Party for America & Other Weekend Possibilities

Colony Espresso & Beer (312 Armour Road, North Kansas City) is hosting a free Party for America from 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday. There will be barbecue, Wiffle ball, yard games, and specials on good old-fashioned American beer.

New beer is always exciting. Border Brewing (406 E 18th Street) tapped its Strawberry Blonde (made with 100 pounds of strawberries) yesterday. Crane Brewing (6515 Railroad Street, Raytown, Missouri) is tapping its Oak Barrel-Aged Berliner Weisse today from 2 to 9 p.m. Looking for beer at home? Martin City Brewing Company (500 E 135th Street) added crowlers (canned growlers) this week. And if you missed FLOAT last weekend, head over to Grain to Glass (1611 Swift Avenue, North Kansas City) on Sunday. The homebrew supply shop with a bar is serving up Imperial Stout floats made with vanilla ice cream and Askinosie chocolate for $15 from 12 to 2 p.m.

Third Street Social (123 SE 3rd Street) opened this week in Lee’s Summit. The restaurant is a new venture from Andy Lock and Domhnall Molloy, the team behind the Summit Grill and Bar (which has locations in Lee’s Summit and Waldo). The menu is a selection of American fare — house smoked pastrami, chicken fried steak, and chicken and waffles. Pastry chef Nicolette Foster (previously of Baked and Parisi) has put together the dessert menu. Keep an eye out for the hand pies.

The Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey are hosting a free First Friday block party tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. Festival on the Vine (1714 E 18th Street) will have live music and dancing. It’s the kick off to a host of ticketed dance performances this weekend.

Need a place to watch the fireworks? Big Rip Brewing Company (216 E 9th Avenue, North Kansas City) is hosting a proper Fourth of July party. The doors open at 4 p.m. They’ll have 10 house beers and adult root beer, along with a screening of “The Sandlot.” It’s $2 cash cover and bring your own lawn chair.

Toppers Pizza (6027 Metcalf Avenue, Mission, Kansas) is celebrating its grand opening Saturday at 10:30 a.m. The pizza chain opened its first location in Wisconsin in 1993 and is now in 13 states. They’re known for Topperstix — very cheesy breadsticks. The first 50 people in line at the Mission location win free pizza for a year.

— Jonathan Bender writes about food trends and is the author of “Cookies & Beer” and “Stock, Broth & Bowl.” Follow him on Twitter @jonathanbender.