News

In their threads era: KC retailers answer demand for Swift-Kelce clothing

By Tommy Felts / September 29, 2023

Editor’s note: This story was originally published by Missouri Business Alert, a member of the KC Media Collective, which also includes Startland News, KCUR 89.3, American Public Square, Kansas City PBS/Flatland, and The Kansas City Beacon. Click here to read the original story. Sunday’s game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Chicago Bears brought together two powerful…

Haunted by retro influences: How skull-popping artwork time traveled into some of the nation’s biggest publications

By Tommy Felts / September 28, 2023

Step into the retro world of John F. Malta, a West Bottoms-based artist whose creative journey is a blend of nostalgia, punk aesthetics, and a passion for eye-catching storytelling.  His vibrant imagination took Malta from his early days doodling in the classroom to his recent collaborations with iconic publications like The New York Times and…

PorchFestKC set to transform these Midtown neighborhoods into a one-day, walk-up music festival

By Tommy Felts / September 28, 2023

After a three-year hiatus, the original PorchFestKC — a music festival Kathryn Golden likens to stumbling on a neighborhood block party and being allowed to stay — is returning. And it’ll play out with a digital upgrade this year, said Golden. Launched in 2015, PorchFestKC — the city’s trend-setting, porch-packed community music celebration — will…

Black Drip plans OctoberFest showcase to give KC a taste of overlooked small businesses

By Tommy Felts / September 26, 2023

Black Drip Coffee’s OctoberFest is an extension of Charon Thompson’s passion for helping his fellow entrepreneurs, he shared. The free event — now in its third year — aims to bring together coffee enthusiasts, music lovers, and foodies in a vibrant atmosphere that showcases local small business owners. Festivities are set for 2 p.m. to…

Startup ambassadors’ pitch to former Kansas Citians: Move your innovation, hustle Back2KC

By Tommy Felts / September 26, 2023

Kansas City is having a moment, said Liam Reilly, and it’s an opportunity he and fellow Back2KC organizers couldn’t pass up — reviving the tech talent recruitment program amid Chiefs glory, downtown baseball district buzz, KC Streetcar expansion, riverfront revitalization, and a World Cup on the horizon. “We didn’t want to wait another year to…