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A R T S + C U LT U R E

BALLET NO RTH HA S BEEN BRI N GI NG TH E NUTCRACKER TO SCH O O LCH I LDREN FO R 35 YE ARS F O O D + B E V E R AG E

TH IS SE A SO NAL CO CK TAIL WITH LO CAL BRAN DY WI LL KEEP YOU WARM ALL WI NTER LO NG

Wrap Up the Northland: Our favorite locallysourced gifts to give this holiday season

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December 2022 PUBLISHER

LIFESTYLE LETTER

A jam-packed holiday season The holiday season is fully upon us! Or as I like to call it, "Let's circle back after the holidays" season. It truly is a busy time of year! There are so many fun things to do in the Northland and all over Kansas City. Speaking of busy, if you're short on time but want to support local, just flip right to our locally-sourced gift guide. It's jam-packed with places to shop locally, whether you're shopping for that hard-to-buy-for person or a brandnew acquaintance. I think there's something for everyone on that list (especially if you're buying for me — in case my husband is reading this!). As for more things locally-sourced, one of our food writers, Tyler Shane, brings us a couple of cocktail recipes using apple brandy from Of The Earth Farm and Distillery in Richmond that I recently heard a few friends raving about. I love a good seasonal cocktail, and can't wait to whip this one up myself! I also stopped into a rehearsal for The Nutcracker at Ballet North in Gladstone. I'd been looking for a local performance of The Nutcracker, but what I found was so much more — a husband and wife team that has been bringing a beautiful ballet performance to Northland schools since 1987! They do the performance solely because they're passionate about bringing ballet to kids who may never see it otherwise, and because they love the art so much that they want to keep it alive. It's a deep investment in community with such heart. Lastly, I'm especially excited about the holiday-themed photo gallery that is actually brought to you by local Northland high schoolers! In our August issue, we profiled a few students from the Northland CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies) program. CAPS works with local businesses to provide projects and internships to Northland high schoolers in the program, and so I pitched the idea of having some students work on a story for our magazine, and that's how we got our "Oh What Fun!" piece. The students, Lanna Albright, Leah Albright, Abigail Kitchen, Ilima Ludwick, and Martin Still, pitched, organized, executed, and edited everything in the photo gallery and it was so fun to work with them. Special thanks to Belvoir Winery & Inn for letting us use their grounds for the shoot. We hope you enjoy our magazine this month, filled with seasonal goodness from cover to cover. And we hope you have a lovely holiday. We'll see you in 2023! K AT I E C U R R I D, E D I TO R @NORTHLANDCITYLIFESTYLE

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Lanna Albright, Leah Albright, Katie Currid, Abigail Kitchen, Ilima Ludwick, Tyler Shane, and Martin Still

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Learn how to start your own publication at: citylifestyle.com//franchise Proverbs 3:5-6 Northland City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Northland area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Northland City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but

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DECEMBER 2022

inside the issue The Holiday & Giving Issue

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

14 Locally-Sourced Holiday Gifts

Lifestyle Letter

City Scene

Business Monthly

Local Experiences

Gift Guide

Trend Setter

Back Stage

Culinary Creations

Inspired By

Chef ’s Selection

Events

Check off everyone on your holiday shopping list without leaving the Northland

18 Oh What Fun!

Holiday magic is all over the Northland

26 A Visit from the Sugarplum Fairy

Ballet North has been sharing their love of ballet with Northland schoolchildren for over 30 years

32 Apple of My Eye

Try these wintery cocktails using locally-sourced brandy

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: Katie Currid Making Christmas cookies

S HO PPI NG LI FE + C U LT U R E

A RTS + C U LT U R E FO O D + B E V E R AG E

LI FE + C U LT U R E FO O D + B EV E R AG E

DECEMBER 2022

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen. 1

7 5

1: Students paint pumpkins during a fall party at Orange Easel in Liberty. 2: Lorena M. shows off her pumpkin during a fall party at Orange Easel in Liberty. 3: Orange Easel instructor Miss Liz and husband Matt show off their Halloween costumes. 4:Students carve pumpkins during a fall party at Orange Easel in Liberty. 5: Corrine R. and her grandmother show their decorated pumpkins at Orange Easel in Platte Woods. 6: Aiden M. shows off his pumpkin during a fall party at Orange Easel in Liberty. 7: Elsa Z. shows off her pumpkin at Orange Easel in Platte Woods. Photography courtesy of Orange Easel

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Committed to Excellence for 75 years! For over 75 years, Oakhill Day School has provided the Kansas City Northland with student-first academic offerings that fit every family's needs. Experience firsthand the variety of options that Oakhill can provide for your family. Whether you need an early childhood program for your child's first years of school, well-rounded K-8 academics, or flexibility for your busy high school student, we will help you find YOUR perfect fit.

