January Fun Calendar
National Soup Month: Enjoy a delicious bowl of made-from-scratch soup at Best Regards Bakery & Café (6759 W. 119th St., Overland Park, 913.782.1505). In addition to great soups, the grilled cheese is something that has everyone talking. The café is loved across the metro for fresh-from-the-oven cookies and delicious soups. Two favorites include San Marzano tomato basil soup and oven-roasted potato soup. MakeThemSmile.com
National Blood Donor Month: Contact the Community Blood Center to find a nearby location or event where you can donate blood to help save lives. SaveALifeNow.org
Jan. 3: National Chocolate-Covered Cherry Day. For a truly decadent gourmet treat, head to Garza’s (322 W. 85th St., Kansas City, MO, 816.569.0278), where you can purchase the best chocolate-covered cherries on town.
Jan. 4: Spaghetti Day. Cascone’s, a Kansas City tradition since 1954, has been owned and operated by the Cascone family for four generations. We can’t think of a better place to enjoy classic spaghetti and meatballs. See Cascones.com for locations.
Jan. 5: National Bird Day. The Kansas City Zoo is home to hundreds of birds from around the world, including penguins, flamingoes, tropical birds and many more. Also enjoy Wings of Wonder, a live bird show weekdays at 12:30 and on Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 and 2:30. Fly into the auditorium located in the lobby at the zoo’s front entrance to enjoy the show. Free with admission. KansasCityZoo.org
Jan. 6: Shortbread Day. McLain's Bakery (7422 Wornall Rd., Kansas City, MO) has been serving delicious baked goods, including cookies, to local customers since 1945. Shortbread cookies are just one of their many specialties. McLainsBakeryInWaldo.com
Jan. 11: Milk Day. Head to the grocery store, where you’ll find milk from Shatto Dairy Farm (9406 N. Hwy. 33, Osborn, MO, 816.930.3862), a working dairy farm and milk bottling company selling the best milk in the metro.
Jan. 14: Hot Pastrami Sandwich Day. Although d’Bronx is known for their pizza, the delicatessen serves some of the best sandwiches in town, including a hot pastrami sandwich to die for. See DBronxKC.com for locations.
Jan. 15: Strawberry Ice Cream Day. Sylas & Maddy’s offers delicious homemade ice cream in classic and unique flavors, making it the perfect spot to enjoy delicious strawberry ice cream. See SylasAndMaddys.com for locations.
Jan. 16: Appreciate a Dragon Day. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art houses many beautiful dragons depicted in art. Their exhibit “Rising Dragons: Ancient Treasures from China” celebrates many of these pieces. Nelson-Atkins.org
Jan. 19: National Popcorn Day. For more than 50 years, Topsy’s has been serving delicious popcorn to Kansas Citians! The Plaza Christmas popcorn tin is a holiday tradition in many homes, challenging families to choose a favorite: cheese, butter, caramel, pecan crisp, popcorn peanut, kettle corn or cinnamon. See TopsysPopcorn.com for locations.
Jan. 24: Peanut Butter Day. Anyone can make and enjoy a pb&j or classic peanut butter cookie, but what about peanut butter pie? Enjoy one of these tasty confections at the Upper Crust Bakery. See UpperCrustPieBakery.com for locations.
Jan. 28: Blueberry Pancake Day. The Big Biscuit offers one of the biggest home-style breakfast menus in town, with an entire section devoted just to pancakes. The Big Biscuit has four locations: BigBiscuitRestaurant.com.
Jan. 29: National Puzzle Day. Head over to Kaleidoscope, Kansas City’s favorite FREE destination for children to create, imagine and design their very own jigsaw puzzles. HallmarkKaleidoscope.com