Maybe the experience is the product? Seth Allen, owner of Libations & Co. and its sister "joint", the 1909 Club, returns to The Vault this week. He popped in for a return of what used to be an annual Independence Day preview episode, but this week's conversation turned to a look at his two downtown Lee's Summit businesses built on crafting a particular customer experience. Oh, and he may have finally admitted to some day giving in to Nick's dream of having his own drink on the menu at Libations. The tape don't lie!

Do your wings rule? When you whip a batch of delicious chicken wings, do the family and friends coming running? If not, are there tears of jealousy because they weren't invited. If your answer to any or all of these questions is yes, then you should think about taking part in September's annual Wings 4 Water charity event. The local nonprofit's Ryan Bryant joins host Nick Parker to talk about the event and offer a challenge to all of those area wing cooks to join the fun and help support the cause.

Downtown Days finished up this weekend and now it's time to get ready for another big event in Lee's Summit. The inaugural Lee's Summit Jazz Festival is slated to take the stage June 22 at Bridge Space in the historic downtown district. Festival founders Ben Rao and Shawn Harrel stop by the vault to talk about Lee's Summit's growing jazz scene and the eight acts gearing up for this all-day festival never before seen in Lee's Summit.

It's been eight years since Nick Parker launched Link 2 Lee's Summit and the Lee's Summit Town Hall podcast. In the never-ending quest to do local news a little bit differently, a new friend is joining the team to help make sure a spotlight shines on our local nonprofit organizations. Enter Vanessa Hickman. Vanessa has made multiple appearances on the podcast and is a well-known community volunteer and activist. She's joining the team to help tell the stories of local charities and help link them with the community.

It's May 22, the kids are in their final days of the school year and we're all counting down the official local summer kick-off event — Downtown Days. Downtown Lee's Summit Main Street's Julie Cook and Jenny Gale return to The Vault to prep us for the big weekend coming June 7-9. And Julie turns the tables! She's got questions for the hosts, and for you!

Whether it's time, skills or money, sometimes youth in our community just need a little extra. Enter, Pro Deo Youth Center. Executive Director Elaine Metcalf and head volunteer fundraiser/Pickleball Bringer of Fun Shannon Pennington enter The Vault to talk about the upcoming Rally for Teens pickleball tournament raising funds for Pro Deo's fall 2024 programming. The tournament will run on Saturday, June 8 at Epic Sports. You can head on over to prodeoyouthcenter.org to enter the tournament or help sponsor the event.

Hosts Nick Parker and Liesl Hays take a few minutes to discuss upcoming local events and since Wednesday is National 501c Day, the duo takes a few minutes to talk about some of the many local nonprofits serving the Lee's Summit community and how easy it is for residents to offer service be it donations of time, talent or treasure.

A now years-long effort to give teens a voice and help bring the community together in conversation about youth mental health continued this week with a community forum presented by Pro Deo Youth Center and ReDiscover at the Missouri Innovation Campus. The event was moderated by ReDiscover's Demetrios Walker and Lee's Summit West senior Ellie Johnson and included a panel of 12 local high school students and just under 150 residents. Walker and Johnson came to The Vault for a conversation with Nick Parker and Liesl Hays about their reactions to the event and where they think the conversation is headed next.