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Kansas City Connection: Where to find the red, white and boom

By Lucas Wetzel - | Jun 29, 2014

This week, the streets of Kansas City will be filled with the sulfurous fog of colorful smoke bombs, the hiss of lighted fuses and the sharp cracks and muffled booms of fireworks echoing across the inner city neighborhoods and central suburbs.

Though most fireworks are technically illegal in Kansas City, Mo., and throughout much of Kansas, they are sold throughout the metro, and many city streets turn into impromptu block parties, barbecues and pyrotechnic displays en miniature.

One of the best places to stock up for your kaleidoscopic aerial displays is in Riverside, Mo., which at 3,000 people has to have more fireworks stands per capita than most anywhere else in the nation.

Vendors such as Dishonest Don’s and Crazy Harry’s do a brisk business in the days leading up to the Fourth, but my personal favorite is the tent outside Red X. The Riverside Red X began in 1948 as a dry-good store selling milk, bread, cigarettes and gas, and today it’s a grocery store, curiosity shop and liquor depot that’s worth strolling through for bargains, booze and odd finds.

I should make a disclaimer that the Kansas City Connection column does not by any means endorse illicit or unsafe fireworks use. In fact, after remotely witnessing the thunderous display at Riverfest last year, I wholeheartedly endorse leaving the heavy lifting to the professionals.


U-Gene’s

In addition to being a fireworks capital, home to the casinos and the site of a Dwayne Bowe traffic stop last year, Riverside is home to the beloved U-Gene’s Deli and Pizza, 4603 NW Gateway Drive. Don’t let the scowling grandpa on the sign fool you — U-Gene’s has a reputation for friendly service and quality pizza.

It’s probably not the kind of place you’d go on a first date, but if you’re hunting for good meatball subs in the Northland and/or on the way to the airport (there’s a second location at 11200 NW Ambassador Drive), this is your spot.

Visit www.ugenesdeliandpizza.net to see the menu and peep the aforementioned logo.

Riverfest

At Riverfest, an all-day Fourth of July festival at Berkley Riverfront Park just east of the City Market, you’ll be able to sample food and drink from a number of vendors, enjoy children’s activities and large-scale kites, see live music on two different stages, and witness what has to be one of the most impressive fireworks displays in the entire region.

Admission is $5 for the festival, which runs from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. For more details and parking information, visit kcriverfest.com.


Memphis Belle

If you think you spot a WWII-era B-17 bomber circling the skies today, don’t worry — you’re not imagining things.

The Memphis Belle, one of only 15 of Boeing’s famous “Flying Fortresses” still cleared for flight, is currently in Kansas City’s Downtown Airport on a tour of the region that includes Omaha, Des Moines, St. Louis and Louisville.

Public flights and ground tours are taking place this afternoon. For more information, call 918-340-0243 or visit libertyfoundation.org.

‘Roads of Arabia’

A different kind of historical exhibit is wrapping up July 6 at the Nelson Atkins Museum. “Roads of Arabia” presents the archaeology and history of Saudi Arabia, using over 200 recently excavated objects to tell stories of the region’s culture and ancient trade routes.

Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors over 55, $6 for students and free for children 12 and under. Visit Nelson-Atkins.org for information and hours.

Concerts

Some big names are performing in concert this week.

Jackson Browne will be at the Uptown Theater for at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Tickets cost $75 through Ticketmaster. Sarah McLachlan will also play Thursday night at Starlight Theatre. Tickets for the 8 p.m. show start at $35 at kcstarlight.com. And Willie Nelson and Alison Krauss will also team up for a joint 7 p.m. performance at Starlight next Sunday.

With that, I’d like to wish you a happy and safe Independence Day. I don’t want to hear the words “Put out the fire!” shouted anywhere except the Sporting KC vs. Chicago Fire match taking place at 2 p.m. next Sunday at Sporting Park in KCK.

— Lucas Wetzel is a writer and editor from Kansas City, Mo. Know of an upcoming event in Kansas City you’d like to see featured in Kansas City Connection? Email us about it at kcconnection@ljworld.com.