KansasCityMagazine_November2023

50 KANSAS CITIANS SHAPING THE CITY WITH THEIR CHARISMA, CONNECTIONS AND WEALTH POWER COUPLE PATRICK AND BRITTANY MAHOMES

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oting LeBlanc in Kansas City OUR MISSION

We love Kansas City like family. We know what makes it great, we know how it struggles, and we know its secrets.

Through great storytelling, photography and design, we help our readers celebrate our city’s triumphs, tend to its faults and revel in the things that make it unique.

PUBLISHER

Kathy Boos

kathy@kansascitymag.com MANAGING EDITOR

Dawnya Bartsch

dawnya@kansascitymag.com ART DIRECTOR

Kevin Goodbar

kevin@kansascitymag.com

FIVE CO N V E N I E N T LO C AT I O N S TO S E RV E YO U

ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR

Molly Higgins

molly@kansascitymag.com FOOD EDITOR

Tyler Shane

tyler@kansascitymag.com PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Dominique Parsow

dominique@kansascitymag.com EDITORIAL INTERNS

Rachel Layton and Ryan Reed COPY EDITOR

Kelsie Schrader WEB COORDINATOR

Madison Russell SALES

Angie Henshaw

angie@kansascitymag.com WRITERS

Nina Cherry, Martin Cizmar, Jill Draper, Taylor Drummond,

Molly Higgins, Rachel Layton, Reece Parker and Ryan Reed

KANSAS CITY

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PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS

David Babcock, Zach Bauman, Caleb Condit, Neil Jamieson, Jeremey Theron Kirby, Samantha Levi, Laura Morsman, Rebecca Norden, Nate Sheets and Brandon Waldrop

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Kansas City magazine is published monthly by 435 South, LLC. No part of this publication can be reprinted or reproduced without the publisher’s permission.

Kansas City magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Kansas City magazine adheres to American Society of Magazine Editors guidelines, which requires a clear distinction between editorial content and paid advertising or marketing messages.

P.O. Box 26823 Overland Park, KS 66225-6823 (913) 469-6700

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12 KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

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FEATURES

54

The Power 50

The people shaping the city with their charisma, connections and wealth

28

34

98

Reaching New Heights

Music Underground

Asian Fusion Comfort Food

KC’s new 150-foot ferris wheel is sure to become an iconic structure.

14

KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

KC’s DIY independent music scene is thriving.

A popular KC chef has created a restaurant that pays homage to his Japanese farmhouse roots.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JEREMEY THERON KIRBY

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In This Issue NOVEMBER 2023

FOCUS

23

Let There Be Light

TREND

TA S T E

39

97

How the Country Club Plaza Lights morphed into one of the nation’s largest holiday light displays

A Cut Above

One-of-a-kind cutting boards by a local woodworker make the perfect gift.

40 Costume Shop

People searching for Instaworthy looks and overthe-top decorations are heading to costume shops.

28

Building Blocks

Pennway Point

Learn how one local entrepreneur is addressing the housing crisis.

The new ferris wheel is only one of the many entertainment options to be had at this new development.

A food truck delivers the perfect spuds.

98 Japanese Farmhouse

Asian fusion restaurant Noka is on track to be KC’s trendiest dining experience.

42 Hand Beading

104 ’Cue Card

44

106 KC Tea Party

A local maker has turned her passion for craft making into a business selling handmade accessories— most notably, Chiefs wear!

26

Fully Loaded

Trolly Trail House Take a look at a newly built energy-efficient home along Waldo’s Trolly Track Trail.

E V E RY I S S U E

18

Editor’s Letter

20 Up Front 32 Calendar 112 Surreal Estate

KC transplants open a Cow Town-style BBQ joint in Phoenix.

A Brookside tea shop offers classes on how to make your own tea and has hundreds of tea varieties ready for purchase.

108 Perfect Day

A former Fox4 lifestyle co-host and producer is showing KC the value of social media one collab at a time.

110 Newsfeed

The latest in KC food news

SCENE

31

34

LEE SAMSON DIY Music Alternative R&B musician Lee Samson’s EP drops this month.

16

KC’s DIY music venues are going strong.

KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

36 Fusion Music

Mireya Ramos and The Poor Choices’s new album is a melting pot of music styles.

SPECIAL SECTIONS

52 Holiday Festivities 73 Faces of Kansas City 102 KC Home & Interior Design

O N TH E C OVE R

Illustration by Neil Jamieson Original photo by Jeremey Theron Kirby

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FROM THE EDITOR

F

ERRIS WHEELS have always scared me, so much so that my stomach starts churning and I’m afraid I might lose it. That goes for gondola rides, too.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a pintsize ferris wheel coming through town with a carnival or something much more substantial, like the new 150-foot ferris wheel at Pennway Point with enclosed temperaturecontrolled gondolas. It’s still scary.

It’s when the ride stops and you are suspended in mid-air, waiting for people to get on and off while your chair rocks ever so slightly, that really gets to me. Nevertheless, after reading writer Reece Parker’s piece about the Pennway Point project and its accompanying ferris wheel, I’m eager to check it out.

Made up of former industrial buildings at the corner of West 25th and Pennway streets, nearly underneath Interstate 35, the developers are creating an entertainment venue that will include a little something for Dawnya Bartsch everyone, including mini golf, which is much MANAGING EDITOR more my speed. It sounds like it could be a DAWNYA@KANSASCITYMAG.COM fun date night and also a fun family adventure.

But this new development, with its eyecatching monumental ferris wheel, is just one of the many forces shaping this city and its environs. It’s an exciting time to be in Kansas City. From the victorious chiefs and KC Current’s new stadium to First Fridays in the Crossroads and nonprofits uplifting our urban core’s youth, I’d say KC is having a moment, and that’s what this issue is all about.

In our Power 50 feature, we highlight 50 people doing myriad things impacting the city. It was not easy selecting just 50. There are a lot of people, companies and organizations doing a lot of innovative things around town. Some of the folks we selected you, dear reader, might agree with, and some you might not, but the point is their influence is far-reaching and affects our lives and future in a variety of ways. They represent a cross section of Kansas City and are an example of what many others across the metro are doing.

Innovation is happening in every part of Kansas City life. Along with developments and civicminded organizations, other areas such as the arts and food scene—which many people argue give a place its soul—are alive and well. Our food critic Tyler Shane can attest to that. She checked out Japanese fusion restaurant Noka, one of the city’s newest spots. The rustic yet contemporary decor and communal seating pushes the envelope for local restaurants, and it’s a place that Shane predicts could soon be one of the metro’s trendiest places to dine. As a sushi lover myself, Shane’s review definitely makes me want to check it out.

Maybe after my Japanese comfort food dinner, I’ll head to Pennway Point and play mini golf while watching my children ride the ferris wheel and feel thankful to live in a city with folks who are always out looking for ways to grow.

18 KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

C O N T R I B U TO R S

Jill Draper WRITER

Jill Draper, who wrote this month’s piece about local costume and theater supply stores, is a local freelance writer who enjoys exploring Kansas City.

Laura Morsman PHOTOGRAPHER

This issue’s Perfect Day was shot by photographer Laura Morsman, who splits her time between Kansas City and Austin. Her work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, People and Austin Home, to name a few.

Nate Sheets

PHOTOGRAPHER

Architecture and design photographer Nate Sheets shot this month’s home feature.

When not shooting, he’s usually exploring the outdoors or skateboarding around town with his family.

HERMANN Enjoy the scenery and arrive at the Visitor Information Center at Amtrak

Taste and tour at Missouri’s most historic wineries

GROUP TRAVEL TOURS

Savor tasty German food and sweet treats at holiday bake sales

Our Tourism Services Team will help create a day they’ll always remember!

TO LEARN MORE CONTACT: Tourism Services

573.789.0771

Tour museums highlighting 19th century life, architecture, and Christmas traditions

TourismServices@VisitHermann.com

SCAN FOR A SAMPLE ITINERARY

Stroll the downtown shops and German Christmas markets for unique gifts

Visitor Information at

VisitHermann.com

UP FRONT

NUMBERS FROM THIS ISSUE

BEHIND THE SCENES

1925 36

The number of enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas on the new Pennway Point ferris wheel.

PA GE 2 8

1997

The year KCPD Chief Stacey Graves started working for the department as a civilian records clerk.

PA GE 7 1

P I T D E B AT E It comes as no surprise that Kansas Citians have very strong opinions about BBQ. Our October cover package ranking KC’s top ten BBQ joints proved to be a lightning rod for discussion on our social media accounts.

Photographer Zach Bauman shooting Kansas City magazine’s drink of the month: a warm cup of tea.

S H O U T- O U T

Some folks agreed with our writers and food critics, Martin Cizmar and Matthew Korfhage, and others vehemently opposed their picks.

A few questions arose as to whether Cizmar and Korfage actually ate at all these places and if the owners of said BBQ restaurants were told in advance of their visits. Yes, they did eat at all these restaurants and many, many more, and no, the restaurants did not know they were coming.

I’ve lived here 18 years and haven’t even heard of multiple on this list. Yikes. Not sure if that reflects badly on me or the magazine.

– @Melisking BBQ is so subjective. Some of these are on my bottom 10 list.

Next time, eat at all of them.

It should change the rankings pretty significantly. BBQ is highly subjective. If you ask ten people to rank KC BBQ, you will get 10 different answers.

Did these places know you were coming? I guarantee you got a different experience than the average if they did.

– @christopher_g_petty

Fiorellas Jack Stack is always the best in my opinion!

– @jparsons65 Keep them coming! So many wonderful options in KC. – @thepropertygalKC Buck Tui is really great! Gates is timeless, love that place.

– @szechuan_mcnugget More of a most trendy list than the best.

– @jesse_fly_fishing Harp BBQ is the best!

– @emgrot Missing @wolfepackbbq but @chefjbbqkc is definitely great!

– @andrewabe10

Kansas Citians are truly lucky to have such amazing resources at the city’s public library.

Kansas City magazine editors were reminded of this issue when library staffers tracked down vintage photos of the Country Club Plaza holiday lights and famous 19th century Kansas City architect Louis Curtiss for us.

CONTACT US

Kansas City

P.O. Box 26823 Overland Park, KS 66225-6823 (913) 469-6700 EMAIL: editor@kansascitymag.com

“At this point in my career, giving back really translates into paying it forward so that young leaders of tomorrow might be equally inspired to fully embrace our community strengths and invest themselves in an even more remarkable Kansas City future.”

– George Guastello, Union Station president and CEO

20 KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

PHOTOGRAPHS BY CALEB CONDIT AND REBECCA NORDEN; ZACH BAUMAN; SHUTTERSTOCK

The year the first string of holiday lights was hung at the Country Club Plaza.

PA GE 24

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LEADING THE CONVERSATION IN KANSAS CITY

FOCUS

98 Years and Counting CLOS E TO 80 MILES O F LI G HTS AND MOR E TH AN 200,0 0 0 JEWEL-COLOR ED BU L BS WI LL BLANKET TH E COU NT RY C LU B P LAZA TH IS H OLIDAY S E AS ON— BU T H OW D ID IT BEG I N?

PHOTOGRPAH BY EVERT NELSON

BY RYAN REED

The Country Club Plaza’s holiday lights have illuminated KC’s iconic shopping district for 98 years, with the lighting ceremony growing from an unofficial gathering to a city-wide party.

According to historians at Kansas City Public Library’s Missouri Valley Special Collections, “On December 25, 1925, a string of Christmas lights hung over the doorway of the Mill Creek Building at the Country Club Plaza for the first time, beginning a tradition that today is one of the most extravagant Christmas light displays in the nation.”

Continued on next page KANSASCITYMAG.COM OCTOBER 2023

23

FOCUS 98 YEARS AND COUNTING

Country Club Plaza postcard, 1940s.

Santa Claus statue near Ward Parkway and Central Street, 1932.

1973

The light display is curtailed due to the energy crisis, or what’s often referred to as the Oil Shock of ’73, a period of skyrocketing energy prices and fuel shortages.

The lights are turned off just three days after the Thanksgiving Day ceremony.

1928

The holiday tradition begins to grow when Pitrat marks the opening of the Plaza Theater by stringing lights across 47th Street and several businesses’ storefronts.

1977

Nearby Brush Creek floods after storms drop nearly 2 feet of water, flooding the area about a month before Thanksgiving. Seventy-seven of the 155 businesses at the Plaza face more than $100 million in damages. The community rallies, however, and the lighting ceremony goes on.

1929

The stock market crashes in September, ushering in the Great Depression. That Thanksgiving, the first formal Plaza Lighting Ceremony is held, bringing a little light to a very dark time. The iconic building outline pattern, still used today, is established on roughly five Plaza buildings.

1981

Kansas City Star reporter Lewis Diuguid writes of the thousands attending the 1981 ceremony: “It was their great escape. Gone was talk about soaring unemployment, high interest rates and hard times.

No one spoke of the Hyatt Regency hotel disaster that took 113 lives and injured about 200 others just four months ago.”

1940

The light display grows to an estimated 25,000 bulbs.

1998

Kansas Citian and actor Paul Rudd throws the ceremonial switch at the Plaza Lighting Ceremony for an estimated crowd of over 250,000 attendees, illuminating a dazzling mazework of lights and decorations beneath celebratory fireworks.

PHOTOGRPAHS COURTESY OF K ANSAS CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY

1925

Two years after the Country Club Plaza opens, Charles Pitrat, a J.C. Nichols Company maintenance supervisor, hangs the first string of lights on the Mill Creek Building.

How the Plaza Lights morphed into a 24 KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

Looking west along Nichols Road from Broadway, 1950s.

1942-1945

During World War II’s bleak years, while many Kansas Citians are fighting abroad, the Plaza remains dark.

2009

Despite one of the worst economic downturns in the United States since the Great Depression and with the unemployment rate at more than 10 percent, Kansas Citians still gather at the Plaza and witness 287,000 lights flicker on.

Sears, Roebuck and Co., located on the north side of Nichols Road between Pennsylvania and Jefferson, 1950.

1962

John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the Earth, and though the total number of lights in the Plaza has now surpassed 75,000, the astronaut fails to mention if they are visible from the window of his Friendship 7 capsule.

2014

The Country Club Plaza undertakes the herculean task of replacing the almost 300,000 incandescent bulbs with LED lights.

Fireworks shot from the roof of the Fairmont Hotel illuminate the sky at the annual lighting ceremony, November 1996, which has now been a Kansas City tradition for 70 years.

1968

The Plaza Lighting Ceremony becomes a full-scale televised production for the first time and is shown live Thanksgiving night.

2019

Kansas City native and Saturday Night Live star Heidi Gardner flips the ceremonial switch to turn on the lights as the event now regularly attracts several hundred-thousand people.

1970

The number of lights reaches the 100,000 mark.

2020

Police ask Kansas City residents not to attend the lighting ceremony in the interest of public safety during the Covid-19 pandemic. There are still fireworks, but the city is encouraged to watch the spectacle from home.

holiday tradition through the years KANSASCITYMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2023

25

FOCUS AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Can one local entrepreneur’s dirt blocks solve Kansas City’s affordable housing crisis?

B Y R E E C E PA R K E R G O D F R E Y R I D D L E WA S 12 years old when his family lost their home to foreclosure. It was the

summer of his 7th grade year and they were temporarily homeless, living with relatives and in hotel rooms before securing a rental.

“I couldn’t understand why we live in a society where housing is such a precarious thing,” Riddle was quoted in an interview with Startland News when reflecting on that time in his life.

Riddle’s family persevered, but it was a moment in Riddle’s life that shaped who he is and solidified his resolve to spend his life doing and creating meaningful work. He has worked for and with many socially conscious organizations over the years, including Rightfully Sewn and ArtsKC, but in 2020, after the sudden loss of both his parents less than two years apart and a concurrent personal battle with cancer, he went out on his own and launched Civic Saint. Initially, it debuted as a clothing brand selling apparel and accessories with affirming messages surrounding the equal rights movements.

However, the company’s mission recently shifted and took a new direction: housing.

That shift came after Riddle was the subject on an episode of Amy Poehler’s Peacock show The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning. As Riddle cleared out his parents’ belongings, he learned the importance of simple living and reducing his ecological footprint. That led him to focus on the importance of housing.

In Civic Saint’s new chapter, Riddle aims to tackle the racial wealth gap through job creation and revitalizing traditional redlined neighborhoods. His idea is to use compressed earthen blocks to create tiny, “artful” and affordable homes. CEBs are basically bricks composed of 90 percent soil and 10 percent water and cement. Riddle says, “For the first time in human history, it is possible to apply structural design standards to earthen buildings—a material humans have used across societies since 8700 BCE.” Riddle’s decision to create a CEB business was partially informed by his experience on Poehler’s show, as well as his family’s own housing history and his extensive urban management background. Riddle graduated from the University of Kansas’s city and county management program, ranked No. 1 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, and worked in Phoenix, Arizona, finding ways to fight urban blight.

26

KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

COURTESY CIVIC SAINT

BRICK BY BRICK

Riddle is confident that CEBs’ simplicity and sustainability will lower the cost of homeownership and help propagate a new home building market. “Our business model prioritizes the environment while addressing generational wealth disparities through job creation, homeownership and their ambient economic impacts,” Riddle says.

Riddle emphasizes that the homes are first and foremost sustainable and non-toxic, but that does not impact their quality. The bricks are bulletproof, fireproof, insect resistant, and structurally sound.

In August, Riddle, a gay Black man, won the Inaugural Communities of Color Initiative Biz Pitch and the overall Biz Pitch competitions from the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce at their 2023 International Business and Leadership Conference in Denver for his innovative business model and his company’s social cause emphasis.

