Kansas City magazine February 2024

QUINDARO RUINS GET A WINDFALL

INSIDE KC’S SEXIEST BOOKSTORE

Best

Breakfasts 31 The King Waffles at Kate’s Kitchen

kansascitymag.com | February 2024 | $4.95

Restaurants Worth Waking Up For!

HEART CARE EXPERTS

We Know The Heart We know the heart. We’ve mapped it. Repaired and rehabbed it. We’ve strengthened, and saved it.

We know the people to whom those hearts belong and celebrate the triumphs of their recovery. We know your heart, and we know there is an unstoppable human spirit at the center of it.

Experts at caring for the hearts of Kansas City.

Find a cardiologist at HeartCareKC.com

COMPREHENSIVE CARDIAC

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Your Kansas City Real Estate Team Trust the Malfer & Associates team to guide you through every step of your real estate journey, and to ensure a seamless transition into your dream home. Whether you are searching locally or nationally, we have access to a wide range of properties, at all price points, to suit your unique preferences and needs. The journey to your dream home begins here. #1 Top Producing Real Estate Team at Compass Kansas City

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913.800.1812 MALFERKC.COM Malfer & Associates is a team of real estate agents affiliated with Compass Realty Group, a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.

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A FINE DINING EXPERIENCE TUCKED AWAY BENEATH THE HISTORIC OZARK MILL

Now open, an upscale culinary experience unlike any other.

Dine by candlelight at The Garrison, a speakeasy-inspired space featuring shareable plates and high-brow cocktails. Situated right on the banks of the Finley River, the art-filled hideaway highlights the best of the Ozarks while celebrating its folklore, traditions and quirks.

Indulge in fine foods including seafood, steaks and curiosities such as bison tartare while sipping signature drinks inspired by The Ozark Mill’s intricate machinery.

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Explore a 10,000-acre natural paradise in the Ozark Mountains.

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Kansas City’s largest diaper drive competition is back!

1 in 2 families in Kansas City struggle to afford diapers.

You can help by participating in our community wide diaper drive.

Donate diapers online NOW! Organize a drive with a group

Organize a drive at your company

Scan to donate!

to sign up your group or company, or for more information email ashley@happybottoms.org or scan the QR CODE --->

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

WHEN YOU BUY A DIAMOND FROM A RETAIL STORE, YOU PAY FOR YOUR DIAMOND AND:

Kathy Boos MANAGING EDITOR

Dawnya Bartsch ART DIRECTOR

Kevin Goodbar

SALARIES COMMISSIONS BONUSES RAISES BENEFITS ON-SITE JEWELERS

HIGH RENT HUGE ADVERTISING SERVICE PLANS RECRUITING HIRING TRAINING

ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR

Molly Higgins FOOD EDITOR

Tyler Shane PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Dominique Parsow COPY EDITOR

Kelsie Schrader

WHEN YOU BUY A DIAMOND FROM PREMIER DIAMOND SOURCE, YOU PAY FOR THIS:

A BEAUTIFUL DIAMOND

WEB COORDINATOR

Madison Russell SALES

Angie Henshaw WRITERS

Nina Cherry, Molly Higgins, David Hodes, Nicole Kinning, Rachel Layton, John Martellaro, Reece Parker, Tyler Shane and Kyle Wisecarver PHOTOGRAPHERS

WHY PAY RETAIL? REMEMBER, DON’T BUY TIL YOU SEE

“THE DIAMOND GUY”

42 YEARS EXPERIENCE

Zach Bauman, Caleb Condit, Samantha Levi, Laura Morsman, Rebecca Norden, Kelly Powell, Nate Sheets and Jake Wickersham

SUBSCRIPTIONS

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

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Kansas City February 2024

Kansas City P.O. Box 26823 Overland Park, KS 66225-6823 (913) 469-6700 @kansascitymag KANSASCITYMAG.COM

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features

F E B R U A RY 2 02 4

50 Cover Story The Breakfast Club

Thirty-one of the best breakfast dishes in KC right now

59

Breakfast for Dinner Treat yourself to a morning meal this evening.

14

Kansas City February 2024

63

Bottomless Mimosas It’s a thing.

88

Getting High in KC

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february

IN THIS ISSUE

23 loop

29 beat

37 current

81 savor

23 Free-state Boom Town

29 Jazz Fest

37 Flower Power

Quindaro ruins advocates recently came into some money. Now they need to figure out how to use it.

Treat yourself to two days of live jazz at Yardley Hall and Polsky Theatre.

Simple, sustainable flower designs are gaining popularity.

81 Chocolate with a Conscience

26 Henhouse

33 Love Story

Pet chickens in JoCo? Yes.

A new romance-centric book store showcases local talent.

27 Plastic Fantastic

34 Backbeat

Thousands of pounds of plastic bags are being upcycled into park benches.

A jazz vibraphonist takes center stage.

38 Picture Perfect Local experts give pointers on how to get a superb shot.

40 Making the Cut 3D paper artist Andrea Cira creates intricate, one-of-akind pieces.

42 Awash in Blue A traditional Mission Hills home gets a revamp with shades of blue.

IN EVERY ISSUE

Editor’s Letter............................................................................18 Up Front......................................................................................20 Calendar.....................................................................................30 Surreal Estate...........................................................................88

ON THE COVER:

Kate’s Kitchen’s waffles photographed by Caleb Condit and Rebecca Norden.

16

Kansas City February 2024

SPECIAL SECTIONS

Five-Star Professionals..........................................................68

A nationally recognized Missouri chocolatier creates delicious chocolate while helping cocoa bean growers.

83 Sticky Rice Latte This Vietnamese coffee shop creates novel items by playing with traditional flavors.

84 Perfect Day Youtuber and food content creator Lisa Nguyen talks ramen and her favorite KC doughnut.

85 ’Cue Card Hickory Log’s new owner puts his stamp on the legacy BBQ joint.

86 Newsfeed The latest in KC food news

MARCH 9–17, 2024

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F R O M T H E E D I TO R

Breakfast for Dinner I HAVE BREAKFAST for dinner quite frequently. It’s a go-to in my house for many reasons: It covers

all the food groups, it’s easy, most breakfast items are a pantry staple, and, not least of all, it’s delicious and everyone likes it.

But the main reason is one of my daughter, Lauren’s, weekly tasks is to make dinner. More often than not, she chooses to make breakfast for dinner. That means pancakes, scrambled eggs and bacon. Good for us.

When Lauren learned that this month’s cover feature was going to highlight the best breakfast dishes to be found around the metro, she wanted to make sure everyone understood that breakfast items can be had any time of day. I assured her that people were aware but, to make sure, we would include several places that serve the morning meal well into the evening. The sidebar on evening breakfast options is just one of my favorite parts about this issue’s main feature.

I’m also partial to the bottomless mimosa list and then, of course, my review of Kate’s Kitchen’s fluffy pancakes. When my family does go out for breakfast, we usually end up at Kate’s in the Northland.

A few items on the list I have yet to try but that sound heavenly include Prairie Village’s French Market’s croque monsieur egg on toast and the novel baked potato waffle at Cardboard Corner Cafe in Overland Park. I mean, how can you go wrong with a waffle and baked potato combo?

