After one of the longest winters on record, Kansas City has cabin fever. On any given spring day, you can find practically everyone outdoors, enjoying the sunshine they’ve missed. Here at Briarcliff Village, all of our restaurants offer patio seating, so you can take soak in the warm temperatures all you want. No matter what kind of food you’re in the mood for, you can dine outdoors day or night.

The Cafe at Briarcliff offers seating for up to 35 guests, starting the second week of April. Indulge in an amazing salad, sandwich or entree under the shade of an umbrella. The Cafe also offers happy hour on the patio through September.

Voted the best happy hour in the Northland, Trezo Mare Italian restaurant takes patio dining to a new level. Soft seating around a fire pit create a fun and sophisticated ambiance, matched only by the view of the sunset. Happy hour specials are served here as well, in a private dining setting that can work well for large groups or parties.

Even if you’re a Kansas City local, you shouldn’t forget about the Marriott hotel. Happy hour is served on the patio of the hotel from 3-7 p.m., with beer, wine by the glass, and signature cocktails. Relax and enjoy the stunning view of Downtown, and be proud to live in such a great city.

For something a little on the high end, treat yourself to a meal at Piropos, an award-winning Argentinean fusion restaurant voted Best View in Kansas City. Enjoy drinks, desserts or their famous empanadas on a patio perched in the rolling hills of Briarcliff Village, overlooking the Kansas City skyline.

It’s been a long, hard winter, but Kansas Citians are ready to get out and enjoy the many excellent restaurants our city is known for. Come join us at Briarcliff Village.

Briarcliff Village is Going Red for Women in February. Come enjoy our red village as we support the American Heart Association all month long. With heart disease claiming the lives of nearly 500,000 women each year, Go Red For Women has a mission of raising awareness and empowering women to take charge of their heart health.

February has been designated as Heart Month, and Briarcliff Village wants to help by providing our customers with knowledge and education. You can take advantage of tools and strategies within our retail center, to reduce your personal risk of heart disease and lead a heart-healthy life.

Exercise: The possibilities for “exercise” are endless. Even just taking a lap around the retail center increases your heart rate and reduces stress at the same time. You can also sign up for Zumba at Scott Fitness for a fun, heart-pumping workout.

Stress: While simply strolling around Briarcliff Village will pump up your feel-good endorphins, stopping by The Spa at Briarcliff or Rajeunir Medical Spa for a quick treatment can help with de-stressing. Also, hop into a Yoga class at Scott Fitness to improve the mind-body connection.

Diet: Choosing the right menu items at our restaurants is a breeze. Start your meal with a soup or salad to avoid overeating or pleasure eating. Ordering sauces on the side and using them sparingly is also a good practice. While all options in our restaurants are made with the best ingredients, choosing a meal that consists of lean proteins and veggies is ideal for heart health. Stop by Piropos, Trezo Mare, and The Café at Briarcliff to see
all the healthy choices.

If you need a quick bite, fast food is not the only option. Philly Time offers an amazing selection of subs, wraps, and salads made to order. Pair it with a pasta salad and water for a filling lunch on the go. GreenAcres Market is another village favorite for a speedy meal. Along with their full delicatessen, the soup and salad bar is an endless health-fest. Order a full entree for a take home dinner or a sandwich with fresh fruit. GreenAcres Market is also the place for all your fresh, natural, and organic grocery needs. You can even sign up for one of their many classes devoted to overall good health practices.

Whether you’re here everyday in one of our office buildings, or shopping in one of our boutiques, Briarcliff Village is committed to improving the lives of our customers, inside and out. Try out one of these tips in the month of February and begin your journey to better heart health awareness.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens … if you’re looking for something perfect and personal this holiday, Briarcliff is your shopping destination. All our boutiques are locally owned, and we’re overflowing with items you won’t find just anywhere. Plus, shopping at Briarcliff means front-door parking, a quiet and peaceful atmosphere with beautiful scenery, and no annoying “mall crowds.”

Here are just a few of our favorite things for the holiday season.

Corksicle, Design in the City. Named one of Oprah’s Favorite Things under $100, Corkcicle is one of our favorites, too. Simply open your wine bottle and insert the pre-frozen Corkcicle to chill from the inside. A perfect gift for the wine lover on your list.

Dog Bone Ornament, Land of Paws. No bones about it, dogs love the holidays, too! Celebrate your four-legged family members with their very own personalized bone ornaments.

Box of Bulbs, Shana Vaughn Designs. Spruce up your tree with six beautiful ornaments, made from mercury glass.

