Happy Gillis is back. Although the popular eatery at 549 Gillis St. in Columbus Park never technically went away since it opened in 2008, a new pair of owners and some tasty additions to the menu have given new life to an already-refreshing locale.

Local chef Josh Eans and his wife, Abby-Jo, bought Happy Gillis Cafe & Hangout late last year, hoping to expand on the cafe’s existing charm with a bit of what they call “cozy craft food.”

Josh, previously a sous chef at the American Restaurant, has already combined talents with Abby-Jo to develop the menus at The Drop and Blanc Burgers and Bottles. So far their touches at Happy Gillis have been subtle but welcome.

Among my favorites are the Bacon Date Melt, a delicious sandwich with cheddar and grain mustard, and the pork confit, with apple butter, pickled fennel and walnuts.

Happy Gillis also has a small but scrumptious breakfast menu that includes biscuits with sausage (or wild mushroom) gravy, and the Madame Vert, which includes Duroc ham, asparagus, Swiss cheese, grain mustard, mushroom gravy and an egg.

Around $10 each, the meals are of a gourmet quality without ever feeling overpriced or pretentious. Wash it all down with a fresh juice, coffee, soda or one of several craft beer offerings. Happy Gillis is open Tuesday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lunch time can be busy, so show up a bit before or after noon to avoid the rush. For directions and a full menu, visit happygillis.com.

Strawberry Swing

Next Sunday, an event bringing together several dozen of Kansas City’s finest craftspeople will take place at one of the oldest surviving estates in the Kansas City area: the Alexander Majors House.

Today the former home of the notable freighter and Pony Express pioneer serves as a history museum and a wedding venue, but from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 3, it will be the site of the annual Strawberry Swing indie craft fair.

With food trucks, live music, a photo booth and over 60 vendors of all varieties, Strawberry Swing is a must for Etsy enthusiasts, fans of fashion and design and supporters of local arts.

Ten percent of the proceeds will benefit Rosedale Ridge, a nonprofit that helps sponsor after-school programs for children in Kansas City, Kan. The Alexander Majors House is located at 8201 State Line Road, tucked back a little ways on the Missouri side of the street. To see a full list of participating vendors, visit thestrawberryswing.org.

Antiques Expo

In the antiquing arena, one of the area’s most established shows is relaunching this weekend in a new location with a new name.

The Kansas City Antiques Expo (formerly the Overland Park Antique Show) will bring together over 50 dealers in the KCI Expo, next to the airport at 11730 NW Ambassador Drive.

The show runs Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and admission is $8. Visit kcantiquesexpo.com for more information.

Justin Timberlake will be performing Wednesday and Thursday at the Sprint Center.

First Friday

The monthly First Fridays art walk in the Crossroads will be in full force Friday, with galleries, events and street performers everywhere you look.

Front/Space (217 W. 18th St.), an event space and creative community center operated by several Kansas University graduates, will be holding a launch party from 6 to 9 p.m. for Civilian, a publication dedicated to art, literature and city planning.

Visit frontspace.info for more information or to preview of the magazine.

Timberlake and Tori

A couple of pop music’s biggest names will be in Kansas City this week, with Justin Timberlake playing at the Sprint Center on Wednesday and Thursday at 8 p.m.

Tickets are available only through third-party sellers such as StubHub, starting at $131.

Tickets still remain for the Tori Amos concert, which takes place at the Midland Theatre at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Purchase tickets at midlandkc.com.

— Lucas Wetzel is a writer and editor from Kansas City, Mo. Know of an upcoming event in Kansas City you’d like to see featured in Kansas City Connection? Email us about it at kcconnection@ljworld.com.