Although I have not yet tried these, I have been assured by our fleet of writers they are truly delicious and a good, soul-satisfying way to start your day.

This issue is full of soul-satisfying tidbits of information about the city and the people in it. See: the park benches made of recycled plastic bags that you can now find throughout the Kansas City area; a group’s efforts to restore the once-forgotten Quindaro Underground Railroad site; paper artist Andrea Cira’s lively works; and an artisanal bean-to-bar chocolate company that does as much good as it makes. Once again, Kansas Citians and all their endeavors are proving the city is thriving and that it’s a great place to start and end your day.

Dawnya Bartsch MANAGING EDITOR

dawnya@kansascitymag.com

Contributors

Jake Wickersham, Photographer This issue’s story about paper artist Andrea Cira was photographed by Kansas City native Jake Wickersham, a sports, editorial and lifestyle photographer.

18

Kansas City February 2024

David Hodes, Writer Our story about the Quindaro site ruins is by writer David Hodes, a freelance journalist who recently returned to his native KC after working in the nation’s capital. In Washington D.C., he held many roles, including working as the deputy booking agent for the National Press Club Headliners Committee.

Kyle Wisecarver, Writer A former culinary professional, writer Kyle Wisecarver, who contributed to this issue’s Best Breakfast feature, pivoted to firefighting and food writing. When not saving lives, he’s writing about his love of KC cuisine.

AND

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19

UP FRONT

Feedback

Quote

Numbers From This Issue

1,000

Pounds of plastic bags needed to make a recycled plastic bench.

Page 27

28

Floor the KC City Hall elevator reaches— two floors below the building’s observation deck.

Way to keep looking out for those who knew you before, Travis!

Maybe he can teach Twifty how to cook Kelce a romantic dinner.

Reality show with chefs who cater to athletes and celebrities. I would watch that.

I’m nosey, I was hoping they [would] say how much he gets paid.

– Carmen Aguirre

– Elsie Aguirre-Simpson

That is truly wonderful to maintain friendships for that long.

– Janie Belter-Cameron

– Kat Shafer

It’s important to have close long time friends, happy you are that friend.

“I do like reading romance, I do like a happily ever after, and I do want to read about bangin’.”

– Carley Morton, owner of Under the Cover, KC’s first bookshop dedicated to romance literature.

1983

Year building ruins and artifacts were discovered at the Quindaro site.

Page 23

Shout-out To photographer Zach Bauman for trudging through the snow during KC’s deep freeze to take pictures of the Quindaro site.

– Mary Barnes

– Mary Kasper

He knows how to stay friends with his buddies.

He’s a great guy.

– Michelle Knight Mooney

What a great story! I’d love his soul food.

– Sherrill Vance

Love the shoutout to Peachtree Cafe … their catfish is amazing!

– Tara Brown Brant

20 Kansas City February 2024

Contact Us

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

Email

editor@kansascitymag.com

Behind the Scenes Photographers Caleb Condit and Rebecca Norden creating the cover shot for this issue’s Best Breakfast feature.

FERGUSON PHOTOGR APHY BY L AUR A MORSMAN

Chef du Jour Our food editor Tyler Shane’s interview with Kumar Ferguson, Travis Kelce’s personal chef, created quite a stir, eliciting tons of responses across our social media channels and getting picked up by at least half a dozen national media sites, too. Ferguson, a friend of Kelce’s from childhood, makes sure the tight end is eating what he needs to to keep in top shape. The story was peppered with insider information, such as Ferguson calling Kelce’s dad a “grill master.”

Ferguson also mentioned several restaurants he frequents in KC, including PeachTree Cafe’Teria, The Upper Cut KC and Anton’s Taproom. Here’s what some of our readers had to say.

Page 88

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loop

L EAD ING T HE CONVERSAT ION IN KA NSAS C I T Y

Will This Free-State Boom Town Burst Again?

An abolitionist-era village and port is set to receive an economic windfall that could put it on the map once more.

By David Hodes Photography by Jason Dailey

THE ON-AGAIN, off-again development of the Quindaro site just got

a seven-figure boost to help turn it into the one-of-a-kind historical destination supporters have been hoping to create for 40 years.

Last fall, Governor Laura Kelly announced that the Quindaro Ruins project, once the site of an Underground Railroad stop and a place for free-staters to settle, would get $1 million to help rebuild the ruins along the Missouri River into a unique historical attraction. The new funding for the Quindaro development came from a negotiated settlement over a dispute about payroll tax obligations between Cerner and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County in 2010.

(Continued on next page) kansascitymag.com February 2024

23

LO O P

(Continued from page 00) Although Kelly called it a “worthy project,” she previously vetoed another spending bill for the site earlier in May 2023, admonishing advocates to “work through the proper channels” to seek funding. Kelly added that the funding issue came up late in the 2023 legislature session and that there “was no opportunity to vet this proposal to ensure that it truly serves the community for whom the site is named.”

The $1 million for the project was collected by the Unified Government in November of last year, according to Wyandotte County Administrator David Johnston. The county is in charge of directing where and how the funds are spent.

Johnston says a committee is being formed to move the project forward, but it will take time to sort it out. “We have many stakeholder groups that [have] just never really coordinated toward one mission,” Johnston says, adding that a clear goal is needed in order to obtain additional funding from the state or federal governments. “They want to help out and say this is a great project. But they tell us, ‘You don’t have a vision. What’s your product? What are we investing in?’ That’s a major thing that is missing. The political stars are aligned. We just need to get our act together.”

The pastor of the Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Quindaro area, Rev. Stacy Evans, is leading the Quindaro townsite preservation as chair of the Quindaro Ruins Project Foundation Board. Evans says she hopes to use part of the money—around $250,000 to $350,000—to create a site design plan and hire a project manager. This, Evans says, would give the board legitimacy and allow would-be financial supporters to see that there is a cohesive vision and a “legitimate and professional design plan” with a qualified project manager leading the way.

The Allen Chapel AME Church is the site’s majority landowner and is working in partnership with the Unified Government, which owns a few smaller parcels, Evans says. How the $1 million will be used “has not been made clear to us,” says Evans, who adds that an agreement of understanding between the Unified Government’s former mayor was dissolved when the Unified Government’s new mayor, Tyrone Garner, was elected in 2021. “The partnership with the Unified Government was working okay until this new leadership,” Evans says.

In Garner’s annual update, he wrote that he looks forward to working on reimagining the future of the Quindaro townsite, which he called a nationally significant historic site that could become a symbol of healing systemic racism in the county.

“We must continue to embrace our truth,” says Garner, who is the United Government’s first Black mayor. “I believe we can begin to heal much of the ills of the past in the historic Northeast through thoughtful investment in this cultural landmark, which will benefit us all.”

The Quindaro site, six miles upstream from the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas rivers, was part of the Underground Railroad system, a metaphor to describe a secretive network of routes and towns where enslaved people seeking freedom made their way to northern states in the mid-1800s.

