February 2021: Kansas City's Coolest Homes

MISSOURI BOURBON RESURRECTED

NO PL AC E LIKE HOME

PG 76

/ B E A R S A R E BAC K , BA BY

PG 24

A charming Brookside home gets a designer’s modern touches

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COOLEST H OMES IN KC

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19230 Flint Street Rockwood Falls Estates - $2,445,000

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Izzy Curry, Lauren Fox, Natalie Gallagher, Anne Kniggendorf, Brad Martin PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS

Shawn Brackbill, Cydney Cherepak, Caleb Condit, Joanna Gorham, Samantha Levi, Tom Lighthouse, Rebecca Norden, Nate Sheets, Jeremey Theron Kirby

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KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

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FEBRUARY 2021

62 KANSAS CITY’S COOLEST HOMES

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76

90

Just Right

Barrel Proof

Sweet Stuff

How to perfect your home decor by keeping scale in mind.

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KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

A Civil War-era bourbon distillery in Weston is coming back to life.

Local chocolates for your valentine.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATE SHEETS

A stunning portfolio of homes with unforgettable details.

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In This Issue FEBRUARY 2021

S WAY

TA S T E

89

Combined Forces

33

Fresh Start

90

Chocolatier

Seamless

92

Drink

Maker Market

A new Crossroads shop with stunning hand-crafted goods.

A new pizzasandwich pub lands in KC.

T H E LO O P

19

Endangered Species

Historic buildings are being demolished. How can we stop it?

34 35 36

Accessories that show off Pantone’s Colors of the Year.

A local seamstressdesigner’s billowing business.

Touch of Glamour

A designer’s Leawood home is everything of the sort.

93 94

E V E RY I S S U E

Valentine’s Day chocolates for your special someone.

A swanky new bar in the Crossroads serves bold cocktails.

Newsfeed

The latest in KC food news.

Can’t Be Beat

Get to know one of the owners of a cozy record storecoffee shop.

14 Editor’s Letter

SPECIAL SECTION

|

50 Camp Guide

NO PL AC E L I KE H OM E

PG 76

/ B E A R S A R E BAC K , BA BY

PG 24

A charming Brookside home gets a designer’s modern touches

9

CO O L E S T H O ME S kansascitymag.com

KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

V A L E N T I N E ’ S D AY C H O C O L A T E S

43 Five Star Professionals 84 Sleep Guide

12

WHISKEY IN WESTON

Bear Faced

The black bear population is on the rise in Missouri.

|

Learn about the snow shoveling laws in your town.

MISSOURI BOURBON RESURRECTED

KC ’ S C O O L E ST H O M E S

The Scoop

24

96 Backstory

02.2021

22

27 Calendar

I N KC

O N TH E C OVE R

Brookside home shot

by Nate Sheets

FROM THE EDITOR

C O N T R I B U TO R S

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KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

Nate Sheets

PHOTOGRAPHER

Most of the photos in this month’s cover package were shot by longtime contributor Nate Sheets. He collaborates with architects, interior designers, home builders and construction firms to document their work. Sheets lives with his wife, Morgan, and their children, Grayson and Leland.

Cydney Cherepak ILLUSTRATOR

The illustrations in this month’s summer camp package were drawn by Cydney, who is currently attending the MFA Illustration & Visual Culture program at Washington University in St. Louis. She loves going to the dog park with her pup, watching movies, and cooking savory waffles.

Lauren Fox WRITER

The story on the return of bears to Missouri was written by Lauren Fox, a features reporter with the Lawrence JournalWorld whose work has also appeared in the Boston Globe and Dallas Morning News. Her hobbies include biking, playing cards and watching Notre Dame football flop in the playoffs.

MARTIN CIZMAR ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID BABCOCK CONTRIBUTOR ILLUSTRATIONS BY JOANNA GORHAM

F

or a week in January, I had the unique experience of living in Kansas City as an outsider.

As has been mentioned in this space, I am an Ohio native and a diehard fan of the Cleveland Browns. I’ve lived all over and usually brought my adopted town some good luck—I’ve cheered on local teams in Super Bowls featuring the Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks and the Kansas City Chiefs—but I’m a Browns fan first and last.

So, for a week preceding our playoff matchup, I stuck out wearing my Browns mask and Browns stocking hat around town.

“You visiting or something?” asked the clerk at my preferred grocery store, about six blocks from my house. “If you live here, why aren’t you rooting for the Chiefs?”

“You really need to take that flag down, I find it very offensive,” texted my neighbor, before clarifying that she was “just kidding.”

This is an issue about home—specifically, about nine stunning houses in the city—and that week of living as an outsider reminded me why we’re all so lucky to call this city our own, whether it’s in one of these gorgeous abodes or something more modest. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Kansas City has the nicest people anywhere.

I’d be hesitant to take my five-year-old daughter to a home game in Cleveland, where fans can be a bit… boorish. But I never had any doubt about bringing her to Arrowhead in a Baker Mayfield jersey—well, aside from the six hundred and fifty bucks it cost me for her upper deck seat.

The fans around me in section 303 weren’t only affable, despite watching KC’s star quarterback leave with a concussion. They went out of their way to give my daughter hand warmers and high-fives.

You can tell a lot about the character of a city when Chad Henne is under center with a five-point lead and eleven minutes on the clock. KC came through. The level of hospitality and kindness those Chiefs fans showed is really special and something to take immense pride in, right alongside our vast cultural amenities and, of course, the amazing architecture glimpsed in our cover package.

The Browns will be back at Arrowhead next year, and I’m already looking forMartin Cizmar ward to showing off this city to my friends EDITOR IN CHIEF MARTIN@KANSASCITYMAG.COM and family.

KANSASCITYMAG.COM FEBRUARY 2021

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COURTIER

S H O U T- O U T

NUMBERS FROM THIS ISSUE

$1K

Maximum fine you could theoretically be given for failing to shovel your sidewalk in KCMO, though this has never happened.

PA GE 2 2

1975

Year of the last picture show at Shawnee’s beloved Aztec Theater. The theater has now reopened and residents are thrilled.

PA GE 2 7

$30

Price of a cocktail at the newest hotspot in the city PA GE 92

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KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

D O C TO R I S I N !

As we looked all over for the city’s coolest homes, we were very impressed by the work local author Michael Kathrens has done to document grand residences in the city.

The cover of our January issue features one of the physicians from our annual Top Doctors list, which recognizes the best of the city’s medical community. For the cover of this year’s Top Doctors issue, we turned to Dr. Kathryn Keeler, a surgeon at Children’s Mercy Hospital. She proved a popular choice, with readers who’ve been treated by Dr. Keeler chiming in to sing her praises.

“Our family loves Dr. Kathryn Keeler! Dr. Keeler performed numerous surgeries on our son Jaxson seven years ago, and we will never forget her kindness and all she did for our family!

Jaxson is now seventeen years old, healthy and, thanks to Dr. Keeler, enjoys an active life!

We are forever grateful for her perseverance to find out how to properly care for our son’s extremely rare infection and her expertise that allowed him to be able to live a fully-functioning life! Jaxson now enjoys golf, basketball and working out and will soon graduate high

“

PA GE 6 2

BEHIND THE SCENES

school with certifications as an EMT and as a firefighter. Thank you, Dr. Keeler and Children’s Mercy!”

—Kim Sherlock “So cool seeing such an advocate for children featured. She is one of the most fiercely determined and genuinely caring doctors I’ve ever been around!”

—@bwal24 “She’s an amazing doctor and incredible human being.”

—@mrsmalval “What a great story. What a great human being.”

—blackbird8177

Photographer Samantha Levi removed her shoes and climbed a short stool to get the perfect overhead shot of Pantone’s two colors of the year for a story in our Sway section.

PA GE 3 4

WRITE TO US

Kansas City

11775 W. 112th St., Suite 200 Overland Park, Kan. 66210 (913) 469-6700 EMAIL: editor@kansascitymag.com

There’s a saying in the industry that eighty percent of the flavor comes from the barrel—that’s shorthand. It’s the barrel, the warehouse and the year.”

LEW BRYSON, A WHISKEY EXPERT, ON WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE SUPERLATIVE BOURBON

KANSASCITYMAG.COM FEBRUARY 2021

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KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

L E A D I N G T H E C O N V E R S AT I O N I N K A N S A S C I T Y

CATCHING SOME RAZE Can Kansas City do more to save historic and architecturally significant buildings, like the nowdemolished Board of Education building? It depends on how far taxpayers—and developers— are willing to go.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CALEB CONDIT & REBECCA NORDEN

BY A N N E K N I G G E N D O R F

KANSASCITYMAG.COM FEBRUARY 2021

19

“

THE LOOP ARCHITECTURE

We would not have the downtown that we have today if it were not for historic tax credits.”

Why some nationally recognized KC architecture still gets demolished

I

N D E C E M B E R , Kansas City lost one of the buildings on the National Register of Historic Places with the demolition of the old Board of Education building on McGee. Local architect Edward W. Tanner designed the building, which opened in 1960, in a mid-century modern style that was inspired by the iconic Mies van der Rohe.

It was a demolition long in the works, ever since the city’s school district abandoned the property it had once shared with the public library system. Interior demolition was completed in the months before the facade finally fell, according to developer Copaken Brooks.

The building had been listed as among the city’s most endangered by the nonprofit Historic Kansas City, but the new buyers were looking to raze it and start fresh. The decision to let a historic building go is always a “multi-million dollar question,” according to local preservationist Elizabeth Rosin. “With enough time and enough money, anything can be saved,” Rosin says, “but you always have to look at the economics as well.”

Rosin was personally “gutted” by the

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KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

news that the nine-story structure would be destroyed. However, she and other preservationists temper their emotions with an understanding of how big rehab projects really work—or don’t.

In the case of the Board of Ed building, Rosin says the rehab would have been challenging even though federal and Missouri historic tax credits are in place to encourage developers to find a way to save the city’s most interesting structures.

The federal program offers twenty percent of qualified rehab expenses, and the state offers twenty-five percent.

Combined, the two programs create real incentive for saving buildings like the one that was on McGee. But it takes interest from a buyer to push a project forward. Twice, potential buyers passed on saving the building.

And although it had been on the National Register of Historic Places since 2017, that alone offered no protection.

Architectural historian Cydney Millstein says that when we’re considering the loss of a landmark, it’s also important to remember that, in many cases, the building we’re sad to see go was not built on an empty lot.

“As we move on through the ages, we’re tearing our historic legacy down to develop for the future,” Millstein says.

Millstein urges those who are interested in preserving the city’s most beautiful and interesting structures to look beyond hotspots like the Country Club Plaza, where a recent battle played out over a new parking garage for Nordstrom.

Preservationists and developers both focus on a narrow section of town, but eastside neighborhoods like Pendleton Heights and Lykins also have beautiful buildings that need attention.

“It takes an individual with a lot of foresight to go into areas of Kansas City that may be beyond that comfort zone to redevelop and repurpose it and pour their heart and soul into it—and their finances,” Millstein says.

And, Rosin adds, even if some buildings are lost from time to time, since the early 2000s, Missouri has consistently been one of the top three states making use of the federal tax credits. “We would not have the downtown that we have today if it were not for historic tax credits,” she says.

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21

TH E LO O P G OV ER N MEN T

Kansas City Mission: You have to shovel, but you get two full days and there’s no fee for non-compliance.

However, the city will issue a “courtesy notice” to anyone who hasn’t shoveled.

Mission Prairie Village

Olathe: Property owners must keep the sidewalk clear “at all times,” and if the owner “refuses or neglects to do so the city will clear it” and “shall assess the cost of such removal.”

Lenexa Overland Park Leawood Olathe

Lee ’s Summit

SHOVE(L) IT you don’t shovel the snow off your sidewalk?

It depends on where you live. With Overland Park recently debating stricter requirements for clearing sidewalks of snow, we decided to look at how various cities handle it.

W H AT H A P P E N S I F

BY M A R T I N C I Z M A R

KCMO: The owner of any property has a duty to clear off snow and ice “within a reasonable time.” The penalties are the same as for littering, which means a fine of between one dollar and one thousand dollars.

Lee’s Summit: ANARCHY! “There is not an ordinance requiring property owners to clear sidewalks. However, property owners are encouraged to clear snow for safety reasons.”

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KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

Prairie Village: You only get one day—and you’d better not toss snow from your sidewalk onto the street, as that is prohibited.

The city charges scofflaws the price of the city clearing it.

Shawnee: Leaders in Shawnee know your neighbors count on being able to use your sidewalk—which is why the city gives residents forty-eight hours but will fine up to five hundred dollars.

Lenexa: No rules here!

Lenexa is the Wild West—the city doesn’t even suggest you shovel, though they do have recommendations for handling snow in the city’s five-hundredplus cul-de-sacs.

Leawood: Residents have forty-eight hours to clear their sidewalks, but the city code doesn’t specify any consequences for failing to do so.

Overland Park: OP has long had a code encouraging people to remove snow. A few months ago, the city had a detailed half-hour presentation complete with charts correlating snow events, melt times and resident complaints related to sidewalks. Ultimately, nothing changed.

ILLUSTRATION BY JOCELYN SANDS

Shawnee

KANSASCITYMAG.COM FEBRUARY 2021

23

THE LOOP THE WILD

BEAR ENCOUNTER What to do if you encounter a bear

Black bears are back in Missouri.

Here’s what you need to know.

BY L AU R E N F OX

from the state, the black bear population in Missouri is now “rapidly” increasing, according to Laura Conlee, a furbearer biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation. That means Missouri might see its first-ever regulated bear hunting season next fall—and that people throughout the state could encounter the creatures.

“We really need to think about the state as being bear country,” Conlee says. “It’s not out of the realm of possibility for a bear to show up anywhere in the state of Missouri, so it’s really good, even if you live in the metro area—the urban area—to recognize it’s a possibility.”

Here’s what you should know.

A LT H O U G H O N C E E X T I R PAT E D

The bear population is increasing by about nine percent each year. The Missouri Department of Conver-

sation’s Black Bear Project, which began in 2010, estimated an initial population of about three hundred and fifty bears in the state, Conlee says. After years of tracking female bears of the reproductive age, by 2019, researchers estimated there were up to eight hundred and forty.

That wasn’t always the case. Although black bears are native to Missouri, they were seemingly wiped

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KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

out in the early 1900s due to unregulated hunting and large-scale habitat change, Conlee says. In the seventies, Arkansas began reintroducing the omnivores into its habitats, and now, black bears are making a comeback in Missouri.

The only types of bears in Missouri are black bears, Conlee says, even though some black bears have reddish or brown pelts.

Most reside south of Interstate 44.

Missouri could have a bear hunting season next October. The Missouri Department of

Conservation recently approved a regulatory framework for a bear hunting season.

Harvest and permit quota recommendations will be made in the spring, Conlee says. If approved, Missouri’s first bear hunting season would likely begin the third Monday in October and last ten days or until the harvest quota is achieved.

