Kansas City magazine December 2024 by Kansas City Magazine

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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

Dave Claflin

EDITOR

Dawnya Bartsch

ART DIRECTOR

Kevin Goodbar

FOOD EDITOR

Tyler Shane

MUSIC EDITOR

Nina Cherry

DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER

Gio McGlothan

ADVERTISING SALES

Angie Henshaw and Bob Ulmer

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Alex Healey

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Dominique Parsow

COPY EDITOR

Kelsie Schrader

WEB COORDINATOR

Madison Russell

EDITORIAL INTERN

Alexandra Mattsson

ART INTERN

Teddy Rosen

WRITERS

Nina Cherry, Shawn Edwards, Shauna Gilden, Molly Higgins, David Hodes, Nicole Kinning, Sophia Lacy, John Martellaro, Alexandra Mattsson, Ryan Reed, Ian Ritter, Joyce Smith, Hayley Veilleux and Kyle Wisecarver

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Zach Bauman, Chase Castor, Tim Davis, Samantha Levi, Laura Morsman, Pilsen Photo Coop, Kelly Powell, Ian Simmons and Jeremey Theron Kirby

Kansas City magazine is published monthly by KC Publishing, 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. SUBSCRIPTIONS kansascitymag.com/subscribe or call (913) 469-6700 Scan here to subscribe to our newsletter and magazine.

INQUIRIES

KC Publishing, LLC 605 W. 47th St., Suite 200 Kansas City, MO 64112 (913) 469-6700

Season!

56 Finding Closure KCK cold case detectives are solving decades-long mysteries

38 Tablescapes Creating magical holiday table settings for near-perfect entertaining 46 Cover Story: Helping KC’s Unhoused A look at ways to make a difference this holiday season and beyond

Vintage Vinyl Owner of KC’s iconic record store 7th Heaven talks about the end of its 50-year run

With this limited time offer, rates start at just $159 per night for Sunday-Thursday stays from Jan 2-March 6, 2025. Cozy up by the fireplace as you welcome the New Year. Use offer code 25Q1KC to book online:

The

good, the bad and the ugly

THIS IS THE TIME of year where I stop and pause, look back at the year that is about to close and take stock of the good, the bad and the ugly. There is always a little bit of each.

This year is no different, and this issue reflects that. So does the magazine’s 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.”

It’s a magical time of year, with holiday light displays and performances, such as the Renaissance Festival’s Knights of Lights and the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra’s musical presentation of A Charlie Brown Christmas—all of which we write about. These events represent the good.

But the bad is also revealed. In this issue, writer David Hodes looks into the metro’s cold case crime units. There’s not much worse than an unsolved homicide, leaving family and friends in anguish and a killer at large. These units actually have detectives dedicated to chasing down leads and solving criminal cases gone cold.

Hayley Veilleux Writer

This issue’s story highlighting the business behind the metro’s most extravagant holiday light displays was written by Hayley Veilleux, a Kansas City writer, photographer and teacher of prose, whose work has been published in various outlets including Sepia Quarterly and the Black Warrior Review.

Then there’s the ugly truth that we all must face, and that is the city’s homeless population. It’s not pretty, so it’s often an issue that many want to brush aside. In this issue, we chose to bring homelessness to the forefront by showcasing what people and organizations are doing to face Kansas City’s homelessness head-on and eliminate it. Here, we are tending to the city’s faults and hoping to make a difference. It’s all these stories that I mention—and many more in this issue—that make Kansas City what it is, and we embrace it this holiday season, just as we do our family.

Dawnya Bartsch EDITOR dawnya@kansascitymag.com

Contributors

Ian Simmons Photographer

Photographer Ian Simmons shot this issue’s feature on cold cases, crime labs and the detectives trying to solve them. Simmons, who likes to ride his bike on local trails, enjoys capturing a story through the lens.

Sophia Lacy Writer

A former Kansas City magazine intern, Sophia Lacy writes the magazine’s monthly Surreal Estate feature, where she finds the facts and learns the history behind some of the area’s most eye-catching and unusual structures and landmarks.

Chiefs Kingdom

A post on our Instagram @kansascitymagazine announcing that Arrowhead Stadium won Best NFL Stadium and Best NFL Stadium Food, according to USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, created quite a buzz. Most followers agreed wholeheartedly with the poll and wondered why the Chiefs organization would want to change anything.

I love this place! Chiefs Kingdom is the best of the best!

– Terri Belgard

Don’t mess with perfection.

– Mitch Peters

Don’t get me wrong. I love Arrowhead Stadium, but Arrowhead can’t stay because Jackson Country refuses to build the stadium. The offer of a $3 billion stadium and an entertainment district will win. People had better start getting used to saying the Kansas City, Kansas, Chiefs.

– Kevin Sanderson

And it’s the 3rd oldest.

– Huey Flakus

Best Food, that’s a laugh.

– Mark Ditzenberger

Hell yeah!

– Connie Cook

“My artistic life has been cultivating my art to fit my life and my life to fit my art.”

–

Crop artist Stan Herd

Numbers From This Issue

The number of tiny homes in the Veterans Community Project.

Page 50

$20

The cost of the first broken KitchenAid mixer purchased by Zach Dinicola, aka Mr. Mixer.

Page 69

1959

The year George Purucker started Creative Displays, the light-display company responsible for the Plaza’s holiday lights.

Shout Out

A big thanks to photographers Caleb Condit and Rebecca Norden for pulling together a merlotthemed photo shoot with a shoe and a wine glass at the very last minute.

Behind the Scenes

Designer Jill Tilton setting the perfect holiday tablescape for this issue’s feature on holiday entertaining.

By Ian Ritter

Photography by Ian Simmons

(Continued from page 19)

THE WEST BOTTOMS, one of Kansas City’s oldest neighborhoods, is a lot bigger than many Kansas Citians might realize, observes Bruce Holloway while sipping coffee at the motorcycle-themed Blip Roasters in the heart of the industrial district.

Just a few hours earlier, Holloway, chairman of the Historic West Bottoms Association, was at a groundbreaking ceremony held by Mayor Quinton Lucas and the New York city-based developer SomeraRoad for a $527 million mixed-use project.

Holloway says that though the new development is sizable, at 21 acres and more than 1,200 apartment units, it won’t absorb the entire neighborhood that lies underneath the bluffs propping up downtown KCMO’s western edge.

But the whole West Bottoms area—which stretches about two miles from Hy-Vee Arena straight north to the Missouri River—could arguably benefit from the infrastructure improvements, including upgraded streets, sewers and water mains, funded through Tax Increment Financing.

SomeraRoad’s planned apartments, along with offices and a grocery store, are slated for historic buildings in what’s referred to as the “Warehouse District”—a gritty, urban-looking area that’s ubiquitous in graduation and engagement photo shoots. Near Hy-Vee Arena, in an area known as the “Stockyards District,” is the only other sizable residential development. Located there is the West Bottoms Lofts, a 355-unit multi-use building.

“We don’t have a population to be displaced,” Holloway says, pointing out that the Bottoms is a rare KC area under redevelopment that’s not experiencing gentrification.

Long known for its warehouse-sized haunted houses, such as Edge of Hell and The Beast, the area has now become popular year-round,

with people from all over the metro descending on the area during the weekend to visit antique stores, pop-ups and other boutiques.

Full Moon Productions, which owns the haunted houses in the Bottoms, brought SomeraRoad into the neighborhood years ago, believing it would be a good development partner for the area. Amber Arnett-Bequeaith, Full Moon’s vice president, didn’t want the neighborhood’s unique character to be wiped away.

Arnett-Bequeaith’s family sold several of its buildings to SomeraRoad. This project will be SomeraRoad’s largest KC project, but it won’t be its first. The company renovated the former City Center Square and a River Market building at 300 Wyandotte St. into office spaces. The developer has carried out large-scale renovations similar to the one planned in the West Bottoms in Nashville and Indianapolis.

Work is beginning on new water mains along Santa Fe Street from Ninth to 12th streets. New sidewalks and greenspace, among other improvements, are also coming to an area that has been characterized by gravel and free-for-all parking lots scattered randomly about.

“Hopefully, the work will continue on the basic elements, like our roads, levy, sewer improvements, sidewalks and street signs,” says Arnett-Bequeaith, who has stressed the area’s lack of city services. “Maybe we will even see a street sweeper. I don’t think I have seen one of those since 2008.”

But despite the current, almost apocalypse-looking state of the district, Arnett-Bequeaith, who is also president of the Historic West Bottoms Business District, sees past the clouds of concrete dust.

“SomeraRoad is joining a thriving neighborhood,” she says. “Their investment will carry it further and also move our city forward in getting the infrastructure completed.”

Photography by Ian Simmons

Ready for Takeoff

A developer is hoping to create a subdivision where residents can park their private planes at home

By David Hodes

IMAGINE GETTING A hankering for a hamburger at a special burger joint in, say, Sedalia. Forget the hour and a half drive. Just hop into your Beechcraft Bonanza parked in your personal hangar next to your garage, roll out to the nearby runway, and get airborne in about five minutes or less. Crank your flying beast up to about 200 mph, and ta-da—you’ll be taking care of your mad burger need in about 30 minutes.

This might sound fanciful, but it could become reality for any home-and-plane owner at the proposed 159-acre Arrowhead Airpark near Belton at about 203rd Street and Prospect Avenue. Getting the project off the ground and navigating the complexities of developing it has been a bit bumpy, says developer and retired jet pilot Craig Wilcox, who purchased the land in 2022. Neighbors—and the county as a whole—are not quite on board yet.

Neighbors have raised concerns over noise pollution from planes taking off and landing. There have been several hearings on the project, and residents have said they chose to live in the rural location for peace and quiet, not to live near an airpark that’s literally in their backyard.

“I didn’t buy our house to live by an airport,” Greg Poremski told FOX4KC.Com at a Cass County Planning Board meeting in February. “That’s our major concern. Why are we putting an airport out at 200th and Prospect?” The proposed development is currently in an area zoned for agriculture.

Wilcox says neighbors’ concerns are being addressed through rules, such as no flights after midnight, no cargo traffic, no passenger traffic

and no flight lessons. “It’s just people’s fear of the unknown,” Wilcox says. “We say airpark and they hear airport. We think at our full development, we might have six to seven takeoffs a day. They’re going to take off and go away. They don’t hang around and buzz the airport.”

Wilcox is hoping that future hearings will alleviate many of these fears and he will be able to proceed with the development by early summer 2025.

Wilcox’s proposal is for 94 lots, with each individual owner building their own homes and hangers. Half-acre lots will be sold for around $100,000, with houses priced at around $400,000 to $600,000. The larger lots, or estate lots, are up to two and a half acres. Those parcels will be priced at around $150,000 to $250,000, with houses expected to top $2 million or so.

“What we’re going to do is write our codes, our covenants, to ensure that the airpark always remains an airpark,” he says. “That has been the bane of airparks all across the country. As they build it, they have a bunch of pilots move in, and then over the years, either through inheritance or resales, they get less and less pilots and more and more people who just want to store boats and RVs. We have considered requiring a pilot’s license or aircraft ownership.”

The lots will be big enough that a hanger can be standalone nearby or part of the house. The proposed airpark would include a 3,000foot lighted and paved runway. Wilcox is hoping to close on the lots by early 2026.

“We truly want to be a contributing member and a valued member of the Cass County community,” he says. “We’re planning a scholarship fund for probably two high school seniors per year where we’re going to buy them either a private pilot license or enrollment in an aviation maintenance school. That’s $15,000 each.”

Bringing Holiday Soul

An ice skating rink in the historic jazz district is just the latest project for Tucker Lott and The “Do Good” Foundation

By Shawn Edwards

MORE THAN 30 years ago, Tucker Lott had a dream, and that dream has become a movement.

Lott created The Soul of Santa “Do Good” Foundation, a nonprofit that assists highly functioning adults with disabilities like his late daughter, Aria Lott, who struggled with epilepsy. The foundation has grown from Lott’s vision to an organization offering a wide range of services, from doling out scholarships and grants to distributing food and providing mentorship.

To create exposure for the foundation, Lott, who imagined the Soul of Santa persona for himself, produces two large Christmas Tree Lighting ceremonies on the east side of Kansas City: one at The Shops on Blue Parkway and the other in the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District. His goal is to unite the city while helping everyone discover their inner selves.

What is the inspiration behind the creation of the Soul of Santa? The inspiration came to me from out of the blue. It was a burning desire to make a difference in the lives of people like me, who grew up poor, feeling as if Santa had overlooked me because I was “less than.” I then understood that the celebration could be shared by everyone if we all just paused and looked inside ourselves to find what makes us all equal. I found out that the inner person can drive the outer person to help make change, especially in the lives of those who are less fortunate. The one person this “movement toward good” centered around was my daughter, Aria. She suffered from epilepsy.

