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Hello, May!
I love celebrating women in our May issue every year. There are so many inspirational women to highlight in the Northland!
Our cover story for May comes from the women behind Blush Farms Cork + Board, a charcuterie and wine bar in Liberty. If you haven’t been living under a rock for the last decade, you know charcuterie boards are still all the rage, and they’re the ideal “girl dinner.” Marty and Angie, who started their business during the pandemic, are the ultimate hostesses, and they bring that love of taking care of people to their business.
Atsuko Hammann is another woman serving up amazing food in the Northland, but she’s baking pastries and bread in the new Sour Rabbit Bakery in Platte Woods. Her baked goods have been hugely popular since she opened in March — so much so that she often sells out! I’ve still yet to snag one myself but I’m determined!
We’ve got two other women-owned businesses we profiled this month. P2 Pickleball is run by duo Michelle Dawalt and Mary Beth Preuss out of Parkville, where they share their wealth of knowledge of the sport with other women during their clinics. Our last story is a profile of Erin Pech of Meadowbelle Jewelry, who makes beautiful custom jewelry. Mahtab Hadjian, the hardworking high school student who produced a story for the magazine in partnership with Northland CAPS earlier this year, pitched it to us. It’s been such a pleasure working with her again!
We hope you enjoy the stories of inspirational women in our pages this month. Until next month,
KATIE CURRID, EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
May 2025
PUBLISHER
Chelsey Juarez | chelsey.juarez@citylifestyle.com
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Katie Currid | katie.currid@citylifestyle.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Katie Currid, Mahtab Hadjian, Jennifer Kirby, Jenny Vergara
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Aundrea Anderson, Katie Currid, Mahtab Hadjian, Jennifer Kirby, Erin Pech, Hannah Schreiner
Corporate Team
CEO Steven Schowengerdt
COO Matthew Perry
CRO Jamie Pentz
VP OF OPERATIONS Janeane Thompson
VP OF SALES Andrew Leaders
AD DESIGNER Andrew Sapad
LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee
QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Megan Cagle
P2:
Hostesses with the Mostest
The women behind Blush Farms have turned hospitality into community — with wine, snacks, and mahjong nights.
1-7: Artists from Orange Easel art school have work on display at the Martha Lafite Natura Sanctuary gallery for their show, “Bridging Art & Nature.” The show is on display through November. For more information, visit naturesanctuary.com/gallery Photography provided by Orange Easel
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Ty Nagle with TN Creative
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A STARTER STORY
FROM HOME OVEN TO HOTTEST BAKERY: SOUR RABBIT BAKERY HOPS INTO THE NORTHLAND
ARTICLE BY JENNY VERGARA PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANNAH SCHREINER
The journey from being a cottage baker—legally baking and selling pre-ordered items to friends and family from your home kitchen—to opening a retail bakery storefront comes with a steep learning curve.
That’s certainly been the case for Atsuko Hammann, who ran her cottage bakery business for two years before opening Sour Rabbit Bakery in Platte Woods. She and her husband, Rolf Hammann, leased the former home of Anita’s Famous Rolls on January 1. By early
March, they were open to the public—only to be forced to close the very next day due to heavy snowstorms that rocked the area and knocked out power at the bakery—not once, but twice.
When she finally reopened a few days later, Atsuko sold out of every item within hours. With just herself in the kitchen doing all the baking, she’s been trying to play catch-up ever since. When I showed up to interview her, she apologetically turned me away—she was too busy making cookies. Instead, I interviewed her husband, Rolf, who explained that while he is her partner in the business, the baking is all hers.
Atsuko learned her craft from Rolf’s mother, who was in the bakery business back in Germany, where he grew up. Atsuko has been honing those skills for over 30 years, although it was only three years ago that she began baking exclusively with sourdough starter as her leavening agent.