Academics from infancy to adulthood On-site learning & social-emotional support for students Dedicated teaching staff A close-knit community with a family feel

Extraordinary Care Leads to $3 Million Gift to NKCH North Kansas City Hospital announces it has received a $3 million legacy gift from the estate of Nancy Ruth Botham of Liberty, MO. This transformational gift is the largest in the organization’s 64-year history. Botham had a great appreciation for the care she received at NKCH and Meritas Health throughout her lifetime, including lifesaving neurosurgery. She made the gift in honor of the physicians, nurses and staff who cared for her through the years. Photo courtesy of NKCH

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Tour one or both of our campuses located in the heart of Gladstone, Missouri. Learn more at oakhilldayschool.org/admissions | 816.436.6228 Oakhill Day School will seek diversity in its student body and welcome enrollment by students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, gender or sexual orientation, and any other characteristic protected under applicable law. It prohibits unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation on the basis of any protected category under applicable federal, state or local laws or ordinances, including but not limited to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII), Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), specifically, but not limited to, discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of sexual orientation, gender or sex, race or ethnicity, ethnic group identification, ancestry, nationality, national origin, religion, color, mental or physical disability, age, or on the basis of a person’s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics in Oakhill Day School’s educational programs or activities.

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Kearney Softball Takes State Title The Kearney High School varsity softball team came home as the

2022 champions after the state tournament in Springfield, Mo. The first game was against Warrenton on Thursday. The Bulldogs fought hard the whole game and came out on top, 6-3. “This team worked hard and played with real grit all season,” Head Coach Kately Birchfield said. “They’re a great example of what you can achieve when you focus and play as a team." Photo courtesy of Kearney School District

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Book with us and get Park U. Student Takes Second at International Piano Competition Sergey Belyavsky, a graduate student in the Park University International Center for Music, was named as the second prize winner at the Geneva International Music Competition in Geneva, Switzerland. Belyavsky, who performed Sergei Prokofiev’s “Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26” won 12,000 Swiss francs. Belyavsky is the most recent of a long line of successful Park ICM students who have fared well in international piano competitions. Photo courtesy of Park University

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DECEMBER 2022

local experiences The best places and things to do in our area.

Experience the tastes, sounds and sights of what our area has to offer this season. We curated a list of ways to celebrate the holidays and usher in the new year in our city. Enjoy!

Photo by Nicole Bissey

Winter Celebrations VIGNETTES: Vignettes turns into the Mean Girls-themed Fetch Bar on 11/18 until 1/7. Remember, on Wednesdays, they wear pink! 2376 Armour Rd, North Kansas City, MO ZONA R OSA: The Northland's seasonal ice rink is back at Zona Rosa this winter season! Skate now until the end of January. 8640 North Dixson Avenue Kansas City, MO 9 TH & STATE: The Vignettes team is bringing those on the naughty list their own pop-up bar — Krampus Bar in the West Bottoms at 9th & State. 1717 W 9th St, Kansas City, MO LINE CR EEK COMMUNITY CENTER & ICE AR ENA: Want to go ice skating but not necessarily brave the cold? The Line Creek Ice Arena is the perfect winter activity without the winter weather! 5940 NW Waukomis Drive, Kansas City, MO LANE OF LIGHTS: Let the spirit of Christmas take you away at the Lane of Lights in Excelsior Springs. Lovers Lane, Excelsior Springs, MO

Zona Rosa

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LOCA L E X P E R IE N C E S

ARTICLE BY KATIE CURRID | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

Locally-Sourced Holiday Gifts CHECK OFF EVERYONE ON YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING LIST WITHOUT LEAVING THE NORTHLAND EXPERIENCE GIFTS We love holiday shopping, and we love doing it even more at locally-owned businesses. But while it’s fun wrapping up gifts in perfect paper, sometimes it’s hard to find something physical for the person who has everything, or for the minimalist in your life. Cue the experience gift — a gift of something to do! This can be a certificate to their favorite restaurant, a gift card to fuel their mornings at a local coffee shop — or some of these ideas we’ve put together.

