Midwest Tea Fest & Other Weekend Possibilities

The third annual Midwest Tea Fest is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Ararat Shrine Temple (5100 Ararat Drive). Cozy up to a warm cup via a series of tastings (white tea, herbal blends, or matcha) or learning sessions (growing tea in the United States, the caffeine content in tea, creating a sustainable tea market). It’s recommended that you reserve sessions or tastings in advance to guarantee a seat.

The Gardens at Sunset, a fundraiser for the Kansas City Community Gardens is from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday at 6917 Kensington Ave. Munch on burnt ends from Jack Stack, drink Boulevard beer, and hear from KCCG clients while walking through the Leanna Flandermeyer Beanstalk Children’s Garden about the power of growing one’s own food.

EJ’s Urban Eatery (1414 W. Ninth St.) — a new “meat and three,” from chef John C. Smith, is open in the West Bottoms. It’s a modern take on the classic Southern cafeteria where diners can order one protein (like an espresso-rubbed brisket or smoked pork loin) and three side dishes (braised greens, smoked carrots with brown sugar, or fried green tomatoes, to name a few) off a chalkboard menu. EJ’s has a full bar and is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Sunday brunch. They intend to add dinner service later this fall.

Turkey legs and mead await you rapscallions at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival, which runs through Oct. 15. This weekend’s theme is the Highland Fling, which means there is a haggis eating contest at 2:45 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. If haggis isn’t your bag, they’ve got a beer and bacon pairing, queen’s tea, chocolate and mead tasting, or a pub crawl.

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The 38th annual Art Westport festival is tonight through Sunday. The outdoor festival featuring local artists is a chance to stroll, beer and bite in hand, and check out more than 100 sculptors, photographers, painters, jewelry crafters and printmakers.

Up your cocktail game with a Mixology Class led by Jill Cockson, the owner of Swordfish Tom’s, at 7 or 8 p.m. on Saturday at Libations & Company (23 SE Third St., Lee’s Summit, Missouri). During the hour-long class, Cockson will showcase Colonel Jesse’s Small Batch Tonics, her line of tonics meant to be paired with spirits.

Get a chance to sample wines from across Missouri at Independence Uncorked from 1 to 6 p.m. Saturday. The fifth annual wine fest is on the grounds of the Bingham-Waggoner Estate (313 W. Pacific Ave., Independence, Missouri). It features live music, artists and food vendors (including Dragonfly Gourmet and Yummylicious Cookies). You can also sit in on classes to learn about how to taste wine or brew beer.

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