Kid-friendly
One of my favorite issues to put together year after year is the kids and pets issue. Before I was editor of Northland City Lifestyle, I put together a lot of kid-friendly round-ups on my own just for fun. I would often aggregate spots to take little ones on Google Maps or Google docs, sharing the lists of parks and storytimes with my friends or in parent-centric social media groups. It’s so cool that it’s my job to do the same thing today!
One of those articles is actually in today’s magazine — a round-up of places to host your kid’s birthday party in the Northland. My two boys both have birthdays a month apart from each other in one of the roughest times of the year to have birthdays — December and January. Dead set on not hosting an in-home birthday party for my 6-year-old last year and without the inexpensive park birthday option (what with it being below freezing out), I started researching all the options for a celebration and crunching the numbers on the cost between that and Christmas presents. I saved my finds in a Google doc and shared it with my friends who were in the same boat. And voila, this article was born. Service journalism at its finest!
The month’s magazine is also filled with lots of fun spaces and things for kids, whether it’s forts or books or rooms. Frankly, I love kid bedrooms, with their fun and whimsy and function — decorating mine as a kid was a favorite pastime, and I had plenty of practice, as we moved around a lot! So we have a whole lot of awesome kid bedrooms to share this month.
It’s also probably a great time to announce the birth of a new addition to our family — little June, who was born at the end of March and has felt like a great completion to our family of five. You’ll see her room, as well as the room of her brothers, Fox and Finn, in this magazine — I hope you love the spaces as much as I do.
Until next month,
KATIE CURRID, EDITOR @NORTHLANDCITYLIFESTYLE
August 2024
PUBLISHER
Chelsey Juarez | chelsey.juarez@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Angela Broockerd
angela.broockerd@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Katie Currid | katie.currid@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Angela Broockerd, Allison Swan
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Janie Jones
Corporate Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Josh Govero
LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee
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Put on your Party Hat
A NORTHLAND GUIDE TO PLACES TO HOST BIRTHDAY PARTIES
ARTICLE AND
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY KATIE CURRID
Planning a birthday party for your kid can be a surprisingly stressful task. Between the budget (big or small?), the guest list (just family? Close friends? Their whole class?) and the theme (do we like sharks or dinosaurs more this year?), there are a lot of factors to make your kid’s birthday one to remember. While I love an in-home birthday, the last thing I want to do after a busy summer is clean up after fifteen 5-year olds. Luckily, there are plenty of places all over the Northland to host your kiddo’s celebration, with options for all types of budgets and age ranges.
SHOW YOUR ARTISTIC SIDE
Orange Easel, the art school for kids, offers birthday parties with a ton of different activities so you can find the right one for the birthday kid. From unicorn crafts to dinosaur themes, there’s something for anyone at both their Platte Woods and Liberty locations — and you can rest easy knowing that your carpet is safe from paint spills.
TUMBLE TIME
There are lots of different gymnastics studios that rent out their spaces for parties. Mercury Gymnastics and The Edge (both their Smithville and Riverside locations) offer birthday party rentals, which include decor, paper goods, an activity, and best of all — clean-up.
ALL ABOARD!
If you’ve got a train lover in the house and happen to have a birthday that falls between May and October, you can rent out the Northland fave, the Kansas City Northern Miniature Railroad near Line Creek for a party by the hour.
BOUNCE OFF THE WALLS
Luckily, the Northland has lots of indoor playgrounds that are perfect for a birthday party, no matter the season. Above All Trampoline Park rents out spaces for parties, as well as
Birthday parties at Orange Easel
its neighbor, Fun Run Rush Funplex, with its indoor laser tag, foam pit, bowling alley, arcade and go karts also has rooms for parties and is perfect for preteens and younger kids alike.
CAROUSEL MUSEUM LEAVENWORTH
If you’re looking for something a little unique, you can rent out the C.W. Parker Carousel Museum in Leavenworth. They have a party room and children can enjoy rides on the restored carousel that’s over 100 years old.
ROCK ON
If you feel like your kids are climbing the walls at home, let them do it somewhere else. The RoKC climbing gym in North Town has birthday party packages that include rock climbing orientation, a party room, gear rental and paper goods for up to 10 climbers.
GO NATURAL
If you’ve got an outdoorsy kid on your hands, they’ll love the birthday parties at Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, which include one of their staff members leading a nature-theme craft with the party-goers.
BIG BIRTHDAY WITH THE BIG SCREEN
If you want to go really big with a party, you can rent out an entire theater at Kansas City’s B&B Theatres for your kiddo’s birthday to enjoy a private screening just for your group.
“Luckily, there are plenty of places all over the Northland to host your kiddo’s celebration , with options for all types of budgets and age ranges.”
How much fun does a party at Orange Easel look?!
