Travel

Unearthing History

Why the forgotten city of Quindaro is an important place in Kansas City's Black history Article by Diana Lambdin Meyer | Photography by Bruce N. Meyer With the leaves off the trees, the spires of Park University’s McKay Hall are clearly visible from a hillside in Kansas City, Kansas, a remote area with as much or more history as all of the Northland’s historic river towns combined. The view comes from the Quindaro Cemetery, a notable destination to better understand Black history in this...

Food + Beverage

The Coffee Connection

HullHouse Coffee warms hearts in the Northland Article by Tiffany Killoren | Photography by Hannah Schreiner Coffee is so much more than a drink. People socialize quietly at tables in shop corners, the act of “meeting for coffee” a universal invite to simply sit for a while and catch up. Coffee, it can be argued, is its own love language between family, friends and co-workers in need of a break and leg stretch during the day. At HullHouse Coffee, a simple cup of coffee means so much more than...

Travel

Making Magic on Vacation

Magic Mouse Travel allows even parents to relax on vacation Article by Katie Currid | Photography by Jeron Traphagan For parents, especially those with small children, going on vacation can sometimes seem like a chore. A vacation is supposed to be time away from work and full of fun, however, the labor of parenting doesn’t stop just because you’re in an exciting and new place. Sometimes you even return from vacation feeling like you need a second vacation!  Jeron Traphagan knows this struggle...

Food + Beverage

Satisfying Your Sweet Tooth

These Northland bakeries and confectionaries will have you indulging all month long Article and Photography by Katie Currid A sweet tooth doesn’t really need a reason or a season, but if there’s any day to indulge in chocolate and goodies, it’s Valentine’s Day. Whether you’re shopping for a special someone or trying to drop hints to your own, there are plenty of places in the Northland to find something tasty and special. Maybe you also just want to buy yourself a treat, or you’ve got a night...

Beauty

Clean and Green

The Greener Home soap refillery in Parkville brings approachable sustainability north of the river Article by Katie Currid | Photography by Hannah Schreiner Kristen Edwards started researching more natural products to bring into her home during her first pregnancy in 2008. Back then, it took a lot of time and effort to figure out which products were actually cleaner and greener, and which ones just had claims that they were. She wanted items in her home to be safer for her baby and BPA-free...

Food + Beverage

Magical Mushrooms

NKC's urban mushroom farm praises the amazing health benefits of fungi Article by Gilbert Randolph | Photography by Hannah Schreiner When you think of mushrooms, you might think of those slimy, store-bought creminis or fried portobellos you turned your nose up to as a kid. Mushroom growers like MyCo Planet, however, aim to introduce new varieties of mushrooms to your palette and make eating more mushrooms part of a healthier lifestyle!  Robin Moore, the founder of MyCo Planet , is a...

Food + Beverage

Exploring the Fizz

A Northland Couple’s adventure into the refreshing world of Kombucha Article by Ellie Knepper and Cash Hibler | Photography by Cash Hibler Kombucha, the newest health craze; but Lucky Elixir is here to stay. This relatively new fermented drink has hit pop culture running. In the large market of health drinks, Lucky Elixir has definitely made a name for themselves here in the Kansas City Northland. While the product is nothing short of phenomenal, the story of Amy and Shawn also shines.  ...

Food + Beverage

Waste Not, Want Not

The often-discarded beef tallow is beneficial in many ways Article and Photography by Katie Currid We often use the phrase “using every part of the buffalo” in a tongue-in-cheek way, but Mary Haer at Green Grass Cattle Company is taking it literally. She runs Green Grass Cattle Company in Weston with her husband, Gary Haer, and her children. They launched their cattle business in 2018 and as they’ve grown their farm and figured out what customers are looking for in their beef, they’ve...

Shopping

Give The Gift of Local

Look no further than the Northland for your gift-giving needs Article by Katie Currid Gifts for the foodie We’re rounding up some of our favorite Northland businesses for our 2023 gift guide to make it as easy as possible to shop local this holiday season. If you’ve got a foodie in your life, we love the delectables at these shops, and hey, you can pick up something for yourself too and just say it was part of the grocery budget! Consumables are always a great gift option for folks you may...

Food + Beverage

A Taste of the Holidays

Sail Away with these wine pairings for every occasion Article by Tiffany Killoren | Photography by Hannah Schreiner Grandma’s apple pie might be a staple on your holiday menu, but finding the perfect wine to showcase such a treasure isn’t found on any recipe card. Sail Away Wine in North Kansas City provides a fun, comfortable and educational way to try new wines without buying a bottle blindly, or even ordering a full glass. With the use of “wine passports” (i.e., plastic cards that can be...