These awards brought in a total of $55,000, bringing the company even closer to its $100,000 start-up capital goal. Civic Saint plans to deliver the first demo build in April 2024 during AIA Kansas City’s annual Design Week at historic 18th & Vine, which attracts thousands every year. For Riddle, though, this is just the beginning. He hopes to start taking public orders around fall 2024, with the ultimate goal of building 500 to 800 homes a year.

“Our ultimate vision is for Civic Saint communities to become the most beautiful family-friendly neighborhoods, where people and communities can grow to their full potential,” Riddle says.

Although Civic Saint is taking a new direction, Riddle plans to keep producing the brand’s original social statement T-shirts. It’s always been Riddle’s goal to create a “meaningful company.”

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23-KC-02427 (09/23)

NEW SIGHTS AT NEW HEIGHTS The first phase of the Pennway Point entertainment district is set to open this month, featuring a 150-foot observation wheel, mini golf course and refreshment stand.

B Y R E E C E PA R K E R AT 1 5 0 F E E T TA L L and with 36 fully enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas, Pennway

Point ferris wheel has the potential to become an iconic part of Kansas City’s skyline.

For the past few years, DaVinci KC and 3D Development have been working to create a new vision for the forgotten space between I-35 and the Pennway bridges in the form of a new entertainment district called Pennway Point. Developers say there will be a carefully curated selection of KC’s best restaurants, bars and retail shops, including several new businesses, most of which aren’t set to open until 2024.

28

KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

However, this month, the first phase of the development is set to open. That includes a mini golf course, refreshments stand and the ferris wheel, which developers are calling an observation wheel.

“It is more than just a ride; it’s an experience,” says Curtis Parks, Icon Experiences co-founder and ferris wheel owner and operator. The folks at Icon plan to coordinate special events such as marriage proposals and gender reveals, with lights and photographers to help create experiences and memories for customers. “We like to celebrate, from everyday victories to world championships of your sporting teams,” says Eli Stovall, Icon Experiences co-founder.

Icon also owns the St. Louis Wheel and the Capitol Wheel in Washington D.C. Dante Passantino, managing partner of DaVinci KC and a Kansas City native, says, “We’re trying to create something that screams Kansas City, that’s not been done before here.”

DaVinci KC, a master tenant developer, has big plans for this historic pocket of Kansas City. The run-down six-acre lot at the former Carter-Waters industrial site has lain vacant for years. DaVinci KC plans to reinvigorate the area with new modern shops, restaurants and entertainment venues while still preserving the authentic character of the historic industrial buildings at the site.

The old Funkhouser building will be transformed into DaVinci KC’s original Talegate concept, a venue that will put its own spin on the famous Midwestern tailgate atmosphere.

The 30,000-square-foot indoor-outdoor space will host a variety of events, from concerts to movie nights to game day activities.

An “elevated burger and cocktail joint,” Beef and Bottle, will also be a part of the Talegate building, serving up special Wagyu beef selections from local KC Cattle Company. Next door, in the former Pennway Oil Building, there will be Barrel Hall, a 6,000-square-foot space that will house several food and drink spots including Boulevard Brewery’s Barrel-Aged Tasting Bar, Austrian sausage grill restaurant Würstl and the Bull Creek Whisky Bar. In The Smoke Shack, a wood-timbered canopy constructed from 100year old reclaimed timber that will be attached to Barrel Hall, customers can witness Chef J BBQ’s live working smokehouse and grab a bite to eat.

The alleyway between Talegate and Barrel Hall will be known as Neon Alley and will be filled with dozens of vintage Kansas City neon signs curated by the Lumi Neon Museum.

“Everything is meant to kind of compliment each other to create a space that is uniquely Kansas City,” says Passantino.

PROVIDED

FOCUS SKYVIEW

RELIVE THE STORY OF A BELOVED BROADWAY CLASSIC Buy tickets at kcopera.org or call (816) 471-7344 | Kauffman Center

NOV 4–12, 2023 THANK YOU TO OUR SEASON SPONSORS:

The Sound of Music is made possible by a generous grant from the Theater League and it is supported, in part, by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund.

30 KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

WHERE YOU WANT TO BE IN NOVEMBER

SCENE

PHOTOGRAPH BY DARRIEN CASE

LEE SAMSON Music is in Lee Samson’s blood.

“Music has been in my family before I was walking—before I was even thought of, really,” says Lee Samson, the grandchild of Lee Williams, lead singer of Tupelo, Mississippi gospel quartet Lee Williams & the Spiritual QC’s.

Samson is part of a burgeoning group of hip-hop and R&B musicians making their mark on KC’s music scene. He is dropping his first EP in a four-part series titled Philophobia: Season 1 on Nov. 3.

Philophobia means a fear of falling in love, and Samson has turned his experiences of love and heartbreak into GO: lyrical songs for the EP. For upcoming shows, His live shows feature a follow Lee Samson on bassist, lead guitarist, Instagram @theleesamson.

Philophobia: Season 1 drummer and DJ. drops Nov. 3, available Samson considers wherever you his music style to be stream music. alternative R&B, which he describes as a blend as a blend of several influences, including contemporary hip-hop and crooning. He says Philophobia sounds like two of his favorite projects, Free 6lack by 6lack and Blonde by Frank Ocean—“but if Drake was in the studio helping direct it.”

Samson isn’t worried about the album living up to those high expectations. “I think it’s definitely going to resonate,” he says. “I’ve captured stories of my life with dating and having trouble connecting while just trying to learn how to express myself emotionally.

I’m getting raw and vulnerable.

Philophobia will finally be a piece that will represent who Lee Samson is as an artist and sound.”

–MOLLY H IGGINS KANSASCITYMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2023

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An Evening with the Late John Cleese November 9. 7:30 pm.

Be forward-thinking and pay your respects to iconic, beloved comedian John Cleese before he dies by seeing him in his new live touring show, which features both comedy and conversation. The show is a hilarious and insightful look at the life and work of living legend Cleese, best known as the co-founder of Monty Python and for his subsequent acting in the James Bond and Harry Potter franchises. November 9. 7:30 pm.

Muriel Kauffman Theatre.

John Cameron Mitchell & Amber Martin in Cassette Roulette November 10. 8 pm.

Día de los Muertos Festival November 5. 10 am–4 pm.

Celebrate Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, and Mexican culture at Nelson-Atkins. Guests will have the chance to learn more about this colorful, culturally significant holiday through dance and music demonstrations, poetry readings and artist performances, as well as traditional food and beverages available for purchase. November 5. 10 am–4 pm. Nelson-Atkins Museum.

Del Water Gap

Buddy Guy

Nelson-Atkins at 90: A Progressive Party

November 4. 8 pm.

November 6. 7:30 pm.

November 11. 6 pm.

Samuel Jaffe, known as Del Water Gap, is an alternative-indie musician and producer based in Brooklyn who was originally in a band with folk-indie star Maggie Rogers. Del Water Gap is now a solo project that has slowly gained popularity with songs like “Ode to a Conversation Stuck in Your Head.” His I Miss You Already Tour is in support of his newest album released in late September, I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet. November 4. 8 pm. The Truman.

The Sound of Music November 4, 8, 10, 11 & 12.

The Lyric Opera’s second show this season will be the beloved Broadway classic The Sound of Music, which was famously adapted into a movie starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer in 1965. While free-spirited governess Maria falls in love with her new family, the Nazi regime comes crashing in around them, forcing the family to make unthinkable decisions and sacrifices for love in the face of adversity. November 4, 8, 10, 11 & 12.

Times vary. Kauffman Center.

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Tony Award-winning writer, director and star of Hedwig and the Angry Inch John Cameron Mitchell joins Broadway music director Justin Craig and international cabaret star Amber Martin for a unique evening of songs, stories and characters all chosen by fate from the cassette roulette. November 10. 8 pm. Yardley Hall.

KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

Now in his mid-eighties, Chicago blues pioneer Buddy Guy has been singing and playing blues guitar for decades, influencing generations of musicians from Jimi Hendrix to John Mayer. Now a legend in his own right, Guy is touring one last time for his well-deserved Damn Right Farewell Tour with special guest Ally Venable.

November 6. 7:30 pm. Lied Center.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Various dates from November 7–December 31.

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen, but now audiences get to experience the most famous reindeer of all—Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. This live musical will be performed at the Coterie Theatre this holiday season, inspiring everyone to be true to themselves and find strength in their perceived flaws. Various dates from November 7–December 31. Times vary. Coterie Theatre.

The Nelson-Atkins is celebrating 90 years of art with a “progressive party.”

The festivities begin with a tour of the original galleries, featuring curated highlights from its collections, live music and entertainment. Thematic cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served to partygoers as they stroll through the galleries. The evening culminates in Kirkwood Hall with more food and dancing. November 11. 6 pm. Kirkwood Hall, Nelson-Atkins galleries.

Thundergong! Hosted

by Jason Sudekis November 11. 7 pm.

Proceeds from this seventh-annual celebrity benefit concert featuring comedy and music performances helps amputees get the prosthetics they need. KC’s sweetheart and Emmy-winning funnyman Jason Sudekis will be hosting, with performances from fellow SNL alum Will Forte and co-creator of Ted Lasso, Brendan Hunt. November 11. 7 pm.

Uptown Theater.

PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

W H A T Y O U W A N T T O D O T H I S M O N T H B Y M O L LY H I G G I N S

November

SCE N E CALENDAR

Yeehaw: A Benefit Show for KC Tenants November 17. 9 pm.

Yeehaw, a night of music and comedy benefitting KC Tenants— KC’s citywide tenant union— returns for its second year.

Alternative-indie bands like Snail Mail and Waxahatchee, comedian Caleb Hearon and more surprise guests will be performing in support of KC Tenants. November 17. 9 pm. The Truman.

Music Illuminates the Soul November 17–19.

Kansas City Symphony Chorus director Charles Bruffy and guest conductor Eduardo Strausser present this emotive show of instrumental and vocal music.

Music Illuminates the Soul is filled with seemingly contradicting pieces, ones of dark and light, tragedy and triumph, sunshine and shadow. In addition to the music program, there will also be an opportunity to participate in an inspirational experience in the lobby featuring elegant visions of the night sky and enlightening entertainment.

November 17–19. Times vary.

Helzberg Hall.

A Christmas Carol Various dates from November 21–December 24.

One of the holiday season’s most beloved plays, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol has been performed by The Kansas City Repertory Theatre for more than 40 years. Experience this holiday tradition focused on redemption and goodwill through Ebenezer Scrooge’s ghostly encounters with Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Various dates from November 21–December 24. Times vary. Spencer Theatre.

Through the Lens November 24–26.

Through the Lens is a showcase of KC’s symphony musicians.

They’ll play various works throughout the night, including Chilean composer Miguel Farias’ captivating music, an interpretation of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21 played by Chinese pianist

Zhu Wang, and Antonín Dvorak’s brooding Symphony No. 7. This evening of music will be led by the Chilean-Italian conductor Paolo Bortolameolli in his return to KC. November 24–26. Times vary. Helzberg Hall.

Daniel Daley, who reached stardom after being featured in Drake’s 2016 album Views.

The fellow Canadians, signed to Drake’s OVO label, are best known for their melodic slow jams, smooth R&B sound and surprisingly technical production. November 29. 8 pm. The Truman.

Alt-J November 27. 8 pm.

Fortune Feimster

If you’ve listened to 96.5 NotThe-Buzz in the last decade, you’ve definitely heard English indie-rock band Alt-J on the airwaves. Formed in 2007 in Leeds, they reached their peak fame with 2012’s hit album, An Awesome Wave. They’ll hit KC on tour in support of the 10-year anniversary of that album, with opener Meagre Martin. November 27. 8 pm. The Midland.

November 30. 7 pm.

Comedian, writer and actor Fortune Feimster made her TV debut on Last Comic Standing over a decade ago and had her big break starring as Colette on The Mindy Project. Since then, Feimster has secured recurring roles on uber-popular reality series like Chelsea Lately and RuPaul’s Drag Race, as well as comedy specials and tours. Feimster makes a stop in KC for this year’s Live Laugh Love! Tour.

November 30. 7 pm.

The Midland.

DVSN November 29. 8 pm.

Toronto duo DVSN consists of producer Nineteen85 and vocalist

The Screwtape Letters November 18. 4 pm & 8:15 pm.

Fellowship for Performing Arts Presents The Screwtape Letters, a provocative and funny adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ novel of the same name about spiritual warfare from a demon’s point of view. The show stars Brent Harris as Screwtape, who played Scar in the national tour of The Lion King. November 18. 4 pm & 8:15 pm. Muriel Kauffman Theatre.

Gladys Knight November 19. 7 pm.

The Empress of Soul, Gladys Knight has been regarded as one of the most legendary performers of all time. Knight is taking the Midnight Train to KC to perform songs from her illustrious fifty-plus-year career. November 19. 7 pm. Muriel Kauffman Theatre.

Mark Morris Dance Group: The Look of Love November 17. 7:30 pm.

Harriman-Jewell Series presents the Mark Morris Dance Group: The Look of Love. After the success of his Beatles tribute, Pepperland, Morris is again teaming up with collaborator Ethan Iverson. The Look of Love is a heartfelt homage to the chart-topping songs of Burt Bacharach, who’s best known for his melodies and unique orchestrations influenced by jazz, rock and Brazilian music. November 17. 7:30 pm. Muriel Kauffman Theatre.

KANSASCITYMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2023

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FAREWELL OWNER MAX POPOFF TALKS DIY & HOUSE VENUES IN KC The DIY community is expanding and wants you to come along for the ride.

B Y R A C H E L L AY T O N RIGHT OUTSIDE OF KC, at the junction between dilapidated industrial

sprawl and rural Missouri fields, sits Farewell, a music venue, coffee shop and bar owned and operated by Max Popoff.

With his wide-framed glasses and thick septum piercing, Popoff, a Denver native, is immediately recognizable as a lifelong music DIY-er.

His space, which welcomes everyone from punks and metalheads to emo enthusiasts and the LGBT community, is the embodiment of the DIY independent music scene.

“I think a lot of people’s takeaway from this place is still just a question mark,” says Popoff, whose involvement in the DIY scene began when he and his twelve roommates turned the basement of an old church they called home into a music venue and started hosting shows and performing with their own bands there.

In many ways, Farewell’s existence, with its sticker-plastered surfaces and collection of much-loved couches, is a testament to

34

KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

“I had never seen so many young, leather-clad punks doing wall-towalls.”

the dedication and creativity that makes Kansas City’s DIY scene flourish. On any given day at Farewell, you might find touring bands from Australia playing, local pop-ups such as Halla-Peño serving tacos, or two punks exchanging numbers in Farewell’s industrial backlot.

But Popoff says his venue is just one part of KC’s vibrant, intricate creative network. Popoff recalls KC’s rambunctious party scene when he moved to the city in 2016—one that he quickly fell into. “I had never seen so many young, leather-clad punks doing wall-to-walls,” Popoff says. “I think it made me really excited about DIY in Kansas City.” At the time, there were just a few venues operating, such as Holy Cow and Riot Room, but Popoff and others wanted more affordable, informal spaces to congregate and host independent musicians. Rather than looking to traditional stages, the DIY music scene turned to house venues.

One such locale is The Green House DIY, a music space Nate Morley created just a few years ago in his home’s basement. Morley welcomes all sorts of alternative folk to his basement club: punks, crustpunks and weirdos of all genres. “I learned about DIY shows through my brother’s house in Springfield and decided when I got my own place I was going to do that in Kansas City,” Morley says. The Green House is now a vital part of KC’s DIY community, including other house venues such as Pussy Palace (now Kitten Castle) and Club Sandwich, pushing to provide comfortable, open-minded spaces where people meet and connect.

“I’ve met so many of my friends from doing this, and a lot of people have told me the same,” Morley says. “A few bands formed here. It’s really cool to be able to be a part of something in your community that creates meaningful positive changes in people’s lives.”

Regulars of The Green House enthusiastically relay stories of helping bail out water from a faulty pipe bursting mid-show or jamming with strangers cross-legged on the carpeted concrete floor late into the night.

The DIY movement’s longevity is due to its members’ admirable yet simple desire—friends wanting to support friends, or, as Popoff says, “wanting a place for the homies to come and play.”

Farwell is open Tuesday–Saturday from noon–1 am at 6515 Stadium Drive, KCMO.

PROVIDED

SCENE MUSIC MAKERS

BEYOND BORDERS

Paying homage to the Kansas City community, Mireya Ramos and The Poor Choices’ latest album melds rancheras and country.

BY NINA CHERRY K A N S A S C I T Y G U I TA R I S T Beau Bledsoe first met New York-based violinist and vocalist Mireya

Ramos fifteen years ago at her birthday party. A friend of his was visiting from out of town and invited Bledsoe to tag along to the party. That’s when Bledsoe first heard Ramos play. “She’s an incredible artist,” Bledsoe says.

Today, Latin Grammy-winner Ramos is best known as the co-founder of Flor de Toloache, NYC’s only all-woman mariachi. But on top of the rise of Flor de Toloache, the Afro-Latina artist’s solo career has blossomed over the past several years.

Originally from Arkansas, Bledsoe has been a member of KC’s music scene for over two decades and is well-versed in an array of genres, including jazz, classical and Americana. When Bledsoe founded Ensemble Ibérica in 2013, Ramos quickly became one of the ensemble’s first guest artists, marking the beginning of a powerful collaboration. The acclaimed Kansas City ensemble has traveled the globe––and even performed at Carnegie Hall this past spring––performing music from Spain, Portugal and the colonial Americas.