Stand somewhere that the bear sees an easy and obvious way to get away from you.

2. Alert the bear to your presence.

Raise your hands up above your head, talk to the bear in a calm voice, and back out of the area.

3. Avoid the encounter preemptively.

Keep campsites clean, and never keep food in a tent.

Some bears have been spotted in the Kansas City metro area. Bear sightings are scarcer in

the Kansas City area because forest habitats are more fragmented leading from southern Missouri to Kansas City, Conlee says.

The only bears people are likely to see in the Kansas City metro area are young male bears doing a walkabout around May and June or adult males during the breeding season, which is June through July.

These bears usually travel miles during the summer months through the state’s forest corridors.

“One day they’re there, and then the next day they’re gone,” Conlee says.

In the photo: Laura Conlee prepares to fit a female black bear with a new radio collar during a winter den visit as part of MDC’s ongoing bear research project.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NOPPADOL PAOTHONG, COURTESY OF THE MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION.

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WHERE YOU WANT TO BE IN FEBRUARY

February

13

GO: Jam band Mark Doty and The Cause will perform at the Aztec on February 13. Tickets are $10 and extremely limited. 7 pm. Aztec Theater, 11119 Johnson Drive, Shawnee.

SCREEN TIME

It’s been forty-six years since the last reel spun to a stop at the old Aztec Theater on the main drag in Shawnee. You’d never know it from the enthusiasm around the recent reopening. Even before a deal was struck, people were packing meetings to show support for the revival of the long-dormant venue, which shuttered amid the mid-seventies rise of the multiplex. “Really, it’s the heart of the city,” says Jeffrey Calkins, one of the theater’s new owners. “And it’s been that way a long time. A lot of people who live here remember going to the Aztec—it’s one of those things that everybody wanted to be a part of.

They wanted it back.”

The new theater has been refurbished in

its original art deco style, with the help of Calkins’ expertise in the electrical supply business. The original door, salvaged from a dumpster, has been restored. The original marquee was destroyed, but the new-old one has its own history—it’s from Abilene, and Dwight Eisenhower stood underneath it while announcing his run for president. The old 35mm projectors have been replaced with budget-friendly digital ones, as even with funds kicked in from the city, the project expects to remain in the red for some time. If a projectionist were needed, they’ve got leads, says Calkins: “It probably tells you something about Shawnee that off the top of my head I can think of four people in the area who ran the old projector.” – M A R T I N C I Z M A R

KANSASCITYMAG.COM FEBRUARY 2021

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T H E B E AT C A L EN DA R

February

The ten-year survey showcases White Hawk’s painting, sculpture photography, video and installation work. The show will run through May.

20

Jiji virtual concert from the 1900 Building

W H AT YO U WA N T TO D O T H I S M O N T H

4

Aries Spears February 4-6 7260 N.W. 87TH ST., KCMO. $28 PER TICKET, SOLD

BY TABLES OF TWO OR FOUR. IMPROVKC.COM.

MadTV alum Aries Spears has had an exceptionally long comedy career without ever really breaking through. The standup has been in everything from Malcolm X to Josie and the Pussycats without a signature role. With his spot-on impressions of celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Jean Claude Van Damme and bits about the legendary comedy writer Paul Mooney, Spears remains a great show.

Disco Dick and the Mirrorballs February 6 KNUCKLEHEADS KANSAS CITY, 2715 ROCHESTER ST., KCMO. 7:30 PM. $15. KNUCKLEHEADSKC.COM.

The concert calendar remains pretty light as major touring acts wait for widespread vaccination, but this KC-based tribute band is still suiting up in purple leisure suits to play a tribute set that features songs from KC & the Sunshine Band, Kool & the Gang, Earth, Wind & Fire and Michael Jackson at Knuckleheads.

Gerrymandering & Fair Representation: What Kansans Need to Know About Redistricting February 6 9 AM. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO LWVJOCO.ORG.

Gerrymandering will be one of the hottest topics in politics over the next year as the redistricting process that follows the once-a-decade census begins. Join the local League of Women Voters for a crash course in efforts to push for fair reforms to the process in Kansas, which would allow Johnson County voters to maintain a voice in Congress rather than being split up to serve partisan ends.

February 20

Dyani White Hawk: Speaking to Relatives February 18 KEMPER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART, 4420 WARWICK BLVD., KCMO. INFORMATION, HOURS AND TICKETS AT KEMPERART.ORG.

7 PM. FREE. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO WATCH GO TO HJSERIES.ORG.

Jiji (Jiyeon Kim) is a guitar prodigy who plays both acoustic and electric guitar and performs across genres from traditional and contemporary classical music. The Harriman-Jewell Series brings her to perform at the gorgeous mid-century modern 1900 Building in a free livestream concert (no inperson attendance).

Opening at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art this month, this major solo show features the work of Minneapolis-based artist Dyani White Hawk, who is known for combining techniques of abstract expressionism with Indigenous art forms.

26

Oprah Winfrey at virtual HALO benefit February 26

EVENT IS FREE BUT DONATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO HALOWORLDWIDE.ORG/THEMAINEVENT.

HALO is a KC-based nonprofit that helps homeless and at-risk children. This year’s “Main Event” fundraiser for the group will be headlined by Oprah Winfrey, who will conduct an exclusive interview with a HALO alumni who started with the program at age ten and now, as a young adult, has made a short-form documentary about the organization.

28

KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

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T H E B E AT I N T ERV I E W

A Kansas City-born journalist runs a successful news podcast with over ten million downloads.

BY N I C O L E B R A D L E Y O V E R L A N D PA R K N AT I V E Erica Mandy was tired of being a talking head.

The former broadcast journalist, who now lives in Los Angeles, worked in broadcast news for ten years, reciting scripted headlines that she felt were alarmist and unfair. In 2017, she shifted gears to start her own current events podcast, The NewsWorthy. The quick-hitting pod—daily episodes are just ten minutes long—has received shoutouts from major publications like

What has your journalism path looked like? I was an intern at KMBC right after I graduated. I learned so much from them, and they actually helped me get my first real job in TV news, which was in Columbia, Missouri. I then worked my way up from Columbia to Portland and then, most recently, worked in Los Angeles at the CBS station.

Why did you start The Newsworthy? Ultimately, what happened was that I was hearing from a lot of people [and the same] words kept coming up over and over again— that the news was too depressing, time-consuming, overwhelming or biased.

In 2017, I did a lot of research and found that news burnout, or news fatigue, is a real thing for about twothirds of Americans. While I was working in TV news, I thought, “How can I create something to try to help solve this problem so that people don’t tune out the news altogether?” I got into the medium of podcasts and I saw an opportunity to be on the forefront of how people consume their news while also creating a new style of news that I thought would resonate with people who weren’t happy with their options.

Who is your target audience? It’s for those who want to know what’s happening in the world by the time they walk into work in the morning (or Zoom into work these days). Whether they’re working parents or stay-at-home parents, they’re busy and don’t have the time to get lost in clickbait notifications coming through their phone.

M E M O RY L A N E Nordstrom at Oak Park Mall “I used to work here and I still think about the customer service training I got here. It really set me up for success in running a business today.”

Coyote Grill “It’s a Southwestern restaurant I went to all the time in high school. Their food was amazing. I’m so sad it’s closed.”

Trader Joe’s “I remember when people were starting Facebook groups to get a Trader Joe’s to Kansas City. Now there are two!”

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Pointing to the podcast’s name, how do you determine what’s newsworthy? First, we make sure that we get the biggest stories of the day out there. These are the impactful topics that you’ll likely hear in conversation at work or with friends and family. We also always include a variety of stories and make sure that it’s not just doom and gloom—we look for the fun stuff and latest in technology and business news.

We also include sports news here and there. When I reported before the Super Bowl, I was like, “I know I’m not biased about news, but I’m a little biased about this. I want the Chiefs to win.”

GO: Listen to The NewsWorthy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or TheNewsWorthy.com.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNIE SHAK

NEWSHOUND

Harper’s Bazaar, WWD and Fast Company and made it into the top twenty-five in Apple Podcast’s daily news category. To top it off, the podcast hit ten million downloads at the end of 2020.

Read on to learn more about The NewsWorthy and the Kansas City-born journalist.

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C U R AT I N G A B E A U T I F U L L I F E

Founder Emily Reinhardt

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAMANTHA LEVI

SPECIAL TOUCH

Duet, a new home goods meets art and design store in the Crossroads, wants to help you blossom into the sort of person who is intentional about everyday objects. Founded by ceramic artist Emily Reinhardt (aka The Object Enthusiast) and Sasha Santillan, this modernist boutique stocks centerpiece-worthy items made for everyday use. Use your sexy new rubber- and plastic-free Yield Design glass French press to make a great-tasting brew and pour it into a bespoke hand-painted mug. Put that monstera plant you’ve managed to keep alive all winter in a handwoven basket from Columbian artisans.

“When we were talking about what belonged in Duet, we just kept returning to objects that feel good in your hands,” Reinhardt says. “When you’re having your morning coffee, you’re holding that cup, it’s tactile. The right object can help make those small moments special.” — N ATA L I E G A L L AG H E R

GO: Duet is open 11 am-6 pm Friday-Saturday and 11 am-4 pm Sunday. 517 E. 18th St., KCMO. shop-duet.com.

KANSASCITYMAG.COM FEBRUARY 2021

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S WAY T R EN D S

COLOR BY NUMBER Accessorize with Pantone’s Colors of the Year.

BY N I C O L E B R A D L E Y

E V E R Y D E C E M B E R , designers wait with bated breath for the next year’s Pantone Color of the Year to arrive. Last year’s dependable blue hue symbolized trust, a trait we didn’t know we really needed until 2020 threw a few curveballs. In 2021, we’ve been blessed with not one but two shades: 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and 13-0647 Illuminating.

According to Pantone, this pair was created as “a marriage of color conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting.” Celebrate a fresh start with these products in Pantone’s 2021 colors.

Thea mini backpack, $399; Tory Burch at Legends Outlets

Cashmere beanie, $111; Clairvaux

Visionary saffron rose candle, $65; Clairvaux

Ohto Horizon needle point pen, $10; Hammerpress Favorite human keychain, $7; Coco

Trapezium sunglasses, $273; Clairvaux

Silver sunrise print, Kenzie hat $19; Coco

Parfums de Marly in

Jackson trifold wallet,

Herod, $310; Ulah

$125; Kate Spade at Legends Outlets

Piran earring, $70; Lady Bye Judith sneaker, $55; Frankie and Jules

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KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAMANTHA LEVI

$20; Hammerpress

S WAY I N T ERV I E W

A STITCH IN TIME Get to know this blossoming Kearney seamstress-designer.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CALEB CONDIT & REBECCA NORDEN

BY N I C O L E B R A D L E Y

is one for puns.

The seamstress was born with a brachial plexus injury, where the nerves that connect her arm to her spine were pulled from their roots, leading to paralysis in her right arm.

Everything she does in her shop is one-handed, which is how she came up with her business name, Single Handedly Liz, where she does custom alterations and designs.

“I like puns and I’m easygoing,” she says. “I’m an open book when it comes to my arm.”

Scarpino’s shop opened last May in Kearney, and has hit the ground running since. She recently launched her LIZ SCARPINO

online store at singlehandedlyliz.com. She also is an advocate for those who have to live with one functioning arm—over on her Instagram, she shares one-handed hacks for tasks like painting her nails and opening jars.

Learn more about the local talent and a little bit about her Kansas City favorites.

Have you always known you’d go into the fashion industry? I started thinking about it when I was in high school, but I just needed to figure out what I was doing. Art has always been kind of my life. I’ve always been creative, and it has always been a really good outlet for me. I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to design full time or stick to the alterations part of it. So I kind of meshed it all

together under my little brand and in my shop.

What kind of design work do you like doing?

I really like fabric dyeing and textiles. I did Omaha Fashion Week twice, and I hand-dyed all my own fabrics for those. My first show was by using manmade dyes, and I also did one with all-natural dyes, which was an adventure. I have also made up a couple flower girl dresses for my sister’s wedding. Other than that, I kind of just go with the flow. I make a lot of people T-shirts.

What trends are you liking now? I really like the tie-dye thing right now, but I don’t anticipate it to last. It’s hit and it’s already kind of on its way out, I think.

But I love that boho, very feminine look and flowy silhouettes.

K A N S A S C I T Y FAVO R I T E S Nickel & Suede The Nickels family is just so nice and kind. They’re very down-to-earth people. And I think that really speaks to Kansas City and the Midwest in general.

Arrowhead and Kauffman Some of my fondest memories

growing up were going to games with my dad. He always had season tickets [to the Chiefs and Royals].

Liberty Square I grew up here, and I’ve seen businesses come and go and thrive and grow. Ginger Sue’s is a great breakfast place.

KANSASCITYMAG.COM FEBRUARY 2021

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S WAY HOM E

TIPPING SCALES

Local designer Arlene Ladegaard shares illusion-worthy tricks for opening up a space.

BY N I C O L E B R A D L E Y

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I

F Y O U W E R E to ask Arlene Ladegaard what makes her stand out from other interior designers, she would probably point to her knowledge of recognizing and utilizing scale in a space.

The longtime designer and owner of Design Connection, Inc. can thank her residence in Europe for that— after living in Los Angeles post-college, she and her husband called Switzerland home for seven years.

“By the time I came back to the United States and to Kansas City, the design looked really strange to me,” she says. “Everything looked really big and the scale looked huge.

In Europe, they’re very clever about space and how they work with it.”

See what she learned and how she uses her talents at her own home in Leawood.

1 LIVING ROOM

Ladegaard first used this drapery fabric for a client, and she loved it so much that she decided to use it in her own home. “I think print drapery gives the space more of a personality and sets the tone,” she says. The space outside the large windows boasts a ton of greenery, which ties into the textiles around the windows and in the throw pillows.

PHOTO BY NATE SHEETS KANSASCITYMAG.COM FEBRUARY 2021

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PHOTO BY NATE SHEETS

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2 COURTYARD

3

This home’s biggest selling point for Ladegaard was the central courtyard.

Courtyards are a common element in breezy California homes, and Ladegaard says it reminds her of her time living in Los Angeles. “We can entertain in our courtyard, keep our doors open and have a nice air circulation inside our home,” she says.

PHOTO BY NATE SHEETS

PHOTO BY NATE SHEETS

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KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

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3 ENTRYWAY One way to make a space feel larger and significant, Ladegaard says, is to add a mirror to it, which is perfectly demonstrated in this open entryway. “If the mirrors weren’t here, the space would feel unimportant and small and uneventful,” she says.

4 KITCHEN Ladegaard installed a big island in the center of the kitchen for more work and storage space—the spacious drawers are deep enough to fit her pots and pans. She went with a dark java wood finish, which she says is not only timeless but can be easily touched up if it’s nicked.