Wine Selection, GreenAcres. Our recommended wines will complete your holiday meal or make great gifts for any connoisseur. Dolce Stilnovo Rosso has a brilliant light red color followed by the aroma of strawberries and raspberries. Revelry Vintners Cabernet Sauvignon has layers upon layers of dark fruit, cassis, and cedar box. Trentadue Chocolate Amore is a red dessert wine with natural chocolate flavor added.

Decorative Lights, Nell Hill’s. These battery-operated, LED rice lights are the newest gadget on the market. Perfect for lighting wreaths, table settings, garlands, or any other home decoration. Add festive beauty and creativity to all your holiday décor.

For home decorating fans across the nation, the name Briarcliff Village is synonymous with Nell Hill’s, its most famous locally-owned retailer. Founded in nearby Atchison, Kan., over 30 years ago, Nell Hill’s has grown from a single, small-town boutique to an empire of interior design products. The driving force behind the brand is Mary Carol Garrity, who still resides in Atchison despite her worldwide renown. You can also regularly find Mary Carol at Nell Hill’s second location in Briarcliff, chatting with her Kansas City customers and making them feel welcome.

“I am always available to answer customers’ questions and offer real-life decorating solutions,” Mary Carol says. “I always rise to the challenge of helping my customers uncover their own style.”

That reputation has certainly spread throughout the home decorating community. The Briarcliff store is a hot spot for Kansas City tourists, and the original Atchison location draws about 95 percent of its clientele from over 100 miles away. Merchandise is different at each store and always changing with the trends and seasons. But all of it expresses Mary Carol’s unparalleled style: classic yet creative, with an aesthetic that’s both cozy and exciting. It’s not surprising that Forbes magazine called her “one of the hottest little retailers” in America.

If you want to get a sneak peek at what’s in inside Nell Hill’s, you can check out the many helpful tips and articles on Mary Carol’s blog. Or, you can read one of her many books, including Nell Hill’s Style at Home, Nell Hill’s Christmas at Home, and Nell Hill’s Decorating Secrets: Easy and Inspiring Ways to Bring Style Into Your Home. 

Mary Carol says she named Nell Hill’s after her grandmother, an early Kansas pioneer. There’s something down-home in Mary Carol’s design elegance, a relic of that pioneer spirit. Down to her nationally syndicated radio program and her licensed paint collection, she’s truly forged her own path. And she loves watching others do the same.

“I never forget a face, and I thrive on meeting people,” she says of the countless hours she’s spent consulting with people.

Visit Nell Hill’s for the holiday season, and you won’t soon forget Mary Carol, either. Or the magical world she’s created. For more information, contact Nell Hill’s Briarcliff at (816) 746-4320.

It wouldn’t be the holidays without family photos. And for some of us, “family” just happens to include a member with cuddly fur and a wagging tail. Thankfully, Land of Paws in Briarcliff Village is offering two opportunities for you to commemorate the season with your pup. Come out and see us for some holiday pet photos–including pictures with Santa!

Dress your dog up in his/her holiday best on Sunday, Nov. 11 from noon to 5 p.m. Our photographers will be standing by to capture the moment–perfect for your holiday cards! We have plenty of props and accessories around the store, so we can even style the photos for you. For a really cute image, get the kids and the dog together. It’s an unforgettable way to celebrate Holiday 2012.

Then, don’t miss Santa Sunday, Dec. 16 from noon to 5 p.m. Your dog can sit on Santa’s lap and bark what he/she wants to find under the tree. (Maybe one of our toys, or a hand-baked cookie.) And speaking of gifts, don’t forget to include your furry friend on your list this season. We’ve got plenty of great options.

What’s bright yellow and always on the move? The enthusiastic team of “Sunflowers,” as they call themselves, who run Briarcliff’s dermatology office. Step inside Sunflower Dermatology, and you’ll meet an infectiously positive group of medical and administrative personnel who make patients their number one priority.

Now Dr. Matthys, Dr. Mesner, and the team are taking their Sunflower spirit to a new level. They’re giving away a yellow jeep, valued at $30,000–and anyone can enter to win.

Between now and May 30 at 5 p.m., visit Sunflower Dermatology and register for a chance to win. There’s no purchase necessary, but you’re only allowed to enter once. However, you can earn additional chances by attending Sunflower Dermatology events or referring new patients.

The winner will be announced on June 13. Stay tuned for further details. Or, for more information, call the friendly folks at Sunflower Dermatology at (816) 472-0400.