Year after year, Bledsoe continued to bring Ramos to KC for the ensemble’s yearly program highlighting Mexican music.

“Kansas City has become a second home,” Ramos says.

In 2016, a handful of Ensemble Ibérica members decided to form a honky-tonk band called The Poor Choices. Described by Bledsoe as his “longest-running project just for fun,” the band has a monthly gig at the West Bottom’s The Ship every fourth Tuesday.

The crossover band continued its collaboration with Ramos, melding traditional Mexican rancheras with the backing of a six-piece, twangy honky-tonk band.

“It seems like a far leap to a lot of people, but ranchera and country music have a thread historically between Mexico and the United States, so it’s really easy to put together,” Bledsoe says.

Though cross-cultural, the stories conveyed in both genres go beyond borders, often centered around love, infidelity and heartbreak.

“A lot of the melodies and rhythms are the same because they have very similar influences,” Ramos says.

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KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

That pairing was a hit among audiences at The Ship, and Ramos knew it needed to be recorded.

Soon after, Ramos, along with Bledsoe and the rest of The Poor Choices, began laying down tracks in the studio.

This past September, Mireya Ramos and The Poor Choices released Sin Fronteras, which is Ramos’ sophomore album released under her own name.

Representative of KC’s sweeping musical landscape, the album is a seamless blend of ranchera and honky-tonk sprinkled with hints of R&B, jazz, soul and more.

“I wanted Sin Fronteras to be a collaborative project with all of the artists that I know in Kansas City that I’ve been able to collaborate with, hang out and really bond with,” Ramos says. “They’ve become like family to me, so I wanted this to be a very community-based project.”

The album lineup is nearly a village, featuring over 25 musicians from KC, Mexico and beyond.

Ramos’ transcendent arrangement of “I Fall to Pieces”––a classic popularized

by Patsy Cline––features beloved KC harpist and vocalist Calvin Arsenia and trumpeter Keyon Harrold, an artist originally from St. Louis with robust recording credits that include Beyoncé and JAY-Z. Weaving together Ramos’ soaring and stirring vocals and violin playing with Arsenia’s classical technique and Harrold’s buttery tone, the rendition breathes new life into a heavily covered standard.

“Usually you think of Patsy Cline or another country singer singing that song, not three Black people collaborating on a very well-known classic,” Ramos says. ”I wanted to flip that and make it our own.

It’s very different, but the sentiment of the story is still there.”

This winter, Ramos and The Poor Choices––joined by Grammy-winning Los Texmaniacs––are prepared to hit the road to tour the album throughout historic dance halls in Texas, with additional performances in Mérida, Mexico. Accompanying them will be a film crew and KC’s own Pulitzer Prizewinning photographer Dan White to document the cross-cultural project.

“Music has always been a cultural bridge throughout the history of humanity,” Ramos says. “It’s a universal language. That’s what this album symbolizes.”

LISTEN: Sin Fronteras by Mireya Ramos and The Poor Choices is available on all streaming platforms.

PHOTOGRAPH BY KEVIN PAGAN

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TREND

PHTOGRAPH BY CALEB CONDIT AND REBECCA NORDEN

A Cut Above

To shop for boards, go to chdwooddesign.com or follow @chdwooddesign on social media for their pop-ups around KC.

With the holiday season upon us, festive soirees and dinner parties abound, making the ever-faithful, multi-use cutting board—or, as those in the know now call it, “charcuterie board”—even more of a necessity.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect gift or something to show off your mad entertaining skills, a locally handmade, personalized board might just be the way to go. It can serve as a centerpiece artfully stocked with artisanal cheeses, cured meats, fruits or whatever tasty goodies you decide to impress with and then be gifted to the host after—a two-for-one. Much more than an afterthought, a one-of-a-kind board is a thing of beauty and a way to create an imaginative tablescape.

Woodworker Chris Dowdy is one local maker crafting beautiful, bespoke boards. What began as a passion project in 2007 in an effort to give friends and family unique holiday gifts has expanded into CHD Wood Design, which won Best in Show the first time Dowdy presented his wares at Art Wesport in 2021.

CHD’s boards range in size, style and model, and because they’re made by hand with varying available wood types, no two boards are alike. Styles range from curly walnut with blue-tinted epoxy to fill in the natural wood crevices to walnut and red oak with checkered and striped patterns. Laser-engraved names and logos are also available.

“It’s like giving a homemade card,” Dowdy says. “It just means more.”

So forget the usual store-bought gift and stand out by bringing a beautiful, handmade board with goodies to the next holiday party. —MOLLY HIGGINS KANSASCITYMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2023

39

TREND MAKE BELIEVE

A to Z Theatrical Supply and Service, Inc.

Props are nearly as important as costumes at this 60,000-square-foot business in Brookside. “We can outfit a whole room,” says company manager Erin Kelley, who says A to Z often supplies decorations for corporate and charity events. Kelley describes the main floor showroom of wigs, hats, accessories and racks of costumes as “our rental wonderland.”

Owner Alex Perry worked in theater and set design before purchasing the business in 2013, later moving it from a smaller location in Waldo to a vacant Jewish synagogue at Meyer Boulevard and Rockhill Road.

A collector by nature, Perry has devoted whole rooms to manual typewriters, phones from the 1980s, plastic food and other oddities. Props are scattered here and there—the Eiffel Tower, ET in a bike basket, a bathtub on rollers, an Egyptian sarcophagus.

Staff include a makeup artist who can create fake wounds or a cat face from foam latex prosthetics; an alterations department; a fabrication shop; and a props master. Other staff sew, install and repair curtains for theaters throughout the Midwest or set up sound and spotlights for events like Kansas City Fashion Week.

Some costumes, such as Ursula’s huge, mirror-studded leg belt from The Little Mermaid, are limited to theater productions. But there are hundreds available to the public. Last year, Bridgerton and Regencyera costumes were big, as well as fairies and woodland creatures.

The Roaring Twenties are a perennial favorite along with more recent decades—the ’60s flower-power look, ’70s funky town or ’80s glam rock.

Accessories run the gamut from Steampunk goggles to Venetian ball masks to Harry Potter scarves. An aristocratic Queen of England gown pairs with a plush corgi.

Pictured: Miranda Brown of Kansas City Costume Company shows off a period piece.

Kansas City Costume Company

Just a few blocks east of A to Z is Kansas City Costume Company, a theatrical supply company that dates back to the 1920s, when it was located downtown. Owners Steve Short and Carl Welander recently moved the business from Raytown Road to The Landing at 1229 E. 63rd Street.

Miranda Brand, rental specialist, says they see all kinds of people come to the shop for various reasons. There’s the man who rents a pilgrim outfit to deliver pies to homeless shelters in November and partygoers dressing in character to attend a murder mystery event. One time the dress-up event was a funeral: The deceased had a sense of humor and requested mourners pay their respects in costume, she says.

KC Costume’s main business is designing and supplying professional packages for high school plays, community theaters and productions at venues like the Kansas City Opera, Starlight Theatre and St. Louis Muny.

INSTA-READY

BY JILL DRAPPER

L O O K I N G F O R A N over-the-top ensemble or want Instagram-worthy party decora-

tions? Believe it or not, those in the know and not afraid to stand out in the crowd often head to professional-level costume and theatrical supply stores to find a special look for a themed gala, costume party, wedding or their next viral Tik-Tok. Kansas City is home to several of these shops, whose proprietors say Halloween isn’t the only time they do a brisk business. Here’s a rundown of a few of the biggest shops in town.

40 KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

If A to Z specializes in stage curtains and Kansas City Costume in outfitting big musical productions, what’s Have Guns known for? Jerry Vest, who co-owns the rambling business in Kansas City, Kansas, with his wife, Linda, is stumped, but only for a second. “Doesn’t matter,” he shrugs. “We got everything.”

That might be true. Vest manages three buildings clustered around State Avenue and North 13th Street, and they’re filled with clothes, props and prosthetics. A guillotine sits in the front lot, a police car in the back. There’s also an outhouse, a hospital bed with an IV drip set, a vintage red phone booth and a coffin. They’re all for rent. Heck, they’re all for sale, because at age 70, Jerry’s supposed to be downsizing.

If he has a specialty, it might be weapons—guns, knives, bayonets and Guardian of the Galaxy-type swords. He decommissions the guns so they can’t shoot. He makes many of the other weapons with skills honed at an auto repair shop he ran until two years ago.

Have Guns carries some of the same lower-cost costumes found at places like Party City, including kids costumes, but Jerry says the quality has gone down. Instead, for an average of $40 or $50, customers can rent the real thing (or a close imitation) from Have Guns. Pirates are always popular, as well as gangsters, Star Wars, and Renaissance and gothic ware. Jerry even offers maternity-size costumes and an outfit that makes the wearer look nude.

SHUTTERSTOCK; PROVIDED

Have Guns Will Rent Costumes and Props

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T R E N D I N TERV I EW

BALANCING ACT

Racquel Rodriguez fuses her contrasting identities and talents into unique hand-beaded jewelry, hats, purses and other accessories.

B Y M O L LY H I G G I N S

S O U T H K C N AT I V E Racquel Rodriguez has always

felt her identity was a sort of balancing act.

With an African American mother and a Cuban father, Rodriguez prides herself on her mixed heritage. Growing up as the only daughter in a family with three brothers and later becoming a mother to three sons, she’s always felt a pull between the feminine and the masculine, trying to achieve a perfect yin-yang.

As a marketing strategist for Fox4KC and a fashion model, Rodriguez has her hands in many pots, including creating handmade accessories.

She became inspired after attending a Crossroads First Fridays art walk last year and seeing all the different crafts and artwork. She decided it was something she wanted to do, too.

Soon after, she fell into the “dark tunnel” of TikTok and honed her craft by watching countless hours of how-to videos. Through trial and error, this “boy mom” began her next adventure. Rodriguez now makes clay and hand-beaded jewelry, hats, purses and other accessories for her brand Yin Energy, including a purse sported by Brittany Mahomes earlier this fall.

Tell us about your background. I’ve always been a

crafty young lady—I love drawing and painting.

For Christmas, I always got the fifty-pack marker set with doodle paper. And being the only girl, I couldn’t do the boy things. I just had to do the girl stuff, you know? “You go draw. You go be cute. We go play ball and scuff our knees.”

How did your love of crafts turn into making artisanal products professionally? I went to a First Friday event

and the earrings were so pretty. So I obviously went to the dark tunnel of TikTok and started doing research on polymer clay. I bought pasta rolling machines, clay, tools, molds and resin. Fifty batches later, I’m like, “Oh, so this is how they do it.” I started wearing [my earrings] just for myself and people would ask “Where can I buy these?” I went back to Art Garden KC [pop-up markets at various locations], and it’s evolved from just a hobby to a business.

what’s on my heart. My crafty side just guides me.

There’s a yin and yang side of you—I balance myself between the two, but my dominant side is the yang [masculine] side. I’m kind of rough around the edge.

Being a boy mom and the only girl, I have that fight in me, that tomboy. But I have my feminine side—I want to be cute, wear bright colors, I want to be soft. I want to have grace, harmony, peace and balance. As I’m putting the effort, energy and the passion into an accessory, I hope to pass that along to the next woman and the next. They can, over time, spread joy, peace and balance by wearing them or gifting them.

To see more products and attend Yin Energy’s next pop-up, follow @yinenergy on Instagram. Shop in-person at Beggar’s Bizarre on Nov. 3 and Merry Market from Nov. 24–26.

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KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

PHOTOGRAPH BY SAMANTHA LEVI

Where did the name Yin Energy come from? I make

Price Chopper offers a variety of party trays to give everyone at your next gathering the flavors they love. No matter the size of your party, Price Chopper has what you need to make this holiday season the best yet.

Order in store or online at mypricechopper.com

Croissant Sandwich Tray

Fruit Dip Tray

Eggroll Sandwich Tray

Fresh Vegetable & Dip Tray

TREND HOME

S i m p l e Wa l d o

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Abode

A house that backs up to the Trolly Track Trail was built for sustainability.

B Y D A W N YA B A R T S C H P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y N AT E S H E E T S M I K E A N D J A C Q U E K E L LY knew

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exactly the type of home they wanted to build when they found their extra-deep lot next to the popular Trolley Track Trail in Waldo: efficient, uncomplicated and cozy.

Drawn to the Pretty Good House principles, a building philosophy that encourages sustainability, the Kellys sought out builder Catalyst Construction and architect firm McHenry Shaffer Architecture, both knowledgeable in the Good House tenets. What are the Pretty Good House principles, you ask? Designing and building a home with energy and sustainability in mind with the resources given to do that.

“Be as small as possible, be simple and durable, invest in a well-insulated exterior, and use common-sense passive strategies, like appropriate site location and deep overhangs to reduce cooling needs.” These are a few of the basic Pretty Good House principals, says Brandon Froelich, the architect with McHenry Shaffer Architecture who worked with the Kellys.

Froelich says it was exciting to work with the couple and the builder to create a comfortable home that also embodies these ideals.

At just 1,800 square feet, the three-bedroom home’s design “prioritizes personalized, rightsized living spaces and a constant connection to the outdoors via direct views or glimpses of sky through windows,” Froelich says.

The L-shaped floor plan puts the wooded backyard and Trolly Trail center stage, with views from all rooms directed toward the path.

And although it’s new construction in an older neighborhood, “it feels very appropriate in size and scale for the neighborhood,” Froelich adds.

KANSASCITYMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2023

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TREND HOME

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“Be as small as possible, be simple and durable, invest in a well-insulated exterior, and use common-sense passive strategies, like appropriate site location and deep overhangs to reduce cooling needs.”

1 Front porch

Contrasting with the smooth white exterior, the front porch is highlighted and given warmth with natural wood siding. The front porch decking wraps around the side of the house and to the back, becoming the back porch and creating a seamless transition and easy way for guests to head to the backyard, where the Kellys enjoy entertaining.

2 Front facade

The simple, clean white surface is punctuated with windows and wood trim details. The inverted truss roof structure allows for superior insulation depth and sets up an innovative way to light the home’s interior with north-facing clerestory windows that provide soft, ambient light throughout the home.

3 Living room

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The Kellys had practically all the furniture they wanted for their home picked out before the design process even started. Although not the usual chain of events, it gave Froelich a very clear understanding of the type of spaces the Kellys were hoping for, he says.

The results are simple interiors with clean white walls that are highlighted with warm wood beams and some simple craftsmanlike detail.

Although very simple in design, the stone-covered fireplace wall adds texture and creates that “cozy” feeling the Kellys wanted.

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The three-bedroom home’s design “prioritizes personalized, right-sized living spaces and a constant connection to the outdoors via direct views or glimpses of sky through windows.”

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4 Kitchen

Right off the living area, the kitchen is simple and functional—just what the Kellys wanted.

5 Back porch

A deep overhang and a wood deck that wraps from the front porch around to the back creates a graceful place to entertain and enjoy the backyard and view of the trail. Steps from the deck lead to a stone patio that surrounds a firepit.

6 Reading nook

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A must for the homeowners, the light-filled lounge is the perfect spot to curl up with a book or daydream the day away while looking at the backyard view.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

395 REALTY: TODAY’S SUCCESSFUL WAY TO SELL YOUR HOME Owners Kevin Hopkins and Greg Shahan are focused on providing the highest level of service and cost savings to home sellers and buyers by using a hybrid commission plan of $695 plus .5%* of the sale price, while still offering the full service of a traditional real estate agency.

Measuring Experience

Changing the Model The internet has changed the process of selling in the real estate market, allowing Kevin and Greg to offer this concept to homeowners. Most clients turn to the internet and the convenience of their desktop or phone to review homes in their desired area. Much of the work that years ago was completed by an agent is now done by the buyer. Also, in the past, a large portion of the cost of selling a home went to an advertising budget for newspaper ads, brochures and more. Kevin and Greg claim the broker’s biggest expense has been eliminated, but those savings were never delivered to the customer.

That’s not the case at 395 Realty.

The dollars are being passed on, but the services are not being shortchanged. When 395 Realty gets a listing, it’s placed in the

Multiple Listing Services and within hours it’s broadcast to thousands of websites.

“What are you getting for those thousands of dollars in real estate commissions you pay at another real estate agency?

On a $300,000 home, that’s $9,000 just on the listing side of the equation, but clients aren’t getting $9,000 dollars worth of services,” shared Kevin. “At 395 Realty, we’ve created a fee structure that’s fair and reasonable for both parties. It’s not a gimmick; it’s not intended to be some type of a discount service. It’s a full-service real estate company with fees and structure based on what is fair and reasonable for the consumer and our company.”

“In addition, it’s our experience and technical knowledge that set us apart from the competition,” noted Greg. “When a client–buyer or seller–is looking at the services of a real estate agent, it should be the number of transactions they’ve had over time.

Experience comes from each and every one of them, which protects the seller’s or buyer’s best interest in that transaction.”

Together Kevin and Greg have more than 50 years of experience in real estate; that solid knowledge is the foundation of this successful company. Their business model is focused on selling hundreds of homes at a flat-fee rate, not a few houses sold at the typical six percent commission that other brokers use. Clients are delighted with the thousands of dollars that stay in their pockets.

If you’re contemplating selling your home, doesn’t it make sense to call Greg and Kevin at 395 Realty? Don’t pay for services that fit the market of a decade ago. Use their hybrid commission plan of $695 plus .5%* of the sale price and keep dollars in your pocket. *See 395Realty.com for details.

