Kansas City, we love you dearly, but sometimes the move is getting out of town for a minute. Preferably somewhere with mountains, live music, cold beer, and absolutely no responsibility beyond figuring out which set to catch next.

Conveniently, we’ve got a pretty amazing escape plan lined up.

Win a trip to Telluride Blues & Brews Festival 2026! This means names like Jon Batiste, Marcus King Band, Taj Mahal & Keb’ Mo’, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country, The Record Company, Samantha Fish and more are taking over Telluride September 18-20.

DoStuff is sending one winner and a guest to Colorado with two VIP tickets, three nights of hotel accommodations, and transportation from Montrose Regional Airport to Telluride. Toss in craft beer, free gondola rides, club shows, and a box canyon surrounded by 13,000-foot peaks, and your weekend plans are set.

Enter for a chance to win the whole trip.*

JUST ANNOUNCED

• Memphis rapper Don Trip has been grinding since the mixtape era, with sharp storytelling and zero interest in sanding down the rough edges. Warehouse on Broadway gets the full dose Nov. 22. Grab tickets now! 

• Yes, the band that turned Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” into a full-blown nu-metal staple is still very much alive and kicking. Alien Ant Farm hits Knuckleheads Oct. 15. Get tickets!

• Jo Koy built a whole comedy empire out of family chaos, Filipino moms, and stories that somehow get funnier the more specific they get. He takes over The Midland April 3. See him live!

• Des Moines hardcore outfit Dose brings the kind of set that makes standing safely in the back feel like a personal failure. They touch down at Warehouse on Broadway Sept. 28. Secure a spot!

• Plus other just announced shows from True Loves, Kurt Travis, and more!

COFFEE AND GREENERY IN KANSAS CITY

Kansas City has plenty of places to grab caffeine, but these spots come with a little extra chlorophyll. From tea houses and plant shops to cafés buried in greenery, here’s where to sip something good, stare at some leaves, and pretend you’ve got this whole wellness thing figured out.

• Nature Made Me Tea House. Tea house, apothecary, and full-on wellness hideaway. Come for the herbs, stay because suddenly your nervous system feels like it has better plans.

• Thou Mayest. Great coffee, lots of plants, zero sterile big-light energy. Basically the kind of place that makes answering emails feel slightly less offensive.

• Cafe Equinox. Coffee inside a greenhouse is a pretty strong argument for leaving the house. Sip something warm while surrounded by enough greenery to make your houseplants jealous.

• Garden House Plant Shop. Shop for a new leafy roommate with a coffee in hand. Dangerous territory for anyone who has ever said, “I definitely don’t need another plant.”

• Family Tree Nursery. Part garden-center stroll, part caffeine break, all very peaceful. Ideal for wandering around, drinking coffee, and briefly becoming the kind of person who has their life together.

UPCOMING EVENTS

LOCALS ONLY

• KC kids are dressing better than us. Central High students kicked off the school year in fits involving road-sign jorts, Hot Wheels accessories, vintage finds, and enough personal style to make your first-day outfit look deeply under-researched.

• The Western Auto sign is coming back to life. KC Daily reports the iconic downtown sign is set to be permanently relit, which is great news for the skyline and terrible news for anyone trying to pretend they don’t get sentimental about giant glowing letters.

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