Do you and your family have a special holiday tradition? We make sure that we entertain someone who may be new to the city and without family close by. We bring them in and show love and compassion. That has turned into a tradition where some of them come back after they have left, just to exchange presents after midnight on Christmas eve. It’s our extended family celebration.

Why is it so important for you to celebrate the holidays with elaborate Christmas trees on Kansas City’s east side? I didn’t grow up with a tradition like that, but I prayed that I could someday give back to a community that would appreciate feeling included, right where they grew up. Every part of the city matters. Everyone’s culture matters. Everyone’s Christmas matters. The Soul of Santa is here to create an atmosphere of inclusiveness and a celebration that breaks barriers without breaking the spirit of the holiday for anyone.

You decided to build an ice skating rink in the Historic 18th and Vine Jazz District. What are you hoping to accomplish with that? I hope that every platform from which we speak shows love and sparks a move of the heart and soul. As a child, most of us could only dream about what we see on TV and the more affluent areas of the city where things like ice skating are accessible. Why not ice skating in the underserved communities? I want to add to the historic legacy that already lives here and bring back the luster that tourists come expecting to see in the 18th and Vine Jazz District. It creates options, and it’s good for business development in the area.

What is the importance of giving back to the community, and why have you always done it? This is an easy answer. Giving back comes from your spirit. I have a spirit of giving because God always replenishes the resources. You can’t beat God giving. It’s the right thing to do. And the church said “amen!”

Knights of Lights

The KC Renaissance Festival’s village turns into a winter wonderland

By Alexandra Mattson

THE HOLIDAY SEASON is an enchanted time at the Renaissance Festival’s village. With fairy houses, a castle, a pirate ship and a village of old bedecked with millions of twinkling lights, it truly becomes a magical place. The festival village is set up for strolling and packed

Photography by Arlindo Homem

with shops, food vendors and activities to explore, such as visits with Santa Claus and cookie decorating. This season, the festival will also have several special events, including the Feast of Lights, where a lavish three-course meal along with live entertainment can be had inside an igloo.

There will also be fun activities, including a costume contest, a 12 Days of Christmas themed event, glow-in-the-dark putt-putt and Snowball Alley, where people can have snowball fights. On Saturdays, there is a character parade and magic show.

GO: Nov. 29–Dec. 31, Fridays and Saturdays, 5:30–10 pm; Sundays, 5:30–9 pm.

A special New Year’s Eve celebration is also planned. For ticket information, visit kcrenfest.com.

dec

WHAT YOU WANT TO DO THIS MONTH BY MOLLY HIGGINS

1 Red Reminds Me….

Stray Cat Film Center is partnering with Visual AIDS for Day With(out) Art 2024 and presenting Red Reminds Me…, a program of seven videos reflecting the emotional spectrum of living with HIV today. The lineup features new work by

reflection and action, which uses art to respond to the ongoing crises. December 1. 7 pm. Stray Cat Film Center.

2 Hear the Angel Voices

Hundreds of youth and adults unite

Christmas performance, Hear the Angel Voices. The choir will sing classic holiday songs and gospel hymns, including a breathtaking rendition of “O Holy Night.” Audiences are asked to think of the deeper meaning of the season while enjoying the timeless carols, soulful contemporary pieces

2 Suki Waterhouse

First a model, then an actor, now a singer, Suki Waterhouse has cemented herself as a major figure in the solo indie scene in just a few years. With several hits that oscillate between poppy sounds and moody yearning, Waterhouse has become the certified cool girl of the alternative scene today. She’s hitting KC on The Sparklemuffin Tour in support of her recently released album of the same name. Bully opens. December 2. 8 pm. The Truman.

5–8 & 11–14

Jawbone Crack Quick

KC Melting Pot Theatre, a professional theater company based in KC, is closing the first half of its season with Jawbone Crack Quick, directed by Ile Haggins and written by playwright Lewis Morrow, the Melting Pot’s director of new play development. In this riveting drama, a small-town community deals with the aftermath of a tragic event, which reveals the tensions and secrets that are boiling underneath the facade of their seemingly idyllic lives. December 5–8 & 11–14. Times vary. Just Off Broadway Theatre.

6–8

Handel’s Messiah

With over 150 musicians and voices performing, this Baroque-era oratorio creates a triumphant twohour musical spectacle. Messiah, a once-elaborate opera production originally composed for Easter, is now a cherished Christmas classic. It’s regarded as a choral masterpiece, especially the iconic “Hallelujah Chorus,” which is sure to inspire holiday spirit. December 6 & 7, 7 pm; December 8, 2 pm. Helzberg Hall.

7

Artists in Conversation

At this event, you can meet the 2024 awardees of the annual Charlotte Street Visual Artist Awards, which supports outstanding visual artists living in Kansas City through cash awards. This year, the artists— Kevin Demery, Juan Diego Gaucin and Aleah Washington—will intro-

duce their practices and work at the Nelson-Atkins museum. There will then be a moderated conversation followed by a celebration of the artists over coffee and dessert in the Bloch Lobby. December 7. 2–3:15 pm. Nelson-Atkins museum, Atkins Auditorium.

7 Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Ultimate winter rock band Trans-Siberian Orchestra has dominated the super-niche holiday-progressive metal genre for almost 30 years. With their unassuming instruments like guitar, drums and strings, the huge powerhouse group is an anomaly. TSO is the first major rock band to go straight to theaters and arenas—they have never played at a club, have never had an opening act and have never been an opening act. December 7. 3 & 7:30 pm. T-Mobile Center.

10 Christmas With The Celts

After 14 years of national touring, beloved Irish musicians have teamed up with Nashville musicians to create a new, exciting group, The Celts. They perform a hybrid of Irish-Americana music, combining vocal harmonies with traditional Irish instrumental sound. In this show, they fuse ancient Irish Christmas carols and lively Irish dance, performing new Christmas hits, Celts originals and Irish dance tunes for an always-exciting performance. December 10. 7:30 pm. Yardley Hall.

12

O Christmas Tea: A British Comedy

In the tradition of slapstick comedy like Mr. Bean or Monty Python, this show emulates that same ridiculous physical comedy and silliness—and adds Christmas to the mix. Created by comedy duo James and Jamesy, the hilarious O Christmas Tea promises to put a belly-aching twist on holiday themes. December 12. 7:30 pm. Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland.

13 Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings

This classic candlelight concert features the Fountain City Quartet to bring the magic of a live, multisensory musical experience to the holiday season. Candlelight: Christmas Carols on Strings features classic holiday songs like “Deck the Halls” and “Silent Night” under the warm glow of candlelight. December 13. 6:30 & 8:45 pm. The Gem Theater.

13 The Texas Tenors

The Kansas City Symphony presents Emmy Award-winning vocal group The Texas Tenors as they perform their heartwarming holiday concert, “Deep in the Heart of Christmas.” From classic seasonal favorites like “O Holy Night” to the crowd-pleasing original hit “Bootdaddy,” the group blends harmonies and arrangements for this special holiday performance. December 13. 8 pm. Helzberg Hall.

20 Justin Timberlake

Beginning his career at the apex of boy band fever, Justin Timberlake rose to stardom as the dreamy, ramen noodle-haired frontman of NSYNC. His fame catapulted to new heights during his drama-filled relationship with Britney Spears and his split from NSYNC to pursue a solo career. Timberlake quickly became a pop sensation with his sultry, catchy tunes like “SexyBack” and “Rock Your Body.” He’s fallen from grace in the last decade, with allegations of problematic behavior and a recent DUI, but he’s attempting to make his comeback with his perhaps too-on-the-nose The Forget Tomorrow World Tour. December 20. 7:30 pm. T-Mobile Center.

14, 15 Vintage Holidays

Presented by Mid America Freedom Band at Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Vintage Holidays combines holiday music with vintage Hallmark artwork. In collaboration with the Hallmark Archives, vintage holiday cards from throughout Hallmark’s extensive past collections will be projected while the symphony reimagines beloved Christmas carols. December 14, 5–7 pm; December 15, 2–5 pm. Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

15 The Allman Betts Family Revival

The Allman Betts Band formed over half a decade ago. Consisting of three sons of the founding members of the Allman Brothers Band, they keep the family legacy and memory of the beloved group alive. The new band holds a yearly celebration that brings together various blues, Americana, country and rock artists to perform the original band’s timeless catalog. December 15. 8 pm. Uptown Theater.

19 The King’s Singers in Holiday Concert

Part of the Harriman-Jewell Series, The King’s Singers in Holiday Concert takes the 50-plus-year tradition of the five-man acapella group and puts a holiday spin on both classic Christmas hits and contemporary favorites. December 19. 7 pm. Folly Theater.

23 Frozen in Concert

The Kansas City Symphony’s wildly popular film and live orchestra series closes out this year with the family-favorite film, Frozen, screened with live orchestral accompaniment from the symphony. In the beloved cartoon, fearless Anna embarks on a snowy journey with a ragtag gang of winter misfits to find her sister, Elsa, who’s trapped in an eternal winter. December 23, 7 pm; December 24, 11 am. Helzberg Hall.

Highway to Heaven

Influential 7th Heaven Owner Exits Business After 50 Years

By Ian Ritter

IF YOU EXPECT the owner of 7th Heaven, one of Kansas City’s most notorious retail outposts for sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, to know the physics behind a gravity bong or have an encyclopedic knowledge of Little Richard’s vast recording career—think again.

Jan Fichman, the 72-year-old founder of the iconic shop, which closed at the end of November, is the first to admit he wasn’t an expert when it came to the store’s products.

Primarily known as a record store selling new and used vinyl, 7th Heaven (7621 Troost Ave., KCMO) steadily sold two other product categories over its 50-year history: smoking accessories, like “water pipes” for “tobacco” before marijuana was legal; and love goods, consisting of sex toys and other kinky stuff.

It was operationally convenient that the 1,200-square-foot store had three distinct spaces for each of these products. The smoke shop, for example, was the front-of-house money maker until vape outposts started appearing everywhere a few years back.

“I’d never smoked in my life,” Fichman says. “I didn’t even know what [pot] smelled like. I had no idea or any interest. This is strictly just straight-up entrepreneurial capital. It’s a widget. You buy a widget low, you sell a widget high.”

Those celestial widgets, which he even had his mom and dad selling in the early days when Fichman tried attending the University of Missouri, were a 7th Heaven business staple and arguably made the store ahead of its time. There were only a handful of “head shops” in the metro area for decades.

Fichman is a serial entrepreneur, and 7th Heaven’s Troost location, in many ways, was his stage. He created an experiential vibe that made customers linger, a formula that national retail chains are always seeking.

For many years, before the arrival of IKEA and Walmart’s entry into the business, futons were a big 7th Heaven seller, and Fichman still becomes animated when talking about the quality of workmanship that went into the furniture.

At its height, 7th Heaven had five locations around the metro area (Jan’s brother still licenses a Blue Springs store). At one point, the business also sold cheap used computers to Internet-hungry customers when those machines were still cost prohibitive. Body piercings were once a popular Troost location service, too.

Fichman’s passion for merchanting goes back to his father, a World War II veteran who fought the Nazis and later became an area car salesman, teaching his son how to strategically display cars on a lot. In high school, Fichman says working at Pinkie’s Ben Franklin store in Overland Park’s Ranch Mart shopping center gave him a rewarding hands-on experience, ordering products and forecasting what people wanted to buy.

Fichman got into the music part of the business by selling bootleg eight-track tapes out of his car during a small legal window in the early 1970s before the practice became copyright infringement. And musically, the store was ahead of the curve by being an early promoter of punk rock and hip-hop before they both became more mainstream in the 1990s.

Making one location work for 50 years is an incredible feat, says Frank Alvarez, another local retail music fixture. Alvarez, who has been involved in various metro businesses for 40 years, is co-owner of the six-year-old Sister Anne’s Records and Coffee in Hyde Park. He calls Fichman a “force” who did a lot to promote local recorded music back when costs were less prohibitive for bands to put out their own albums on vinyl, tape or CD.

Fichman himself fondly recalls selling albums by local rapper Tech N9ne and others in the genre, like New Orleans’ Master P, on consignment, before they blew up.

More than anything, the store owner enjoyed creating meaningful moments in customers’ lives. He remembers a man who specifically went to 7th Heaven looking for a disc by Luther Vandross, a favorite of his wife, on the anniversary of her death. “Do you know how much this means to me?” the man rhetorically asked Fichman when they found it in stock.

Fichman says he’s happiest knowing 7th Heaven expeditions “meant something to a lot of people over time.”

Enduring and Endearing

The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra aims to start a swinging holiday tradition with A Charlie Brown Christmas

By Nina Cherry

KANSAS CITY’S PERFORMING arts scene has its beloved holiday traditions—KC Rep’s A Christmas Carol and the Kansas City Ballet’s Nutcracker are among the classic festive productions that have become annual staples.

