KC Mag August 2023

CELEBRATING THE 295 WINNERS THAT MAKE KANSAS CITY GREAT

That’s why our ER experts stand ready 24/7 to care for you.

Unexpected moments happen. When they do, you can trust that AdventHealth’s ER experts are ready to safely care for you at four locations throughout Johnson County. And, we’ve made it easy to schedule a non-life-threatening emergency room visit online so you can wait in the comfort of home and arrive at a time convenient for you.

Four Johnson County Locations

Discover the great outdoors this summer at Top of the Rock Ozarks Heritage Preserve! Journey along the Lost Canyon Cave & Nature Trail, discover the Cathedral of Nature, and walk through history at the Ancient Ozarks Natural History Museum. Following your adventure, take in the Sunset Ceremony as a Civil War era cannon is fired overlooking Table Rock Lake. Tickets available online at: topoftherock . com

EXPL or E THE o UT door S THIS SUMME r

Explore 10,000 acres of the Ozark Mountains this summer at Dogwood Canyon. Experience nature in bloom with countless outdoor activities including horseback riding, fishing, kayaking, wildlife tram tours, hiking and biking.

dogwoodcanyon . org

HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ADDITION TO THE OVERLAND PARK ARBORETUM

LongHouse Is Ready for its Debut

Abrand new visitor center is rounding the corner on its finishing touches and this spectacular facility has all the makings of your new favorite meeting spot. The LongHouse Visitor Center is set to become one of the hottest attractions at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. This 21,000 squarefoot gem, situated just west of the current entrance, is a true architectural marvel.

As you step inside LongHouse, its contemporary design features a stunning stone building topped with a zinc-colored

metal roof that adds a touch of drama. But the real showstoppers are the floorto-ceiling windows that provide visitors with breathtaking panoramic views of the Arboretum’s gardens and woods. You’ll want to make sure you have your cell phone ready for photos.

As you wind your way through The Gallery, the building’s main circulation spine, you’ll discover a gift shop; Café Celeste; and a variety of communal areas, terraces and patios.

Once you’ve soaked in the jaw-dropping architecture, you’ll want to take a stroll outside and discover the wonders of the grounds surrounding the center. The exterior grounds boast an upper pond, cascading reflecting pools, a sprawling great lawn and a charming wedding lawn, making it the perfect spot for a fairytale ceremony. The entry gardens, where you’ll be greeted with a burst of color and fragrance, set the tone for guests to be wowed from the start.

The LongHouse name pays tribute to Janet Long, a generous donor whose contribution

helped make this incredible project possible. But, it’s not just about honoring a philanthropist. The name also nods to the longhouses traditionally used by Native Americans and Scandinavians as community gathering spaces. Not only will this center be a hub for nature enthusiasts, but it’ll also be a place where people come together to forge lasting connections.

Mark your calendars, because the grand opening of LongHouse is set for September 9, 2023. Visitors will witness a new era of botanical greatness and will be among the

first to immerse themselves in the beauty of the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens from an entirely new perspective.

Whether planning a romantic wedding, community get-together or a corporate event, this center will be in high demand, so be sure to plan your visit to see it for yourself soon. You won’t want to miss this epic experience.

The 300-acre Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is an educational, recreational and cultural resource for the

Kansas City region. At the Arboretum, you’ll experience meticulous gardens with more than 1,700 species of plants, wild hiking trails, an open prairie, and educational opportunities around every bend.

"Mark your calendars, because the grand opening of LongHouse is set for September 9, 2023."

OUR MISSION

We love Kansas City like family. We know what makes it great, we know how it struggles, and we know its secrets. Through great storytelling, photography and design, we help our readers celebrate our city’s triumphs, tend to its faults and revel in the things that make it unique.

PUBLISHER

Kathy Boos k athy@ kansascitymag.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Dawnya Bartsch dawnya@ kansascitymag.com

ART DIRECTOR

Kevin Goodbar kevin@ kansascitymag.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, STYLE & EVENTS

Molly Higgins m olly@ kansascitymag.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, FOOD

Tyler Shane tyler@ kansascitymag.com

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Dominique Parsow dominique@kansascitymag.com

EDITORIAL INTERNS

Emma Flannery and Alexia King

COPY EDITOR

Kelsie Schrader

WEB COORDINATOR

Madison Russell

SALES

Angie Henshaw angie@kansascitymag.com

WRITERS

Nina Cherry, Shawn Edwards, Emma Flannery, Molly Higgins, Alexia King and Tyler Shane PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS

Zach Bauman, Sean Brackbill, Caleb Condit, Barrett Emke, Jeremey Theron Kirby, Samantha Levi and Rebecca Norden

SUBSCRIPTIONS

kansascitymag.com/subscribe or call 913-469-6700

Kansas City magazine is published monthly by 435 South, LLC. No part of this publication can be reprinted or reproduced without the publisher’s permission. Kansas City magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Kansas City magazine adheres to American Society of Magazine Editors guidelines, which requires a clear distinction between editorial content and paid advertising or marketing messages.

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INQUIRIES

Kansas City P.O. Box 26823

Overland Park, KS 66225-6823 (913) 469-6700

@kansascitymag @kansascitymagazine

FEATURES

BEST OF KC

295 winners chosen by our readers and staff

44 Grand Lady

The Folly Theater opens its season with a renovated theater and Grammy Award winning jazz vocalist.

106

It’s Complicated

A look back at the often tumultuous relationship between KC’s Black-owned radio station and hip-hop culture.

112 Mediterranean Feast

A local chef showcases traditional Southern Italian cuisine in a deliciously comfortable dinning atmosphere.

In This Issue

47

Sealife

Savor the last days of summer with Mermaidcore.

29

Predator in Our Midst

Will an invasive foreign fish eventually make its way to western Missouri?

Mental Health Initiative

Working Together

Vintage Finds

We talked to professional treasure hunters to learn where to score the best retro, vintage and antique finds.

Pottery Passion

Local potter creates perfectly imperfect ceramic art.

Raising the Bar

Create your own paleta, otherwise known as a Mexican popsicle, at this new OP shop.

Bistro Classic

A sort-of-new Mediterranean bistro and wine bar is serving up tried and true favorites to a full house.

Mustard and Whiskey?

A Jungle Lounge cocktail experiment gone wild

Perfect Day

The bar manager and part owner of Barbacoa talks about a seafoodwashed martini and other KC favorites.

Newsfeed

Learn how Children’s Mercy is trying to tackle the country’s youth mental health crisis.

Local law enforcement agencies are hoping to make a dent in the metro’s rising homicide rate. 37

The Chicks

Longtime and ever-popular band The Chicks are KC bound.

42

Kemper Retrospective

The Kemper Museum curates a retrospective exhibit showcased at the museum’s 1994 debut show.

44

American Songbook

Grammy Award-winning vocalist to headline at the Folly Theater singing classic standards.

The latest in KC food news

Kevin

Dawnya Bartsch MANAGING EDITOR DAWNYA@KANSASCITYMAG.COM

WHEN MY HUSBAND

and I decided to have a recent date night at the Voo Lounge in the basement of the historic Muehlebach Hotel, little did we know what a fun night it would turn out to be. I had just learned of the cocktail bar after reading Kansas City magazine food editor Tyler Shane’s review of a new signature cocktail being served there. It sounded delicious, but I like old buildings and was more interested in checking out what I had heard was a pretty swanky lounge.

From the deep mahogany woodwork to the elaborate gilt light fixtures, the bar does give you a 1920s speakeasy vibe. It’s hard not to feel cosmopolitan. So much so that rather than order whatever nifty cocktail concoction our waiter was trying to peddle, I ordered one of my all-time favorites: a Cosmo. And it was perfect.

My husband and I decided to sit at a high corner table in an elevated section at the back of the lounge—a good place to observe. The evening was moving along nicely. We ordered a few small plates and were nibbling, sipping and chatting away when piano notes started wafting our way.

I looked around and there was Will O’Keefe, Voo Lounge’s resident piano man. O’Keefe made the night. Obviously, he’s a talented musician, but he was also funny and charming, and he put on a lively, entertaining show. Which brings me to one of our most popular yearly projects: selecting the Best of KC. The human jukebox, as O’Keefe often refers to himself, was my select. Decked out that night in a sparkling showman’s blue blazer, it wasn’t hard to name him a KC nightlife favorite.

O’Keefe has got to be the best piano man around.

As we discover each year the votes are tabulated for the Best of Kansas City project, there are so many amazing businesses, people and places that make this city a wonderful place to live, from neighborhood florists to local bookshops to scenic spots to read said books.

Another discovery for me was learning that the city is home to the oldest Black-owned radio station in the nation, a fact found in writer Shawn Edward’s piece marking the 50th anniversary of hip-hop and its presence in KC (pg. 106). A radio pioneer, Kansas Citian Andrew “Skip” Carter started KPRS in 1950. Now known as Hot 103 Jamz, the station is still owned by the Carter Broadcasting Group. As Edward explains in his story, the radio station’s management has not always had the most convivial relationship with the hip-hop and rap community.

Music has always been an important part of Kansas City, as demonstrated in both hip-hop’s KC history and Nina Cherry’s story on the Folly Theater’s upcoming music season and building renovation (pg. 44).

So whether it be an exceptional piano man, a home-grown hip-hop talent or a centuries-old music venue that’s still presenting shows to eager audiences, one can definitely make the argument that Kansas City music in all its forms is one of the best parts of KC—and perhaps that Kansas City is one of the best music cities in the country.

CONTRIBUTORS

Shawn Edwards WRITER

The month’s piece on hiphop music and its sometimes complicated relationship with local radio station Hot 103 Jamz was written by award-winning journalist and film critic for Fox 4 News Shawn Edwards. An executive producer for the Critics Choice Association’s Celebration of Black Cinema and Television, he has also worked as a producer for Hidden Empire Film Group and Inner City Films.

The news story about a predatory foreign fish was written by summer intern Emma Flannery, a University of Missouri journalism student. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading a book with her dog, Pancho.

Summer intern and aspiring fashion photographer Alexia King wrote about her love of paletas this month. A recent Kansas State University fashion design graduate, King rarely goes anywhere without a camera in hand.

Emma Flannery INTERN

Alexia King INTERN

NUMBERS FROM THIS ISSUE

Best of Kansas City picks

PAGE 56

SAUSAGE SELECTS

We asked readers via Instagram to tell us where the best places in KC to buy homemade sausages are, and let’s just say, you have a lot of opinions. As it turns out, there are quite a few local gems specializing in crafting sausage links and brats. Below are your submissions for KC’s best craft sausages, beginning with the most recommended.

The Italian Sausage Company

Night Goat Barbecue

BEHIND THE SCENES

Vietnamese

houses in Kansas City

PAGE 122

Age of the Folly Theater

PAGE 44

This Northland gem is not only a sausage peddler, but also a deli and sandwich shop. It garnered the most endorsements.

7315 N. Oak Trafficway, Gladstone.

Weiner Kitchen

The Overland Park hole-inthe-wall has deemed itself a “sausage kingdom.”

9645 W. 87th St., Overland Park.

Krizman’s Sausage

With roots dating back to 1939, Strawberry Hill’s Krizman’s House of Sausage is a KCK institution.

424 N. Sixth St., KCK.

Chef Vaughn Good of Fox and Pearl is now also creating sausages at Night Goat Barbecue.

2143 Summit St., KCMO.

Werner’s Fine Sausages

This spot slings house-made German-style bratwursts and English bangers along with coils of Swedish potato sausages.

5736 Johnson Drive, Mission, KS.

Affäre

On Affäre’s menu, you’ll find a trio of brats created by German-born master chef Martin Heuser.

1911 Main St., KCMO.

SHOUT-OUT

It’s not always easy to get people together for a photo shoot or to track down pics that were already shot, even if the photo’s intent is to garner publicity. Securing the photos in our hip-hop feature story was one of those instances. Big thanks to Myron Fears, operations manager at Carter Broadcast Group, for helping collect all the players and search out images.

CONTACT US

Kansas City

P.O. Box 26823

Overland Park, KS 66225-6823

(913) 469-6700

EMAIL: editor@kansascitymag.com

Photographer Samantha Levi shot photos of a pearl necklace loaned to the magazine by KC’s Tivol jewelers for a story on mermaidcore, a fashion trend inspired by the sea.

coffee

“Good pricing, good portions. We don’t need smears and tweezers and things like that.”

– Enzo’s chef Aaron Cattey on the restaurant’s solid Mediterranean menu

Other honorable recommendations were McGregor’s Butcher and Bistro, Peter May’s House of Kielbasa, Harp Barbecue.

FOCUS

SNAKEHEADS have sharp teeth and are able to “walk” on land for short distances, breathe air and survive out of water for up to four days.

Is the Frankenfish” On Its Way?

BY EMMA FLANNERY

Although it’s not likely to infiltrate Kansas City area waterways anytime soon, Missouri state officials are warning local anglers about the Northern snakehead, otherwise known as the “Frankenfish,” an aggressive and invasive species.

“These snakeheads are known to be voracious predators,” says Angela Sokolowski, the invasive species coordinator at the Missouri Department of Conservation. Since 2019, the snakehead has been spotted twice in the state, both times in the southeast corner of Missouri, north of the Arkansas border, according to the MDC.

Continued on next page

LEADING THE CONVERSATION IN KANSAS CITY

What to do if you see one? Kill it on site, Sokolowski says. Anglers should either gut the fish or sever its head, according to the MDC. It has been illegal to own, buy or sell a snakehead in Missouri since 2002.

“Because invasive species do tend to spread, there is a chance that they’ll eventually be affecting the St. Louis area,” states the MDC. “It would likely be a much longer time until they affect the Kansas City area.”

However, the MDC says it’s imperative that fishing folks across the state are aware of the problematic fish species. A snakehead in local waterways would feed on other native fish in the area and could potentially change local ecosystems.

“(Invasive species) could lead to a reduction in native fish populations, which would definitely change those ecosystems and directly threaten those (native) species,” Sokolowski says.

The MDC believes the snakehead, originally from east Asia, swam from Arkansas after local farmers began farming snakeheads to sell in New York, when selling the fish was still legal. After floods in Arkansas, the fish were able to escape from those farms and entered natural waterways. Because the fish has also been spotted in Mississippi and Louisiana, officials believe that the species is spreading upwards towards Missouri through the Mississippi river.