VISIT 395REALTY.COM OR CALL 913-944-4000.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING ADVERTISING SECTION SECTION SPECIAL

HOMETOWN FAVORITES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES Silver Dollar City silverdollarcity.com

With more than 6.5 million LED lights aglow, Silver Dollar City’s “An Old Time Christmas” celebrates the season with an 8-story Christmas tree, Broadway-style musicals, familiar characters and floats in Rudolph’s Holly Jolly™ Christmas Light Parade, holiday-inspired foods and Christmas in Midtown, filled with light tunnels, towering walk-thru wreaths, flying angels and holiday displays soaring nearly 100 feet above.

Plus, fly close to Santa’s sleigh each night on 40 rides and attractions!

Named "Best Theme Park Holiday Event" five times by USA Today, An Old-Time Christmas shines Nov. 4 through Dec. 30. For more information, visit their website.

St. Louis Union Station stlpolarexpressride.com

THE POLAR EXPRESS™ train ride returns to St. Louis Union Station for the 2023 holiday season. This year the beautifully decorated trains take you on a journey to the North Pole as you interact with the Polar Express characters, Santa Claus and his elves. THE POLAR EXPRESS™ is the magical story of a boy's search for the real meaning of Christmas, based on the beloved children's book. You’ll begin your journey at St. Louis Union Station Train Park, where you will meet the Conductor inviting you to board THE POLAR EXPRESS™. This unique holiday experience transports passengers on a real train ride set to the Polar Express story and into the magic of the beloved holiday classic.

Chase County Kansas heartoftheflinthills.com

Chase County kicks off the holiday season with their annual Country Christmas weekend event on November 24 – 25. Events begin on Friday night with “Kids Night Before Christmas” in Strong City and a contra dance in Cottonwood Falls. The festivities continue Saturday with the Annual Arts and Crafts Fair and the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve’s Good Old-Fashion Christmas. Other activities include business open houses, silent auction at the “Old School” and kids won’t want to miss visiting with Cowboy Santa and his reindeer. The weekend is highlighted by the lighting of the Courthouse for the holidays and will be followed by the parade leading Santa to the North Pole!

Church of the Resurrection ChristmasAtResurrection.org

Join in on a great family holiday tradition at this year’s Christmas at Resurrection, Sing Choirs of Angels. This musical production features more than three hundred actors, singers, dancers and instrumentalists in a celebration of Christmas and the depiction of the Christmas story. Shows run every night, Dec. 7 – 10 with 7pm performances Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 1:30pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday. This magnificent event is hosted by Resurrection at 135th and Roe in Leawood, KS. Learn more and purchase tickets online.

Powell Gardens

powellgardens.org/festival-of-lights It’s that time of year again and a holiday favorite is back—the Festival of Lights at Powell Gardens. You’ll experience more than twenty miles of holiday lights that turn Kansas City’s botanical garden into a winter wonderland. Bundle up with family and friends while you stroll a lighted outdoor path, pausing for plenty of Instagram and holiday-card worthy photo moments along the way. You’ll encounter immersive botanic installations that show off the exceptional architecture and landscape elements of the Gardens and accentuate the natural joy of the holiday season. Open from November 16 – December 30. The hours are Wednesday – Sunday from 5:00 – 10:00 pm.

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By Dawnya Bartsch, Taylor Drummond, Molly Higgins, Rachel Layton, Reece Parker and Ryan Reed Headshot illustrations by David Babcock Original photography by Jeremey Theron Kirby

Kansas City thrives on diverse sources of power. It’s a city where immense wealth can sculpt our future, exceptional athletic prowess unites the community in celebration and charismatic community organizers challenge the status quo.

Join us as we introduce the 50 individuals who are currently molding the destiny of Kansas City.

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Chris

ROSSON

★ CEO OF UNITED WAY OF GREATER KANSAS CITY

PHOTOGRAPH BY JEREMEY THERON KIRBY

From serving as an advisor to the governor of Missouri to acting as executive director of Teach for America Kansas City, Chris Rosson has diligently led and served the community that raised him. Having grown up in a single-parent, low-income home, Rosson became a firstgeneration high school and college graduate, eventually graduating summa cum laude from both William Jewell College and Johns Hopkins University. Today, Rosson serves as president and CEO of United Way of Greater Kansas City—an organization that provided services Rosson relied on growing up. In his role as CEO, Rosson works collaboratively with a wide network of nonprofit and philanthropic groups and the broader public to build a better KC. He continues

congress, Blunt gained a reputation as a dealmaker.

One of his last moves was to pass the Electoral Count Reform Act, a bipartisan measure to clarify lawmakers’ role in certifying the presidential elections. In his farewell address, he emphasized the importance of bipartisanship. Blunt spent his undergraduate years at Southwest Baptist University and received his master’s from Southwest Missouri State University.

Roy

BLUNT

★ FORMER U.S. SENATOR AND CURRENT LOBBYIST

After serving as a U.S. senator for more than 20 years, Roy Blunt decided it was time to move off Capitol Hill—almost. Not quite ready to quit being a power broker, Blunt has joined Washington D.C. lobbying firm Husch Blackwell Strategies as chair of a new advisory group. He has also recently been appointed to the board of directors for Southwest Airlines and elected as president of the State Historical Society of Missouri. While in

Lisa

GINTER

★ CEO OF COMMUNITYAMERICA CREDIT UNION

CommunityAmerica Credit Union’s CEO Lisa Ginter shows no signs of slowing: Missouri’s largest nonprofit credit union has recently announced plans to add more locations in St. Louis. Recently selected to chair the Executive

«QUINTON LUCAS

Past Power Player

George Kessler A master city planner, George Kessler moved from New York to Kansas City when he got a job early on in his career at the Gulf Railway company. He was hired to design and supervice the construction of the parks and grounds owned by the railroad.

He eventually landed a position at City Hall as the landscape architect on the Park Board and truly shaped the city by designing its street grid, including its park and boulevard system.

KANSAS CITY MAYOR

Now in his second term, Quinton Lucas has served as the mayor of Kansas City since 2019 and is known by his constituents for his unwavering dedication to supporting a diverse and economically booming city. Lucas has maintained a strong focus on promoting historically underrepresented groups to positions within city council and maintaining a diverse perspective on the city’s economy.

“We have to think of incentives not just from the basis of real estate [and] property taxes, but also having a more diverse city and opportunities for people of different backgrounds,” he said during his recent inauguration. Lucas is also known for his initiative in creating the city’s first Housing Trust Fund and has been instrumental in bringing dozens of new events and conferences to the city.

Board of Directors for the Credit Union National Association, Ginter is dedicated to empowering people in KC and beyond with financial security.

Outside of the credit union, her care for the community continues. She has raised $6.5 million in the last five years for prominent local charities like the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City and Children’s Mercy Hospital.

Under Ginter’s leadership, CommunityAmerica has been honored with the Junior Achievement Centennial Award, recognized as Nonprofit Connect’s Business Philanthropist of the Year and been named the No. 1 Best Place to Work by the Kansas City Business Journal.

THE POWER LIST

to ensure that all Kansas Citians have access to the basics, from health care to education to financial stability. In many ways, Rosson is a living example of what is possible when the community comes together to transform lives.

Clark

HUNT

★ CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Heir to the Hunt family dynasty, Clark Hunt and his family inherited the Chiefs franchise when his father passed. But it’s Clark who’s the face of the Chiefs. Born in Texas, Clark wields a strong influence on the state of professional sports—he’s involved in the MLS and NBA, too. Clark’s father, Lamar, instigated and solidified the formation of the current NFL and is allegedly responsible for naming the AFC-NFC championship the “Super Bowl.” Perhaps Clark feels the Lombardi Trophy belongs in his family. Chiefs fans sure do.

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George

and current executive board member of KC CAN! (Children’s Assistance Network), Mallouk is dedicated to making grants and undertaking projects such as Literacy KC and Charlie’s House to improve the quality of life for Kansas City’s children.

GUASTELLO

William Rockhill Nelson

★ PRESIDENT AND CEO OF UNION STATION

PHOTOGRAPH BY JEREMEY THERON KIRBY

From World Series and Super Bowl victory parades to traveling shows and historical landmarks, much of KC is anchored at Union Station. Union Station stands as a representation of KC’s civic, cultural, historic and sporting traditions, and George Guastello, Union Station’s president and CEO, stands as representative of Union Station. But Guastello’s influence doesn’t stop there. He is a member of myriad boards in KC, including the Visit KC Board of Directors, Kansas City Streetcar Authority Board of Directors and Kansas City Art Institute Board of Trustees. Guastello is working hard to keep Union Station true to its symbolic task of representing all things KC by engrossing himself in civic duties. “At this point in my career,” Guastello says,

Past Power Player

common goal of preserving KC’s iconic shopping district and sustaining the Plaza as a cultural destination for the city. Marshall serves on several other philanthropic boards and has rightfully earned her “Champion” nickname.

THE POWER LIST

“giving back really translates into paying it forward so that young leaders of tomorrow might be equally inspired to fully embrace our community strengths and invest themselves in an even more remarkable Kansas City future.”

Peter

MALLOUK, JD, MBA ★ PRESIDENT OF CREATIVE PLANNING

A successful lawyer and the president of Creative Planning—a wealth management and investment advisory services company with approximately $225 billion in combined assets—Peter Mallouk has helped provide comprehensive wealth management services like retirement plan consulting and charitable planning to clients across the country and overseas. As founder

Kate

MARSHALL

★ PRESIDENT OF PLAZA DISTRICT COUNCIL

Kate Marshall, the “Kansas City Champion,” is the founder and president of the Plaza District Council, whose mission is to sustain and grow the historical sector of Kansas City. Marshall fell in love with the Plaza after she relocated from Monte Carlo, Monaco, and preserving the destination she loves so dearly has become her passion project. Through the nonprofit council, Marshall is bringing together stakeholders with the

«KLASSIE ALCINE

An American real estate developer and co-founder of The Kansas City Star, William Rockhill Nelson shaped the newspaper in its early days, in a time when newspapers were the primary way information was disseminated. Nelson also developed an area of farmland south of downtown into what is now known as the Rockhill neighborhood, which included his massive estate. After the death of his wife and daughter, the Nelson family home became the Nelson-Atkins Museum.

CEO OF KC COMMON GOOD

Klassie Alcine is the CEO of KC Common Good, a local crime-fighting group focused on finding the root causes of violence in the city. The organization focuses on at-risk youth and the violence they encounter every day. Alcine, who went to the University of Missouri–Kansas City and was student body president, started her career off as a political consultant. Now, at KC Common Good, she has launched several programs, including Community Connector, an online list of community services for financial assistance, addiction, mental health and more. “The most beautiful and bright part of my field is seeing people become resilient and overcome past trauma,” Alcine says.

Shirley and Barnett

HELZBERG ★ PHILANTHROPISTS

Shirley Helzberg and her husband Barnett are Kansas City constants. The duo could have stepped away from civic life after selling Helzberg Diamonds in 1995 for a bundle, but they didn’t.

Shirley, a founding board member of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, advocates for historic preservation around the city and, with Barnett, co-founded the University Academy, which prepares students to succeed in higher education. Barnett, a former chairman of the Board of Helzberg Diamonds, founded the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program and established the Helzberg Leadership Fellows—both of which have benefited youth around Kansas City.

Together, they have built a strong foundation for their various business endeavors and the community they call home.

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community. Cleaver has been able to secure roughly $125 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment funds to turn these high-crime areas into a green oasis.

Past Power Player

Ora

Jeff

REYNOLDS

J.C. Nichols

★ PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HUNT MIDWEST

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY GRACIE HUNT

This year, Ora Reynolds celebrates her 30th year with development company Hunt Midwest. Reynolds, who was born in Chicago and moved to Kansas City at age 27, began her career at Hunt developing master-planned residential communities.

She later moved on to commercial real estate and oversaw the development of large commercial real estate projects. Twelve years ago, she became CEO of Hunt Midwest. During her leadership tenure, the company, owned by the Lamar Hunt family, has seen exponential growth not only in the greater Kansas City area but also in other geographic markets such as South Carolina and Florida. Reynolds’s community service stretches from corporate boards to numerous charitable and

THE POWER LIST

civic organizations. She is co-chair of the Kansas City Area Development Council and was past chair of the Starlight Theatre Board of Directors.

Emanuel

CLEAVER II ★ U.S CONGRESSMAN

Now serving his ninth term representing Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District, Emanuel Cleaver II began his political career as a Kansas City councilman. In 1991, he became the city’s first Black mayor. Known as an economic development activist and an unapologetic redevelopment craftsman, Cleaver has been a driving force behind much of the city’s urban core revitalization efforts. One of his most notable efforts is the creation of the Green Impact Zone, which aims to rebuild and beautify 150 blocks of declining urban areas around the

Debbie

WILKERSON

★ CEO OF GREATER KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Debbie Wilkerson, who has served as the president and CEO of the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation since 2012, was recently picked as one of Forbes’ “50 Over 50” honorees in the “Impact” category. As leader of the foundation, Wilkerson manages more than $5 billion in assets and connects donors to causes they care about, like environmental protection, animal welfare and education. In terms of money doled out, the foundation is the largest charitable organization in the Kansas City area.

«GRACIE HUNT

However tainted real estate developer J.C. Nichols’ legacy is, he did shape much of the city with the construction of the Country Club Plaza shopping district and surrounding neighborhoods. His master-planned communities relied on restrictive covenants, mostly involving land use, such as setbacks and building heights.

However, in several of his communities, most notably the Country Club area, Black and Jewish people were prohibited from owning property, creating a long-lasting racial and economic divide along Troost Avenue.

INFLUENCER AND PHILANTHROPIST

Heiress Gracie Hunt, who comes from the oil-rich, Chiefs-owning Texas family, says playing soccer was her first love. She always wanted to play in college, but after suffering four concussions, it was something she just couldn’t do. Despite her dashed dreams, she found another passion and decided to follow in her beauty queen mother Tavia Hunt’s footsteps. She won Miss Kansas USA in 2021, the same title her mother won a few decades earlier. Gracie, who has an impressive Instagram following with nearly 400,000 followers, is using her platform to promote health and fitness and is serving as a Unified Champion Ambassador for the Special Olympics. She also founded her own organization, Breaking Barriers Through Sports.

OWENS

★ VICE PRESIDENT OF CROSSROADS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

First Fridays in the Crossroads has grown into a vibrant arts and community event, and the Crossroads Community Association has a lot to do with that. CCA vice president Jeff Owens says he and CCA are dedicated to creating opportunities for artists. “There are so many ripple effects to having a strong artist community,” says Owens, who is also a sculptor.

“Every artist is a small business, and we want to help them grow their businesses.” The CCA was integral to helping cultivate the Crossroads art scene and its First Friday celebrations. An artist himself with a history in set design in the movie industry, Owens says it’s important that artists have a place in the community, both physically and figuratively. “Oftentimes, businesses move in and price the artists out,” he says. “We wanted to find a way for both.” One way the CCA has done this is through the Crossroads Arts PIEA, a tax abatement program designed to encourage developers and landlords to include artists and galleries in their plans.

The program was the first of its kind in the country, and other cities have reached out to implement something similar.

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GORMAN ★ CIVIC LEADER

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION

If you have ever been to a park or looked at a fountain in Kansas City, chances are you have seen something Anita B. Gorman worked on. A lifelong conservationist and advocate for community greenspaces, she spent over two decades working on KCMO’s Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners and serving as its president.

Few citizens have quietly contributed so much to Kansas Citians as Gorman.

The Parks Department reminds us by putting her name on everything they can—from the Starlight Theatre’s Anita B. Gorman Court of Honor to the Anita B. Gorman Conservation Discovery Center. Gorman is a prime example of one of those special people who dedicate their lives and work to a place, and we are lucky she did it here.

Ruben

ALONSO III

★ CEO OF ALTCAP AND MEMBER OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF KANSAS CITY’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ruben Alonso III is not only the CEO of AltCap, a multi-state financial institution based in KC; he also sits on the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s Board of Directors.

In this role at AltCap, a community development financial institution that invests in “underestimated communities,” he is responsible for the overall management of the organization that has provided nearly $300 million in accessible capital to jobcreating small businesses that are often overlooked by traditional financial institutions. Alonso attributes his passion for making capital more accessible to small businesses to his own family, who emigrated

Travis

KELCE

★ CHIEFS TIGHT END

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce played an invaluable role in the Chiefs winning their second Super Bowl in three years.

Now entering his eleventh year in the position, Kelce set the record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season,

Past Power Player

Thomas Joseph Pendergrast Although T.J. Pendergast only briefly held elected office, as a KC alderman, he became chairman of the Jackson County Democratic Party from 1925 to 1939, allowing him considerable influence. It was T.J. Pendergast’s older brother Jim Pendergast who first became involved in politics and T.J. Pendergast stepped in expanding the family’s influence and perpetuating corruption. Known as the Pendergast years, T.J. Pendergast had the power, often through voter fraud, to get his candidates elected.

«REV. ADAM HAMILTON PASTOR AT CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection was founded in 1990 by Rev. Adam Hamilton.

Native to the Kansas City area, Hamilton earned a bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministry from Oral Roberts University and a Master of Divinity degree from Southern Methodist University, where he was awarded the B’nai B’rith Award in social ethics. With approximately 24,000 active members, Hamilton’s congregation was further named the most influential mainline church in America by The Church Report. Known for his authorship of more than 23 faith-based books, Hamilton has remained committed through the decades to maintaining an open dialogue among his constituents and those seeking hope in their communities.

with 1,416 yards in 2020.

