Take off this summer in a hot air balloon with Kansas City AeroSports. Brush the tree tops or fly several thousand feet in the air for the most beautiful view of Kansas City. Kansas City AeroSports staffers are commercially licensed balloon pilots. Flights are scheduled seven days a week, depending on the weather, at sunrise or just before sunset, now through the fall. (913) 649-2359, kcballoon.com.
2. Dine Outdoors
If you can take the heat, get out of the kitchen and wine and dine al fresco at these local restaurants with patios perfect for people watching and sun-soaking: Sullivan’s, Gaslight Grill, Jasper’s, Yia-Yia’s, NoRTH, Trolley’s, J.P. Wine Bar and Cactus Grill. Patio Wednesdays at Mission Farms, 10561 Mission Rd., begin May 6 and continue every Wednesday throughout the summer. Blanc Burgers = Bottles, Blue Koi, Room 39 and Zest will be having $5 martinis and other appetizer and drink specials. Visit 435southmag.com and search our dining guide for location information and more restaurants with outdoor seating.
3. Tee Time
Tee up this summer at one of the many local private or public golf courses. From Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate (14225 Dearborn St.) to Loch Loyd (16750 S. Country Club Dr.) and IronHorse Golf Club, 15400 Mission Rd., south Kansas City and Johnson County touts premier 18-hole courses with beautiful landscaping and clubhouses with drinking and dining for playing out the 19th hole.
4. KC Fringe Festival
The fifth annual KC Fringe Festival will grow from seven to eight days this summer, giving performance and visual art enthusiasts an extra night of live theater, dance, performance art, visual art, spoken word, puppetry, storytelling, film and fashion. Held July 19 through 26, the free festival celebrates local, regional and national artists, presenting events at venues throughout Kansas City. (816) 516-4750, kcfringe.org.
5. Powell Gardens
In June, Powell Gardens opens the Heartland Harvest Garden. The 12-acre garden is the nation’s largest edible landscape, illustrating to visitors the journey of food from seed to plate and celebrating the pleasures of eating well. Also, kick off Independence Day weekend with Powell Gardens’ annual Booms & Blooms Festival on July 3 with a daylily sale, food, fireworks and music. 1609 N.W. U.S. Highway 50, Kingsville, Mo., (816) 697-2600, powellgardens.org.
6. Flower Market
Every Thursday starting June 7th and continuing through September, Barkley Square in Park Place will be filled with fresh cut flowers for sale. Flower Market hosts Rosehill Gardens offering gardening tips and various gardening classes for children and adults. At 10:30 a.m. of each session, The Learning Tree will also host story time, usually choosing a theme that goes with the children’s gardening class. 11565 Ash St., (913) 663-2070, destinationparkplace.com.
7. Heart of America Shakespeare Festival
The short and the long of it is after three years of historic and tragic plays, the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival decided to funny-up its annual fete, presenting how-for-art-thou fans with a comedy. In its 17th season, the free festival, held at Southmoreland Park, presents The Merry Wives of Windsor June 16 through July 5. Reserve seats or bring your own chairs and blankets from home. Same goes for dining— purchase food provided by Brio or pack your own snacks. 47th & Oak St., Kansas City, Mo., (816) 531-7728, kcshakes.org
8. First Fridays
The first Friday of every month, from 7 to 9p.m., the Crossroads Arts District comes alive with art, gallery openings, exhibits and performers. Though the event is held year-round, summer’s warm evening air makes it a perfect time to wander from gallery to gallery. The heart of the Crossroads Arts District lies along 20th St. and Baltimore, Kansas City, Mo., kccrossroads.org.
9. All That Jazz
Paint the town August 29 with All That Jazz, a roarin’ fundraiser event for the Health Partnership Clinic. Emcee Brian Busby and featured performers the Wild Women of Kansas City promise a shimmy-shakin’ good time. Held at the Sheraton Overland Park, the event starts at 6 p.m. with a cocktail hour followed by dinner and dancing. 6100 College Blvd. For more information contact Lauren Davis, (913) 433-7588 or ldavis@hpcjc.org.
