Weekend Possibilities | JoCo Home & Garden Show, Live Music and Arts and Crafts 

Ease into 2023 with a variety of events across the arts and music scene or find inspiration at the Johnson County Home & Garden Show. 

Friday, Jan. 6 

5 – 8 p.m. Habitat Contemporary Gallery, 2012 Baltimore Ave., will welcome multi-talented artist Darnell “Solo” Kirkwood to the studio Friday evening. A former basketball player, artist and actor, seen in “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Hawaii Five-O,” Kirkwood has turned inspiration on his journey into art. The collection titled “Discoveries Along the Way” is free to check out. 

7 – 9 p.m. Kick off the weekend with Vinyl Happy Hour at minibar, 3810 Broadway. Music lovers might capture an old time feeling in the space, as record-collecting DJs spin a few of their favorite cuts on vinyl. There is no cover fee. 

8 p.m. Just up the street, Uptown Nights from the Kansas City Symphony is coming to Uptown Theater, 3700 Broadway, this weekend for three nights of music. Led by guest conductor Byron Stripling, each show will explore music made popular in clubs during the 1940s and 1950s. Selections will highlight many of Harlem’s top acts during that period, including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and more. Tickets are available starting at $40. 

Saturday, Jan. 7 

10 a.m. – Noon Urban Sketchers of Kansas City will meet on the grounds of the Kansas City Museum, 3218 Gladstone Blvd., Saturday to put pen or pencil to paper and capture the mansion and its details for its January Sketchwalk. Joining the group is completely free. Museum rules apply. Paints, easels and stools are not allowed. 

11 – 11:15 a.m. If you have never seen the Penguin March at the Kansas City Zoo, 6800 Zoo Drive, make sure to be at the indoor Helzberg Penguin Plaza for the popular Swope Park residents’ 15 minutes of fame Saturday morning. Free with zoo admission, visitors can see the penguins up close and personal, on the same side of the glass. KC Zoo admission is $19 to $22 for non-Jackson County residents and $9.50 to $11 for those who live in the county. 

7 – 11 p.m. Swing Dance Night at 9^th and State, 1717 W. 9^th St., in the West Bottoms is offering the chance for dancers of any experience level to fine tune their skills, or learn swing for the very first time, to the music of the Bryan Redmond Trio Saturday night. Beginners are encouraged to arrive at 7 p.m. for a quick lesson on the basics. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Partners are not required. 

8 p.m. There’s an Elvis Birthday Bash on the books for Knuckleheads, 2715 Rochester Ave., Saturday night. Celebrate “The King” with a full night of music from the best Elvis impersonators in the region, including Jeff Bergen, Matthew Sharp and Ben Johnson. Tickets are $20. 

Sunday, Jan. 8 

10 a.m. – 9 p.m. The Johnson County Home & Garden Show is up next at Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Blvd. Whether you have big plans, are looking for inspiration or just browsing, the three-day show will have tons of home and garden products and local experts to lean on for advice, ideas and instruction. Single day tickets are $13 at the door. Children under 12 get in for free.

1:30 – 2:30 p.m. First Art Gallery of Olathe, 12755 South Mur-Len Road, is calling all crafters to sign up for Clay Class: Pinecone Chime Sunday afternoon. The group will learn to use the slab method in sculpting to create a colorful red clay pinecone that will be strung on a string to make an original windchime. Tickets for the class are $25.

Clarence Dennis is audience and digital content strategist with Flatland.