Grab your tote bag and get ready for the Brookside Farmers’ Market’s Opening Day on Saturday, April 10, 2021!
The market has been available the past few months on a smaller scale; Saturday marks the season’s opener, featuring more booths and goods ready for purchase. Vendors focus on local and sustainably grown produce, meats, home made baked goods and crafts. Same location: HJ’s Community Center at 6425 Wornall Rd from 8-1pm. The atmosphere is always friendly and welcoming–often you’ll hear some live music as you stroll among the booths.
Please remember to bring a bag to carry your goodies and a mask!
Ladies…have you been thinking of sprucing up your look for the warm months ahead…when, hopefully, masks won’t be as necessary and others can see your entire face?!? And for the gents..do you have a special someone that could use some pampering? Check out one of Brookside’s newest businesses, Brow Bar, offering “beauty treatments with a spa attitude”.
Brow Bar, 328 W 63rd St
I stopped by Brow Bar recently and talked with owner Tammy Sciara about this new shop that opened in December. Brow Bar offers all kinds of skincare and beauty services, including cosmetic injectables, microblading, eyelash and brow enhancements, facials, waxing and make up consultations. The store has a welcoming, calm vibe with a very friendly staff that really cater to their clients. Tammy says “I want my customers to feel fully transported when they come here; I want the shop to feel like a private retreat”. She even created a special relaxing room in the middle of the space for just that purpose; customers can sit and relax before and after their appointments.
Brow Bar’s Relaxing Area
In addition to the special beauty services, BrowBar offers several lines of unique, clean products for the face and body: Leahlani, organic products from Maui; MerSea, a line of candles and diffusers based in Lenexa; Lover cosmetics (founder Ashley Rodden lives in KC and keeps regular hours at Brow Bar for make up consultations), Soap Cherie, botanica based body products, and Savor/Beauty, a small batch, certified organic line of Korean beauty inspired products from New York.. Any woman would enjoy indulging in these clean, fresh make up and body products!
Tammy Sciara
How did BrowBar get started? Tammy explained that after having her second baby, she was busy “chasing around the little ones, more worried about if they ate their breakfast and brushed their teeth than if I looked in the mirror before leaving the house”. As part of a post baby makeover, she had microblading done. “The thought of never having to spend time coloring in my brows was heaven!” but the experience of having it done was not what she expected. “It wasn’t relaxing or service oriented at all. It was actually a bit terrifying! It got me thinking about all of the beauty services I had done through the years. I knew I could do it in a different way”. After several months of research, Tammy and her good friend (and co-owner) Nicole Baldwin started Brow Bar. (Nicole is a semi-permanent make up artist). “I wanted to open a studio that was upscale, modern, relaxing and private at the same time”. Her first location was in a building on the Plaza and, being a long time Brookside resident herself, decided to switch locations to 63rd St when this spot opened up. “We have so much more space, as well as the opportunity to sell our unique beauty and skincare products that Brookside needs!”
Stop in Brow Bar the next time you are strolling along 63rd St for a look! A gift certificate to Brow Bar would be a welcome Mother’s Day gift. The address is 328 W. 63rd St, just west of Stuff.
It’s time for the annual Waldo Week celebration, now in it’s sixth year! Starting tomorrow, Feb. 19 and running through Thurs Feb 25, there are all sorts of special deals and discounts to take advantage of in Waldo. This is a perfect time to support your usual favorite shops and restaurants, and an even better time to check out some places you may not have visited before!
Here’s a partial list of participating businesses:
Check www.waldokc.org for the complete list. There will also be an online auction this year to benefit Cornerstones of Care. Remember, you must mention Waldo Week to get the discount or special deal.
Thank you for supporting our locally owned Waldo businesses!
I’m happy to report that Kansas City Restaurant Week is still happening this year, and it starts today! You have ten days to sample new places, visit old favorites and support many locally owned eateries that have been struggling during the pandemic. The official dates are Jan 8-17, 2021 and over 100 restaurants are participating this year.
