This is the weekend to be out and about in the neighborhood! Soak up the warm weather and charming atmosphere of Brookside and Waldo by spending some time at these free events:
Now in it’s 38th year, the Brookside Art Annual kicks off Friday night at 5pm. Recognized nationally as one of the country’s premier art fair events, you will see so many attractive and yes, some unusual pieces here; and at various prices. Local Brookside vendors will have food and beverages for sale; bring the little ones for some kids’ art activities on Saturday. The Brookside Art Annual continues through Sunday at Brookside Road and 63rd St.
Waldo is also hosting it’s Spring Fling on Saturday May 4 from 10am-5pm, at the northeast corner of Gregory and Wornall. Here you will find some vendor booths with services and various items for sale; food available also for purchase.
Please remember to be extra careful when driving around Brookside and Waldo over the weekend; there will be even more pedestrians and strollers walking to these events.
Celebrate Spring and our neighborhood this weekend by getting out and enjoying art, local food and visiting with neighbors at the Art Annual in Brookside and Waldo’s Spring Fling. Events like these are what make our area special!!
The CCVI Trolley Run in Sunday, April 28–this Sunday!
Because of all the construction centered around 75th and Wornall, the starting point for the race is now 73rd Terrace and Wornall at 8am. Expect streets to be blocked for several hours Sunday morning. Here is the updated route for reference:
Did you know that Waldo has a special events venue? I did not—until I was invited to a kick-off party at 75th Street Events last month. This is a very versatile space that you should know about—and yes, it’s locally owned and operated by Waldo residents!
Located at 214 W 75th St, just east of the 222 Waldo Flats apartments and directly north of the CVS, 75th St Events hosts weddings, bridal/baby showers, corporate meetings, fundraisers, family reunions, and birthday celebrations. The concrete floors, high ceilings and large, street facing windows offer lots of flexibility setting up the venue for each individual client. The space can comfortably hold just over 100 persons, depending on room arrangement. Owners Laura and Howard Turley explain: “It’s a very flexible space where you can create your own vision. It feels open and welcoming for 30 people or 90 people”. There is plenty of room for tables, chairs, a/v equipment, dancing, a band, and mingling. Parking is free around the back.
Howard and Laura Turley
Howard Turley grew up in Kansas City—you may have heard of his father, Dr John J Turley, who was a local optometrist. He was instrumental in forming the Waldo Area Business Association and the Trolley Track Trail. Years ago Dr Turley bought the building the venue is housed in and passed it on to Howard’s brother so it’s still in the family. Howard and his wife Laura moved back to Kansas City from El Paso several years ago, and had always wanted to open their own business. Having a background in wedding consulting and hospitality, the couple decided Waldo needed its own events venue and opened 75th St Events in July 2021.
There is one special feature that makes this place different from most rented spaces: customers may choose from any licensed caterer for food service, and can supply the alcohol for the event. That’s not the policy at many event venues, and it can save a lot of money for those with a tighter budget. In addition to the main area, there is a cozy private room in back perfect for a bridal party; a lounge area off the main room; a small catering prep kitchen and outdoor deck. The Turleys offer very personalized service to their customers, too. They are on site for every event, working with clients from the initial contact through the day of the event. You can choose from various pricing and packages, included a small wedding package that takes care of all the details.
Laura and Howard love working and living in Waldo and both enjoy seeing how the area is growing. Howard says “We make a point to know every business in this area. We want to be good stewards of the neighborhood by offering this space, and focus on excellent customer service”.
For a tour of 75th Street Events or more info, visit their website.
Seems like there is always something going on in Brookside..and yet, here’s another new event to check out….The first annual Brookside Brunch Walk!
Several restaurants, such as Brookside Barrio, Michael Forbes, Red Door Grill, the Roasterie and others are offering special menu deals from 10am-1pm tomorrow. In addition, retail shops such as Brookside Toy and Science, Stuff, Corner Candle Shop and EB&Co have special deals going on as well. The official Brookside website doesn’t have a page dedicated to this event, but you can check the Brookside Facebook page and find a few posts listing more info on the offers.
