to serve our neighborhood…just like the suburbs.
After a complete remodel, this store at 8430 Wornall reopened December 8. Inside you’ll see new coolers and freezers, updated lighting and flooring and peppy pop music piped through the speakers. There’s a bakery, deli, liquor dept, large meat counter, pharmacy (COVID shots available!) and prepared food section next to a café. I recently spoke with David Bardwell, Store Director, about the special features of the remodel. “We have a very nice meat department, and the butchers will do special cuts for customers in advance. Our sushi counter is unique to this area—it’s owned and operated by a privately owned company that rents the space. The bakery department takes special orders and I think our liquor department offers the lowest prices around”. And in the check out area…seven self check out stands and four staffed stands. I also like the new grocery carts with a few storage areas instead of one large basket.
David grew up in the grocery business-his father was a grocer with Payless Grocery. Unlike the Price Chopper in Brookside and the one on 103rd off Wornall (both owned by the Cosentino family), this store is owned by Balls Foods, which will celebrate it’s 100th anniversary next year. David says prices can vary from store to store, but the weekly ad specials are always the same at every Price Chopper. You’ll experience a very friendly staff when you visit; if you are looking for a particular item, someone will walk you to the exact spot in the aisle that has your item! During the many months this store was closed, David had a van and drove several carless teammates to work in the Bannister and Grandview stores. Of the 83 current employees, 30 worked at the store previously and came back so you may see some familiar faces. The Ball’s Food Stores vision is “To be the best run, friendliest supermarkets in town where teammates are passionate about providing excellent customer service and where customers love to shop.”
I asked David if he was having any supply chain issues regarding keeping the store stocked during the pandemic. He explained they have approximately 4000 items delivered per week, and there are a few things are in short supply: paper products, children’s drinks and canned pet food. But overall, he can get everything needed to keep the shelves full.
It’s easy to run in and out of this store if you just need a couple of things; or stock up with a big load of groceries. There’s plenty of parking out front; and you can create orders online to pick up in the store later or have delivered to your car. Stop in and check out the new Waldo Price Chopper! The store is open seven days a week from 7am-10pm.
During this rather boring time of year (unless the Chiefs keep winning!)….we have KC Restaurant Week to break the monotony! This is the time to check out some eateries you haven’t been to before…and there are so many to choose from. Over 180 restaurants are participating in this year’s event!
Kansas City Restaurant Week is happening January 14-22, 2022. A portion of the earnings will be donated to the Guadalupe Centers–KC’s largest Hispanic association, providing education, health care and other social services in our area for over 100 years now. Reservations fill up fast, especially on weekends, so make your plans now if you plan to dine in. Some places are offering delivery and carry out options.
Below is a list of the participating restaurants in Brookside and Waldo. The fixed lunch price is $15; dinner price is $35 or $45. Not all of the special menus are posted yet–check the website or the KCRW app for updates.
Aixois French Restaurant * Charlie Hoopers * Michael Forbes * Red Door Grill
Boru Asian Eatery * Lews Grill and Bar * South of Summit Taqueria * Summit Grill* The Well * Waldo Pizza.
Note that most of the restaurants are locally owned..and we know how much local businesses have suffered during the COVID pandemic. Thank you for supporting our locally owned restaurants and please tip generously!!!
Yes, friends, there is another new locally owned shop in Waldo to tell you about today…and it’s quite unique! Called Green Utopia, it is Kansas City’s “zero waste” shop, selling useful gifts and household goods using recycled materials. This is the place to stop by if you need last minute gifts or stocking stuffers—so many great ideas here!
Owner Gabriella Sanders started her shop in a vintage camper, parked at places like the Crossroads on First Fridays and other lots around town. Then the pandemic hit, and she decided to take some time to reassess and find a small retail space. “ I just had this crazy idea to create a store based on zero waste.” She chose Waldo in part because she has family nearby that can help watch her son. Green Utopia opened in November, tucked away in a small space at 329 B E Gregory, behind Governor Stumpy’s. Sanders is committed to a zero waste lifestyle – she says the Lees Summit and Blue Springs landfills are already out of space-and we can all make relatively easy changes to our daily habits to end up throwing less in the trashcan. “Just change one habit”, says Gabriella, “and soon it will become second nature to reduce your personal everyday waste.”
I was amazed at all the unique, clever items for sale in Green Utopia: earrings made from plastic found in the ocean; washable fabric sandwich bags; shampoo and conditioner bars (rather than liquid in a plastic bottle); tote bags made from yoga mats; wall clocks made from albums; coffee and tea “socks” ; biodegradable scrub pads and natural tooth powder…everything has a green component. There’s stuff for the kids and dogs too. She also resells some vintage items: tins, napkins, handkerchiefs. Gabriella will also rent you a “party box” of dishes and flatware to save on paper items that just get thrown away after the meal. If you are looking for a knowledgeable speaker on how begin a greener lifestyle for your business or club—Sanders does that too.
