Date Night

DATES WITH THEMES

March into spring with one of these date ideas!

SLOPPY JOE DAY

On March 18, we celebrate National Sloppy Joe Day. Although this sandwich is one you won’t find on many restaurant menus, a place in Paradise, MO (an unincorporated community in Smithville), serves this dish on a regular basis, usually every two to three weeks. Even though my husband and I have made sloppy joes many times in our lives, we wanted to try out the sandwich at Captain’s Corner for fun. Set inside a general store that sells gas, bait and tackle, canned goods and soap (among other things), Captain’s Corner offers up surprisingly delicious food. Their burgers and fries are always a great choice, so I figured the sloppy joes would be good too. They did not disappoint! The meaty sandwiches were actually better than any we’ve made at home. Plus, it’s hard to go wrong when you get to eat in Paradise!

AGRICULTURE WEEK

National Agriculture Week is March 21-27, and what better way to honor agriculture than for you and your significant other to pay a visit to the City Market, the region’s largest farmers market. It is open on the weekend year round and routinely features more than 60 farmer vendors, plus more than 50 artists, crafters and food and drink sellers. There is certainly no shortage of things to look at, taste test, try out, smell or purchase at this open air market. Even better, though, is to talk to some of the local farmers about their products. If you think about what it takes to get food to your plate, whether at home or in a restaurant, you will realize how big a role agriculture plays in our society. Thomas Jefferson once stated that agriculture “is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.” So next time you are at the City Market, take a minute to get to know one of the vendors. You just might be surprised by what you learn.

PIE DAY

March 14—or 3.14 for math lovers—marks National Pie Day. And who doesn’t love pie? The Upper Crust in downtown Overland Park, which has been named the best pie place in Kansas by several publications, offers pie flights once a month. We recently ordered one to share. It included one slice each of caramel walnut, pumpkin and apple rhubarb. All were very, very tasty (and pumpkin is my favorite pie anyway), but I especially loved the apple rhubarb. What a great combination! Another good place for pie is Rye on the Plaza. They have $4 slices of pie during happy hour, which is from 3:00 to 6:00 Monday through Friday. We decided to head down there for a sweet treat one afternoon and were perfectly happy to ruin our dinner by having dessert first.

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.

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“I recently adopted a cat and she keeps meowing to go outdoors. We do not know much of her history and are unsure if she was previously an indoor and outdoor cat. However, she was found stray, so we are wondering if she was used to being outdoors. Should we let her be an indoor and outdoor cat?” – Katheryn Jacobs

“There are many pros and cons to having your cat be an indoor and outdoor cat. That is a personal question for your family to decide, and it should depend on your cat’s behavior and her inside and outside environments. Pros for allowing your cat outside are that she will have more space, exercise, fresh air, sunshine, and enrichment. Cons for her going outside are that she will be more susceptible to illness, parasites, being hit by a car, or getting injured or killed by other animals. I recommend reading articles or working with a feline behaviorist on how to let your cat explore the outdoors safely and remember that safety and mental health of your cat should be the priority.”

– Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

along. Do you have any information or tips on how to introduce cats to rabbits?”

– Cindy Frederickson

“I recommend getting in touch with the House Rabbit Society (HRS) here in the KC area before getting a rabbit. Rabbits are a lot more work than most people anticipate and they are a long-term commitment. I also recommend adopting a rabbit instead of buying one since there are many without homes. HRS can provide you with education and support about rabbit care and advice about cat and rabbit introductions and whether it is worth trying. The cats and rabbits will need a slow introduction over time to make sure the rabbits are safe and comfortable.”

– Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

“We are considering getting a bunny for our daughter for Easter. We also have some cats and not sure if they would get “What does it mean when a dog howls? My dog howls when listening to my voice on my voice recorder when people call. I assumed that meant the dog was missing me, but I am right here, so why would the dog do it when I am present?”

– David Garcia

“Howling is a primal way for dogs to communicate with others around them. They do this for many reasons such as letting others know their presence or wailing due to loud noises that might be bothersome for them. There are different types of howling. Most people are familiar with separation anxiety howling and attention-seeking howling. It is crucial to know what type of howl it is before you train or shape the behavior. Some dogs howl just because they enjoy doing it. If howling becomes excessive, I recommend seeking a trainer to help with this behavior so that it does not become obsessive or compulsive.” – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Featured Pet

Taylor is a gorgeous 12-year-old cat who has been waiting a long time for her second chance. Taylor was brought to Great Plains SPCA last summer when sadly, her owner passed away. Taylor is very people-oriented and will happily greet you each morning with a few meows and a cuddle session. Despite her age, she is still very lively! She especially loves to play with wand toys and pom pom balls. Taylor is in diabetic remission, which is easily managed with a special diet. This loving lady deserves a home, and we hope to fi nd her one very soon!