The snakehead is similar in appearance to the native bowfin, a non-invasive fish commonly found in Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River. However, there are a few differences to look for. The snakehead is

covered in black and brown splotches, has a long anal fin that starts on its stomach and has a pectorial fin right behind its ear. The bowfin, by contrast, is lighter in color, has a black spot at the end of its body and has a short anal fin.

Snakeheads have sharp teeth and are able to “walk” on land for short distances, breathe air and survive out of water for up to four days, according to the Invasive Species Centre. The bowfin is native to many of the same areas as the snakehead, making it common to confuse them.

“We don’t want anglers catching bowfins and killing them thinking they’re snakeheads,” states the MDC.

When a non-native species is introduced to new ecosystems, about ten percent survive and one percent become invasive, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Invasive species are thought to have been involved in about seventy percent of extinctions of native species in this century.

Many invasive species can grow exponentially in number. The female snakehead reaches sexual maturity at two years old and can lay as many as fifteen thousand eggs one to five times a year, according to the Chesapeake Bay Program website.

This is not the first time Missouri has dealt with an invasive species potentially damaging local ecosystems. Last year, jumping Asian carp invaded local waterways, about ninety miles east of Kansas City. The MDC removed more than twenty-five thousand pounds of carp last October.

If you think you’ve spotted the Northern snakehead but aren’t sure what to do, the MDC encourages everyone to report the sighting by visiting mdc.mo.gov.

The MDC believes the snakehead, originally from east Asia, swam from Arkansas after local farmers began farming snakeheads to sell in New York, when selling the fish was still legal.

Anglers are being asked to keep a look out for the invasive snakehead

A LIGHT ON MENTAL HEALTH

Children’s Mercy tackles the pediatric mental health care crisis with a new $150 million initiative.

BY REECE PARKER

NEARLY HALF OF Kansas City area children needing mental health services aren’t getting the help they need, but Children’s Mercy is aiming to change that.

The children’s hospital recently unveiled an ambitious $150 million five-year plan, called Illuminate, that will focus on four areas to increase mental health access for the undereighteen-year-old crowd. The intention is to help at least eighty thousand area children, hospital officials say.

“Mental health needs have continued to rise at an alarming rate, and parents and families are feeling the absence of a full continuum of care,” says Paul Kempinski, president and CEO of Children’s Mercy.

According to Children’s Mercy, fifteen million children under eighteen years old are in need of mental health services across the nation, yet thirty to fifty percent of patients aren’t receiving it. In the greater Kansas City area, that number is even higher, closer to forty to fifty percent.

Over the next five years, Children’s Mercy’s Illuminate initiative will use what it calls a series of “strategies and projects” to address the pediatric mental health care crisis. The initiative is focused on four areas to increase mental health care access: facilitating early intervention, increasing special services, expanding inpatient hospital care and funding new research. Illuminate plans to provide specialized care for everything from anxiety, depression and eating disorders to ADHD and autism.

These services are needed now more than ever, especially in the midwest. According to Mental Health America, “Missouri faces the largest shortage of behavioral health care providers in the U.S. In Kansas, 101 of 105 counties are also designated Mental Health Professional Shortage areas.” Children’s Mercy wants to create a collaboration between health care providers, schools and community leaders to make this initiative possible.

So far, Children’s Mercy has raised $70 million to fund the initiative from a combination of state and private funding, with the bulk of the pot coming from

a $50 million donation from the Sunderland Foundation. “We are honored to be a part of this ambitious vision to address our youth mental health crisis,” says Kent Sunderland, the foundation’s chairman.

A large part of the plan is creating more inpatient mental health care for youth and adults alike. In late June, Children’s Mercy announced plans for a new Mental Wellness Campus set to open in 2024. The goal of the new $53 million campus is to make strides in expanding inpatient mental health care for youth and adults alike. The Olathe facility is a joint venture between KVC Health Systems Inc. and Children’s Mercy. KVC’s subsidiary, Chamber Mental Health, which currently operates three mental health facilities, will work with Children’s Mercy to run the hospital.

“A lack of psychiatric beds has been one of the largest barriers to providing mental health care in our state,” says Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. “When completed, this state-of-the-art hospital will take significant pressure off our health care systems.”

In addition to the Mental Wellness Campus, Children’s Mercy has already expanded its eating disorders clinic and opened a new clinic for depression and anxiety.

“When completed, this state-of-the-art hospital will take significant pressure off our health care systems.”

A CALL FOR ACTION

BY REECE PARKER

WITH KANSAS CITY’S rising homicide rates, community leaders and local law enforcement are searching for ways to address the crisis.

Just a few weeks before a deadly Memorial Day weekend, Kansas City Police Department Chief Stacy Graves had had announced a new violent crime reduction initiative. The plan is meant to ally the KCPD, county prosecutors, federal authorities and other city agencies in an effort to combat the violent crime wave. Unfortunately, just a few weeks later, Graves found herself in the difficult position of addressing a string of homicides that occurred over the three-day holiday weekend.

In a press conference on the heels of a weekend that is supposed to be marked by picnics and barbecues, Graves said, “Seven families [in] our city have been changed forever. This is a call for action. Our department will continue to show up, but we need the community.”

With collaboration in mind, Jackson County sheriff Darryl Forté decided to answer that call to action and surprised many by offering additional patrols and investigative help to the KCPD.

Forté announced his support at a Jackson County Legislature meeting, saying, “Most of the homicides that occur in Kansas City happen in eastern Kansas City, right next to Blue Summit. So we don’t want that creeping over in our area.”

The KCPD East Patrol, which covers eastern KC, has had the highest number of reported homicides

for the past decade, according to Kansas City crime statistics, but numbers across the board have risen in recent years.

This has been a particularly violent year for Kansas City, with over a hundred killings already. Last year, 2022, was the second-deadliest year on record with one hundred and seventy-one homicides, but at this rate, 2023 could surpass those numbers.

“I’ve been to over thirty-five homicide scenes that I’ve counted this year,” Forté tells Kansas City. “I can’t sit by as the chief law enforcement officer for the county and not do something about the slow-motion mass murder.”

As a lifelong Kansas-citian, Forté’s concern comes from a genuine place. He believes that his four-decadelong law enforcement career will be useful in aiding this issue. He promises he has a plan and ensures that there are things the sheriff’s office can do without diverting resources from Jackson County.

He believes that changing the command structure by adding a colonel’s position will help. “[We’re] trying to structure it so we can put the right people in place that have a connection with Kansas City,” Forté says.

It may be a few years before the community can see results from both Fortés efforts and Grave’s violent crime reduction plan. In the meantime, one of Forté’s goals is to rebuild relationships with the community.

“We have to figure out a way to bring law enforcement and segments of the community together when there’s not confrontation,” he says.

Killings are up sixteen percent in Kansas City and on track to set a new annual record for homicides, but Jackson County’s sheriff says he can help.

“I can’t sit by as the chief law enforcement officer for the county and not do something about the slowmotion mass murder.”

Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forté

BLUE VALLEY At Loch Lloyd

Coming Fall 2023

Blue Valley at Loch Lloyd offers a new ownership experience in the area’s most sought-after community. 23 acreage lots comprise this new neighborhood located exclusively in Johnson County, Kansas.

WHERE YOU WANT

SCENE

The Chicks Are KC bound

Enduringly popular three-piece women-fronted band The Chicks are embarking on their world tour this year, with singer-songwriter and instrumentalist Ben Harper opening. The Chicks have kept up with the times in their nearly thirty-year-long career. They changed their name in 2020 from The Dixie Chicks to keep up with modern sensibilities, and they continuously play with the themes of passionate female rage and aching heartbreak. On their upcoming stop in KC, The Chicks will be performing both new and old favorites like “Gaslighter” and “Goodbye Earl.” Harper was at the height of his career in the late nineties and early aughts, playing an exciting mix of blues, folk, reggae and rock, and he’s still best known for his guitar skills and sultry voice. He’s opening on tour in support of his newly released album, Wide Open Light.

–MOLLY HIGGINS

Jagged Little Pill

August 1–6. 8 pm.

The new-ish musical Jagged Little Pill borrows its title from singer-songwriter Alanis Morissette’s 1995 album of the same name. Many of the themes from the album—joy, pain, healing and humanity—appear in this show that centers on a “perfectly imperfect” family living in a suburban neighborhood in Connecticut. August 1–6. 8 pm. Starlight Theatre.

The Front Bottoms

August 2. 7:30 pm.

New Jersey-based emo-rock band

The Front Bottoms made a name for themselves in the underground indie scene with their self-titled 2011 album. Now, with Kevin Devine opening, they are on an extensive U.S. tour in anticipation of their new album, You Are Who You Hang Out With. August 2. 7:30 pm. Grinders.

PBR KC Outlaw Days

August 3–5.

The second season of the groundbreaking PBR—Professional Bull Riders—Team Series from The Outlaws will return to T-Mobile Center. The Outlaws are KC’s first professional bull riding team, and they will be competing in the PBR Team Series, which takes bull riding from an individual sport to a team competition. In this season, each of the eight teams will compete in nearly thirty riding games held across ten events, and the team with the highest score will win. August 3 & 4, 7:30 pm; August 5, 6:45 pm. T-Mobile Center.

Matilda the Musical

August 4 & 5.

Originally based on the beloved book Matilda by Roald Dahl, this adaptation for the theater is directed by Lana Gage. In this fresh musical, Matilda is a girl with curiosity and a fantastical imagination, but unfortunately has terrible parents and a cruel principal. Emboldened with passion to overcome the obstacles, Matilda leads revolting classmates to challenge the status quo and become free. August 4 & 5. 2 & 7 pm. Kauffman Theatre.

Ed Sheeran

August 5. 6 pm.

Radio-hit superstar Ed Sheeran is making a stop at Arrowhead on his North American stadium Mathematics Tour. Sheeran will play his newest

Sam Hunt

August 4. 6:30 pm.

Sam Hunt has gained widespread popularity in recent years for his smooth vocals and croony lyrics that are reminiscent of country greats—who he was a songwriter for—like Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney. In his Summer On The Outskirts Tour, he will be playing country-radio hits like “Body Like a Back Road” and “House Party.” August 4. 6:30 pm. Azura Amphitheater.

album, Subtract, in its entirety, with a full band, in reference to all of his full-length studio albums, including Equals. Sheeran’s tour stop in KC will include pop-R&B American Teen chart-topper Khalid and newcomer Cat Burns. August 5. 6 pm. GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

Culture Club

August 8. 7 pm.

Eighties pop-music icons Boy George and Culture Club are making a stop in KC for their The Letting It Go Show, which features guests Howard Jones and Berlin. They will be performing all of their catchy hits like “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me” and “Karma Chameleon.” August 8. 7 pm. Starlight Theatre.

RuPaul’s Drag Race

August 9. 8 pm.

RuPaul’s insanely successful Drag Race franchise returns with its annual

Werq the World Tour, in which favorites from current and past seasons go on tour to remind audiences why they are fan favorites, with elaborate costuming, death-drops and dirty puns. August 9. 8 pm. The Midland Theatre.

Blues Traveler

August 10. 7 pm

Ultimate “Dad” jam band Blues Traveler is coming to KC with Big Head Todd. New Jersey-based blues-rock band Blues Traveler has been around for over thirty-five years, with hits from the nineties like “Run-Around” and “Hook.” They are also known for their long segues during live performances and are often considered a major figure in the re-emergence and subsequent popularity of jam bands during the nineties. August 10. 7 pm. Grinders.

Ben Folds

August 10. 8 pm.

The frontman and pianist of alt-rock

trio Ben Folds Five is returning solo on his What Matters Most Tour, following his 2023 album of the same name—his first studio album in eight years. On the tour, Folds will be playing old and new favorites like “The Luckiest” and “Exhausting Lover.” August 10. 8 pm. Uptown Theater.

Hip-Hop 50 KC

August 12. 6 pm.

Produced by 18th and Vine Lives with journalist Shawn Edwards, Hip-Hop 50 KC is a celebration in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of hip-hop. Celebrate the genre that changed the world with local rappers, DJs, graffiti artists and dancers who have helped put KC’s hip hop scene on the map. August 12. 6 pm. Gem Theater.

The Wallflowers

August 17. 8 pm.

Rock band The Wallflowers is best known as being fronted by singer-songwriter, instrumentalist and legend Bob Dylan’s son,

Jakob Dylan. After a few sporadic albums over the last thirty-plus years and an ever-changing rotation of non-Dylan band members, the timelessness of hit “One Headlight” endures. August 17. 8 pm. Uptown Theater.

Lil Durk

August 19. 7 pm.

Chicago-native rapper, singer and songwriter Lil Durk has quickly made a name for himself in recent years after being featured on songs by big names like Drake and DJ Khaled. He’s making a stop in KC with uber-popular rappers Kodak Black, NLE Choppa and DD Osama in support of his star-studded newest album, Almost Healed. August 19. 7 pm. T-Mobile Center.

Incubus

August 19. 7:30 pm.

California-based Incubus has everything we needed from a rock band in the late nineties: a skinny, long-haired frontman in Brandon Boyd, care-free, beach-dude vibes

Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks

August 19. 7 pm.

The Piano Man himself Billy Joel is joining fellow music legend and Fleetwood Mac member Stevie Nicks for a stadium tour. The seemingly at-odds duo will meld Joel’s New York pop on hits like “Uptown Girl” with Nicks’ croony, West Coast hippy songs like “Landslide” for an unforgettable night with two of the most influential musicians of all time. August 19. 7 pm. GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

and a radio hit in “Drive.” Now, without a new album or radio hit in recent years, the band is back touring, seemingly with the motto of their 2011 album titled If Not Now, When? August 19. 7:30 pm. Azura Amphitheater.

Soulja Boy

August 20. 9 pm.

Ask any millennial: Soulja Boy’s music takes us back to a simpler time where choreographed dances accompanied most songs and one-hit wonders could play on the airwaves or at a middle school dance with equal success. Although Soulja Boy hasn’t had hits like he did in the mid-aughts, he knows we need him now more than ever. He’s coming to KC with support from S.O.D. Money Gang. August 20. 9 pm. The Truman.

The Black Keys

August 25. 8 pm.

2010’s The Black Keys have an instantly recognizable sound that has kept them semi-relevant

while many other rock bands of their time have faded into one-hit-wonder obscurity. At the show, the band will play hits that are still often heard on 96.5 Not-the-Buzz like “Howlin’ For You,” as well as songs from their latest album, Dropout Boogie, which has a more basic, blues-rock style from their early days. August 25. 8 pm. Starlight Theatre.

Goo Goo Dolls

August 27. 7 pm.

