LS Lowdown: The Royals Won, I Nearly Melted

Happy Sunday, Lee's Summit! ☀️ (industrial sunscreen edition)

I made it out to the Royals/Phillies game this past weekend, and I'm not sure who Kansas City summer heat is mad at, but it felt personal. I have never sweat through a shirt just sitting still before. The good news: the Royals won, which feels like a genuine coin flip these days given how up and down their season has been. I'll take a win, sunstroke and all.

This week's Lowdown has a new business or two worth checking out, a World Cup connection you wouldn't expect, and (of course) a stacked live music lineup. Let's get into it. 👇

Filling Station BBQ here in Lee's Summit did something a little different this week. Owner Chris Nudson swapped his usual brisket for a full Argentine Asado, and KSHB stopped by to cover it.

The cook featured picanha, slow-cooked beef ribs, and a 22-pound vacio (a cut that combines what we'd normally sell as three separate cuts: flank, skirt, and bavette). The beef came from Hertzog Meat Co. out of Butler, Missouri, and instead of barbecue sauce, it was seasoned simply with salt and served with homemade chimichurri.

The timing wasn't random. Team Argentina played a World Cup quarterfinal in Kansas City this weekend, and a group of local Argentina natives came out to share the tradition with Nudson, who pulled off a 10-12 hour cook on short notice. If Argentina keeps advancing, Filling Station BBQ says they're considering doing it again for the public. Something to keep an eye on if you'd rather watch this one from your own backyard next time.

There's a new chapter at 959 NE Rice Rd. The Merrymaker Collective has become Tillie & Co. Collective, and I made it out to Saturday's grand opening.

If you loved Merrymaker for the local vendor mix, you'll feel right at home. Tillie & Co. is still a collective of local makers under one roof, with women's fashion, accessories, gifts, home décor, books, and kids' apparel. If you're looking for unique LS or KC swag, this is the spot.

Lee's Summit has a new breakfast spot. Huddle House officially opened at 26550 NE Colbern Rd, the 12th location in Missouri and the second for local franchisee Terry Green (he also runs the Sedalia location).

Home-style American classics, all-day breakfast, dine-in or takeout. Open daily 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you've been missing a good hash brown situation on that side of town, this is your sign.

This week's Pet of the Week is Hippie, an 11-month-old Sheep-a-Doodle who has strong opinions about downtown Lee's Summit.

His favorite thing in the world is a walk downtown, and he takes his job as squirrel, rabbit, and bird watcher very seriously. Basically, if it moves and it's small, Hippie has clocked it.

Meetings that happened while you were living your life last week.

🏛 City Council

The real estate agenda moved fast this week. Council approved the LCRA plan and Community Improvement District for Arborside, a 1,000-acre master-planned community from Land Reserve, Inc. They also passed the rezoning and preliminary development plan for a new 100,000-square-foot Dillon's and fuel kiosk near NE Tudor Rd and NE Douglas St, after amending a requirement on the building's rear facade materials. Plus the usual: July declared Parks and Recreation Month, plats and easements approved.

Public comment ran hot, with residents pushing back hard on the tax subsidies, the time limits, and nuisance fireworks scaring pets around town. You can watch the full meeting here if you want to see it for yourself.

Where to find the music this week.

Sunday, July 12

Wednesday, July 15

Thursday, July 16

Friday, July 17

Saturday, July 18

Here's what else is going on this week:

Monday, July 13

Tuesday, July 14

Wednesday, July 15

Thursday, July 16

Friday, July 17

Saturday, July 18

This one's technically next week, but registration is required, so don't wait to see it in next Sunday's issue.

If you've got a student-athlete heading into grades 6-12 this fall, LSR7 is hosting a Sports Physical Clinic on Tuesday, July 21 from 4-7 p.m. at Lee's Summit North High School (East/Fieldhouse Entrance). Cost is $30, and registration is required, so get it on the calendar now rather than scrambling the week before school starts.

Did you know the All Veterans Memorial sits right at 3rd & Main downtown, next to the old train depot? It's been there since the early 2000s and expanded in 2016 so more veterans could get a permanent brick dedication. Next time you're downtown for dinner or a show at the VFW, it's worth a slow walk past. Many thanks to all who have served!

Confession: this newsletter is not the only spreadsheet-adjacent thing I do for this town. I'm also the treasurer for the VFW Auxiliary, and this week we officially closed the books on last fiscal year and cracked open a brand new one. Nothing says "wild Wednesday night" like reconciling a ledger, but somebody's got to do it, and I genuinely don't mind it being me.

It got me thinking, though: a few of you have mentioned wanting more info on ways to actually get plugged in and volunteer around Lee's Summit, beyond just showing up to the events I list every week. So consider this an open invitation. If you volunteer somewhere in town, or you know a group that could use more hands, hit reply and tell me about it. I'd love to start pointing people in the right direction.

Thanks for being part of the Lowdown crew!

- Jen

 Editor, Lee’s Summit Lowdown

P.S. I made it out to the Farmers Market Saturday, picked up some flowers, and met Matt and Chrissy Stewart in person after following their story on Facebook for a while. Both are navigating cancer at the same time, and somehow still found the energy to write books. I picked up Matt's book on Kansas City restaurants, which is exactly what you need for those nights when someone asks "what's for dinner" and nobody wants to say the same three places again. I've already flagged a few spots I want to try.

We also swung by Ladybug Day and picked up a new book and a raffle entry. More on the nonprofit behind it, Alyssa's Wishes, in a future issue. They're doing great work and deserve more than a passing mention.

How did we do in this edition?