August 29th marks what would be the 100th birthday of the Kansas City, KS born Jazz legend Charlie “Yardbird” Parker. Known for his smooth alto saxophone, Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading musician in the development of bebop, a form of jazz characterized by fast tempos, technique, and advanced harmonies.

Parker was raised in KCMO, near the Westport area. He began playing sax at the young age of 11 and later joined his school band at Lincoln High School. He left school in

Whether you’ve been together for ten months or married for ten years – maintaining a healthy relationship and finding ways to connect, especially in the midst of a world crisis, is important. During a time where social distancing is encouraged, you may be feeling stumped on ways to celebrate your love. With a tiny bit of forethought, you can still have the perfect date night even if it’s just dinner or taking a romantic stroll.

Here are five date-night ideas you can do right now in Kansas City,

At a pizza making class at 1889 Pizza Napoletana, old world technique meets eclectic style, and fun and learning mingle like basil and mozzarella on a Margherita pizza.

Let’s be honest, we all love to experience those memories that make us look back and think, “I was so in the moment I forgot to take any photos!” There’s also something satisfying (maybe some of us are more willing to admit it than others) about snapping the perfect fall photo, complete with warm tones, leaves, pumpkins and maybe even a glass of red wine. So if you are in search for that one seasonal backdrop, here’s a few spots in Kansas City KS that will seamlessly flow with your fall aesthetic.

Close your eyes and imagine the anticipation of you and your partner standing on the edge of the final tower, each preparing for the exhilarating sensation of “free fallin'” 12 ft DOWN; say hello to your next adventurous date night in Kansas City! 

Music lovers visiting Kansas City, KS are going to love discovering all of the cool places around town where they can escape the cold weather and catch live music performances almost any night of the week. 

This past weekend I combined two of my very favorite fall activities: nature hikes and haunted houses. It was certainly an October evening to remember. Nothing beats spending time in nature at the on-set of chilly fall weather - leaves crunching under your feet and the faint smell of burning wood somewhere in the distance. Paired with an eerie, unfamiliar path and over 45 minutes of being chased, frightened and thoroughly disturbed, you’ve got the ultimate heart-pounding experience.  

When people think about Kansas City, the first thing that comes to mind is BBQ - and for good reason! Kansas City is home to some of the world’s tastiest bbq spots. Sweet and saucy is the name of the KC bbq game, but that doesn’t stop local joints from coming up with their own tangy, smoky, or spicy spin on flavors, meats, and wood smoked treats. 

Have you ever wanted to go back in time? Well, now is your chance! Every fall in Kansas City, The Kansas City Renaissance Festival allows you to step back into Medieval times. Visit Kansas City Kansas sent me to the festival on opening weekend and I was blown away! There is truly something there for everyone - wax hands and man-powered rides for children, whiskey and bourbon tasting for adults, and even a romantic date option for medieval couples! 

Winter in the Midwest can be a mixed bag of surprises. The old saying about Kansas is that if you don’t like the weather just wait five minutes and it will change. While it may not be that drastic, we can experience a wide variety of temperatures in one week. After a couple of months of these fluctuations, we were ready for a break, but wanted to stay close to the hometown. No problem with that, since there are plenty of places to escape to right here in Kansas City, Kansas.