Weekend Possibilities | Briar Fest, Patio Pints And Other Virtual Events

As Kansas City creeps gingerly toward “normal,” the chance to get out and enjoy summertime’s live music and patio libations might have some extroverts getting just a little giddy.

On the other hand, if you’re still waiting until capacity counts and limited seating arrangements disappear, there are a handful of virtual events to enjoy from the living room as the calendar approaches the summer solstice.

No matter your strategy, stay safe friends of Flatland.

Friday, June 12

Noon – 5 p.m. North Kansas City’s Big Rip Brewing Company’s patio is a perfect way to ease back into the local brewery scene. Check Big Rip’s website for an updated real-time capacity count as it carefully reopens its taproom, then grab a few happy hour beers between noon and 5 p.m.

4 p.m. Seven Kansas City-based artists are taking the stage for Briar Fest VI Friday evening at Knuckleheads Saloon, 2715 Rochester Ave. Get tickets to watch in person or online as Stone Cutters Union, Grand Marquis, Free Rent Band and others play in support of Mimi’s Pantry, a local food pantry that provides nourishing and balanced meals to the food insecure folks across the metro. Tickets are $15. 

8 p.m. There won’t be an audience at recordBar, but that won’t matter to Radkey. The St. Joe punk band of brothers have plans to play “Live and Loud” from the recordBar stage and stream the show live via Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. The local trio was recently featured in a Black Lives Matter Spotify playlist curated by the members of Green Day. The stream is free.

Saturday, June 13

10 a.m. – Noon Kansas City Irish Center will host an online Genealogy and Writing Workshop to explore ways to journal and tell stories in relation to lineage. The Zoom workshop is free for KCIC members and $10 for nonmembers.

1 – 5 p.m. Chicken N’ Pickle, 1761 Burlington St. in North Kansas City, has big plans for a Beer In Hand Pickleball Tournament Saturday afternoon. Pairs of mixed doubles over the age of 21 can sign up for the tourney for $40. Standard pickleball rules apply, the only exception is you must have a drink in your off hand. The first beer is on the house.

If you’re looking to get out of the house for a quick bite, 39th Street’s Hi-Dive Lounge, 1411 W. 39th St., is a safe bet. Plop down on one of two patios, or indoors with limited dining room seating for a delicious BLT on sourdough and a $2 mystery beer from the only canned beer machine in town.

Sunday, June 14

7 a.m. If you’ve developed a green thumb while stuck at home, swing by Pilgrim Labyrinth Butterfly Garden, 3700 Gillham Road, for two free potted herb plants. The One for Me, One for the Bees giveaway is designed to encourage gardening in the community and help sustain local bee populations. Be sure to share photos to show your plants thriving.

11 a.m. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is taking its Future Stages Festival online for a full day of performances, crafts and demonstrations that can be enjoyed from the couch. The community event showcasing the area’s talented youth is free for anyone to stream and will feature virtual tours of performance spaces and an intimate Q&A with Kansas City Ballet dancer Fiona Lee, Kansas City Symphony Associate Principal Flutist Shannon Finney and local actor Chioma Anyanwu.

2 – 3:30 p.m. Did you know that Missouri is also known as “The Cave State”? If you’re interested in exploring a whole new terrain, drop in Sunday’s Intro to Caving digital meet up with the Kansas City Area Grotto Cavers. The Zoom meeting will cover what to expect when caving, upcoming cave trips, what to bring while caving and more. The meet up is free.