You can dine in, or order take out or have your meal delivered. So easy! Prices are $15 for lunch and $35/$45 for dinner. Make your reservations early for dine in and if you order carry out or delivery, please be patient–these eateries should be very busy this week! Remember, part of the proceeds from each sale benefit the Don Bosco Centers.
Below is a list of the Brookside and Waldo eateries that are participating in KC Restaurant Week. Check this website for specific meal specials, not the individual restaurant website.
Aixois 251 E 55th St
Boru Asian Eatery 500 W 75th St
Charlie Hooper’s 12 W 63rd St
Lew’s Grill and Bar 7539 Wornall
Michael Forbes 128 W 63rd St
Plate Restaurant 701 E 63rd St
South of Summit Taqueria 516 W 75th St
Summit Grill 520 W 75th St
Urban Cafe 5500 Troost
Waldo PIzza 7433 Broadway
The Well 7421 Broadway
Thank you for supporting locally owned Brookside/Waldo restaurants!
Hello and Happy 2021!! Hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday break. Now we are in, to me, the most boring time of year. But, we have the Chiefs to cheer on in the playoffs!!!!
OK, down to business.I’m sure you’ve noticed all the construction along several streets in Kansas City: 63rd, Wornall, 75th and Gregory. I travel these streets every day and have been dodging cones, workers, steel plates and weaving along trying to stay in one skinny lane with oncoming traffic! What is happening??
How many cones are you dodging each time you drive through our neighborhood?
I called Sean Ackerson, Executive Director of the Southtown Council for more information. He explained that Spire Gas and their subcontractors are doing utility work along these streets, replacing the 100 year old cast iron main gas lines. This new high pressure system they are installing creates a more efficient distribution system.
The construction work is taking longer than usual because, well, these projects usually do! There was a lot of exploratory work in the beginning to find and mark the water and sewer lines so they could map out the new gas pipes. This project started over two years ago—and there’s still several months to go before it’s finished. And when the winter weather hits, everything stops as the crews can’t work in rain, snow and ice. I asked Sean if there was a possible end date in sight, and he replied: “We have the schedule they gave us, but it’s not reliable due to the unpredictability of weather and other scheduled breaks for holidays.” After the gas lines are set, then the work moves to adjoin the adjacent business and residential properties along these streets to the new main lines. This can involve moving gas meters outside of the properties as well.
Staging area for supplies along Brookside Road
Another big project planned for Brookside – which has the potential to be even more disruptive—is separating the storm and sanitary sewer lines underground. This project was mandated by the EPA several years ago—and it’s one reason your water bills go higher and higher. This will involve ripping up the streets once again.
It’s unfortunate that these major projects can’t be coordinated, so there isn’t so much disruption. Just be careful and patient when travelling along these streets in Brookside, watching for the workers, cones and detours. And make an extra effort to support those local businesses who’s storefronts are affected! Whenever it’s all finished—one year, five years, it’s all needed infrastructure improvement for our neighborhood.
There are many food take out options in the Brookside / Waldo area. Choices include traditional fast food and local eateries offering salads, sandwiches, burgers, tacos, etc. Last month, Jovito’s Italian Café &Deli opened in the former One More Cup space on Wornall—filling a niche in the area for those wanting something a little different. And who doesn’t like Italian food??
You may remember Jovito’s at their old location on State Line at 123rd St. Last summer, the owners decided not to renew the lease and move to Waldo, focusing completely on take out services. It’s still the same tasty food (and some of the same décor)—long time Kansas Citians may remember Mario’s in Westport, which closed several years ago. Jovito’s owners bought the business and recipes for the State Line shop. Popular items include their signature Grinder, stuffed with meatballs or sausage, and the Italian Steak sandwich. They also have cold sandwiches, several kinds of pasta, salads with homemade dressing and a few dessert selections. The food has that good, homecooked taste – as the recipes were handed down over the years from an Italian grandma’s kitchen!
