Nikki Overfelt Chifalu

The scene at the Hallmark Christmas Experience in Crown Center notably features daily tree-lighting displays, gift-wrapping stations, festive food and drinks, and local vendors. It debuts Friday and runs through Dec. 23.

Grandma Morrelli’s pasta sauce — developed more than 125 years ago by Jack Williams’ ancestor Angeline, on the family farm in Cassville — can now be found at about 30 grocery stores in the Kansas City area, including at some Price Chopper and Sun Fresh locations.

After the stadium sales tax extension was overwhelmingly rejected by voters, speculation is rampant about what the Royals and Chiefs might do next. Crossroads business owners say they're still open to future negotiations about a new stadium, but they want more transparency and respect from the teams.

Tom Walsh will apply a special, league-approved mud to more than 200 balls for every game, including the upcoming Royals home-opener on March 28 against the Minnesota Twins. The substance, described as a cross between chocolate pudding and whipped cold cream, is designed to take the shine off the ball and provide a better grip.

The Kansas City Stingers is one of six U.S. expansion teams joining the National Pickleball League this year. The team is owned by Julie Gibson and former tennis pro Daryl Wyatt, who also owns SW19 Tennis and Pickleball in Leawood.

By Tuesday, Kansas City-based Charlie Hustle was already selling out of its Super Bowl-themed shirts. Even though it'll be the Chiefs' fourth Super Bowl in five years, fans are still rushing to buy new merch.

Newly opened in Parlor food hall in the Crossroads, Elephant Wings serves up dishes like tikka masala poutine and "Bombay-mi" sandwiches. But chef-owner Ameet Malhotra didn't always have culinary ambitions.

After serving in the Army Infantry in Kosovo and Iraq, Kansas City native Patrick Benson created a nonprofit teaching veterans and active military personnel how to work with horses and transition back to civilian life. The program is run out of a farm in Stillwell, Kansas.

Cherry grew up loving pickles but couldn't find what he liked when he moved to Kansas City. So he started making them and now sells them online, at barbershops and coffeeshops and on social media.

Dale and JoAnn Romano recently opened Nana's Tiny Town on Main Street in downtown Spring Hill, offering a hands-on children's play center that's designed to look like its own, child-sized main street. It's next door to their other store, the nostalgic ice cream parlor Pop's Sweet Shop.