The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra wants to start a tradition that swings with another holiday favorite: A Charlie Brown Christmas. This yuletide season will mark the big band’s second annual performance of selections from the animated special.

“For me as a musician, the music from A Charlie Brown Christmas is just awesome,” says Clint Ashlock, artistic director of the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra. “I’m diving into the way Vince Guaraldi composed—a lot of it being super spontaneous—and they’re genuinely such great jazz compositions: the harmonies, melodies and hooks. Like all good music, it can be adapted.”

While the iconic compositions and swing carols from A Charlie Brown Christmas were originally recorded by Guaraldi’s trio, the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra has reenvisioned the tunes for the robust 18-piece ensemble. Ashlock spent countless hours arranging compositions, such as “Christmastime Is Here,” specifically with the members of the big band in mind.

On December 10, the boisterous and brassy ensemble will fill Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

The performance will also feature KC singer Lee Langston, who packs the house at any venue in town, whether at The Phoenix or the Kauffman Center. With a velvety and soulful voice akin to Luther Vandross, Langston has been a recurring special guest with the jazz orchestra throughout the past few years.

“There are so many fun memories for people who grew up watching the [Peanuts] special or watch it with their kids now,” Ashlock says. “We’re trying to use this concert to instill some warmth and positivity in a world that doesn’t showcase a ton of that sometimes.”

Alongside the performance, visuals from the special will be projected on screen for an immersive, engaging show for all ages. Projections include a loop of skaters gliding on a frozen pond to the sound of “Skating” and the Peanuts dancing to the groove of “Linus and Lucy.” In the future, Ashlock says the ensemble hopes to perform alongside a screening of the whole special, similar to the Kansas City Symphony’s popular film and live orchestra series.

“The special is just adorable and endearing and enduring,” Ashlock says.

GO:

The Kansas City Jazz Orchestra presents A Charlie Brown Christmas, Tuesday, December 10, 7 pm. Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. 1601 Broadway Blvd., KCMO. Tickets range from $28-$80 and are available at kcjo.org.

Photography

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By Nicole Kinning

THE COLOR OF the season might look familiar: that deep, rich shade of your favorite red-grape holiday wine. After last year’s Barbiecore wave ebbed into a cherry-red movement, this winter is all about embracing the bold, elegant spirit of full-bodied reds.

Gucci’s creative director, Sabato De Sarno, turned heads at Milan Fashion Week with the debut of Gucci Rosso, a fresh, deep red that puts a modern twist on classic burgundy. Think more oxblood—a deep red hue with a warm, cinnamon-like undertone that feels both

refined and approachable. The shade is everywhere this season, from home decor to fashion, adding richness and sophistication to every space and outfit. If you needed any more convincing to embrace this luxe, timeless color, maroon has long been associated with power and prestige. In ancient Rome, it was worn by military leaders to symbolize strength. In the Middle Ages, it was reserved for royalty.

Merlot’s jewel-like tones are perfect for layering over neutrals, adding depth without overwhelming your look. Whether you’re slipping into a Bordeaux-hued dress for your company holiday party or pairing an oxblood jacket with your favorite jeans to scope out the Plaza lights, these rich reds elevate any outfit. Pour yourself a glass!

Karl Lagerfeld’s wine-colored Monk Strap shoe

Immerse Yourself

A Kansas City-based design firm is a leader in the immersive museum trend

By Sophia Lacy

ONE OF THE NATIONAL leaders of the popular immersive museum trend, where exhibition spaces are designed to encourage visitors to touch and interact with the installations, is Multistudio based right here in Kansas City.

Begun in 1974 by Bob Gould and Dave Evans, first as DesignBuild in Lawrence, the two UK professors eventually opened shop in Kansas City. The firm, now employee-owned and with offices in several major U.S. cities, still calls Kansas City homebase. Over the past 50 years, the company has had their hands in a variety of innovative structures, from The Rabbit Hole museum in North Kansas City to the World War I Museum’s new gallery spaces.

What makes them different from other studios? Their “why.”

“The ‘why’ is complementary to where we live, where we work and where we play,” says Robert Riccardi, a principal at Multistudio. When approaching projects, one of the studio’s focuses is how the building will benefit the surrounding community.

“It starts with listening,” Riccardi says. “We really look for those areas in between—those gray areas that make connections that aren’t necessarily obvious.”

One of the projects Riccardi is currently working on is Laugh-O-Gram Studio, an old animation studio founded by Walt Disney in the 1920s. Although it wasn’t open for very long, the studio is thought of as the birthplace of Mickey Mouse. It is said that there was a mouse in the studio that Disney fed and grew fond of, and it later became the inspiration for Mickey Mouse.

Riccardi says they are looking to create a building in the former historic animation studio that will have multiple purposes, including working and educational spaces, along with a museum.

“The country is littered with small museums that may or may not get appropriate attendance,” says Riccardi. “In Laugh-O-Gram’s case, we are working to make it a working space and an educational space beyond the museum component. It’s also got a screening theater, it’s got room to host community events.”

The aging structure will become a community hub that will allow visitors to explore Disney’s legacy through interactive, living programs—not just pictures on the wall.

Like Laugh-O-Gram, many Multistudio projects have a community element embedded in the design process. Another such Kansas City project is the Satchel Paige House, the home of the late baseball player Leroy “Satchel” Paige.

The Paige House was home to the first African American to pitch in the Major Leagues. Honoring the history, along with adding value to the community, the studio plans to renovate the home to serve multiple purposes. After stabilizing the outside of the home and working with the family to create an environment inside, the team plans to create a gift shop, community room and a coffee shop.

“We’re hoping that Paige House is not only a museum, but it becomes a business incubator for the neighborhood,” Riccardi says. He sees the location as an “economic engine” that allows it to be a self-sustaining but also thriving business in the neighborhood.

“We want the house to be a jump-start to the entire neighborhood,” says David Oliver, a member of the Pitch Perfect team—a group of Kansas Citians dedicated to seeing the house restored. Oliver says working with Multistudio has been a great experience, as they are “very creative and great at showing how the house will look when completed.”

The Paige house is another example of Multistudio designers listening to the community to create an active, living space.

Laugh-O-Gram Screening Room

Satchel Paige House

Making Magic

The KC-based company behind some of the metro and nation’s most extravagant holiday light displays turns 65

By Hayley Veilleux

THE HOLIDAYS WOULD be amiss without the festive lights that adorn popular shopping districts like the Country Club Plaza or a Christmas drive-thru’s twinkling displays—yet we rarely think twice about the manufacturers that make the magic happen.

America’s No. 1 commercial-grade holiday lighting provider, Creative Displays, was born out of General Electric employee George Purucker’s Kansas City garage in 1959. Initially from Philadelphia, Purucker moved to KC and worked as a lamp specialist until he started his own display business.

Purucker was inspired by the festive glitz of London’s West End during a holiday trip abroad—particularly the sparkling crowns suspended above the city’s Regent Street shopping district. Around the same time, retail centers were popping up throughout the Kansas City area, and Purucker believed a European-style approach to the holidays would attract shoppers to locations like Ward Parkway Shopping Center and the Country Club Plaza. Sure enough, his idea paid off, and Purucker earned contracts for several J.C. Nichols developments and neighboring cities, where he spearheaded grand outdoor displays.

Purucker’s daughter, Ann, helped with the family business as well. On many occasions after school, Ann would return to her Prairie Village home and measure wire,

install lightbulb sockets and hand-make individual streamers that would attach to illuminated crowns just like the ones her father saw in England. The crowns were first suspended above downtown Kansas City streets just after Thanksgiving in 1962. The crowns were reinstalled every Christmas season from then on until 1976, when the city’s landscape began to change shape and retail centers shifted to increasingly popular suburban malls. Nonetheless, Creative Displays continued working with various cities in the area and remained a family business until 1984, when it was sold to the first of several different owners. Now a worldwide company, Creative Displays celebrated its 65th anniversary this year.

Current owner Angela Primavera purchased Creative Displays in 2017 after a long career of working and traveling globally for a large corporation. “I was able to use a lot of my skill set on sourcing, product innovation and design—in ways that could take the company to the next level,” Primavera says. “But I also thought it was beautiful that my work surrounded the holidays—something happy and traditional and that I could bring to my family as well.”

Today, Primavera finds joy in knowing that her customers are excited about the products they receive, as each of the company’s innovative displays are continuously produced with the highest quality materials—think super-thick copper wiring and a corrosion-resistant powder coating—which means the displays last for years, she says.

Creative Displays isn’t limited to creating holiday displays in cities like Olathe, Branson, Lenexa and Lawrence. They have upcoming projects at attractions like the Kansas City Zoo, Union Station’s Giving Machines, Aeropostale and the 2024 Christmas comedy film, Oh. What. Fun. starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Felicity Jones and other A-listers. The film’s production company called Creative Displays in search of a colossal bow to wrap around a building, which Creative Displays made and shipped out in June. Other recent displays include an Eiffel Tower replica seen at this year’s Olympic pre-trials, a lights drive-thru in New York and a large Christmas tree shipped to Guam.

While the lights manufacturer is based in the Kansas City metro, its products are shipped globally for most any holiday, including Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and the Fourth of July, Primavera says.

In addition to their website’s large selection of displays, which includes an animated volcano and an 8-foot-tall cowboy with a lasso, they frequently work with clients to create custom pieces. If lights are involved, the sky’s the limit.

“I think the customer service aspect is what’s most rewarding for our team,” Primavera says. “Over the next 20 years, we just hope to continue taking care of our customers and working on some amazing projects.”

Designer Jill Tilton creates an “intentional” holiday table with a mix of natural elements and simple pieces.

DECK THE

Local tastemakers give tips on elevating your tablescapes this holiday season

By Nicole Kinning

As the days grow shorter and the nights get chillier, there’s a special charm in hosting a dinner party. Whether centered around a family holiday or simply enjoying a cozy evening with friends, nothing compares to the warmth and intimacy of sharing a meal at home with loved ones.

If you’re planning to host a dinner party this season but aren’t sure where to start—be it setting the table or creating the perfect ambiance—these hosting tips from local design professionals will inspire your next gathering.

Florist and designer Jami Block sets the mood using a monochromatic color palette.

Play With Flowers

While holiday blooms like amaryllis and poinsettias are timeless, you don’t have to limit your table decor to what’s conveniently stocked at Home Depot. Jami Block of Floral Frontier encourages reaching out to local floral professionals, who can help you find unique, in-season blooms that you might not expect in cooler months—like amaranth, celosia and even sunflowers.

“Sometimes you can even find those transitioning sunflowers with a merlot center and buttery petals,” Block says. She also recommends adorning tables and floral displays with dried blooms in place of or alongside greenery. “I love using dried hydrangea as a base for an arrangement. It adds so much depth.”

Make It a Sensory Experience

Aside from great conversation and delicious food, there are plenty of ways to engage guests’ senses around the table. Consider setting a scent-enhancing simmer pot in the kitchen filled with cloves and fruit peels or, as Block suggests, adding aromatic live mint or rosemary to your table’s floral arrangements.

Don’t forget the music, either. Curate a playlist that will complement the atmosphere. Just as you would pair wine with a dish, music can enhance—or take away from, if you’re not careful—the entire dinner party experience. Start the night with some more upbeat tunes as guests arrive, then gradually lower the tempo and volume to encourage conversation. If energy begins to lag before the night’s over, switch back to those lively tracks. And last but not least: Turn off the “big light.” Subtle lighting is key to creating a cozy ambiance. Incorporate candles along the dinner table and surrounding furniture, and minimize overall lighting with soft lamps or dimmed overheads.

Think Outside the Table

The art of tablescaping extends beyond the table itself. “I always like to create a floral entryway piece and a bathroom arrangement,” Block says. “I add arrangements in areas with the most foot traffic, which usually includes a kitchen piece that ties in with the rest of the tablescape.” This thoughtful and curated approach ensures that the festive spirit flows throughout your home no matter where your guests may be.

“A comfortable table setting is one that is special but not ostentatious, and that’s always a thing of beauty.”

Invite the Outdoors In

When designer Jill Tilton is going to entertain, she first looks at ways to make her guests comfortable. “I want guests to feel at home,” she says. “A comfortable table setting is one that is special but not ostentatious, and that’s always a thing of beauty.”

Tilton likes to have a setting with dimmed overhead lighting and use unscented votive candles, as the diminutive candles elevate any setting “with their soft, bouncy glow,” she says.

Tilton, who can be found on Instagram @curatedhomebyjilltilton, looks to nature for inspiration when setting the scene for a dinner party. To create a natural, wintery scene, Tilton likes to use cranberries, oranges and evergren foliage as a way to decorate and bring the outdoors in. Natural elements are a great way to change things up without breaking the bank, she says.

Tilton

Jill

Jami Block

Designers from Nell Hill’s furniture and decor shop create holiday magic by using usual items in unconventional ways.

