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What changes in KC when the drinking slows

At least six Kansas City area breweries have closed since early last year, and owners say the bigger loss is the gathering space.

News

Kansas City has lost several breweries, bars and pubs in recent years, leaving fewer places for socialization. Why it matters: Americans are drinking less for good reasons, but bars and taprooms do more than just pour booze — they provide places to gather without a plan.

What Kansas City gets in the Royals stadium deal

City council approved agreements on community benefits, construction and financing.

The Royals&#x27; downtown stadium is another step closer after City Council on Thursday approved a package of agreements on community benefits, construction and financing. Why it matters: Public documents shed light on what the Royals are promising the city, including funds to address homelessness and benefit public art.

Rural Kansas is turning majority-minority early

The U.S. won't become majority-minority until 2046, but four rural Kansas counties and Wyandotte County are already there.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Census data" data-vars-click-url="https://ipsr.unit2.ku.edu/ksdata/ksah/population/2pop29.pdf" data-vars-content-id="d68a86e0-3cfc-4b0a-a45b-220b4010d145" data-vars-headline="Rural Kansas is turning majority-minority early" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ipsr.unit2.ku.edu/ksdata/ksah/population/2pop29.pdf" target="_blank">Census data</a> shows a majority-minority U.S. population is decades away, but four Kansas counties and the metro&#x27;s Wyandotte County have already crossed that line. The big picture: The shift is reshaping the state, from meatpacking towns in southwest Kansas to the metro&#x27;s urban core, part of the nationwide rural trend identified in an <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios analysis." data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/14/majority-minority-rural-america-black-latino" data-vars-content-id="d68a86e0-3cfc-4b0a-a45b-220b4010d145" data-vars-headline="Rural Kansas is turning majority-minority early" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/08/14/majority-minority-rural-america-black-latino" target="_self">Axios analysis.</a>

KC's last 8pm sunset is days away

Most of the country has already lost its late sunsets, but the KC metro has until Aug. 23 to 25 depending on your county.

Most Americans have already seen their final 8pm sunset of the year, but Kansas City still has about a week of late light left.The big picture: We lose a little more light every day as the Earth&#x27;s Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun until Dec. 21, the shortest day of the year.<ul><li>The farther west within a time zone you live, the later your sunsets typically run, and KC sits in the western stretch of the Central time zone.</li></ul>

Two festivals, one very full weekend of eating

The 47th Ethnic Enrichment Festival runs Friday through Sunday, and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum's hot dog festival takes over Saturday night.

More than 40,000 people are expected to eat their way through Swope Park this weekend, and thousands more will do the same on the WWI Museum lawn Saturday night.Why it matters: Two major food events land on the same weekend, one a three-day showcase of 42 countries and the other a celebration of hot dogs.

Where the 816 came from and how to celebrate it

Kansas City throws free block parties Sunday for an area code that reaches 13 Missouri counties.

Things to Do

Kansas City is celebrating its area code Sunday with district block parties around town. Why it matters: It&#x27;s a free excuse to rep your hometown pride, although the number itself extends well beyond the city proper.

You're never too old for Fritz's Railroad Restaurant

Anyone who grew up in KC will likely have fond memories of the trains, hats and shakes.

Food and Drink

Ask anyone who grew up in KC, and they&#x27;ll likely have fond memories of the trains, hats and shakes at <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Fritz&#x27;s Railroad Restaurant" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fritzskc.com/" data-vars-content-id="e5821faa-6ef3-4815-8ccf-28ebcac9d8cb" data-vars-headline="You&#x27;re never too old for Fritz&#x27;s Railroad Restaurant" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fritzskc.com/" target="_blank">Fritz&#x27;s Railroad Restaurant</a>. Why it matters: Fritz&#x27;s has been around <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="since the &#x27;50s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fritzskc.com/fritzs-kc-history/" data-vars-content-id="e5821faa-6ef3-4815-8ccf-28ebcac9d8cb" data-vars-headline="You&#x27;re never too old for Fritz&#x27;s Railroad Restaurant" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fritzskc.com/fritzs-kc-history/" target="_blank">since the &#x27;50s</a>, but I had never visited — until now.

5 KC record stores worth digging through

From a Westport shop in a former antique mall to a south KC storefront that started in a backyard shed, here's where to buy vinyl across the metro.

Music

KC vinyl hunters are spoiled for choice, whether that means a cavernous Westport shop or a south KC storefront that started in the owner&#x27;s backyard shed. Wednesday&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Vinyl Record Day" data-vars-click-url="https://nationaldaycalendar.com/celebrations/national-vinyl-record-day-august-12" data-vars-content-id="bdd477f9-aefa-465c-a85e-014dc827aef2" data-vars-headline="5 KC record stores worth digging through" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nationaldaycalendar.com/celebrations/national-vinyl-record-day-august-12" target="_blank">National Vinyl Record Day</a> is reason enough to hit one.Why it matters: Independent shops took more than 4 in 10 U.S. vinyl sales last year, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Luminate reported" data-vars-click-url="https://www.billboard.com/pro/luminate-2025-year-end-music-report-taylor-swift-showgirl/" data-vars-content-id="bdd477f9-aefa-465c-a85e-014dc827aef2" data-vars-headline="5 KC record stores worth digging through" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.billboard.com/pro/luminate-2025-year-end-music-report-taylor-swift-showgirl/" target="_blank">Luminate reported</a>, and nearly every store below is locally owned.