While dinner and a movie are fun, sometimes it’s nice to shake it up with a gift card for something a little different. We love the WoodChux axe-throwing bar in Excelsior Springs.

Call us nerds, but we love going to the car wash, and we especially love the BetterWash. You can buy a month (or more!) of unlimited washes for the folks on your list.

Got some kids with energy to burn? Above All Trampoline Park in Liberty is the perfect place as we head into winter — they have toddler times and areas for older kiddos, too.

We love treating the folks on our list to some major pampering with a gift certificate to The Spa at Briarcliff.

Add some nostalgia to your gift-giving with a night on the town at the Northland Rolladium Skate Center in Liberty.

T-Shotz is a fun night out as we head into winter, and is perfect for date night, friend night outs, or as a fun family activity.

G IF T GU ID E | SHOPPIN G

Foodie Gifts Got a foodie on your list? We love giving consumables to the people in our lives — they’re perfect for people who seem like they have everything, and they’re also great for someone who you may not know very well but still want to get something for, like a coworker. Here are some of our favorite local places with yummy treats to give for the holidays.

Green Dirt Farm in Weston makes such delicious cheese that can be beautifully boxed for a gift, but they also have a great assortment of food in their shop, like mutton sausages, chocolate, and honey.

Nothing says love like a juicy steak, and we love shopping at Upper Cut butcher shop in Liberty! They raise all of their own beef and they’re the only people in Missouri that raise and sell the exquisite Akaushi! They’ve got delicious pork, chicken, bison, seafood, and more. You can walk in, order online, have it shipped, or even deliver it to your door.

If you have a charcuterie enthusiast on your list, Blush Farms Cork & Board is the perfect place to shop for special treats for a cheese board, or you can have them make one for you to gift!

The Whiskey Snug is an almost-hidden gem in the back of the Celtic Ranch in Weston, and it’s both a bar and a one-stop shop for all things whiskey.

There is no shortage of places to shop for wine made locally in the Northland, and we especially love Fence Stile, Jowler Creek, Van Till, Ladoga Ridge and Pirtle Winery.

Whether you’ve got kids on your list or adults with a sweet tooth, the Candy Jar in Weston is a nostalgia-filled sweet shop that we can’t resist. CONTINUED > D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/NO RT HL A N D

Local Gifts Whether you’re someone who loves to shop for the perfect gift for that special someone or someone who gets overwhelmed with anxiety trying to get something that’s just right, we’ve got you covered. Here are some of our favorite local businesses to shop at for holiday gifts.

Cactus Creek in Weston has a perfectly curated assortment of boho clothing, vintage home goods, and unique gifts, but we especially love their beautiful sari blankets.

For something especially thoughtful, you can get something sentimental framed at Art & Frame Kansas City, or pick up some of the local art in their shop.

You can find brand-new toys or vintage sets for the Lego fan (adult or kid!) in your life at The Sorted Brick in Riverside.

Lemonality in Liberty is the cutest paper & gift store — it’s a great place to find the perfect something!

Maybe you like something that’s not brand new — The Brownstone at Zona Rosa has great vintage goods that will truly make for a one-of-a-kind gift.

Twill boutique in Parkville has some incredibly cute stuff — you’ll be lucky if you can leave there without something for yourself, too!

G IF T GU ID E | SHOPPIN G

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OH WHAT FUN! ARTICLE BY KATIE CURRID PHOTOGRAPHY BY LANNA ALBRIGHT, LEAH ALBRIGHT, ABIGAIL KITCHEN, ILIMA LUDWICK AND MARTIN STILL

HOLIDAY MAGIC IS ALL OVER THE NORTHLAND

T R E N D SE T T E R | L IFE + C ULTURE

There’s nothing like the holidays, and we love celebrating our favorite time of year in the Northland. Whether you’re shopping for loved ones under the lighted crowns at Zona Rosa, walking the beautiful lawn of Belvoir Winery & Inn in Liberty, gathering with your community at a tree lighting ceremony, taking in the CONTINUED >

Martin Still and Ilima Ludwick. Photo by Abigail Kitchen

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Photo by Abigail Kitchen Abigail Kitchen. Photo by Ilima Ludwick

magic at Lane of Lights in Excelsior Springs, snuggled in your car at the Liberty Light Show, taking a brisk wintry stroll through the woods at Parkville Nature Sanctuary or enjoying a cozy peppermint mocha in downtown Parkville with a friend, we hope you’re finding holiday magic wherever you are.