The town of Quindaro was founded in 1856 within 300 acres of land on the eastern end of what eventually became Kansas City, Kansas. It had been a busy river port town of 1,200 residents serviced daily by steamboats—up to 36 in one week, according to Wyandotte County historical files. Approximately 429 residents were Black.

A hotel, a wharf, a sawmill, two churches, a brewery and a collection of hardware and retail stores made up the town at its heyday.

Quindaro Freedman’s University, the first and only Black college in Kansas and the first such college west of the Mississippi, was founded

24 Kansas City February 2024

U N D E R G R O U N D R A I L R OA D

in Quindaro in 1865 and renamed as Western University in 1881. It remained in operation until 1943.

Quindaro’s business as a booming port town underwent a rapid decline beginning around 1860, and the Kansas state legislature ended the town’s incorporation status in 1862. Remnants of the town lay buried and all but erased from history until 1983, when an archeological investigation of the site as a potential landfill unearthed foundations of 22 main buildings, three wells, one cistern and 100,000 artifacts, according to an historical account about the area.

Qindaro was named a National Commemorative Site in 2019 through the efforts of Kansas Rep. Sharice Davids. In October 2023, Davids went one step further and co-sponsored legislation along with Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver to designate Quindaro as a National Historic Landmark, which gives the secretary of the interior FUN FACT more flexibility to provide technical and In September 1856, during the time the financial assistance for site development. town of Quindaro There is much more at stake here than was developing, the just redoing an old Kansas town. Johnston Steamboat Arabia, with its 200-ton frontier would like to see the site developed into cargo, hit a log on more than just a sleepy outdoor museum. the Missouri river in He calls the $1 million “seed money” for a a location called the Quindaro Bend, directly project that will easily cost much more to across the river from completely develop. “There’s talk about a the developing town.

The Arabia sank in visitor center and an education center,” he 15 feet of water. The says. “I’d like to see the Quindaro Brewrecovered artifacts ery resurrected. And it’s going to be more from the steamship are now part of the than $10 million.” This is where additional Steamboat Arabia funding can come in handy and why a clear Museum at the Kansas vision needs to be created, he says.

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LO O P

HENHOUSE

Backyard Barnyard

Overland Park became the latest JoCo city to allow residents to keep backyard chickens.

By Reece Parker

pastime in recent years. Along with fresh eggs, chickens provide other perks: they control pests, are a natural fertilizer source and make for lively pets.

After a successful two-year pilot program, Overland Park residents are now officially allowed to keep chickens in their backyards as long as their lot is larger than .20 acres. Before the 2021 pilot program, chickens were allowed, but only on lots larger than three acres.

While exceptions were made, residents on smaller lots had to go through an arduous and cumbersome permitting process requiring approval from both the Overland Park Planning Commission and City Council. The pilot program’s main aim was to streamline the permitting process and reduce the number of hours city officials spent on chicken-related issues.

Although OP residents can now keep chickens, the birds don’t get free range of the city. There are a host of rules poultry owners must comply with. According to the newly passed ordinance, only hens are allowed—no roosters—and the number of chickens per lot is dependent on size. Coops must be well constructed and placed within a certain distance from surrounding property lines and homes, and the new ordinance does not supersede HOA rules.

Overland Park is only the most recent Johnson County city to allow backyard chicken keeping. Six other communities, including Shawnee and Prairie Village, have all passed ordinances allowing chickens on smaller lots. Leawood has also considered allowing chickens in recent years. People wanting to keep chickens are generally interested in the potential health and sustainability benefits.

One resident chicken keeper says: “It was a learning process with my kids building the coop and taking care of the baby chicks.

They are definitely pets and very gentle and love treats, and they love to free range in our backyard.” She cautions, though, that chicken keeping may not be for everyone. “People don’t really realize how much work it is,” she says.

At a Public Safety Committee meeting in July, OP Councilman Faris Farassati said he is concerned about the general nuisance of raising chickens in populated residential areas. “There is still a nuisance factor in having a chicken coop next to my yard,” Farassati said.

Former Councilmember Paul Lyons, who voted against the initial pilot program, has opposed the idea of “farm animals” being raised in neighborhoods.

Despite public concerns, the pilot seemed to be a success. The city received more than 50 permit applications, approved 31 and yielded minimal complaints from residents and neighbors. Emily Riddle, chief animal control officer and supervisor, reported to City Council that of the complaints filed, the majority expressed concern over existing unpermitted chickens and were not a result of the pilot program.

26 Kansas City February 2024

PHOTOGR APHY SHUT TERSTOCK

BACKYARD CHICKEN COOPS have become an increasingly popular

BENCH PERFECT

LO O P

“We are proud to offer a destination and second life for our country’s growing supply of plastic waste.”

From Bags to Benches

A recycling program is turning thousands of plastic bags into park benches.

By Reece Parker

PHOTOGR APHY SHUT TERSTOCK; PROVIDED

IT IS ESTIMATED that it takes around 81,000 plastic bags to reach 1,000 pounds

of recyclable plastic—enough to make a bench.

Turning plastic bags into benches is a monumental undertaking, for sure, but one many communities around KC are attempting to do through a recycling program via Trex, a wood-alternative decking and railing company. The benches have been popping up in Kansas City proper and all over the metro, including Belton, Lenexa, Mission, Overland Park, Merriam and Shawnee.

“We are proud to offer a destination and second life for our country’s growing supply of plastic waste,” says Leslie Adkins, Trex’s vice president of marketing. “We hope to lead by example and inspire others to become part of the solution.”

Kansas City Downtown Lions Club collected enough plastic bags in the past three years to build six benches through the Trex recycling program known as NexTrex.

During the spring of 2023, the city of Merriam, Kansas, embarked on a community plastic bag drive and collected enough plastic in four months for two benches. And in Overland Park last year, a fourth grade Girl Scout Troop collected enough bags to

earn not only their Eco Friend badge but also a 48-inch Trex bench for the city, too, according to Flatland.

Trex started their recycling program in 2006 in Winchester, Virginia, in an effort to educate students on the importance of recycling. The company’s recycling efforts began by setting up collection bins at local schools but has grown into a nationwide program. A wide variety of plastic materials, including polyethylene film, shopping bags, resealable food storage bags, toilet paper, paper towel packaging and even bubble wrap, are acceptable.

Several years ago, Trex embarked on an initiative to make it easier for people to participate and launched a grassroots campaign to expand its recycling initiative.

The new program provides a framework for businesses, universities, nonprofits and other qualifying businesses to serve as centralized drop-off locations for recycling polyethylene plastic film while earning funds for their organization.

“The Grassroots movement opened the program to smaller but similarly eco-minded groups,” says Stephanie Hicks, material sourcing manager for Trex.

A large portion of the plastic collected by Trex comes from a network of more than 32,000 grocery stores and retail companies. However, of the five billion pounds collected, nearly two million has been collected by 3,300 community organizations and municipalities.

Through its various initiatives, Trex has become one of the largest recyclers of plastic film in North America, diverting more than five billion pounds of plastic waste from landfills and waterways over the past 30 years. kansascitymag.com February 2024

27

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W H E R E YO U WA N T TO B E I N F E B R U A RY

Trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra

All That Jazz

By Molly Higgins

TWO DAYS OF live jazz pulse through Yardley Hall and Polsky Theatre

this month as part of the Winterlude Jazz Festival.