The sheen of the brown tile backsplash contrasts against the substantial white range hood, whose size pairs well with the large-scale pendant light fixtures.

KANSASCITYMAG.COM FEBRUARY 2021

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KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

PHOTO BY A ARON LEIMKUEHLER

6

5 BEDROOM Ladegaard says this room was small in size, so she had to use her scaling techniques to make the furniture fit and look just right. “I purposely had a very light carpet, light walls and white ceiling,” she says.

The monochromatic tone of the room opens up the space and makes it feel bright.

Ladegaard recommends having a light fixture over a bed. “You can add direct LED lighting,” she says. “It is an inexpensive way to add drama to a space and lights up any artwork over the bed.”

Additionally, the airy glass lamp bases on the nightstands make the light sources seemingly disappear into the room.

6 BATHROOM Ladegaard loves to add shimmery or textured wallpaper to her designs because she feels it adds depth and dimension to a space that flat wall pant can’t achieve. “This was a really dark bathroom, and the wall coverings added a lot of light,” she says. “We also freshened it up by adding mirrors, and changing out drawers and hardware.”

PHOTO BY A ARON LEIMKUEHLER

KANSASCITYMAG.COM FEBRUARY 2021

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PEOPLE LOVE MAGAZIN ES.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

2021 KANSAS CIT Y

FIVE STAR AWARD WINNERS These days, it takes a village to manage your financial world. Whether it is managing your assets with a wealth manager, navigating the ever-changing tax landscape, sorting out your estate and succession planning or picking the right life insurance, finding the right team can be a daunting task. In fact, many consumers have a hard time figuring out where to even begin.

Sometimes, a few simple questions can put you off on the right path. Asking a professional what makes working with them a unique experience can help you understand how they work and if their style meshes with your own.

This is a great place to start! Five Star Professional uses its own proprietary research methodology to name outstanding professionals, then works with publications such as Kansas City Magazine to spread the word about award winners. Each award candidate undergoes a thorough research process (detailed here) before being considered for the final list of award winners. For the complete list of winners, go to www.fivestarprofessional.com.

RESEARCH DISCLOSURES In order to consider a broad population of high-quality wealth managers, award candidates are identified by one of three sources: firm nomination, peer nomination or prequalification based on industry standing. Self-nominations are not accepted. Kansas City-area award candidates were identified using internal and external research data.

Candidates do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final lists of Five Star Wealth Managers.

• The Five Star award is not indicative of a professional’s future performance.

• Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets.

• The inclusion of a professional on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the professional by Five Star Professional or Kansas City Magazine.

• Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any professional is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected professionals will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future.

• Five Star Professional is not an advisory firm and the content of this article should not be considered financial advice. For more information on the Five Star Wealth Manager award program, research and selection criteria, go to fivestarprofessional.com/research.

• 1,678 award candidates in the Kansas City-area were considered for the Five Star Wealth Manager award. 118 (approximately 7% of the award candidates) were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER

DETERMINATION OF AWARD WINNERS CRITERIA Award candidates who satisfied 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers. Eligibility Criteria – Required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative. 2. Actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years. 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review. 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal firm standards. 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation Criteria – Considered: 6. One-year client retention rate. 7. Five-year client retention rate. 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or nondiscretionary client assets administered. 9. Number of client households served. 10. Education and professional designations.

Regulatory Review: As defined by Five Star Professional, the wealth manager has not: been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; been convicted of a felony. Within the past 11 years the wealth manager has not: been terminated from a wealth management or financial services firm; filed for personal bankruptcy; had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them (and no more than five total pending, dismissed or denied) with any regulatory authority.

Five Star Professional conducts a regulatory review of each nominated wealth manager using the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website. Five Star Professional also uses multiple supporting processes to help ensure that a favorable regulatory and complaint history exists. Data submitted through these processes was applied per the above criteria; each wealth manager who passes the Five Star Professional regulatory review must attest that they meet the definition of favorable regulatory history based upon the criteria listed above. Five Star Professional promotes via local advertising the opportunity for consumers to confidentially submit complaints regarding a wealth manager.

All award winners are listed in this publication.

Financial Planning Patrick Aubry ∙ Morgan Stanley Page 4 Brett Michael Bacon ∙ Lighthouse Financial Strategies Brent A. Caswell ∙ Infinitas

Greg Alan Harvey ∙ Integrated Wealth Solutions Sherri Lynn Hazell ∙ Mariner Wealth Advisors Christopher David Heckadon ∙ Summit Pointe Financial Group

Sheila K. Davis ∙ Morgan Stanley Page 6

Raleigh Lang ∙ MML Investors Services, LLC Page 6

Katheigh Degen ∙ MML Investors Services, LLC Page 6

Jennifer Erin Malone ∙ BMG Advisors

David Dickens ∙ KC Financial Advisors Page 5 James A. Guyot ∙ Lighthouse Financial Strategies

Erica Droste Massman ∙ Index Wealth Advisors Anthony R. Moeller ∙ Integrity Advisory Ryan York Poage ∙ Ryan Poage & Co.

Alisa A. Roth ∙ Mariner Wealth Advisors Mitchell Lane Smith ∙ Buttonwood Financial Group Carra D. Sprague ∙ Morgan Stanley Page 7

Frank Mall ∙ FinanciaLife Outfitters Page 4 Pete Martinez ∙ Insight Financial Services Page 2

Investments

Michael Richard McCaw ∙ Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Rick L. Bain ∙ Lighthouse Financial Strategies

Craig Novorr ∙ Paragon Capital Management

Steven T. Cox Sr. ∙ Providence Financial Advisors Page 5

Joe Pribula ∙ Wells Fargo Advisors Page 3

Ethel J. Davis ∙ VZD Capital Management, LLC Page 3 James C. Knapp ∙ Knapp Advisory Group

Domenic Rizzi ∙ GWN Securities Margo Ann Shepard ∙ Wells Fargo Advisors Page 6

Continued on FS-7

LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 1

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEALTH MANAGERS

Pete Martinez President, CEO

10

YEAR WINNER

Left to right: Back row: Lisa Meyer; Lorinda Gregg; Jace Champlin; Larry Broxterman; Mike Rood; Greg Keal Front row: Kelly Stephenson; Ten-year winner Pete Martinez; Kira Hephner

Over 200 Cumulative Years of Financial Experience Working for You If you’re looking for an experienced financial advisor who will listen to you and design a financial plan built around where you are today and where you want to go in retirement, we’re Insight Financial Services, and we would like to meet you.

• Using a personalized, client-centric model to produce unique experiences for our clients that they would not find in other firms

After working closely with you to establish your objectives, we place your dreams beside the reality of your assets, expenses, risk tolerance and tax situation and we evaluate them on a practical timeline. Only then, once we know who you are, where you are and where you want to go, do we create and implement your customized financial strategy.

• Distinctive designations held by IFS staff members include MBA, CLU®, RFC® and BFA™; indicating they have studied extensively and possess a keen understanding of certain financial matters

Contact us today at 913-402-2020 to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation second opinion service (S.O.S.) review. We hope to meet you soon!

7101 College Boulevard, Suite 1501 • Overland Park, KS 66210 Phone: 913-402-2020 pmartinez@ifsadvisors.com • www.ifsadvisors.com www.facebook.com/InsightFinancialServices

The Five Star award is not based on investment performance nor is it an indication of future performance. Investment advisory services offered through IFS Advisors, LLC (IFSA), an SEC registered investment adviser.

Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. Once awarded, wealth managers may opt to purchase additional profile ad space or related award promotional products (including this item). The award methodology does not evaluate the quality of services provided.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by Five Star Professional, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. Award does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their client’s assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to fivestarprofessional.com. 1,678 Kansas City-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 118 (7% of candidates) were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers. 2020: 1,579 considered, 115 winners; 2019: 1,574 considered, 134 winners; 2018: 1,387 considered, 119 winners; 2017: 952 considered, 212 winners; 2016: 880 considered, 216 winners; 2015: 1,572 considered, 201 winners; 2014: 785 considered, 176 winners; 2013: 766 considered, 203 winners; 2012: 676 considered, 200 winners.

F S - 2 — LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEALTH MANAGERS

Joe Pribula CFP®, PIM Portfolio Manager, Financial Advisor

• Serving business owners, professionals, preretirees and retirees • Envision® planning for millennials, generation X and baby boomers • Advisory investment solutions including managed portfolios

6 YEAR

WINNER

Left to right: 2016 – 2021 winner Joe Pribula, CFP®, Financial Advisor, Vice President – Investment Officer; Leslie Darrington, Financial Advisor; Kim Pieper, Senior Registered Client Service Associate; Charlie Schorgl, Financial Advisor, Managing Director – Investments

7400 W 130th Street, Suite 200 • Overland Park, KS 66213 Phone: 913-901-1243 • Fax: 913-402-5150 joseph.e.pribula@wellsfargo.com

Through a long-term investment approach, Joe and his team work with clients to implement strategies for building and preserving wealth. His mission is to provide objective and timely financial advice to assist his clients in realizing their goals. Joe is involved in many civic and community organizations including Cornerstones of Care, Young Life of Kansas City and Queen of the Holy Rosary — Wea Church. He also enjoys coaching his sons’ baseball and basketball teams, gardening, house renovation projects and woodworking.

Investment and Insurance Products: NOT FDIC-Insured NO Bank Guarantee MAY Lose Value Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. [CAR-1020-02635].

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

Ethel J. Davis CEO, Portfolio Manager See Yourself in the Future by Working with One Client at a Time • Empowered, disciplined and trusted to navigate your financial goals and objectives • VZD gets its namesake from Ethel’s deceased parents Vergie and Zether Davis

7 YEAR

WINNER

Left to right: Seven-year winner, Ethel J. Davis, CEO, Portfolio Manager; Nikisha L. Johnson, Executive Mentoring Candidate

VZD Capital Management, LLC 6721 W 138th Terrace, Suite 1711 • Overland Park, KS 66223 • Phone: 816-726-7066 ethel@vzdcap.com • www.vzdcap.com

Ethel J. Davis is the CEO and portfolio manager of VZD Capital Management, LLC. She is the first African American to own 100% of a registered investment advisory firm in the Midwest and one of few within the U.S. She has 29 years of investment experience from the following respected companies: American Century, Fidelity Investments, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. and Paragon Capital Management, LLC. All clients have a direct, one-on-one relationship with their portfolio manager.

VZD Capital Management, LLC(“Advisor”) is a registered investment adviser located in Overland Park, Kansas.

Ethel J. Davis, Advisor is in compliance with the current filing requirements imposed upon registered investment advisers by those states in which Advisor maintains clients. Advisor may only transact business in those states in which it is registered, or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration requirements. Advisor’s web site is limited to the dissemination of general infrormation pertaining to its advisory services, together with access to additional investment-related information, publication and links. Accordingly, the publication of Advisor’s web site on the internet should not be construed by any consumer and/or prospective client as Advisor’s solicitation to effect, or attempt to effect transactions in securities, or the rendering of personalized investment advice for compensation, over the internet. A copy of Advisor’s current written disclosure statement discussing Advisor’s business operations, services, and fees is available from Advisor upon written request.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by Five Star Professional, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. Award does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their client’s assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to fivestarprofessional.com. 1,678 Kansas City-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 118 (7% of candidates) were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers. 2020: 1,579 considered, 115 winners; 2019: 1,574 considered, 134 winners; 2018: 1,387 considered, 119 winners; 2017: 952 considered, 212 winners; 2016: 880 considered, 216 winners; 2015: 1,572 considered, 201 winners; 2014: 785 considered, 176 winners; 2013: 766 considered, 203 winners; 2012: 676 considered, 200 winners.

LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 3

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEALTH MANAGERS

Patrick Aubry Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor

Enriching Lives with Financial Solutions • Estate planning and strategies • Quarterly monitoring

11161 Overbrook Road, Suite 225 Leawood, KS 66211 Phone: 913-402-5295 • Fax: 816-817-1387 patrick.aubry@morganstanley.com

• Customized investment management

Throughout his 35 years in the financial services industry, Pat Aubry has worked with families and individuals to transfer, grow and preserve their wealth. He is focused on providing personalized investment advice and exceptional client service. By coordinating his efforts with clients’ other trusted advisors, he develops and executes a disciplined plan, incorporating personal needs, financial objectives and risk tolerance, tailored to help clients achieve their investment goals. His areas of focus include investment management, financial planning, retirement income planning, estate planning strategies and wealth transfer. Pat and his assistant, Diane Lair, strive to know their clients well and build long-lasting relationships. Additionally, he is a 2020 – 2021 Five Star Wealth Manager.

2

YEAR WINNER

2020 – 2021 winner Patrick Aubry, Senior Vice President, Wealth Advisor; Diane Lair, Portfolio and Financial Planning Associate

©2021 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC3286366 10/20.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

Frank Mall Financial Advisor

Live Richly. Journey Confidently.

We help outfit you: • For key financial life decisions

9

• With objective tools and knowledge to keep you on a path toward success

YEAR WINNER

Left to right: Blake King; Nine-year winner Frank Mall; Joy Mall

• Through your journey with a long-term working relationship

6900 College Boulevard, Suite 520 • Overland Park, KS 66211 5921 NW Barry Road, Suite 200 • Kansas City, MO 64154 Phone: 816-888-5800 • www.financialifeoutfitters.com Securities offered through Triad Advisors Member FINRA/SIPC, Advisory Services offered through Financialife Outfitters, LLC. Financialife Outfitters, LLC is not affiliated with Triad Advisors.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by Five Star Professional, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. Award does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their client’s assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to fivestarprofessional.com. 1,678 Kansas City-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 118 (7% of candidates) were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers. 2020: 1,579 considered, 115 winners; 2019: 1,574 considered, 134 winners; 2018: 1,387 considered, 119 winners; 2017: 952 considered, 212 winners; 2016: 880 considered, 216 winners; 2015: 1,572 considered, 201 winners; 2014: 785 considered, 176 winners; 2013: 766 considered, 203 winners; 2012: 676 considered, 200 winners.

F S - 4 — LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEALTH MANAGERS

Steven T. Cox Sr. Chartered Financial Analyst® Assisting You in All Aspects of Your Financial Life • Wealth and investment management services • Financial planning services • Customized financial solutions

5

YEAR WINNER

Left to right: Steven T. Cox Jr.; 2017 – 2021 winner Steven T. Cox Sr., CFA, President; Mark Donaldson, CFA

6900 College Boulevard, Suite 440 • Overland Park, KS 66211 Phone: 913-323-0535 • scox@pfa-llc.com • www.pfa-llc.com

At Providence Financial Advisors, we believe it is important to maintain a balance between growing your assets and protecting your wealth. We take a long-term approach to investing, avoiding fads and market timing.

To accomplish this, portfolios are designed and managed using modern portfolio theory.