T R E N D SE T T E R | L IFE + C ULTURE

Photo by Abigail Kitchen Photo by Martin Still

Leah and Lanna Albright. Photo by Abigail Kitchen

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Lanna Albright and Abigail Kitchen. Photo by Ilima Ludwick Lanna Albright, Grace Greenlee, Leah Albright and Martin Still. Photo by Abigail Kitchen

T R E N D SE T T E R | L IFE + C ULTURE

Photo by Leah Albright

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Abigail Kitchen, Martin Still Ilima Ludwick, Leah Albright and Lanna Albright. Photo by Katie Currid

T R E N D SE T T E R | L IFE + C ULTURE

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A Visit from the Sugarplum Fairy ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE CURRID

Ballet North has been sharing their love of ballet with Northland schoolchildren for over 30 years

B ACK STAGE | ARTS + CULTURE

If you ask the average American about the last time they went to the theater to see a ballet, they may have to think for a while before they answer. According to Matthew Reinschmidt, who co-owns ballet school Ballet North in Gladstone with his wife, Laura, most Americans just don’t think to take their families to the ballet anymore. Matthew worries about the longevity of the art of ballet in American culture. You can re-watch a movie from home, or listen to an orchestra on your home speakers, or even sing along to a Broadway musical on Spotify, but you can’t just watch a ballet on demand. And most parents don’t think to take their children to classical performances like ballet, meaning many children are not exposed to the art and therefore may never see a performance in person. “Back in the day, the theater was the TV and Netflix and Roku,” says Matthew. “You had to go to the theater to see anything. And that’s a lot different nowadays. It’s hard to get into ballet unless you go to a theater.” This is why Matthew and Laura have had their students at Ballet North perform the Nutcracker at elementary schools all over the Northland for 35 years. Ballet North has been taking the Nutcracker on the road since 1987 (with the sole exception of 2020) — a massive undertaking with stagehands, lighting, set pieces, sound and expensive costumes — all for the sake of

educating children about an art he and his wife care so deeply about. “We bring it to their kids when they’re in an educational setting and we talk to them about it,” says Matthew of the school tour. “There’s some learning that goes along with it. What is it about? What is this ballet stuff trying to do? Then they get a good arts experience. That was the original goal — to get it in front of those who otherwise might not engage with it. That helps that art form stay current, relevant, known. We were trying to do something about that.” Currently, Ballet North gets support from The Missouri Arts Council and The Arts Council of Kansas City, the latter of which directly supports the school tour. Matthew says that when they started doing the tour back in the 80s, it was part of a more considerable effort all over America to re-introduce the art form to people to keep it alive. “For all of us that were in [the ballet world], we were really trying to do something about it,” says Matthew about the decline of interest in ballet. “There were efforts, mostly on the coasts, to go out to schools and show people what it is. I’ve never met an audience that didn’t like ballet. Everybody likes this stuff when they see it correctly.” Matthew knows firsthand about the stigma of ballet, as a man in an art form that is not seen in American culture as something as athletic and masculine as traditional sports. But Matthew,

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“It’s fun for everyone to do. And maybe that’s part of why it’s so successful. Everyone knows what they’re getting into. It’s kind of thrilling to go out there and make it good.”

built like a boulder and with a rockhard handshake, is nothing short of an athlete and hopes to inspire kids out there on Ballet North’s school tour to get interested in ballet with their Nutcracker performance. “They get the stereotypes so easily,” says Matthew of schoolchildren. “For me, personally, my biggest beef was for years and years and years was [the idea] that men don’t do ballet. I was like, are you nuts? Because this is wicked hard to do. I [could] outrun every person in my school.” The Nutcracker is one of those ubiquitous holiday traditions. Even a person who has very little interest in ballet

may go see a Nutcracker performance or at least listen to a recording of “The Dance of the Sugarplum Fairy” in December. When asked if ballet companies ever get tired of performing the Nutcracker year after year during the holiday season, Matthew likens the show to a rockstar playing their biggest hit every time they perform. “With ‘Nutcracker,’ there’s such a consciousness to the thing,” says Matthew. “I think if every ballet was like that, it wouldn’t be good. It’s fun for everyone to do. And maybe that’s part of why it’s so successful. Everyone knows what they’re getting into. It’s kind of thrilling to go out there and make it good.”