On day one, February 23, musician and educator Zak Pischnotte will be the guest band leader for the first jazz performance. Pianist Joseph Lafayette Cartwright leads a quartet in the second performance.

Day two is jam-packed with jazz. Chuck Haddix, curator of the Marr Sound Archives—a collection of 450,000 historic sound recordings housed in the Miller Nichols Library at UMKC—begins the music-filled day with the “The Kansas City Sound” presentation. Performances by the Brad Gregory Septet are followed by the Earlie Braggs Quartet in Photography by Eric Gray

Polsky Theatre. The Brian Ward Trio opens for Grammy Award-winning trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, who close out the weekend of jazz.

Featuring up to 18 musicians, the Uptown Jazz Orchestra’s mission is to foster an appreciation for jazz and its New Orleans roots through performances, education and community. Trombonist Marsalis formed the Uptown Jazz Orchestra and the orchestra’s children’s program, Swinging with the Cool School, which teaches thousands of students about jazz through African-American history, stories and sound.

Appreciators of all music, not just jazz, GO: February 23-24.

Yardley Hall and Polsky will relish in the weekend filled with the Theatre, 12345 College sights and sounds of one of America’s most Blvd., Overland Park. beloved traditions. jccc.edu.

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kansascitymag.com February 2024

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feb B E AT

W HAT YOU WA N T TO DO TH IS MO NTH BY MOL LY HIGGI NS

Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience, produced in collaboration with the Estate of Johnny Cash, is a multimedia celebration of a musical legend. Cash’s iconic baritone voice has been lifted from archival concert footage and recordings, allowing audiences to experience the Man in Black’s biggest hits like “I Walk the Line’’ and “Ring of Fire” with a live band once again. Along with never-before-seen footage and narration by Cash’s son, John Carter Cash, vocalists will perform even more of Cash’s illustrious repertoire. February 10. 2 & 7:30 pm. Kauffman Center.

1&2

Störling Dance Theater’s Underground

This is Störling Dance Theater’s 17th anniversary of presenting Underground in KC, this year with a special guest appearance by Grammy Award-winning gospel singer Israel Houghton. Just in time for Black History Month, this show fuses original music, dance and beautiful costuming to retell the story of the Underground Railroad and the brave people who helped bring freedom. February 1 & 2. 7:30 pm. Kauffman Center.

4

Kathy Griffin

Comedian and actress Kathy Griffin has been in the spotlight for over three decades, becoming a polarizing figure for her political beliefs and brash, raunchy comedy.

Griffin is perhaps best known for her stand-up comedy, various cameos on sitcoms and stints on reality TV. February 4. 6:30 pm.

Uptown Theater.

4

KC Lunar New Year Festival

30 Kansas City February 2024

February 4. 6:30 pm. Yardley Hall.

6

Explosions in the Sky

Texas-based post-rock quartet Explosions in the Sky stands out as being one of the few instrument-led bands with little vocals to reach commercial success in the 21st century. The band’s third album, The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place, became an instant classic and marked them as a favorite in the underground scene. They make a stop in KC for their aptly named The End Tour, after the band’s newest album, End. February 6. 8 pm. The Truman.

PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED

10

The Kansas City Lunar New Year Festival is a rich evening celebrating cultural traditions, with regional food and performances by talented performers. Before the stage performances, there will be culture showcases and exhibitions, along with children’s activities, photo booths and food.

The performances include Chinese folk dance and song, Chinese opera and musical performances with traditional Chinese instruments.

17

C A L E N DA R

7

The Black Violin Experience

This experience features the twotime Grammy-nominated duo Black Violin, consisting of Kev Marcus on violin and Wil Baptiste on viola and vocals. The duo—along with support from drums, keys and a DJ—fuses elegant classical sounds with exciting hip-hop beats, from Mozart to Kendrick Lamar, to merge centuries of expansive music, transcending labels to unite messages of hope and possibility. February 7. 7:30 pm.

Enrique Iglesias Arguably one of the most successful Spanish-English crossover acts of all time, Enrique Iglesias started his career in the mid-’90s, and by the new millennium, he was a worldwide superstar. Speaking of, Mr. Worldwide himself, Pitbull, will be joining the lineup, along with another ’90s/early-aughts Spanish-speaking sensation, Ricky Martin. February 17. 7 pm. T-Mobile Center.

Kauffman Center.

8–10

The Goonies in Concert Director Richard Donner’s 1985’s fantasy classic The Goonies is projected on a giant screen while the Kansas City Symphony performs the memorable score alongside it. The now-cult classic follows some of Hollywood’s future stars as a band of misfit kids embarking on a wild adventure to find buried treasure and save their homes from destruction. February 8–10. 7 pm. Helzberg Hall.

10

Nate Bargatze

“The Nicest Man in Stand-Up,” comedian Nate Bargatze makes a stop in KC for his The Be Funny Tour. The comedian, podcaster, director and producer has steadily gained popularity in the past decade through streaming comedy specials, but he skyrocketed to fame after his successful debut appearance hosting Saturday Night Live this past fall. February 10. 3 & 7 pm. T-Mobile Center.

10

Little Women the Musical

The timeless, beloved classic by Louisa May Alcott is reimagined for the stage in this colorful musical.

Little Women follows the lives and adventures of sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March, each bold and independent in her own way. The powerful musical score echoes the sentiment of young America—and the young women—finding their voice amid heartbreak, hope and strong bonds. There will also be a pre-show talk with Dr. Paul Laird, professor of musicology at KU, the hour before each performance.

February 10. 4 & 8 pm. Yardley Hall.

16–18 Peter Pan

The classic family adventure

by J.M. Barrie is reimagined for the stage by the Kansas City Ballet. Reexperience the magic of Peter Pan with old favorites like the Lost Boys, Tinker Bell, Captain Hook and Wendy. Pan convinces the children—and audience alike—to join him on an unforgettable adventure to the enchanted Neverland, made all the more fantastical with the ballet’s astonishing moves. February 16–18 & 22–25. Times vary. Muriel Kauffman Theatre.

18

The Peking Acrobats For over 30 years, The Peking Acrobats have pushed the boundaries and redefined perceptions of acrobatics. They perform daring feats using props to show their technical abilities, like trick-cycling, juggling and gymnastics. The acrobats are part of a Chinese tradition that is

historically and culturally rooted in centuries of Chinese art. They often perform alongside live musicians who play traditional Chinese instruments, melding folk-art tradition alongside contemporary technology. February 18. 2 pm.

Yardley Hall.

18

pm. Helzberg Hall.

Band of Horses

Seattle indie-rock group Band of Horses reached widespread fame in the mid-aughts with acclaimed album Everything All the Time. With the popular folksy-rock sound that was found everywhere in the 2010s, they can still be heard at least once every hour on 96.5 Not-theBuzz. February 18. 7 pm. Uptown Theater.

