Weekend Possibilities | Nelson-Atkins Reopens, A Silent Movie And More Outdoor Live Music Lots of Options for After the Chiefs Game

There’s still plenty to do out there, as cooler temperatures descend on Kansas City. Whether it’s a silent movie or speeding around Lakeside Speedway, sitting in front of the TV can wait until it’s actually cold. 

Plus, the Chiefs play on Thursday. You’ve got all weekend to get out.

Friday, Sept. 11

12 – 1:30 p.m. Whether you are starting the weekend early, or just in need of a lunch break, healthy beverages, snacks and live music await Friday at Ruby Jean’s Juicery, 1111 Main St. There should be plenty of room to find a table in Ruby Jean’s outdoor space before musicians from the Kansas City Symphony stop by for a Chamber Music performance. If you’ve never been, Ruby Jean’s rolls out a wide selection of handcrafted juices, smoothies, shakes and sips. No tickets are required.

8 p.m. The KC Drive-in Concerts at Plexpod in Westport, 300 E. 39th St., continue Friday evening with Ensemble Iberica. Put it in park and post up for a set fronted by lead vocalist Soukayna Jamali and violinist Coleen Dieker. Food and beverage vendors will be on hand. General admission tickets are $25. Land a signed Ensemble Iberica record with a $45 ticket.

Saturday, Sept. 12

La Parrilla lives! The Latin American restaurant is back open in downtown Lawrence, Kansas, 712 Massachusetts St., cooking up street tacos, ceviche, bowls and more — all for under $10. Don’t forget to grab a glass of the Brazilian Lemonade.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, 4525 Oak St., reopens Saturday. Timed ticket reservations and masks are required to check out exhibits like the Gordon Parks collection of Muhammed Ali photographs, which was recently extended through April 2021, and Perfectly Imperfect, a collection exploring female nudes through the German Renaissance. Thou Mayest Coffee, along with Rozzelle Court restaurant are also open for business. Face shields are available for any guests unable to wear a cloth mask. As always, museum visits are free.

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Strawberry Swing makers market has made its social distancing adjustments and will be set up outside of the Wornell/Majors House Museum, 8201 State Line Road, all day Saturday. Stop by for food trucks, flowers, local farmers and plenty of arts and crafts from local makers — all in the open air. A face mask is strictly required at all times.

4 – 10 p.m. The only thing better than free live music might just be free live music from your couch. That’s the plan for Saturday’s Crossroads Music Festival. The free livestream festival presented by KKFI community radio will feature performances from Calvin Arsenia, Laura Noble, We the People (feat. Eddie Moore) and more. Artists will play from venues and studios across KC, so keep an eye out for your favorite stages.

Sunday, Sept. 13

10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Relax, with no Chiefs game to tailgate, stop in or take out Boulevard Tavern’s Sunday brunch. The menu includes soups, salads, along with favorite fried appetizers, plus mains like the corned beef hash, quiche of the day and the french toast. No reservation is required. If you don’t feel like dining in, just call ahead with your order.

2 – 5 p.m. The Kansas City Theatre Pipe Organ is inviting cinephiles to travel back in time for a screening of 1927 silent film “Underworld” at the Kansas City Music Hall, 301 W. 13th St. The film tells the tangled tale of gangster “Bull” Weed and former lawyer “Rolls Royce” Wensel. Organists Marvin Faulwell and Bob Kecksienen will accompany the film. The movie is free, though donations are appreciated.

If you have the need for speed, hop behind the wheel of one of the Kenny Wallace Dirt Racing Experience cars and hit the gas. The former pro racer is stopping by Lakeside Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, 5615 Walcott Drive, so amateur speedsters can get some laps in. You can either ride along or take the wheel yourself for a few laps around the ⅜-mile dirt track. Be sure to check online for full pricing information.