After nearly forty years, Buffalo-based Goo Goo Dolls are still going strong. Now on their The Big Night Out Tour, the band will be playing classic hits like “Iris” and “Slide,” as well as some of the lesser-known songs from their catalog, with lesser-known rock-reggae opener O.A.R. August 27. 7 pm. Starlight Theatre.

Come From Away

August 28–

September 3. 8 pm. This 2013 musical from Irene Sankoff and David Hein is based on the events in the town of Gander, Newfoundland, during the days following the 9/11 attacks. In the events that Come From Away is based on, nearly forty planes carrying seven thousand passengers are ordered to land unexpectedly at Gander International Airport. The characters are based on real-life Gander residents and the stranded travelers they helped, and the show is a reminder of humans’ ability for kindness and resilience in the hardest of times. August 28–September 3. 8 pm. Starlight Theatre.

Zach Bryan

August 30. 8 pm.

Oklahoma-based country singer-songwriter Zach Bryan has gained widespread popularity in the last few years, drawing on his past as a Navy veteran by using his croony voice and heartfelt lyrics to skyrocket to fame. Bryan will be joined by Trampled by Turtles and J.R. Carroll for his stop in KC on the Burn, Burn, Burn tour. August 30. 8 pm. T-Mobile Center.

Stunning New Homes For VIBRANT SENIOR LIVING.

Announcing Prairie View, the new residences coming soon to Tallgrass Creek,® Overland Park’s premier senior living community!

• Choose from a variety of stylish floor plans.

• Experience elegant finishes and fixtures.

• Enjoy easy access to campus amenities, including restaurants, the fitness center, bocce ball court, and more!

The Somerton

Large two bedroom, two bath with den and screened porch

1,429 sq. ft.

Prairie View features highend finishes and convenient under-building parking. Many new homes, like the spacious Somerton, include a choice of patio, balcony, or screened porch.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

Reaching into its vaults, the Kemper Museum curates a retrospective exhibition of artist Virginia Jaramillo, whose work was showcased in the museum’s 1994 debut exhibition.

BY REECE PARKER

ALTHOUGH SHE IS internationally known, New York-based artist Virginia Jaramillo has a long exhibition history and relationship with the scions of the Kansas City art world. That relationship is currently on display in a retrospective of her work at the Kemper Museum.

Jaramillo’s ties to Kansas City date back to the late 1970s, when her career was just taking off and Kansas City’s Douglas Drake art gallery chose to showcase it. The gallery featured her work in at least a dozen shows before shutting its doors in 1985, no doubt the reason many of her pieces have made it into the hands of local collectors.

The abstract artist’s work later appeared in the Kemper Museum’s 1994 debut exhibition, and now the museum, which has many of Jaramillo’s pieces in its permanent collection, is once again highlighting her career with her first major retrospective exhibition, presenting a selection of seventy-three paintings and handmade paper works spanning her nearly seventy-year career.

The exhibition, titled “Principle of Equivalence” after one of the cornerstone pieces of the collection, opens up a time capsule of Jaramillo’s art. The show is organized in chronological order, leading viewers on a journey through Jaramillo’s own artistic evolution.

According to Erin Dziedzic, Kemper Museum’s director of curatorial affairs, the exhibition “acknowledg[es] her place in the history of abstraction.” Dziedzic adds, “While Jaramillo’s work demonstrates her unwavering commitment to abstraction, it also defies simple categorization.”

The exhibition strings together Jaramillo’s artistic evolution, from her early Black Paintings series and her Curvilinear collection to her handmade paper works and her more recent abstractions.

Jaramillo’s curiosity about the nature of earth and human civilization grew from a young age, and she began to draw inspiration from mythology and astronomical theories. Jaramillo has always been curious about the “why” of everything and uses that question to lead her artistic investigations.

If Jaramillo didn’t become an artist, she believes she would have been an archeologist. In her youth, she searched for answers in the earth. Her Black Paintings series, which are large scale works made from paint and gesso, are meant to resemble the cracked, dry earth of Southern California, where she would ride her bike as a young girl. “I was fascinated by the fact that it could be cracked and still hold the weight of the bike because usually, when something cracks, it’s fragile,” Jaramillo says.

In her breakthrough Curvilinear series, which Dziedzic says made waves in the art world in the 1970s, Jaramillo uses daring colors and dynamic razor-thin lines to create a reverberating energy throughout the canvas. The shapes and lines move as though they are alive, simultaneously pulling together and repelling each other.

In the scope of the exhibition, the paper works are idiosyncratic in style, but Jaramillo’s curiosity about the earth is still evident. Many of the paper works resemble maps and blueprints, making allusions to mathematics and architecture, and the pieces are mysterious in nature.

Jaramillo’s contribution to abstract art is insurmountable, and the Kemper exhibition is the first to have such an extensive collection of works for display, Dziedzic says.

GO: Virginia Jaramillo: Principal of Equivalence (on view now through August 27). Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, 4420 Warwick Blvd., KCMO.

DO TIME IN JEFFERSON CITY

The Missouri State Penitentiary is a beloved treasure to history buffs and thrill-seekers alike. Tour and learn of the penitentiary’s 168-year operation and infamous criminals who were housed inside “The Walls.”

After doing time, discover the scenic views, old-world architectural charm, mouthwatering eateries and exciting events Jefferson City has to offer all year long.

Joe Wilson’s Serenity Point CRMU Amphitheater

Photo: Notley Hawkins

ONCE IN A GENERATION

Grammy-award winning vocalist Samara Joy to headline the Folly Theater’s Jazz Series

BY NINA CHERRY

EARLIER THIS YEAR, twenty-three-year-old jazz vocalist Samara Joy won two Grammy awards. Joy’s project Linger Awhile––which brought some classic Great American Songbook standards back into the limelight––won Best Vocal Jazz Album, and her velvet voice and brilliant, captivating storytelling earned her Best New Artist.

Joy will take the stage in Kansas City on October 14, a powerful start to the Folly Theater’s 2023-2024 Jazz Series.

“She is truly a once-in-a generation artist,” says Rick Truman, the Folly Theater’s executive director. “There’s a reason why those [Great American Songbook] songs are still popular to this day. They’re universal stories, and she tells them in a way that resonates with contemporary listeners.”

It’s also the first season curated by Truman, and it includes a wide range of styles, spanning smooth jazz to hot jazz, from multigenerational vocalists and instrumentalists.

And the Grand Lady of 12th Street has had quite the makeover.

Last fall, the one hundred and twenty-three-year-old venue unveiled a multimillion-dollar renovation. It’s far from the former burlesque hall many remember, but the historic charm is still well intact.

“It’s an inviting space that people want to come spend time in,” Truman says.

The renovated building is complete with sapphire velvet seats that boast more comfort, an inviting balcony-level lobby and bar, new flooring, brass handrails and artwork from Kansas Citians, including a large stained glass piece from Kathy Barnard, a bronze sculpture by Ed Dwight and two reproductions of Thomas Hart Benton’s “America Today” murals.

“We’re Kansas City’s oldest theater, but we’re the most up-to-date,” Truman says.

OCTOBER 14: Samara Joy. Grammy award-winning Gen Z jazz singing star Samara Joy kicks off the series. “She reminds me so much of Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald,” Truman says.

NOVEMBER 11: Alexa Tarantino. Alto saxophonist and composer Alexa Tarantino has been hailed as “a one-woman wrecking crew” by Wynton Marsalis. A versatile and woodwind doubler, Tarantino’s shining artistry and fresh improvisational voice is enthralling

JANUARY 27: The Hot Sardines. This energetic eightpiece band’s century-old sound will transport you back to the early days of this historic hall with their covers and eclectic originals.

FEBRUARY 24: Diane Schuur. Another great steward of the Great American Songbook, you can expect hard-swinging standards from this inimitable icon on her tour, An Evening of Songs and Stories, which commemorates her seventieth birthday. “She has this incredible ability to take a song and perform it in a way that is uniquely her,” Truman says.

MARCH 9: Norman Brown. Raised in KCK, smooth jazz guitarist Norman Brown rose in popularity with the release of his chart-topping 1994 album, After the Storm, last appearing in the Folly Jazz Series in 2018. “I thought it was about time for him to be back in his hometown,” Truman says.

APRIL 6: Matthew Whitaker. Another Gen Z star in the company of Samara Joy, pianist, arranger and composer Matthew Whitaker closes out the season. Now twenty-two, Whitaker’s career took off at just ten years old after opening for Stevie Wonder.

GO: Folly Jazz Series, 300 W. 12th St., KCMO. Learn more and purchase tickets at follytheater.org.

THE 2023-24 FOLLY JAZZ SERIES AT A GLANCE:

“

The 123-year-old venue is far from the former burlesque hall many remember, but the historic charm is still well intact.

Andy Woodhull

Day after day since 1978, The Whole Person has supported the independent living goals of people of all ages and with any disability.

On behalf of the nearly 2,300 children, teens, adults and seniors we serve annually throughout the Metro, Thank You!

TREND

Summer’s Last Splash

ELEVATED MERMAIDCORE

Get in touch with your salty side and embrace the textures and feel of the ocean with mermaidcore—the latest trend in identity play that’s perfect for the waning days of summer.

Unlike its predecessor Barbicore’s bright and brash colors, mermaidcore is about romantic, subtle, ocean-like textures and textiles. The opal sheen found inside of seashells and natural adornments such as pearls are used to express this trend and remind us of the deep sea glamor of mermaids without being too costumey. The style can be done simply by pairing unexpected accessories with a shimmery shirt or skirt.

Although this trend is new, it’s bringing back some old-school classics, such as the pearl necklace. Seemingly more fitting for the likes of Barbara Bush than Bad Bunny, pearl necklaces have been embraced by both men and women donning the mermaidcore aesthetic. Whether worn as a classic single strand, layered with other necklaces or mixed with other forms of iridescent colored beads with interesting shapes, the pearl necklace adds a bit of drama to the mermaidcore aesthetic.

This trend celebrates summer’s last hoorah. Whether you’re headed out on vacation or just want to celebrate the end of summer, mermaidcore is a fun way to express individuality.

MOLLY HIGGINS

PHOTOGRAPH BY SAMANTHA LEVI; PEARL NECKLACE PROVIDED BY TIVOL

NIFTY THRIFTING

We talked to KC treasure-hunting experts on how to find the best vintage clothing, decor and antiques around the metro.

BY MOLLY HIGGINS

UNBEKNOWNST TO MANY Kansas Citians, KC has one of the most established vintage and antique markets in the country, where treasure seekers can find everything from a 1940s felt fedora to the perfect mid-century coffee table. We talked to experts who own some of KC’s best vintage and antique spots to get their insight on how to best find hidden treasures.

Try before you buy “Vintage sizing and fabrications are very different than modern clothing. You never know what could really suit you or spark your style by just looking at it. While high-end designer clothes are great, a lot of vintage is well-made and has a lot more to offer than just a designer label. KC is spoiled for choice when it comes to vintage. We have a vast selection from so many time periods, and it’s not as picked over or expensive here in the Midwest.”

ANDREW CHAMBERS owner and curator of Wonderland Vintage, a vintage clothing store (307-309 Westport Road, KCMO).

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

Rely on the experts

“The biggest mistake is thinking you’ll find what you’re looking for on your first try. It takes time and various locations to hit the jackpot. Always have an open mind. Also, when going to a curated vintage shop, don’t be afraid to tell the employees what you’re looking for. So many of our customers come in with a vision and we love to help them fulfill it.”

CALEB AND CORTNEY FANGMAN

co-owners of Daisy Lee Vintage, a vintage clothing store (122 W. 18th St., KCMO).

Look around “Thoroughly review items before purchase.

Vintage sales are almost always final sale, so do your due diligence and open every drawer and door—once you put it in your car, it’s yours. Keep your eyes open. Many times the piece that you’re looking for might be covered in other items, hanging from the ceiling, piled in a stack of other things. Part of the thrill of finding that gem is the hunt itself, so keep after it.”

MEGAN ALLEN co-owner of Bella Patina, an antique shop with furniture and decor (1320 W. 12th St., KCMO).

Make a wish list

“Finding great vintage or antique pieces often takes time and persistence. Be willing to put in the effort to find what you’re looking for. Having high or unattainable expectations can lead to frustration. Thrifting and vintage shopping is supposed to be fun! You never know what you are going to find, so it is very important to keep an open mind. Trust the thrift gods. Many people come into the shop with a wish list, which is a great way to stay on track and alleviate unnecessary or impulse buys.”

TARA FAY owner of Peaches Vintage Collective, a vintage clothing store (2765 Cherry St., KCMO).

Clockwise from top left: Wonderland Vintage, Daisy Lee Vintage, Bella Patina, Peaches Vintage Collective

PERFECT IMPERFECTIONS

Mexican-born Kansas-based potter Alba Laredo fuses her passion for culture and pottery.

BY MOLLY HIGGINS

BORN IN OAXACA, MEXICO, Alba Laredo moved to Kansas when she was just two years old. Soon, she began excelling in the arts, dabbling in every art form and entering competitions at six years old.

Now, Laredo primarily focuses on ceramics, mixing her proud Mexican heritage with her designs, which she sells at Monarca Art Space, pop-up shows at Third Friday Art Walk in KCK and Art Garden KC at Berkley Riverfront.

When did you first realize you have a passion for art? Ever since I was little, my mom collected these artworks that I made in elementary school. I was always very artistic, and my talents were getting better, so I started going into competitions. But I feel like I discovered pottery in my college career at Wayne State during my senior exhibition. My exhibition basically had to be everything—all the kinds of media that I studied, everything about me as an artist and how I grew.

How do you feel that your culture and background are reflected in your art? I want to represent my own community, as well as those who are first generation and going through the struggle of being an immigrant. I want to represent the young people my age that are going through a lot. That art can be what expresses their story, their emotion. I also like to represent myself in my artwork. Because I’m a Latina and I’m a thicker woman, I like to express the body in a way to allow these imperfections—I like to use body sculptures in my work. I like to make things that are useful in the kitchen, too, like the salsa bowls with spoons. I know others will draw on these memories of family time together in the kitchen.