The football field is not the only place Kelce seems to garner a lot of attention.

He’s also well-known for his podcast with his brother, Jason Kelce, his cameo on Saturday Night Live and his short-lived reality television show—and, recently, his dating life is of the utmost interest to many. But personal life aside, Kelce founded 87 & Running, a nonprofit whose mission is to help disadvantaged youth achieve success by providing resources and support in their communities. “I can help by performing on the field, but I want them to know I walk the walk off of it, too,” Kelce said in a press release.

THE POWER LIST

Anita

from Cuba in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Many of his family members achieved the idealized “American Dream” through entrepreneurship and the support of their community.

“When you marry capital with mission, you have the power to create lasting and meaningful impact,” Alonso says. Alonso was a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer in Slovakia where, among other things, he taught English at local secondary school and founded a local boxing club for Romani youth.

Mike

PARSONS

★ MISSOURI GOVERNOR

Army veteran and Missouri Governor Mike Parsons was raised on a farm in Hickory County and considers himself a third-generation farmer—the small-business owner currently owns and operates a cow operation near Bolivar, Missouri. On top of his small-business experience, Parsons was formerly the Polk County Sheriff, a member of the Missouri House of Representatives and the Senate, and Lieutenant Governor before leading the state as governor. During Parson’s tenure, the state has experienced the lowest unemployment rate ever recorded, and Parsons signed the largest income tax cut in Missouri history.

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KANSAS CITY MAGAZINE

AGRAWAL

★ CHANCELLOR OF UMKC

PHOTOGRAPH BY NICK VEDROS

A look at the accomplishments of University of MissouriKansas City Chancellor C. Mauli Agrawal would make it difficult to believe he could have gotten his start from such humble beginnings.

Yet Agrawal maintains a close relationship with his roots. The Fellow of Biomaterials Science and Engineering member grew up in Allahabad, India, in a home without television, air conditioning or a refrigerator. His early interest in education and research led to him being accepted into the Indian Institute of Technology, and later, Clemson University in South Carolina. His UMKC chancellorship began in June 2018. Agrawal’s passions in academia have always remained rooted in research, but

Tara

neighborhoods, winning safer conditions and fighting displacement.

Raghuveer is also the director of the Homes Guarantee campaign, which organizes with more than 50 tenant groups across 24 states.

“KC Tenants is a union, a collective of tenants who know that we are strong together,” Raghuveer says. “Kansas City is a better place because neighbors have come together to fight for this city. The fight continues and our power endures precisely because it cannot be reduced to an individual.”

FARMER

“I get up every day excited about the potential of this city and the Star, but I’m also clear-eyed about the need for improvement from both.”

Greg Farmer’s journalistic work led him to being named Kansas City Star’s executive editor in February after spending five months as interim executive editor. But

spot, Farmer served as managing editor, leading day-to-day operations.

Farmer has been in the news business for 30 years, 26 of those at the Star. “Being the editor here allows me to learn every day,” Farmer says.

RAGHUVEER ★ DIRECTOR OF KC TENANTS

If there’s one thing that defines Tara Raghuveer, the director of KC Tenants, it’s advocacy.

Since its founding in 2019, KC Tenants has grown to 9,647 members.

The citywide tenant union is known for having passed a Tenants Bill of Rights, guaranteeing free legal representation for tenants in eviction court and stopping millions in handouts to developers.

KC Tenants has supported tenants in organizing their buildings and

beyond writing, what truly makes Farmer a great fit for the Star is his commitment to community betterment.

“I love Kansas City,” he says. “This is my home. But when you love something, you also understand it has shortcomings, ways it must improve if it’s ever to become the best version of itself. That’s why the Star exists. I get up every day excited about the potential of this city and the Star, but I’m also clear-eyed about the need for improvement from both.” Before taking over the newsroom’s top

Greg

★ EXECUTIVE EDITOR OF THE KANSAS CITY STAR

«WENDY DOYLE CEO OF UNITED WE

Wendy Doyle has found her passion amplifying the voices of Missouri women as the CEO of United WE, an organization dedicated to finding solutions to the economic issues women face. Doyle, who grew up in Johnson County and graduated from Rockhurst University, has been with United WE for nine years and has served as the foundation’s president for six. Doyle started her career off in marketing but soon found her niche working at a nonprofit. Before beginning at United WE, she worked for the National Kidney Foundation and Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas.

THE POWER LIST

Mauli

Agrawal has been vocal about the importance of collaborating with civic leaders “who are passionate about higher education.” His work at UMKC has contributed to a 50 percent increase in faculty and a 400 percent increase in research funding.

DeAngela

BURNSWALLACE

★ CEO OF KAUFFMAN FOUNDATION

There are a few names you see everywhere in Kansas City, and Kauffman is one.

The Kauffman Foundation, which is one of the largest private foundations in the United States, is known to approach issues from a decidedly Midwestern mindset, and CEO DeAngela Burns-Wallace aims to do just that.

Burns-Wallace’s work with educational institutions, business leaders and community organizations such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Jack and Jill of America has lent her a reputation as a dedicated educator and community organizer. Since starting her position as the Kauffman Foundation’s CEO in August of 2023, Burns-Wallace has infused her passion for community into many of the organizations and initiatives funded by the foundation. During BurnsWallace’s appointment, Esther George, chair of the Kauffman Board of Trustees, said, “Dr. Burns-Wallace has the experience and leadership capabilities to further Ewing Kauffman’s legacy, catalyzing ideas and supporting solutions designed to improve education, boost entrepreneurship and help our communities and individuals thrive.”

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BROWN

★ FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT OF EURONET WORLDWIDE

PHOTOGRAPH BY JEREMEY THERON KIRBY

Kansas City native Michael J. Brown, co-founder of global electronic payment service Euronet, has served as CEO and chairman of the company’s board since 1996. Brown’s company continues to grow in affluence across the globe with its recent purchase of a British-based online international payments company for a whopping $242 million in cash and stock. Brown received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri–Columbia and master’s degree in molecular and cellular biology at the University of Missouri–Kansas City.

His work includes serving

Today, his work focuses on empowering his employees and improving client experience and satisfaction. Lansford oversees five regions, 26 offices and his corporate staff members, all while maintaining the company that’s long been ingrained in the KC community.

Lansford also serves as chairman of the Board of Governors for the American Royal and is involved in many other organizations, such as the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation and the United Way.

Gordon

Under his leadership, the Jayhawks have won two national championships.

LANSFORD ★ CEO OF J.E. DUNN

When Gordon Lansford became the first nonDunn family member to serve as CEO of J.E. Dunn, one of the largest domestic general building contractors, he pledged to continue the almost 100-year-old company’s commitment to community and its employees. Lansford first joined J.E. Dunn in 1996 as its director of internal audit.

Under his leadership, the Jayhawks have won two national championships, making Self one of only two active coaches who have nagged multiple NCAA titles. A nine-time conference coach of the year—eight of which came at Kansas—Self has clearly demonstrated his basketball prowess.

However, his impact extends well beyond basketball. He is also the founder of Bill Self’s Assists Foundation, whose mission is to “help provide young people access to better lives

Bill

SELF

★ KU BASKETBALL HEAD COACH

KU basketball has flourished under the helm of head coach Bill Self, who has held the position since 2003.

«CARLOS GOMEZ

by identifying areas of need and working with other community-based institutions to provide creative and lasting solutions.” Self has devoted his career to becoming a respected and dedicated coach whose inspiration has guided his teams to 23 winning seasons.

PRESIDENT OF HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Carlos Gomez joined the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2007 with a mission in mind: to unite and uplift the Hispanic community. Now serving as the Chamber’s president and CEO, Gomez’s work focuses on the Spanish-speaking business owner community, lobbying for smallbusiness legislation and comprehensive immigration reform. Under the leadership of Gomez, the Chamber is now the 11th-largest chamber in the Kansas City metro area. Gomez is also the executive director of the Greater Kansas City Hispanic Collaborative, a four-program collective including KC BizFest, Latinos of Tomorrow, Young Latino Professionals and Latino Leadership Institute. Over the past 17 years, Gomez has maintained a sharp focus on meeting the needs of both the Hispanic business community and the Hispanic consumer.

THE POWER LIST

Michael J.

on the boards of North Carolina-based Nexxus Lighting, Inc. and Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. Brown is actively involved in the day-to-day operations of Euronet and is committed to stimulating the economy of his hometown.

Gwendolyn

GRANT

★ PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER KANSAS CITY

As president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City, Gwendolyn Grant isn’t afraid of a fight. She went to bat with Mayor Quinton Lucas, filing a lawsuit as a private citizen that challenged the constitutionality of the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners trying to move control of board appointments from the state to the

“My journey as the leader of a revered civil rights organization is profoundly personal.” local level. In addition to her work with the Urban League, Grant is involved with many groups across the city, from the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Tax Incentive Reform Task Force to the Citizens to Abolish Poverty Education Committee. “My journey as the leader of a revered civil rights organization is profoundly personal,” says Grant, who is a graduate of Westport High School. “This is my calling, my mission and my lifelong dedication.”

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KANSAS CITY MAGAZINE Kathy

NELSON

★ CEO OF VISIT KC AND KC SPORTS COMMISSION

How is it that Kansas City was chosen as the site for the NFL Draft and as a host city for the 2026 World Cup? The answer is Kathy Nelson. Obviously, she didn’t do this on her own, but that’s the thing about Nelson—you don’t end up the president of the Kansas City Sports Commission and appointed to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame without understanding the importance of a team. Nelson has an eye for a show and knows how to make it work for KC. According to Forbes, the NFL Draft generated $164.3 million dollars for the city. Nelson has been named one of Kansas City Star’s “Most Influential Sports Figures in Kansas City,” and she continues to be an advocate for the economic, social and communitybuilding benefits of sports.

Joe

REARDON

★ PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE GREATER KANSAS CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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Before stepping into his role as Chamber of Commerce president and CEO, Reardon headed up the Area Transportation

Authority and was mayor of Kansas City, Kansas. Reardon, who graduated from Rockhurst University, comes from a family of civic leaders. His father, Jack Reardon, was a popular threetime mayor of Kansas City, Kansas; his uncle, Bill Reardon, was a state representative; and his grandfather was county commissioner of Wyandotte. So community involvement and activism is in his blood. Reardon, who is a lawyer by training, views connecting people, businesses and civic organizations across the greater Kansas City region as his primary role.

Julián

ZUGAZAGOITIA ★ DIRECTOR OF NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM

As director of the NelsonAtkins Museum, Julián Zugazagoita is succeeding at evolving today’s art museum from the dusty institutions of the past into something lively with community programs. Far from the elite, unwelcoming halls of last-century models, Zugazagoita has built Kansas City’s premier art museum into a welcoming, casual, discovery-driven community space. Zugazagoitia grew up in Mexico, went to school in England and France and lived in New York before heading to KC to head up the museum.

He makes community outreach a priority. Some of the museum’s more popular programs are the summertime mini golf course on the museum’s grounds, outdoor movies and its Day of the Dead festival.

Dr. Jennifer

COLLIER

★ SUPERINTENDENT OF KCMO PUBLIC SCHOOLS

After holding the position of interim superintendent of Kansas City Public Schools, Dr. Jennifer Collier was unanimously approved for the permanent position early this year by the school board, beating out 17 other applicants from across the country. Collier, who started her career off in the district as a substitute teacher, has worked in education and the district for more than 23 years. She has also served as an assistant principal, principal, chief human resource officer and deputy superintendent. Her vision for the Kansas City Public School system has been crafted over decades of service, and it’s hard to not share her hope for the future of KC’s public education system and the city’s southside youth.

second term as Kansas governor, she plans to turn her attention to Medicare. She spent her first term “putting Kansas back on track,” she says, ending her term with the state’s largest budget surplus in history. In her second term, she is focusing on education and medicare. Earlier this year, Kelly signed into law a bill that will increase funding for public schools across the state.

In September, she launched a statewide tour to support Medicare expansion.

Chris and Angie

LONG and Brittany MAHOMES

★ KC CURRENT OWNERSHIP GROUP

Laura

KELLY

★ KANSAS GOVERNOR

Governor Laura Kelly grew up in a career military family where she learned the importance of service and integrity. It’s these ideals that pushed her into politics. Recently winning her

This power trio not only brought professional women’s soccer back to Kansas City but also spearheaded the construction of the very first sports stadium to be built exclusively for a national women’s soccer league franchise.

The 11,500-seat Berkley Riverfront stadium promises ultra-modern technology and scenic views of the river. Chris Long is founder of Palmer Square Capital Management, and his wife Angie, is Palmer Square’s chief investment officer. Brittany Mahomes played soccer in college. The three have big plans for the team in terms of revenue and fan base and high hopes for how the organization can give back to the community.

The hot spots to see and be seen

Capital Grille Located on the Country Club Plaza, the bar and dining room are buzzing with business and civic leaders.

• Farina Italian at its best. This Crossroads restaurant is just right for the power dinner.

• Bacaro Primo Let’s just say this Italian-American bistro in Crestwood Shops is the place to be seen right now.

• The Restaurant At 1900 This swanky Mission Woods restaurant is where the Country Club set head when looking for a place to gather.

• Trezo Mare Known for its happy hour, this Briarcliff restaurant with an impressive view of downtown is where Northland power players connect over cocktails.

• Osteria Il Centro This neighborhood power spot is on the down-low.

Despite its low-key friendly vibe, deals are made at this restaurant that sits just west of downtown.

Sharice

DAVIDS

★ KANSAS REPRESENTATIVE

A former mixed martial artist born in Germany and a current Kansas Representative, Sharice Davids is living a large life. First elected in 2018, Davids became the first Democrat elected to represent a Kansas congressional district in a decade. After defending her congressional seat in a recently redrawn—and therefore more Republican—district in 2022, Davids has proven she is a force to be reckoned with. She attended Leavenworth High School before getting degrees from the University of Kansas and, later, Cornell Law School, making her the first person in her family to graduate college.

THE POWER LIST

Where Power Players Play

was born in Japan and moved around as a youth but settled in his wife’s hometown of Kansas City some 40 years ago. This new stadium and the development expected around it has the potential to shape the character of the city for years to come.

ment,” avoiding the pitfalls of drastic time zone changes and communication conundrums and helping ensure private data and information remain confidential.

development and also sits on the boards of Visit KC, KC Streetcar and Arts KC.

Nathan

Jon

Robert John

KEHOE

SHERMAN

★ CEO AND FOUNDER OF ACTIVE LOGIC

With a new stadium on the horizon, the spotlight is shining even brighter on Kansas City Royals baseball owner John Sherman. After the billionaire businessman and an investment group acquired the team in 2019, Sherman has been focusing on building not only the team’s roster but also their new home. Sherman

Picked as one of the fastest-growing companies in the metro by Kansas City Business Journal, Active Logic founder Robert Kehoe thinks one of the keys to his software company’s success is not shipping any jobs overseas. The Leawood-based company uses 100 percent American developers in the “pursuit of quality and efficiency during develop-

★ OWNER OF THE KANSAS CITY ROYALS

STEPHENS

★ PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PORT KC

Jon Stephens is the president and CEO of Port KC. Port KC exists to grow Kansas City’s economy through transportation advancement and development.

One of the agency’s most notable recent endeavors is to reestablish the city’s waterborne commerce in a sustainable way. One barge is equivalent to 16 railroad cars or 70 truck trailers, which could mean a significant reduction in air pollution. Stephens has over 20 years of experience in economic

WILLETT

★ KANSAS CITY COUNCILMAN

Born and raised in the Northland, Kansas City’s junior councilman Nathan Willett was elected to represent City Council District 1, promising to be a strong advocate for those living north of the river who often feel neglected by City Hall officials. “The growth in the Northland is exciting,” Willett says. “We need to ensure that our new development is done the right way while staying true to our commitments to existing neighborhoods and businesses.”

Willett was endorsed by Northland Strong, a PAC that formed to make sure that issues facing people in the Northland are not ignored.

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police chief. Graves says her top priority coming into this position is to work on the department’s relationships. “If you don’t have good relationships with people, you just can’t be successful.”

Tim

COWDEN

★ PRESIDENT AND CEO OF KANSAS CITY AREA DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

PHOTOGRAPH BY JEREMEY THERON KIRBY;

Tim Cowden’s excitement about Kansas City’s potential is as moving as it is contagious. In an interview with Leaders Magazine, Cowden, president and CEO of the Kansas City Area Development Council, said, “I’m fortunate in that I have the best job in Kansas City, leading the KCADC team to sell this amazing place to the world every day.” Cowden leads strategic direction and vision for KCADC, a private nonprofit organization charged with representing the economic interests of the greater metro area. In partnership with 250 corporate business leaders and more than 50 community partners across the two states, KCADC has helped attract $7.7 billion of new capital investment and 16,000 jobs

Stacey

GRAVES ★ KANSAS CITY POLICE CHIEF

A lifelong Kansas Citian and the first female Kansas City police chief, Stacey Graves is breaking new ground. She became the city’s top cop in December 2022 after a months-long interview process that saw her pitted against candidates across the country. Graves began her career at the KCPD in 1997 as a civilian records clerk. Soon after, she decided she wanted to be a police officer and joined the police academy.

Graves has previously served as a patrol officer, a detective with the vice and narcotics unit, and an aide to the former

Frank

earned the organization’s top spot in January 2023.