“Get out your grandma’s old tabletop items and mix them with some new pieces you have.”

Mix and Match Textiles

Combining different textile patterns and textures can be daunting, but Katie Laughridge, owner of home interior shop Nell Hill’s, assures that it’s not as scary as it seems. When selecting linen patterns for your table, she suggests starting with stripes: “[They] are a great place to begin because they’re a pattern without being overly intimidating,” she says. “If you want to go a little further, mix in a stripe of a different strength, a floral or another geometric pattern.” Play with pattern scales until you find combinations that harmonize. Laughridge also encourages pairing fabric textures that, at first glance, might not seem to belong together. For example, you can soften a contemporary table setting with a traditional texture like lace or velvet or contrast a rustic tablecloth with a refined placemat.

Get Innovative With What You Have

Laughridge is a strong advocate for using treasures you already own to create the perfect tablescape. “Get out your grandma’s old tabletop items and mix them with some new pieces you have,” she says. “Or use your everyday plates and serveware, then incorporate an interesting ramekin, party plate or appetizer plate.” Have a decorative sleigh that you bring out every Christmas season, only to let it collect dust on a shelf? It can easily moonlight as a festive floral arrangement holder. If you find it in your budget to invest in a few new pieces this season, Laughridge recommends looking for versatile items. “Can it serve champagne? Can it hold ice? Can it display fruits? Can it be used in a guest room?” she asks. “Always find more than one way to use things.”

Go Big

Zach Keyes, co-owner of J’adore Home and Garden in Brookside, says that extravagance is king this season. Table settings are canvases for creativity, and people aren’t skimping on anything that contributes to a curated table—whether tablecloths, placemats, chargers, dish stacks, goblets, glasses or silverware. The more embellished a table looks, the richer the experience.

Scour the Color Wheel

Instead of sticking to traditional colors such as greens, reds and golds for Christmas, sprinkle in fun pops of color around the table. “There’s a huge appetite for color, like pinks, oranges and blues,” Keyes says. “People are using a lot of untraditional colors during the holidays.” Incorporating these vibrant hues through transparent vessels like glassware or candle holders is a great way to introduce livelier tones without fully diving in.

Zach Keyes

Katie Laughridge

A CALL TO HOMELESSNESS IN KANSAS CITY

16 WAYS TO HELP

By Ian Ritter

HOPE FAITH MINISTRIES

ACTION

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

AT ANY GIVEN TIME, AROUND 1,790 PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN THE GREATER KANSAS CITY METRO. OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, AROUND 430 ARE UNSHELTERED, ACCORDING TO THE GREATER KANSAS CITY COALITION TO END HOMELESSNESS. A HANDFUL OF NONPROFITS AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE CITY ARE ATTEMPTING TO ADDRESS NOT ONLY THE HOMELESS POPULATION’S IMMEDIATE NEEDS BUT ALSO THE ROOT CAUSE. WE COLLECTED INFORMATION ON SEVERAL OF THE MOST ACCESSIBLE GROUPS MAKING STRIDES IN THE BATTLE AGAINST HOMELESSNESS RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.

Hope Faith Ministries (705 Virginia Ave., KCMO) is a KCMO-based organization just east of downtown that provides daytime services to homeless residents, as well as overnight housing during winter’s coldest months. The 48,000-square-foot Homeless Assistance Campus offers meals, showers, optical exams, haircuts and laundry. Hope Faith volunteers last year served just over 104,000 meals to 4,619 guests. From Dec. 1 to Feb. 28, the facility is open from 6 pm to 6 am as an overnight shelter. Hope Faith, a non-denominational Christian ministry founded in 2004, is seeking cash contributions and volunteer caregivers to assist in the facility, and it has an Amazon.com wish list. Find more information at hopefaith.org or call 816-471-4673.

THE BEEHIVE

The Beehive Health & Housing Collaborative (750 The Paseo, KCMO) helps the underserved with several vital social services, such as medical and dental care, behavioral health, housing support, identity documents and more. The organization partners with the onsite NourishKC Community Kitchen and Care Beyond the Boulevard—the latter offers comprehensive medical care for the homeless. Beehive is looking for donations as well as volunteers. Positions can range “from helping out with our front desk to one of our many ongoing initiatives,” according to the Beehive’s website. Donations go toward “expanding housing and employment opportunities, advocating for equitable policies around housing, law enforcement and education,” per the website. Find out more information at beehivekc.us.

SHELTER KC

With “Hope for All Who Enter Here” printed on its door, Shelter KC is a faith-based rescue mission sheltering homeless men and women. Its men’s facility (1520 Cherry St., KCMO) offers solutions for short-term homelessness,as well as recovery programs. Also near downtown, Shelter KC operates a 20-bed location specifically for single women. Women can work with a case manager and acquire job skills through life coaching and work therapy, as well as receive substance abuse treatment. Founded in 1950, the mission also offers educational and life-skills classes in combination with job-placement programs through partnerships with several local businesses. Shelter KC seeks holiday volunteers as well as donations of gift cards, planners, alarm clocks and cash. Find out more information at shelterkc.org or call 816-421-7643.

THE SALVATION ARMY ADULT REHABILITATION CENTER

The Salvation Army helps residents in need across the metro area with several services, but many might not know that the organization bills itself as the largest provider of no-cost drug-recovery programs. About 150,000 adults are cared for annually by Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers in the Midwest, including a location near downtown KCMO. The organization does this through “180-day residential work-therapy programs providing spiritual, social and emotional assistance to people who have lost the ability to cope with their problems and provide for themselves.” Salvation Army thrift store sales go toward the rehab centers’ operations. To learn how to volunteer or to donate goods or money, visit satruck. org or call 800-728-7825.

A press conference and rally at KC’s City Hall in October 2021 to bring attention to the city’s homeless population

16 WAYS TO HELP

GETTING TO ZERO

KANSAS CITY’S ZEROKC PLAN IS A MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH TO ENDING HOMELESSNESS BY

RYAN REED

ZEROKC IS THE strategic plan created by Kansas City’s Houseless Task Force with the goal to get homelessness in Kansas City to “Functional Zero.”

The plan is strong, city officials think, because it works on the premise of agreement. Right out of the gate, the goal was to create five pillars on which people agree. The first pillar is brilliant in its simplicity: “Living outside is dangerous.”

Joshua Henges, the Houseless Prevention Coordinator for the City of Kansas City and a member of the Task Force, feels like this is the most important place to start. “Kansas City’s worldview on homelessness is based on very little information and a whole lot of emotion,” Henges says. “So we wanted those pillars to be agreements. If you want to end homelessness, you have to agree with these five things. It’s why the first one is “living outside is dangerous,” because there are sizable chunks of our population who believe that people in homeless camps should be left alone. If you believe living outside is dangerous then that’s not an option. I don’t want to live in a passive system where we think homelessness is a lifestyle because it is certainly and indecisively not.”

“Functional Zero,” as the plan calls it, is a state where the city can handle homelessness in real time with viable systems and resources. The hard part about achieving Functional Zero is that first you have to deal with all the people currently unhoused. “We have at least 2,000 people who we have to get off the street, which will take a lot of time,” Henges says. “One hundred human resource hours per person is not unheard of. And we have to create the affordable housing. Then there is treatment and transitional housing. It’s a lot. It is going to take investment.”

The entire plan is available online, and Henges hopes that other cities will seek it out and find it useful. “My copyright is your right to copy,” he says.

So how can we help? Henges stresses two things to consider when looking to volunteer or contribute: “Do not give money directly to people living on the street, and do not give money or time to any group that is not directly working toward getting people off the street,” Henges says.

Henges suggests looking into groups that may be close to your heart, be that single mothers or veterans. Find the groups that are working to help these communities and read their plans. “Whatever response to homelessness you’re going to do, run it through one filter: Is the thing I’m doing going to lead to this person getting off the streets? Is it going to lead to this person ending their homelessness? That’s number one.”

MORNING GLORY MINISTRIES

Morning Glory Ministries offers free breakfast every morning at its facility attached to the gold-topped Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (416 W 12th St., KCMO) downtown. In addition to the morning meals, the ministry gives the homeless emergency assistance Tuesday through Friday mornings, offering clothing, hygiene and pantry items, help with documentation and more. Morning Glory also provides free lunches Saturdays and Sundays. The organization seeks volunteers to help in the cafe and with emergency assistance volunteering. Donations are accepted to fund a variety of Morning Glory projects, from the kitchen to capital improvements. For more information, visit morningglorykc.org or call 816-842-0416.

BISHOP SULLIVAN CENTER

Bishop Sullivan Center provides services to financially challenged KCMO residents. A faith-based concern, the organization has three pillars: food, jobs and aid. The organization runs One City Café (3936 Troost Ave., KCMO), which serves 8,000 meals a month at its Midtown outpost. Households receive assistance from two city pantries, one in Midtown and another in the Northeast. Bishop Sullivan helps unemployed residents learn the skills to find a job and also provides assistance with clothing and medical care. Its Project ElderCool provides free air conditioning units to elderly residents or those who have ailments exasperated by the heat. Bishop Sullivan is looking for donations, including sponsorship of a night at One City Café. Volunteers are needed in several areas at the center. For more information, visit bishopsullivan.org or call 816-231-0984.

FAMILY PROMISE OF THE NORTHLAND

Family Promise of the Northland offers a day center north of the Missouri River that gives housing-challenged guests free access to laundry facilities, private showers and restrooms, as well as free Wi-Fi and other amenities. Family Promise picks up residents in need via van at pickup points in the city and brings them to its facility by appointment. The program is part of a national network of more than 200 independent affiliates across the country, linked by the Interfaith Hospitality Network. Family Promise works with several Northland churches to provide guests additional support. To donate, visit familypromisenorthland.org or call 816-888-7070.

NEIGHBOR2NEIGHBOR

Neighbor2Neighbor, temporarily located in St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church (2910 Victor St., KCMO) on the East Side, serves free lunch and breakfast from Monday to Friday. While looking for a permanent location following a fire in 2023, the organization continues to offer drug-treatment, detox and housing referrals as well as a “safe place to relax and be out of the elements.” N2N also has a seasonal clothing closet that gives away hygiene products. The organization, estimated to serve about 80 people a day, is looking for volunteers in meal donation and preparation as well as help in N2N’s clothing store. Go to n2n4kc.com or call 816606-4509 for more information.

“I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CELEBRATE THE FACT THAT KANSAS CITY HAS THE BEST PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES FOR HOMELESS VETERANS, AND THE COMMUNITY BUILT THIS THING.”

TINY HOMES SOLVING BIG PROBLEMS

VCP’S TINY-HOME STRATEGY GROWS AS VET HOMELESSNESS DIPS BY IAN RITTER

IT’S NO COINCIDENCE that a KC-based organization that builds tiny homes for vets is in growth mode while the national number of homeless vets declines.

The Veterans Community Project was founded in 2016 right here in Kansas City and operates its flagship location, the VCP Village, with 49 tiny homes on a plot of land at Troost Avenue and 89th Street.

The organization recently opened tiny home housing developments in Longmont, Colorado, about 35 miles north of Denver, with 26 tiny homes and a 3,000-square-foot community center. Locations in St. Louis and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, were opened in 2023, and VCP is raising funds to build communities in the Milwaukee, Oklahoma and Phoenix areas.

Established by a group of combat veterans, the VCP provides high-quality temporary housing to help homeless vets meet the challenges of day-to-day living, resolve immediate crises and move into permanent housing.

(Continued on next page)

16 WAYS TO HELP

TRUE LIGHT FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER

True Light Family Resource Center in Midtown KCMO highlights its Emancipation Station, which provides a safe place for homeless women to shelter, as well as several in-house programs. In addition to the emancipation space, which is open weekdays from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm and offers laundry and showers, True Light operates a transitional home. The organization also provides free breakfast on Saturday mornings at Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry (722 Reynolds Ave., KCK). True Light seeks volunteers for its breakfast program and donations for its sack lunch and elderly food distribution programs. For more information, go to truelightfrc.org or call 816-381-9310.

WESTPORT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH/ WESTPORT SHOWERS

Westport Presbyterian Church’s Westport Showers program offers several different programs for unhoused people six days a week. Showers, laundered clothing, hot breakfasts and other resources are available on Sunday mornings. There are Thursday night showers for women and trans and gender-nonconforming visitors. The church (201 Westport Road, KCMO) also provides sack lunches on weekdays. Westport Showers needs volunteers for food prep, cleaning, laundry and other tasks. The organization, which started at the suggestion of postal workers across the street who saw a need in the neighborhood, seeks cash donations as well as food and particular types of clothing. For more information, visit westportshowers.org or call 816-931-1032.