18

National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine The Harriman-Jewell Series presents cellist Natalia Khoma with artistic director and chief

conductor Volodymyr Sirenko with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine. The NSO Ukraine is a world-renowned and historically distinguished European orchestra. They will perform a program of Ukrainian composers and Sibelius’ Third Symphony, a powerful symbol of war-torn perseverance through performances of selections from occupied nations. February 18. 7

23–25

Symphonic Genesis and Phil Collins

Kansas City Symphony presents a celebration of Phil Collins’ legendary drums and his iconic band Genesis, featuring guest conductor Stuart Chafetz and vocalists Aaron C. Finley and Brook Wood. Collins’ legacy with Genesis in the ’70s and, later, his work as a soloist in the ’80s shaped and spanned music for decades, with hits like “One More Night” and “In the Air Tonight.”

February 23–25. Times vary.

Helzberg Hall.

kansascitymag.com February 2024

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Kansas City February 2024

R O M A N C E N OV E L

B E AT

Love Letters

A romance novel-only bookshop opened in KC, and business is blossoming.

By Rachel Layton LOCAL NOVELIST Margaret Rose knows a thing or

two about romance: spice, meet-cutes, heartthrobs and happy endings. “I think people are searching for happiness and uplifting novels to read,” says Rose, author of romantic comedies Sink or Sell and Kissing Bandit. “The fun is in how you get there.”

Rose spent her early career working in retail, but when the pandemic arrived and traditional publishers Photography by Kelly Powell

“I do like reading romance, I do like a happily ever after, and I do want to read about bangin’.”

fell through, Rose made the bold decision to self-publish her first novel, Sink or Sell, on Kindle Unlimited, a platform growing in popularity among emerging romance authors. From there, she found her romance novel-loving community in BookTok–a TikTok community of readers sharing their new favorite reads.

As it turns out, online romantic reading communities have been blossoming with readers searching for like-minded souls to discuss their latest finds. Carley Morton is one of them. With readers thirsty for places to gather in person, Morton saw an opportunity to provide just that. Morton is now the owner of Kansas City’s first romance-only bookshop, Under the Cover (605 E. 31st St., KCMO), one of less than a dozen romance-specific bookshops in the country.

A lifelong romance fan, Morton has hosted romancegenre podcast Smut Stuff with friend Jesicha Fontana since 2022. Although Morton is a passionate reader, opening a genre-specific bookstore was a risk for her.

Despite romance’s widespread popularity, Morton feels that romance readers and writers often face ridicule.

“It’s always been looked down upon,” Morton says. “It’s like [people assume] all women can read is romance ’cause they don’t care about XYZ.” However, after attending Romance GenreCon in August of this past year, Morton’s confidence in the business plan grew.

Two months later, with the help of her husband, who devotedly researched the viability of opening a shop, Morton had secured a storefront in Union Hill. Six weeks later, they were open for business. Now, Morton feels she can proudly announce: “I do like reading romance, I do like a happily ever after, and I do want to read about bangin’.”

Under the Cover is warmly designed, featuring romance of every echelon, and it even has a dedicated “BookTok” section for novels trending on the platform.

The back accent wall is embellished with a sexy, witchy mural of Stevie Nicks, painted by Morton’s longtime friend and local artist Allen Halsey.

Under the Cover has quickly become the go-to spot for local romance authors to host readings, signings and romance-specific events. “[The romance readers] are voracious,” says Morton, whose sales continue to far surpass any expectations she had when first opening.

“Under the Cover is really a trailblazer, which I think speaks so much to KC culture,” says Rose, whose novels are sold at the bookshop.

The shop is hosting its first “Flirty Party” featuring romance novelists, narrator readings and a cash bar on February 2. kansascitymag.com February 2024

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B AC K B E AT

Good Vibes

Emerging jazz vibraphonist Isaiah Petrie is taking the jazz scene by storm.

By Nina Cherry ISAIAH PETRIE’S INTRODUCTION to playing jazz and the vibraphone came about

as a pragmatic need for another credit during his senior year of high school. The decision would prove to be a game-changer, expanding his musical horizons in ways he didn’t anticipate.

“It just went from there,” Petrie says.

Growing up in a musical family deeply rooted in the church, Petrie’s musical education began by playing the drum set alongside his kin in a sacred space. Petrie then dove deep into classical percussion throughout high school, falling in love with playing marimba, a musical instrument that consists of wooden bars that are struck with mallets. He enrolled at Kansas State with plans to study classical music.

“I had a shifting point my sophomore year,” Petrie says. “I was kind of tired of classical music. What I was composing and improvising on marimba was more along the lines of the kind of stuff I’m playing today.”

The following year, Petrie transferred to UMKC’s Conservatory to home in on jazz.

Now, the vibraphonist, who will graduate this spring, is preparing for his academic journey’s finale with an upcoming senior performance. But Petrie is doing more than just orchestrating a final recital. He is hard at work refining his musical voice, intentionally pushing boundaries and etching a name for himself as one of the most promising emerging artists in KC’s jazz scene.

34 Kansas City February 2024

“I’m trying to figure out how to meld a classical understanding of storytelling through composition with jazz improvisation and also tying in my church background,” Petrie says. “I want the emotional underpinning of what’s happening to guide me melodically, to be of service, open and present to the music.”

Petrie’s musical exploration isn’t a solo endeavor.

He collaborates with peers who inspire him and also finds inspiration in the city’s wide-ranging musical landscape. He can frequently be found performing around KC with other musicians.

“If you look in the right spaces, there’s a really diverse array of music happening,” Petrie says. “It’s really cool to be musically fed by so many different types of music being made all in the same city.”

The rich artistic environment is one of the reasons Petrie plans to stay rooted in KC post-graduation while still venturing beyond in an effort to make a name for himself. “I’m ready to play more, play in different cities and build a network,” Petrie says.

This month, Petrie can be found performing at Westport Coffeehouse’s black box theater on February 7 and Vine Street Brewing Co. on February 23.

In March, he’ll be playing at The Ship in the West Bottoms, with a performance that’s set to showcase his ever-evolving musical identity, presenting contemporary compositions and stellar improvising. This musical exploration won’t be a solo endeavor.

Petrie will be collaborating with peers who inspire him, such as GO: Isaiah Petrie pianist Eddie Moore, multi-inQuartet, March 21 at 9 pm, The Ship, 1221 strumentalist Ryan J. Lee, bassist Union Ave., KCMO. DeAndre Manning and drummer $10 at the door.

Jaylen Ward.

Doors open 8 pm.

↓

PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED

“It’s really cool to be musically fed by so many different types of music being made all in the same city.”

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COMING IN THE APRIL ISSUE

KC

WHO IS PAVING THE WAY IN KANSAS CITY REAL ESTATE? We're naming the agents that make the market go!

TOP REAL ES TATE PRODUCERS

2024

For the third consecutive year, we're compiling a comprehensive guide to the top-performing real estate agents, teams, and mortgage professionals in the Kansas City market. This issue will help you navigate the real estate process, whether you're buying or selling.

We've done the research, you get the results.