To manage the growing demand at Sour Rabbit, she now posts a weekly baking schedule so customers know what’s available on which days. She’s also in the process of hiring additional bakers to help—an enviable challenge for a bakery that’s only been open a month, but it speaks volumes about the quality of her handcrafted goods.
Sour Rabbit Bakery is open Tuesday–Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. During the week, she offers an array of fresh bread loaves, bagels, and pre-made sandwiches. Saturdays are for laminated croissants, Danish pastries, sweet rolls, and more. On Sundays, you’ll find loaves and a rotating selection of cakes and other desserts.
Inside the bakery, a mural painted by local Mexican artist Socorro Reyes Ramírez features Atsuko’s own drawing: two rabbit ears and a pair of eyes. It’s the bakery’s logo, and it captures the whimsical yet deeply personal nature of the business. The name, Sour Rabbit Bakery, was inspired by the sourdough starters Atsuko uses—one made from wheat flour, another from
“Atsuko had always dreamed of opening her own bakery.”
Japanese sake—and the rabbit, her favorite animal, and her birth sign in the Japanese zodiac.
The couple met and fell in love in Japan in 1986, where Rolf, a master sausage maker, was completing a culinary apprenticeship. After marrying, they debated where to live before ultimately choosing to move to Kansas City in 1997.
“Atsuko had always dreamed of opening her own bakery,” Rolf explained. “I helped her build her cottage bakery in our basement. Eventually, she wanted to go bigger. The cottage
—ROLF
laws were too restrictive—she couldn’t make or sell cheesecake, for example, or sell to coffee shops and restaurants. She wanted the freedom to do that.”
The best-selling items at Sour Rabbit Bakery are also the ones Atsuko loves to make most—and the ones that take the longest: her pastries. Using sourdough starter, she crafts buttery French croissants, chocolate-filled croissants, and cinnamon swirls, just to name a few. On cake days, you might find German streusel cake filled with apple or plum-blueberry compote. She also makes a rich cheesecake with housemade strawberry sauce, flan with dulce de leche, and red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting.
Her sourdough loaves vary widely—from seeded sourdough and green olive-rosemary to a classic boule (French for “ball”). Her bagels, which are more like sandwich rolls, come in flavors like sesame, plain, cheddar, asiago, and cheddar-jalapeño.
In less than three years, Atsuko has taken her passion for sourdough baking from basement to booming business—and Northlanders are taking notice. Most weekends, she sells out.
Which means if you want to try something from Sour Rabbit Bakery, you’d better get there early—for the best selection.
Sour Rabbit Bakery
7715 NW Prairie View Road, Kansas City @sour_rabbit_bakery (816) 957-5337
PARKVILLE’S
OVERHEAD SLAM
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER KIRBY
P2: THE WOMEN’S PICKLEBALL GROUP THAT’S RALLYING A COMMUNITY
Pickleball is more than just a sport for the women of P2—it’s about creating a welcoming, empowering space where women can connect and grow. Founded by Michelle Dawalt and Mary Beth Preuss, P2 was born from a love of the game and a desire to help others improve and thrive on the court.
The name P2 holds special meaning.
"Our tagline and value is 'Propel your Passion,' and that’s what we strive to do," Michelle explained.
P2’s mission is to support local women by using pickleball as a friendly, fun, and supportive venue where they can play, improve, and share in the camaraderie of others who need a break from everyday life. It’s a group where you can be yourself, share some smiles, and know you’re supported.
"We met via mutual friends while playing pickleball on Saturday mornings at Chicken N Pickle," Mary Beth shared. "We established a connection as competitive racquet sports enthusiasts and eventually started playing in tournaments, attending clinics, and earning our PPR Coaching certification together. We wanted to take our experiences and learnings of 'drilling and practicing'— which took us almost three years to figure out—and share them with other ladies so they could excel faster and bring more confidence to the pickleball court."
Pickleball is uniquely suited for women of all backgrounds and skill levels. There’s no judgment—just a chance to discover what each player wants to get out of it.