KC CARE HEALTH CENTER

KC CARE Health Center is a Midtown KCMO facility that provides primary medical care and other health services to unhoused and underinsured residents. Founded just over 50 years ago, KC CARE services include LGBT+ care, women’s health, testing, screening, dental care and more. The group recently completed a capital campaign funding renovation to the campus, allowing for a 30 percent increase in patient capacity by the work’s December 2025 completion. In August, KC CARE launched a program that focuses on medical care delivery to local immigrants and refugees. Several volunteer opportunities requiring various job skills are available in the organization. For more information or to make a donation, go to kccare.org or call 816-753-5144.

JOURNEY TO NEW LIFE

Journey to New Life provides opportunities to those reentering society from incarceration. Part of the nonprofit’s mission is to accept people as they are, “providing first stop services, residences, case management and employment assistance in a safe and supportive environment.” Journey to New Life operates two resident homes with a combined 36 beds, where individuals might stay for several months during their transition, during which they have a case manager and employment training. The organization is looking for volunteers in several areas, including office help, movers, intake specialists and other positions. Besides cash, Journey to New Life encourages donations of new men’s and women’s underwear; jeans, workwear and work shoes; kitchen utensils; and more. Visit journeytonewlife.org or call 816-960-4808 for more information.

Top: VCP co-founders, left to right, Brandonn Mixon, Mark Solomon, CEO Bryan Meyer and Vincent Morales; Below: A tiny house interior bedroom

“WHAT WE’VE DONE IN KANSAS CITY IS FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE CONVERSATION NATIONWIDE ON HOW TO ADDRESS VETERAN HOMELESSNESS.”

(Continued from page 51)

With the help of volunteers, the VCP builds the 240-square-foot to 320-square-foot furnished single homes for vets, along with offering myriad other social services. It’s community-driven, says Bryan Meyer, CEO of VCP, who helped found the venture in 2016.

During the first six months of 2024 alone, VCP provided homes for 16 new veterans, helped a total of 702 veterans in crisis and gave out more than 3,400 pantry boxes. The VCP reports that 85 percent of its vets successfully transition into permanent housing. Its newsletter celebrates those who have moved on from VCP facilities and are now gainfully employed or even homeowners.

Meanwhile, in October, the total number of homeless veterans in the United States decreased 7.5 percent year over year, falling to 32,882 nationwide, according to a joint report by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Missouri saw an even greater improvement in unsheltered veterans, with a nine percent year-on-year decrease, according to what is called the Point-in-Time Count, a snapshot of the area’s homeless community last taken in January 2024.

“I encourage people to celebrate the fact that Kansas City has the best program in the United States for homeless veterans, and the community built this thing,” Meyer says. “What we’ve done in Kansas City is fundamentally change the conversation nationwide on how to address veteran homelessness.”

The nonprofit was recognized at its Troost campus on Sept. 11 this year by VA Secretary Denis McDonough, who toured the facility for Patriot Day. Meyer says that VCP is in talks with the VA about partnering with the express mission to build more tiny homes at a much faster pace.

In October, the VA announced that it had housed just under 48,000 homeless veterans over its fiscal year, breaking its goal target by about 7,000 individuals a month ahead of schedule.

16 WAYS TO HELP

U.S. VETERAN AFFAIRS

HOMELESS VETERAN CARE

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides area resources that aim to tackle veteran homelessness. Local program coordinators help provide immediate food and shelter, job training, support with societal reentry from jail, addiction treatment and other services are provided by the VA. Mobile food pantries make weekly visits to both the Kansas City VA Medical Center on KCMO’s East Side, as well as the outpatient Honor VA Clinic. For information about numerous volunteering opportunities or to donate to the VA’s homelessness programs, go to volunteer.va.gov or call 800-698-2411. Online donors can direct funds toward specific facilities and programs.

BENILDE HALL

Benilde Hall helps men facing homelessness due to substance abuse and mental health challenges by offering them housing and treatment resources. The facility (3220 E. 23rd St., KCMO) opened in 1993 and can house up to 110 men, with 53 beds designated for homeless veterans. The location is one of 24 Safe Haven programs in the United States that provides a “low-stress, low-demand environment” for homeless vets. A registered nurse is on staff at Benilde Hall, where residents can receive on-site psychological services, financial and independent living skills, as well as a work program. Benilde Hall accepts men’s clothing, bedding and other items. To donate and for more information, go to benildehall.org or call 816-842-5836.

SYNERGY SERVICES

Synergy Services helps youth, teens and families around the metro area who are victims of domestic violence. The nonprofit, with a staff of 110, operates a 24/7 crisis phone line, emergency shelter, mental health treatment and transitional housing. Additionally, Synergy’s website guides patients through an initial intake to make sure they are being sent to the right caregiving location. Its facilities include a domestic violence center and different facilities for children and youth. More than 1,500 volunteers have passed through Synergy, and there are a multitude of volunteer opportunities. To learn more about volunteering or giving to the organization, visit synergyservices.org or call 816-587-4100.

THE MICAH MINISTRY

Associated with the Independence Boulevard Christian Church, the Micah Ministry (2910 Victor St., KCMO) is an outreach mission geared toward “unhoused and food-insecure people in the historic Northeast area” of KCMO. The program offers hot meals from 5:30 pm to 7 pm every Monday, along with hygiene products, clothing and access to a free medical clinic. Micah Ministry seeks volunteers, clothing donations, meal sponsorships and other goods. Blankets, tents and sleeping bags are in-demand items. Find out more information at ibcckc. org/themicahministry or call 816-231-0016.

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HEATING UP COLD CASES

DETECTIVES FIRE UP DECADES-OLD HOMICIDE CASES HOPING TO FIND CLOSURE—AND GET BAD GUYS OFF THE STREETS BY DAVID HODES

PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN SIMMONS

PICTURES OF HOMICIDE VICTIMS REGULARLY APPEAR ON THE NIGHTLY NEWS. HAUNTING IMAGES OF SMILING PEOPLE JUST LIVING THEIR LIVES UNTIL ONE FATEFUL DAY—NOW FOREVER GONE.

FOR THE FAMILIES OF THESE VICTIMS, THE QUESTIONS NEVER END: WHO MURDERED THEM? WHY? WAS IT A DRUG DEAL GONE BAD? DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GONE TOO FAR? A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY? OR WERE THEY SIMPLY IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME? SOMEONE HAS TO CLEAR UP THE MYSTERY. SOMEONE HAS TO GET CLOSURE FOR THE FAMILY. SOMEONE HAS TO TAKE THE TIME TO REVISIT AND REVIEW THE EVIDENCE AND TAKE ANOTHER RUN AT SOLVING THE CASE. THAT’S WHERE COLD CASE DETECTIVES COME IN.

Kansas City, Kansas, police chief Karl Oakman proposed the creation of a KCK cold case unit as part of the police department’s strategic plan in 2021, when he was sworn in as chief. In January 2022, the unit began its work.

The four KCK cold case detectives—Jeff Irwin, Lily Szewc, Stuart Littlefield and unit leader Captain Katie Yarsuli —have identified suspects in about 15 cold cases, Oakman says. Six people have been charged.

One of the suspects, Gary Dion Davis, was arrested and charged in September 2023 for two unsolved homicides dating back nearly 30 years based on DNA matches: Christina King, found murdered behind an abandoned building on Christmas day in 1998; and Pearl Barnes, found murdered in a vacant house in November 1996.

Detectives also suspect that Davis, a longhaul truck driver moving about the country, may have killed more. “We believe that once we’re done with the investigation, we may be able to connect him to other cases, but we still need the public’s health help with identifying all the places he’s been,” Oakman says. “We’ve reached out to other agencies going through their cold cases. But based on my experience, and based on him killing two women, it’s likely he killed more. Mr. Davis had been going on with his normal life like nothing happened until we caught him.

Left: Kansas City, Kansas detectives

Right: The firearms section of the KCMO crime lab is responsible for test firing and examination of firearms and ammunition components. Evidence and test-fired cartridge cases are entered into the database system, which allows examiners to potentially link cases that otherwise would not have been linked.

Stuart Littlefield, Jeff Irwin and Lily Szewc.

This is another example where we’ve taken a dangerous individual off the streets.”

In 2015, the Kansas City Police Department opened its own missing persons and cold case unit, eventually claiming they were so successful that they were running out of work, according to the department’s June 2015 newsletter. Yet their website currently lists about 200 unsolved homicides. The unit was disbanded in 2022 over the objections of Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.

Meanwhile, KCK detectives are methodically working through each cold case. “When you talk about a cold case homicide, one of the difficult things is not being able to share as much information as you wish with the family,” Oakman says. “Unfortunately, oftentimes that suspect can be connected to the family or someone who the family deals with every day and they don’t realize it. At the same time, you have to find that balance to where you can give the family information so you know that they feel that you’re still investigating it and that their loved one is valued.”

Family members just want to know what happened, he says. “I think that’s the biggest thing. You know they were murdered. But what were the circumstances? Who did it? Why is this person still walking around? I just felt the need to bring justice to the families.”

Solving cold cases, or “clearing” them, in law enforcement parlance, has become more viable with the evolution of high-tech forensic sciences. When DNA testing came on the scene in the early 1990s, it was a game changer, and the technology has been improving ever since, Oakman says. There have also been advances in ballistics evidence coming from the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network developed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. “We always could trace ballistics, but now we can trace shell casings,” Oakman says. “So that’s been a big advance, where we can now tell if the same gun was used, just based on the shell casing. Now we are able to get DNA off of shell casing and shotgun shells, that kind of thing. So there’s a lot of advancements that have helped us.”

There are several high-tech crime labs in the metro available for law enforcement, including the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Criminalistics Lab in Olathe, the Kansas Bureau of Investigations Forensic Science lab in KCK and the Kansas City Crime Lab just east of downtown Kansas City.

Persistence is the key. One KCK case involved a newborn found in a dumpster in November 1976. When officers responded, they found the female infant with her umbilical cord still attached, wrapped in a towel inside a plastic shopping bag. Autopsy results indicated that the infant was born alive and died within a few hours of birth. The cause of death was listed as possible exposure, loss of blood through the umbilical cord or brain trauma.

Kevin Winer, the director of the KC Crime Lab. “If you talk about the technology and advancement in DNA back in the early 90s, you needed a large amount of DNA—so large it’s not even really relevant to forensic science. Current DNA technology is able to get a DNA profile from two cells of blood.”

KCK detective Jacobs found the possible mother, now in her 60s, through a genealogy database based on the baby’s DNA recovered from the towel wrapped around the infant. By identifying genetic relatives and building family trees through genealogical research, investigators can narrow down potential suspects.

The mother’s DNA matched the baby’s DNA.

The mother, at the time, was 17 or 18. She told detectives that her grandmother took the baby and the mother never saw her baby again. The grandmother has since passed, “but we were able to close that case,” Oakman says. “From indications from the investigation, this young lady was raped by a family member or someone close to the grandmother. It was just good to get that closure last year.”

The unit has cleared that case, two other cases from 2000 and one from 1996. “It’s great satisfaction for the detectives,” Oakman

says. “That’s one of those things where it makes everything worth it, for your whole career, when you can really bring closure and relief to family and friends of someone who was killed and the case went unsolved for so many years.”

Detectives never know when or from where a break in a case might come. Oakman tells a story about cold case suspect Leon Caldwell, who is doing time in Lansing Prison for another murder. Caldwell was in the prison’s hospice care and was going to die there. “He came forward in September 2023 and said: ‘Hey, I got to get this off my chest. I killed a 16-year-old in 1996 because he was selling drugs on my cousin’s territory. I was hired to come up to Kansas City and kill him.’ Everything matched with the evidence we had, and we were able to get him charged.”

In KCK’s cold case unit, detectives are able to work on cases dating back to about 1975 with the information they have. These cases have been ranked and put in four different categories, Oakman says. The highest priority and the first category is when the victim’s identity is known and the suspect, or a possible suspect, is listed. The next category is when the victim’s identity is known and there is no suspect, but there is possible DNA evidence. The third category is when the victim’s identity is known, some evidence hasn’t been tested, and there is no suspect. In the last category, the victim’s identity is unknown and there is no suspect or evidence. “Our mandate is to review every open case that we have,” Oakman says. “So there is a point in that process that a case can get moved up if we get new information or if someone calls the tips hotline, which is always a great resource.”

Oakman says they are always looking for innovative ways to solve cases. Recently, Oakman’s unit has been considering using artificial intelligence to go through case files, look at inconsistencies in potential suspect statements and identify possible avenues of investigations.

In April 2022, a deck of playing cards— each card with information about an unsolved Kansas crime—was distributed to state prisons and county jails across the state. Each card includes brief facts about the crime and a phone number for anyone to call who might have information about said crime. A selection committee with representatives from the Kansas Department of Corrections, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Kansas Attorney General’s Office and local law enforcement prioritized cases to highlight on the first deck of 52 cards.

