The Big Slick is Here!

Events

The Big Wait is Over

Between the addition of more KC celebrities, and Jason Sudeikis talking about it on Hot Ones, the wait is finally over for perhaps the biggest Big Slick weekend KC and its famous hometown heroes have seen.

• The Weekend: As always, The Big Slick weekend will be kicked off by a celebrity softball game tonight at Kauffman Stadium before the Royals play the Rockies. Tomorrow night will feature the Big Slick party & show featuring comedy acts from the hosts themselves.

• The Hosts: Famous for its funny people, The Big Slick serves as an all-star weekend for KC alumni and their friends. The event will be hosted by KC natives Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, Rob Riggle, Heidi Gardner, Eric Stonestreet, and fellow Missouri native David Koechner.

• Slickness Fighting Sickness: While the events will be sure to offer fun, the hosts and their friends all show up to raise money for Children’s Mercy Hospital to fund research for eradicating pediatric cancer.

Tickets to tonight’s softball game and tomorrow’s party and show at the T-Mobile Center can still be purchased with all proceeds going toward Children’s Mercy. Gates open for softball starting tonight at 4:30 pm.

Schools

Westwood’s New View

Since the completion of the new Westwood View Elementary School on the corner of 50th and Belinder, the question of what to do with the old building on the corner of 50th and Rainbow has been raised several times. With the recent purchase of the former building by the City of Westwood, we may be much closer to answering that question.

• School’s Out: The Shawnee Mission School Board voted last week to officially sell the old building to the City of Westwood for just over $2.5 million.

• School → Park: While the plans are still up in the air as to what will officially take over the space, all signs point to a community park or green space for Westwood residents to enjoy.

• Follow the Rainbow: The adjacent lot along Rainbow Boulevard where the former Westwood Christian Church once stood is also in the proposed plans with 4 multi-story business buildings also slated to fill the block between 50th and 51st St.

   

Development

Plaza Approves Building After Height Dispute

It would appear that Drake Development’s newest project, Cocina 47, will have finally gotten approval for the development on the Plaza where the Seventh Church of Christ, Scientist building currently stands.

• Coming Up Short: After purchasing the lot with the intention of building a 112-foot multi-use building, the initial plans were shot down by the Kansas City Council due to the height restriction on buildings built on the Country Club Plaza.

• Drake’s Hits: Drake Development is familiar with Plaza building restrictions after developing the Jack Henry building across the street that houses the growing gym Chiefs Fit.

• Cocina 47: The new, recently approved plans for Cocina 47, feature a 3-story building offering fine dining experiences. After having to come down from the originally planned 9 stories, this compromise feels like a win for residents who favor uniformity among Plaza buildings and developers looking to turn a profit.

KC Daily Picks

In Other News

• 🍽️James Beard Dinner in KC: The American will be hosting a dinner to highlight James Beard award winners and nominees on June 24th in KC.

• 🏡Who Said the Housing Market Was Down?: This list of the fastest-selling areas in KC compares average days on the market by neighborhood.

• 🍜Didn’t Book Dinner in Time: That’s okay, because the River Market is hosting their annual Grub Crawl tonight!

• 🥩Reconnecting Old Friends: A recent study has explored reconnecting Berkley Riverfront and Columbus Park.

• 🎊Mr. Mahomes Goes to Washington: The Chiefs will visit the White House this week, as is tradition for Superbowl winners.