CALL 913.469.6700 TO ADVERTISE

current FLOWERS PROVIDED BY EVERWILD FLOR ALS

CURAT ING A BE AU T I FU L L I FE

Beautiful Blossoms

By Molly Higgins

SIMPLE AND SUSTAINABLE are the words we’re seeing used most

this year in the world of floral design.

Pantone set the tone for muted, luxurious design by naming Peach Fuzz the 2024 Color of the Year, and floral experts are following suit, with many dubbing this the “year of simplicity.”

Inspiration for floral designs and flower choices this year stems from a more natural feel, with botanics found in gardens and nature. It’s no surprise: Many trends—in fashion, home and garden—have been heading toward forward-thinking approaches to sustainability. This means people are opting for plants found locally instead of shipped Photography by Samantha Levi

from faraway places, dried plants or species that require less water and overall maintenance.

With spring around the corner and Valentine’s Day here, floral designers are emphasizing the importance of choosing sustainable and seasonal florals.

This means focusing on local and regional flowers when choosing a bouquet to usher in spring or an arrangement for that special someone (or yourself). This season has also seen greenery taking center stage over more colorful flowers, with various textures used in tandem with greenery, like seed pods or craspedia (also known as “Billy buttons”).

This “eclectic garden” aesthetic for early spring features more natural shades like dark green, brown, yellow, burgundy and salmon while making the contrasting textures of the various plants the focus rather than bright artificially colored flowers. kansascitymag.com February 2024

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CURRENT

TREND

Erishyll Mae Isidro

Alex Harris

“The biggest mistake I see some clients make is choosing to not include their photographer in the planning process of their session,” Harris says. “I try to offer the best client experience I can, and part of that is making an effort to be super communicative with my clients and walk them through the planning process step-bystep. I’ve had a few clients that may have had a very specific vision in their head about what they wanted their shoot to look like and were very rigid in not wanting to sway from that vision at all, but [they] didn’t have the professional experience to take into account how the time of year might affect their chosen location, how the time of day might affect the lighting, how comfortable a certain type of clothing might be and how all of that comes together to create their final images.”

Specific Style

Picture Perfect

KC photographers tell us the dos and don’ts of getting the perfect shot.

By Molly Higgins SPRING IS COMING into focus, and that means graduation and wedding season

are on the way—along with lots and lots of photos. Whether you’ve got a big event coming up or it’s time to update the family portrait, local photographers have a few hints. Wedding and portrait photographer Erishyll Mae Isidro of Erishyll Mae Photography and wedding photographer Alex Harris of Alexandra Harris Photography give their advice on how people can get their best photograph.

38 Kansas City February 2024

“For some people, the biggest mistake is assuming every photographer can photograph the same,” Isidro says. “Sometimes clients will misinterpret what ‘photography style’ means and will assume that we are all under the same umbrella and therefore we can change our styles to look like someone else’s. Always look for style first, then what they offer. Quality over quantity.”

Personal Photos

“Pick a photographer whose style and work you love, and trust the process,” Harris says. “Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions. A person will know that they’ve gotten the shot if they pay attention to their manual camera settings. I think a successful photo is one that is balanced and has a touch of intimacy—something that creates intrigue and is personal.”

ILLUSTR ATION SHUT TERSTOCK; PHOTOGR APHY BY NIAH ROSE; PROVIDED

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39

CURRENT

I N T E RV I E W

“I do things that are very intricate and very colorful. I think that is what sets me apart from other paper artists—a lot of details and colors.”

Tell us about the beginning of your artistry. During

college, I was interested in how to make things and in the arts and crafts of Mexico. It’s a very important part of the cultural heritage there. I’ve always had that sense of wanting to do things with my hands and build things, but I didn’t know exactly how. Back in Mexico, whenever I had some free time, I would do little cut paper scenes.

It wasn’t until I moved here and I was going through my immigration process that I started to do it more as a hobby. I started sharing it online, and to my surprise, I got a lot of attention. Suddenly people wanted me to make paper portraits of their dogs and [things] like that. It got a little popular, and I really enjoyed doing it.

It started as a hobby, and after a year, I decided I was going to do it full time. And now here I am.

How do you describe your art? Cut paper illustrations

A Cut Above

Artist Andrea Cira draws inspiration from her Mexican identity to make colorful, intricate 3D paper designs that showcase the vibrancy of Latinx culture.

By Molly Higgins MEXICAN-BORN ARTIST Andrea Cira first came to Kansas City to visit her father

and brother before a planned move to Canada. However, soon the pandemic hit and halted Cira’s plans to move.

Eventually, Cira got married and decided to make KC her home. While she didn’t have a formal art degree, she describes herself as an “artistic kid” who, while getting her bachelor’s degree in industrial design in Mexico, became more interested in learning manufacturing processes and how to actually make things—especially as it pertained to Mexican arts and crafts.

We talked to Cira about her Mexican heritage, her artistic processes and her beloved culture celebrated through colorful, vibrant art.

40 Kansas City February 2024

or paper illustration cut-outs. It’s basically illustrations made with cut paper, and most of my work is hand cut.

I illustrate little scenes or people, things like that. I like doing 3D-paper models. I do things that are very intricate and very colorful. I think that is what sets me apart from other paper artists—a lot of details and colors. [When] I have a scene in mind, I cut every piece of that scene with my X-Acto knife then I assemble them together to create a scene.

What inspires your art? Since I haven’t been here in

the U.S. for a long time, I think I’m still very inspired by my Mexican culture and I’m still very nostalgic about it. That’s why I do things with a lot of color and I try to be intricate, because all the handmade work that is done [in Mexico] tends to be very intricate, too. So I like to incorporate those things into my art. I’m working on a project with Lotería that’s inspiring me. Lotería is a lottery game that is very similar to bingo, but it has characters and numbers on it. It’s a project that has brought me a lot of attention because it has connected me to the Shop Andrea [Latinx] community here and the Cira’s work at Mexican people in Mexico. acirastudio.com

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Photography by Jake Wickersham

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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

Measuring Experience

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

That’s not the case at 395 Realty.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CURRENT

42 Kansas City February 2024

HOME

TrueBlue

A traditional Mission Hills colonial gets a refresh while maintaining its historic charm.

By Nicole Kinning Photography by Nate Sheets

TRADITIONAL COLONIAL HOUSES often carry a formal reputation, but that narrative takes a turn

in the case of this Mission Hills home, thanks to the expert touch of interior designer Annie Kern.

For Kern and the homeowners, the No. 1 goal of the project was to seamlessly blend form and function. Clients Nick and Kate Jones wanted to protect the home’s classic character and maintain its historic charm while seamlessly integrating functionality, style and a unified design tailored to the needs of the couple and their three children.

“We started the project in May of 2022 and had our entire design in the queue by mid-August, standing by and ready for the final install when construction was completed the following May of 2023,” Kern says of the whirlwind redesign. The home boasts incredible natural light, playing harmoniously with color and texture. “Our choices of all materials and finishes were selected with that in mind, to be energetic and joyful, representing the owner’s personality and lifestyle,” Kern says. kansascitymag.com February 2024

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Food-Centric Spaces

Multiple eating areas topped the clients’ wishlist. The predominantly white kitchen seamlessly incorporates bold French blue pendants for a cohesive look, and the informal eat-in area features durable fixtures and accents that can stand up to sticky fingers.