As of November 2024, not one case from the cards has been solved, but that reflects broader concern, says Oakman. The percent-

age of unsolved homicides in the U.S. rose from 30 percent in 1998 to 45 percent in 2020, according to the Murder Accountability Project.

Unexpected events happen all the time in the course of a murder investigation, Oakman says. In the highly publicized 2004 murder of Summer Shipp, a woman in Independence, detectives finally thought they had enough evidence to arrest Jeffrery Sauerbry, a long-time suspect in Shipp’s murder case. Sauerbry was charged, but he was found not guilty in a 2016 trial. The case is now back in the hands of detectives to figure out if they missed or overlooked key evidence. Bottom line: Shipp’s killer is still out there.

There is no statute of limitations for murder. Finding justice may take time, but the search never ends. “We have a lot of unsolved cold cases,” Oakman said during a press conference about the unit’s work. “So it may not be today, it may not be tomorrow. In fact, it may not be this year. But there’s going to be a time you may be in the drive-through line or you may be at the grocery store. We’re going to eventually get you.”

THREE KANSAS CITY METRO COLD CASES

ZACHARY PEARCE, 24

December 14, 2017

Pearce and a friend were walking home from Westport when they were approached by the suspect who pointed a gun at the victims and demanded their money. They were complying when the suspect fired the gun, killing the victim. The suspect was with at least one other person and was seen fleeing the scene in a stolen auto. There is up to a $25,000 dollar reward eligible for information leading to an arrest through the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.

STAR BOOMER, 39

February 23, 1999

Boomer was at Uncle Mike’s Bar at 49th Street and Metropolitan Avenue and got involved in a violent altercation with a man believed to be a lifelong criminal with a history of violent behavior, particularly toward women. At one point during the evening, Boomer was allegedly knocked to the ground, causing her to lose consciousness. She has not been seen or heard from since. A reward of $5,000 is being offered for tips leading to an arrest. Tips can be called into the KCK Police Department’s homicide/robbery unit at 913-573-6010 or the Kansas Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-572-7463.

TONY PAYNE, 19 July 2, 1977

Payne was found inside a residence at the 7900 block of West 87th Street in Overland Park in critical condition. He died in the hospital. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death as two blows to his head. His cold case was reopened in 2021. A reward of $2,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest. Tips can be called into the Criminal Investigations Division of the Overland Park Police Department, or through the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-8477.

Zachary Pearce picture courtesy of Kansas City Crime Stoppers. Star Boomer picture courtesy of Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Tony Payne picture courtesy of Overland Park Police Department.

Sweet and Savory

By Shauna Gilden

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON, indulge in Q39’s delightfully naughty—but very nice—salmon salad. It’s a standout on the popular barbecue restaurant’s fall-winter menu. The salad combines good-for-you ingredients and flavor into a vibrant dish made with fresh petite greens and succulent salmon, creating a savory yet sweet experience perfect for any festive gathering.

The salad is enriched with a hearty ancient grain blend, providing a wholesome base, while toasted almonds add a satisfying crunch. For a touch of Christmas cheer, tangy dried cranberries are sprinkled throughout, infusing a burst of flavor that captures the spirit of the season. Topped with pickled onions and drizzled in a zesty balsamic dressing, this salad not only satisfies cravings without the guilt but also elevates your holiday dining experience.

Q39 has a location in midtown (1000 W. 39th St.) and in Overland Park (11051 Antioch Road).

Photography by Kelly Powell

ORANGE IS THE NEW PIZZA

The immensely popular pizza pop-up Devoured recently opened Orange, its first storefront

By Kyle Wisecarver

THE NAME DEVOURED is a fitting tribute to chef and owner Jhy Coulter’s pizza company. After one bite of her pizza, there’s no chance anything will be left behind.

After several years of selling her pizzas at pop-ups around the metro, Coulter opened a permanent storefront called Orange (325 E. 31st St., KCMO). It’s primarily a takeout spot, but there is counter seating and pizza by the slice, and Orange’s innovative sides can be ordered and enjoyed on-site. Here, Coulter continues to push the flavor envelope with bold, inventive pies and tapas-style small plates. She has always sought out the finest ingredients to elevate her craft—she sources tomatoes from California and organic pork from Canada.

Coulter brings a wealth of experience and passion to her pizza-making. She’s worked at several pizzerias and trained under chef Brandon Winn, who is known for hosting the popular farm-to-table dinners at Green Dirt Farm, a gourmet Weston-based cheese company. Green Dirt Farm recently opened its first restaurant in the Crossroads.

Photography by Pilsen Photo Coop

Jhy Coulter, chef and owner of Orange by Devoured, with a slice of the Newbie pizza.

Coulter’s journey began when she traveled through Europe, finding particular inspiration in Spain. She decided then that she wanted to bring more diverse, Spanish-influenced options stateside. Her goal is to introduce Kansas Citians to unfamiliar combinations. Pineapple on pizza shouldn’t be the only daring option for locals. Coulter’s artistic anchor is in pairing ingredients that touch all aspects of the palate.

She began making pizzas at home, sourcing what she thought were the best ingredients. With her portable oven in tow, Coulter launched her pizza concept Devoured, selling at events, breweries and lounges.

Coulter feels that her Martini Corner storefront “chose her.” The space had been vacant for years, she says, and when the owners of Made in KC, who were seeking a food spot next door, reached out, Coulter seized the opportunity. Living nearby, she views the shop as an extension of her home.

Coulter chose the name Orange because she thinks the color symbolizes positivity and energy. The takeout spot greets customers with vibrant orange-accented decor, a playful backsplash and quirky art. When I visited, Coulter herself was finishing off one of my pizzas, sprinkling on the final herbs with a smile.

I ordered several pies, and they were finished right on time, their warmth radiating through the boxes. The crusts, imperfectly round with charred bubbles, told a story of hand-crafted care.

The Newbie pizza offers a rich introduction to Orange. Its deeply flavorful red sauce is made from Stanislaus company tomatoes, a business based in Modesto, California. Coulter felt that these tomatoes, known for their exceptional flavor, could stand alone with a simple sauce. She works with a distributor to bring them in from California, ensuring the highest quality for her pizzas. A homemade sausage—crafted with organic ground pork sourced from duBreton organic farms in Canada—adds a neutral, clean taste that lets Coulter’s secret recipe shine. Whole garlic cloves, caramelized shallots and a blend of pecorino, Parmesan and mozzarella cheeses complete the masterpiece. The crust, meticulously adjusted for humidity and moisture, delivers the perfect balance of chewiness and crunch.

Another pleasant surprise is the Jam Bam, a daring, unexpected combination. A bold purple blueberry ricotta made by whipping the cheese with fresh blueberry jam is a sweet counterpoint to the white sauce, prosciutto and sliced potatoes.

For traditionalists, Orange offers familiar

favorites like garlic chicken and pepperoni, each with a unique twist. The Classic Pep shines with fresh basil, a signature cheese blend of skim milk mozzarella, nutty pecorino and sharp Parmesan, paired with cured pepperoni.

The Herbie Birdie features roasted herbed chicken, roasted garlic and a sweet butternut squash puree. Coulter finds it important to incorporate more vegetables into her pizzas than what is typical. She uses ingredients like butternut squash and roasted garlic instead of the more common tomatoes and peppers. These ingredients add depth and flavor.

The Martyz Special is also a standout, with black garlic ricotta and homemade jalapeño-bacon jam. (Ask Coulter about the name—you’ll get a laugh.)

Orange’s vegetarian and vegan options are equally compelling. Coulter’s innovative portabella mushroom base and Follow Your Heart vegan cheese deliver flavor without compromise. She’s even developed a portabella mushroom sauce for her dairy-free friends, ensuring everyone feels included. She has a vegan pepperoni that she uses from BE-Hive, a vegan deli and market in Nashville.

Instead of traditional breadsticks or side salads, Orange serves tapas-style small plates inspired by Coulter’s love for Spain. These dishes offer a unique complement to the pizzas, with flavors that are both bold and balanced. The fried ricotta bites and Portuguese-style pickled carrot salad pair perfectly with the pizzas. The creamy, buttery portobello mushroom risotto bites, encased in crispy breading, deliver rich umami flavors, enhanced by a bright-green pesto dipping sauce.

The pickled carrot salad, a personal favorite from Coulter’s travels, started as a side offering before earning a spot on the menu. Its simplicity—tender pickled carrots—is a refreshing palate cleanser.

Coulter is continuing to experiment, perfecting her current menu items and planning to add more. She wants to encourage her customers to try more things and also push herself to become a better chef.

Orange by Devoured is fun, energetic and uniquely Kansas City. It’s more than a pizza shop; it’s a space that connects the community through food and creativity. You can order online or by phone and experience the vibrant flavors that Coulter has poured her heart into.

The Gamba’s al Ajillo (garlic shrimp with lemon) tapa, Portuguese-inspired carrot salad, the Jam Bam pizza and the Newbie pizza.

A Citrusy Espadin Cocktail

By Kyle Wisecarver

SOUTHWEST BOULEVARD is known for its abundance of Mexican restaurants, but right off the boulevard, in the small, eclectic neighborhood of Rosedale, there’s so much more. From an independent movie theater to a quaint coffee shop, the neighborhood is a local attraction. Its newest addition is Sagebrush (1639 Southwest Blvd, KCK), a Southwest-style bar.

The bar is the brainchild of Christopher Ciesiel and Cristin Llewellyn, owners of the popular bar and restaurant The Campground. Among its carefully curated drink selections, the bar’s namesake signature cocktail is a standout. Even on chilly, cloudy days, this

refreshing and crisp cocktail is sure to lift your spirits. Served in a stemless glass, each sip reveals notes of fruit, citrus and a hint of salt that elevate the drink’s character.

An original Sagebrush creation, this cocktail was perfected after four rounds of experimentation. Crafted from Tesoro #55, an artisanal espadin that honors traditional methods of tequila and mezcal production in Mexico, this drink offers a unique experience. Tesoro #55 is sourced from an agave plant grown in Jalisco, Mexico. The small-batch espadin is traditionally milled and brick-oven-cooked, bringing out its natural citrus and peppery notes. The cocktail is accompanied by a salty cotija cheese and sweet orange sorbet and finished with a hint of lime.

Sagebrush’s focus on intentionality in crafting this drink makes for an enjoyable experience. If espadin is your spirit of choice and you want to try something new, this is definitely the cocktail for you.

Mix Master

Zach Dinicola’s KitchenAid mixer fix-it videos have made him a social media sensation and spawned a business

By Ryan Reed

ZACH DINICOLA, the Kansas native behind the viral social media success of Mr. Mixer, got started with equal parts curiosity and spite. Now, Dinicola runs a KitchenAid mixer repair business in Augusta, Kansas, employing five technicians and servicing machines sent to them from every state and even one from Australia.

In 2019, with an eye for value, Dinicola purchased a KitchenAid mixer at a yard sale for under $20. The iconic stand mixers are favorites among chefs and can run anywhere from $250 to $700.

“They swore up and down: ‘It works! It works!’” Dinicola says. “But sure enough, I got it home and it didn’t. So out of spite, I decided that I was going to fix it, and I went to YouTube University.”

“Then, in October of 2019, one of my videos exploded overnight and I had a million views and 30,000 new followers.”

He didn’t find much more online than folks like him trying to figure it out as they went. So figure it out he did. Dinicola says he has spent more than 1,000 hours tinkering with KitchenAid machines and learning their ins and outs. After repairing and selling the first one, he acquired more damaged machines and started to see an opportunity.

MR. MIXER’S PERFECT DAY IN KC

Festival Time

Dinicola loves doing things with his wife and two kids, and his perfect day reflects it. “We try to make it out to the Renaissance Festival, so I would put that on the list,” he says. “It is a great community of people out there. No one has any ill intent for anyone—just fun and joy. I am a big people watcher, so seeing everyone there in their costumes is a blast.”

Birthday Party

Fritz’s Railroad Restaurant in Crown Center was the perfect spot to celebrate Dinicola’s son’s third birthday. Ordering with the old rotary phones and having their food delivered on model train tracks was a blast. When I asked him why it was on his list, Dinacola says: “My son loves trains, so he loved it. That was easily my son’s best day in Kansas City.”

Drinks Dinicola loves the Yard House. “I am a big craft beer guy, and they have over 100 taps, so that’s a great experience for me.”

“I was like, ‘Hold up, if people are selling broken machines, people probably have other mixers at home that just need to be repaired,” he says. “I did a little advertising and started getting some local business.”

Dinicola started a TikTok account called Mr. Mixer and made three or four videos. “Then, in October of 2019, one of my videos exploded overnight and I had a million views and 30,000 new followers.” He saw that there was an interest and a much broader market for his work, so he formed his LLC in 2020 and ran with it.

Dinicola’s success comes from a mixture of personality, trust and goodwill.