What are your biggest influences on your pottery? My Latin culture, because I’d like to continue to tell my story as an immigrant and being first generation. I loved the messiness, but also I love the imperfection of pottery. In Oaxaca, they don’t use a pottery wheel. They do everything by hand and they use clay from the ground. They tell beautiful stories. They like to use organic materials. I love the organic feeling and the texture. My culture was using pottery to tell their story. I’m a very visual person. I really don’t like speaking in front of people. I just would love for my artwork and what my hands create to tell the story of how I’m feeling. I like to express my emotions with color, with imperfections.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BARRETT EMKE

fierce protector of your peace-of-mind

Jonas

eyes-onback-of-head to catch the deets everyone else misses broad shoulders to carry client stress + burdens

backside only seated when driving to meet you

Herculean backbone ... aka strong character + firm resolve

reflexive stride to tempo of “Fight For Your Right” (Beastie Boys*)

AdventHealth’s Living in Vitality promotes, empowers and amplifies the health and wellness of women in Kansas City and beyond. Join the energy that inspires more than 1,000 women every year to LIV well, mentally, physically and spiritually.

Friday, September 29, 8 am to 4 pm Overland Park Convention Center

@LivinginVitality

WE ASKED YOU, OUR READERS, EVERYTHING FROM WHERE TO SCORE THE BEST BLOODY MARY TO WHERE TO LET FIDO RUN FREE. AND FOR GOOD MEASURE, WE PICKED A FEW OF OUR OWN KC FAVORITES, TOO, SUCH AS KC’S BEST PIANO MAN AND THE PERFECT SPOT TO READ A BOOK. HERE ARE THE RESULTS. TAKE A PEEK.

Best Of KC 2023→

WRITTEN BY Dawnya Bartsch, Emma Flannery, Molly Higgins and Alexia King

OPENER PHOTOGRAPHY BY Caleb Condit and Rebecca Norden

ADDITIONAL ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHY BY Zach Bauman and Jeremey Theron Kirby

ST. JAMES ACADEMY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL

A CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL HELPING YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN DISCOVER MEANING AND PURPOSE THROUGH FAITH, COMMUNITY, AND ACADEMICS.

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OPEN HOUSE

NOVEMBER 11, 2023

It’s never too early to start exploring which High School is the best fit for your student and family. Open House is the perfect place to start!

24505 PRAIRIE STAR PARKWAY, LENEXA, KS

SJATHUNDER.ORG

BO KC 2023

F ood & Drink

WANT TO KNOW THE BEST SPOT IN TOWN FOR BRUNCH, ACCORDING TO YOUR NEIGHBORS? OR PERHAPS WHO ACROSS THE METRO IS SERVING UP THE BEST BURNT ENDS? MAYBE YOU JUST WANT A PERFECT SLICE OF LEMON MERINGUE PIE. WELL, WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED.

RAY LAMAR BEGAN perfecting his doughnut recipe at seventeen years old when he began working for the Jack Frost Donut Company. It wasn’t until 1960 that he decided to open up his own Kansas City shop in a converted gas station on Linwood Boulevard. Soon, people were lined out the door waiting for fresh, hot doughnuts. LaMar’s soon became a KC institution, and Lamar and his wife decided to franchise their popular bakery in 1990. LaMar’s Donuts have been recommended by Zagat’s Survey, The New Yorker and Gourmet Magazine. Kansas City magazine’s staff pick is definitely the blueberry cake doughnut, though you can never go wrong with an original simple glazed doughnut and a cup of coffee. lamars.com

Best Pasta The Antler Room

BEST DOUGHNUT LAMAR’S DONUTS

Best Sushi Blue Sushi

Blue Sushi prides itself on serving fresh and sustainable seafood at its two metro locations in Westwood, Kansas, and Power and Light. A section of the menu is dedicated to listing where the fish is sourced and how it’s quickly transported from the coasts to the heart of America. Blue Sushi’s menu offers items for those a little squeamish about eating raw fish, but there are plenty of items for sushi purists. The Japanese-themed establishment has a fun, celebratory feel and makes dining there feel like a party. bluesushisakegrill.com

There’s nothing static about The Antler Room’s menu. It’s seasonal and continuously changing with what’s fresh and new. As its website states, “The evolving cuisine changes often, but always retains a level of reverence for the ingredients in each and every dish.” You really can’t go wrong with any pick, whether it’s the savory crepe cake made with a chicken liver mousse or the fazzoletti, a braised land dish. But it’s the pasta that keeps this Kansas City magazine editor coming back for more. From their ricotta ravioli to their bucatini, The Antler Room’s chefs always have an interesting take. One of the best tortellini dishes I ever had was made with black garlic pasta dough, confit gizzards, crispy chicken skin and chicken schmaltz. theantlerroomkc.com

CALEB CONDIT AND REBECCA NORDEN ZACH BAUMAN

PROVIDED

Best Pizza Minsky’s

FOR MORE THAN forty-five years and with seventeen locations, Minsky’s has proven itself as one of KC’s most favored pizza joints. It’s been a cornerstone of Kansas City’s food scene for years. And even though the most popular choice is the Minsky’s original handrolled dough topped with 100 percent Wisconsin mozzarella cheese, pizzas can be made with gluten-free, cauliflower or low-carb Keto crusts, too. While there’s always the option to create your own pizza, the restaurant is also known for its signature “gourmet” pizzas, such as Spicy Thai or the White Cheddar Bacon Mac N Cheese. minskys.com

BO KC 2023 Food & Drink

Best Burger Town Topic

ESTABLISHED IN 1937, Town Topic is more than just a restaurant—it’s a piece of Kansas City history. The now-iconic diner, which originally served burgers for just five cents, still makes its food the same way it did seventy-five years ago, in keeping with its old-fashioned diner vibe. KC’s original greasy spoon on Broadway is open twenty-four hours, seven days a week, and people can be seen standing in line late at night for double cheese burgers and malts and malts after a night at a local bar. towntopic.com

ZACH BAUMAN

ZACH BAUMAN

READERS’ CHOICE

READERS’ CHOICE

BO KC 2023 Food & Drink

Best Ramen Bōru Asian Eatery

THE BEST BOWL of ramen can be found at the Asian fusion restaurant Bōru in KC’s Waldo neighborhood. This establishment has gone through a few iterations since opening as a ramen bar back in 2017. Now, items such as sushi, kimchi French fries and bulgogi lettuce wraps are on the menu, but a perfect, soul-satisfying bowl of ramen can still be had. The noodle dish consists of a broth base, long thin noodles and various toppings. The Bōru bowl is Asian comfort food at its best: a bowl of noodles in Shoyu bone broth with pork belly, soy-pickled Shiitake mushrooms, garlicky greens and an egg. borukc.com

Readers’ Choice Food & Drink

COFFEE SHOP

MESSENGER COFFEE CO. + IBIS BAKERY messengercoffee.co

GELATO SPIN! PIZZA spinpizza.com

BRUNCH SPOT THE FARMHOUSE eatatthefarmhouse.com

GYRO

MR. GYROS GREEK FOOD & PASTRY mrgyroskc.com

SMOOTHIE/JUICE BAR

RUBY JEAN’S KITCHEN & JUICERY rubyjeansjuicery.com

CINNAMON ROLLS MCLAIN’S BAKERY mclainskc.com

CHEF

MICHAEL SMITH, FARINA AND EXTRA VIRGIN farinakc.com, extravirginkc.com

HOSPITALITY PROFESSIONAL NANCY SMITH, FARINA farinakc.com

PATIO GRAM & DUN gramanddun.com

CHOCOLATIER CHRISTOPHER ELBOW CHOCOLATES elbowchocolates.com

FOOD TRUCK ON THE HOOK FISH AND CHIPS onthehookfishandchips.com

FARMERS MARKET

Best Cheesesteak Sandwich Grinders

Established in 2004, Grinders is both a restaurant and a live music venue. Located in KC’s Art District, the restaurant’s been featured on Guy Fieri’s popular TV show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and is famous for its South Philly cheesesteak. For a classic Philly cheesesteak, make sure to get it with ribeye and Cheese-Wiz. Insider tip: Order with a side of garlic parm tots. grinderskc.com

OVERLAND PARK FARMERS’ MARKET opkansas.org/recreation-fun/farmers-market

BBQ RUB

JOE’S KANSAS CITY BAR-B-QUE joeskc.com

READERS’ CHOICE

READERS’ CHOICE

DR JOHN SWAB

The Art of Shoulders

Dr. John Swab, a renowned orthopedic surgeon, is transforming the use of advanced technologies and innovative techniques. With a passion for providing the highest level of care, Dr. Swab is recognized for his commitment to improving patient outcomes.

With a background in organismal biology and experience as a KU college football player have shaped his compassionate approach to patient care. He views his relationship with patients as a team effort, making decisions together based on their needs and desires. Outside of medicine, Dr. Swab cherishes spending time with his wife, three children, and their rescue dog, in Kansas City.

Northland Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

816-841-3805

Dr. Swab specializes in Total Shoulder Replacements. “Reverse” total shoulders help patients with complex issues by redistributing the workload from a damaged rotator cuff to the deltoid muscle. Another option, utilizes stemless shoulder implants to minimize bone loss whenever possible. Dr. Swab demonstrates an artistic approach to shoulder surgery. Such as the 3D "PreView™" This software allows for surgical planning, evaluation of various options in the computer, not the patient. Digitally creating a perfect shoulder, entering the OR with a complete game plan. These innovative techniques in traditional, reverse and stemless shoulder replacements are transforming the field. He combines a deep understanding of human anatomy to achieve elegant results. Attention to detail makes him an artist and a surgeon.

Dr. John Swab is revolutionizing shoulder surgery with his scientific and artistic approach. His use of advanced technologies, expertise in reverse, stemless and inset shoulder procedures Along with his depth of understanding of anatomy shows dedication to improving patient outcomes. Dr. Swab's commitment to excellence and compassionate care has made him a respected figure in the field of orthopedic surgery.

BEST BOOKSTORE RAINY DAY BOOKS

See next spread

BO KC 2023

Sh opping & Wedding

LOOKING FOR A ONE-OF-A-KIND GIFT OR A VINTAGE SIDEBOARD FOR YOUR BREAKFAST NOOK? HERE ARE THE BEST SPOTS IN THE GREATER KC AREA TO FIND EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED.

NEARING ITS FIFTIETH anniversary, Kansas City’s oldest independent bookstore, Rainy Day Books, is as popular as ever. Vivien Jennings founded her book shop in 1975 in the same Fairway, Kansas, shopping center that it resides in today. When she opened her original fourhundred-square-foot shop, she probably didn’t think she would one day be hosting nationally recognized author events, or that the shop would grow into such a beloved part of the community. If you’re a book lover, stepping into Rainy Day is like being a kid in a candy store. The “treats” here are endless. A little over a year ago, Jennings sold her business to Made in KC, whose mission to support local businesses makes their purchase of Rainy Day a perfect match. rainydaybooks.com

BEST BOOKSTORE RAINY DAY BOOKS

Readers’ Choice Shopping

POP-UP SHOP STRAWBERRY SWING thestrawberryswing.com

HOME GOODS STORE HOMEGOODS homegoods.com

ANTIQUE/VINTAGE STORE RIVER MARKET ANTIQUES rivermarketantiquemall.com

CRAFT STUDIO SCRAPS KC scrapskc.org

EYEGLASS SHOP BROOKSIDE OPTICAL brooksideoptical.com

HARDWARE STORE WESTLAKE ACE HARDWARE westlakehardware.com

PLANT STORE FAMILY TREE NURSERY familytreenursery.com

GROCERY STORE HY-VEE GROCERY STORE hy-vee.com

CLOTHING RESALE STORE PLATO’S CLOSET platoscloset.com

SHOE STORE DSW dsw.com

BUTCHER SHOP FAREWAY MEAT & GROCERY fareway.com

MAKER’S MARKET MADE IN KC madeinkc.co

CAR WASH WATERWAY CAR WASH waterway.com

CALEB CONDIT AND REBECCA NORDEN

Best Cooking Class for Adults

Culinary Center of Kansas City

WITH MORE THAN six hundred cooking classes, there’s something for everyone at the Culinary Center of Kansas City. Whether you want to learn knife skills, how to cook with shellfish or how to make the perfect risotto, this cooking school boasts classes for everyone from the kitchen novice to professional chefs in training. The hands-on learning environment caters to all skill levels. You can even host private events for team building or celebrate special occasions like weddings at the venue. kcculinary.com

Best Cooking Class for Kids

Taste Buds Kitchen

WHILE THIS COOKING school offers classes for all ages, it’s the kids’ classes that really stand out. From a class that encourages kids to “taste and learn things” to a semester-long Junior Chefs program, the school’s courses give kids a new appreciation for food, confidence in the kitchen and the ability to make dishes from scratch. Everything from homemade pasta and sushi to cupcakes and bread are taught through weekly classes and even summer camps. tastebudskitchen.com

Best Place for a Turkish Coffee and Baklava Baba’s Pantry

After immigrating to the United States, Palestinian refugee Yahia Kamal—“Baba” to everyone that knows him—found he missed the food and culture of his home country. He began calling his mother over the phone to get recipes for various comfort foods and cooking them himself, and the rest is history. Baba’s Pantry serves a variety of authentic Palestinian-American foods, including velvet-smooth hummus, but its dark, rich Turkish coffee and flakey, buttery baklava are what set this family-owned and operated deli apart. babaspantrykc.com

ZACH BAUMAN

Best Chef

Michael Smith

Farina & Extra Virgin

Best Hospitality Professional Nancy Smith

Best Happy Hour

Extra Virgin

Thank You for your vote Kansas City.

And Thank You to our Staff for your incredible passion.

Michael Smith

BEST WEDDING

Se rvices & Health

PUSHING YOUR OWN LAWN MOWER JUST ISN’T CUTTING IT ANYMORE. BESIDES, IT’S KILLING YOUR BACK. WE FOUND THE BEST YARD MAINTENANCE COMPANY, THE PERFECT PLACE TO GET A DEEP TISSUE MASSAGE AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN.

BO KC 2023 Services & Health

BEST WEDDING OFFICIANT TIMMY GIBSON

Best New Disc Golf Black Hoof Park

Two brand new disc golf courses opened at Lenexa’s Black Hoof Park. Whether you’re looking for a competitive course that will test your skills or a laid-back family-friendly game, Black Hoof Park delivers. One course is a championship-level eighteen-hole timber course, and the other is an easy nine-hole course meant to provide fun for people of all ages. The championship-level, ten-thousand-foot-long course stretches across eighty acres of rugged terrain and includes multiple teepads and basket locations, which offer course variations for players. The smaller nine-hole course is shorter and more accessible to families and beginners.