Once your portfolio is invested, it is continuously monitored relative to your investment objectives and goals. You are kept up to date through reports, emails, telephone calls and in-person meetings. As independent, fee-only advisors, we serve in a fiduciary to our clients. We believe being compensated only by our clients provides maximum flexibility in selecting investments that address each client’s unique situation. Please feel free to contact us a for a free consultation.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

David Dickens President, Wealth Advisor, CFA

CoverYourAssetsKC Weekly Podcast • Wealth management • Tax preparation and strategy

• Estate planning and preservation

David Dickens is president and owner of KC Financial Advisors, Inc. As a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) with over 35 years of investment industry experience, David and his team are motivated by helping individuals plan for and achieve success in their increasingly longer retirements. Each client’s situation is carefully analyzed, then a customized plan is created and implemented. Regular interaction with clients allows for mindful monitoring of every plan with adjustments to fit life and market changes. Ongoing risk management is always key, as is a clear understanding of what is important to each and every client. Because no two lives are the same, no two plans are the same!

10975 Grandview Drive, Building 27, Suite 190 Overland Park, KS 66210 • Phone: 913-317-1414 ddickens@kcfinancialadvisors.com www.CoverYourAssetsKC.com

7

YEAR WINNER

Seven-year winner David Dickens, CFA

Investment advisory services offered through Brookstone Capital Management, LLC (BCM), an SEC registered investment advisor.

BCM and KC Financial Advisors are independent of each other. Insurance products and services are not offered through BCM but are offered and sold through individually licensed and appointed agents.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by Five Star Professional, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. Award does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their client’s assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to fivestarprofessional.com. 1,678 Kansas City-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 118 (7% of candidates) were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers. 2020: 1,579 considered, 115 winners; 2019: 1,574 considered, 134 winners; 2018: 1,387 considered, 119 winners; 2017: 952 considered, 212 winners; 2016: 880 considered, 216 winners; 2015: 1,572 considered, 201 winners; 2014: 785 considered, 176 winners; 2013: 766 considered, 203 winners; 2012: 676 considered, 200 winners.

LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 5

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEALTH MANAGERS

Katheigh Degen and Raleigh Lang Specialized Expertise for Individuals and Businesses • Helping individuals, families and businesses achieve their financial goals for more than 30 years

Left to right: 2021 winners Katheigh Degen, Co-owner and Raleigh Lang, Co-owner

From our beginning, our plan was to build a financial advisory firm large enough to offer all of the services and capabilities of the largest firms. We manage our growth in a way that allows our two founders and firm principals Katheigh Degen and Raleigh Lang, to be deeply engaged with every client from financial strategy development through implementation and providing ongoing financial guidance year after year. We remain committed to that philosophy because we believe growing and protecting your wealth is our only business.

9237 Ward Parkway, Suite 208 • Kansas City, MO 64114 Phone: 816-333-2334 • www.twinfinancial.com

The Five Star Award is granted by Five Star Professional, an independent 3rd party marketing firm. This award is not indicative of future performance or success and stems from nominations by industry professionals in a given market area and based upon objective criteria including favorable regulatory and complaint history, reviews conducted by the firm, retention rates, and client assets administered. Katheigh Degen and Raleigh Lang are registered representatives of and offer securities, investment advisory and financial planning services through MML Investors Services, LLC. Member SIPC. Supervisory office: 1300 N Walker, Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73103. Phone (405) 486-1400. Twin Financial, Inc. is not a subsidiary or affiliate of MML Investors Services, LLC, or its affiliated companies. CRN202211-274863.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

Margo Ann Shepard

Sheila K . Davis

Private Wealth Financial Advisor, CFP®, CIMA®

CFP®, Financial Advisor

1900 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Suite 210 Mission Woods, KS 66205 Phone: 913-267-7140 Margo.shepard@wfa.com shepardwealthmanagementgroup.com

8

YEAR WINNER

Planning-Focused Wealth Management

• Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 • Forbes Top 1,000 Women Wealth Advisors, 2020 Margo helps high net worth clients develop and implement strategies to support their financial goals. She helps affiliate professionals in the areas of trust, money and liability management and estate planning strategies to provide advice as sophisticated as her clients’ needs. She is a 2012 – 2019 and 2021 Five Star Wealth Manager.

The Forbes Best-In-State Wealth Advisor and Top 1,000 Women Wealth Advisors ranking algorithm is based on industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC, which does not receive compensation from the advisors or their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking. Investment performance is not a criterion. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified finanCial Planner™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S. Wells Fargo Advisors is a trade name used by Wells Fargo Clearing Services, LLC, Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company [CAR-1020-0373110/27].

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

11161 Overbrook Road, Suite 225 Leawood, KS 66211 Phone: 913-402-5204 sheila.davis@morganstanley.com fa.morganstanley.com/sheila.davis

5

YEAR WINNER

Let’s Build Your Plan Together

• Making investing simple and understandable • Believes every client deserves the confidence of having a financial plan • Grateful for the trust my clients put in me every day Sheila approaches each financial plan like a jigsaw puzzle. First, the picture is all about the client — how do they want their future to look? Next, all the pieces get dumped out of the box — where are they now? After sorting and organizing the pieces, the edges of the puzzle or plan start taking shape. With focus and determination, the larger objects start developing, including retirement income, college savings and risk management. Eventually, a client’s “I think I can” turns into “I know I can” as she continues to guide them toward their goals. Every plan starts with a single piece. Call Sheila today! She is a 2017 – 2021 Five Star Wealth Manager. ©2021 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC 3322940 11/20.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by Five Star Professional, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. Award does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their client’s assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to fivestarprofessional.com. 1,678 Kansas City-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 118 (7% of candidates) were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers. 2020: 1,579 considered, 115 winners; 2019: 1,574 considered, 134 winners; 2018: 1,387 considered, 119 winners; 2017: 952 considered, 212 winners; 2016: 880 considered, 216 winners; 2015: 1,572 considered, 201 winners; 2014: 785 considered, 176 winners; 2013: 766 considered, 203 winners; 2012: 676 considered, 200 winners.

F S - 6 — LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEALTH MANAGERS Carra D. Sprague Financial Advisor

11161 Overbrook Road, Suite 225 Leawood, KS 66211 Phone: 913-402-5209 carra.sprague@morganstanley.com morganstanleyfa.com/carra.sprague

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YEAR WINNER

• 2019, 2020 and 2021 Five Star Wealth Manager

A wealth manager can help with retirement planning, legal planning, estate planning, banking services, philanthropic planning and risk management.

For me, retirement planning means more than providing my clients with investment advice. It means helping them maintain the financial independence they’ve worked their whole lives to achieve and striving to ensure they have the means to pursue what’s most important to them.

©2021 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC3285827 10/20.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

Continued from FS-1

Wealth Managers Vestana Von Achen Ahlen Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Mark Sterling Allison FCI Advisors Stuart Carlton Berkley FCI Advisors Victoria Marie Bogner McDaniel Knutson Financial Partners Jamie Sue Botts Wells Fargo Advisors Idonna Lucile Bragg Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Matthew Thomas Bray Legacy Wealth Planning Christopher Winfield Briley Morgan Stanley Ryan Wayne Brooke Searcy Financial Michael Eugene Brun Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Chad Michael Davis Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Joseph P. DeLargy Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC William Todd Easley Prosperity Advisory Group Jason Stephen Edmonds Edmonds Duncan David Edward Enenbach Enenbach & Associates Financial Consultants Dwight James Ensminger Wells Fargo Advisors John Christopher Fales Allos Investment Advisors Evan Federman Valic Christopher W. Ferguson Visionary Wealth Advisors Brett Michael Flood LPL Financial Austin Wesley Gates Morgan Stanley

Sandra Lynn Chism Oppenheimer & Co.

Clark Stevens Gay Visionary Wealth Advisors

John Paul Chladek Chladek Wealth Management

Richard Allan Gibbs UBS

Don C. Clark LPL Financial

Ken A. Gilpin Sound Investments

Scott P. Connors LPL Financial

Bruce Wayne Glenn Infinitas Stephanie Lyn Guerin The Planned Approach

Brian Lee Heithoff Mariner Wealth Advisors

Robert Brook Menees Instrumental Advisors

Thomas C. Riordan Morgan Stanley

Tim R. Sturdy FCI Advisors

Kevin Hennessy Money Concepts

Susie R. Meyer Nicholson Capital Management

Troy L. Rust Equitable Advisors

Aaron S. Herwig V Wealth Management

Matthew Link Montgomery FCI Advisors

Michael Kevin Ryan Wells Fargo Advisors

Matthew Ryan Thompson Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Kelly Jeanne Hokanson The Planned Approach

Richard Kevan Myers Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Teri L. Salach Morgan Stanley

Jim Clay Horlacher First Affirmative Financial Network

J. Micheal Nauman Infinex Investment

Kyle Richard Hummer Morgan Stanley

Jeffrey Alan Nelson Lincoln Financial Advisors

Sam I. Jordan MML Investors Services

Jennifer Dawnson Nicholson Nicholson Capital Management

Brian Nelson Kaufman Prairie Capital Management

Michael G. O’Neill Mariner Wealth Advisors

Stewart S. Koesten Aspyre Wealth Partners

David G. Pacer Infinitas

Troy Lee Kuhn Creative Planning

Kristin Knight Patterson FCI Advisors

Steven Ray Lofquist NBC Securities

Brian Eugene Perott FCI Advisors

John Tempel Ludwig Morgan Stanley

Alex Michael Petrovic III Petrovic Financial Services

Brad Germain Masek MML Investors Services

Mark David Rabin LPL Financial

David Wayne Mattern Mattern Wealth Management

Lars L. Ragan Independent Financial Group

Scott A. McMillen Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Brandon Curtis Reed Mitchell Capital Management

Ryan W. McQueary Morgan Stanley

Randall Paul Rhyner Smith Moore & Co.

Val Frederick Schaff FCI Advisors

Jeffrey Alan Tudas Infinitas Brandon Alan Turner Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Dennis Patrick Schumann FCI Advisors

Park Ulrich Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Samuel Robert Scott Creative Planning

Bryan Anthony Unterhalter FCI Advisors

Michael John Searcy Searcy Financial

Timothy James Walla Walla Street Wealth Management

Jessica Ann Searcy Kmetty Searcy Financial Steven B. Seiler Wells Fargo Advisors Marc Clinton Shaffer Searcy Financial

Brad B. Welch Morgan Stanley Emily Page West FCI Advisors

Michael P. Shields WaterFront Advisors

Amy R. White Prairie Ridge Asset Management

Dianna L. Smith Morgan Stanley

Richard Edgar Witherspoon Reliant Financial Services

Scott Preston Sollars FCI Advisors

Tom C. Wood Jr. LPL Financial

Matthew David Starkey Aspyre Wealth Partners Satu Sofia Stechschulte FCI Advisors Gerald Clair Steffes Steffes Financial

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified finanCial Planner™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements.

The Chartered Financial Consultant credential [ChFC®] is a financial planning designation awarded by The American College.

The Five Star Wealth Manager award, administered by Crescendo Business Services, LLC (dba Five Star Professional), is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a registered investment adviser or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by Five Star Professional, the wealth manager has not; A. Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaints with any regulatory authority or Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through Five Star Professional’s consumer complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. Award does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. Once awarded, wealth managers may purchase additional profile ad space or promotional products. The Five Star award is not indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their client’s assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by Five Star Professional or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth managers will be awarded this accomplishment by Five Star Professional in the future. For more information on the Five Star award and the research/selection methodology, go to fivestarprofessional.com. 1,678 Kansas City-area wealth managers were considered for the award; 118 (7 % of candidates) were named 2021 Five Star Wealth Managers. 2020: 1,579 considered, 115 winners; 2019: 1,574 considered, 134 winners; 2018: 1,387 considered, 119 winners; 2017: 952 considered, 212 winners; 2016: 880 considered, 216 winners; 2015: 1,572 considered, 201 winners; 2014: 785 considered, 176 winners; 2013: 766 considered, 203 winners; 2012: 676 considered, 200 winners.

LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 7

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2021

Summer Camp Guide Summer will be here before you know it—and this year we’re more ready than ever. Get a head start on getting your kids out of the house this summer with our ultimate guide to summer camps in Kansas City.

I L LU ST R AT I O N S BY CY D N E Y C H E R E PA K

ummer camp offers kids plenty of benefits, and many kids are thrilled by the idea of going away to summer camp. But for others, particularly those who are shy, introverted or homebodies, the thought of going away for a night—let alone a week or more—can cause anxiety. When kids are adamantly opposed, forcing summer camp on them may not be in their best interest. But for kids who are eager, or at least willing to give it a shot, summer camp offers opportunities kids may not have elsewhere.

S

Summer camp provides kids the following benefits: A break from being plugged-in. This is especially true if your child has been playing too many games, watching too much TV or has been spending school time learning at their computer during the pandemic.

THE BENEFITS OF SUMMER CAMP

Independence fostered by time away from the house. At camp, children can manage their own routine.

Friendships and lasting bonds that turn camp friends into forever friends.

New skills, whether themed to the camp or just general life skills from meeting new people.

Discovery of new interests and hobbies. Maybe your child will discover a lifelong love of archery or leathercraft.

Exercise, as camp tends to be much more active than a day at home.

Whether you’re looking for summertime enrichment for your child, a way to keep your kids occupied while you work or just a short reprieve from pandemic parenting complete with many months of remote learning, there’s sure to be a summer camp that’s right for your family.

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KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

A greater ability to work with others, especially new people. Camp is a great way to transition children back into social situations before they head back to school in the fall—especially if they’ve been in remote learning.

A sense of belonging in a new community.

Reduced summer learning loss due to a continually engaged mind.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Shakespeare SUMMER Camps!

ACTING

STAGE COMBAT

VISUAL ART

CRAFTS & Storytelling Our SHAKESPEARE Camps are fun and unique summer arts experiences your child will never forget. Your camper will collaborate, create, learn language and presentation skills, build confidence, and HAVE FUN !

JUNE & JULY AGES 5 -18

Celebrating 25 years of Camp Shakespeare

Heart of America SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL www.kcshakes.org / 816-531-7728

KANSAS CITY YOUNG AUDIENCES

Hang with us this summer!

Summer camps for ages 8-18.

Located in mid-Missouri.

Sing, Dance, Act, Make, &Play!

since 1961

Week-long CAMPS begin in JUNE • ages 4 - 13 *in person if safe, online if not

• Confidence Camp • Leadership Camp • Summer Academy (academic camp)

• All-Sports Camp • Summer Jazz Academy

*Camps are boys only, except for co-ed Summer Jazz Academy.

MMA

M I S S O U R I M I L I TA RY A C A D E M Y

missourimilitaryacademy.org/summer KANSASCITYMAG.COM FEBRUARY 2021

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2021

Summer Camp Guide

HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT SUMMER CAMP

Before you begin looking into summer camps, create a list of the criteria you’re looking for.