Through Mr. Mixer’s social media presence, the intimate knowledge and care of these machines imbues the viewer with faith in Dinicola’s work. He is also dedicated to fighting “throwaway culture” through self-education and repair. Dinicola and crew offer a lifetime warranty package for its repairs. “It may seem pricey,” he says, “but it can easily extend the life of the machine out to 20 or so years.”

In addition, Dinicola has invented a number of attachments for sale that can help with everyday mixer operations. Dinicola says that his work highlights the longevity and solid construction of the KitchenAid mixer. However, the KitchenAid company has made no official attempts to partner with him, he says.

BBQ Royalty

The winners of the American Royal Invitational earned a perfect score

By John Martellaro

PERFECTION AT THE World Series level isn’t easy to achieve, whether you’re pitching baseballs or smoking ribs. But Hot Daddy’s BBQ, a team from Grasston, Minnesota, earned a perfect score of 180 points for their ribs and went on to be named Grand Champion of the American Royal Invitational, aka the World Series of Barbecue.

Chief cook Kyle Kuhn and his wife, Amy, took top honors by placing first in ribs, ninth in pork, 26th in brisket and 46th in chicken.

“Winning Grand Champion of the Royal was one of the most emotional experiences of my life,” Kyle says. “My wife and I, we’d never felt anything like that in our lives. I wish everybody could get the feeling just once.”

The perfect ribs were produced mainly by skill, as the recipe is super-simple: a commercial dry rub and lump charcoal—no raw wood.

The Prairie Fresh Pig Out at this year’s American Royal World Series of Barbecue featured a ribeating contest where participants had five minutes to eat as many Prairie Fresh ribs as possible. The ribs were prepared by the U.S. Coast Guard’s competition BBQ team. The event was hosted by the sibling duo, Brad Orrison and Brooke Orrison Lewis, from The Shed Barbecue and Blues Joint in Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

This year’s winner was Zayne Wood from Spring, Texas, who beat five other contestants from Texas, Missouri and Kansas.

Unfortunately, the only way you’ll ever taste Hot Daddy’s perfect ribs is by meeting up with them on the Kansas City Barbecue Society competition circuit. They don’t operate a restaurant or catering operation. They’re in it for the fun and camaraderie. They travel the country to compete, but the American Royal is one of their favorites.

“It’s the largest barbecue reunion you can find,” Kyle says. “You get to see all your friends from around the country. It’s just a lot of fun. There’s so much going on.”

This year’s contest was held at a new site, the Kansas Speedway in KCK, which is close to the new American Royal headquarters now under construction. There were 175 teams that qualified for the World Series competition by winning a major contest during the year. A total of 468 teams, including 13 from foreign nations, competed in the weekend’s second contest, open to everyone.

Chunky BBQ, a team from Hershey, Pennsylvania, took top honors in the American Royal Open competition. The team finished fifth in chicken, 12th in ribs, 20th in pork and 55th in brisket. The win also earned the team this year’s points championship in the Kansas City Barbecue Society.

A local team from Raytown, The Slabs, took top honors in the Legends contest, a sub-category for teams that have competed at the Royal for 20 or more consecutive years. The team represents the business The Slabs, a local maker of rubs and sauces that are sold under various brand names at stores around the metro. Stephanie Wilson is the owner of The Slabs and pitmaster of its namesake cue team.

This was The Slabs’ 29th consecutive year competing at the Royal. Out of the 468 teams in the open, they finished ninth in ribs, 87th in pork, 91st in chicken, 186th in brisket and 30th overall.

Long hours of prepping the meat and tending to the pit, plus decades of experience, paid off. “One thing I always tell people about the American Royal: It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” Wilson says.

Newsfeed

What’s new in Kansas City food and drink

By Joyce Smith

Kelly Magee named Restaurateur of the Year

Kelly Magee, owner of Q39 barbecue restaurants, was named the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association 2024 Restaurateur of the Year.

The association surprised Magee with the award at Q39’s original Midtown location (1000 W. 39th St., KCMO). Past winners of the award include Richard and Theresa Ng of Bo Lings Chinese Restaurant; Jack Fiorella of Fiorella’s Jack Stack Barbecue; Rick Renfro and Louie Riederer of Johnny’s Tavern; Domhnall Molloy and Andy Lock of Summit Grill; and Gregg Johnson of Minsky’s Pizza Cafe & Bar, Osteria Il Centro and Eggtc restaurants.

Criteria for the award include being a member in good standing of the association, community-minded and active in civic affairs, passionate about building a positive image for the food service industry and in business for more than 10 years.

Magee’s late husband and co-founder, Rob Magee, earned a degree from the Culinary Institute of America and worked as a hotel executive chef and food and beverage director for 30 years. He also won numerous national barbecue championships and honors.

He combined those experiences in Q39, which he opened with Kelly in 2014. They added an Overland Park restaurant (11051 Antioch Road, Overland Park) in 2018.

The restaurants focus on wood-fired championship barbecue. They are the area’s first barbecue scratch open kitchen restaurants with no microwaves. The cocktail program emphasizes local liquors, along with beers and wine. It also offers full-service catering.

Kelly continues to lead Q39, following Rob’s passing from cancer in 2021. She says she’s a “reluctant restaurateur.”

Newsfeed

(Continued)

Power and Light District getting a refresh and a new restaurant

Developers of the Power and Light District announced plans to renovate the entertainment district, recently unveiling plans that include a new restaurant.

The $10 million project will mostly include upgrades to the Kansas City Live! Block entertainment venue, which has about 6 million visitors a year. The venue hosts popular series such as the Miller Lite Hot Country Nights concert series and the NCAA’s men’s and women’s Big 12 basketball tournaments.

The new Latin-inspired restaurant, Besos y Abrazos (which translates “hugs and kisses”) will open in spring 2025. The venue will offer shareable plates such as Brazilian cheese bread with charred tomatillo crema, loaded tostones with braised beef and pico de gallo, Cuban steak tacos, house-made empanadas and more. Sangria will be made with premium Spanish wines, and there will be tropical rum- and tequila-based cocktails with colorful garnishes. Hours have not been finalized.

A previously announced new tenant, The Yard Milkshake Bar, is scheduled to open in early 2025.

Popular Strip’s Chicken is expanding

Restaurateur Todd Johnson is expanding his popular Strip’s Chicken & Brewing spot with a new place in Lenexa (12804 Santa Fe Trail Drive, Lenexa).

His Strip’s Chicken opened in November, joining sister operations in Merriam and Olathe.

“I’ve had eight years to perfect the food we are offering and a year to perfect our mixed drinks and the beer we have come up with,” Johnson says.

Chicken strips and fries are Strip’s top sellers. Instead of chicken tenders, Johnson uses hand-cut chicken breast strips with a handcrusted pretzel breading.

House-made pork tenderloins—hand-cut in house from fresh, never frozen USDA No. 1 pork loin—come with his secret sauce described as a zesty mayo. He also has the Squeal Parmesan, a pork tenderloin with marinara, mozzarella and Parmesan. The Big Piggy has two pork tenderloins instead of a bun. “It’s kind of crazy—three or four meals in that,” Johnson says.

Pork burgers are made from 100 percent whole flame-grilled pork loin. Johnson’s signature pulled pork, smoked for 13 hours over local pecan wood, comes with strawberry barbecue sauce and onion strings. The menu also includes jumbo wings, bowls, honey-kissed crispy nuggets, chicken sandwiches and wraps, and chicken Parmesan.

Johnson first opened Strip’s in a former Wendy’s at 1110 E. Santa Fe St. in Olathe in 2016. In late 2023, Johnson opened a Strip’s in Merriam, near IKEA. It features a Kansas City Chiefs “fan cave” for watch parties.

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The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. We limit the lawyer ratings to those who can be hired and retained by the public, i.e., lawyers in private practice and Legal Aid attorneys.

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LITIGATION FOCUSED. RELATIONSHIP DRIVEN.

The attorneys at the Nash & Franciskato Law Firm have dedicated their careers to helping people who are seriously injured by others. Our practice is nationwide and includes cases involving automobile and trucking accidents, wrongful death, class actions, products liability, and defective drugs and medical devices.

Dean Nash, Brian Franciskato and Randy James bring over 100 years of combined legal experience helping clients. We have gained local and national recognition and are routinely asked by other attorneys to act as lead counsel or co-counsel in complex cases against some of the world’s largest corporations. We have the technology and resources of much larger firms, enabling us to be successful against multibillion-dollar corporations, while still providing individual attention to each client.

The lawyers, paralegals, assistants and other staff at Nash & Franciskato all strive to build trusted relationships with every single client, from day one. Our clients are more than an inventory. Each client is given individual attention as we help guide them through the legal process, so they can focus on their recovery.

DEAN E. NASH*

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TOP 50 KANSAS CITY

Adams, Robert T.

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Brady, Maureen

Cannezzaro, Nikki

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Fisher, Nicole M.

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Hershewe, Thomas

Hobbs, James R.

Holman, Kirk D.

House, Aaron M.

Johnson, Eric L.

Johnson, Todd

Kanatzar, Jill A.

Ketchum, Amanda Pennington

Mayer, David M.

Morgan, Melanie S.

Nail, Roger D.

Norman, Phyllis

Playter, Eric S.

Rader, Michael C.

Redfearn, III, Paul L.

Robb, Gary C.

Robertson, Susan Ford

Rose, Jared A.

Rottinghaus, Thomas A.

Scharnhorst, Todd A.

Schiavone, Anne W.

Schultz, John G.

Sternberg, Jonathan

Stevens, Shea E.

Turner, John E.

Votava, Brett T.

Wendt, Samuel M.

Williams, Michael A.

Wullschleger, Stacey

ZACH THOMAS* JASON P. ROTH* BRANDAN DAVIES* COLLIN HUERTER**LAUREN FIELDS**

Bankruptcy: Consumer....................................S-6

Civil Litigation: Plaintiff ...................................S-6

Civil Rights .......................................................S-6

Class Action/Mass Torts .................................S-6

Constitutional Law ..........................................S-6

Construction Litigation ...................................S-6

Consumer Law.................................................S-6

Criminal Defense .............................................S-6

Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI.............................S-7

Elder Law .........................................................S-8 ......................................S-8

Employment Litigation: Plaintiff ....................S-8 ................................S-10 ............................S-10

Family Law......................................................S-10

General Litigation...........................................S-14 Immigration ....................................................S-15

Personal Injury General: Plaintiff...................S-15

Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Plaintiff ........................................................S-19

Personal Injury Products: Plaintiff ................S-20

Real Estate ....................................................S-20 Workers’ Compensation ................................S-20

THE ANNUAL LIST BY PRIMARY AREA OF PRACTICE

The list was finalized as of May 9, 2024. Only attorneys who data verified with Super Lawyers for the current year are included on the list that follows. All current selections and any updates to the list (e.g., status changes or disqualifying

RED indicate a profile on for attorneys with paid Super Lawyers or Rising Stars print advertisements.

BANKRUPTCY: CONSUMER

RISING STARS

Suchan, Lauren

CIVIL LITIGATION: PLAINTIFF

SUPER LAWYERS

Hatley, Heather

Lange, Ethan Wagstaff, Jr., Tom

RISING STARS

Arri, Taylor

Kurtz, Jacob

O’Donnell, Rachel

Fellows, Laura George, Tracey

McInnes, Jack

Schwarz, Ashlea

RISING STARS

Crisafulli, Ashley Dent, Jillian

Kakazu, Nathan Kane, Jordan

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

SUPER LAWYERS

CONSTRUCTION LITIGATION

SUPER LAWYERS

CIVIL RIGHTS

SUPER LAWYERS

CLASS ACTION/MASS TORTS

SUPER LAWYERS

CONSUMER LAW

SUPER LAWYERS

Leyh, Gregory

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

SUPER LAWYERS

Bell, David

Benjamin, Kim

Davies, Brandan

Fann, Traci

Foye, Sheena

Gyllenborg, Scott

Meek, Casey

MICHAEL S. MOGENSON

www.mbkclaw.com

Peter, Joshuah

Scherff, Dionne

Thomas, Zach

Watt, Gregory

Wichman, Kevin

RISING STARS

Bailey, Jonathan

Brewer, Maurice

Young, Allison

CRIMINAL DEFENSE: DUI/DWI

SUPER LAWYERS

Eastman, Jeffrey

Kirby, Denise

MICHAEL C. DUMA DUMA LAW OFFICES

www.dumalawoffices.com

Huerter, Collin

Spradlin, Tracy

Norton, Jay

RISING STARS

Arnold, Benjamin

& KANSAS

CITY CONSUMER 2024

ELDER LAW

SUPER LAWYERS

RISING STARS

Bhatia, Sonal

Hernandez, Sylvia

SUPER LAWYERS

Ardebili, Amir

EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION: PLAINTIFF

SUPER LAWYERS

Baldwin, Kevin

KIRK D. HOLMAN HOLMAN SCHIAVONE, LLC

www.kdh-law.com

Thornberry, Steve

Davis, Brett Doyle, Daniel Galloway, Lewis

Graham, Gene

Hardinger, Heather

Lawrence, Erin Murphy, II, Phillip Playter, Chris

ANNE W. SCHIAVONE HOLMAN SCHIAVONE, LLC

www.kdh-law.com

Ziegelmeyer, III, John

RISING STARS

Bruce, Robert Dake, Raymond

- Martindale-Hubbell® AV Preeminent® - Super Lawyers Top 50 Kansas City and Top 100 Missouri and Kansas Lists - 2011 to Present - Selected to Super Lawyers since 2009

1609 W. 92nd Street Kansas City MO 64114 www.angleslaw.com lawyers@angleslaw.com

LEAH BURKHEAD Chosen to Super Lawyers

ANNA MARK Chosen to Rising Stars

JACOB MARK Chosen to Rising Stars

ZACH MARK Chosen to Rising Stars

KEITH MARK Chosen to Super Lawyers

Kirkland, Aaron

Sullivan, Emily SUPER

McClannahan, Cindy

Nail, Molly

Rome, Erik

www.lifescapelaw.com

Binder, Kelisen

Esry, Joseph

Morgan, Kerry

Pringle, Jacklyn

SUPER

Anderson, Maggie

Counts, Heather

Carmody, Sarah

Landon,

Lawson,

Kuhl,

Hagg,

WHEN OTHERS RETREAT, WE ADVANCE

Stilley Law is Southwest Missouri’s trusted ally in criminal defense and personal injury cases. Our team of fierce advocates, led by founder and managing attorney Jared Stilley, is ready to fight for our clients.