Owner Leasa Caron says business has been very , very good! “I wasn’t aware there was a void for an Italian sandwich shop in this area. I’ve lived in Waldo 22 years and it’s nice to be back in the neighborhood, close to my home. The community has made us feel very welcome.” All items are served to go, and in the warmer months there will be a few outdoor tables available to enjoy your meal in the fresh air. At this time, it’s best to call in your order by phone—Jovito’s does work with some delivery apps but because their food is so fresh and daily specials can sell out quickly—best to call and talk to a human about your order, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. Service is fast and friendly. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-7pm, with convenient parking in front of the store at 7408 Wornall or in the back parking lot off Washington St. There’s a small alley off the back lot that takes you to the front of the restaurant.
Back in 2015, sisters India Pernell and Arvelisha Woods went from being vegetarians to vegan. But they craved cheese! So the pair created their own recipe for queso and brought some of it to their hair salon in Independence. Customers loved it—and they decided to start selling their creamy comfort food. Eventually, they developed recipes for vegan nachos too and promoted their goodies at festivals and pop-ups. More success! In 2018, they bought a food truck and started catering out of a kitchen commissary, closing the hair salon to focus on their food full time. Customers wanted a restaurant—India and Arvelisha listened and now you can visit Mattie’s Foods in east Brookside, at 633 E 63rd St.
LiLike every other small business owner, India and Arvelisha had to deal with the pandemic. The lease was signed in August. “We’ve gone through so many trials and tribulations” Arvelisha explained, “that we knew how to work under pressure. We just got creative and made it work”. The restaurant has been a hit—when I visited last week after the lunch rush, there was still a steady stream of people coming in after 2pm for a meal. “We have always loved Brookside and grew up near here. Brookside has the entrepreneurial spirit and the locals support small business owners.”
So what else is on the menu? Besides nachos and the infamous queso, Mattie’s offers breakfast, including a biscuit sandwich, pancakes and the popular Mattie bon—a cinnamon roll with fruit flavor options. Popular lunch items are the brisket sandwich made with tofu, and various types of mac and cheese. There are no fried foods in this place—and, most items can be made gluten free. Mattie’s still caters for events and sells family meals, including special vegan meals with a Thanksgiving theme.
As you may have guessed, Mattie’s is named after the sisters’ beloved grandmother. They both grew up learning how to cook from Mattie, and as they created the vegan recipes, were inspired by those childhood food memories.
Mattie’s Foods is open Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9am-3pm; Thursdays and Fridays, 9am-7pm. Stop in for a meal of “comfort food made smart”!
You’ve probably heard that many of us are craving good old comfort food these days, as we change our patterns and habits due to the pandemic. Little things you can look forward to—like trying a new eatery—can lift your spirits and provide a happy diversion to your day. And especially as the cooler weather sets in, indulging in comfort food is a treat for yourself!
Make plans to stop in and try Strip’s Chicken, a food truck parked at the southwest corner of 85th and Wornall, next to the Price Chopper. Owner Todd Johnson opened the original location of Strip’s four years ago at 1110 Sante Fe in Olathe. Based on the success of that restaurant, he started looking for another spot in Waldo. Right now he’s operating out of the food truck; next month he’ll open in the adjacent former KFC/Long John Silver’s building. Todd grew up on a farm in Kansas and has a degree from Kansas State in Agronomy. He started out as an agricultural banker; owned a microbrewery and started food consulting; eventually he moved to Kansas City to focus solely on consulting. He even consulted Real Housewives star Lisa Vanderpump on her Bravo show “Vanderpump Rules”. After repeatedly tinkering with recipes and coming up with his own special seasonings and cooking methods, he decided to open his own place again focusing on chicken.