H

ere are some things you’ll want to consider:

What is your budget for summer camp? Know how much you want to spend and what you can afford.

Why are you sending your child to summer camp? Is this camp for them to learn a new skill, to stay busy or to develop new hobbies and interests? Or all of the above?

Do you want an overnight camp or a day camp? It’s up to you and your child to determine if they’re ready for an overnight camp.

How many campers attend the camp?

A smaller camp will feel more personal.

On the flip side, a larger camp may offer more choices.

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KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

Are you looking for a short-term camp that lasts a week or two or a summer-long program? You and your child may also be interested in back-to-back sessions.

What is the camp’s cancellation policy?

In case something comes up and you need to opt out of camp, be sure you’re aware of any cancellation fees and consequences.

What COVID precautions are being taken?

Some camps may take temperatures at the door or require a negative COVID test to attend.

Do you want a camp that’s highly structured or one that provides your child with lots of freedom and choices?

Once you’ve selected a few summer camps that meet your primary criteria and that fit your child’s interests, share the choices with your child to see what excites him or her.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

BRING ON THE

FUN

day camps • overnight camps • grades 1-12 splash parks • ropes courses • faith-building activities

youthfront.com/camp Register with code KCMAG21 to receive $15 off.

NEW FOR 2021! Risk-free booking available with our optional Camp Protection Plan. Cancel for any reason and get your money back.

KANSASCITYMAG.COM FEBRUARY 2021

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2021

Summer Camp Guide

GUIDE TO SUMMER CAMPS Whether your child is into sports, nature, art or culture, summer time in Kansas City is the perfect time to explore special interests. Summer camps throughout the city offer a variety of opportunities for kids to find their voice, dabble in the arts, seek adventure or engage in active play with new friends.

Find a more complete listing of summer camps along with description of activities with hyperlinks at kansascitymag.com.

ACADEMIC Code Ninjas Various locations throughout the city 913.444.9448 Barstow – Summer at Barstow 11511 State Line Rd. Kansas City, MO 816.277.0445 Camp Invention Various locations throughout the city 800.968.4332

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KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

Jewish Community Center – J Camp 5801 W 115th St. Overland Park, KS 913.327.8000 City of Leawood – Summer Camps Various locations throughout Leawood 913.339.6700 Mad Science of Greater KC 11368 Strang Line Rd. Lenexa, KS 913.888.8877

MISC

RELIGIOUS

Genesis Health Clubs Genesis Olathe Ridgeview 17800 W 106th St. Olathe, KS 913.888.0505

hurch of the C Resurrection Various locations around Kansas City 913.897.0120

NATURE Ernie Miller Park & Nature Center 909 North Highway 7 Olathe, KS 913.764.7799 Johnson County Parks and Recreation 7900 Renner Blvd.

Shawnee, KS 913.831.3359 Kansas City Missouri Parks & Recreation Various locations around Kansas City 816.513.7503 Lakeside Nature Center 4701 East Gregory Blvd.

Kansas City, MO 816.513.8960 YMCA Camp Wood 1101 Camp Wood Rd. Elmdale, KS 620.273.8641

outhfront Y 4600 Rainbow Blvd.

Kansas City, KS 913.262.3900 anakuk K 1353 Lake Shore Drive Branson, MO 65616 417.266.3000 SPECIAL NEEDS amp Encourage C 4025 Central St. Kansas City, MO 64111 816.830.7171 amp Barnabas C 2060 E Sunshine St. Springfield, MO 65804 417.476.2565 SPORTS C hallenger Sports British Soccer Camp Locations throughout the greater Kansas City metro area 913.599.4774

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JULY 18–23 • VIRTUAL + IN PERSON OPTIONS • COR.ORG/VBC2021 Supporting families throughout the Kansas City area with five physical locations and virtual programs

COR.ORG

L e a w o o d | O l a t h e | D o w n t o w n | B l u e S p r i n g s | O v e r l a n d Pa r k

June 7 – August 13, 2021 Join us for summer camp at one of our five KC Parks & Recreation community centers.

7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. • Monday - Friday • Ages 6 - 13 Day Camp: $80/week Hillcrest • Kansas City North • Southeast Tony Aguirre • Westport Roanoke

KCPARKS.ORG

20% discount if paid in full by May 1. Financial assistance available.

KANSASCITYMAG.COM FEBRUARY 2021

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2021

Summer Camp Guide Camp WIN by the Kansas City Sports Commission Locations throughout the greater Kansas City metro area 816.474.4652 Heartland Fencing Academy 10727 El Monte Overland Park, KS 913.636.769 KC Watersports 25825 Edgemore Road Paola, KS 913.783.4300 Lynn O’Brien Cheer & Dance Camp Locations in Overland Park and Olathe 913.424.2919 THEATER/DANCE/CULTURE Camp Shakespeare 3732 Main Street Kansas City, MO 64111 816.531.7728 Christian Youth Theater Locations throughout the greater Kansas City metro area 913.681.3318 Kansas City Young Audiences 3732 Main Street Kansas City, MO 64111 816.531.4022 Paint, Glaze & Fire – Camp ARTrageous 12683 Metcalf Ave. Overland Park, KS 913.661.2529 StageworX 12501 West 137th St. Overland Park, KS 816.536.2840

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Making Once Upon a Time a Reality

LITTLE SUNSHINE’S P L AY H O U S E H A S RAISED THE BAR A S A N E A R LY E DU C ATIO N I N N OVAT O R

BY RON MATEJKO

W

hen you enter the lobby at Little Sunshine’s Playhouse and Playschool, it feels like you’ve walked into a storybook that’s come to life. On one wall, there is the front of a cottage like you would see in Snow White or Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Above the double doors of the cottage, written in script, it says “Once Upon a time.” While this phrase is frequently used to begin many popular children’s fairy tales, at Little Sunshine’s Playhouse, the phrase represents how children can use their own imagination to make these fantasies their own realities.

Little Sunshine’s Playhouse is considered the premiere early education innovator with its unique approach to learning and focusing on the child as a whole, both with the curriculum and even the building itself.

Each facility is designed both inside and outside to resemble a playhouse and create a warm environment. Warm colors are used throughout the building with a lot of greenery and other nature elements incorporated in the classrooms. Treehouse themes outside on the play-

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ground engage the kids and their curiosity with a storybook learning environment where they can create their own adventure.

“Little Sunshine’s strives to inspire a magical learning experience, enabling each child to develop their imagination and social skills while preparing them for their preschool or early childhood educational journey,” said Rebekah Fosbinder, Little Sunshine’s Area Manager for Kansas City. “Some places have white walls and a school feel that is cold. We warm up our environment so the children are comfortable and excited to learn.”

The proprietary curriculum approach at Little Sunshine’s Playhouse and Preschool is called Creatively Shine. This was inspired by Reggio Emilia, an Italian philosophy that supports the fact that children are full of curiosity and creativity and are ready to explore the world with a sense of wonder and awe. This is accomplished through a comprehensive collaboration of predictable themes that allow individualization within the classroom, based on several guiding principles that will foster and cultivate a passion for learning and exploration that will last throughout their lives.

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“Our Reggio Emilia focus sets us apart as this is something you won’t find in most early education centers,” Fosbinder said. “We allow a child to be a child and learn through imaginative play because we know they are curious and we are here to foster that.”

“Our three children, have only been at Little Sunshine’s for over a year now, and we—and they—love it.” Said Ellen Swarts, Leawood Kansas. “Being with an in-home provider for the previous 3 years, the transition for both children was a bit tough at first, but I immediately felt the care and love their teachers had for them (and for me!) during this period of transition. Now, they run excitedly into their classrooms to see their wonderful teachers and their friends each day. We feel confident they are well cared for, both emotionally and developmentally, by all of the teachers and staff. They have been so wonderful to our children and we are incredibly appreciative of them. We have found it to be very easy to communicate with the children’s teachers, as well as the rest of the staff, and receiving our daily LuvNotes truly makes our day! Our children are learning so much and truly thriving. We’re so

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happy we made the decision to send them to LSP.” The distinctive services at Little Playhouse set them apart from other preschools and have been designed to meet specific connection, communication, security, nutrition, and convenience desires of their families.

Kiddie Cams are located throughout the school in all classrooms, playground and hallways so parents can observe their child from monitors which are placed in the lobby at each school. “We do a lot of quality assurance reviews with those as well,” Fosbinder said.

“They provide a good peace of mind for our parents.”

LuvNotes is a proprietary system and a user-friendly, secure platform that facilitates better communication with parents throughout the day.

Parents receive a Classroom Snapshot, which includes a list of planned activities for the day, menu details, announcements and a personalized daily report with notes on specific activities, disposition/mood, sleeping and eating trends each day.

Each LuvNote includes photos and/or videos of each child while at school. Parents can access this secure

information via a web interface or any smartphone with internet access.

Each parent also receives a daily email notification when their child’s reports are available, with a link provided for convenience to view the report without any hassle of logging in.

If you’re like most parents, the mornings are a hectic time of day, which is why Little Sunshine created its Red Carpet Service which facilitates fast, easy and fun morning drop-offs.

This service is offered during the busiest time each morning to help keep drop-off running quickly and to provide additional convenience to parents.

When you arrive, a school manager happily greets and assists parents with getting their child out of the vehicle and escorts them to their classroom.

This service is not only a convenience to families but also a great tool to combat separation anxiety in toddlers.

The entrance to each Little Sunshine Playhouse facility is secured throughout the day. Families must enter a numeric passcode on a keypad to enter the building and again to move from the lobby to the classrooms, providing a double-secured facility. Child

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release policies are strictly enforced for every child’s protection. Background checks are reviewed and on file for every employee and educational enrichment teacher on premises. Other than those on campus as a parent, authorized pickup, employee or authorized enrichment instructor Little Sunshine’s Playhouse enforces a strict no-visitor and no-solicitation policy.

The positive long-term impact of providing children healthy, nutrient-rich meals is important which is why Little Sunshine’s Playhouse provides an on-site chef. Menus are posted weekly and include only the freshest ingredients and exceed all nutritional guidelines.

Additional features will vary slightly from program to program. Refer to an individual Little Sunshine’s Playhouse location to confirm the school’s special features. They may include: Nature Center Facilities: outdoor nature-based learning environment equipped with bird feeders, vegetable gardens and labeled trees, bushes, and flowers Old-world themed alcove play space in the common area

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nonprofit dedicated to supporting families and scientists working toward comfort, care and cures for children impacted with pediatric brain related injuries, diseases and cancers.

The work at the Pediatric Brain Foundation is an extension of that passion and dream that all children should be able to grow healthy and enjoy their childhood. Little Sunshine’s Playhouse executives, Rochette and Matt Dahler, have stepped into roles as board members and advocates for change in pediatric neurology and neuro-oncology with a personal mission.

The Little Sunshine’s Playhouse’s sponsorship includes nationally hosted fundraisers, ongoing local community involvement and focused awareness raising through an extensive network of families nationwide.

Little Sunshine’s Playhouse is enjoying great success with this unique approach to early education and have won many awards including being recognized four times as one of INC Magazine’s fastest growing private companies.

There are currently multiple locations in 10 states with five new locations opening soon.

Follow the magic to Little Sunshine’s Playhouse. Now is the time to inspire. Once upon a time is now.

T WO LO C ATIO N S :

15117 Rosewood Dr. | Leawood (913) 814-0444 | littlesunshine.com

Theatre Stage: used for school productions Indoor and outdoor treehouses Extra activities such as dance, soccer, yoga, music, science labs, computer labs, sign language and foreign language Philanthropy is an ethical value this is encouraged for every child. That sentiment extends beyond the direct impact on children and families at their schools to the founding sponsorship of the Pediatric Brain Foundation, a

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9090 W. 135th St. | Overland Park (913) 737-0807 | littlesunshine.com

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centric.build

COMING MARCH 2021...

KC’S BEST TA C O S TO GET THIS SPEICAL ISSUE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT KANSASCITYMAG.C0M/SUBSCRIBE 60

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NO PLACE LIKE

WE SPENT THE PAST FEW MONTHS DRIVING THE METRO AREA, BLOCK-BY-BLOCK, TO CURATE THIS SELECTION OF THE COOLEST HOMES IN KANSAS CITY, FROM A MODERN FAIRWAY RANCH TO A HISTORICALLY-DESIGNED BUILD IN OLATHE.

9 OF THE COOLEST HOMES IN KC

BY NICOLE BRADLEY AND MARTIN CIZMAR

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PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM LIGHTHOUSE AND NATE SHEETS

This updated century-old Brookside home includes a sprawling backyard hardscape for gatherings.

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This massive Italianate home in Olathe’s Heritage Hill neighborhood was modeled on KCK’s famed Sauer Castle. Heritage Hill is known for its collection of homes in historic styles, from federalist designs to Victorian-era Queen Anne dollhouses. When endodontist Dr. Bart Putnam and his wife, Anne, were looking for a plot to build their forever home in 1999, they knew that this neighborhood was the spot.

“At the time, the neighborhood had a certain number of types of historic homes that were on a list that you could choose to build from, and then you sat down with the neighborhood architect [Dan Wessel] to design it,” Bart says. “We

WHY WE LOVE IT: This Italianate masterpiece in Olathe captures the familiar form of a local icon that remains in ruins.

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NO, YOU’RE NOT SEEING DOUBLE.

KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

drove around town, looking at houses and taking pictures of houses. The Sauer Castle in Kansas City, Kansas, was one that we were really interested in.”

The homes in the neighborhood were all built in the backend of the twentieth century, but Putnam says many have historically significant features in them, like refurbished stairwells from old buildings and reclaimed stained glass from churches. The Putnam family’s ode to history is a Romeo and Juliet-style balcony off the master bedroom that they bought at an architectural salvage yard in downtown Kansas City and re-fitted for their home’s exterior.

Castle Quarrel Things are heating up in the long-simmering fight over the original Sauer Castle in KCK. In December, the unified government ordered the structure to be boarded up as a hazard after failing to reach an agreement on securing the space on Shawnee Road, which has been registered as a historic landmark since the seventies. The property is owned by Carl Lopp, the great-great grandson of the German immigrant who had it constructed. Lopp is reportedly in arrears on taxes and fines but says he is planning to eventually restore the property, which he has owned for more than thirty years.

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More Pretty Homes

2021

The definitive work on the city’s most attractive homes is Kansas City Houses: 1885-1938 by architecture scholar Michael Kathrens. The 2018 title includes floor plans and detailed architectural photographs of forty houses built in Kansas City in the gilded age and pre-War eras. The book was an immediate smash, with the first edition selling out in less than three months.

“We were the biggest city in the southwest," Kathrens says. “Kansas City was this huge boomtown, so we drew in a lot of successful architects.”

WHY WE LOVE IT:

This super-stylish Fairway ranch shows the power of a tasteful renovation.