Take advantage of our warm Spring weather and stroll around Brookside tomorrow, enjoying a hearty brunch and shopping the specials. Our locally owned and operated businesses appreciate you!
What is Hemma Hemma? You may have driven by the location at 7122 Wornall and the sign caught your eye..the name is unusual! Hemma Hemma is actually three culinary concepts in one location; so you have numerous ways to experience this newer Waldo, woman owned local business.
Walk into Hemma Hemma and you’ll be in the “bodega marketplace”— a full service coffee/expresso bar featuring fresh pastries, a comfortable lounge area and a refrigerated section of soups, entrees and sides for quick grab and go options. To the right of the bodega is the “hot line”—a cafeteria style selection of hot breakfast and lunch options that you can take to go or enjoy at a table in the sunny dining area. (Note that just about everything here is made in house, and selections change often.) The third space is the large Studio+Events room that offers several hands on cooking classes.
Hemma Hemma owner Ashley Bare is from Kansas City; she studied French and art history at KU and comes from a “big medical family”. After college she was an au pair in Switzerland and then decided to go to culinary school in New York, following an inner passion for food. She became a private chef and also developed recipes with cookbook authors. Ashley started meal prepping for clients during the pandemic out of her home; demand grew so much that she started looking for a commercial kitchen. After a location in the Crossroads fell through, she found this extra large space in Wlado and the landlord offered her a “great deal’. She created the Hemma Hemma concept and opened last September. (Ashley still offers the meal prep service called “Fill Your Fridge” –see the website for details.)
If you’ve not been to Hemma Hemma yet—try it! Ashley says there are several ways to “build a meal” on the hot line so you can personalize what you want. She strives for “high quality, normal food with a twist. Many items are vegetable forward and seasonal” so there is always some variety, including vegan and gluten free items. Best sellers include the miso chicken meatballs, salsa verde chicken enchiladas, lasagna, grilled cheese with tomato soup, and the vegetarian breakfast casserole. I sampled the pineapple guacamole during my visit and it was addicting!
Hemma Hemma has very convenient parking; there are spaces in front of the shop or the surface lot shared with the Fresh Green dispensary to the south. Hours are Monday-Friday 7:30-4; Saturday and Sunday 8am-3pm. Try someplace new for breakfast or lunch and stop by Hemma Hemma!
One of Brookside’s most beloved traditions is happening this Saturday, March 16: the 42nd Annual Brookside St. Patrick’s Warm Up Parade!
This is a neighborhood, family friendly event and all are welcome. One of the best things about this parade is how close the spectators are to the street and the floats–it’s easy to see all the participants and the details of decorated cars, floats and costumes. There are usually over 100 entries, making the parade last well over an hour.
Please remember that the streets along the parade route will be blocked off early for set up and float staging. Traffic will be rerouted along parts of Wornall, Meyer and 63rd St. The parade begins at 65th and Wornall, so much of Armour Hills will be filled with parked cars, especially along Brookside Road.
Official start time is 2pm–come early, have lunch or a snack, stop by the shops; or stay later and end the afternoon with a drink or early dinner. Please be aware of extra foot traffic, bikes, strollers and wagons around this area. And thank you for supporting our Brookside merchants!Here’s the parade map for reference:
Today’s blog isn’t about a Brookside/Waldo new business, event, or home sales stats..but it is important news! We Jackson County residents remember the property tax assessment disaster last year, where thousands of homeowners protested their double or triple digit property tax increases. With a new program rolling out this year, there is some relief!!
The Senior Property Tax Credit Program is available to Jackson County residents, stating that eligible homeowners will “receive a credit that essentially freezes their property taxes on their primary residence”. There are requirements of course, and some of those include:
*The home must be your primary residence in Jackson County.
*You must qualify for Social Security benefits.
*You must be the property owner liable for payment of the taxes.
*The market value of your home as determined by the Jackson County assessor must be valued under $550,000.