Best Place to Read a Book The Rooftop at KC Central Public Library

KC bookworms, head down to the rooftop at the Kansas City Public Library Central Branch on a sunny day and soak in the downtown atmosphere while you get into your latest read. As you make your way to the rooftop, enjoy the one hundred and thirteen-year-old building’s architecture, including a converted bank vault which now serves as a movie theater, where the library screens movies every Saturday. The library also hosts Family Fun Events every Friday, where families can come together for acting workshops, scavenger hunts and rock painting. kclibrary.org

TIMMY GIBSON works as a matchmaker, relationship coach and dating coach; hosts a relationship podcast; and is a wedding officiant extraordinaire. “I want to accomplish one thing in my life—besides having a great head of hair: I want to help peoples' lives be beautiful by helping them have happier, healthier relationships,” says Gibson, who does have a great head of hair. The tattooed, earringed, long-haired wedding officiant has been in the wedding business for years, first as an evangelical preacher. He left the priesthood years ago and now works full time as an allthings wedding guru. Known for his humor and outsized personality, he brings a sense of joy, humor and, of course, love to any ceremony. timmygibson.com

SHUTTERSTOCK

Readers’ Choice Services & Health

PETS

PET PATIO BAR K barkdogbar.com

PET GROOMER FOR PET’S SAKE 4petssake.net

VETERINARY PRACTICE PET RESOURCE CENTER OF KANSAS CITY prckc.org

DOGGIE DAY CARE HAPPY DOG RANCH & RESORT happydogranch.online

DOG TRAINER/SCHOOL THE PET CONNECTION thepetconnection.net

LOCAL PET SHOP/DOG TREATS THREE DOG BAKERY threedog.com

ER FOR PETS BLUE PEARL PET HOSPITAL bluepearlvet.com

OVERNIGHT KENNEL HAPPY DOG RANCH & RESORT happydogranch.online

BEAUTY

NAIL SALON

LUXE NAIL SPA IN OVERLAND PARK luxenailspaop.com

EYEBROW WAXING

LUMINARE AESTHETICS & WELLNESS luminarekc.com

MED SPA

LUMINARE AESTHETICS & WELLNESS luminarekc.com

TANNING SALON RECREATING RAYS recreatingrays.com

“I want to accomplish one thing in life—besidesmy having a great head of hair: I want to help peoples’ lives be beautiful.”

BO KC 2023

Ni ghtlife

KANSAS CITY

DEFINITELY COMES ALIVE WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN, AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF PLACES TO LISTEN TO MUSIC AND IMBIBE. FROM DIVE BARS DOWN ALLEYWAYS TO SWANKY COCKTAIL LOUNGES, THE CHOICES ARE MANY. NOT SURE WHERE TO START? HERE’S WHAT READERS SAY.

BO KC

Nightlife

BEST PIANO MAN WILL O’KEEFE

NEW YORK-BORN Will O’Keefe has always had a love for music. A former orchestral percussionist and Broadway touring drummer, he is now the resident piano player at Voo Lounge, a swanky cocktail bar located in the basement of the 1930s-era Muehlebach Hotel.

“Playing as the resident pianist on an actual baby grand in Kansas City—this is a special kind of chapter in life,” O’Keefe says. He now refers to himself as a human jukebox because of his piano playing and singing abilities. He truly makes Voo Lounge come alive. vookansascity.com

“Playing as the resident pianist on an actual baby grand in Kansas City—this is a special kind of chapter in life.”

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Best Side Hustle of 2023 Travis Kelce

The two-time Super Bowl winner graced the SNL stage early this March, showing us that he’s as funny as he is athletic. In his sketches, Travis Kelce played a mysterious American Girl Cafe customer, a grieving nurse and reality TV show contestant. Jason, Travis’ brother and recent Super Bowl rival, made a cameo during the opening monologue, too. Kelce is only the third NFL player to host the iconic comedy show, but we hope we’ll be seeing more of him on our screens.

Best Place to Stargaze Powell Observatory

For your next summer date night, head to the Powell Observatory in Louisburg to look at the night skies through one of the largest telescopes available to the public in the Midwest. Just twenty-five miles south of KC, the view of the skies is much clearer than it is in the city. Every night, visitors can use different telescopes to view the stars while listening to a space-themed presentation. The observatory is open to the public every Saturday until October. It’s free to attend, but they encourage a $5 to $10 donation to “help maintain and operate the observatory.” askc.org

Readers’ Choice Nightlife

WESTPORT/MIDTOWN BAR KELLY’S WESTPORT INN kellyswestportinn.com

LGBTQ+ BAR MISSIE B’S missiebs.com

BREWERY BOULEVARD BREWING COMPANY boulevard.com

LOCALLY OWNED MISSOURI BREWERY BOULEVARD BREWING COMPANY boulevard.com

LOCALLY OWNED KANSAS BREWERY MARTIN CITY BREWING COMPANY martincitybrewingcompany.com

LIQUOR STORE

LUKAS WINE & SPIRITS SUPERSTORE lukasliquorsuperstore.com

HOTEL BAR CROSSROADS HOTEL crossroadshotelkc.com

COCKTAILS

DRASTIC MEASURES drasticbar.com

MARGARITAS

PONAK’S MEXICAN KITCHEN & BAR ponaksmexicankitchen.com

MISSOURI SUBURB BAR THE PEANUT peanutkc.com

JAZZ & BLUES CLUB GREEN LADY LOUNGE greenladylounge.com

JAZZ ACT LONNIE MCFADDEN lonniemcfadden.com

COUNTRY MUSIC VENUE KNUCKLEHEADS GARAGE knuckleheadskc.com

DAVID YOUNG

READERS’ CHOICE

EDITORS’ CHOICE

SHUTTERSTOCK

THANK YOU

WE’RE PROUD TO BE KANSAS CITY’S BEST CHIROPRACTOR!

RISE TO HIGHER HEALTH TODAY

At Vita Chiropractic, we utilize a neurological approach when it comes to addressing the root cause of your health concerns. Neurologically-based chiropractic care allows the nervous system to function optimally by making corrections at the source, allowing the body to heal from the inside out.

Whatever your story or past, we know that you want to live better, feel stronger, and enjoy life along the way. Our team is here to listen, lead, and help facilitate your road to healing so you can serve your bigger purpose.

BEST PLACE TO TAKE A SELFIE SELFIE WRLD

See next spread

C ulture & CityLife

KANSAS CITY IS A VIBRANT CITY WITH MUCH TO EXPERIENCE. FROM 5KS AND OVER-THETOP MUSIC TO NATIONALLY KNOWN ART INSTRUCTION AND PETTING ZOOS, THE GREATER METRO AREA IS CONTINUALLY PROVING THERE IS SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.

Readers’ Choice Culture & City Life

DRAG SHOW HAMBURGER MARY’S hamburgermarys.com

LOCAL ACTRESS (LIVE THEATER) VALERIE CHAMBERLAIN

LOCAL ACTOR (LIVE THEATER) JOHN RENSENHOUSE

ART INSTRUCTION

KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE kcai.edu

WEEKEND GETAWAY SPOT WESTON westonmo.com

LIVE THEATER VENUE STARLIGHT THEATRE kcstarlight.com

MUSIC FESTIVAL BOULEVARDIA boulevardia.com

GOLF COURSE KANSAS CITY COUNTRY CLUB kccc.com

ART GALLERY

NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART nelson-atkins.org

TRIBUTE/COVER BAND BOUND & DETERMINED @boundanddeternined on Facebook

ARTS FESTIVAL PLAZA ART FAIR plazaartfair.com

RECORDING STUDIO STRANGE MUSIC strangemusicinc.net

MOVIE THEATER SCREENLAND ARMOUR screenland.com

BEST PLACE TO TAKE A SELFIE SELFIE WRLD

ARE YOU LOOKING for the perfect Instagram shot? No need to look further than Selfie WRLD Kansas City. This interactive art pop-up in Lee’s Summit has twenty trendy set designs so you can create the ultimate Insta-worthy pic. The bold and often brash backdrops in this do-it-yourself photo studio promise to upgrade anyone’s selfie game. From a pink-hued room with a matching vintage phone and a brightred neon-lit room celebrating the Chiefs to a retro record wall or bright-yellow smiling emoji backdrop, Selfie WRLD doesn’t disappoint. Go ahead and act as if you’re dancing the night away in the disco room, lounge on a lip-shaped couch, or dive into an orange ball pit. Tickets are $20 for one hour, so grab your phone and strike a pose. selfiewrldkansascity.com

EDITORS’ CHOICE

Best Upgrade New KCI Airport

The new KCI Airport was one of the most anticipated Kansas City upgrades, with an approximately $1.5 billion price tag and over five years of planning and construction. The shiny new terminal is definitely something to brag about. It represents the future of air travel and celebrates the city with stunning art installations— including Leo Villareal’s “Fountain,” an homage to the City of Fountains— and local shops and restaurants like Boulevard Brewing Company, Made in Kansas City Marketplace, City Market Food Hall, Messenger Coffee and The BBQ Spot. It also has a sensory room, Variety KC Inclusive Play Zone, a quiet room, service animal relief areas and a Kansas City Air Travel Experience room. flykc.com

Culture & City Life BO KC 2023

Best Athlete Patrick Mahomes

It’s no surprise that the Chiefs’ quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, was voted KC’s best athlete by our readers. Not only is he widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, winning two Super Bowls and being named Super Bowl MVP twice, but he’s also a great and proud Kansas Citian. With his stake in the KC Royals and the Kansas City Currents, Mahomes is showing up for KC in more ways than one.

Best KC Flex NFL Draft

Football fans from across the country gathered at Union Station in April to watch the newest NFL picks begin their professional careers. Fans were able to practice NFL drills, take pictures with all fifty-six Super Bowl rings and listen to performances from bands Mötley Crüe, Fall Out Boy and Thundercat. KC has already established itself as the place to be for sports fans—the city has hosted two Super Bowl parades in the past three years and is scheduled to host the 2026 World Cup. The NFL draft only added another feather in our cap.

Best Coach Andy Reid

Kansas City Chiefs’ Head Coach Andy Reid has been ranked as the NFL’s top coach by CBS Sports and Pro Football Focus. Under Reid’s leadership, the Chiefs have achieved ninety-eight total wins since 2013, the second-highest in the league during that period. As the Chiefs aim for another Super Bowl appearance, Reid’s coaching legacy continues to grow.

ZACH BAUMAN

JEREMEY THERON KIRBY

JEREMEY THERON KIRBY

JEREMEY THERON KIRBY EDITORS’

READERS’ CHOICE READERS’ CHOICE

ChoiceReaders’ Winners

KOREAN BIBIBOP ASIAN GRILL bibibop.com

PIE

THE UPPER CRUST uppercrustpiebakery.com

BARBECUE

JOE’S KANSAS CITY BAR-B-QUE joeskc.com

BARBECUE SANDWICH Z-MAN, JOE’S KANSAS CITY BAR-B-QUE joeskc.com

ITALIAN GAROZZO’S garozzos.com

TACOS TACO NACO taconacokc.com

RIBS

FIORELLA’S JACK STACK BARBECUE jackstackbbq.com

BARBECUE SAUCE

JOE’S KANSAS CITY BAR-B-QUE joeskc.com

SANDWICH SHOP JERSEY MIKE’S SUBS jerseymikes.com

RESTAURANT WHEN SOMEONE ELSE IS PAYING THE CAPITAL GRILLE thecapitalgrille.com

INDIAN TAJ MAHAL kctajmahal.com

VEGETARIAN/VEGAN RESTAURANT CAFE GRATITUDE cafegratitudekc.com

PHO

VIETNAM CAFE vietnamcafekc.com

PUB FOOD THE PEANUT peanutkc.com

SEAFOOD SPOT BRISTOL SEAFOOD GRILL bristolseafoodgrill.com

BURNT ENDS

FIORELLA’S JACK STACK BARBECUE jackstackbbq.com

BREAKFAST THE BIG BISCUIT bigbiscuit.com

NEW RESTAURANT URBAN EGG urbaneggeatery.com

THAI LULU’S THAI NOODLE SHOP lulusnoodles.com

HOT DOGS QUIKTRIP quiktrip.com

STEAK HOUSE J. GILBERT’S WOOD-FIRED STEAKS & SEAFOOD jgilberts.com

MEXICAN RESTAURANT PONAK’S MEXICAN KITCHEN & BAR ponaksmexicankitchen.com

FOOD POP-UP TACO NACO taconacokc.com

ICE CREAM BETTY RAE’S ICE CREAM bettyraes.com

FOOD BARGAIN ALDI aldi.us

RESTAURANT FOR KIDS FRITZ’S fritzskc.com

BLOODY MARY CHAR BAR charbarkc.com

SPECIAL-RELEASE BEER BOULEVARD GINGER LEMON RADLER boulevard.com

COCKTAIL PROGRAM DRASTIC MEASURES drasticbar.com

IPAS BOULEVARD BREWING COMPANY boulevard.com

DISTILLERY J. RIEGER & CO. jriegerco.com

Readers’ Choice Best Shopping

WOMEN’S BOUTIQUE AMELIA’S BOUTIQUE shopamelias.com

MEN’S BOUTIQUE ULAH ulahkc.com

LOCAL CLOTHING STORE CHARLIE HUSTLE charliehustle.com

RECORD STORE MILLS RECORD COMPANY millsrecordcompany.com

FLORIST FIDDLY FIG fiddlyfig.com

GARDEN SUPPLY/NURSERY FAMILY TREE NURSERY familytreenursery.com

JEWELRY STORE TIVOL tivol.com

LOCAL SPORTS STORE/OUTFITTER SCHEELS scheels.com

TOY STORE BROOKSIDE TOY AND SCIENCE brooksidetoyandscience.com

HOTEL

THE ELMS HOTEL & SPA elmshotelandspa.com

WINE SHOP

MIKE’S WINE & SPIRITS mikeskc.com

BOTTLE SHOP GOMER’S FINE WINE & SPIRITS shop.gomers.com

GREEN BUSINESS BOULEVARD BREWING COMPANY boulevard.com

CUSTOM COUNTERTOPS COMPANY ROCKTOPS GRANITE & STONE FABRICATION rocktopskc.com

FITNESS CLASS REVIVE INDOOR CYCLING reviveindoorcycling.com

CLIMBING GYM ROKC climbkc.com

GYM NICK BOLTON FITNESS nickboltonfitness.com

CROSSFIT GYM CROSSFIT ON TRACK crossfitontrack.com

PILATES STUDIO PURE BARRE purebarre.com

SPORTS BAR THE PEANUT

Claiming to be Kansas City’s oldest bar and grill, The Peanut is a favorite neighborhood hangout, with eight locations dotting the metro. For more information about the original two locations, visit peanutkc.com or to learn more about the new spots visit peanutmidwest.com.