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THE FAIRWAY NEIGHBORHOOD

where this house sits is almost exclusively made up of Atomic Age ranches. This one benefits from a tasteful renovation that gave its Elvis-era charm a major punch-up. The smoked glass garage door and section of wood paneling around the eye-catching red door really freshen up the look of a home that’s somehow seventy years old.

Neighborhood Notes Mission Hills is usually ranked as the wealthiest community in Kansas, but Leawood and Fairway sometimes edge it out, depending on methodology.

Any time Mission Hills isn’t tops on a list from a national publication, you can expect a story in the Star explaining exactly why.

WHY WE LOVE IT:

This Mission Hills home has Spanish vibes thanks to its stucco facade and private courtyard.

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MISSION HILLS HAS NO SHORTAGE of gorgeous

homes, but this one pops out thanks to its unique design, with an inviting private patio surrounded by three buildings and a matching wall, which, to our eye, recalls a Spanish-style courtyard. Built in 2005, this home sits on a large lot that’s almost a half acre.

The home was designed by an architectoccupant, which shows in the way the stucco walls and a matching fence pair with the greenish-gray zinc roof to give the home a clean, earthy and understated elegance.

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9 COOLEST HOMES 2021

The Brookside Border Battle

WHY WE LOVE IT:

A designer skillfully updated her family’s century-old Brookside home, adding a few modern touches while maintaining its charm.

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4

WHEN INTERIOR DESIGNER LISA SCHMITZ and her husband,

Chuck, bought their Brookside home in 2002, they weren’t afraid of a challenge. Actually, they were looking for one. “Ideally, we wanted to find something that needed a lot of work,” she says. “With me being a designer and my husband very familiar with construction, we were not intimidated by something that was run-down.”

One thing was for certain: The couple wanted to keep the bones and style of the home the same so as to keep the end product respectful to Brookside’s charming collection of Tudors and bungalows.

Luckily, the 1919-built house already had the modern, clean lines that Lisa desired in a home and just needed a few updates to finish it off, including a fresh coat of grey paint, a sleek front porch that leads to a stone paver walkway, and a sprawling hardscape patio where they like to gather with friends and family. In the backyard, they planted an Airstream trailer, which Lisa says was meant to be part of the home’s panorama.

“We had this vision of it being in the backyard, kind of a fixtured part of the landscaping,” she says. “We have backyard concerts all the time, and the band will usually perform right in front of the camper.”

Where does Brookside start and end? It’s an age-old debate without clear consensus.

Maximalists would say the neighborhood encompasses everything south of Country Club Plaza and north of Gregory between State Line Road and Holmes.

Minimalists argue Brookside begins around its eponymous park at 55th and ends at the neighborhood’s shopping strip, while excluding everything west of Ward Parkway.

WHY WE LOVE IT:

At first glance, it looks like a modern house. Look closer and you’ll see the unmistakable markings of a jazz-age Bauhaus.

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UNLESS YOU’RE AN ARCHITECTURE GEEK, you

probably wouldn’t be able to guess the age of this house on a hillside south of Country Club Plaza. Believe it or not, this isn’t a contemporary build but a 1936 International Bauhaus that’s rich in custom detail, including the artful little curve of the front overhang and an eye-catching fountain near the road. A recent real estate listing shows that it’s even better around back, where there’s a stunning pool and cabana fit for a Hollywood power player.

Did you know?

One of only three known International Bauhaus homes in the city, this house was designed by James F. Terney and has been featured in several architecture books. The decision to put the garage facing the front of the home was wildly controversial in 1936.

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9 COOLEST HOMES 2021

Why Tudors?

Why does South KC have so many Tudor homes you could almost film a Robin Hood movie there? Because they were in style during the era much of the city was built.

The trend traces to Richard Morris Hunt (Biltmore Estate in Asheville, William K. Vanderbilt House in New York City), the

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first American to graduate from Académie des Beaux-Arts architectural school in Paris.

Hunt was the most influential American architect of his time, and his nephew, Jarvis Hunt, did several notable projects in Kansas City, including Union Station, the Commerce Trust Building and the old Kansas City Star building. Not only were Tudors en vogue, but they also fit in well with city planning.

“[Richard Morris Hunt] brought these styles here to America, and they were mostly larger and much more formallooking houses,” says Michael Kathrens, author of Kansas City Houses. “The Tudor can be easily translated in scale. You’ve got grand tudors like the historic Epperson House at UMKC, and then you’ve got the nice, modest Tudors you see in Brookside.”

WHY WE LOVE IT: We love the way this asymmetrical Tudor balances a strong brick facade with the more delicate slate trim.

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IT’S HARD TO DRIVE A BLOCK

through the neighborhoods south of Country Club Plaza without encountering a well-kept English Tudor home.

Built starting in 1916 by John Van Brunt, who is credited with bringing English residential style to the area, this home has made its way through a number of owners, from real estate and oil investment giant Albert Hovey Dickinson to Omar Abernathy of the Abernathy Furniture Company. The home balances imposing brick and delicate slate trim on a facade where everything has a custom size and shape. It was recognized as the Kansas City Designers’ Showhouse in 2007.

Now, the home is occupied by Christian Frank and his family— and they haven’t had to do much to it. “The prior owners have done a complete gap renovation,” Frank says. “Actually, there was literally nothing we needed to do to move in. So it was fantastic.”

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WHY WE LOVE IT:

This house in KCK was designed by local architect Louis Singleton Curtiss and deftly fuses his influences from the Prairie Style, Oriental and Secessionist schools.

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ON THE MISSOURI SIDE,

early twentieth century developers like J.C. Nichols tended to build entire neighborhoods of posh homes in a singular style.

But in KCK’s historic Westheight Manor neighborhood, developer Jesse A. Hoel took the opposite approach, overseeing the development of an eclectic collection of impressive homes in a variety of styles.

His own home in the neighborhood was designed by Louis Curtiss—sometimes called the “Frank Lloyd Wright of Kansas City”—and shows a deft blending of influences from the Prairie, Secessionist and Oriental schools.

Neighborhood Notes Westheight Manor in KCK is a trove of notable homes designed by most of the area’s top architects of its era. The neighborhood’s annual holiday home tour is popular with local architecture and history geeks.

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WHY WE LOVE IT:

The home is an overall stunner, but the dynamic view from the back is hard to beat.

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WHEN ANNIE KERN WORKED WITH

architects Elswood Smith Carlson to design and build her Prairie Village home in 2014, she wanted the space to maintain classic style while keeping it comfy and breezy.

“We wanted the back to be almost all windows, bay windows and doors,” she says. “This also ensured that the interior would remain naturally bright and airy.” The windows and doors lead out onto several covered porches and balconies, which illuminate at night and can be seen from the golf course out back.

Kern, an interior designer herself, wanted to keep the home's look classical yet understated, which she did with informal shingles and fixtures. “All of the wood railings and pergolas were important to me,” Kern says. “They help visually balance and layer the exterior without being overly ornate.”

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COOLEST HOMES HOMES 109 COOLEST

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this home in the Northland neighborhood of Shoal Creek, which he describes as “old world modern” style.

The roof infrastructure is typically associated with old world home styles like Tudors—it’s made up of gables without overhanging eaves. The pitched roofs make for cathedral ceilings inside, and the house is also built in multiple segments under separate roofs.

WHY WE LOVE IT: This “old world modern” home is an airy artisan that feels like a getaway in a Tuscan countryside—and has an eye-popping enclosed courtyard to boot.

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KYLE FREEMAN WAS THE DESIGNERBUILDER behind

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“We thought of it more as wings of the house that were connected together by smaller areas,” Freeman says.

The rooms of the home are centralized around an open-air courtyard with cafe lights and a French cafe-style bar. Just off the courtyard, you’ll find an open-air plunge pool, which can also be accessed by a secret staircase via the master bedroom.

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After a thirty-year slumber, a Civil War-era distillery in Weston is readying to release a time-tested bourbon.

WORDS BY MARTIN CIZMAR PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHAWN BRACKBILL

Weston, Missouri was settled by Kentuckians— they brought their burley tobacco, and they brought their bourbon whiskey.

lvis is everywhere in the visitor’s center for Holladay Distillery. Ceramic decanters bearing the King’s likeness neatly line the built-in shelves of the old brick farmhouse, constructed by a Weston family who grew burley tobacco in the fields out front.

It’s been forty years since the market for these kitschy whiskey vessels reached its zenith, giving a little distillery from small-town Missouri a national footprint. Elvis has left, but in the ensuing years, the company’s McCormick brands became staples at bars across the country.

Slowly, though, something is stirring on this spread perched in the hills above a bend in the Big Muddy. Tighten your eyes on the foot of the hill below the farmhouse and you’ll see something that, at first glance, has no earthly business being here: a seven-story whiskey warehouse that looks to have been transported from a different time and place.

This building and its shorter brother are called ironclads—oak frame, corrugated tin shell—and they're a rare sight outside the hills of Kentucky.

For the first time in thirty years, the seven-story tower is full of aged bourbon about to be bottled by the oldest business in the Kansas City area.

“We came within a hair’s breadth of tearing them down because they were fire hazards and were raising our insurance rates,” says McCormick president Mick Harris. “Luckily we didn’t.”

They don’t build them like this anymore, even in Kentucky—it just doesn’t pencil out given the increased costs of not only construction and insurance, but the manpower needed to move the barrels up and down during the aging process.

This primitive skyscraper is a living artifact, but it’s also the best way to make superb bourbon. Neither heated nor cooled, the temperature varies by as much as thirty degrees between the top and bottom floors. Those

swings help whiskey absorb the flavors of the white oak barrels inside.

There are sweet spots scattered around the warehouse, says Kyle Merklein, the master distiller hired to fill this warehouse with a bourbon that will be labeled with the name of this distillery’s founder, Ben Holladay. The fifth floor, he says, seems to be best of all.

“This building keeps me awake at night—it’s fascinating,” Merklein says.

“There’s so much potential in this warehouse—so many different things that we can create that most places don’t have access to.”

II

Ninety-five percent of the world’s supply of bourbon comes from Kentucky, but bourbon can be made

anywhere in the United States so long as the mash bill is at least fifty-one percent corn. Craft distillers now make their own corn-based whiskeys everywhere from arid Wyoming to sweltering Texas. To make superlative bourbon, though, you need the correct climate and water rich with the right minerals.

Kentucky is cool and dry in the winter, when the distilling is done and the barrels are filled without fear of ambient bacteria. It’s hot and humid in the summer, when barreled whiskey expands while aging, drawing out the flavor of its vessel. Weston has a similar climate—chilly winters and muggy summers, with lots of desirable swings in between.

But the real reason that Weston was home to a bourbon distillery—and the reason why it has the potential to make

bourbon of a quality rare to find outside the hallowed hills of ol’ Kentuck— is the water flowing from the springs below. Kentucky’s Bluegrass region is situated on a giant shelf of what geologists call “humid climate karst,” a porous limestone base that makes up only about fifteen percent of the contiguous United States. On that shelf, which runs across the midsection of the eastern United States, the limestone tends to filter out undesirable minerals like iron from its springs while infusing the water with traces of tasty ones, like calcium and magnesium. The western edge of that shelf is in eastern Kansas, where karst gives way to the sandstone of the open west.

“There’s a reason why there’s a distillery here—it’s limestone water,” says McCormick honcho Harris. “This region of the country is very similar to Kentucky, we’re sitting on a giant limestone shelf. It makes it perfect for making bourbon.”

This geological reality of bourbon-making is an open secret in the bourbon world, says whiskey expert Lew Bryson, author of several books on the subject. Bryson recalls a conversation with a distiller from Jack Daniels who said “you could literally smell" when the ground below was right for making bourbon above.

“Bourbon distillers talk about being on the slab,” Bryson says. “The first time I ever heard it I was at Maker’s Mark, actually, and I was in a room with a bunch of writers and some distillers. They were talking about someone and said, ‘Well, they’re off the slab,’ and the other distillers in the room started laughing.”

Bryson didn’t know what they meant at the time, but he looked it up when he got home.

“You don’t need to be on the slab to make whiskey,” he says. “But you do need to be on the slab if you hope to make very fine whiskey.”

III

The property where McCormick Distilling now sits entered the historical record in July of 1804, when Lewis and Clark stopped by, taking note of the natural spring in their journals. At the time, the property was just about a thousand feet from the Missouri River.

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Kyle Merklein hopes to have a career like Wild Turkey icon Jimmy Russell, who “still shows up to the distillery to talk and drink” after sixty years.

spring, which pumps out twenty to thirty gallons a minute, year-round.

He opened a bourbon distillery there in 1856, outfitting it with a still made in St. Louis and a hand-dug cistern that’s still there, thirty-five feet deep and wide enough to swallow a Winnebago. It gave Holladay what we’d today call vertical integration.

“If you were going west and you were going on a coach, you were going on Ben Holladay’s stages,” says Harris.

“So when they were sending whiskey out to the cowboy towns you see in movies on those stages, whose whiskey do you think it was?”

Holladay sold his stagecoach company to Wells Fargo and turned the distillery over to his brother before moving to Portland, Oregon, where he became notorious for wildly corrupt dealings in the railroad business. The distillery changed hands numerous times over the ensuing century, but bourbon was made there continuously from 1865 until Prohibition, when they switched to making a barrel-aged “medicinal alcohol” before picking back up in the bourbon business after repeal.

IV (The river changed course in the flood of 1881, bringing financial ruin to the port of Weston.)

Drawn by the spring, early settlers opened a meat-packing plant on the property in 1836, constructing an old stone building that still stands. At that time—and until Texas was admitted to the union in 1845—Weston was the westernmost settlement in the United States.

That spring caught the attention

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of “Stagecoach King,” Ben Holladay, who operated the overland stagecoach routes that carried provisions and people from Kansas City to Denver and Salt Lake City before the opening of the transcontinental railroad. Holladay was the Elon Musk of his day, a prosperous tycoon with a large portfolio of booming businesses tied to transportation.

Holladay, a Kentucky native, purchased the property for the natural

Things changed for McCormick in the seventies, when the collectable decanter craze swept the nation. The company capitalized on the trend, especially as it related to the booming interest in American history spurred by the nation’s bicentennial. McCormick churned out an endless array of decanters depicting iconic Americans from Mark Twain and Betsy Ross to George Washington Carver and Stonewall Jackson.

“They had mold-smashing parties,” says the company’s VP of marketing, Patrick Fee. “They’d make a certain amount and then have a party and smash the mold, and that one will never be made again.”

The biggest break for McCormick was securing the exclusive right to sell decanters in the likeness of Elvis Presley, who died in 1977. For years, McCormick was the single biggest contributor of revenue to the Elvis estate. “We did a whole bunch of those Elvis decanters,” Harris says. “Well, those Elvis decanters were so popular nationwide that we ended up with a nationwide distribution network, and when the decanter craze faded we started running McCormick value-priced spirits down that chain—it took this from a small regional distillery to a company with a national footprint.”