A CHER R Y - PICKE D
NURSERY
ROOM
A TOUR OF A COLORFUL, FRUIT-FILLED BABY
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE CURRID
After being a boy mom for six years, I was ecstatic when we found out that our third addition would be a girl. Though I have never been a super girlie girl, I could not wait to go all-in on the nursery with some feminine touches.
CONTINUED >
One of my design constraints with this room was avoiding painting the 10-foot walls while eight months pregnant, so I thought wallpaper and painted trim would be a great compromise here for a pop of color. During my wallpaper search, I came across these fruit decals from a seller on Etsy, which ended up being even better for my pregnant self, as they took only CONTINUED >
about 30 minutes to install, start to finish. The rainbow checkerboard rug was the ultimate cherry on top, complimented by the sweet creamsicle-colored gingham curtains from IKEA (as seen on page 13). I finished the rest of the room with fruit-themed thrifted art and hand-me-downs from the rest of the house. We love laying on the rug in here watching our daughter, June, coo and squirm.
THE GREAT GREEN ROOM
A Wes Anderson-inspired boys' room
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE CURRID
Making a space that’s playful and colorful for boys can sometimes feel like a challenge. A lot of what’s packaged for boys these days is video game-themed or sports-themed, and that just never felt a good fit for our home. I’ve long been obsessed with Wes Anderson, the filmmaker behind movies like Moonrise Kingdom and The Grand Budapest Hotel — especially his colorful aesthetic. Inspired by his movies, the color palette from a Pendleton blanket and
The photo that started it all! I took this photo in Switzerland, and it feels like a set location from a Wes Anderson film.
using a photo I took in Switzerland as an anchoring point, I designed the room using thrifted finds and bright, bold colors.
The result is a little bit old man’s hunting lodge with the brightness turned up. I love the yellow from the IKEA Minnen beds (though they’ve since been replaced by wooden bunk beds, which you can see on the last page) and the red from the Swiss flag — a nod to the mountain photo that I printed as an engineer print. The bold green may or may not be inspired by the children’s book Goodnight Moon, which we read often. It’s a room that accommodates many Legos and stuffed animals and has grown with them well over the years.
If you want secondhand finds for your home, the best tip for antique stores and thrift stores? Go a lot! The key to finding the best thrifted finds is just to show up frequently. You can't find the goods if you don't go!
No Adults Allowed
A LOOK INSIDE THESE COOL KIDS' ROOMS IN PLATTE CITY
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE CURRID
Rory, 4, and Vada, 1, are two cool kids, so it's not surprising that their rooms reflect that. The siblings live in Platte City with their mom, Hannah, and dad, Matt, in a 1940s Dutch Colonial-esque home. Each has their own room that reflects their personality, filled with secondhand finds and toys from their parents' (or sometimes even grandparents'!) childhood.
Rory's room is feels like a quirky summer camp, with its tongue-and-groove wood ceiling, pale blue walls, a neon fire light and plenty of camping-themed art on the walls. The corner of his room is filled with all of his Squishmallows, in a pile that just makes you want to plop down in it. On his bed is a stuffed animal of his favorite cartoon character, Garfield, and above it hangs a mobile of the solar system — Pluto included.
Down the hall from Rory's room is the room for his little sister, Vada. Her mom, Hannah, used a Dollar Tree punchbowl as a stencil for the trendy scalloped pink border and there's definitely a touch of a 70s theme, with butterfly rug hook art and a macrame owl on the wall. The Jenny Lind crib is lined with floral sheets and Vada's brightly colored toys aren't too far out of reach. It's a room you keep finding treasures in the more you look, like the sweet height chart behind the door or the tiny yellow door that one can just imagine fairies behind.
Rory and Vada's rooms are definitely rooms we would've loved at their age. Best we can hope for now is a playdate to check out all their cool toys.
THE
HATTIE + HANKAdventures of
TEACHER TURNED CHILDREN'S AUTHOR PUBLISHES FIRST BOOK
Jordan Lowe’s path to becoming a children’s book author is both inspiring and heartfelt. Holding a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, she spent five years nurturing a love for reading in first-grade classrooms. The spark for her book series ignited eight years ago when she shared photos from a New Zealand trip with her first grade students who were captivated by the images and eager to learn more.
“I tried finding grade level appropriate geography books to have in the classroom and noticed they were all geared towards
ARTICLE BY ALLISON SWAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
intermediate readers with a lot of text and very few pictures,” says Lowe. “I wanted to create a nonfiction geography series that would bring the world into the laps of younger readers who are just starting on their reading journey.”
However, a career change, marriage and starting a family put this idea on hold. In August 2023, dinner with her friend Chelsea Buchanan, an aspiring illustrator, rekindled the dream. They both worked corporate jobs and yearned to pursue their creative passions.
“That night, I asked her to illustrate the manuscript for the first book. Seeing the illustrations not only brought the book to life, but our dreams as well!”
