Supporting Local All Next Week in Kansas City

In the past decade, America has seen the rise of a #supportlocal movement. In the heart of Kansas City, many small business owners are contributing to grow the communities that we live in, and companies that we keep. We are learning to seek out the “Mom & Pop” businesses and support the underdog. When we choose the local coffee shop on the corner instead of the national chain down the street, we are building a stronger economy, a stronger community, a stronger belief in ourselves.

Across the country, the local movement is growing. Many organizations are showing up to support the local business. It is bigger now than just celebrating Small Business Saturday.

I am definitely not saying that I don’t shop at places like Target or J.Crew, I do, but as I see what is happening to the small business, I have taken the personal pledge to #supportlocal. At Promote KC, that is what we believe in.

Here in KC, we have a lot of choices. I could not even begin to list all the opportunities that we have. KC Local Week, starting August 17th and ending on August 23rd challenges you to eat, drink, shop, and donate locally. Live Local for a week. Don’t forget to interact locally as well by hashtaging #EatDrinkShopLocalKC, #KCLocalWeek and #SupportLocalKC

This is what we are doing:

Monday:

To kick off the week, KC Local’s theme is “KCup of Joe Monday!” We all need coffee on Monday, right? Why not visit a local coffee shop today, instead of hitting Starbucks? Our pick? The Oddly Correct Coffee Bar in #Westport! The coffee here is so flavorful and the beans and brew is so good, you don’t need cream or sugar! They also sell their own line of beans, tea & espresso drinks. 

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Crow’s Coffee

Be sure to snap a picture of you and/or your local beverage and post it to your favorite social media outlet with #kclocalweek #eatdrinkshoplocalkc! 

Want something more family friendly to get the kids involved? Crows Coffee will be offering specials on their house made honey lavender lemonade or visit a local ice cream parlor like Murray’s or Foo’s to support! Order Coffee Ice Cream!!

Tuesday:

kclocalKansas City knows how to show their pride. Tuesday is “T-Shirt Tuesday!” This year, we saw a huge increase of local retailers sell quality clothing with aspects of Kansas City incorporated in-from ball caps, unique home decor, and tees! Wear your t-shirt with pride today! Don’t have one yet? Visit one of the following retailers and get one!

We, of course like Charlie Hustle, but also look at some up and coming designers and shops like Farmdog Studios,  Freelance Clothing, or Sandlot Goods that offer unique KC made products! Again, be sure to capture your #KC pride and snap a pic and post with the ##kclocalweek #eatdrinkshoplocalkc. Not in KC? make sure you let us know where you are showing off your love for KC! Want a fun place to go in your t-shirt? Go play some games at locally owned Tapcade where it is  $2 Tuesdays. $2 for all you can play arcade games and $2 wells. New locally owned Up-Down, the arcade bar  in the Crossroads featuring video games, pinball, skee-ball, offers on Tuesdays $1 Off All Missouri and Kansas made draft beers! 

Wednesday: 

The Theme today is “ Local Lunch on the Cheap!” Two things we love- #Local and #Cheap! The options are endless. Here are our picks! 

We definitely don’t want to forget the Northland this week so our top lunch pick is Le Monde Bakery! The “Famous” Chicken Curry Soup with steamed rice or Chicken Salad Croissant makes a perfect lunch all for under $10! Added bonus: They serve coffee made right here from The Roasterie. Want dessert? Be sure to try one of their wonderful Chocolate raspberry croissants!

The Salty Iguana is a well-known and locally owned restaurant and bar with an enjoyable atmosphere and the best Mexican food and margaritas around. They have been in business for more than 20 years with five locations throughout the Kansas City metro area. On Weds, they have a fantastic lunch special that will for sure fill you up! The Tostada Grande is $6.99 and with the all the chips and salsa you can eat, that is definitely “Lunch on the Cheap!”

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Pigwich in KC is next to The Local Pig.

Pigwich is one of our favorites! The “baby” of The Local Pig butchery right next door, Pigwich offers a simple but fabulous menu of sandwiches that use  meat that  is locally-sourced and fresh ingredients that are of the highest quality. Choose from a burger, a cheesesteak, a banh mi, and a vegetarian falafel sandwich, all for $7 but add $1 and you can get a drink and Pigwich’s homemade chips on the side! #eatdrinkshoplocalkc #KCLocalWeek

Thursday: 

The Theme today is “Local Bucket-list Thursday.” What’s on your bucket list for KC? We know what the tourists want to do, but how about the locals? There are so many fun and interesting things to do in KC, it’s hard to narrow the list. Here are our suggestions:

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The Green Lady Lounge in KC.