25 years of First Fridays in the Crossroads

Here's the history behind Kansas City's biggest monthly event.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="First Fridays," data-vars-click-url="https://kccrossroads.org/visit/?activation-area=first-friday" data-vars-content-id="c4921d39-be4b-4614-aaf6-dcefccbf08fb" data-vars-headline="25 years of First Fridays in the Crossroads" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://kccrossroads.org/visit/?activation-area=first-friday" target="_blank">First Fridays,</a> which began 25 years ago as a small art event in a half-empty warehouse district, returns Friday night as the anchor of the Crossroads economy.Why it matters: The free gallery walk turns the Crossroads into Kansas City&#x27;s biggest monthly gathering, built from a handful of galleries on Baltimore Avenue.

Our recs: National Climb A Mountain Day

You don't need to go west to experience rugged terrain and rolling vistas.

It&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="National Climb A Mountain Day" data-vars-click-url="https://nationaldaycalendar.com/celebrations/national-climb-a-mountain-day-july-30" data-vars-content-id="8b38b645-bfc4-4bf0-a4cb-76a8d98cd3fc" data-vars-headline="Our recs: National Climb A Mountain Day" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://nationaldaycalendar.com/celebrations/national-climb-a-mountain-day-july-30" target="_blank">National Climb A Mountain Day</a>, and you don&#x27;t need to go west to experience rugged terrain and rolling vistas.The big picture: Whether you want a different (less crowded) idea for a mountain getaway or just want to stay a little closer to home, we have recommendations for an East Coast hike and one right here in Missouri.

Where to go solo dining in Kansas City

Reservations for one jumped 23% over the past year.

Solo dining is having a moment, with reservations for one jumping 23% over the past year, booking app OpenTable says. Why it matters: That growth may look like another sign of America&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="loneliness" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/05/30/americans-eating-along-happiness-report" data-vars-content-id="6767783f-fdab-46cd-a8cf-81eb4e4902d4" data-vars-headline="Where to go solo dining in Kansas City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-francisco/2025/05/30/americans-eating-along-happiness-report" target="_self">loneliness</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="epidemic" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/03/surgeon-general-vivek-murthy-fights-loneliness" data-vars-content-id="6767783f-fdab-46cd-a8cf-81eb4e4902d4" data-vars-headline="Where to go solo dining in Kansas City" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/03/surgeon-general-vivek-murthy-fights-loneliness" target="_self">epidemic</a>. But many solo diners say eating alone offers a rare chance to slow down, reflect and savor the small stuff.

KC pickleball fest returns with record registrations

The three-day PickleCon at the Kansas City Convention Center kicks off Friday.

A massive pickleball event unique to Kansas City is happening this weekend, entering its third year with more registrations than ever before.The big picture: Pickleball is still the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fastest-growing" data-vars-click-url="https://sfia.org/research/u-s-pickleball-participation/" data-vars-content-id="148125aa-c4ef-452d-a15a-814566b7c714" data-vars-headline="KC pickleball fest returns with record registrations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sfia.org/research/u-s-pickleball-participation/" target="_blank">fastest-growing</a> sport in the nation despite a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nationwide cooldown" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/06/01/pickleball-surge-petering-out-nationwide" data-vars-content-id="148125aa-c4ef-452d-a15a-814566b7c714" data-vars-headline="KC pickleball fest returns with record registrations" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2026/06/01/pickleball-surge-petering-out-nationwide" target="_self">nationwide cooldown</a> on new court construction — and tournament play is heating up in KC.

Kansas Citians' odyssey to see "The Odyssey"

Just 26 theaters in the U.S. are projecting the movie in IMAX 70mm.

Kansas Citians are roughly 500 miles away from the closest movie theater that projects &quot;The Odyssey&quot; in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="IMAX 70mm" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/17/odyssey-imax-christopher-nolan" data-vars-content-id="b3b93565-0956-45f6-bb3b-66b83bdb2913" data-vars-headline="Kansas Citians&#x27; odyssey to see &quot;The Odyssey&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/07/17/odyssey-imax-christopher-nolan" target="_self">IMAX 70mm</a>.Why it matters: Movie fans hoping to experience the film exactly as director <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Christopher Nolan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/07/15/christopher-nolan-movies-ranked" data-vars-content-id="b3b93565-0956-45f6-bb3b-66b83bdb2913" data-vars-headline="Kansas Citians&#x27; odyssey to see &quot;The Odyssey&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/cleveland/2026/07/15/christopher-nolan-movies-ranked" target="_self">Christopher Nolan</a> intended might have to embark on an odyssey of their own.

Your guide to KC Fringe Fest

Any artist who signs up gets a stage, which makes the annual festival KC's wildest grab bag of live performances.

The 22nd <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="KC Fringe Festival" data-vars-click-url="https://kcfringe.org/" data-vars-content-id="a110a9ba-13a1-4aca-a45b-1e4e8df48e1d" data-vars-headline="Your guide to KC Fringe Fest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://kcfringe.org/" target="_blank">KC Fringe Festival</a> kicks off Thursday with 11 days of theater, comedy, dance and burlesque, where no show gets curated, vetted or censored.Why it matters: Any artist who signs up gets a stage, which makes the annual festival KC&#x27;s wildest grab bag of live performances.<ul><li>This year&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="lineup" data-vars-click-url="https://kcfringe.org/shows/" data-vars-content-id="a110a9ba-13a1-4aca-a45b-1e4e8df48e1d" data-vars-headline="Your guide to KC Fringe Fest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://kcfringe.org/shows/" target="_blank">lineup</a> spans puppetry, Indian classical dance, circus, improv and titles like &quot;American Raccoon&quot; and &quot;Cancer?! I Hardly Know Her!&quot;</li></ul>

Things to Do 🗓

Two festivals, one very full weekend of eating

Where the 816 came from and how to celebrate it

You're never too old for Fritz's Railroad Restaurant

5 KC record stores worth digging through

25 years of First Fridays in the Crossroads