This Week in KC: French Custard Introduces Token Tuesdays to Benefit Local Causes

Life in KC is pretty delicious. In fact, there is often so much going on that it can be hard to decide where to go and what to try.

Art by Cassondra Jones

Life in KC is pretty delicious. In fact, there is often so much going on that it can be hard to decide where to go and what to try.

That’s where I come in. 

I’ve curated this weekly list of events, openings, deals, and celebrations to keep you in-the-know. Cheers!

Something New

French Custard: Now your sweet treat can help benefit local causes such as food access, addiction help, or job training. French Custard in Brookside has introduced “token Tuesdays.” For each pint of custard that you purchase, you get to designate one $1 token to the mission of your choice. At the end of each month, the equivalent token donation will be made to each organization, and the one with the most tokens will receive space inside French Custard for a display the following month. 

Casual Animal: Calling all stout fans. (Me!) From October 31 – November 4, Casual Animal in Crossroads is hosting Stouterdays. The stoutfest will feature 11 dark beer selections from local breweries such as Big Rip Brewing, Border Brewing Co, City Barrel, Strange Days, Stockyards, and more. And just in case your partner or pals aren’t the stout fan you are, there will be additional events with cold brew, tarot, and brunch. Plus, candy and beer pairings to play up the sweetest part of this week’s holiday.

Today’s Tip

If you are waiting to be seated at a restaurant and see open tables, don’t assume that you should already be seated there. Sometimes, those tables are already reserved, but usually, when you see a whole section not being used or a few tables/booths in each section that are empty, it is a result of not enough staff. Sure, the host could seat you at an empty table sooner than they told you, but there is likely no one assigned to that section, or your server will be overworked/overwhelmed.

Opening

Frost: Infuse your week with a tropical ice vibe. Frost is now open after taking over the former Julep space in Westport. The new spot serves–you guessed it–frozen cocktails year-round. The menu features icy classics you expect and custom KC-themed concoctions, plus a few snacks. It is open from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. daily.

October 31

Halloween: It’s here! By now you probably have your evening planned or will be spending it with the kiddos in your family, like I am. Just in case, here are some of my top picks for happy haunts. First, Third Place Lounge. If it feels like I mention it a lot, it’s because I do. The fact that they have an equal cocktail-to-mocktail list is the kind of inclusivity I want to see more of. Third Place Lounge will offer pumpkin carving at 8:30 p.m. to kick off a full weekend of Halloween and then Dia de los Muertos events. In Overland Park, Entity Lounge is hosting a costume contest party from 8 – 10 p.m. I haven’t visited, but writer Tiffany Watts has. Lastly, Fern Bar is throwing a combination costume contest and launch party for MoonShift Mezcal. Reserve your spot (at no cost) – DJ Boatss starts at 8 p.m.

November 1

Kingdom’s Greetings: The Kansas City Chiefs and Vignettes just announced the return of Kingdom’s Greetings—a holiday pop-up bar at Arrowhead Stadium. The red and sparkly bar doesn’t open until November 30, but reservations open today at 10 a.m., and it is expected to sell out quickly. Reservations are $25 per person, and while they do include parking and some photo ops, the fee does not apply to the final bill. This is for ages 21+ only and will be open from 5 – 11 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays except on home game days. 

November 2

North KC Fall Fest: North Kansas City Fall Fest returns for a second year of food trucks, beer, bands, and family fun on Swift Ave. from 12 –  5 p.m. Festival tickets start at $5 in advance but are free for children, veterans, and active-duty service members. Festival proceeds support the small business collective RiverNorth District. The beer fest ($25) features 13 local breweries to sample, plus ample seating for the concerts each hour of the festival.

November 3

Kanbe’s Markets: At Farm2Able in Blue Springs, Kanbe’s Markets is hosting a vegan fall festival. Tickets start at $30 and include a farm tour and a plant-based meal. Farm2Able is an animal sanctuary that benefits from lower-tier produce that