“While we emphasize drilling to create good habits and muscle memory,” Michelle explains, “we also encourage a team-spirited attitude and a place to come together, build confidence, and decompress for a couple of hours."
The impact of P2 is seen in the stories of its members. Some women have been involved since the beginning, growing their skills, winning tournaments, and introducing the sport to their families and friends. One particularly touching moment came from a woman with no athletic background.
"She worked so hard to get the rhythm of pickleball, and by the end of the session, she was playing with confidence and so tickled with herself,” says Mary Beth. “We love to see our players light up!"
Beyond the court, P2 is more than a place to play—it’s a place where friendships grow. What starts as shared court time often becomes holiday celebrations, social outings, and a true support system.
“It’s unlike any other sport or even workplace space—it’s a true community,” says Mary Beth.
Looking ahead, P2 is dreaming big.
CONTINUED >
Michelle Dawalt and Mary Beth Preuss
“We’d love to launch a podcast with fun banter and local pickleball enthusiasts as guests,” says Michelle. “And we’ve always dreamed of a Ladies Only destination clinic by a beach—combining sun, fun, and lots of pickleball!”
With their energy and momentum, it’s easy to imagine those dreams becoming reality.
Women interested in joining can attend their monthly Char Bar Parkville clinics. You can find more information on their Facebook page, Parkville Pickleball P2, on Instagram at @p2parkville, or via email at parkvillepickleball@gmail.com.
HOSTESSES
MOSTEST WITH THE
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY
BY KATIE CURRID
The women behind Blush Farms have turned hospitality into community — with wine, snacks, and mahjong nights.
The owners of Blush Farms, cousins Marty Wynn and Angie Siddens, were born to host. They grew up watching the matriarchs of their family entertain guests, cooking for them and pulling out all the stops to host a great party at their family farm in rural northern Missouri.
“Our moms and our grandma, just hospitality and entertaining and cooking [were] always huge,” says Marty. “[It was] just a huge part of our life growing up — having people over a lot, cooking big meals, that type of thing.”
Now, it’s like they get to host a great party every day at Blush Farms, their charcuterie bar in historic downtown Liberty.
Blush Farms Cork + Board began when Marty and Angie had the idea to make a few charcuterie boxes and gift them to friends during the pandemic. The amount of interest in their boxes told the pair that they were onto something.
“All of a sudden, people were just like, ‘How can we buy this? Can I send one to so and so? Can I send one to my work team?’” says Marty. “So we were like, ‘Okay, give us a minute. We can figure it out professionally.’”
Marty and Angie had orders rolling in, so they rented a commercial kitchen space and started making deliveries. It wasn’t long before the pair opened their first tasting room in the historic Corbin Mills building. Then, they expanded into a second storefront — a retail space where guests can shop for wine, barware, gifts, and now, gather to play mahjong.
The century-old tile game has found a great audience at Blush Farms, as it pairs perfectly with wine and charcuterie. After discovering the rising mahjong trend online, Marty reached out to a company in Dallas called Oh My Mahjong and hired an instructor to teach them how to play.
workshops, both privately and publicly, for those who want to learn how to play. The vibe is laid-back and inviting — no pressure, no pretense. And while it may be predominantly women who fill the tables, the community is multigenerational and growing.
Marty and Angie are also continuing to expand the offerings of their business. They recently purchased the Italian mobile
“What I like about mahjong is you’re playing as an individual, and you can kind of be as serious about it as you want,” says Marty. “If you make a mistake or miss something, you’re the only one that suffers from it.”
Now, Marty and Angie are full-fledged mahjong enthusiasts and host mahjong multiple times a week. They’re even certified instructors themselves and host
tap truck, Fizzolino, and are looking forward to breaking it out at their shop or booking it for private events. They can’t wait to pour cold brew coffee and Prosecco from the silly little truck’s three taps.
Whether they’re running a mahjong night, pouring a drink from Fizzolino’s taps or building a charcuterie board, Marty and Angie will be the hostesses with the mostest — after all, providing a good time is what they do best.