Of course, there is paperwork to complete, and the deadline for applications is December 31, 2024. However, my advice is to not wait until later in the year to get this done–if you meet the requirements, put this on your To Do list asap!!
There are many exercise gyms in the Waldo area, and each tend to have their own vibe. To stick with a regular program and routine, it’s important to feel comfortable and welcome in the space and know it is working for you—gotta stay motivated to get out there and just do it!!
Rare Breed Crossfit and Athletics is a new spot that has something different to offer: first, it is a locally and woman owned, LGBTQ+ business, welcoming all types of humans. And, you can use your health savings or FSA savings account for services!
Owner Ryann Bauser is from a small town in northeast Kansas, and graduated from Texas Tech with a master’s degree in Science and Kinesiology. While working at a gym in Gardner, a client suggested she open her own place and told her about this particular space in Waldo that would be a good fit. She decided to become her own boss and open Rare Breed last December. Ryann told me she is not trying to be an “elite” gym—she promotes her business as a safe, judgement free space and focuses on working up a program based on each client’s ability and needs that works in their everyday life. This is “functional fitness” that can be modified and scaled up or down depending on the customer. In addition to semi private/personal training and group classes, nutritional plans are available and there is open gym time Monday through Friday mornings.
Ryann calls all of her clients “athletes” – no matter what stage of fitness they are in. She “ramps” each person into a program, focusing on their individual goals. That can include building muscle, improving balance, cardio workouts, how to stay fit in your older years—Ryann has the knowledge and background to customize for each person. “I want my athletes to take what they have learned here as they move in their everyday lives.”
Ryann loves her space in Waldo and has felt so welcomed by the community. “I’ve met a lot of other business owners in the area. They have reached out to me to network and give advice when I ask for it. I’ve learned so much from other Waldo small businesses about how to run my own place—they have offered great advice and guidance. Along with my clients we are enjoying this tight knit group of neighbors and love being here!”
Here’s a quick blog to remind you about Waldo Week, starting today February 29 and running through March 5.
This is the 9th annual Waldo Week, where all are encouraged to celebrate and explore all the various services, retail spaces, restaurants and bars Waldo has to offer. Several establishments will offer special deals, including Eclectic’s, Waldo Pizza, Euston’s Hardware, Salumi Rose, Mike’s Wine and Spirits and Crow’s Coffee. The charity partner for this year is The Children’s Place.
Thank you for supporting our local small businesses in Waldo!
At a recent Waldo Area Business Association meeting, Jeremy Tinkler withEPC Real Estate Group gave us an update on the apartment complex planned for the intersection of 74th St and Broadway, where The Well once stood. The construction of the building will coincide with the planned street improvements in the 75th and Waldo area, so this intersection is going to be messy for the next two years!
There have been some changes from the initial plans. The Well will still be on the ground floor of the building, but now there will not be a “rooftop” connected with the restaurant. Instead, some of the apartments on the second floor will have “terraces” that overlook the street. Also planned for the first level are three other retail spaces, which could be services (like a spa or nail salon) or a coffee shop/small cafe, plus outdoor tables in front of The Well. The working title for the building, 74 Broadway, hasn’t been chosen as the official name but you can see this project referenced as such at the EPC website.
Since there will not be a rooftop area, a few more units were added; now there will be 283 studio, one and two bedroom apartments. Fifty seven of these will be at “affordable” prices. A five story parking garage for 374 vehicles will be attached with validation available for the building’s retail and restaurant. Tinkler says residents will have access to “top of the line” amenities: an outdoor pool, cabanas, a whiskey lounge, clubhouse and a golf simulator. Construction should take at least two years, and demolition of the former Well building is planned for March 4 if all the paperwork is completed.
74 Broadway is working with KCMO so that the construction of this project is happening at the same time as all of the street improvements and sidewalk/parking lot reconstruction happening now along Wornall. The Waldo Area Business Association has created a website to keep you updated on what’s happening here; note it is a work in progress! Please continue to support Waldo merchants and services in the 75th and Wornall area despite the construction disruption and traffic rerouting–they are here for you!
Inside Brookside (And Waldo) 