He’s always looking for ways to achieve KCATA’s mission, which is “to deliver innovative solutions that enhance mobility and improve our community.” White has been instrumental in pushing for the expansion of KCATA’s streetcar from River Market to UMKC, stating that it’s imperative that the excitement around improving Kansas City’s transportation infrastructure continue beyond the 2026 World Cup.

Patrick A. “Duke”

WHITE III

DUJAKOVICH

★ PRESIDENT AND CEO OF KANSAS CITY AREA TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY

With plans underway for Kansas City to host the upcoming 2026 World Cup, Frank White III, CEO of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority, is already looking toward the future of KC transit. In a recent interview with KCUR, he said that he’s focused on “how we leverage the World Cup as a way to get those investments that we think we should have had in public transit that we never got before.”

White has been with KCATA since 2016 and

Thomson believes PayIt could be the next Cerner as the company continues to expand and grow, now serving over 100 million residents across the country, creating jobs and increasing revenue to Kansas City.

THE POWER LIST

to the KC region. Cowden and his team serve as a vital connecting point for companies and individuals evaluating KC as a viable base to establish and grow their companies.

John

THOMPSON ★ CEO OF , PAYIT, LLC

John Thomson is the founder and CEO of the award-winning cloud service provider for digital government, PayIt. The company is modernizing how public agencies serve the community, increasing efficiency and user experience with digital transactions.

«PATRICK MAHOMES NEED WE SAY MORE?

Time Magazine named Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes one of the “100 Most Influential People of 2023” and Kansas Citians agree. Mahomes may have been born in Texas, but you’d never know it from his love of Kansas City. No one can fault Mahomes for renegotiating his contract with the Chiefs when he takes his salary and re-invests it back into KC. Mahomes now has an ownership stake in the Royals, KC Currents and Sporting KC teams, and he’s expressed a desire to bring an NBA team to town. These investments, plus countless charities and community engagements, seem to show that our star quarterback believes in the city as much as we believe in him.

★ PRESIDENT OF KANSAS CITY AFL-CIO AND BOARD CHAIR OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF KANSAS CITY

Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s board, Patrick A. “Duke” Dujakovich was born for Kansas City Fed service. “I was actually born at the Federal Reserve Bank,” Dujakovich joked in a press release, proudly explaining that he was born at St. Mary’s Hospital, which for nearly a century stood where the bank’s head office now is. Dujakovich is also president of Kansas City AFL-CIO, an organization that serves as an umbrella organization for a wide range of labor unions.

Dujakovich retired from the Kansas City Fire Department after more than 30 years of service, and he remains a member of the International Association of Fire Fighters. Dujakovich has stated that being on the Federal Reserve Bank gives him the opportunity to share the insights of the workers that he represents.

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KANSAS CITY SEPTEMBER 2023

ROCKTOPSKC.COM

| OLATHE | ROCKTOPSKC.COM

The ninth annual Faces of Kansas City focuses on the individuals and groups whose experience and expertise make them leaders in their fields. These professionals work diligently to provide the best service to the residents of our city. Get to know the faces behind the businesses that want to share their passion and commitment with you.

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The Face of

Real Estate

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KANSAS 2023 KANSAS CITY CITY SEPTEMBER NOVEMBER 2023

Malfer & Associates, Compass Realty Group has been a market leader in real estate for more than a decade. The team has over 350 years of combined expertise and works with buyers and sellers at all price points. Each agent is hand-picked by Kristin Malfer herself, ensuring they deliver exceptional customer service and an elevated real estate experience. They offer a hassle-free experience from start to finish with a thorough plan for buying and selling homes including photography and videography, a robust marketing process including print, social and digital avenues, as well as many other services.

The company’s multiple locations in Leawood, Town Center Crossing, Country Club Plaza, and Shops of Prairie Village have it all: home staging, new home construction representation, relocation specialists and a business development division. They partner with an extensive network of over 25,000 agents who represent the top realtors in the industry, resulting in a broader national reach and an elevated marketing approach for every listing.

Malfer & Associates

With a feel for the city and genuine Midwestern hospitality, Malfer & Associates is the top choice when finding your dream home or selling your current home.

#3 Top Producing Real Estate Team in KC, ranked by the Kansas City Business Journal #1 Medium Team in Kansas by Sales Volume, ranked by RealTrends + Tom Ferry America’s Best Real Estate Professionals

913.800.1812 MalferKC.com

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The Face of

Tommy John Surgery Vincent H. Key, MD Dr. Vincent Key is an Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Specialist in Overland Park, KS and has more than 28 years of experience in the medical field. He is a graduate of Spring Hill (Kan.) High School and received his undergraduate degree from Kansas State University where he was a track and field athlete (long and triple jump). He completed his MD from the University of Oklahoma, Orthopaedic Residency at Martin Luther King/Charles Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles, California and a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Wellington Orthopaedics and the University of Cincinnati.

Dr. Key is currently serving as an Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery/Sports Medicine at the University of Kansas Health System. He joined the department in 2003 after working in private practice in Independence, MO. Key’s primary clinical and surgical focus in sports medicine is knee, shoulder and elbow reconstruction.

He has been recognized as a regional expert in ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstructions of the elbow --- better known as the Tommy John procedure.

This highly specialized surgery is commonly experienced in major league pitchers but is becoming more common in younger athletes. The repair focuses on the ligament that provides stability to the elbow joint, allowing athletes to continue their careers. Key is a highly sought-after surgeon for this procedure and the local athletic community benefits from his experience and expertise.

He consults with many youth baseball clubs and has given many lectures to youth coaches and parents on the importance of physically preparing to play baseball and the pitfalls of early sport specialization. Dr. Key has designed throwing and hitting protocols specifically for youth athletes.

Dr. Key is serving in his 13th season as the Medical Director and Head Team Physician for the Kansas City Royals. He also served as the President of the Major League Baseball Team Physicians Association for 2022 and previously served on the Medical Advisory Committee for Major League Baseball, while holding a regional consultant position for all 30 MLB teams.

KU Sports Medicine & Performance Center

10730 Nall Ave., Ste. 200, Overland Park, KS 66211. 913-945-6100 kansashealthsystem.com

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The Face of

Wellness

Cristyn Watkins, MD Dr. Cristyn Watkins, founder of aNu Aesthetics and Optimal Wellness, embodies the values of wellness and extends her support to the local community. In contrast to traditional symptom-focused approaches, Dr. Watkins and her team are pioneering a more holistic approach to health issues, aiming to address their root causes. Their work is reshaping the understanding of healthcare in Kansas City.

Dr. Watkins’ contributions are quietly, but significantly improving the state of health and wellness in our region, offering a path to healthier, happier lives for many.

Her dedication to personal well-being, advocacy for wellness, and openness to alternative options are noteworthy. She is double board-certified in family medicine and integrative, metabolic, and nutrition medicine. She focuses her entire practice on advanced medical aesthetics, regenerative medicine, healthy aging, and personalized wellness medicine, while working alongside her expert medical and aesthetic staff.

Dr. Watkins leads by example, promoting positive lifestyle changes even while managing her chronic condition that has led her on this alternative wellness path.

Her actions inspire others, both within her workplace and in the broader community.

Dr. Cristyn Watkins is a source of inspiration and deserves recognition for her commitment to the well-being of Kansas City residents.

10090 NW Prairie View Road, Kansas City, MO 64153. 816.359.3310 aNu Aesthetics & NORTH: RIVER MARKET: 547 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106. 816.339.5053 Optimal Wellness anuaesthics.com. 816.359.3310

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The Face of

Staffing Staffing Kansas City sets itself apart as an employment partner.

They listen to and solve clients’ hiring challenges. The dynamic team has, collectively, over 90 years’ of recruiting experience, placing Top Talent with 800+ companies.

Staffing Kansas City is independently owned & WBE Certified.

With hands-on owners and powerhouse recruiters, clients trust their office hiring needs are in good hands.

The Women of Staffing Kansas City are honored to be the faces of the staffing industry. They attribute their continued success to their drive and love for being a part of small business growth and changing peoples’ lives.

Pictured: Michelle Lee, Recruiter Alex Gearin, Recruiter Roses Ammon, Vice President Marie Phelan, Associate VP of Recruiting Shelley Seibolt, President

Staffing Kansas City

“Personnel Services with a Personal Touch”

9930 College Boulevard, Overland Park, Kansas 66210. 913.663.5627 staffingkc.com

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The Face of

Lasers

Kathy Taranto Kathy began her career in the aesthetic industry while attending the University of Utah in 2000. As the industry shifted to medical aesthetics, so did Kathy. She has been a certified technician and laser trainer for 20 years and operates Aestheticare with her husband, Matt.

They have combined their love of lasers and their experience to create one of the most successful stand-alone Med Spas in the country, with sustained growth for over 20 years.

Aestheticare serves an array of clients that vary in age, skin type, concerns and goals, so they have developed a laser skin resurfacing program that is designed to treat all types of skin. Their offerings include MicroLaser Peel, Moxi Laser, BBL and Forever Young BBL, Halo Laser, ProFractional Laser, and their most notable service: laser hair removal, which has been recognized as a Best of KC winner in multiple years.

With the various types of lasers and the experienced team of technicians, Aestheticare is trained to treat numerous conditions on the face and body. You can see results from skin damage, fine lines, wrinkles, scarring, pigment irregularities, uneven skin tone and texture, enlarged pores and other signs of aging. If you’re not certain which laser is best for you, they offer an instant virtual consultation, or you can book a free in-clinic appointment with one of their experts.

Fall is the beginning of “laser season” because there is less sun exposure, and the time of year gives your skin the best environment to heal. Winter months are equally ideal because you are more apt to wear clothing that protects your skin.

Schedule your complimentary in-office or virtual consultation to learn about the treatments that are best suited for you.

PARKWAY: 9225 Ward Parkway, Suite 200, Kansas City, MO 64114. 913.338.5476 Aestheticare WARD LIBERTY: 6 Victory Lane, Liberty, MO. 64068. 816.430.2365 greatskinkc.com

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The Face of

DUI Litigation Tristen J. Woods Tristen J. Woods, also known as the “Lawman”, is a highly recognized and accomplished attorney in the law practice of DUI, criminal and personal injury. He is the co-founder of Jungle Law, with offices in Kansas City and St. Louis. His expertise also extends to federal crime charges.

Attorney Woods is a successful trial attorney who began his career at law firms in Los Angeles and Miami.

He holds a master’s degree in human rights law.

Among his work in Kansas City, he specializes in DUI defense and was recently recognized as the Best of Kansas City winner for DUI attorney.

With more than 450 5-star reviews between the Kansas City and St. Louis offices, Woods has been described as “exceptional” and “honest” in the legal profession. Most notably, Jungle Law Firm is described as “going above and beyond” for their clients, delivering effective legal representation, winning numerous trials, and millions in settlements.

As part of Attorney Woods outreach in the community, Jungle Law has teamed up with Hero Fund USA through fundraising to provide safety equipment to Kansas City First Responders and their K9s. You can contribute to the cause by ordering a NASCAR or Jungle Law Guy T-Shirt through their website.

Jungle Law

2300 Main Street, Suite 900, Kansas City, MO 64108. 833.482.7926 100 S 4th St., St Louis, MO 63102. 833.458.6453 COMING SOON: 7047 East Greenway Pkwy. Suite 250, Scottsdale, AZ. 85254 junglelaw.com

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The Face of

Counseling Caleb Adegoke, LPC, Ks, PLPC, Mo

Caleb Adegoke is a counselor with KC Well Co. He has a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and has lived in Kansas City for 20 years. As a Nigerian-American immigrant, Adegoke learned a lot about adapting to different circumstances and understanding people from all walks of life. Although the path wasn’t easy, he successfully navigated a place in American society. This coupled with a diagnosis of Sickle Cell Anemia at birth, a bone marrow transplant at 15 and now facing type 1 diabetes at 31, he knows first-hand about the fragility of life, but also the power of resiliency.

As a counselor, he draws on his own struggles with mental health and how challenging it was as a black man to find the help he needed. This gave him a vision to help others. His philosophy is a realization that “we don’t have to be crippled or stay stuck from the things that have happened to us”. Adegoke’s approach to counseling is based on understanding ourselves and our relationships within our own story, and that everyone has strengths that can be leveraged to pursue healing and achievement of goals and dreams.

From a clinical perspective, he practices through a psychodynamic lens. Psychodynamic therapy has been scientifically researched and shown to help in the treatment of a wide range of mental health conditions (such as stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, etc.), as well as to increase understanding of the self and of relationships. This technique focuses on the whole person within the context of their past, present, and future, and places importance on the quality of relationships.

3130 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO 64109. 913.283.4338 Adegoke calebadegoke.com Counseling

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The Face of

Non-Invasive Aesthetics Georgia Cirese, RN, CANS, CLT

Georgous Aesthetic Bar’s founder, Georgia Cirese, is a nationally recognized master injector and skilled cosmetic expert.

When she and daughter Mary Katelyn opened Georgous Aesthetic Bar in 2019, they defined a new category of boutique clinics. Under Georgia’s direction, they have created a clinic that doesn’t feel clinical. It is both professional and personal, with a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.

As a registered nurse with certification as an aesthetic nurse specialist, Cirese brings science-backed treatments to her establishment, performed by certified experts. She is committed to staying abreast of the latest in non-invasive treatments, giving clients the opportunity to experience the most current and progressive FDA-approved procedures.

Georgia specializes in products by Allergan, including BOTOX Cosmetic, Juvederm fillers, and Kybella. Her skills have been recognized by the International Society of Plastic and Aesthetic Nurses. With nearly 25 years of experience and additional training in a dermatology practice, the menu of services she offers also includes a full continuum of dermatological care, including skincare, laser treatments and a complete line of health and beauty products.

The philosophy of Cirese and her team is to elevate your natural beauty. The one-on-one consultation you’ll receive focuses on a patient-first approach and is centered around looking fresh and natural with non-invasive aesthetic treatments that are undetectable and deliver gorgeous results.

Madison Ave Kansas City, MO, 64111. 816.946.8484 Georgous 4505 georgouskc.com Aesthetic Bar

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The Face of

Multi--generational Wealth Management Bill Eckert, CAP®, Renaissance Financial

When it comes to Multi-generational Wealth Management, Bill Eckert, Senior Financial Advisor at Renaissance Financial, understands how hard you have worked to save for your future and protect your family. The multi-generational wealth management of business succession, legacy planning and personal values takes a skillful and experienced team to help families coordinate. Bill helps with insurance and investment management, banking, philanthropy and coordinating the legal issues, tax issues, and accounting procedures with tax and legal professionals. He and his colleagues are proud to serve the families of Kansas City in their multi-generational wealth management.

Inclusion on this list is a paid advertisement. Inclusion on this list does not bear on the financial qualifications, skill, experience or knowledge of your advisor, does not relate to the provision of financial advice and services, and is not based on any particular training, education, or subject matter expertise. Working with this firm and individual is not a guarantee of future financial results. Investors should conduct their own evaluation. Financial advisors do not provide tax/legal advice. You should consult your tax/legal advisor regarding your own specific tax/legal situation. Bill is a registered representative and investment advisor representative of Securian Financial Services, Inc. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Securian Financial Services, Inc. Member of FINRA/SIPC. Renaissance Financial Corporation is independently owned and operated. 04.2023 DOFU 5638540.

College Blvd., Suite 350, Overland Park, KS 66210. 913.322.9177 Renaissance 7500 renaissancefinancial.com. bill.eckert@rfconline.com Financial

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The Face of

Personal Injury Litigation Steve Gorny

Steve Gorny is the founding member of the Gorny Dandurand law firm. He graduated magna cum laude from Washburn University School of Law in 1994. Prior to attending law school, he earned bachelor’s degrees in political science and sociology from Miami University.

Throughout his career, Steve’s trial work has brought about unprecedented results.

The most notable being the representation of a young boy severely injured at a daycare.

Steve secured a verdict on his behalf of more than $41,000,000, which is believed to be the largest single-plaintiff verdict in Kansas history. He and partner Christoper Dandurand’s areas of expertise include car and truck accidents, premises liability, medical negligence and wrongful death.

Gorny Dandurand provides personable, intelligent counsel to those who have experienced a tragic situation resulting in serious injury or death. The lawyers and staff have decades of experience guiding clients from case intake through complex jury trials.

Steve Gorny has received countless awards, including Best Lawyers in America (Lawyer of the Year twice), and Super Lawyers. Other noteworthy distinctions include the Missouri Association of Trial Attorney presidency, membership in AAJ’s Interstate Trucking Litigation Group and serving on the advisory board of the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys. In June of 2023, Steve was awarded the prestigious Thomas G. Strong Trial Attorney Award by the Missouri Association of Trial Attorneys.

Gorny Dandurand

4330 Belleview Avenue, Suite 200, Kansas City, MO 64111. 816.756.5071 gornydandurand.com

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The Face of

Design & Remodel

Anthony & Abby Myers For the past eight years, KCBR Design-Remodel has been providing the utmost in quality, custom design, and remodeling services for all types of homes. The business is a full-service residential remodeling company with an in-house team ready to tackle any project.

Our motto is “Your project, Our passion.”

We stand behind that motto in everything we do. Our award-winning team is dedicated to changing the perception of the remodeling industry one homeowner at a time. We love getting to know our clients and their preferences and bringing them to life in a timely, friendly and affordable way.

8317 Melrose Dr, Lenexa, KS 66214. 913.717.5872 remodelkc.com Your Project, Our Passion

86 KANSAS CITY SEPTEMBER 2023 NOVEMBER 2023

Award Winning and Top Rated Design and Remodel Firm.