They decided to self publish the series to maintain creative control, leading to the creation of Hen Hat Publishing. Over the past six months, Lowe and Buchanan have navigated the complexities of the publishing world, from formatting and editing to marketing and printing, all while cherishing the journey of creating something meaningful.
“The first book in the series, “The Adventures of Hattie and Hank”, introduces a geography obsessed girl, Hattie, and her trusty travel partner and family dog, Hank. Hattie’s love of geography, adventure and culture stem from her dad’s career as a photographer for a travel magazine. After years of settling for backyard adventures, Hattie and Hank finally get the chance to tag along on dad’s work trip. As the trip comes to an end, her dad accidentally sends his boss the pictures meant for her mom and they end up landing a gig as the faces of a brand new children’s travel magazine.
“This travel magazine is a non-fiction geography series that takes primary grade readers (kindergarten through
“I wanted to create a nonfiction geography series that would bring the world into the laps of younger readers who are just starting on their reading journey.”
3rd grade) to places all over the world with their favorite tour guides, Hattie and Hank. The layout is picture heavy with grade-level appropriate text, so kiddos can confidently enjoy the content independently while laughing along the way. The books in the series are written as we travel to each place—the pictures are made up of photographs taken by me and hand-drawn illustrations created by Chelsea.”
She is inspired by her daughter and husband to bring these stories to life.
“Seeing the world through Hattie’s eyes is a gift that I will never take for granted. Her curiosity for the world around her is inspiring! When Henry and I first met, we decided that we wanted to live a life full of adventure and love. He has shown an incredible amount of love and support for this book writing adventure. We’re expecting our second child in October and we can’t wait to have him join in on the fun!”
Preorders for signed first editions will start in August online. For additional content, videos, free travel itineraries and more, visit Hattieandhank.com
“Seeing the world through Hattie’s eyes is a gift that I will never take for granted.”
Over a decade of being a real estate expert specializing in the Northland of Kansas City helping people buy, sell and invest. My goal for Leslie Hogan Home Group brokered by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Kansas City Homes is to offer the very best real estate experience possible. Let me help empower you with all your real estate needs. Do you have equity in your home? Contact me today for your no-obligation PEAR Report, showing you what you could do with your equity!
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DOG gone GOOD
Try these simple and healthy homemade treats for your furry friends. Not only are they easy to make, they are nutritious and seemingly delicious.
ARTICLE BY ANGELA BROOCKERD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls
Ingredients:
• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup milk or half and half
• 3 cups oatmeal
Directions:
In a bowl, mix pumpkin puree, peanut butter and milk on medium for 1 minute. Gradually add 2 1/2 cups oatmeal and stir. Use a small scoop or spoon to create 1/4 inch balls. Roll balls into remaining 1/2 cup oats to lightly top. Place into a closed container and refrigerate.
Peanut Butter Dog Treats
Ingredients:
• 2/3 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/4 to 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 2 eggs
• 2 1/2 cups flour (whole wheat preferred)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl, mix all ingredients except flour and blend well. Gradually add the flour until the dough isn’t sticky. Roll dough into a ball. Lightly flour your surface and lightly knead. Use a rolling pin to roll dough to ¼-inch thickness. Use cookie cutters and place dough on baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Drizzle with peanut butter (optional).
Backyard Whimsy
Creating a Kid-Friendly Backyard Space
ARTICLE BY ANGELA BROOCKERD | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES
This adorable outdoor play space is not only easy and inexpensive to build, but it is full of charm and the perfect spot for the kids to play and lounge. The A-frame structure is easily customizable to any style and color scheme desired. Leave the wood bare, or add flare with paint or stain. An outdoor clubhouse provides a space that allows kids
to make it their own and to let their imaginations run wild spending time outdoors.
For this project, we visited our local hardware store to get all the necessary supplies we needed. The deck is an 8 x 10 decking so there is no need to cut down the length of any boards and pressure treated wood was used. First, dig holes
CONTINUED >
18 inches down to put the footers, which is a 4 x 4 x 8 treated post, and cut those into two foot lengths. Next, pour quick set concrete in the holes. Add water, and set the posts in and let it dry. We used lag screws to attach the base 2 x 10’s to the corner posts, and then 2 x 6’s for the joists with metal hangers. Now time to put on the decking boards with exterior screws. Don’t forget to constantly check with a level. Once the decking is finished, now it is time for the fun!
For the A frame you need a 60-degree angle at the top of the A, and a 30-degree angle at the bottom. You can run a 4 x 4 along the decking to attach the A frame to which adds a bit of height so adults can stand in it as well. Use heavy duty exterior screws to attach the A frame 2 x 4’s to the structure. The top of the A comes together and is held by exterior screws. For the roofing, we used 8-foot corrugated clear panels and screwed those into the A frame for a weather protecting cover. We left three feet uncovered so a chair and some pots with herbs and flowers could be added to the entrance. Decorate with outdoor pillows, a children’s table, outdoor rug and hanging flower pots to make it feel like a special place for kids to go. If entertaining friends, a few simple charcuterie boards are always a hit.