CAR DEALERSHIP HENDRICK AUTOMOTIVE GROUP hendrickcars.com

CBD STORE CBD AMERICAN SHAMAN cbdamericanshaman.com

BIKE SHOP

ERIK’S BIKE SHOP eriksbikeshop.com

BEST KITCHEN STORE PRYDE’S

Known as the hardware store for cooks, Pryde’s is packed from floor to ceiling with kitchen gadgets. If you can’t find it there, it probably can’t be found. prydeskitchen.com

CYCLING STUDIO REVIVE INDOOR CYCLING reviveindoorcycling.com

YOGA STUDIO

POWER LIFE YOGA, BARRE FITNESS powerlife.com

LEGAL

DUI ATTORNEY JUNGLE LAW junglelaw.com

LAW FIRM/LAWYER GROVER LAW FIRM groverlawkc.com

FAMILY LAW ATTORNEY KELLI COOPER, JOHNSON COUNTY DIVORCE LAWYER kellicooperlaw.com

PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY MARK GROVER, GROVER LAW FIRM groverlawkc.com

WEDDING

WEDDING PLANNER DANA ASHLEY EVENTS danaashleyevents.com

WEDDING BAND TWICE ON SUNDAY twiceonsundayband.com

HAND LETTERER SCRIPT YOUR EVENT scriptyourevent.com

WEDDING FLORIST THE BLOOM CO. thebloomcoweddingflorals.com

WEDDING VENUE THE BRIM thebrimkc.com

BACHELOR PARTY VENUE KANSAS CITY POWER & LIGHT DISTRICT powerandlightdistrict.com

BACHELORETTE PARTY VENUE FUNKY TOWN funkytownkc.com

TUXEDO SHOP TODD’S CLOTHIERS & TAILORING toddsclothiers.com

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER ENLOW PRODUCTIONS enlowproductions.com

ALTERATIONS BRIDAL BY SHL bridalbyshl.com

WEDDING DJ ICON EVENT GROUP iegkc.com

WEDDING CAKE MAKER SUGAR WHIPPED BAKERY sugarwhippednyc.com

Readers’ Choice Best Services & Health

TATTOO PARLOR GRIMM TATTOO grimmtattookc.com

BARBERSHOP NOGGINS MEN’S SHOP nogginskc.com

MAKEUP STUDIO LUMIERE AESTHETICS CENTER lumiereaestheticscenter.com

COSMETIC DENTIST CHASE ALEXANDER TOMCALA, WESTWOOD AESTHETIC DENTISTRY westwoodaestheticdentistry.com

MICROBLADING CASSIDY DRACE, LUMINARE AESTHETICS & WELLNESS luminarekc.com

LASHES LUMINARE AESTHETICS & WELLNESS luminarekc.com

SPA

LUMINARE AESTHETICS & WELLNESS luminarekc.com

INJECTOR ASHLEY WILLIAMS, MONARCH PLASTIC SURGERY monarchps.com

PROVIDED

BEST POP-UP SHOP STRAWBERRY SWING

This highly curated conglomerate of goods handmade by local vendors, otherwise known as an indie art fair, can be found at different times and locales around the metro. thestrawberryswing.com

WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER ENLOW PRODUCTIONS enlowproductions.com

BRIDAL SHOP TRUE SOCIETY truesociety.com

WEDDING CATERER BRANCATO’S CATERING brancatoscatering.com

PLACE FOR REHEARSAL DINNER LIDIA’S lidias-kc.com

HAIR STYLIST KASSIDI UPTON, THE HAIRAPY CO. facebook.com/thehairapyco

HAIR SALON COLLAB instagram.com/collab.kc/

HAIR REMOVAL SALON AESTHETICARE MEDSPA greatskinkc.com

PLASTIC SURGEON JOHN MICHAEL QUINN, QUINN PLASTIC SURGERY quinnplasticsurgery.com

ESTHETICIAN BRIELLE MEAD, LUMINARE AESTHETICS & WELLNESS luminarekc.com

HOME

REAL ESTATE AGENT JONAS BARRISH, COMPASS REALTY GROUP compass.com

BEST ROOFING COMPANY CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ROOFING christianbrothersroofingllc.com

BEST ELECTRICIAN/COMPANY A.B. MAY abmay.com

BEST LAWN MAINTENANCE COMPANY RYAN LAWN & TREE ryanlawn.com

BEST PLUMBER/COMPANY A.B. MAY abmay.com

SENIOR LIVING FACILITY TALLGRASS CREEK ericksonseniorliving.com

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY PRICE BROTHERS pricebrotherskc.com

NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITY BROOKSIDE brooksidekc.org

APARTMENT COMPLEX DEER CREEK APARTMENTS deercreekaptskc.com

INTERIOR DESIGNER ML DESIGNS mldesignskc.com

LANDSCAPER RYAN LAWN & TREE ryanlawn.com

MOVING COMPANY YOU MOVE ME youmoveme.com

BASEMENT WATERPROOFING COMPANY THRASHER FOUNDATION REPAIR gothrasher.com

HOME SECURITY COMPANY ADT adt.com

GENERAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANY KCBR kcbathremodel.com

PEST CONTROL PETE’S PEST CONTROL petethebugguy.com

At KCBR Design | Remodel we offer our clients a turnkey approach to remodeling. Our inhouse designers guide clients through the design process of selecting materials and finishes and create a space that reflects their personality and lifestyle. Once the design is complete, our designers work closely with our in-house construction team to ensure that every part of the vision is executed brilliantly. We are dedicated to creating an exceptional experience by committing to transparent communication throughout every step of the remodeling process. We have built a trustworthy reputation throughout the industry with clients and vendors alike and we thrive on continuous improvement and innovation. We take pride in knowing how much joy our clients feel when they get to share their newly remodeled spaces with family and friends. WE HOPE TO SHARE OUR PASSION WITH YOU ON YOUR NEXT PROJECT.

Our community has been in Kansas City for more than 100 years and for the last 60 years we have held our annual festival to highlight our faith and food. Join friends and neighbors at Kansas City’s most popular ethnic festival! Always the weekend after Labor Day.

September 8, 9 & 10

REALTY COMPANY COMPASS REALTY GROUP compass.com

REAL ESTATE TEAM

GRID | JONAS BARRISH AND BETSY O’BRIEN jonasbarrish.com

HANDYMAN SERVICE

CANDOR UPKEEP HANDYMAN SERVICES candorupkeep.com

HOME BUILDER JAMES ENGLE CUSTOM HOMES jamesengle.com

CHIMNEY CLEANER FLUESBROTHERS CHIMNEY SERVICE kcsweep.com

MORTGAGE COMPANY PROSPERITY HOME MORTGAGE phmloans.com

HOME INSPECTION COMPANY BARNETT HOME INSPECTIONS barnetthomeinspections.com

HEALTH & WELLNESS

COUNSELOR CALEB ADEGOKE, KC WELL CO. calebadegoke.com

PERSONAL TRAINER JUSTINE TAPP, TAPP INTO IT FITNESS instagram.com/tappjustine

DENTIST

MICHAEL LEBLANC, LEBLANC & ASSOCIATES DENTISTRY FOR CHILDREN kidsmilekc.com

MASSAGE THERAPIST

KATIE BROCK, HAVEN WELLNESS + SPA havenwellnessop.com

SOAKINGPOOL/FLOAT TANK THE SPA AT BRIARCLIFF spaatbriarcliff.com

CHIROPRACTOR VITA CHIROPRACTIC vitachiro.com

MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPIST AMANDA HINDSON amandahindson.com

PREMARITAL COUNSELOR KIERI OLMSTEAD, SIMPLE EMPATHY simpleempathykc.com

NATUROPATH GRACE CHARLES, KANSAS CITY INTEGRATIVE HEALTH kcnaturopathic.com

ACUPUNCTURIST

SACRED CHIROPRACTIC + ACUPUNCTURE sacredchiropractic.com

ORTHODONTIST

JEREMEY FRY, FRY ORTHODONTIC SPECIALISTS fryorthodontics.com

GROUP THERAPY PRACTICE KC WELL CO. kcwellco.com

SERVICE

BEST INSURANCE AGENCY LOCKTON global.lockton.com

BEST TRAVEL AGENT FLYOVER TRAVEL flyovertravel.com

BEST AUTO REPAIR SHOP OTTO SERVICE ottoservicekc.com

BEST DISABILITIES NONPROFIT THE WHOLE PERSON thewholeperson.org

BEST POOL COMPANY SWIM THINGS

Since its inception forty years ago, Swim Things has grown into the area’s largest all-thingspool-related business. Not only does Swim Things build pools and maintain them, but they also outfit many of the local youth swim teams in the greater Kansas City area. swimthings.com

SHUTTERSTOCK

Readers’ Choice Best Nightlife

CLUB DJ DJ MUNCH instagram.com/djmunch816

PLACE TO SEE LOCAL HIP-HOP MOSAIC powerandlightdistrict.com

COMEDY CLUB THE COMEDY CLUB OF KANSAS CITY thecomedyclubkc.com

PLACE TO SEE LOCAL MUSIC KNUCKLEHEADS SALOON knuckleheadskc.com

MUSIC VENUE KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS kauffmancenter.org

JAM NIGHT KNUCKLEHEADS SALOON knuckleheadskc.com

LIVE THEATER PRODUCTION STARLIGHT THEATRE kcstarlight.com

ROCK MUSIC CLUB KNUCKLEHEADS SALOON knuckleheadskc.com

FUNDRAISER GALA JAZZOO kansascityzoo.org

CASINO ARGOSY CASINO HOTEL & SPA argosykansascity.com

SOMMELIER CHRISTINA CORVINO corvino.com

BAR STAFF DRASTIC MEASURES drasticbar.com

KARAOKE OFFKEY KARAOKE LOUNGE & SUITES offkeykc.com

NEW BAR

JIM’S ALLEY BAR jimsalleybar.com

MIXOLOGIST BRYAN ARRI fernbarkc.com

BAR POP-UP FERN BAR fernbarkc.com

DATE BAR THE CAMPGROUND thecampgroundkc.com

TRIVIA NIGHT GAELS PUBLIC HOUSE & SPORTS gaelspublichouse.com

SPEAKEASY SWORDFISH TOM’S instagram.com/swordfishtoms.kc

KCK/WYANDOTTE COUNTY BAR THE MOCKINGBIRD LOUNGE themockingbirdlounge.com

LIMO/PARTY BUS COMPANY PARTY EXPRESS BUS KC partyexpressbuskc.com

BEST NEW BAR

JIM’S ALLEY BAR

Located in Art Alley in the East Crossroads, Jim’s Alley Bar is the quintessential dive bar, with a hipster mentality and a summer shuffleboard league. jimsalleybar.com

DANCE PARTY FUNKY TOWN funkytownkc.com

HAPPY HOUR EXTRA VIRGIN extravirginkc.com

JOHNSON COUNTY BAR DRASTIC MEASURES drasticbar.com

Readers’ Choice Best Culture & City Life

CULTURAL EVENT KANSAS CITY IRISH FEST kcirishfest.com

ARCADE UP-DOWN KC updownarcadebar.com

LOCAL AUTHOR

J. ALEXANDER GREENWOOD jalexandergreenwood.com

DAYCARE

HILLCREST CHRISTIAN EARLY LEARNING CENTER hcckc.org

PUBLIC PARK

DEANNA ROSE CHILDREN’S FARMSTEAD opkansas.org

WATER PARK OCEANS OF FUN worldsoffun.com

SUMMER CAMP

THE REGNIER FAMILY WONDERSCOPE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF KANSAS CITY wonderscope.org

SWIMMING POOL BLACK BOB PARK olatheks.gov

PLAZA/SOUTH KC BAR THE MONARCH themonarchbar.com

BAR WITH LIVE MUSIC GREEN LADY LOUNGE greenladylounge.com

DOWNTOWN KCMO BAR JOHN’S BIG DECK johnsbigdeckkc.org

PRIVATE SCHOOL ST. JAMES ACADEMY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL sjathunder.org

PUBLIC SCHOOL SHAWNEE MISSION EAST HIGH SCHOOL smeast.smsd.org

FAMILY FUN CENTER SCIENCE CITY sciencecity.unionstation.org

HAUNTED HOUSE EDGE OF HELL edgeofhell.com

MUSEUM

NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART nelson-atkins.org

LIBRARY

THE KANSAS CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY CENTRAL BRANCH kclibrary.org

CHRISTMAS ATTRACTION UNION STATION unionstation.org

RUNNING EVENT HOSPITAL HILL RUN hospitalhillrun.com

PRESCHOOL A BETTER CHOICE PRESCHOOL abcpreschoolsite.com

CITY LIFE

LOCAL TV NEWS STATION KMBC NEWS CHANNEL 9 kmbc.com

LOCAL MORNING TALK SHOW THE MORNING DRIVE WITH MIKE KELLAR AND JENNY MATTHEWS, Q104 q104kc.com

WINERY KC WINE CO. kcwineco.com

LOCAL BAND

JIMMY HARRIS BAND jimmyharrisband.com

FUNDRAISING EVENT THE BIG SLICK bigslickkc.org

EDUCATION NONPROFIT OPERATION BREAKTHROUGH operationbreakthrough.org

TOUR COMPANY KANSAS CITY FUN TOURS kcfuntours.com

COUNTRY CLUB KANSAS CITY COUNTRY CLUB kccc.com

LOCAL POLITICIAN MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS kcmo.gov

KCMO NEIGHBORHOOD BROOKSIDE brooksidekc.org

PLACE TO WORK KANSAS CITY HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE kchospice.org

LOCAL TV SPORTS ANCHOR LEN JENNINGS, KMBC kmbc.com

PLACE OF WORSHIP UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION resurrection.church

PHILANTHROPIST TRAVIS KELCE

LOCAL TV COMMERCIAL HY-VEE (WITH MAHOMES AND KELCE)

JOHNSON COUNTY CITY, VILLAGE OR TOWN OVERLAND PARK opkansas.org

LOCAL PODCAST THE DANA AND PARKS PODCAST audacy.com

FOUNTAIN FOUNTAIN IN MILL CREEK PARK kcparks.org

LOCAL RADIO SHOW

DANA AND PARKS, KMBZ 98.1 audacy.com

CIVIL & HUMAN RIGHTS NONPROFIT KC TENANTS kctenants.org

MISSOURI SUBURB PARKVILLE parkvillemo.org

LOCAL TV ANCHOR

LARA MORITZ, KMBC CHANNEL 9 NEWS kmbc.com

LOCAL METEOROLOGIST

BRYAN BUSBY, KMBC CHANNEL 9 NEWS kmbc.com

LOCAL LANDMARK UNION STATION unionstation.org

FINANCIAL INSTITUTION COMMUNITY AMERICA CREDIT UNION communityamerica.com

LOCAL BAND THE ELDERS eldersmusic.com

HEALTH NONPROFIT KANSAS CITY HOSPICE & PALLIATIVE CARE kchospice.org

RADIO PERSONALITY JENNY MATTHEWS, Q104 q104kc.com

COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS KC TENANTS kctenants.org

RADIO STATION Q104 KBEQ q104kc.com

FESTIVAL PLAZA ART FAIR plazaartfair.com

LOCAL BLOGGER @NOMASTAYINKC instagram.com/nomastayinkc

LOCAL MASCOT KC WOLF, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Having followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, native Kansas Citian Jimmy Harris has been playing music since he was thirteen years old. When he’s not belting out his version of country-funk and rock ‘n’ roll around town, he’s in Nashville recording. jimmyharrisband.com

BEST VOCALIST

JIMMY HARRIS

Voted the BEST DONUT in Kansas City

KC HIP HOP AT50

BY SHAWN EDWARDS PHOTOGRAPH BY SHAWN BRACKBILL

HIP-HOP AND KANSAS CITY RADIO: IT’S COMPLICATED

Pictured:

A few Hot 103 Jamz DJs past and present, from left to right: Brian B. Shynin’, Don Juan and DJ Fresh along with Carter Broadcast Group Operations Manager Myron Fears.