At Stilley Law, we understand that we have the potential to change the course of our clients’ lives. That’s why when other firms back down, we stand up. We’re not afraid to take cases to trial if that's what it takes to protect our clients’ rights and secure the compensation they deserve. Our innovative strategies and relentless preparation have earned us a reputation for success in even the most complex criminal defense and personal injury cases.

We treat every case with the utmost care and dedication. Our responsive, respectful approach ensures our clients are informed and supported throughout the legal process. With the Stilley Law team by their side, our clients can face their legal challenges with confidence, knowing we are committed to securing the best possible outcome for their future.

Schroeder, Melissa H.

www.reed-walker.com

Walsh, Elizabeth

Wullschleger, Stacey RISING

Aubrey, Geoffrey

Britt, Dakota

Fields, Lauren

Geib, Amber

Sader, Samantha

Samani, Tyse

Talbert, Will

Veenis, Natasha

Whitsitt, Rachel

Yarnell, Ashlyn

GENERAL

SUPER

Mallon, Marissa

Mathews, Lindsay

Puckett, Kevin

Ratkey, Jacqueline

Tim Dollar Thomas Hershewe Jill A. Kanatzar

KANSAS

Jill A. Kanatzar

MISSOURI & KANSAS TOP

RISING STARS

Bernard, Cameron

Kopit, Michael

IMMIGRATION

SUPER LAWYERS

Alberti, Genevra

Hoppock, Matthew

Willmoth, Jonathan

RISING STARS

Galicia, Megan

Nguyen, Ronald

Roberson, Zach

PERSONAL INJURY GENERAL: PLAINTIFF

SUPER LAWYERS

Brady, Maureen

Burns, J.J.

Cannezzaro, Nikki

Carr, William

Melanie S. Morgan CherylA. Pilate

Dollar, Tim

Foster, Michael

CHUCK N. CHIONUMA CHIONUMA LAW FIRM, LLC www.chionuma.com

STEPHEN M. GORNY GORNY DANDURAND, LC www.gornydandurand.com

Griggs, Annette ANNETTE GRIGGS GRIGGS INJURY LAW, LLC www.GriggsInjuryLaw.com

Grover, Mark

Dickerson, Thomas

Harriman, Burt

Hillyard, Nick

Johnson, David Johnson, Todd

Kuckelman, Michael

Lawler, Christopher

Marvel, Michelle

McManus, Kevin

McShane, Lucy

Mook, Ben

Norman, Phyllis

Perkin, Erica

ZACHARY D. POOLE ZDP LAW, LLC

www.zdplaw.com

Pope, Judy

Watson, Ryan

ASHLEY L. RICKET RICKET LAW FIRM

www.ricketlaw.com

White, Bryan

Woods, Aaron Woodworth, Sophie

RISING STARS

Aramjoo, Ashley

Russell, Brian

Sanders, Stephen Scott, Joshua

Shumate, Wes

Aramjoo, Paemon

Barnard, Brice

Barnett, Samuel Becker, Josh

Belew, Kyle

Boden, Rachel Brand, Nick Chaffee, Kevin

Clifford, Matthew Corwin, Katherine Crook, Dustin Denning, Paeten

PAUL L. REDFEARN

Selected to Super Lawyers

THE REDFEARN LAW FIRM, P.C. 3731 N.E. Troon Drive Lee’s Summit, MO 64064 (816) 421-5301

PERSONAL INJURY PRODUCTS: PLAINTIFF | PERSONAL INJURY MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: PLAINTIFF | PERSONAL INJURY GENERAL: PLAINTIFF

The U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights, Amendment VII, guarantees the right to a trial by jury. Paul Redfearn, a seasoned litigator and Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, for his clients against huge corporations and insurance companies by holding them fully accountable for the harm caused.

catastrophic harm due to personal injury or death caused by defective and dangerous products, medical negligence, and motor vehicle/trucking collisions. Working tirelessly to make this world a safer place to live and work, and to even the scales of justice for his clients, is an honor and privilege that Paul deeply believes in.

AMBER GEIB

Selected to Rising Stars

GEIB LAW GROUP 4971 NE Goodview Circle, Suite B Lee’s Summit, MO 64064 (816) 908-9676 amber@geiblaw.com www.geiblaw.com

FAMILY LAW | CRIMINAL DEFENSE

Amber Geib is the founder and principal attorney of the Geib Law Group. While attending law school, Amber received the coveted invitation to become a member of Phi Delta Phi, the oldest and most prestigious legal honor society, and made the Dean’s Honor List every semester. She graduated six months early from the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Law with a family law emphasis.

Amber represents clients in multiple family law areas, including divorce, paternity, child support, child custody and modiﬁcations. Amber is a zealous advocate on behalf of her clients and their goals. She is compassionate and understands the emotional and ﬁnancial challenges that come with family law issues.

Selected to Rising Stars

MICHAEL C. DUMA

MISSOURI & KANSAS

KANSAS CITY CONSUMER 2024

PERSONAL INJURY RISING STARS CONT’D FROM PAGE S-17

Dollar, Lauren

Glasgow, Devin Gray, II, Gerald

Hart, Ashley

Hyde, Jack

Korth, Eric

Lawrence, Rachel

Leiker, Jarrett

Lester, Michael Lucas, Todd

Martens, Reed

McCoy, Matthew Medlin, Tristan

Melero, Claire

Meyer, Mike

Oxley, Nichelle

Propst, Michael Quinlan, Grace

Riggins, Anthony

DUMA LAW OFFICES

303 E. Poplar Olathe, KS 66061 (913) 782-7072 michael@dumalaw.com

Savio, Nick

Scearcy, Nate

Schleipman, Rick

Schmiemeier, Nicholas

Schmitt, Hunter

St. John, Kelly

Strozier, Phillip

Thrasher, Robert

MISSOURI & KANSAS

KANSAS CITY CONSUMER 2024

Tourigny, Greg

Tuck, Garrett

Ward, Drew

PERSONAL INJURY MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: PLAINTIFF

SUPER LAWYERS

Buckley, Robert

Dandurand, Christopher

Eisenmenger, Spencer

Presley & Presley, LLC

is a Kansas City law ﬁrm backed by the skills and experience of 40 years of representing the most signiﬁcantly injured and their families in the areas of aviation, car and truck crashes, catastrophic injury and premises liability, with emphasis on the complex insurance coverage and bad faith liability issues that often arise.

Hergott, Nick

Kavanaugh, Paul

Rollins, John

JOHN ROLLINS ROLLINS/KAVANAUGH, P.C. www.therollinslawfirm.com

WILLIAM P. RONAN, III THE RONAN LAW FIRM www.theronanlawfirm.com

RISING STARS

Klenda, Kasey

BRIAN LEININGER

Selected to Super Lawyers

LEININGER LAW OFFICES

6900 College Blvd., Suite 510 Overland Park, KS 66211 (913) 648-7070 brian@leininger-law.com kansas-dui-lawyer.com

Brian Leininger is a criminal defense lawyer in Overland Park, Kansas. He defends DUI cases across the state of Kansas, including felonies, DUIs involving injury and death, and DUIs involving drugs other than alcohol. Brian is the former general counsel to the Kansas Highway Patrol. He completed training on the Intoxilyzer breath

Field Sobriety Testing (SFST) and as an SFST instructor, and completed training to become a drug recognition

who investigate drugged-driving cases. Brian previously was an Assistant District Attorney in Wyandotte County, city prosecutor for Prairie Village, and Special Assistant Attorney General for Kansas. He is the former president of the Kansas Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a long-time member of the National College for DUI Defense. He serves on the board of directors of the Kansas Lawyers Assistance Program.

Kirk R. Presley Selected to Super Lawyers

Jill PresleyMatt McCoy Selected to Rising Stars

& KANSAS KANSAS CITY CONSUMER 2024

PERSONAL INJURY PRODUCTS: PLAINTIFF

SUPER LAWYERS

Campbell, Patricia

Fields, Ben

RISING STARS

Callahan, Luke

Kopp, Dan AUSTIN T. OSBORN MCCARTNEY STUCKY LLC

www.mccartneystucky.com

Scarcello, Lindsey

SUPER LAWYERS

Anderson, Julie

RISING STARS

Kincaid, Matthew

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

SUPER LAWYERS

Mark, Keith

RISING STARS

Byun, Hyemin

Mark, Jacob

Rioux, Rachel

ERIC W. COLLINS

magna cum laude

DESARAE G. HARRAH HARRAH LAW, LLC

TODD N. HENDRICKSON, PC

BRADLEY D. HONNOLD

JOSHUA P. JONES

BUSINESS LITIGATION

BUSINESS/CORPORATE

ROGER D. NAIL THE NAIL LAW FIRM

ROSS C. NIGRO NIGRO LAW FIRM, LLC

CRIMINAL

ASHLEY L. RICKET RICKET LAW FIRM

HEATHER J. SCHLOZMAN DUGAN SCHLOZMAN, LLC Selected to

SHEILA L. SECK BUSINESS/CORPORATE

surreal estate

Let’s Get Down to Earth

By Sophia Lacy

IF YOU EVER find yourself roaming the fields of Kansas, and even a few other states, you might discover “Earthworks.” These are pieces of art where the canvas is the land and the “paint” is soil, rocks and other natural elements sourced from the natural landscape. This is the kind of work Stan Herd creates.

Herd, a Kansas native, grew up on a farm in Protection, Kansas, and always felt like he would do something involving land. For more than 40 years now, he has been a “crop artist,” using the Earth to create what he calls Earthworks. To Herd, his art is more than just a piece of beautiful land; it’s a chance to be a part of history.

“My artistic life has been cultivating my art to fit my life and my life to fit my art,” says Herd, whose art has earned him an international reputation.

Herd starts by taking a recognizable image and “honing” in on it to ensure it’s “field-ready.” He does this by creating sketches of the image and using a grid system to map it out on the field. He then uses a weed eater or similar tool to carve out the design. He and his team, known as Team Herd, decide how best to implement the design,

from adding plants and manipulating existing crops to blowtorching areas and bringing in other natural elements.

“These days, we fly a drone over the field each evening to ascertain the visibility of the evolving image,” says Herd. While the best view is from above, Herd has created other pieces that are just intended to be filmed or photographed. Some projects have been created on a hillside or in a valley and can be enjoyed from all points of view.

Before the presidential election, Herd decided to make something that he thought would create a buzz—and it did. It was a simple piece with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s initials in flowers under the air traffic pattern where Swift often flies. The piece was simpler than most of his grand works, but the importance was in the messaging: The image also had the word “Vote.” Herd had been inspired by Taylor and how she had been encouraging her fans to vote.

“In two weeks, my son Evan and I were meeting Andrea Hailey, CEO of Vote.org, in her Washington office,” Herd says.

Because of the piece, Herd and his crew traveled for 16 months, creating pieces around the United States that urged people to get involved and vote, from portraits of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter in Atlanta to a portrait of Kamala Harris near Kansas City.

“When you find inspiration, when you witness young people with the gift of standing up for democracy, you walk out the door and get involved,” Herd says. “It is amazingly fulfilling. Do your part and be a part of history.”