The Face of

Laser Vision Correction

William C. Cheek, OD, Jason E. Stahl, MD, Kelly F. Grosdidier, OD Durrie Vision is a refractive surgery center and research facility specializing in laser vision correction to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia. Offering the most advanced combination of diagnostic and treatment technology available, Durrie Vision is dedicated to delivering exceptional results through customized vision correction procedures, including SBK advanced LASIK, EVO ICL™, Refractive Lens Exchange and Refractive Cataract Surgery.

Why choose Durrie Vision? • Phenomenal patient experience • World-class doctors • The best available technology When it comes to patient care, Durrie Vision pays attention to the little details that make a big difference.

Visit www.durrievision.com to schedule your complimentary consultation.

College Blvd., Suite 201, Overland Park, KS 66210. 913.491.3330 Durrie Vision 8300 durrievision.com

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The Face of

Pediatric Dentistry Michael LeBlanc, DDS

Dr. Michael LeBlanc formed LeBlanc & Associates Dentistry for Children in 2005 to create the best dental experience for infants, children and adolescents, including those with special healthcare needs. Dr. LeBlanc, along with his team of Board Certified Pediatric Dentists, pledge to do all they can to set your child up for a lifetime of dental success, by showing them that their dental appointments can be a fun, positive, and rewarding experience. Dr. LeBlanc completed his pediatric dental residency at Children’s Mercy Hospital and actively participates in dental educational research to continue to provide the highest level of dental care.

City | Olathe | Overland Park | Prairie Village. 913.387.3500 LeBlanc & Associates Kansas kidsmilekc.com Dentistry for Children

SEPTEMBER 2023 2023 88 KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER

The Face of

Sports & Spine Medicine

C. Lan Fotopoulos, MD Dr. C. Lan Fotopoulos is an interventional physiatrist who’s been voted “Super Doc” ten years in a row. He is board-certified in physical medicine, pain medicine and sports medicine. He specializes in minimally invasive and interventional procedures in the treatment of spinal disorders, including epidural injections, radiofrequency ablation, vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty and spinal cord stimulation. He has a background as a diver in the U.S. Navy and expertise and board certification in hyperbaric and diving medicine.

Kansas City Orthopedic Alliance

3651 College Blvd., Leawood, KS, 66211. 913.319.7668 kcorthoalliance.com

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The Face of

Commercial Real Estate David Block

Since 1975 David Block has been working in commercial real estate brokering some of the most high-profile transactions such as Hallmark, Houston’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods. He is the principal of one of the Midwest’s leading, full-service real estate brokerages, specializing in commercial development with a special interest in hospitality, restaurant and retail. He is also involved in build-to-suit shopping centers and industrial buildings.

605 W 47th Street, Ste 200, Kansas City, MO. 64112. 816.753.6000 Block & blockandco.com Company, Inc.

90 KANSAS CITY SEPTEMBER 2023 NOVEMBER 2023

The Face of

Weight Loss Rick Tague, MD, MPH Caleb Tague, MD, MPH Kari Brown, APRN Dr. Tague’s Center for Nutrition is a locally owned, family-operated medical clinic specializing in Medical Weight Loss, Nutrition, and “Optimum Health”. It is led by Rick Tague MD, MPH, Caleb Tague MD, MPH, and Kari Brown APRN. Rick Tague, MD, MPH and Caleb Tague, MD, MPH are both certified by the American Board of Obesity Medicine and the American Board of Family Medicine and hold Master’s Degrees in Public Health. Their passion is helping people reach optimum health using thorough evaluations, cutting edge nutrition, medical weight management, and personalized care plans. Founded in 1996, the Center for Nutrition & Preventive Medicine has assisted over 35,000 patients in their pursuit of weight loss and improved health.

The Center for Nutrition

4963 W 135th St, Leawood, KS 66224. 913.814.8222 TagueNutrition.com

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The Face of

Residential Development

Rodrock Development: Brian Rodrock, Jeff Reglin, Jeff Gifford A name synonymous with integrity in the Kansas City area for nearly 40 years, Rodrock is dedicated to helping families find a place to match their life and style. Brian Rodrock, Jeff Reglin and Jeff Gifford grew up and raised their families in Johnson County and contribute to the communities where they live, work and play. Rodrock’s breadth and depth of experience is thoughtfully and intentionally incorporated into the planning of its signature communities that are rich in amenities and embrace the best in family living. Rodrock is honored to have earned the trust of thousands of families with one of life’s most important decisions—where to call home.

Rodrock Development 92

SEPTEMBER 2023 2023 KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER

9550 Dice Lane, Lenexa, KS 66215. 913.681.2121 rodrock.com

The Face of

HVAC, Electric & Plumbing Whether you need your air conditioner or furnace fixed, light switches installed, or even your sewer repaired, you can trust the team at MVP! MVP is a part of the Southwind family of businesses and believes in doing things the right way, not the easy way.

Since they joined Southwind in the fall of 2019, MVP has grown exponentially and has been voted Kansas City’s Best Electricians and Plumbers twice. As a homeowner, you never know when you’ll have an emergency when it comes to your AC, heat, electrical or drains. But one thing you do know is that you can ALWAYS trust your MVP! Rated A+ by the Kansas City Better Business Bureau and almost 3,000 Google Reviews, your MVP comfort advisor is available 24/7 and works hard to assure you are satisfied!

MVP Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing & Electric

9851 Widemer Rd., Lenexa , KS 913.210.2816. themvpkc.com

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The Face of

Medical Imaging Nicole Brooks, CEO

As CEO of St. Louis-based Professional Imaging, Nicole Brooks has spearheaded the brand’s expansion into Kansas City, emphasizing top-tier diagnostic prowess and exceptional patient care.

With the advantage of being a privately owned center, Professional Imaging offers MRI, CT, and X-ray services at a significant cost-saving over hospital-owned facilities. Patients often see savings of up to one-third off of the cost for the exact same services at other facilities. Professional Imaging can provide these low-cost services without skimping on innovation or patient care. Client imaging is examined by sub-specialty trained radiologists on the most advanced equipment, such as the cutting-edge 3T MRI. Nicole’s commitment to technology matches her dedication to dignified patient treatment. Their stellar Google reviews attest to their excellence.

Professional Imaging SEPTEMBER 2023 2023 94 KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER

3 E Armour Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64111, 816.601.4440 pi-kc.com

The Face of

Sleep Medicine Maniza Ehtesham, MD Dr. Maniza Ehtesham is a board-certified sleep physician and the medical director at Excellhealth Sleep Center. She is an associate professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and enjoys teaching medical students. She has also served as an associate residency program director at UMKC. She is currently a staff physician at Advent Health Shawnee Mission and Excellhealth Sleep Center. Excellhealth Sleep Center offers comprehensive sleep care services for patients in and around Johnson County and is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Excellhealth provides sleep consultations, as well as home sleep studies and in-lab sleep studies. If you or a family member or friend has a problem with snoring, insomnia, sleep apnea, or any other sleep-related disorder, Excellhealth has treatment options for you.

ExcellHealth Sleep Center

10640 W 87th St., Overland Park, KS 66214. 913.203.4040 excellhealthsleep.com

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The Face of

Your Best Move Ever When it comes to the best moving experience in the city, look no further than You Move Me Kansas City, a part of the Southwind family of businesses. You Move Me continues to revolutionize the moving industry.

They have completed over 22,000 moves since 2020 and have been voted Kansas City’s Best Moving Company year after year. They work with HGTV Star and Kansas City’s own Tamara Day and have even moved local celebrities such as Travis Kelce. You Move Me continues to develop and train their people to become leaders and have already expanded into other territories outside of Kansas City. Whether you’re moving across town or even across the country, You Move Me will make it your Best Move Ever!

You Move Me 96 KANSAS KANSAS CITY CITY NOVEMBER SEPTEMBER 2023 2023

9875 Widmer Rd., Lenexa, KS 66215. 913.708.8744 youmoveme.com

EATING AND DRINKING WELL IN KANSAS CITY

TASTE

PHOTOGRAPH BY CALEB CONDIT AND REBECCA NORDEN

Spectacular Spuds From a purely economic vantage, Thomas Clark, the TC of TC’s Fully Loaded, seems to be onto something. Potatoes are cheap and filling. But Clark has taken the potato concept one step further.

Served from his food truck, which makes stops around town at places like Made Mobb on Southwest Boulevard and the Price Chopper on Bannister Road, Clark has added an assortment of thematic toppings to his spuds, creating something not only hearty but also tasty.

The Mr. Krabz, a baked potato topped with crab, is unexpectedly delicious, and the ability to find such flavorful crab meat outside the Midtown Crab District is a pleasant surprise. And if the crab wasn’t enough, it’s topped off with a layer of sauced, snappy shrimp that makes you feel like you could be in New Orleans’ French Quarter.

Surprisingly, the potato skin might be the best part. It’s slightly charred and then rolled in savory seasonings that are also sold separately via TC’s online store.

Clark started selling potatoes from his apartment and migrated online during the pandemic. Now in the truck, Clark broadcasts his upcoming locations on social media. We hope the rumors are true and there is a brick-andmortar location in this potato purveyor’s future, but until then, check their Facebook and Instagram @tcsfullyloaded for weekly locations.–RYAN REED KANSASCITYMAG.COM NOVEMBER 2023

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TA S T E R E V I E W

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Pictured: Noka’s design was inspired by the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi, which means appreciating and embracing the perfectly imperfect.

Nuclear Fusion After some struggle, Noka is on track to be KC’s trendiest dining experience.

BY TYLER SHANE PHOTOGRAPHY BY CALEB CONDIT AND REBECCA NORDEN

F U S I O N C U I S I N E has been popular—and divisive—for

some time now. There’s no room for a purist’s mentality when dishes like Mexican sushi or barbecue egg rolls appear on the menu. The genre is an infinite experiment that is occasionally bound to go wrong but can also go very well.

Restaurateur and chef Amante Domingo knows this all too well as he tries his hand at Asian fusion with his newest endeavor, Noka, a fine dining restaurant in downtown’s Martini Corner.

Noka’s chic interior alone gives the spot an exciting pulse, but the food has struggled to catch up with its fine-tuned ambiance since opening six months ago.

A recent menu change, however, proves Domingo has the chops to successfully execute his vision for the modern fusion restaurant.

Chef Domingo has a successful track record with his well-regarded breakfast and lunch spot The Russell.

He also co-opened the classic French bistro Tailleur alongside chef Heather White. Both serve elevated classics, but with Noka, Domingo takes a risk with an idiosyncratic approach.

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TA S T E R E V I E W

Prepare for a “we’re not in Kansas anymore” moment as soon as you open Noka’s cumbersome black doors and step into its sleek, contemporary yet earthy dining room. Past the host stand is a staggering display of massive rough-hewn Japanese clay pots. After taking in the vessel-lined wall, a survey of the space reveals various earth-toned details, such as walls lined with unfinished wood, concrete tables, brown leather chairs and place settings finished with smooth stone weights. Many of the dining room’s details are deeply personal for Domingo, such as the wood plank menus and the metal at the base of the tables. Domingo salvaged the materials from his parents’ St. Joe farm after his father’s passing, and the restaurant, in many ways, is a tribute to him.

Communal-style seating takes place around three massive rectangular concrete tables. There’s a high chance you’ll be seated next to or across from another party of diners. I was seated directly across from another couple on my first visit, but between the novelty of a communal dining experience and the large centerpieces—Japanese woven baskets of various sizes—it didn’t feel intrusive. In fact, the seating gently coerces customers slightly out of their comfort zones—a must for Domingo’s contemporary and rustic menu. If you’d rather forgo sitting next to a stranger, there are two chef counters and a full-service bar.

You’ll need a sophisticated drink to fully bask in Noka’s modern dining room, and bar manager Audra Frost’s drink menu doesn’t disappoint. The carefully selected

100 KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

Pictured: Noka dishes from left to right: Yakitori, Beggars Chicken, Miso Cod, XO Shrimp Fried Rice, Hamachi Sashimi and 40 Clove Duck.

wine list, with the likes of a Rezabal Txakoli, a notable dry white from Spain, and Breaking Bread Vineyard’s earthy Zinfandel blend, is impressive. Cocktails with names like “Whiskey #1,” which is a viscous take on the classic old fashioned and has notes of saffron and plum, are continually being altered and refined. The number refers to the drink’s latest incarnation. The cocktails are pleasant and interesting concoctions composed with ingredients like Japanese bermutto, ginger beer, saffron and sesame. Hip to the mocktail trend, Noka offers five. The nonalcoholic Umami and Zest was memorable, introducing itself with a whiff of sesame and a bright and juicy first sip. I almost forgot that I prefer my cocktails stiff.

On my first couple visits to Noka, the food lacked the same calculated precision the drinks offered. Sauces were overpowering, soy was abused throughout the menu and, despite the intriguing ingredients of beef tongue, octopus, furikake and miso, their delivery missed the mark. Some dishes were overly complex, others painfully straightforward. It desperately needed cohesion.

“It got really confusing in the beginning,” Domingo says.

Feeling the pressure to open in a timely manner, Domingo originally partnered with another local chef to get his restaurant up and running. Since parting ways recently, Domingo is back to spearheading his kitchen.

His first move? A near complete overhaul of the menu.

And what a fantastic new menu it is. What was once a chaotic list of shareables is now a menu of well-rounded starters and entrees that deliver successful complexity, all while maintaining Noka’s brand of hip intrigue. “Midwestern at heart, back to the original concept I wanted to do—kind of like rustic Japanese cuisine,” Domingo says.

From the previous menu remain two starters: hamachi sashimi and poke rice cakes, which give customers a peek into Domingo’s previous ten years as a sushi chef at the Plaza’s Kona Grill and The Classic Cup. He has a knack for balancing the rich fish with spicy jalapenos or sharp onions.

The popcorn crumble and roe, among other ingredients, are strangely harmonious with the hamachi—and just fun.

The rice cakes were fried to varying degrees each time but delivered a pleasant crunch nonetheless and paired nicely with the buttery chunks of salmon and tuna.

Tartare was originally served with chunks of Chinese black truffle over bone marrow and was excessively rich.

Now, it’s served as DIY lettuce wraps. The texture is dynamite with the addition of garlic mushrooms, togarashispiced cashews and crunchy noodles, but it’s the mint leaves hidden in the lettuce wedge that take the dish to the next level. Bursts of the clean earthy leaves round out and refresh the rich bits of tenderloin.

Part of Noka’s newfound magic lies in the interactive quality of its dishes. It doesn’t feel pretentious, however.

The skewers of chicken, or yakitori, have a smokey char

Pictured: Top left: The Hamachi Sashimi is fantastically presented on a slab of rock and meant to share.

Top right: The duck, cooked with 40 cloves of garlic, is a recipe that Domingo learned in his early years, and it continues to inspire him to this day. It’s drizzled with a plum sauce that’s full of umami.

from being marinated in a whiskey-soy glaze and cooked over the kitchen’s open fire.

Like the lettuce wraps, you’re invited to be hands-on with your food. Enjoy the paradox of ferally gnawing at the tender chunks of meat in Noka’s ritzy dining room.

You’ll have to dig through crispy lotus leaves to unveil the half chicken sitting on a bed of forbidden black rice. Jackpot if you find an aromatic fig buried underneath.

Paired with the salty, tangy hoisin and chili crunch mixture, the layers of excitement to this thoughtfully prepared dish are endless.

Every protein is cooked to near perfection, especially the succulent duck resting in a sweet and savory plum sauce paired with al dente Szechuan honey carrots.

The Asian mac and cheese is clever. The golden-orange sauce isn’t made with yellow cheddar but rather sharp white cheddar that’s been gently spiced with the Korean staple gochujang. The childhood classic continues its makeover with flowery campanelle noodles and bits of sweet snow crab.

The orange curd creme brulee for dessert is a simple and effective crowd-pleaser. A cloud of cotton candy is lit aflame tableside and melted down to create the creme’s glassy sugar coating. The brownie and rice ice cream, spiced with a bit of togarashi, feels random in comparison and is certainly underwhelming for its $14 price tag, but it may be a reprieve for those who want to give their adventurous palate a break.

Noka is pricey. But with the food now matching its interior—modern, cool and different—the price feels justifiable. On a Saturday night, it was the place to be, and service ran like a well-oiled machine even in its peak hours.

With the new menu, Domingo successfully delivers Asian fusion without spelling it out for the customer. Instead, he drops hints of his inspiration from the East with kimchi sourdough here and sake-glazed bok choy there.

Bravo to Chef Domingo and the Noka team for turning things around. If Domingo can continue trusting his vision, he should have no problem keeping up Noka’s exciting momentum as KC’s trendiest dining experience.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

INTERIOR DESIGN

| INTERIOR DESIGN

Custom Design r e n g i s e D room Show

n o i t a v o Ren n o i t a r i p Ins KCBR DESIGN & REMODEL kcbathremodel.com Interior design helps you make the most out of a space without compromising functionality, It plays an important role in any remodeling project, even more so in kitchen and bath spaces, since the complexity in these areas can often lead to remodeling nightmares. The award-winning design professionals at KCBR have developed a process that ensures a smooth experience for their clients throughout design and construction.

They often pull inspiration from the surrounding environment, as in the pictured bathroom remodel project that is situated on a quaint farm. It’s a modern take on a French country design that orchestrates a balance between polished and patinaed finishes. Handmade zellige tiles texture the shower walls and Bianco Livorno marble accent the vanity and shower. The floors are an eye-catching two-toned honed marble pattern that sets off this serene space.