AUGUST MARKS THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF HIP-HOP.

Like most urban radio stations across the country at the time, Kansas City’s KPRS was slow to embrace the hip-hop movement fifty years ago. Despite being the nation’s oldest Black-owned radio station, it struggled with accepting this new art form created by Black and Latino youth.

Hip-hop ushered in a cultural phenomenon at the time, introducing the world to DJing, breakdancing, graffiti and rapping. Rap music is now one of the most popular music genres in the world, but for most of its fifty-year history, radio stations, including KPRS, reluctantly played the music on air.

“People who were running the radio station at the time were from a different generation,” says Myron Fears, operations manager at the Carter Broadcast Group, which owns KPRS, Gospel 1590 KPRT and RNB 106.9. “They didn’t understand the music or the culture.”

Legend has it that hip-hop was born on August 11th, 1973, at a party held in an apartment building community room in the South Bronx, New York. DJ Kool Herc, an eighteen-year-old aspiring musician at the time, performed, and the rest, as they say, is history.

However, most people weren’t introduced to hip-hop until six years later, in the fall of 1979, when The Sugarhill Gang performed “Rapper’s Delight.” KPRS first played the iconic song in Kansas City months after most urban stations across the country had already played it. It would be the beginning of the radio station’s tumultuous and uncomfortable relationship with rap music.

“‘Rapper’s Delight’ introduced a new genre of music, especially in the Midwest,” Fears says. “The song brought a new culture, a new attitude, a new political mindset, a new sense of fashion and a new way to dance.”

The release of “Rapper’s Delight” ignited a culture at warp speed, and hiphop became a phenomenon. The song had an immediate impact on millions of young Black people. Kansas City native Tonya “Solé” Johnson, now known as Aja Shah, remembers hearing the song for the very first time and writing down all of the lyrics in a spiral notebook, then memorizing them and reciting them back as she performed them on the school bus. She would eventually become the biggest female rapper from Kansas City, landing several hit songs on the Billboard charts in the early 2000s.

Even still, most urban contemporary radio stations at that time played limited rap music, and most of it was played at night. “Stations had a one-hip-hopsong-per-hour rule after 7 p.m.,” Fears says. “At KPRS, there were hip-hop records sprinkled into rotation during the afternoon drive from 1981 to 1989. Records like ‘It’s Like That’ by Run-D.M.C,, ‘Friends’ and ‘Five Minutes of Funk’ by Whodini, ‘Wild Wild West’ by Kool Moe Dee and ‘Push It!’ by Salt-N-Pepa were part of the music mix.”

Although not a lot of rap music was played on KPRS, savvy party promoters like Vonzell Bryant, Marcus Harris and Ryonell Frederick used the station to advertise their hip-hop parties at high schools, hotel ballrooms, skating rinks and union halls. The underground hip-hop scene was healthy and vibrant despite the limited amount of airtime rap music received on Kansas City radio.

“It was a slow process,” Fears says. “It gradually evolved because the records became so huge you couldn’t deny playing hip-hop anymore.” Credit Run-D.M.C. for breaking the fourth wall literally and figuratively. Their 1983 song “Sucka MC’s” was one of the first rap songs to get heavy rotation on urban radio nationwide. Their 1985 hit “Walk This Way,” a cover of Aerosmith’s rock classic, crossed over and introduced rap to mainstream audiences in a massive way.

Soon, other radio stations discovered the popularity of rap and hip-hop music and began including it in their rotations. In 1987, KPRS began feeling the heat from a new local competitor. B95FM became an urban format. This forced KPRS to ditch its onetime futuristic automated playlist and go live with on-air personalities. The station also rebranded itself as Hot 103 Jamz.

To connect with the majority of their listeners who craved rap, Hot 103 Jamz began producing programming that catered to them. Myron Gigger, aka The Magic Man, introduced a concept called “The Hot 8 at 8” into his nightly show. The countdown program also featured listeners delivering shout-outs in the tradition of early call-in shows. The show was extremely popular and also provided the station street credibility. Hot 103 Jamz also featured another popular segment called “Pump It or Dump It” where listeners voted on whether they liked or disliked a new song that would be featured. These two shows, propelled by rap music, were extremely popular and generated huge ratings for Hot 103 Jamz. But there was still a cautious reluctance to go all in on hip-hop at the station.

During the 1990s, hip-hop became even more popular, forcing radio stations to play more rap despite major concerns over the violent and misogynistic lyrics that proliferated many songs. The socio-economic woes that plagued Kansas City combined with the crack epidemic greatly increased crime. Rap music was an easy target. For a short period, the station banned almost all rap music and began an anti-violence campaign using the slogan “Put the damn guns down!”

The ban was short-lived, mostly because radio stations faced increasing competition from television shows that featured rap music and its artists. The

increased proliferation of mixtapes also allowed people to bypass radio stations altogether to listen to rap.

By the mid-’90s, hip-hop became increasingly more commercial and began dominating radio station playlists. In the early 2000s, hip-hop had become standard and was part of Hot 103 Jamz’s daily programming. However, local rap artists still struggled to obtain love from the station.

For years, many Kansas City-based rappers have felt betrayed by Hot 103 Jamz for a lack of support. Things came to a dramatic head when local rapper James Christos recorded a song called “K.T.R.S. (Kill the Radio Station)” in 2005. It was a diss song that targeted Hot 103 Jamz specifically for not playing rap music produced by local artists. In response to the song, Hot 103 Jamz partnered with Strange Music, the local music label co-founded by Kansas City’s most successful rap artist Tech N9ne. Together they created a hip-hop music summit to address the concerns of the local artists and explain how the music and radio industries actually operated.

“Programming music is subjective,” Fears says. “You can’t play every song you receive. It’s also a business and ratings and revenue matter. It’s not about my personal taste. It’s about consumer consumption.” Despite what seemed like a blockade against locally produced rap music, a few artists found success on Hot 103 Jamz. Tech N9ne, the most-played local rapper on the station, has had several songs in rotation. The 57th Street Rogue Dog Villians, The Popper, Xta-C and Dwalk have also had songs get major spins.

“The Boiling Point,” hosted by local producer Don Juan, set the tone for rap shows to be aired on Hot 103 Jamz during the early 2000s. “My show provided local artists an opportunity,” Juan says. “Local rap needed a bigger voice. Hot 103 Jamz is a big deal and gives local rap artists credibility. They feel like major talent. Everything goes up after having your music played on the station.”

Jaun’s show was followed by the short-lived “The Take Over” hosted by DJ AK. “Underground Heat” was the most popular and longest-running locally produced show to air on Hot 103 Jamz. The show was originally hosted and produced by Kenny Diamondz and later by Brian B. Shynin’.

Today, hip-hop titles make up fifty percent of the Hot 103 Jamz’s playlist during the day and ninety percent at night. At a time when many music industry experts believe that the power of radio is fading, Hot 103 Jamz remains a juggernaut in the Kansas City community and one of the major platforms for rap music in Kansas City.

“‘Rapper’s Delight’ introduced a new genre of music, especially in the Midwest. The song brought a new culture, a new attitude, a new political mindset, a new sense of fashion and a new way to dance.”

Top Left: Kansas City radio pioneer Andrew “Skip” Carter, who started KPRS, the nation’s oldest Blackowned radio station. This Page: Kansas City’ s most successful rap artist and founder of Strange Music, Tech N9ne, has always been a Hot 103 Jamz supporter.

UNIQUELY DIVERSE - ALL INCLUSIVE

Nearly 100 vendors with 52 vendors ing 28 differ Our vendors include retired veterans & woman-owned businesses.

UNIQUELY DIVERSE - ALL INCLUSIVE

Nearly 100 vendors with 52 vendors ing 28 differ Our vendors include retired veterans & woman-owned businesses. UNIQUELY DIVERSE

MORE THAN 100 VENDORS WITH 52 VENDORS SPEAKING 29 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

Arabic - Burmese - Czech - English - Farsi - French - German - Hindi - Hmong - Italian - Japanese Karen - Korean - Latin - Luganda - Macedonian - Malagasy - Mandarin - Mongol - Nepali Pennsylvania Dutch - Portuguese - Russian - Sign - Spanish - Swahili - Thai - Tongan - Vietnamese

TASTE

Paleta Perfection

A favorite childhood memory is road-tripping to Mexico with my family and indulging on a paleta or two. The traditional Mexican frozen treat, similar to a popsicle, is usually made with fresh fruit such as strawberries and mango or with rich, creamy, chocolatey ingredients and nuts like pistachios.

Now, I’m happy to report that this small piece of Mexico has made it to Overland Park via The Paleta Bar (8025 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park), a create-your-own paleta shop. The Quezada family, who relocated from New Mexico, where these icy treats are much more prevalent, opened a place where customers can come in and design a paleta to their liking.

There are endless combinations and unique flavors, like fruity pebbles, chili mango, taro, horchata, passion fruit and even avocado. They can be dipped, half-dipped or drizzled in chocolate and rolled in all sorts of toppings—a perfect treat on a hot summer day. –

ALEXIA KING

Thriving on fifth street

Enzo Bistro and Wine Bar is the ideal spot to have dinner with your in-laws.

BY TYLER SHANE

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CALEB CONDIT AND REBECCA NORDEN

TODAY’S RESTAURANT SCENE is more niche than ever. You won’t find chips and salsa on the table at the Mexican restaurant Barbacoa, chef Keeyoung Kim of Chingu refuses to serve pan-Asian on his Korean menu, and it would be practically sacrilege to ask for “something fruity” at the James Beard finalist cocktail bar Drastic Measures.

Chefs are confidently serving their food their way to a generation of customers who are more curious and educated than ever. While this disruption to the formidable

Midwestern bar and grill scene is welcomed by many, it simultaneously makes restaurants serving up more familiar and standard fare, like the Mediterranean Enzo Bistro and Wine Bar, a bit more refreshing as well. Enzo may not blow your socks off with epicurean innovation, and it doesn’t need or intend to. It covers the basics very well—vibrant atmosphere, attentive service, can’tmiss happy hour and a safe-bet menu. Enzo opened last December in the River Market’s former Bo Ling restaurant space, and it’s thriving on Fifth Street. →

Pictured: The wine bar offers a substantial selection of French and Italian wines that won’t disappoint, but Enzo’s cocktails are also worth imbibing. Any limoncello-based cocktail includes the Norris siblings’ secret recipe which, as my server claims, “they tell no one.”

There is no such thing as bad seating at Enzo. Every table is ideal, with large windows and patios flanking either side of the restaurant. A large wood-paneled wine bar lit by coastal blue and green glass lamps is planted in the middle. Each time I dined there, Enzo was packed. The interior feels modern yet effortless— lots of deep wood textures with pops of color here and there. With its prime downtown location, it’s the crowd that creates the vibrant atmosphere.

Enzo is the sister business to KC’s decade-old Italian restaurant Ragazza Food and Wine owned by brother and sister duo Laura and Grant Norris. Ragazza’s famed lasagna and meatballs do grace Enzo’s menu, but chef Aaron Cattey, a KC native who has worked in several restaurants around the metro, is using his years of kitchen experience to add his own twist to other southern European dishes.

There’s something for everyone. Have an unadventurous eater in the group who rarely strays from pasta and could care less about a grape’s origin story? Enzo’s happy hour is calling. Need a coursed meal that’s flexible enough to satisfy a large group in a setting that’s not too fancy but more upscale than your neighborhood sports bar? Maybe your mother-in-law is the type that appreciates hearing about the aromatic nodes of citrus in the Louis Jadot chardonnay that would compliment a white fish dish perfectly, while her husband sticks to a strict red wine and steak combo. You’re interested in the fried squid while your partner is eyeing the classic no-frills meatballs. Enzo’s doors are open for you to explore, or not.

“Good pricing, good portions. We don’t need smears and tweezers and things like that,” Cattey says of Enzo’s menu.

The Norris siblings have a handful of family recipes at the menu’s core, including eggplant parmesan, meatballs, chicken piccata, lasagna and a classic red sauce. There’s plain ole’ spaghetti for your friend who is craving some childhood nostalgia, but more adventurous eaters can dabble in the cioppino, a seafood stewed in tomato sauce, or rich moussaka, a Greek casserole with layers of whipped eggplant and gamey lamb.

The portion sizes are impressive. The fried calamari served with a malt vinegar aioli was a substantial starter that was cooked wonderfully—no rubbery texture or greasiness as the deep-fried mollusks can be prone to. The eggplant frites seasoned with parmesan and parsley were a pleasant surprise, especially when dipped into the creamy roasted garlic Lebanese sauce. But it was the spicy feta dip that I couldn’t stop eating. Serrano peppers incorporated into the crumbly, dense feta provided just the right amount of heat without completely overwhelming the senses. I appreciated the variance of vessels—pita, crostinis, raw vegetables–to scoop it with.