L E A R N M O R E : If you want to see Ballet North’s rendition of “The Nutcracker” this December, you can see a performance at their studio in Gladstone on Dec. 17th, with possible additional shows on Dec. 10th. You can reserve a spot to see the performance at balletnorth.com

B ACK STAGE | ARTS + CULTURE

Matthew Reinschmidt holds up Sophia Nguyen, playing Clara

Matthew and Laura’s ballet company takes “The Nutcracker” to six schools over the course of the holiday season. Their company starts practicing in September, and they mostly perform the second act (the first act of “The Nutcracker” features more acting, while the second act is more of the ballet). The show is 45 minutes long, and the company will perform two shows at each school, rotating the dancers into different roles so they aren’t wearing themselves out doing the same dance twice in a row. “When people see it done correctly and for real, they’re like, ‘That’s wonderful, that’s great stuff,’”

says Matthew. “We’re trying to fight off the wrong notions about it. And it’s continuing that. If you don’t try to keep it out there, show them what the art form actually is, [it can] perpetuate itself. You don’t see a ballet broadcast out there in digital media. You have to go to a theater to see it. Ballet, if you don’t catch it in the theater, you don’t catch it at all.” So Ballet North will make sure to bring ballet right to the kids. After all, it’s unlikely that Ballet North would have kept up their “Nutcracker” tradition for over three decades if both the ballet company and the audience didn’t love the performance.

CONTINUED >

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Chi Chi Anyanike as the Sugar Plum Fairy during rehearsal

Eva Miller performs the Spanish dance in the Nutcracker during rehearsal.

Edward Torres performs the Trepak in rehearsal

B ACK STAGE | ARTS + CULTURE

Gwen Cade, Abigayle Polner and Gemma Collins perform as clowns during The Nutcracker rehearsal.

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APPLE

of my eye

WE LOVE THIS LOCAL APPLE BRANDY SO MUCH THAT WE MADE NOT ONE, BUT TWO COCKTAILS WITH IT

Cheers to the holiday season with Of The Earth Farm Distillery’s signature product - their apple brandy. The distillery, based in the rolling hills of Richmond in northwest Missouri, picks the apples from their orchard and turns the forbidden fruit into a sweet, barrel-aged spirit. Both of the following cocktail recipes feature local products and are the perfect refreshments to get you in the holiday spirit.

C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | F OOD + BE VE RAGE

Spiced Apple Cocktail Yields: 2 cocktails Ingredients • • • • • •

1 C. Louisburg Cider Mill Apple Cider ½ c. Of The Earth’s Distillery Apple Brandy ½ c. ginger beer ½ tsp. ground cinnamon ½ tsp. pumpkin spice 2 cinnamon sticks for garnish

1. Chill two martini glasses several hours before serving. 2. In a shaker, combine the apple cider, apple brandy, ginger beer, cinnamon, and pumpkin spice. 3. Shake until thoroughly combined (10-15 seconds) 4. Pour the cocktail evenly between two chilled martini glasses. 5. Garnish with cinnamon sticks.

Wisconsin-Inspired Old Fashioned Yields: 1 cocktail Ingredients • • • • • • •

1 Maraschino cherry 1 orange slice 2 oz. Of The Earth Distillery’s Apple Brandy ½ oz. simple syrup 3 dashes of bitters ½ C. ice cubes 3 apples slices (thin) for garnish

1. In a shaker, muddle the cherry and orange slice. 2. Add the Apple Brandy, simple syrup, bitters, and ice cubes to the shaker. 3. With a long metal spoon, stir the cocktail mix in the shaker. 4. Pour the cocktail in a highball glass. 5. Garnish your drink by skewering the apples with a cocktail pick.