10. Free Friday Night Flicks
Watch a movie under the stars at Crown Center Square. Bring your own blanket and lawn chairs and enjoy The Sandlot July 3, Men in Black July 10, The Karate Kid July 17, Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb July 24, Mamma Mia July 31, The Wizard of Oz Aug. 7, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Aug. 14—all on Crown Center’s huge outdoor screen and all for free. 2450 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo., (816) 274-8444, crowncenter.com.
11. Jazzoo 2009
For the real party animal, Jazzoo 2009, a creative black-tie gala held at the Kansas City Zoo, celebrates its 100th anniversary on June 5. Eat at 80 of the area’s finest restaurants and drink at 13 bars in one night. Dance under the stars and next to the monkey cage with live bands stationed throughout the zoo. The event raises funds to support a special diet for more than 1,000 zoo animals and also supports the Zoo Learning Fund. 6800 Zoo Dr., Kansas City, Mo., (816) 513-5800, jazzookc.org.
12. Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
Hike along the Overland Park Arboretum’s winding trails or visit its spring plant sale May 8 and 9. On June 27, the arboretum blossoms for its second annual Stems: A Garden Soiree, offering 15 entertainment stations with wine, music, dance and art. Money raised from the event will benefit the Arts and Recreation Foundation of Overland Park. 8909 W. 179th St., (913) 685-3604, opkansas.org.
13. Deanna Rose Farmstead
The perfect day getaway, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead is a 12-acre park with almost 200 farm animals and birds of prey, vegetable and flower gardens, a one-room country schoolhouse, a dairy barn, an old-time fishing pond and horse-drawn wagon and pony rides. This spring, the farmstead welcomes several new baby animals including chicks, piglets, calves and more than 40 goats. 13800 Switzer Rd., (913) 897-2360, opkansas.org.
14. New at the Zoo
The Kansas City Zoo opens the Tropics, an indoor rainforest holding plants and animals from South America, Asia and Africa, in the newly renovated 1909 building. Visitors will monkey around with primates while meandering through pathways lined with exotic plants, waterfalls and colorful murals. In the Asia exhibit, walk across a glass-enclosed bridge where small-clawed otters swim beneath your feet and monkeys can swing overhead. 6800 Zoo Dr. Kansas City, Mo., (816) 513-5700, kansascityzoo.org.
15. Sidewalk Sales
Why waste valuable sun time shopping indoors? The stretch of 119th between Roe and Nall, coined the Rodeo Drive of Leawood, offers premier outdoor shopping destinations Park Place, One Nineteen, Town Center Plaza and Hawthorne Plaza. Heading north, hit up Mission Farms (10561 Mission Rd.) the Country Club Plaza and Briarcliff Village (4133 N. Mulberry Dr., Kansas City, Mo.) Don’t forget about sunning and shoe shopping with summer sidewalk sales at Briarcliff Village June 11 through 14, Hawthorne Plaza June 18 through 21, Mission Farms June 25 through 27, Town Center June 26 through 28 and One Nineteen July 10 through 12.
16. Pooch Park
Don’t let the dog days of summer put Fido in a funk. Let him stretch his legs leash free at one of Johnson County’s off-leash dog parks: Heritage Park (16050 Pflumm),Thomas S. Stoll Memorial Dog Park (12500 W. 119th St.) and Shawnee Mission Park (7900 Renner Rd.). jcprd.com.
17. The Circus is Coming
The Performing Arts Series at Johnson County Community College will bring the fun of an outdoor big top to Sar-ko-par Trails Park with Zoppé, a traditional one-ring European circus on May 15 and 16. A legacy to the 1840-to-1940 circus glory, Zoppé entertains audiences with daring acrobatics and trapeze acts, equestrian showmanship, canine capers, clowns, non-exotic animals and lots of audience participation. 87th St. and Lackman Road, (913) 469-4445, www.jccc.edu/TheSeries.