When it came to the entrees, the flavor was always there but fell victim to some culinary principles. The simple bucatini with grilled shrimp was overall inoffensive but a little sloppy with its overcooked shrimp all facing different directions on the skewer. The chicken piccata was delicious, but the sauce was broken. You decide how this ranks on your list of dining offenses.

Pictured: As Aaron Cattey gets more comfortable in his new role as Enzo’s executive chef, he’s creating more weekly specials, such as traditional carbonara, pan-seared Atlantic salmon and Italian sub sandwiches. Keep an eye on Enzo’s Instagram for special and restaurant updates @enzokcmo.

The branzino was the most disappointing entree I had. It was also the most disappointing entree for chef Cattey to hear was poorly received. He was heartbroken when I told him the entire dish was sitting in a pool of blackened butter, the green beans were overcooked and the basmati rice was bland.

“God, I want to cook it for you right now,” Cattey replied upon hearing my description. “It’s so popular.”

After my interview with Cattey, I went back to Enzo to give the branzino another shot. Oddly enough, we were seated at the table nearest to the kitchen. The friend and chef who I brought along noted that the front of the house staff seemed to be communicating with chef Cattey as he expedited dishes out of the kitchen more than one would usually see. We took this to mean that Cattey had taken my critiques seriously and was going the extra mile to hold his staff and himself accountable.

And the proof was in the branzino. My second encounter with the fish was a stark contrast to my initial introduction. Zesty lemon burst from the rice and green beans, giving them a much more pronounced and refreshing quality. The beans were al dente and the bass flaked off in tender pieces. The presentation alone was more appealing than the brown and bland plate I had experienced just a month earlier.

When I told Cattey in our interview that the skin on the branzino, served side up, wasn’t crisp, he explained that the fish is cooked meunière, meaning it is “dredged in flour and sauteed in brown butter and will have a softer skin by comparison to fried fish.”

Fair. Upon my second visit, I flipped the bass over and it was golden brown and delectable.

Who knows what happened on my first visit, which was right after Mother’s Day. The kitchen had clearly taken a hit over the busy weekend and offerings were limited. In my interview with Cattey, he made no excuses but was upfront about the struggles of running a kitchen in the current climate, with its insanely high turnover and skyrocketing food costs. He doesn’t have to explain this to me. I still enjoy Enzo for what it is—approachable and solid.

On each visit, our service was warm, friendly and helpful. Our server treated us to some extra fig cookies when they were out of the caramel sauce that is typically drizzled over the panna cotta. They were also instrumental in directing me to a Caposaldo Chianti to accompany a traditional red sauce. With that being said, the limoncello slushie and Spanish spritz should be prioritized before the summer ends. Take advantage of the happy hour, too, which includes thirty percent off select small plates and the entire bar menu. You also can’t go wrong with the brunch menu of flatbreads, eggs benedict and so much more.

Enzo’s ability to cater to a wide variety of palettes is its strong point. On one visit, it occurred to me that my mother-in-law, who, to put her palette in perspective, is hesitant to try French food, would probably appreciate the comfortable but slightly upscale menu. The thought summed up my perspective on the Mediterranean wine bar—a welcoming space that can cater to the palettes of food critics and down-home Midwesterners alike.

“Good pricing, good portions. We don’t need smears and tweezers and things like that.”

MUSTARD UP

BY TYLER SHANE

WHAT DO YOU GET when you combine yellow mustard seed, garam masala, tamarind, some fruit and Rittenhouse whiskey in a cocktail and top it with freshly shaved nutmeg? When performed by The Campground, somehow, the answer is a mellow yet invigorating punch destined for patio weather.

The Jungle Lounge cocktail is a result of experimentation gone very well. Keaton Demoise, one of the bartenders at the restaurant, wanted to use both mustard and tamarind to create a variation of a whiskey sour.

When I ask how often the team works with yellow mustard seed when it comes to drumming up ideas for new drinks, co-owner Christopher Ciesiel replies “never.”

Through trial and error, rye whiskey was ultimately infused with the mustard seed. Garam masala and tamarind simple syrups were then combined with lemon, pineapple, amaro and a splash of bitters. The highball glass is overflowing with crushed ice and melts quickly as you sip on this punchy concoction.

The final product resembles more of a Jungle Bird cocktail rather than a whiskey sour, with the mustard providing more of a spice than a tang and the tamarind fruit cutting with its acidity.

The abundance of spices should be powerful, possibly overwhelming, and yet the beverage is extremely well rounded, subtle and, dare I say, lovely and tropical?

“It’s familiar, but it kind of leaves you guessing,” Ciesiel says.

It’s sweet but not too sweet. Deep warm flavor from the garam masala is contrasted with a hint of pineapple juice. I imagined a kick or pungency in the aftertaste with the amalgamation of fruits, spice and liquor, but it was nowhere to be found.

It’s clean and bright, but it won’t be on the menu for too much longer. The Jungle Lounge is meant to combat the sweltering heat, so if you find yourself begging for the wrath of summer to be over, just know your antidote lies in a tiny West Bottoms cocktail bar.

HIGH BAR

BY TYLER SHANE

THE BEST COCKTAIL Madeline Buechter ever had was a seafood-washed martini created by Affäre’s bar manager Chase Ihde circa 2018.

“We had this octopus bacon on the menu, and Chase had the idea to take the butter from cooking off the octopus and the scallops and wash it with gin, then pair it with a fortified wine,” says Buechter, who was also working as a server at Affäre at the time. “It was this briney, buttery cocktail and the first time I had a savory cocktail that wasn’t a classic dirty martini.”

When Buechter refers to “washing” the gin with butter, she is referencing the method of fat-washing, or combining a spirit with a liquid fat like oil or butter to infuse the alcohol with the fat’s flavor. For example, her Savory Summer cocktail at the new Mexican barbecue restaurant Barbacoa involves scooping the hot pork fat from the carnitas confit and combining it with tequila. The mixture sits overnight and is then strained through a coffee filter. The tequila is imparted with savory nodes of flavor from the carnitas but also with the sweeter

PERFECT DAY

Coffee: Oddly Correct. I’m an Americano girl. Usually iced. If I’m hanging out there, I’ll journal and get a shot of espresso and a tea latte. They pull a great espresso. Also, I love a sweet and savory combo, so their biscuit breakfast sandwiches with the sausage and jam are great. They make their own biscuits, and they’re very bakery-like in that once they’re out of something, they’re out. So it always feels a little special to get one, especially on a weekend.

Lunch: I’m ordering the turkey and swiss sandwich from King G. It sounds so basic but it hits every single time.

Dinner: If there’s an urge inside me to dine, I want to go to the Antler Room. Their service is impeccable. The food always slaps. The wine list is excellent. It’s cozy. I feel like I’m always eating something I’ve never had before or I haven’t seen on anyone else’s menu.

Late night drink: I just had the Urban Greenhouse cocktail at Drastic and it was so good. It had a snap pea-infused vodka and it was carbonated to order. It was like drinking a garden. Plus, it’s a welcoming place. The amount that they give back to their community is beautiful, and I feel good spending my money there.

elements like citrus and cinnamon. Fatwashing not only adds depth to a spirit, but also creates a more viscous mouthfeel. With the addition of mezcal, sherry, tomato syrup and yuzu, the Savory Summer is complex, bright and cooling.

Buechter is the bar manager and one of the three owners of Barbacoa. She has spent over half her life—the last sixteen years—in KC’s hospitality industry and worked almost every front-of-the-house position, along with kitchen work and bartending. We met while working as chocolatiers at Christopher Elbow Chocolates in 2020, but the beverage side of things has always held her heart.

In the food industry, there’s the front-ofthe-house employees (hosts, servers, runners and bartenders), who are considered the “face” of the restaurant, and then there’s the back-of-the-house employees (chefs, cooks, dishwashers). In my friendship with Buechter, I feel confident saying she is the epitome of a front-of-the-house personality. Caring and nurturing, she delights in being part of and creating her customer’s experience.

When I ask about her personal philosophy in providing hospitality, she says she prefers to remain invisible: “My customers never needing anything—it just happens,” she says.

“It” refers to the small details, like removing the plates at the appropriate time, making sure diners have the right cutlery, refilling the water glasses.

The cocktail scene can have an air of pretentiousness to it, but this mixologist wants her customers to feel comfortable asking questions and familiarizing themselves with the menu.

“I think [the pretentiousness] is shifting, but that’s the last thing I want anyone to feel,” Buechter says. “I put my heart into this menu. So, yeah, let’s talk about it.”

Hospitality expert Madeline Buechter talks fat-washing, front-of-the-house philosophies and her perfect day in KC.

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WHAT’S NEW IN KANSAS CITY FOOD & DRINK

BY TYLER SHANE

KC’s First Vietnamese Coffee Shop Adds a Second Location

The wildly popular Cafe Cà Phê (916 E. Fifth St., KCMO) has been steadily growing since its 2020 pop-up origins in the West Bottoms, opening its first brick and mortar shop last August not far from the City Market. Now, after a successful first year, the business is bringing it back to its West Bottoms roots with a second location in the 12th Street Post building (1501 W. 12th St., KCMO).

The 12th Street Post building houses six different “badass” businesses that offer plants, home goods, jewelry and, now, coffee. While the local business hub is open every day of the

week, Cafe Cà Phê will only be open on the weekends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

A new location means a new exclusive coffee drink—the 12th Street Cold Brew infused with yuzu honey. “Expanding to a mini second location is a dream come true,” says owner Jackie Nguyen. “We are so excited to bring a little more of our culture and coffee, even if it’s just for the weekends. We are thankful to our ally 12th Street Post who believes in giving us a platform, no matter how big or small, to continue to spread love for Asians through our coffee.”

Westport Café’s New Chef Brings a Mediterranean Flare

Westport Cafe’s (419 Westport Road, KCMO) longtime executive chef Romain Monnoyeur recently brought on chef Thomas Milesi, a fellow Frenchman who has worked in France, Switzerland and Boston, to elevate the beloved bistro’s traditional menu. Milesi is from Menton in the south of France and brings a Mediterranean sensibility with him.

More refreshing fare such as marinated and slow-braised pork belly, shrimp scampi and steamed halibut with Japanese-inspired Dashi Westport Café

bouillabaisse are featured on the summer menu. For the loyal clientele, favorites such as steak frites and the truffle risotto with seared scallops also remain.

In an effort to switch up the French bistro’s usual dishes, Monnoyeur and Milesi collaborated on their first menu for summer.

Some of the menu’s highlights are baby artichokes pan-seared with basil pesto sauce and escargots tarte served with roasted shishito peppers. For dessert, thin layers of puff pastry delicately sliced in front of guests and crepes suzette flambéed tableside are a definite treat.

Post Coffee Company Introduces a Bar Menu with a Ruby Jean’s Juicery Collab

Post Coffee Company moved into the former Monarch Coffee on Broadway (3550 Broadway Blvd., KCMO) in November last year. This month, the coffee shop introduced a bar menu and a daily happy hour.

The bar program was curated by The Mercury Room’s Levi Roye. Classics like aperol spritzes and mimosas grace the menu, but there are a few drinks with a caffeinated twist, like the cold brew martini and a negroni with coffee liqueur. The Ruby Jean’s mimosa (available only on Saturdays and Sundays) is a fruity blend of Gigi Splash juice from Ruby’s (strawberries, orange juice, apple, lemon, pear and pineapple) and bubbles.

Happy hour is from 4 to 6 p.m. daily and includes $5 beers, $7 wines and $9 cocktails. The wines include oranges, natural reds and prosecco. Discounted happy hour small bites include goat cheese fig dip and a charcuterie board.

However, the bar and small bite menu is available during all of Post’s operating hours.

“[Post Coffee Company] serves both coffee and bar drinks all day because we never know when you have a day off,” says owner Katie Holland. The new location comes with a few new gigs that go beyond the menu.

“We will be starting to host guest mixologists,” Holland says. “We have so many friends in both industries and would love to invite them in and highlight their talent and their signature drink, which would be available that month.”

The coffee shop just hired an art curator to host local artists in the basement level. The underground space, which will also be available to rent for events, will be named Arts On Broadway.

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ALONG THE GARDEN PATH

OP Arboretum and Botanical Gardens’ new visitor center takes its cues from nature.

STRONG AND SUBSTANTIAL yet light and airy, a new structure at the Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens was inspired by nature—just as it should be.

The new welcome center is named LongHouse to both honor the project’s major donor Janet Long and pay homage to Native American and Scandinavian communal structures of the same name.

“The maple oak leaf inspired the roof’s curve and pulls in feelings of a tree canopy,” says Meg Ralph, Overland Park’s communications and media relations manager.

The idea to combine heavy steel and timber for the center’s frame was inspired by and modeled after structures in nature, “specifically the midrib structure in leaves,” according to Momenta, the architectural firm behind the design. “A central structural element supports secondary structures and freeform intersections,” much like the veins in a leaf support its structure. This also allows for walls of windows, letting in massive amounts of natural light and creating a space that feels as if you could be outdoors.

The modern stone building with metal and wood accents has a zinc-colored metal roof supported with warm-hued wood beams. When walking through the

building, the architects want you to feel as if you are on a meandering path shaded by towering trees. “High ceilings and extended overhangs filter the light as it enters the building,” Momenta’s project plan states. Visitors are led along a gentle curve as they move through the building, not unlike the sinuous veins in a leaf.

The interior has been finished with polished concrete floors, and combinations of limestone, plaster, glass and wood have been used for the walls and ceiling. Set to open in September, this 21,000-square-foot visitors center will also house spaces for exhibits, events, a cafe and a gift shop, along with staff offices. The architects worked in conjunction with the landscape design firm Confluence.

Including the acquisition of twenty acres of land for the build, the project cost approximately $22 million, with $11 million coming from The Arts and Recreation Foundation of Overland Park. The foundation began fundraising for the project in 2016, with Long, a board member, personally donating around $4 million. The remaining funds came from Overland Park’s city coffers. The new center is the first part of a master plan for the gardens and is meant to welcome visitors. Eventually, city planners hope to add a great lawn, chapel and small outdoor theater.

—DAWNYA BARTSCH

THE STORIES BEHIND KANSAS CITY’S MOST EYE-CATCHING BUILDINGS

BY JEREMEY THERON KIRBY