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY TYLER SHANE

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The City Lifestyle

Giving Campaign Now in its third year, the City Lifestyle Giving Campaign will give away $300,000 this holiday season to help individual community members who would benefit from a helping hand during their time of need. But they need YOUR HELP to make it happen! Maybe you know of a single parent struggling to provide, an elderly person who has experienced loss, a child enduring a health issue, a co-worker suffering a sudden, unexpected tragedy or a neighbor with a financial hardship who has fallen between the cracks of getting assistance. Chances are you know someone with a specific need—even if nobody else does. To preserve and protect the dignity of every recipient, the City Lifestyle Giving Campaign is completely confidential. No identities will be revealed or publicized in ANY way. (Even those who nominate others may remain anonymous if they choose.) Last year, City Lifestyle was able to give to more than 70 recipients all over the country by sending checks in the mail through New Year’s Eve. (This year, the goal is to double that number with checks ranging in amounts up to $3,000 each.) With nominations flooding in from community members and leaders such as judges, police officers, teachers, nurses, social workers, mentors and readers like you, we were able to reach people who might otherwise go unnoticed. “We believe in giving back and serving the communities where we live in a real and tangible way,” says Steven Schowengerdt, CEO and founder of City Lifestyle. “This Giving Campaign is all about personally impacting the lives of people we know with an unexpected check in the mail just to say that someone thought of them this holiday season.” Together with Matthew Perry, Chief Sales Officer, Steven adds that the outpouring and gratitude from the recipients was overwhelming and affirmed that this is a tradition they want to continue. “We believe God has blessed our company with continued success,” Matthew adds, “so we in turn want to be a blessing to others.” City Lifestyle has also enacted an internal giving program whereby every employee in the company receives $100 to give away to someone in the community. “The idea is to encourage our employees to keep doing it on their own,” Steven says. “Taking care of one another and blessing others is so rewarding that it perpetuates a cycle of giving. It’s extremely important to me as a person and as a company to foster that culture of generosity.”

I NSP IR E D BY | L IFE + CULTURE

“This Giving Campaign is all about personally impacting the lives of people we know with an unexpected check in the mail just to say that someone thought of them this holiday season.”

W here ha s t he c a mpa ig n g i f t e d?

Scan Code to

Nominate between Dec. 1 – 15, 2022

Follow @citylifestyle on Instagram for reminders! To submit a nomination, follow @citylifestyle on Instagram and fill out the form found in the bio link. All entries will be read, and because this is not a raffle, there is no need to nominate someone more than once. The amount given to each recipient will be based on need. D ECEMB ER 2 0 2 2 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM/NO RT HL A N D

C HE F ’S SE LE CT ION | FOOD + BE VE RAGE

ARTICLE BY CLAIRE ROBINSON | PHOTOGRAPHY JANIE JONES

Roasted Fig and Goat Cheese with Honey Figs are high in fiber which promotes cardiovascular health. Figs contain high levels of protein, vitamins and essential minerals and are rich in potassium, which plays an important role in regulating blood pressure. The calcium in figs is more easily digested than in other foods, so it is good for your bones and teeth as well.

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

• • • • • •

1. Preheat oven to 400ºF. 2. Melt the butter in a small saucepan, along with the balsamic vinegar, honey, and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook about 5 minutes, or until slightly thickened. 3. Place the figs, cut side up, in a baking dish. Top each fig half with a 1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon of goat cheese. Drizzle the balsamic vinegar syrup over the figs. 4. Roast in the oven until very soft, 10 to 15 minutes. 5. Arrange on a platter and sprinkle with flaky salt.

12 figs, halved vertically 1 tablespoon unsalted butter 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 3 tablespoons honey 2-3 ounces fresh goat cheese Flaky sea salt, to taste

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DECEMBER 2022

events A curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

DECEMBER 1ST-24 TH

Meet Santa

Come into Pepper’s to see our Salt Water Spas from Caldera Salt Water Tubs on Sale.

$400 off select in stock Caldera Spas. 6289 N. Oak Trafficway Kansas City MO 64118 816-216-1942

T H E G R OV E AT ZO NA R O SA | 1 1 :0 0 A M It’s that magical time of year and we are excited to be part of your holiday traditions, including meeting Santa in his Winter Wonderland at Zona Rosa. Santa visits are open through December 24 with special days for pet photos, sensory-friendly photos, and more. Online reservations are highly recommended but not required. Walk-ins welcome.