18. West 18th Street Fashion Show
The West 18th Street Fashion Show showcases the collections of a select group of designers including Overland Park’s own Jovana Mirabile. Held at dusk on Saturday, June 6, this year’s show is themed “Summer in Space.” The free outdoor event is held on the block of W. 18th Street between Wyandotte and Baltimore in Kansas City, Mo. westeighteenthstreet.com.
19. A Taste of Leawood
A Taste of Leawood brings together the Leawood community for a casual evening of culinary splendor along with wine and spirits under the stars. On June 13, patrons will enjoy music from Souled Out while choosing tantalizing selections from 22 new and traditional area restaurants all at one location. 4800 Town Center Drive, ( 913) 498-1514, leawoodchamber.org.
20. Great Lenexa BBQ
On June 26 and 27, cookers from all over the country will compete for the coveted title of Grand Champion of the Great Lenexa Barbeque Battle, Kansas State Champion. Held at Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park, the two-day event includes children’s activities, live music and, of course, lots of barbeque. 87th Street and Lackman Road, lenexa.ks.us/parks/bbq.html.
21. The Theatre in the Park
The Theatre in the Park coins its 40th anniversary season “Hooray for Hollywood,” selecting productions that first premiered on the silver screen before coming to the stage. The family-friendly summer lineup kicks off with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers June 12 through 14 and June 18 through 21, followed by Disney’s High School Musical, The Wedding Singer and finally, The Wizard of Oz. The Theatre in the Park’s 40th Anniversary Backstage Bash and Benefit will be held on June 5. 17501 Midland Drive, (913) 312-8841, theatreinthepark.org.
22. Farmers Market
Support local farmers at the Overland Park Famers Market in downtown Overland Park. The open-air market, open Wednedsday at 7:30 a.m. and Saturday at 6:30 a.m., offers produce, flowers, specialty foods and family entertainment as part of the Clock Tower Series. On the sidewalks near the clock tower, patrons can purchase fresh pies, gourmet pasta, locally baked bread and other specialty food items. Located off Marty Street between 79th and 80th Streets, downtownop.org.
23. Starlight Theatre
Elle and Bruiser Woods visit Starlight Theatre in Legally Blonde the Musical June 30 through July 5. Starlight also brings three other nationally touring Broadway musicals and one locally produced classical musical to the stage as it presents Anything Goes, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Chicago and Mamma Mia!. It also expects to book as many as 20 concert dates. 4600 Starlight Rd., Kansas City, Mo., (816) 363-STAR, kcstarlight.com.
24. Gelato
Get a sweet taste of northern Italy right here in Leawood. Paciugo at Park Place offers authentic Italian gelato made from quality ingredients and by traditional gelato-making methods. From tiramisu to amarena black cherry swirl, try more than 200 of its made-daily recipes. With outdoor seating options, grab a scoop or two and sit outside the gelateria or walk around Park Place. 5260 W. 116th Place, (913) 602-8767, paciugo.com.
25. Kansas City T-Bones
In their seventh season, the Kansas City T-Bones are the defending Northern League Champions after winning the title in 2008. With free parking, $1 hot dogs and tickets starting at just $6, take the whole family out to the ballgame. 1800 Village West Parkway, (913) 328-5618, tbonesbaseball.com.
26. Jazz in the Woods
Kansas City’s largest free music festival, Jazz in the Woods, celebrates 20 years of music, fun and philanthropy during its three-day concert series at Corporate Woods. June 12 and 13, enjoy free live music from featured bands and artists. June 15, Jazz in the Woods goes country for a specially themed Country in the Woods. Get up and dance or bring blankets and lawn chairs for sitting on the grass. Beneficiaries from his year’s event include Marillac, The Lee Ann Britain Infant Development Center, the Fox 4 Love Fund and the Overland Park South Rotary Foundation. 9444 Indian Creek Parkway, (913) 681-2329, jazzinthewoods.com.