“The banquette is upholstered in a laminated fabric with [homeowner] Kate’s favorite blues, and Chippendale chairs add geometric interest,” Kern says.

The formal dining room, with its muted palette, transitions effortlessly through seasons with modern striped paper and understated elegant characteristics such as the scallop-skirted dining chair cushions and translucent chandelier.

44 Kansas City February 2024

HOME

Child’s Play

Each child’s bedroom becomes a canvas reflecting their personality, from the Colefax and Fowler printed wallpapers to the blush-pink accents and personalized study areas.

kansascitymag.com February 2024

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CURRENT

46 Kansas City February 2024

HOME

Design Details

Paneled wainscoting, strategically placed throughout the home— especially in high-traffic hallways—serves both architectural and practical purposes, adding interest while safeguarding walls from wear and tear.

Bonus Rooms

The game room, nestled between the formal living room and the family room, is where the family spends time playing games, doing puzzles and watching sports. “Farrow and Ball Breakfast Room Green trim, performance fabrics and a custom grasscloth coffee table create a clubby feel,” Kern says. This same vibe bleeds into the office, adorned with accents like high-gloss blue paneling, plaid carpet and timeless paisley drapery.

kansascitymag.com February 2024

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31

BEST BREAKFASTS IN KC

We scoured KC and its environs to find the best breakfast dishes the metro has to offer. Here are our favorite places to start the day.

BY FOOD EDITOR TYLER SHANE CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: DAWNYA BARTSCH, RACHEL LAYTON, PATRICK MOORE AND KYLE WISECARVER ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHY BY CALEB CONDIT AND REBECCA NORDEN / ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY BY ZACH BAUMAN

50 Kansas City February 2024

Chicken Fried Steak Rye KC

10551 MISSION ROAD, LEAWOOD

When we interviewed Travis Kelce’s private chef Kumar Ferguson last month about his favorite brunch spot, he called out Rye—more specifically, their chicken fried steak.

“I instantly felt like it should be a sought-after Kansas City thing,” the chef said.

After a recent visit to scope out this coveted item, I have to agree.

The steak is massive, comes with a side of sausage gravy and two sunny side up eggs and is served on a bed of mashed potatoes. Maybe it isn’t the most energizing meal. Maybe after one bite you won’t care. -T.S.

kansascitymag.com February 2024

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Baked Potato Waffles

Cardboard Corner Cafe 9240 METCALF AVE., OVERLAND PARK & 8750 PENROSE LANE, LENEXA

“We’ll turn anything we possibly can into a waffle,” states a caption under an Instagram picture of Cardboard Corner Cafe’s fried pickle waffles.

Read through their menu and you’ll find they’re not lying. Familiars like latkes, peanut butter and jelly, and chili cornbread all manage to take the form of a waffle at this eccentric spot attached to OP’s TableTop Game and Hobby.

This niche gamer joint, as in old-fashioned board games, that also serves up specialty waffles seems to be growing in popularity. A second location just opened at the Lenexa Public Market. Our recommendation? Swap the usual sweet batter for the savory and have the baked potato waffle topped with cheddar, bacon, sour cream and green onions. -T.S.

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JUICE BOOST If you’re looking for your morning jolt from something other than coffee, perhaps a carrot juice shot or a spinach, kale and jalapeno juice combo might be the ticket. Yes, this is how some people do it.

Although juicing is said to have begun in the 1930s, it really gained momentum in the 1970s. Its popularity rose and fell over the ensuing decades, but it seems juicing is once again having a moment. Here are a few local spots to get your fix.

Ruby Jean’s Juicery VARIOUS LOCATIONS, RUBYJEANSJUICERY.COM

PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED

Troost has seen some incredible changes over the past couple years, with new coffee shops and restaurants popping up everywhere, but Ruby Jean’s Juicery has been a part of the Troost community since 2017.

Owner Chris Goode is on a mission to introduce people to a new, healthier way of living.

All kinds of juices can be bought at Ruby Jean’s, named in honor of Goode’s grandmother, but the most popular juice is Good Vibes Only, a combination juice that includes a crazy variety of ingredients, including beets, carrots, pineapple and ginger. –K.W.

Vermonter Crêpe

Gigi’s Vegan & Wellne ss Café

Seven Swans Crêperie

Gigi Jones, who says she beat colon cancer by embracing healthy foods, calls herself a food activist. She not only offers all types of juices and vegan fare at Gigi’s Vegan & Wellness Café but also provides nutrition programs and classes. Our menu pick is the Vitality Immunity with celery, cucumbers and sprouts. If you want to know more about the health benefits of a vegan lifestyle, stop in and ask. Staffers at Gigi’s would love to tell you how their juices, burgers and wellness wraps (mushroom-filled lettuce wraps) can jumpstart your healthy lifestyle. –K.W.

1746 WASHINGTON ST., KCMO

Strawberry Hill is known for its share of corner shops and European-inspired bakeries, and Seven Swans Crêperie fits right in. With high ceilings and exposed brick revealing the building’s long history, brunch at the creperie feels as if you’re lounging in a Parisian cafe. It’s the perfect place for first dates or gab sessions with old friends alike.

Their menu is structured into savory and sweet crepes. On the savory side, try out the Vermonter crepe packed with a rosemary sausage and caramelized apples. The crepe is thin and crisp with a soft interior filled with melted sharp white cheddar.

On the sweeter side, the Paris crepe is a traditional French crepe loaded with strawberries, bananas, whipped cream and, naturally, plenty of warm nutella. It’s sure to transport you from your cushioned seat to a cobblestone Parisian street. –R.L.

1103 WESTPORT ROAD, KCMO

Billie’s Juicery 634 E. 63RD ST., KCMO

This Brookside juicery serves wellness in all forms, from turmeric immunity shots and grass-fed bone broth to nutrient-dense green smoothies and matcha toast. But if you’re looking to stick to your regular coffee order, there’s a cafe as well. The best part? A drivethru lets you grab your morning juice on the go. –T.S.

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Puff Puffs African dream Cuisine 8750 PENROSE LANE, LENEXA

Neba Ngwa and Stella Musongong don’t make their deep-fried dough balls, or puff puffs, to make money.

The husband and wife duo make them to honor their mothers in their native country, Cameroon, who make the breakfast snacks as a side gig to contribute to their households. Stella and Neba’s puff puffs are fried fresh each morning. Think beignets but without the excessive powdered sugar coating. –T.S.

Quiche Hemma Hemma 7122 WORNALL ROAD, KCMO

B&G Happy Gillis 549 GILLIS ST., KCMO

Will Kansas City mag ever stop talking about the perfection that is Happy Gillis’ biscuits and gravy?

Probably not. The Columbus Park eatery serves the breakfast classic with no frills. Their soft, tender biscuits are drowned with a few ladles of thick, savory gravy. Choose between sausage or mushroom gravy, or have the best of both worlds and get both. Don’t forget your breakfast cocktail! –T.S .