By the mid-80s, the decanter business was a bust. Brown spirits weren’t doing much better, as Baby Boomers shunned whiskies for vodka and tequila. The McCormick company was doing well in the bottling business distributing what Harris describes as “premium products at popular prices,” selling spirits that found home in wells across the country.

In 1984, the company shut down the still, and stopped filling new barrels.

“The doors were locked, everything was left in place for thirty years,” Harris says. “The still sat there unused, and the warehouses sat empty, until 2015 when we started the whole thing up again.”

V

It’s no secret that bourbon is booming. Sales of the spirit have grown steadily in recent years, tripling since 1999, spurring a shortage that led to cult-favorite Maker’s Mark threatening to water down their product to meet demand, and causing coveted small-batch bottlings like Pappy Van Winkle to become all but unobtainable.

After a quarter century as the kings of well spirits, McCormick just so happens to have everything it takes to join the party at an elite

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level. The success of that project is on the shoulders of Master Distiller Kyle Merklein.

Merklein is a farm kid from northwest Kansas with a master’s degree from biological and agricultural engineering.

Before becoming a distiller, his specialty was studying how to “use Thermobifida fusca for the production of butyric acid from lignocellulosic material.”

“If you were to chew up a barrel, I could convert that barrel to ethanol,” he says. “It would probably not be nearly as tasty.

I prefer to keep the ethanol in the barrel.”

Merklein's wife is from the area. He landed a job as the distiller after meeting another employee in town. Bourbon is as much art as science, and Merklein has been studying the old-fashioned way—he has about a hundred half-full bottles at his house to prove it.

It’s rare for a company to fill up a seven-story warehouse with fifteen thousand barrels of a product no one has tasted.

But that’s not exactly the case, says the McCormick team.

They have about a case of the old stuff still stashed away, and detailed records of how it was made.

No one around today remembers the conversations surrounding the shuttering of the stillhouse in 1984, but it seems to have been abrupt—at least based on what was discovered upon its reopening, which included log books open on the table and lab equipment left in place.

“The one thing is, at least we are not flying blind,” Merklein says. “We’ve made bourbon here before. One of our produc-

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tion people made bourbon here in the eighties. We can go back to some of those lab [records], we can go back to some of those old bottles on the shelf and try those.”

The art of making great bourbon ultimately comes down to the barrel, says Bryson, the whiskey expert. “There’s a saying in the industry that eighty percent of the flavor comes from the barrel,” says Bryson. “That’s shorthand—it’s the barrel, the warehouse and the year.”

Bourbon makers agonize over the right size and shape of barrel and what proof to start at, not to mention decisions related to where and how to build their warehouses. The larger the operation, the better the odds of a “special barrel,” Bryson says. “If you have more barrels you are going to get some superlative stuff just by chance.”

For McCormick, the decisions tend to be made using one factor: How it used to be done. Why reinvent the wheel when there’s a century of experience to rely on, in a roundabout way?

Merklein has done lab work on current barrels and compared it to the results in hand-written ledgers from the eighties. And in what may be a first in the booze business, the government has proven helpful, in the form of old records from the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. For most of our nation’s history, taxes on alcohol were the primary source of funds for the federal government, which resulted in TTB obsessively documenting the distilling process to guard against bootlegging. That left detailed records for Merklein:

“We can go to those old TTB records and see they distilled to one-hundred-and-twenty proof on the low wines on the distillation column and then one-hundred-andthirty on the high wines, and so we can replicate that— because your distillation proofs will change the overall flavor of the distillate. We can see the barrel entry-proof, and go back to that historic number. All the record-keeping was actually helpful.”

They’re using the original mash bill, the same blend of grains that were cooked here for a century. “That original mash bill, that made some very good bourbon,” Merklein says.

In 2015, when they reopened the still house, McCormick’s team called on the company that built the old stills, Vendome of Louisville, to inspect and advise. The old stills were decayed beyond use, so Vendome was commissioned to build a new column still with a pot doubler that matches the old ones as closely as they could.

Doing things the old way is not always easier. But Merklein thinks it can pay off. That extends to a unique process the company is using to make its sour mash, which utilizes two cookers to heat the grains and release their starches, instead of one.

Most distilleries start by boiling their corn and then add in the rest of the grains based on their hardiness.

“The efficient thing to do is to have one cooker, it just makes everything easier,” Merklein says. “Well, that’s not what we’re doing.”

Holladay Bourbon is made by cooking the corn at a high temperature in one vessel while cooking the smaller, more delicate grains at a lower temperature in a separate vessel. “We’re cooking those separately because we want to extract those flavors—we’re focusing on those before we combine them for the final product.”

Merklein explains the advantages of the process in technical terms—the congeners of bourbon come from the proteins and must be properly extracted to truly bring out the flavor of those small grains—but the proof, as they say, is in the glass. Merklein produces a small hand drill to spring a leak in his bottom-floor test barrel.

The bourbon that squirts out is both outstanding and unique, rich with an uncommon depth of grain flavors.

And it still has another year to go.

“There won’t be any whiskey sold until it’s at least six years old,” says Harris. “That was always the sweet spot for this particular location, and we’re honoring that.

We’re sitting and we’re waiting and we’re sitting and we’re waiting—but it’s the right thing to do.”

Doing things the right way, the ancient way, is the guiding principle behind the whole project. In an era where everybody seemingly craves “authenticity,” and where it often seems in short supply, Holladay Bourbon will be the real deal.

“We’re making whiskey the way they’ve made whiskey here since 1856,” says Harris. “It’s important to us that everything that comes out of here is in line with our tradition. As far as what everyone else does, I can’t speak to that. But if you want something real, come here.”

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S P SE CPI AOL NA SD VOE RR TEI SDI N CG OS ENC TTI EO NN T

Q A Q: When should you seek the help of a sleep specialist?

A: Many problems with sleep can be dealt with through simple changes in your sleep routine and daily habits.

However, there are times when a change in behavior is not enough. If you are having a sleep problem that is becoming long term you may need to see a sleep physician. A sleep doctor will diagnose, determine the severity and treat the problem.

Sleep disorders are usually chronic and if not treated may lead to other health conditions like anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, heart disease, attention deficit disorder, memory problems, dementia, heart rhythm problems, and more.

Q&A With Kansas City’s Renowned Sleep Doctor, Maniza Ehtesham, MD

ABOUT

Dr. Ehtesham is the medical director and a board certified sleep physician. She is an Associate Professor at the University of Missouri Kansas City and enjoys teaching medical students and residents.

She has also served as the Associate Residency Program Director at UMKC. She is currently a staff physician at Advent Health Shawnee Mission and Excellhealth Sleep Center.

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Some symptoms of sleep disorders: • Snoring, gasping or choking during sleep • Falling asleep while driving • Difficulty staying awake when inactive, such as when watching television or reading • Difficulty with attention or concentration at work, school, or home • Performing poorly at work or school • Frequent fatigue or exhaustion • Irritability, sadness or depression • Lie awake in bed at night for prolonged periods or wake up frequently • Difficulty with your memory • Slowed responses or difficulty controlling emotions • Need to take naps almost every day • Nightmares or vivid dreams • Restless sleep, restless legs, jerks in legs Q: What can you expect when you seek the advice from a sleep doctor?

A: During your first visit to Excellhealth Sleep Center we will conduct a comprehensive evaluation where we obtain a detailed history about your day-to-day habits, discuss your symptoms and perform a physical that focuses on your sleep concerns. We may ask you to keep a sleep log or diary, we will check your labs and may conduct a sleep study or prescribe medication based on your diagnosis. Sleep studies can be done at home using a sleep study monitor or in our sleep lab where you stay overnight monitored by a sleep technician. After the testing we will discuss results and outline a treatment plan for your sleep problems.

EXCELLHEALTH SLEEP CENTER 10640 W 87th St. | Overland Park, KS 913.203.4040 | excellhealthsleep.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION SLEEP GUIDE 2021

A GUIDE TO A

Good Night’s Sleep The coronavirus pandemic has caused an epidemic of sleeping problems—and forced homebound people who suffer from poor sleep to toss out old excuses for why—here’s what you should know about treatment options.

KANSASCITYMAG.COM FEBRUARY 2021

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION SLEEP GUIDE 2021

The Great Sleep Shortage How a stressful pandemic year is affecting sleep—and what you can do about it

BY B R A D M A RT I N

H

ave your sleeping habits been affected by the past year, as the pandemic and political instability roiled the country? You’re not alone. Six in ten American adults say they experienced the worst sleep of their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a September survey conducted by marketing research company OnePoll.

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Even those who’ve not said they’re sleeping worse than ever have noticed changes, such as especially vivid dreams.

Sleep clinics have been busy as the pandemic and other national events have caused no problems and made people more aware of existing ones.

Brandon Miller, clinical manager at Own Sleep Medicine on State Line Road, says that the pandemic has brought a wave of new patients, especially people who customarily traveled for work.

“Before the pandemic when people had problems with sleeping it was always pointed at something else—always on a plane, always in a different city, always in a hotel,” he says. “But once those things were gone and the problem didn’t go away they knew they needed to get help if they are not able to magically get good restorative sleep.”

Here’s what you may have noticed, and what you can do about it.

LIMITING BLUE LIGHT Sleep medicine physician Dr. Maniza Ehtesham has seen patients with a few different disruptions

in sleep patterns since the pandemic started—some are showing delayed phase sleep, meaning they are staying up later because they are now able to sleep in if they work or go to school from home. She also says that because peoples’ sleep schedules are off, they’ll often stay up later watching TV or playing games—even after a full day of likely already being glued to a screen.

“Blue light from these screens can decrease inherent melatonin production and cause insomnia,” she says. “Stay away from TV, laptop and phone screens two hours before bedtime.”

On top of that, mental health can play a huge part in maintaining a healthy sleep schedule—if you’re stressed by any major life changes, whether brought on by the pandemic or not, it can discourage an optimal night’s sleep. “Anxiety can lead to poor sleep and poor sleep can lead to increased anxiety,” Dr. Ehtesham says.

“This can become a vicious cycle.”

If your sleep has been affected, Dr. Ehtesham recommends upping your sleep hygiene by setting sleep and wake schedules and partaking in relaxation techniques closer to bedtime, like doing a light yoga session or taking a warm shower or bath. A low-dose melatonin can also help reset and advance your sleep cycles.

Dr. Ehtesham says there’s a strong argument that lack of sleep can decrease your body’s defense mechanism against infections—including COVID-19.

GIVING YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM A LEG-UP It’s no secret that sleep is tied directly to your overall health, especially when it comes to your immune system. Allowing the body to get good, solid rest

WILL BE SPENT SLEEPING Shouldn’t you spend it sleeping well?

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HOME SLEEP TESTING CPAP & SUPPLIES ALL WITHOUT LEAVING YOUR HOUSE

Own Sleep Medicine www.ownsleepmed.com

P: 816-775-1069 | F: 816-775-2969 8301 State Line Road, Ste. 208 Kansas City, Missouri 64114

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION SLEEP GUIDE 2021

BEING TREATED AT HOME

also allows it to prepare to fight off any illnesses that strike— including COVID-19.

For that reason, being treated for sleeping disorders can also help keep you safe during the pandemic.

“Optimal sleep enhances your immunity,” Dr. Ehtesham says, adding that lack of sleep “decreases your antibody production to the virus and other infections” and increases inflammation in our body. The more inflammation your body has, the more damage is done by the infection.

Another big consideration in the current pandemic is how to get tested and treated for sleeping problems without putting yourself at risk for exposure to COVID. In the past, most sleep clinics operated labs where patients would come to be tested and diagnosed. But with the pandemic has brought a new interest in being tested and treated at home.

Own Sleep Medicine on State Line Road works exclusively through telemedicine, says the group’s business manager Clint Hooper. The idea is to make sleepcare affordable, convenient and accessible.

“We are a labless sleep lab,” Hooper says. “We want to take down the barriers. In this climate, people want it to be shipped to them, they want it delivered to their home and they want to just hop on a call and do their appointment.”

In order to make this model work, Own Sleep Medicine offers unlimited telemedicine visits with each client’s sleep coach, and the coach remains the same. They also use newer tools that are designed to automatically increase pressure to clear airways as needed during sleep.

It’s meant a lot of new clients coming to see them, says Miller, the group’s clinical manager.

“The excuses are gone now,” says Miller, the group’s clinical manager. “The reality is setting in, and a lot of people are really focused on their health and ready to do something about their chronic sleeping problems.”

Meet Our Team

Are you suffering from daytime fatigue?

Having problems staying asleep?

Does your snoring affect the sleep of others?

Do you suffer from headaches or jaw pains?

Yes? Schedule your consultation today!

Call our office at 816-897-0746.

Ask about our monthly special!

Dr. William C. Busch

Sydney Clevenger

DMD, MAGD, D. ASAB

CLINICAL DIRECTOR

DO SOMETHING TODAY, YOUR FUTURE HEALTH WILL THANK YOU!

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KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CALEB CONDIT AND REBECCA NORDEN

E AT I N G A N D D R I N K I N G W E L L I N K A N S A S C I T Y

COME TOGETHER

The Combine is a new neighborhood pizza pub that opened in November on Troost inside a mixed-use building that once housed the city’s Wonder Bread factory. This spot pays homage to its location with its “Wonder Favorites” sandwiches (try the fluffernutter— marshmallow fluff and peanut butter on Wonder Bread) and with desserts made from longtime sister brand Hostess. Owner Alan Kneeland grew up on 75th and Troost and chose this location, and this name, to promote “bringing folks together.” With its inviting space, enticing tap list, signature cocktails and ’za from Pizza 51, Kneeland hopes people from all walks of life will feel at home here. – N ATA L I E G A L L AG H E R GO: The Combine is open daily 11 am-9 pm. 2999 Troost Ave., KCMO. thecombinekc.com

KANSASCITYMAG.COM FEBRUARY 2021

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TA S T E FE AT U R E CHRISTOPHER ELBOW

HEART-SHAPED BOX Local chocolates to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

BY N ATA L I E G A L L AG H E R

five centuries ago Aztec emperor Moctezuma consumed copious quantities of chocolate before engaging in, uh, amorous activities. The association between chocolate and love has grown from there. Whether or not you believe in its aphrodisiac qualities, these swoon-worthy creations from local chocolatiers are guaranteed to make your sweetheart smile.

ACCORDING TO LEGEND,

elbowchocolates.com You know Christopher Elbow chocolates: bonbons shaped like precious gems, truffles printed with bold and colorful patterns, addictive caramel-pecan patties covered in dark chocolate ganache and sea salt. But what you might not know is that each Valentine’s Day, Elbow releases limited-edition, hand-painted, heart-shaped versions of his bestselling chocolates, like passion fruit caramel and peanut butter and jelly. Get them wrapped up in a beautiful—and also limited-edition—heartshaped red box.

