Shopping in Excelsior Springs

Theresa Van Ackeren grew up riding her bike on her afternoon paper route along the streets of Omaha, Nebraska. On her 40th birthday, she decided to return to that simple happiness by quitting her day job and opening Family Bicycles. She strives to make biking accessible to all who want to try by hosting rides, special events, and classes to bring newbies into the fold. In the shop, tools sing a tinny song as mechanics true wheels and spruce up soiled drivetrains. Family Bicycles also hosts a winter film series, showing bike-centric Hollywood dramas, documentaries, and the one where the Three Stooges lose their driver’s license.

With St. Valentine just around the corner, standing there waiting to sell you magazine subscriptions, now would be a good time to snag some appeasing V-Day arrangements. The popular Be My Love ($57.89) is a vase of lovely blossom buddies featuring red roses, white carnations, and Asiatic lilies. You can blush the face of your sidekick with the pinkish Dance With Me ($55.89), which comes dressed to impress with a mix of roses and carnations in a red vase and pink bow. There's also a digital display case that lets you poke your nose around a wide variety of cupid-caliber options. You can choose to have your order delivered within the KC metro area for an extra $12 (which you can use your Groupon toward).

Glasses frames have come a long way from the clunky, squarish black frames that were originally used to punish children for squinting in church. Roman and Felix of Romanelli Optix have spent a combined 25 years in the eye-dressing industry, bringing slick accents to Kansas City's vision-spheres. They'll help you browse through a selection of more than 60 brands of chic, European luxury specs made from real bars of EuroLux, including brands such as Urband, Oakley, Miyagi, and Gucci. Enhance your oracular wardrobe with stylish Betsey Johnson frames starting at $280, Chanel designs beginning at $330, Prada at $280 and up, or the continental fashions of Oliver Peoples frames, which start at $330. The owners will happily guide you through a full consultation that nails the look you're after before custom-fitting your new glasses with advanced Varilux Physio lenses ($300+) in-store. If you decide against x-ray lenses, basic single-vision lenses start at $99 and progressive-vision lenses start at $250.

Like a box of strictly red-balloon-shaped Lucky Charms marshmallows, Gennaio sifts through all the seasonal selections, carefully curating key pieces. Here, shoppers can rack through looks from highly covetable labels (William Rast, Big Star) along with smaller, up-and-coming collections. Peruse designer denim by brands including Miss Me ($88 and up), MEK Denim ($101 and up), and Silver ($75 and up). Tops, tanks, and halters start at $29, and dresses at $35. Gennaio Boutique also carries affordable accessories, starting at $10 for bracelets and ear adornments.

Prairiebrooke Arts' staff of artwork preservers ensconces delicate canvases and cherished snapshots in protective custom frames. Solid wooden frames, custom matting, and UV-blocking glass shelter delicate treasures from damage caused by household conditions, improper storage, and dieting termites looking for a light snack. Though prices vary depending on materials and the size of the object, customers can display 5"x7" vacation stills in a gleaming 11"x13" frame ($100). Patrons bestow baby snapshots upon appreciative grandparents in a 10"x12.5" custom barrier ($100), or mount surrealistic sketches of famous financial pie charts in an acid-free 17"x20" home (up to $100). Each project can be customized with a choice of stylish frame from Prairiebrooke's selection, which includes custom-painted finishes and gold leafing.

Upon entering Haught Style, shoppers are greeted warmly by compassionate fashion advisors who will happily dole out generous portions of personalized fashion advice, style consulting, and sandals to munch on. The boutique's lineup of featured designers includes Amanda Uprichard, Kooba, Helena de Natalio, and By Francine. Shoppers can gear up on office-friendly garb such as a DEPT button-down bodysuit ($66) or pick out evening wear such as an AU Winston silk tunic ($220) for after-work socializing. BCBGen drape-front print jersey day dresses ($110), Max & Cleo shirred-knit party dresses ($129), skinny pants, skirts, and the rest of Haught Style's tastefully chic attire will dazzle your peers, be they men, women, or well-tailored cartoon-penguin millionaires.