KC Influences Me!

Social Media

KC Influencer Providing Food For Thought

Lisa Nguyen, a Kansas Citian and local foodie, has shined on social media as she both highlights local KC restaurants and shows off her own cooking skills.

• How It Started: Nguyen, originally from Wichita, began reviewing local restaurant options in 2019. Her first video to go viral was her reviewing a crab rangoon pizza from Old Shawnee Pizza which eventually led to millions of viewers and subscribers, eventually helping her go to social media full-time in 2021.

• How It’s Going: Lisa now mainly focuses on highlighting different challenges ranging from trying spicy foods to 30 days of ramen recipes. Her videos on Youtube and TikTok range from 10,000 views on the lower end to 60 million on the upper end.

• Recognition: Lisa’s viral Youtube videos have been featured on Good Morning America, as well as landing her on lists of notable Asian American content creators from Forbes and Google.

Today, Nguyen still creates content in the KCMO area, continuing to review restaurant staples like the spring rolls at Thai Orchid in Mission, as well as crafting her own recipes.

Events

Trey Kennedy Helping KC Grow Up

Speaking of KC-based influencers, Trey Kennedy, the viral Youtube star turned stand-up comedian is currently on tour and will be hosting a show in KC next month.

• Media Mogul: Kennedy got his start making videos on the now-deceased video app, Vine, where his online presence grew and even landed him on an episode of Ellen. He now has several successful Instagram accounts, Youtube channels, and a weekly podcast that lend well to a nationwide comedy tour.

• Grow Up Tour: Trey Kennedy’s Grow Up tour is his second that comes on the heels of the massive success of his “Are you for real?” tour in 2021.

• The Openers: One of the openers for the show is another local social media star, Jake Triplett, who is a prominent mainstay across much of Trey Kennedy’s videos and also runs many successful Youtube channels of his own.

Trey’s Grow Up tour stop in Kansas City features 2 shows on August 19th at the Midland, but the evening show is already sold out. Tickets for the matinee performance can still be purchased here. 

Opening

Sweets Duo Expanding Together

Johnson County’s favorite fine chocolate maker, Annedore’s, is pairing together with its sister store, Flying Cow Gelato, to open a new chocolate and frozen treat shop in downtown Overland Park.

• Expanding Presence: Annedore’s, operating out of its flagship store in Westwood Hills, Kansas has been in operation for 30 years and expanded its famous chocolates to Shawnee.

• Flying Cow: Last month, Sheri Weedman, owner of Annedore’s, expanded her sweet treats empire by opening her second Flying Cow Gelato in downtown Shawnee to go alongside the original location in Westwood Hills.

• Perfect Pairing: Weedman now plans to pair both of her establishments together by opening a chocolate and frozen treat shop close to downtown Overland Park on 80th Street just down from Strang Hall.

While no exact date has been set for the new store, Weedman says that she expects to be open sometime in the fall. You can visit her original Annedore’s and Flying Cow locations in Westwood Hills on the corner of State Line Road and W 50th Street.

KC Daily Picks

In Other News

• 🎭Another Improv Show: KC’s improv scene seems to be growing, as famous comedian Michael Rapaport is coming to the Improv Theater next week.

• 🏛️Bureaucracy: Jackson County had so many appeals to property assessments that residents now have until July 31st to appeal.

• 📻1989: At her Eras Tour stop in KC, Taylor Swift may have teased that 1989(Taylor’s Version) will be her next release.

• ⚾Catching the Draft: With their first pick of 2023, the Royals selected Blake Mitchell, a catcher who was a 2-time Texas HS Player of the Year.

• 🍦Yelp Reviews: Betty Rae’s was ranked the 75th best ice cream parlor in the US and Canada in Yelp’s top 100 list.