JULY 12TH-SEPTEMBER 9TH
Cartoon Bartoon
Vignettes Bar: 2376 Armour Road, North Kansas City | 6:00 PM
Sugar, spice and everything nice….. these are the ingredients to make the perfect pop-up - a blast from the (cartoon) past! Join us at CARTOON BARTOON - Vignettes' 90s Animated Extravaganza! Join us for live music, karaoke, 90s cartoon trivia, and music bingo! This pop-up experience is open Wednesday - Sunday, and is 21+ on Friday and Saturday.
FRIDAYS IN AUGUST: AUGUST 2ND, 9TH, 16TH, 23RD, 30TH
Friday in the Park
Macken Park in North Kansas City | 11:30 AM
Enjoy a Friday afternoon in the park listening to local musicians in cooperation with the Music Performance Trust Fund, Local 34-627. Free and open to public. Fridays, June 14 through September 27 at the Festival Shelter in Macken Park from 11:30 am to 1 pm.
AUGUST 7TH AND 28TH
Knit Happens
North Kansas City Public Library | 5:30 PM
Join us for a knitting series called Knit Happens, with instructor Monja Calvert! Beginners are welcome--as are returning (or even advanced) knitters who want to knit alongside others. One note: Participants WILL need to bring their own yarn and needles. Register online at nkcpl.org to receive a supply list. This class meets twice monthly on the library's lower level.
AUGUST 9TH
Fairy Wonderland Crafting Event
North Kansas City Public Library | 10:00 AM
Join us to make magic wands and flower crowns at this fairy-themed event! Parents will need to stay with their children but you only need to register your child/children. Register online at nkcpl.org.
AUGUST 9TH
Friday Night Concerts: The Carl Worden Band
Macken Park in North Kansas City | 7:00 PM
Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets and join us at the Festival Shelter in Macken Park to sit back, relax, and listen to live music. No alcohol permitted in the park. Free and open to the public.
AUGUST 10TH
Platte City Summer Music Series
Courthouse Lawn, Platte City | 7:00 PM
Join others in downtown Platte City for second Saturdays throughout the summer. This Saturday, Cherry Bomb will be playing.
CONTINUED
AUGUST 16TH
Movies in the Park:
Ghostbusters:
Frozen Empire
Macken Park in North Kansas City | 7:45 PM
Our movie for August is Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire . A fun time for the whole family! Bring a blanket or some lawn chairs and enjoy some fresh air with a movie in the park. Movie will start at dusk near the Festival Shelter in Macken Park. Free and open to the public.
AUGUST 16TH-17TH
BBQ & Fly-In on the River
Downtown Excelsior Springs | 4:00 PM
Mark your calendars and join us while over 50 Competition BBQ Teams compete to take home the trophy! This year’s annual competition will feature some of the top pitmasters in the nation battling it out in the rugged competition, the aromas of meat filling the air, great music, food trucks, beer, and so much more!
AUGUST 16TH
On The Rocks Whiskey Stroll
Downtown Excelsior Springs | 4:00 PM
Join us for the 2nd Annual On The Rocks Whiskey Stroll! Attendees will taste bourbons and whiskeys and even enjoy some great BBQ along the way. Participating businesses around downtown will feature a specialty bourbon or whiskey or you’ll get to indulge in delicious BBQ at some participating locations. Stick around after you sample and enjoy the amazing fireworks show.
events
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AUGUST 17TH
End of Summer Splash Bash
City Park, 970 Route 291, Liberty | 10:00 AM
Join Liberty Parks & Rec at City Park for the second annual Splash Bash. Wear your swimsuits, bring your beach towels and don’t forget the sunscreen for an afternoon at the spraygrounds. There will be FREE Kona Ice, water-proof temporary tattoos and a wild bubble party!
AUGUST 17TH
Home Brew Contest
Downtown Excelsior Springs | 11:00 AM
Premier home brewers, award winning BBQ and musicians are brought together in Downtown Excelsior Springs in conjunction with the 24th Annual BBQ & Fly-In on the River in the Hall of Waters Circle Drive! Enjoy delicious drinks and great music with your craft beer loving friends!
AUGUST 23RD-25TH
Parkville Days
English Landing Park and Downtown Parkville
One of downtown Parkville’s largest events, the Parkville Days festival features a variety of family-friendly entertainment. Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy live music along the Missouri River and on Main Street. The Evans Midland Empire Carnival is open all weekend, starting Friday at 6 pm. Browse and enjoy arts & crafts, retail, food, and specialty booths.
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