Todd Johnson, Owner of Strip’s Chicken
What’s unusual about Strip’s Chicken is this: it’s basically a scratch kitchen. Todd and his staff hand cut all the chicken breasts to the same thickness for quick, uniform cooking. They make all of the sauces and breading; they grind the pork for the pork burgers and make the white chili from scratch; everything is cooked to order. A few other notes about the breading: the strips are coated in a zesty batter, then a pretzel breading (he even grinds the pretzels!). Todd also offers chicken nuggets that are gluten free, specially fried in a dedicated fryer with its own filtration system. The nuggets are “honey kissed” for a slight sweetness and the breading is made from sorghum that’s grown and milled by Kansas farmers. No MSG is used in anything he cooks. “We serve generous portions here” says Todd, “and having signature items is incredibly important to me. My customers can taste the difference”. Chicken strips are the most popular menu item, along with the strawberry BBQ dipping sauce and his own “secret sauce” recipe. Other offerings include onion strings, fries, mac and cheese, and donuts—and a “family feast” .
Next time you are craving comfort food, stop in Strip’s Chicken at 85th and Wornall. Hours are 11am-8pm, Monday through Saturday.
Flowers! Can’t help but smile when you walk by a colorful floral garden, a unique centerpiece or receive a blooming arrangement that fills your space with a soft, fresh scent. Waldo has a new flower shop, Botanica Flower Studio at 7443 Broadway—and I stopped by last week to find out more.
Heather Coones
Owner Heather Coones has been a florist for eighteen years. Back in her college days at K State, she would walk the campus dreaming of owning her own shop. She earned a degree in geography as she loves to travel—and eventually got a job at The Fiddly Fig. After a while, she struck out on her own, doing wedding and special events out of her Leawood home. Finally, she just fulfilled her dream and opened the small shop, sandwiched between Hiles Two and Soap Station, a couple of storefronts south of Waldo Pizza. Heather grew up in Brookside, and explained why she picked this Waldo spot: “ I love this area. It’s a good location and I know the community supports local businesses. There is easy access to many special event locations. And I like to connect with people on a daily basis—flowers make people happy!”.
I asked Heather what makes her bouquets and arrangements different from others. Her approach is to offer a “really good value. When you order from me, I look at what flowers and greenery are at their best at the time, and I get my product from local growers as well as wholesalers. I like unique color combinations; I use lots of different textures, incorporating greens and herbs. I like to use flowers and greens that you don’t always see in a shop. The trend in arrangements now is the loose, gathered garden look —not a tight, stiff, rounded arrangement. I like to work with my customers to create something different that still looks fresh, eye catching and expressive.”
Botanica Flower Studio also has several kinds of vases and potted plants for sale; Heather plans to add Cedar Street Toffee treats for sale if you want to add sweets to your bouquet! Behind the store is a shady, cozy, open air patio that’s available for small private wedding showers. Current hours at the shop are 12-5 Monday through Friday; delivery is available. The best way to order a single special bouquet or arrangement right now is to email Heather from the website—however, walk ins are welcome!
Usually I would be posting about the annual Waldo Fall Festival right about now…but, as with all of our treasured fall activities (Plaza and Westport Art Fairs, Renaissance Festival, etc), it’s not happening this year. The Waldo Business Assn has come up with another event you can participate in: the Waldo Walk, starting Saturday and running until Sept 26.
You can do the Waldo Walk virtually or in person! Download the Racery app to go digital or get out in the fresh air and walk or bike the six mile route in person. (You do not have to do all six miles!) Teams are encouraged! There are many local merchants with special giveways and offers throughout the walk, including McLain’s Bakery, Crows Coffee, Bier Station and Geo’s Cheese. Special thanks to Mike’s Wine and Spirits for being a sponsor of the walk!
Get more details here. Remember, Waldo Walk lasts seven days so you have plenty of time to get out and explore Waldo during this Fall season, enjoy the cooler weather and (socially distant) mingle with friends and merchants along the way. THANK YOU for supporting our locally owned businesses!
Inside Brookside (And Waldo) 