NELL HILL’S nellhills.com

Reimagine your home with the expert design team at Nell Hill’s. They can help enhance your unique personal style and execute it into your home by creating your dream furniture or revitalizing an entire room. Their design studio space includes walls of swatches, showcasing designer fabrics, wall coverings and floor coverings. A statement rug, stunning wallpaper or a sumptuous fabric can function as a foundational element from which the rest of the project flows.

The swatch walls allow designers to quickly preview hundreds of options and start pulling patterns and colors that speak to the clients they’re collaborating with in the design process. From there, they add upholstered pieces, wood pieces, art, lamps, and layers of accessories to create a space that is unique to the client and feels just right. You can visit their 18,000 square-foot showroom for design inspiration and connect with their interior design services team.

Photo credit: Matt Kocourek

ROCKTOPS rocktopskc.com Interior design is an integral part of any home project. The designers at Rocktops specialize in innovative custom-work that adds uniqueness to each client they serve.

They take pride in their creative thinking and ability to deliver unique solutions, elevating the appearance and functionality of your space. Pictured is a full-height backsplash design that is indicative of their custom creations. It brings a touch of luxury to your space, exuding a highend, personalized aesthetic. Rocktops also specialize in dynamic stonework that can transform any room into a captivating and sophisticated area, redefining your home.

They design, fabricate, and install everything, all right here in Kansas City. Recognized as the Best of KC winner, making homes look incredible is what they do best!

PHAT CHANCE Phoenix is home to a KC barbecue joint that’s as traditional as they come.

BY MARTIN CIZMAR T H E S I G N O U T S I D E Phat Turtle says “Kansas City,

Arizona.” If it weren’t for the palo verde trees flanking the front door, you might think the barbecue joint was in a stuccoed suburban development outside KC. When you get inside, that impression only grows stronger—Phat Turtle might be on the northern fringe of Phoenix, but it’s awash in arrowheads, with nearly every surface painted red or gold. Finally, you get the menu and order some barbecue. The only hint that Phat Turtle is in Phoenix instead of Prairie Village is the existence of real-deal burnt ends made from the point of the brisket, a delicacy that’s hard to find even in its birthplace given its popularity and the cut’s scarcity.

It’s been 25 years since Phat Turtle proprietors Mike and Kelly Sloan moved away from KC, but their ability to recreate a classic local ’cue joint from these parts is uncanny. Maybe it’s their time in the duplication business—Mike comes from a printing family and worked as a chemist in the printing industry for many years. Both originally from Kansas City, the Sloans

104 KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

“We definitely missed our Kansas City style of barbecue, so we ended up going to all the barbecue spots around town and saying, ‘Well, it’s really good, but it’s not what we remember from back in Kansas City.’”

moved to Minnesota in 1997. After leaving the printing business, they lived full time in an RV for a few years before eventually landing in Tucson, Arizona.

After a quick move to Florida and back, they ended up in Cave Creek, north of Phoenix, just before the pandemic hit.

“We definitely missed our Kansas City style of barbecue, so we ended up going to all the barbecue spots around town and saying, ‘Well, it’s really good, but it’s not what we remember from back in Kansas City,’” Kelly says.

“That’s when we decided we should start our own barbecue place.”

The Sloans learned to cook on a backyard smoker and started developing recipes that lean on KC’s reputation for sweeter sauces and a more direct presentation. On the phone, Kelly mentions the old KC Masterpiece restaurants, a chain of four sit-down spots owned by the late Dr. Rich Davis, a child psychologist turned entrepreneur who originated the best-selling KC Masterpiece barbecue sauce. I never made it to a KC Masterpiece restaurant, but I have to imagine Phat Turtle does a pretty fair impression. I visited in August and enjoyed the burnt ends on a sandwich with a side of extra-crispy fries.

By happenstance, Phat Turtle also landed in a town known for attracting outlaws (Hells Angels founder Sonny Barger and rapper DMX) and Midwestern football bars. This place is also home to two landmark NFL bars: the Buffalo Chip Saloon (Packers) and Harold’s Cave Creek Corral (Steelers).

Phat Turtle can be added to the mix, opening in time to take advantage of the Mahomes and MaAuto era. It has a massive billiards room that gets rowdy during Chiefs games. It got supercharged when former Chiefs kicker Nick Lowery, a three-time Pro Bowler in the eighties who was inducted to the team’s ring of honor, stopped by to watch a few games “He lives out here now, in Scottsdale, and came by a few times and said ‘this place is great’ and started telling his friends,” Kelly says. “He pops in every once in a while, and that really helped it grow.”

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARTIN CIZMAR

TA S T E ’CU E C A R D

SPREADING JOY, one delicious bite at a time Catering traditional holiday classics with a chef-driven BBQ twist.

Book online

TODAY! MIDTOWN 1000 W 39th St, Kansas City, MO 816-255-3753

SOUTH 11051 Antioch Rd, Overland Park, KS 913-951-4500

TA S T E DR I N K

SUGAR AND SPICE B Y R A C H E L L AY T O N

Stacie Robertson, is known for its assortment of over 100 whole-leaf loose teas, each with its own set of natural health benefits. One such tea is the bestseller Sugar Cookie (formerly called Gingersnap).

Sugar Cookie has all the feeling of a sweet treat without any of the carbs or sugar. Composed of South African rooibos blended with walnuts, almonds, coconut, papaya and pineapple, Sugar Cookie is described as fragrant and reminiscent of your favorite cookie.

Not only that, but this herbal fruit spice blend is high in antioxidants and popular for its anti-aging properties.

The Tea Market sells teas by the ounce, and they can be bought both in-store and online. Unfamiliar with loose leaf teas? No problem: Tea Market has tea spoons, infusers and teapots to get you started, and their employees are full of advice. New teas are regularly added to the lineup, so when you visit, be sure to keep an eye out for their upcoming tea—Chiefs Dynastea.

106 KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

PHOTOGRAPH BY ZACH BAUMAN

T E A M A R K E T I N Brookside, owned and operated by

Profile Your Practice

An opportunity to highlight your area of expertise

Reach New Patients Promote you and your team alongside this well respected list of medical professionals

COMING

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To p D o c s 2 0 24 Now booking space in one of the most popular issues of the year.

EMAIL FOR MORE INFORMATION ANGIE@KANSASCITYMAG.COM

TA S T E PER FECT DAY

P E R F E C T DAY Breakfast Pizza: I get up in the morning and do a 7:30 am class at F45 Training in downtown OP. I love the people there.

Then, I go to Copps Pizza and have either the French toast or the pepperoni lovers pizza.

Shopping: One of my favorite stores is The Chic Closet, specifically the one located in Threshing Bee in OP’s Prairiefire.

They have a lot of trendy stuff, and they’re coming out with gamewear that I’m excited to get. I recently got these Chiefs bags that I’ve been wearing to the games, and I get a lot of compliments.

Work Meeting: I’ll meet up with Ted at Buck Tui. He’s not just my client; he’s my content partner. We’ll have a bite to eat—their Tiger Cry Beef is amazing—then we’ll go somewhere to film content.

Restaurant Highlight: Ted and I recently visited Taco Naco’s new Westport location. They have a huge taco platter with the most amazing variety. Chef Fernanda is from Mexico, so she has an authentic perspective but knows her community, so she creates her tacos specifically for Kansas City.

BRANDING KC Influencer Adriana Davalos is here to show KC the future of marketing

BY TYLER SHANE I T ’ S E A S Y T O underestimate the influence of, well, influencing. There’s a stigma against

those who always seem to have their phone in their hand, but Adriana Davalos, also known as @kclifestylegirl, has turned it into a thriving full-time gig. The media powerhouse is showing KC the value of social media and its future in marketing one collaboration at a time.

“Influencers are the new media platform,” Davalos says. “My brand is all about showcasing the Kansas City community, sharing how my life fits in it, what’s new, what’s trending, what’s hot and what’s relevant.”

Her content may include interviewing Travis Kelce at the NFL Draft or promoting one of her clients through a TikTok video. As a former co-host and producer of Fox4’s lifestyle segment Great Day KC, Davalos is well versed in keeping locals current on what makes their city great. Before settling in KC, she spearheaded lifestyle shows for local news stations in Wisconsin and North Carolina.

“There’s so much life to Kansas City,” Davalos says. “I love being embedded into the community. That’s the most important thing for me.”

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Since leaving Fox4 to pursue social media marketing full time, Davalos has become a “digital host” through her platforms, comparing them to TV channels. Similar to other media outlets, influencers have access to resources and audiences that a local business may not. When the KC socialite teams up with a small local business, she finds a way to document their services and showcase it in a “digestible” way to her followers, all while having an intuitive idea of what’s going to catch the public’s eye.

When Davalos recently became the marketing manager for Ted and Pam Liberda’s Thai barbecue restaurant Buck Tui and their food truck Sandos Shack, she created the usual eye-catching food content but also started a new practice. She and Ted began documenting themselves visiting other restaurants and trying their food for fun, maybe even hanging out with the owners and getting an insider’s experience. It parallels something you might watch on Food Network, but shorter and without the production fuss.

The series may not sound revolutionary, but its easygoing and entertaining nature is a new way of inspiring connection and promotion between chefs and KC businesses.

The videos have already resulted in menu collabs, including Ted’s Thai-inspired barbecue pizza for Buffalo State Pizza Co. “It’s exciting, and I think this is the future of restaurants here in Kansas City—more collaboration and creating unique dishes that haven’t been created before,” Davalos says.

PHOTOGRAPH BY LAURA MORSMAN

Shooting Content: The Plaza is just the perfect place to shoot photos or headshots and get the lifestyle look of enjoying KC and being out shopping and dining.

Never underestimate the human spirit.

1ST GRANDSON IN THE FAMILY.

4 NIGHTS IN THE NICU.

LIMITLESS POTENTIAL.

Where does the human spirit live? In warm cuddles? In timeless moments? In new beginnings?

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TA S T E B I T E S

Sushi Kodawari

Matt Shatto at Betty Rae’s Ice Cream

Three’s the Charm

WHAT’S NEW IN KANSAS CITY FOOD & DRINK

BY T Y L E R S H A N E

Chef’s Choice You may have heard of omakase-style dinners, a Japanese dining experience where each dish is based on the chef’s choice, but standalone omakase restaurants have yet to make an appearance in KC—until now.

Sushi Kodawari, an omakase-style restaurant with only eight seats, plans to debut in the Crossroads by the end of the year, “When I was looking into coming back to the city, I was really kind of surprised to see that there was nobody in Kansas City really doing this concept,” says Sushi Kodawari owner and chef Karson Thompson. “It looked like there was a gap to fill in the Kansas City market.”

Sushi Kodawari (2100 Central St., KCMO) will emulate the typical Tokyo-style sushi restaurant atmosphere and experience with seasonal fish and an intimate dining room where customers can view the chef preparing their entire meal.

“Everything is very transparent,” Thompson says. “You can see everything being made and the ingredients being used. You can see me grind the real fresh wasabi root, not rehydrate something from a packet.”

Omakase loosely translates to “I leave it to you” in Japanese and originated in reference to Tokyo’s sushi restaurants.

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Thompson’s supply chain involves speaking directly to folks on the ground at Tokyo’s fish market so they can relay the best catch of the day and send it to KC with haste.

“You really get to watch the life cycle of the ocean as it shows up in the various different fish that we will have the opportunity to showcase throughout the year,” Thompson says.

“Some fish get fattier or leaner during certain times of year, depending on whether they’re in mating or spawning season or moving from warmer to cooler waters.”

The beverage menu will include sake, wine and Japanese beers.

Sushi Kodawari will only serve dinner, with two rounds of seating per day, most likely at 6 pm and 8 pm.

The Crossroads space is bigger than Thompson envisioned. Due to Tokyo’s densely populated real estate, it’s common for sushi spots to be “crammed into all kinds of nooks and crannies,” making them traditionally small.

Thompson, a Kansas native, was practicing law in Austin, where omakase restaurants are more popular, before moving back to KC. Sushi was always his “side passion.” He even graduated from a sushi-focused culinary school before returning to KC to turn it into a fulltime career.

Fusion Comfort Food The owners of two popular KC restaurants— Buck Tui and Waldo Thai—launched Sandos Shack, a food truck in the River Market.

“It’s modern classics mixed with Asian,” says owner and chef Ted Liberda. “Everything that we have is either classic or authentic [dishes] transformed into something handheld.”

Ted and his wife Pam Liberda have been a power couple in KC’s food scene since opening Waldo Thai (8431 Wornall Road, KCMO) in 2018. Pam, who is Waldo Thai’s executive chef, was a semi-finalist for a James Beard award this year in the Best Chef–Midwest category.

The pair continued to make a name for themselves when Ted opened Buck Tui, a Thai-inspired barbecue restaurant (6737 W. 75th St, Overland Park) in 2021.

The Sandos Shack food truck features a small menu filled with fusion comfort food.

Club sandwiches with jalapeno candied bacon, gochujang fried chicken sandwiches and pork belly BLTs are elevated with Pam’s signature Thai-inspired sauces and braised meats. A few side options are wings tossed in a spicy dragon sauce and tater tots topped with furikake.

PHOTOS PROVIDED

NEWSFEED

Under new ownership, Betty Rae’s ice cream shop is quickly expanding.

When Matt Shatto, vice president of Shatto Milk Company, bought the struggling company in May, he announced plans to expand the Betty Rae’s brand, and just as promised, he opened a new location at the end of September.

The new third location in Olathe (10470 S. Ridgeview Road, Olathe) joins the Betty Rae’s ice cream stores in Waldo and the River Market, as well as the roving Betty Rae’s ice cream truck.

Betty Rae’s is celebrating with a few fall fan favorites, such as a pumpkin spice latte shake.

The ice cream shop is known for its homemade waffle cones, ice cream sandwiches and a whopping 26 house-made flavors, along with monthly creations and collaborative seasonal flavors like Joe’s KC BBQ Burnt Ends ice cream.

Shatto also plans to make Betty Rae’s more accessible through retail sales at area grocers, through local restaurant partnerships and via the expanded outreach of the Betty Rae’s Ice Cream truck at corporate, family and neighborhood events.

TA S T E B I T E S

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Two Popular Bars Close Up Shop It’s time to bid adieu to two beloved KC bars and restaurants. The Drunken Worm and The Mockingbird Lounge took to social media to announce their closures within hours of each other on September 11.

The Drunken Worm (1405 W. 39th St., KCMO), a tequila and taco bar off 39th Street, published a Facebook post stating its immediate closure.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce the permanent closing of the Drunken Worm on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. All of us at the Drunken Worm would like to thank the community for its support throughout the years and hope that the memories and friendships created at the Worm will endure for years to come,” states the post.

The Drunken Worm, which opened in 2014, was considered a 39th Street staple and had a loyal following. The owner did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A few hours after Drunken Worm announced its closing, The Mockingbird Lounge (204 Orchard St., KCK) also took to social media to announce it was closing up shop.

“It’s been a hell of a run but after six and a half years, The Bird is closing its doors,” stated the Instagram post.

Considered a hidden KC gem, the Strawberry Hill bar consistently ranked in several of our Best Of lists, including KC’s Best Biscuits and Gravy Dishes, 16 Best Patios in KC and 34 Best Breakfasts in KC. Over one hundred comments under the Mockingbird Lounge’s post express remorse.

“A true KC hidden gem. So many great memories and delicious brunches had. Gonna miss y’all. Wishing you the best, Dan!” wrote one user.

The Mockingbird’s owner did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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SURREAL ESTATE

T H E S TO R I E S B E H I N D K A N S A S C I T Y ’ S M O S T E Y E - C ATC H I N G B U I L D I N G S

P R O B A B LY K N O W N M O R E for the flamboyant and eccentric architect who built

it than any distinctive design elements, the Louis Curtiss Studio Building is still a Kansas City treasure.

In its current slightly dilapidated state, the three-story commercial building at 1118 McGee St. is easy to overlook. Sandwiched next to a parking garage on one side and an empty lot on the other, one would be hard-pressed to realize that it was designed by one of KC’s most prominent architects and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Built by Louis Curtiss in 1909, the first two floors of the building served as Curtiss’s shop and studio. The third floor, described by most accounts as opulent and bohemian, was his residence.

Curtiss had a prolific career, designing more than 200 structures for clients across the country, including the Folly Theater, The Missouri State building for the 1893 Chicago’s World Fair and KC’s Boley Building, one of the first buildings to use a metal and glass curtain wall.

It was said that Curtiss was a chain smoker who puffed away on custom-made Turkish cigarettes that came in packages with his monogram emblazoned on them. Curtiss ordered them from a New York manufacturer in lots of 10,000. This monogram can be seen today in the medallion atop his studio building.

Curtiss was a bit of a dandy, known to wear all white clothing, cut his own hair and pay his rent with gold coins. He was also an early enthusiast of the motor car and became president of the local automobile club. He was considered a fast and

112 KANSAS CITY NOVEMBER 2023

reckless driver, often making a nuisance of himself on the city’s roads. It is also said that he held seances and fiddled around with Ouija boards.

When describing his eccentric personality, biographer Wilda Sandy wrote in her book Stalking Louis Curtiss that “he employed a large and unusual vocabulary and often used it to make grand pronouncements.” Despite much of his overthe-top behavior, he was also a bit of a recluse and would often shy away from publicity and talking about his projects.

He lived and worked in his building until his death in 1924, where it was reported that he died in his studio at his drafting table. —DAWNYA B ARTSC H

PHOTOGRAPH BY BRANDON WALDROP; CARTOON COURTESY OF THE K ANSAS CITY LIBRARY SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

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