Date Night

DATES WITH THEMES

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a themed date!

CHILI DAY

Feb. 24 is National Chili Day, and what better place to have some than at Dixon’s Famous Chili in Independence! What started out as a street cart in downtown Kansas City in 1919 has now become the longest-running family-owned business in KC, serving up good food for more than 100 years. My husband and I recently made it a point to go visit. He had been there before (ages ago); I had not. Their menu is simple: chili, tacos, burritos, nachos, tamales, burgers and hot dogs. We both opted for the basic chili plate with meat over beans. Our a la carte toppings included onion, cheese, pickles, sour cream and jalapeno relish. We also ended up adding ketchup to our chili because Dixon’s does not use a traditional tomato base and cooks their meat and beans separately. All in all, the chili was warm, comforting and tasty. We agreed that we’d like to try their tacos sometime, especially since they have an all-you-can-eat special every day for $9.99.

PIZZA DAY

National Pizza Day is Feb. 9, and because I have rarely met a pizza I didn’t like, this is one day I love to celebrate. So many great places in Kansas City have pizza, and one of our favorites is Sarah’s on the Hill. Located in an old grocery store called Bruson’s in Strawberry Hill, this place has been slinging pies and serving up delicious drinks since 2019. They have an excellent happy hour from 4:00 to 6:00 and again from 9:00 to 10:00 daily. It features $2 domestics, $3 craft beers, $5 cocktails and sangrias and $5 10-inch, single topping pizzas. For just $2 more, you can get one of their specialty pies. They don’t skimp on toppings, and their crust is some of the best anywhere. It’s a small place with fewer than 10 tables and a distinct “neighborhood hangout” feel. But don’t let either of those deter you, as Sarah’s is eager to welcome newbies to the shop as well. If you don’t have the time or desire to eat in, they do a very robust and steady carryout business.

HEART MONTH

February is American Heart Month, and one of the best ways to reduce your risk for heart disease is by exercising regularly. Because February is one of the coldest months in Kansas City, slacking off of the physical activity, especially if it’s outdoors, is tempting. But the wintry outdoors can be fun. We highly recommend snow tubing at Snow Creek in Weston, MO. It is one of the most fun things we have ever done as a couple. Even though they have a conveyor belt to transport you to the top of Tornado Alley each time, your blood definitely will be pumping when you spin and slide down their 700-foot hill! Another terrific way to get some exercise in the winter, which is also perfect for a date night, is ice-skating. Of course, Crown Center has their well-known outdoor rink, but there are several others in the area as well. Additional ideas include skiing and snowshoeing. Finding ways to stay active together—even in the winter—gives you time to bond and helps keep your heart strong and healthy.

Hannah Berry is a freelance writer who lives in the Northland with her husband. They love to explore Kansas City and try new restaurants and activities.

FOR MORE GREAT DATE NIGHT IDEAS, GO TO KCPARENT.COM!

Mid-Continent Public Library provides

parents, caregivers, and teachers access to free resources that bring interesting and important stories to life for children during Black History Month and throughout the year, building appreciation and understanding of their own culture and that of fellow students and friends.

Below are a few suggestions available to intrigue young minds with information about prominent figures in Black history, including leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and authors and artists of color.

BookFlix is an online literacy tool that pairs animated stories with real-world concepts for early readers up to 3rd grade. Young readers will build their vocabulary as they engage in animated stories and interactive games related to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges, Harriet Tubman, and Jackie Robinson.

FreedomFlix features all of Scholastic’s Cornerstones of Freedom books, which can be read online, as well as short videos and suggestions to explore topics further. Titles related to Black History Month, including The Underground Railroad, Emancipation Proclamation, Brown vs. Board of Education, and The Civil Rights Movement, will help older students (5th grade and higher) better understand the struggle for freedom and equal rights for Black Americans.

Just for Kids Access Video on Demand

gives older elementary and middle school students a fun and educational place to stream a wide variety of videos without advertisements. The education-related videos vary in length and include math, ABCs, science, and history. Also among the videos are the stories of Frederick Douglass, NASA’s Katherine Johnson, Thurgood Marshall, and others.

Teachables, a Scholastic product, offers thousands of learning resources for teachers and caregivers, including teacher-created lesson plans, activity sheets, and mini books for grades K-8 that share the stories of Langston Hughes, George Washington Carver, Alvin Ailey, Jr., Wilma Rudolph, and others.

African American History is a great resource for teens, who may be working on a research assignment or parents who are looking to refresh their own knowledge. This comprehensive reference resource covers more than 500 years of African American history, from the slave trade to the Civil Rights movement to the present day. It includes biographies, images, timelines, maps, and charts, as well information about such subjects as the Harlem Renaissance, the Abolitionist Movement, and more.

Librarians also have created lists of book and DVDs for adults and kids of all ages that are available to place on hold in the Library’s online catalog to pick up at any of the 30-plus MCPL branches in the Kansas City area.

All Mid-Continent Public Library resources are free to access with a Library card. Visit mymcpl.org/BlackHistory for more suggested resources. Anyone in the greater Kansas City area can apply for a Library card online at mymcpl.org/NewCard.