Blush Farms Cork + Board
131 South Water Street, Liberty @blush.farms
blush-farms.com
You can stop by Blush Farms for a charcuterie board and a cocktail during their regular business hours, or find one of their events, like mixology classes and seasonal gatherings, on their website and Facebook page . For more information about mahjong, follow them on Facebook and Instagram , or join their private Facebook page for weekly play.
Made to Remember
Meadowbelle Jewelry turn memories into meaningful, handcrafted
As you step into the Meadowbelle studio, modern, dainty jewelry is cast against the backdrop of an industrial building whose history reaches far back into the roots of Kansas City history: The Livestock Exchange Building. There, you’ll find a collection of pearls set upon golden hoops, silver chains that catch and reflect glints of light and a delicate droplet of gold with a single initial on it . A delicate collection of minerals and metals, soldered to simple perfection and beauty; a wondrous, feminine quality across each piece. This is the quality of Kansas City’s Meadowbelle Jewelry.
jewelry
ARTICLE BY MAHTAB HADJIAN |
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY ERIN PECH
Bottom Right: Photo by Aundrea Anderson
ARTIST’S PALETTE | STYLE + BEAUTY
Founded by Erin Pech in 2008, Meadowbelle is a woman-owned handmade jewelry company. Specializing in minimalist, personalized pieces, Meadowbelle prides itself in creating timeless pieces that weave storytelling into their jewelry, honoring the past while cherishing current moments that will become future memories.
Meadowbelle Jewelry creates a personally tailormade experience for each customer. Each product is handcrafted with immense precision and attention to detail, from shimmering rings to glittering necklaces.
Erin credits her love of art and connection for the creation of Meadowbelle.
“I studied Spanish and sociology in college, but I had always enjoyed art and any creative process,” says Erin. “I joke that Meadowbelle is my third child, but it really did grow to become
something very special to me. Similar to [the life lessons of] raising my own kids, my business has been something that’s taught me deep truths about myself and continually pushes me to work through my own limiting beliefs. I suspect this is a nearly universal experience for business owners.”
Erin, who is from the Northland, spent several years dabbling in jewelry as an artistic medium, but it was planning her wedding that sparked a love for creating personalized pieces.
“I made jewelry as keepsakes for my bridesmaids,” says Erin. “They were meant to cement that moment so we’d always have something to remind us of that time.”
Operating initially on the Etsy platform, Erin became adept in the world of e-commerce. But even with the internet’s great reach, over the years, she felt the impersonal aspects of virtual business became magnified. Erin wanted her jewelry to make others feel celebrated and seen and, overall, serve as a way to preserve moments in time by telling stories.
“It can be overwhelming living in an age where everything from goods, services, news and virtual connection is so instaneously available online,” says Erin. “We are more connected than ever in a myriad ways yet feel less connected than ever. I knew then that I wanted Meadowbelle to be a business that felt personal, like a close friend.”
Erin’s aspiration for connection with online customers led to handwritten notes in every single shipment, allowing her to be able to connect more with each customer. But Erin didn’t stop there.
In 2021, Erin took this sentiment even further by launching Meadowbelle’s Memorial and Memento Jewelry collection. This deeply personal line allows customers to encapsulate cherished memories within custom jewelry, incorporating meaningful elements such as sand from a special beach, earth from a childhood home, or even cremains of a loved one or pet.
“[It] has been one of the most impactful, emotional journeys for me as a jeweler,” says Erin.
Although not strictly what Meadowbelle offers, Pech exuded great emotion for the collection.
“It’s the trust that our customers place in us, the stories they share with us, that make this collection truly special,” says Erin.
At its core, Meadowbelle Jewelry is about more than beautiful designs—it’s about preserving moments, celebrating connections, and honoring the people and places that shape our lives. For Erin, every piece tells a story, and she considers it a privilege to help her customers keep those stories close to their hearts.