Green Utopia can be challenging to find due to it’s tucked away location—she has some signage coming but for now, the best way to reach her shop is driving (or walking) just south of Gregory and Oak; on the west side of Oak you’ll see a driveway to the parking area just past Gregory. Turn west into the lot and you’ll see Green Utopia on the right. Hours are 11am-6pm Tuesday through Friday and Saturdays 10am-5pm. Stop in soon—you’re come out with something useful for yourself or a friend!
Today I’m writing to tell you about a new business in Waldo that appeals to people of all ages; it’s a place everyone can enjoy and feel welcome; it’s a spot where you can spend the afternoon just having fun with an art project or learning a new skill…it is Create Space KC at 209 E Gregory, just a few steps east of McLain’s Bakery.
Create Space KC is the invention of Meghan Throckmorton, an art teacher at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. Meghan says she “daydreamed about something like this for a long time. I wanted a place the community could use; where people could come together and interact in person, putting away the screens for a while. I also talked to many neighbors about they wanted to see in a place like this.”
So what exactly is Create Space KC? It’s a versatile, open space of 1500 sf, where Meghan and other local teachers host workshops in art, dance, yoga, gift-making and music. Meghan stresses it’s not school, it’s recreation: parents and kids can take a painting class together or drop in an ‘open studio’ to create their own projects. There’s yoga for all ages (even “goodnight yoga”), plus ballroom dancing, juggling and ukulele classes. Meghan wants to add even more options. One of the unique things about Create Space KC is that outside clubs can rent the space for get togethers and to teach classes; for example, there’s a photography club that gathers at the space and offers a class; same with ballroom dancing. Prices are very reasonable; averaging around $15 per session. Meghan encourages teachers and club leaders to contact her to discuss details of what they can offer for the monthly calendar of events. She’s actively looking for people who would like to come in and teach other special skills.
Create Space KC also has winter break and snow day camps for area kids; parents can register for a morning or afternoon session or several sessions in the same week. Meghan also rents the space for private parties, holding up to 30 people or so.
Check out the Create Space KC website for more details or just drop in sometime as you are walking by! This is a very creative and useful addition to our neighborhood, especially during the colder winter months when you are longing to get out and do something different with the family. Thank you for supporting our locally owned businesses!
This is the time of year when many people focus on gift giving…and often think “where can I buy something that’s a little out of the ordinary?”. For many shoppers, the answer could be World’s Window in Brookside.
I wanted to write a blog about Worlds Window because this is one of the oldest, locally owned stores in the Brookside shops, serving our neighborhood for the past 23 years! Stopping by the shop recently, I chatted with owner Jan Buerge. She explained how World’s Window came to be.
Before Brookside, World’s Window was located in Westport—the shop started off in a small stall off Pennsylvania. When Westport started focusing on bars and eateries, Jan and her husband decided to move the store to Brookside—close to their home. They focus on “folk art and fine design”, says Jan. “We like to sell interesting, well made things, from companies that commit to Fair Trade principles.”. Jan values talking directly to many of her suppliers and artisans based around the world.
Of course like so many other retailers, World’s Window has been affected by the COVID pandemic. The shop was closed for several weeks, and Jan quickly pivoted to online sales. One unique way she kept sales going via the web was by publishing a newsletter every day, with the theme Around the World in 80 Days. Jan wrote about individual vendors and told their very personal stories. “The resilience and creativity of the human spirit is amazing” she explained, regarding how her contacts throughout the world were dealing with the pandemic and yet kept going. You can read the 80 days of stories at the World’s Window website.
Jan hopes to resurrect her annual Rose Brooks “Flipping Favorites” fundraiser next year, where shop patrons bring in gently used clothing to donate to Rose Brooks, in exchange for a discount coupon for the store. Throughout the holidays, you can still donate to Rose Brooks (a domestic violence emergency shelter) when shopping in the store by donating $5 through a “dip jar” as your purchases are festively wrapped for the season. “Of course you can dip your credit card in the jar as many times as you would like”, says Jan. “What a great way to share in celebrating this Season of Joy”.
There are just so many fun things to explore in this store: you’ll find comfortable and festive clothing, colorful scarves, stocking stuffers, candles, jewelry and even jeans! There’s all kinds of folk art, candles, ZUM products, socks and gloves, tree ornaments and a large section of children’s items in the back of the store.
World’s Window is sure to have something unique and special for that hard to buy for person—and for yourself! Stop in the shop at 332 W 63rd St; hours are 10-6 Monday through Saturday and 12-5 on Sunday.
Inside Brookside (And Waldo) 