DECEMBER 3TH, 10 TH, 17TH

Holiday Gift Workshops

O R A NG E E AS E L ( L I B E RTY A ND P L AT T E WO O DS LO CAT I O NS ) | 1 0 :0 0 A M Orange Easel has gift-making workshops so you can make your own holiday magic this season. They will have workshops on making keepsake fingerprint ornaments (Dec. 3 in Liberty, Dec. 10 in Platte Woods), art candles (Dec. 3 in Platte Woods, Dec. 17 in Liberty), and best friend necklaces (Dec. 10 in Liberty, Dec. 17 in Platte Woods). For more information, visit orangeeaselart.com/ specialevents.html

pepperspoolandspa.com 38

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HEATING AND COOLING SINCE 1948 D E C E M BE R 8T H

Make Your Own Greeting Cards

NO RT H KANSAS CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY | 6: 3 0 PM Join the library for a card-making session with crafter Joy Hood! Joy will bring finished examples and supply kits to make two different cards. Hope you can join us!

GET SERVICE YOU CAN TRUST FROM OUR FAMILY TO YOURS

D E C E M BE R 1 0 T H

Winter Wonderland

PARKVILLE NATUR E SANCTUARY | 1:00 PM Winter Wonderland at Parkville Nature Sanctuary teaches children about winter wildlife and how to maintain healthy wildlife and habitat in your own backyard. Families will learn about wildlife through crafts and hiking-related activities. This family-friendly event is open to all ages.

D E C E M BE R 1 1 T H, 18TH , 2 5TH , JA N UA RY 1 ST, 8TH

Game Day Bingo

3HALVESBREWINGCO | 12:00 PM Come to the brewery on game days and buy a beer to get a bingo card. Specific events during the game determine bingo spots. When you get a bingo, you get a free pint. The top 2 winners at the end of the season will get extra prizes.

Your family’s comfort is important to us here at D E C E M BE R 1 6T H

Gladstone Furnace & A/C Co. That’s why we only install

American Red Cross Blood Drive

the very best Heating, Air Conditioning, and indoor air

PLATT E CO U NTY COMMUN ITY CE NT ER NO RTH | 9:00 AM Shake up your holiday tradition and give blood. To streamline the process, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter PlatteCity to schedule an appointment.

quality products available in Kansas City, MO. Our trained and seasoned staff is fully equipped to handle your HVAC equipment and indoor air comfort questions and needs.

(816) 452-0400 www.gfac1948.com

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The world needs more ARTISTS

PLATTE WOODS 7617 NW Prairie View Rd Kansas City MO 64151 816-216-7216

LIBERTY 249 W Mill St Ste 107 LIBERTY MO 64068 816-407-9266

www.OrangeEaselArt.com 40

From our Farm to Your Family VOT ED

Best IN KC

FOR B EEF J ER KY, HAMB UR GERS , & HOTDOGS

WWW.THEUP P ERCUTKC . CO M | V B

(816) 781-8694 9 7 6 9 N CEDA R AVE KA NSA S C I TY, MI SSO URI 6 4 1 5 7

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EVENTS CONTINUED

DE C EM BE R 1 7 T H

STEM Saturdays: Gingerbread House Creations

NORTH KAN SAS CITY PUBLIC L I B R A RY | 1 0 :0 0 A M Join us for a holiday-themed STEM challenge! Come anytime from 10 to 3 and build your own gingerbread house. All ages welcome!

D E C E M BE R 2 0 T H- 2 1 ST

Storytime with Santa

D E C E M BE R 27TH-29TH

Winter Break Art Camps

NORTH KAN SAS CITY PUBLIC L I B R A RY | 1 0 :0 0 A M Santa is coming to Storytime! Join us for a visit/photo op with Old St. Nick. No registration required! Dec. 20 at 5:30 p.m. and Dec. 21 at 10 a.m.

O RAN G E EAS EL (LIBERTY AN D P L AT T E WO O DS LO CAT I O NS ) | 9 :0 0 A M If you're looking for a way to entertain your kids over winter break, Orange Easel has art camps to keep them busy. Each camp has a project, such as STEAM, comic-style portrait, pour-painting alphabet, polymer clay food charms, art in the dark, clay containers, and dragon eye ink drawings. For more information, visit orangeeaselart.com/specialevents.html

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Northland

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DESIGN + BUILD C U STO M H O M E S R E N OVAT I O N S

EVE N TS

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Brighten up your home for the holidays!

BUDGET BLINDS OF THE NORTHLAND

4149 N Mulberry Drive, Kansas City, MO M-F: 10am - 6pm Sat: by appt. only | Sun: closed (816) 307-3329 | twoblindgirlskc.com