You can find Erin’s jewelry on her website at meadowbellejewelry.com or on Instagram at @meadowbelle
Photo by Aundrea Anderson
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MAY 10TH
Northland Mother's Day 5K
English Landing Park, Parkville | 9:00 AM
Equal Start invites you to participate in the 10th Annual Northland Mother's Day 5K. The event will raise money to purchase school supplies for the Platte County Back to School Fair in July. For more information, visit r unsignup.com/Race/MO/Parkville/ NorthlandMothersDay5K10K
MAY 12TH
Save A Life From An Overdose class
North Kansas City Hospital, Pavillon, Burlington Room, 1st Floor, 2700 Clay Edwards Dr. | 12:00 PM
Learn how to identify an overdose, administer NARCAN®, an opioid overdose antidote, and save a life. Attendees will receive a free twodose NARCAN kit. This is a free class. Register at nkch.org/Class or call 816.691.1690
MAY 16TH-17TH
Gladstone Summertime Bluesfest
Linden Square, Gladstone | 4:00 PM
This festival is enjoyed by blues fans from our community and continues to grow and attract bigger crowds from surrounding cities, counties, and states! Enjoy the brats, hots dogs, popcorn, nachos and much more! Admission is a suggested $5 donation. Park opens at 4 pm Friday with live music at 5 pm.
MAY 30TH-JUNE 1ST
Festa Italiana
Zona Rosa's North Park | 5:00 PM
This festival is a unique celebration of Italian traditions and Italian-American culture. Enjoy an amazing assortment of Italian food favorites, great entertainment on the main stage all weekend, an Italian Motorsports Show, Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair, bounce houses for kids and much more. FREE admission, food & beverages available for purchase.
JUNE 5TH
First Thursdays: Game Night
Historic Downtown Liberty | 4:00 PM
It's game night in downtown Liberty! Many businesses will have games inside and on the sidewalks, adding to extra fun while you shop. Stores will be open until 8 p.m., giving you extra time to browse, shop, and enjoy the fun. Scan the QR codes inside participating shops for a chance to win $100 in downtown gift cards!
JUNE 6TH
Friday in the Park
Macken Park, 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 from 11:30 am to 1 pm. Free and open to public.
Where
JUNE 7TH
Rolling on the River Fun Bike Ride
E.H. Young Riverfront Park, Riverside | 9:00 AM
The Rolling on the River Bike Ride is a 14-mile ride from E.H. Young Park in Riverside to Platte Landing Park in Parkville and back to Riverside. This is an "out and back" ride. You will have 2 turn-around spots if you are riding with small children or would like a lower mileage ride. For more information, visit platteparks.com/ rolling-on-the-river
JUNE 7TH
Free Fishing Day
Platte Ridge Park, Platte City | 10:00 AM
The Missouri Department of Conservation and Platte County Parks & Recreation will host a free fishing clinic at the Platte Ridge Park fishing pond from 10AM-Noon. The Conservation Department will have poles, hooks, and bobbers available for optional use, and Platte County Parks will provide the bait! For more information, visit platteparks.com/free-fishing-day
JUNE 7TH
Art on the Side
Parking lot next to The Artisan Market at 118 N Main Street, Liberty | 8:00 AM
The 4th Annual Art on the Side Liberty Art Festival will showcase fine art, handcrafted original fine jewelry, artisan crafts, live performances, and an eclectic marketplace, all in the heart of Liberty’s charming and historic downtown district. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore and purchase unique works from local and regional artists. For more information, visit libertyartontheside.com
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JUNE 7TH
Liberty Quilt Walk
2 E Main St., Liberty | 10:00 AM Quilting Author and Influencer Angela Walters invites you to join quilters from around the United States for her 7th annual Quilt Walk. Historic downtown Liberty will have quilts on display both indoors and outdoors. Visitors are encouraged to go store to store to collect free quilt block patterns and then gather for demonstrations with Angela Walters and her keynote speaker. Want to be featured?