The Green Lady Lounge Kansas City The Green Lady is an exclusive Jazz lounge featuring Kansas City Jazz musicians. There are NO televisions(not a place for sports fans!) so you can focus on music, atmosphere and conversation.  On this Thursday night, KC Jazz Guitarist Matt Hopper will be playing at 9:00 so sit back, grab a hummus plate and a glass of wine and enjoy the music and atmosphere of the wonderful #local bar.

Most of us have been (and love!) the Nelson Art Museum, but sometimes we overlook another fabulous art museum in the Nelson’s backyard- the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art! Get ready for Fall as you browse the collection entitled  “Autumn Twilight, Dwelling Among Mountain,” a collection inspired by the eighth-century Chinese poet Wang Wei with beautiful paintings that depict the progression of “time from day to night and explore the mood, transitional energy, and light conveyed in these twilight hours.” Before leaving, be sure to dine for lunch or dinner at one of our local favorite’s Café Sebastienne, featuring fresh, local and seasonal fare from award-winning chef Jennifer Maloney. The menu uses locally-grown organic food in a simple but elegant menu.

But while you are in the neighborhood, The Nelson’s Third Thursday series is the same night! This is being described as your “new not-so-quiet night at the museum,” this evening held every third Thursday of the month offers live music, free programs, art activities and more that showcase the talents of local artists, communities and businesses…all just for adult audiences! Thursday, August 20th is themed August Heat and will feature the KC band Hearts of Darkness,  a multi-talented big band whose original material absorbs influences from 70s afrobeat to modern hip hop, 60s and 70s soul and funk, as well as reaching back to 1920s big band jazz. Poppy’s Ice Cream Truck will be on-hand as well as a happy hour in Bloch Lobby with small plates, bar and artful experiences! Sounds like something to experience!

Friday:

Friday is “Date Night” in Kansas City! Grab your sweetie and enjoy one of the many local establishments or events!

Our favorites:

For drinks and dinner:

Cafe Eruopa in Brookside.
Cafe Eruopa in Brookside.

KC is so lucky to have so many great restaurants, many that are earning prestigious awards! Cafe Europa, Port FondaÇa Va, Julep, Bluestem, Rye, The Rieger Hotel & Exchange, The Westside Local, JJ’s, Waldo PizzaThe Farm House, the list is endless… Just be sure to pick somewhere locally-owned and to grab a pic with the #eatdrinkshoplocalKC #KCLocalWeek

For Movie Night:

Catch a movie at one of these locally-owned theaters! Screenland Armour (Their Arts and Crafts Beer Festival begins on this evening! Tickets can be found here. Tivoli Cinema, and Boulevard Drive-In are also great options!

Saturday:

Small Business Saturday! This day is for all the Mom and Pop stores and shops out there! Kansas City is rich in the small but mighty business and we hope you can go out there and spend your money at these local spots to support our community! We are going to hit Underdog Wines(even the name of this store screams LOCAL!) Season + Square (who is also providing Sustained Juice Mimosas after the  Dehydrate & Rehydrate Hx class at 9am at Fit Formula!) and Flowers By Emily in Park Place. We are also going to check out Happy Habitat by Karrie Kaneda and other local designers and products at The Westside Story.

One special event happening on this Saturday is being presented by KC Local Week. Chef Craig Howard will be doing “Preview BBQ” at Howard’s Grocery, Cafe and Catering. His new shop opens at the end of the month and this will be a fabulous way to celebrate it’s Grand Opening! Tickets will be on-sale at the KC Local Week website and Facebook page. There will be a limited amount of seats and will sure to sell out quick!

Sunday: 

If you have made it this far, keep going #LOCAL! Today’s theme: Brunch! Of course, KC has tons of great brunches to choose from! Where are we going? Westport Cafe and Bar! The food is fabulous and when you order off the brunch menu, you get one complementary bellini, mimosa, bloody mary, coffee or soft drink. Doesn’t get any better than that!

One thing that isn’t mentioned a whole lot when we think of supporting local is donating local! Lots of very deserving charities and events that give back! On this Sunday, consider giving back to a charity that makes an impact on the local community right here in KC. The Head for the Cure 5k with the KC High Five Station is being held on Sunday morning or check out other non-profits like Great Plains SPCA and The Autism Society- The Heartland. Local charities are a vital part of our community. 

You can probably tell at this point, we heart #KC! So let us know your favorite things to do on our Facebook page, Instagram, and Twitter pages and don’t forget to take pics and hashtag #eatdrinkshoplocalkc #KCLocalWeek or #supportlocalKC! Also check out our commercial free online radio station at www.interactiveheartland.com and our blog at www.theheartlandtoday.com.

– Hope McPheeters, Contributing Author

Hope McPheeters is a Contributing Author at www.theheartlandtoday.com with emphasis in Kansas City. She also helps run a charity for Autism and lives with her husband and 2 children in KC.