L AU R A L I T T L E ’ S CA N D I E S

cedarstreettoffee.com If your darling craves the satisfying crunch of toffee, there’s a new shop in Prairie Village with just the thing. Cedar Street Toffee founder Teresa Spiess has perfected her recipe for buttery toffee filled with whole almonds. Get your toffee with a coating of semi-sweet or dark chocolate and dusted with a superfine powder of crushed walnuts or crushed almonds.

There’s a nut-free sea salt toffee, too.

SWEET KISS BRIGADEIRO

sweetkissbrigadeiro.com For a different take on truffles, go for a box of brigadeiros. Founded by motherdaughter duo Jessica Harris and Regina Antunes, Olathe-based Sweet Kiss gives center stage to this ubiquitous Brazilian sweet. Made with sweetened condensed milk, butter and cocoa powder and rolled in chocolate sprinkles, these delicately chewy bites will be gone before you can say “be mine.” Try the gamut of flavors that Sweet Kiss offers, including crème brulee, salted caramel, strawberry, pistachio and more.

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KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CALEB CONDIT AND REBECCA NORDEN

CEDAR STREET TOFFEE

lauralittlecandy.com Keep things thicc this V-Day with fudge from Laura Little in Prairie Village. Choose from nearly two dozen flavors, including marshmallow pecan, German chocolate, vanilla Oreo, mocha, amaretto and chocolate raspberry.

ANDRÉ’S CONFISERIE SUISSE

andreschocolates.com Forget the cardboard heart-shaped box. André’s has a variety of edible chocolate boxes that you can fill with their decadent chocolate candies or chocolate-covered almonds.

Choose from a red foil-wrapped milk or dark chocolate shell, a nougat box made of caramelized almonds and sugar and rimmed with chocolate, or a Rocher box made with roasted, slivered almonds blended with milk or dark chocolate.

A N N E D O R E ’ S F I N E C H O C O L AT E S

annedores.com Three words: Chocolate. Covered.

Strawberries. Strawberries have had aphrodisiac status since the height of the Roman empire, when they were considered a symbol of Venus, goddess of love. Find these beautiful babies—coated in milk, dark and white chocolate—at Annedore’s in Westwood Hills. Preorder available.

B L I S S C H O C O L AT I E R

blisschocolatier.com Bliss Chocolatier brings sophisticated cocoa creations and fine confections to Blue Springs. Owner Jessica Washburn is a former professional photographer who moved to the area from New York state.

Her shop opened in mid-December and sold out twice before Christmas.

She believes that flavor and texture are paramount. Washburn learned to make creations like the love bug and faceted purple heart featured here by taking online chocolate courses and training with pastry chefs around the country. “I always loved food and science,” she says. “I fell in love with the precision, the artistry and the challenge of it.”

PA N A C H E C H O C O L AT I E R

chocolatekc.com The award-winning truffles at Panache are perfectly round and smooth, and there’s no question that they would make a pretty gift for your valentine (particularly the rose and champagne flavor, garnished with pink petals). But let us instead discuss another Panache signature: Chocco Poppo. Salty popcorn is tossed with chunks of milk chocolate, resulting in a truly habit-forming treat.

KANSASCITYMAG.COM FEBRUARY 2021

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TA S T E DR I N K

LUXE LIFE Is Kansas City ready for $30 cocktails at a swanky new bar?

BY N ATA L I E G A L L AG H E R

WHEN THE MONARCH BAR

opened in 2017, it offered the Kansas City jet-set crowd a new upscale drinking experience, one where fanciful $18 cocktails meant a special occasion. Now, the people behind the Monarch and its Leawood sister bar, Verdigris, are trying to outdo themselves again. The Mercury Room, an eight-hundred-square-foot mirror ball topping off a fourteen-story apartment complex in the Crossroads, is open and

ready to welcome guests. (Not just anyone, though: The strict dress code requires jackets for men and prohibits hats. Show up looking sloppy and you might be turned away, reservation or not.)

The space is designed to take your breath away, and it succeeds. Thousands of LED lights are meticulously arranged on the mirrored ceiling (Starry Night

can’t compete), and the sweeping views of downtown will make you feel like you are miles above the city. It’s romantic— and with just twenty-eight seats and a $30 starting price for a cocktail, it can be prohibitively exclusive.

Thirty bucks would be a steep price if all you were getting out of the deal was a mixed drink, but Mercury Room builds in tax, tip and an amuse bouche in the form of a non-alcoholic “elixir,” which is served in dainty antique silver glasses.

Then comes your main course, one of Mercury Room’s dozen specialty cocktails. Each of these boasts an outlandish list of ingredients—rose quartz mint, a carbonic-macerated concord grape— that your server will happily explain.

As fussy and experimental as these drinks may sound, their presentation is straightforward. There are no smoking spheres or beakers or flavors delivered as flashes of light. The bonbori, named for a traditional Japanese paper lantern, is a cloudy, stone-washed liquid served in a coupe glass and garnished with a pickled oyster. On a list of adventurous cocktails, it may well be the wildest.

To build it, the bartender combines— among a host of other things—Japanese gin treated with butter, yuzu juice (from a tart Japanese citrus fruit) and seaweed-infused sherry. It tastes, not unpleasantly, like taking a dip in a sunwarmed ocean.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CALEB CONDIT AND REBECCA NORDEN

GO: The Mercury Room is open 4-10 pm Tuesday-Saturday. 1800 Walnut St., 14th Floor, KCMO

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TA S T E B I T E S

TA K E F I V E

Valentine’s Day Meals NEWSFEED

WHAT’S NEW IN KANSAS CITY FOOD & DRINK

Verbena

1 2 3

Verbena

Elegant New Englandstyle seafood spot Verbena in Prairie Village is offering the classic four-course prix fixe V-Day menu. It’s $115 per person, plus tax and gratuity.

Ocean Prime

Stock Hill

The beautiful Plaza steakhouse is doing a Roaring Twenties weekend with themed cocktail and meal specials, but it will also offer a regular menu.

The Melting Pot

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY RESPECTIVE VENUES’ FACEBOOK PAGES

One of our staffers has fond memories of this chain, where she celebrated her Sweet Sixteen after arriving by limo. Maybe a little nostalgia feels nice this year? Book it!

4

Soirée

Valentine’s Day is on a Sunday this year, and Soirée Steak & Oyster House in the Jazz District is celebrating appropriately with a #MimosasAndThangs brunch. Prices have not yet been announced, but “Nothing but Sexy Vibes all afternoon” are promised.

5

Fast Chicken

Chaz at The Raphael

The romantic, mood-lit restaurant occupying some of the state’s most desired real estate is offering four courses made from opulent ingredients for $65 per person, with optional wine pairings for another $30.

Prime Territory Another top-tier national chain is coming to the Country Club Plaza with the arrival of Ocean Prime. The seafood-focused modern American restaurant is known for its sushi and steaks, including some show-stopping dishes like the three-level Smoking Shellfish Tower, but the 8,500-squarefoot KC location will be notable for also having a massive 5,500-square-foot rooftop lounge, to be called Prime Social.

An opening date has not yet been set.

Big Country

Stroud’s is returning to northeast Johnson County with a new express-style carryout concept in Mission. The beloved local chain famous for its pan-fried chicken closed a sit-down eatery on Shawnee Mission Parkway in late 2019, but it will return sometime in the next two months with a scaled-down delivery and carryout operation (no inside seating) in the Mission Mart Shopping Center. Customers are encouraged to order online in advance. Along with two and three-piece meals (served with an assortment of sides and cinnamon rolls), Stroud’s Express will have family meals to serve four or five people.

Post-pandemic barhopping is sure to be wild in Westport, and a bar owner’s plan to open a massive threestory country bar in the former Californos space will expand the neighborhood’s crowd even more. Johnny Kaw’s Outback will hold up to fifteen hundred people, plus more on the patio, according to the Star.

The Outback is set to open this summer and have pool tables, a dance floor and a mechanical bull that will be named “Bull Snyder.”

Double Bluff Kansas City’s newest brewery comes from… St. Joe? Well, yes, as River Bluff Brewing is coming south on I-29 to open a satellite location, River Bluff at River Market, inside the Kansas City Water Department Building on the riverfront. The spinoff location will open sometime this spring, with the owners looking to recreate the vibe of their location upriver. “It’ll be a different place, but we’re hoping to take our feel, the way we run things, the way we like our customers to feel, the way we treat our customers, and we want to do it down there as well,” co-owner Edison Derr told the St. Joseph News-Press.

KANSASCITYMAG.COM FEBRUARY 2021

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TA S T E PER FECT DAY

THE BEAT GOES ON Jim Oshel of Sister Anne’s Coffee and Records gives us the inside track on his KC favorites.

BY N ATA L I E G A L L AG H E R

SISTER

ANNE’S

COFFEE

AND

RECORDS

opened in 2018, but it has been years in the making. Jim Oshel and Frank Alvarez met when they were both working at Westport’s Recycled Sounds in the nineties. When that shop closed in 2006, Oshel went to work for Broadway Coffee and Alvarez settled in at Vinyl Renaissance.

More than a decade later, the pair opened up Sister Anne’s Records and Coffee. The space is bright and homey, with eggshell-blue walls and a handful of tables where you can enjoy one of Oshel’s expert espresso pulls and pour-over purchases. In non-pandemic times, Sister Anne’s hosts shows featuring local bands—something Oshel hopes to continue soon.

Let’s talk about your coffee program. I was always going to use Broadway. I’m really fond of their espresso blend—it’s the best in town, at least to my tastes—and they worked with me to put together a nice drip blend. I wanted to keep our coffee program simple and approachable, but I also wanted to have a smooth and drinkable brew for those that have a palate for it. Broadway hits both marks. You don’t have to explain why the flavors are attractive; they just taste good.

How do you decide what records to stock? Frank has been working in a record store since 1985, and we’d been talking about doing this for a very long time, so he had been amassing an inventory. Beyond that, we bring in our favorite stuff.

We buy, sell and trade, so there’s always an eclectic mix, but we keep the inventory pretty tight. We have a diverse selection of our favorite representations from many genres.

Who are some of your favorite local bands? Emmaline Twist is one of my favorite local acts. They’re moody, edgy shoegaze. Hipshot Killer is a great rock and roll band, and Bummer is really fun to see live. The Shy Boys, the Uncouth— too many to name.

As a KC native, you’ve seen the city evolve. What are some things you’re glad have stayed the same? I’m glad that there are still some local businesses that have been able to hang on over the last few decades. There have been a lot of corporate chains and developments coming in and changing the neighborhoods, but there are still some mom and pops holding out, and that’s special. You can go to any big box anywhere in America, but there’s only one Pryde’s in Westport and it’s been there forever. That’s where I get my cookware, and that’s Kansas City to me.

GO: 901 E 31st St., KCMO, 816-531-4890, sisterannes.com.

P E R F E C T DAY BBQ & Diner Gems “We’re situated equidistant between my two favorite BBQ joints, so I split my lunches between LC’s and SLAP’s. And, of course, Kitty’s is right across the street, and their pork tenderloin sandwiches are the reason I had to poke an extra notch in my belt.”

Late Night “If I’m going to hang out with friends, I’m a dive bar guy, and I love Lucky Boys in the West Bottoms. If I want to catch a show, my favorite venue in town is recordBar— they bring in some of the best up-andcoming acts.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY NATALEA BONJOUR

First, Coffee “I don’t do anything without coffee, so my first stop of the day is Broadway.

I get a shot of espresso and I follow that with a short vanilla latte. Then I’ll hit McClain’s for breakfast—I get their veggie breakfast burrito and a cinnamon roll.”

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KANSAS CITY FEBRUARY 2021

1 Best Steakhouse VOTED

IN

aged 21-days hand-cut daily grilled over charcoal

#

KANSAS CITY!

• l a c d Lo

e fi i t r • Ce since 1957

www.herefordhouse.com

BACKSTORY

1984 How a forgotten single from a Kansas City soul artist became a surprise hit in Europe.

“

I N TH E 8 0 S I had come back to KC from college at Langston University in Oklahoma and got my first job at KMBC, Channel 9. I was always working at night, doing music. I was always putting bands together and trying to do songwriting.

I wrote these two songs, ‘The Promise’ and ‘I Found What I’ve Been Searching For,’ and I knew they were good. I knew

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someone who was very well-to-do and who came to my shows, and they put up the money to record. We were able to go to Chapman Studios and set up time.

Eddie Baker, the head of the Charlie Parker Academy in KC, knew everybody back then. He told me, ‘You should get Carol Kaye [legendary bass player who was part of the famed studio ensemble The Wrecking Crew] on the record.’ I said, ‘How do I get Carol Kaye?’ She was

in Los Angeles—she played on everything. Her bass is on Hawaii Five-0, ‘La Bamba,’ Pet Sounds, you know that bass on Sonny and Cher’s ‘The Beat Goes On?’ That was her, she wrote that. So I got in touch with her—she was a real hip, still-in-the-sixties kind of chick. She said she needed five-hundred dollars and she would drive from Los Angeles to Kansas City. I kinda think she was trying to get away from something, but I’m not sure.

Once we got the records, we took them over to 7th Heaven on Troost because we had a deal with them. They were selling my records and Chris King was playing it on KPRS. And he would say, ‘The number one record in the city by La’Verne Washington!’

Some kind of way, a couple of these twenty-five hundred [records] made their way to Europe. That is amazing to me. Slowly, over the years, I started hearing from French people and people in the UK about how much they loved this record. They started writing to me and finding me. I started seeing the record for sale on these vinyl websites for like three hundred dollars. I was like ‘Oh, my God.’ In Paris and the UK, they like that eighties, what they call ‘boogie’ music.

Last year, a guy reached out to me on Facebook messenger from a record company in the UK. At first he started talking about how much he liked the record. Then he started talking about remastering and reissuing it. They were going to try to do it from the record. And I said, ‘Well, you know I have the master,’ and they were like ‘What?’ I had the big, heavy twenty-four track reel sitting here in my closet. I kept the masters all these years and thank God finally I needed it. It must weigh thirty or forty pounds.

They paid for me to send it to London— it cost like a hundred dollars to ship it.”

— La’Verne Washington as told to Izzy Curry

PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEN WASHINGTON

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2021 NISSAN ROGUE

VIN# JN8AT3AB8MW210821 10,000 MILES/YR. $0 INITIAL PAYMENT EXCLUDES FIRST PAYMENT, TAXES, TITLE AND LICENSE. $0 SECURITY DEPOSIT. SUBJECT TO RESIDENCY RESTRICTIONS. MSRP IS $28710 WITH A SALE PRICE OF $27689. ENDS 2/28/21.

$349/MONTH | 36 MONTHS | $0 DOWN INFINITI of Kansas City has joined forces with NISSAN to bring you ELEVATED AUTOMOTIVE - Kansas City’s premier vehicle shopping and service experience.

I-35 & 67th Street | Merriam, KS 66203 | ElevatedAutomotive.com | (816) 941 - 0770