Weekend Possibilities | KC Brew Fest, Nina Simone, Oscar Nominees 

Live music, a Mardi Gras bash and last-minute Valentine’s Day date plans are all on the table this weekend in Kansas City.  

Friday, Feb. 16 

6 – 9 p.m. Craft beer and live jazz will get the weekend going at Vine Street Brewing Co., 2010 Vine St. Grab a table at the 18^th & Vine-adjacent brewery and settle in for a soulful Groove Room Jazz set from Kansas City trumpeter Chalis O’Neil. Wolfepack BBQ will be parked outside all night. There is no cost of admission.  

7:30 p.m. Time to redeem yourself, Weston Wine Co., 540 Main St., is hosting a Spelling Bee. Think you have what it takes to take home a first-place prize? The 21-and-up competition will give each contestant one lifeline, plus three wine samples to make things a bit more challenging. Tickets are $5. You must sign up in advance. 

Saturday, Feb. 17 

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Gamers of any skill level are competing in Saturday’s eWolves Tournament of Champions at LEVELUP inside Hy-Vee Arena, 1800 Genessee St. The “Super Smash Bros.” competition is open to anyone 10 years or older, with a META Quest 3 virtual reality gaming system up for grabs as a grand prize. Anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Lunch is provided. Registration for the tournament is $35. 

Noon – 8 p.m. KC Brew Fest is back inside Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road, on Saturday. Beer lovers can look forward to more than 125 different brews from more than 50 breweries across the country, live music and food trucks. General admission tickets are $50. Food is sold separately. There are multiple times for entry, so be sure to check out the full details online in advance. You must be 21 or older to attend.  

2 & 8 p.m. It is opening weekend for “Nina Simone: Four Women” at Kansas City Repertory Theatre’s Copaken Stage, 1 H&R Block Way. The musical imagines the moment Nina Simone transformed into an artist-activist, along with the women around her, providing a voice for Black women during the Civil Rights movement. Tickets are available starting at $69, plus fees. 

3 – 7 p.m. The party doesn’t stop at KC Live! at Power & Light, 1300 Grand Blvd. Celebrate Mardi Gras in the heart of downtown Kansas City with a free standing-room-only party featuring live music, a king and queen contest, Cajun musical chairs, crawfish eating contest, beads, King Cake and more. General admission tickets are free. All-inclusive drink and crawfish boil packages are available online. You must be 21 or older to enter. 

3 – 10 p.m. Waiting for the weekend to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Hereford House in Leawood, 5001 Town Center Drive, is rolling out a Valentine’s Day Menu through the weekend, priced for two at $115. Dinner includes a starter, main course and dessert. Be sure to check out their special Valentine’s cocktails. Reservations are recommended. 

Sunday, Feb. 18 

10:30 a.m. Cinephiles can catch up on Academy Award-nominated films Sunday with Oscar Shorts: Documentary Tivoli screenings at Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak St. Five documentary short films will run back-to-back over 139 minutes, leaving time for you to cast a vote on your favorite. Be sure to check out the full list of films online in advance. Tickets are $10 for members and $13 for the public.

3 – 6 p.m. End the weekend on a strong note, enjoying live music and tasty beer in the West Bottoms with Stockyards Brewing Co.’s, 1600 Genessee St., Sunday Service. This time around, the taproom tunes will be courtesy of local honkytonk and blues band Mama’s Hellbound Delinquent Sons. Sunday service is free and family friendly. 

Clarence Dennis is audience and digital content strategist with Flatland.