Travel

The Ultimate Kansas City Staycation

Locals rave about the luxurious experiences they receive at Sojourn Spa Article by Victoria Moore and others | Photography by Becca Spears Planning a getaway does not always mean leaving town. Sometimes, life does not allow for the luxury of a week-long vacation. When a few hours or a couple of days is all you have, Sojourn Spa is there to provide a luxurious, local escape.  With easily accessible accommodations and dining options, the enjoyment does not have to end after a day of wellness...

Travel

The Travel Dreammaker

Barb Wright curates unforgettable, luxury travel experiences for individuals, families and groups Article by Victoria Moore | Photography by Helen Ransom Barb Wright is the founder and luxury destination advisor of Travel Wright with Barb, and for the last three years, she has been making luxury travel dreams, no matter how big, come true.  “You can Google anything, but how do you Google the unGoogleable? That's where that's where I come in,” she said. “It's the most wonderful experience to...

Travel

Summer-Ready Confidence

Dr. Spencer Eagan of Ascentist Plastic Surgery specializes in natural-looking results Article by Victoria Moore | Photography by Janie Jones and Drake Sweet With summer comes longer days, warmer weather, and lots of time spent outdoors. But for some, it can also bring a renewed awareness of body image and feelings of insecurity. Dr. Spencer Eagan of Ascentist Plastic Surgery understands the value of being confident in your own skin. “One of the common things that we hear is ‘Oh, I'll never...

Life + Culture

Powered By Community

United Way of Greater Kansas City provides assistance for those with critical medical needs Article by Kera Mashek | Photography by United Way of Greater Kansas City Susan M's Story WHAT IF… You were driving to work one day and someone smashed into your car, then fled the scene, leaving your mode of transportation to work in shambles? It’s the reality Susan M. faced this year while heading to one of the churches she regularly cleans in Kansas City, Missouri. Desperate to keep money coming...

Food + Beverage

Simple Blueberry Galette

Make a show-stopping summer dessert with just six ingredients Article and Photography by Bev Weidner Just six ingredients for an exquisite but simple summer dessert. It's tang meets sweet.  Tart meets depth. Texture meets... well, other texture. It’s got this vibrancy both in the berries  and  the simple layer of cream cheese underneath it. That, paired with the rustic homey flavors of a good ol’ pie crust? Stawpit. 1 pint blueberries 1 frozen pie crust, thawed 1 lemon, zested and...

Health + Wellness

Keeping It Real

Ascentist plastic surgeons Dr. Kyle Kimura and Dr. Jeff Markey approach patients with genuine care Article by Victoria Moore | Photography by Emmalee Rathsam Plastic surgery – a field people tend to mislabel and misunderstand. In a time where truth is regularly based on what someone might see on social media and television, the real work of what plastic surgeons can do and how they can positively impact lives is often overshadowed. Determined to break the mold and usher in a different...

Food + Beverage

Steak With Pesto Gnocchi

Dive into a delicious rendition of steak in the summer Article and Photography by Bev Weidner Ingredients: • 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil * 4 beef tenderloin tails * 1 pound pre-made gnocchi * 1 cup Swiss chard pesto (or whatever pesto you prefer!) * coarse salt and freshly ground pepper Directions:  Rub the steaks with the olive oil and season well with salt and pepper. Bring a cast iron skillet to a medium-high heat. Sear the steaks on both sides until your preferred doneness...

Health + Wellness

KC's Family Tennis Shop

The Tennis Set, Kansas City's enduring tennis gear destination Article and Photography by Becca Spears The Tennis Set opened its doors in 1977, after Jane Rodney and her brother John Tidrick had been wanting to start a business, and noticed that there weren’t many places in Kansas City to buy tennis gear for kids. Matt Rodney, Jane’s son, was 10 at the time, and playing lots of tennis. “So out of the blue, (my brother) called one day, and said, ‘You know, we should open a tennis shop'.” Jane...

Life + Culture

Ruby Jean's Garden

How a beloved grandmother inspired a business, book, and community garden Article by Linda Ditch | Photography by Chris Goode and Victoria Moore This past April, people gathered for a ribbon cutting at a newly erected arch, marking the entrance to Ruby Jean's Garden at 2900 Wabash Avenue in Kansas City. Once an overgrown, abandoned one-acre lot, the space is cleared and ready for planting. The city repaired the sidewalks, and new fencing is in place. Soon, the community can pick free produce...

Life + Culture

A Father's Legacy

Two well-known local liquor legends reflect on their family businesses Article by Judy Goppert | Photography by Janie Jones Andy Rieger, President of J.Rieger & Co.  Andy grew up as the last male in the Rieger family line. Throughout his childhood, he knew of the storied past his family had - the forgotten distillery known as J. Rieger & Co.  The business shut down in 1919 at the onset of federal Prohibition. Life came fast in 2010 while living in Dallas and working for an investment...