While you’re moving through the line at Hemma Hemma’s cafeteria, don’t forget to snag the loaded quiche. It’s quite possibly one of the best I’ve ever had—not dense like your usual diner quiche but fluffy and dressed to the nines with cherry tomatoes, crumbles of feta cheese, dill and quinoa. –T.S. Green Mary Lula Southern Cookhouse 1617 MAIN ST., STE 100, KCMO

Savory Breakfast Pastries Blackhole Bakery 5531 TROOST AVE., KCMO

Considered one of the best bakeries in KC, Jason Provo’s Troost spot remains a must-try for those looking for made-from-scratch early morning goodness. There are sweet mochi doughnuts, and there are more savory concoctions like panini-style breakfast sandwich croissants and Flamin’ Hot Cheeto pimento cheese puffs (yes, you read that right). Either way, you’re in for some seriously out-of-this-world eats. –T.S.

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Get your daily dose of green the easy way with Lula’s Green Mary. Charred green tomatoes are blended with green pepper, celery, green tabasco, smoked tomato powder and horseradish (for an extra kick), and the concoction is spiked with vodka. Cheers! –T.S.

Cruffin and Scones

The Pantry 7769 QUIVIRA ROAD, LENEXA

This Lenexa strip mall bakery has gone under the radar for far too long, possibly because it’s only open Saturdays and Sundays. Wales native Deepal Patel is the owner of this hidden gem and brings her European background to its seemingly endless menu.

Do yourself a favor and plan your weekend around picking up some British-style scones with clotted cream (think creme fraiche but thicker) or cruffins, which are essentially muffins made with croissant dough and filled with cream cheese and homemade jams. Head to The Pantry’s website (thepantrykc.com) to place your preorder. -T.S.

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Bill of Health

Billie’s Grocery advance s KC’s health food scene.

Chef Robin Krause’s health-focused spot Billie’s Grocery (billiesgrocery. com) was a breath of fresh air when it opened in June of 2020.

With a raw dessert bar, cold-pressed juices and a colorful, organic-heavy menu, the wide-open Midtown space, naturally lit by massive windows, feels like a spot you’d stumble upon in a bigger city like Chicago or Los Angeles. That’s because Krause spent time traveling during her years as a health coach, certified herbalist and yoga teacher. At Billie’s, it’s not a diet Krause is serving but a lifestyle—one where there’s something delicious and healthy for everyone. “[In 2020], people wanted those comforting and stimulating foods, and here I was, as a nutritional therapist, trying to heal the world,” Krause says. “So I decided to give them what they were wanting but a little healthier.”

From sauces to soup broth, everything at this breakfast and lunch spot is made from scratch. Dishes like meaty carnitas bowls, smoked salmon mezze and Turkish eggs with

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house-made labneh are packed with such beautiful texture and flavor you’ll be blissfully oblivious that any of the food you’re eating is following your dietary restrictions, whether they be gluten-, sugar- or dairy-free.

But they are.

Now, about those raw desserts.

“No one is doing this in Kansas City,” Krause says. “It means gluten-free, dairy-free, processed sugar-free. Everything is made from a nut flour or a gluten-free oat flour that we grind. Nothing is baked, so you don’t destroy any of the nutrients in the dessert.”

It’s fair to say that Krause’s wellness restaurant is a hit. The chef just opened another Billie’s in Leawood.

Whereas the Midtown location offers cooking classes, the new spot will instead offer a full market of graband-go meals.

“We’re also going to do more pop-ups,” Krause says. “We have a fresh mozzarella cheese puller coming in. We’ll do gluten-free pasta demos, fun stuff like that, so it’s a little more interactive.” –T.S.

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Croque Monsieur French Market

6943 TOMAHAWK ROAD, PRAIRIE VILLAGE

This Prairie Village French cafe and grocer is packed with both locals and shelves of cheese stacked high above your head. But don’t let the chatter of happy patrons or the loud sound of the espresso machine overwhelm you. Dive right in and maybe even take a stab at ordering something in French.

We recommend the croque monsieur, a traditional hot sandwich cooked in its own juices. Toasted country bread is packed with a ham, swiss-like cheese and mustard and smothered in bechamel (the “mother of sauces”). Add an egg on top to “parachever” your sandwich. Take a seat outside on the patio and you might just think you see the Eiffel Tower in the distance. -K.W.

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BREAKFAST: IT’S WHAT’S FOR DINNER

BY TYLER SHANE

For many of us, having breakfast for dinner is steeped in nostalgia. Whether it was your college campus’ late-night diner or dad’s specialty, breakfast for dinner (dubbed “brinner” in the past decade) has a special place in the hearts of many.

Here are four local spots where you can get your morning meal at night.

Winstead’s 101 EMANUEL CLEAVER II BLVD., KCMO

Our beloved Winstead’s on the Plaza is still catering to the night owls. While you can’t order a breakfast combo past 11 am, the breakfast sandwiches are available to order all day long.

Corner Cafe THECORNERCAFE.COM

Nearly the entire extensive breakfast menu at this North KC diner is available until 9 pm.

Town Topic TOWNTOPIC.COM

PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED

It wouldn’t be a breakfast for dinner roundup without this KC staple. If you pop by for dinner, the breakfast Haystack sandwich—eggs, sausage, cheese and hash browns all on Texas toast—may just put you to bed early.

Opera House Coffee & Food Emporium OPERAHOUSEKC.COM

This quirky River Market coffee shop serves a large breakfast and lunch menu including smoothies, juices and cocktails. Just our luck: It just started serving its breakfast menu all day.

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Brunch Pastrie s The Town Company 1228 BALTIMORE AVE., KCMO

We dubbed Helen Jo Leach the queen of desserts back in February for our sweets issue. Now, The Town Company pastry chef is tackling breakfast—with style. Pop in on a Sunday to see Leach’s latest experimentation available a la carte. Golden milk banana bread, black garlic and chive gougères and lime-glazed zucchini bread, oh my! –T.S. French Crullers Pop-up Marion Milling Co.

The Wonder

When Marion Milling isn’t, well, milling, you can find the flour millers popping up around town with their freshly baked French crullers. Made with their own highly nutritious stone-milled flour and topped with a velvety dark chocolate, the West Bottoms-based business fries their crullers fresh the morning of each pop-up. You’ll have to keep an eye on their Instagram (@marionmilling) for the special opportunity to snag one of them. They sell out every time. –T.S.

District Biskuits 504 ARMOUR RD., NORTH KCMO

You can’t go wrong when choosing from District Biskuits’ menu, but if it’s your first time, start with the fast-casual spot’s claim to breakfast fame—The Wonder. Sandwiched between a house-made biscuit is a perfectly fried chicken filet slapped with a slice of good ole American cheese and a fried egg. The dish is topped with bacon and finely diced chives, the high-cholesterol equivalent to a cherry on top. –T.S.

Dagwood Sandwich Dagwood’s Cafe 1117 SOUTHWEST BLVD., KCK

Dagwood’s is a relic from a different era. With its truck stop diner vibes, the cafe, established in 1938, seems like the kind of place that might still have a smoking section (I mean that in the best way possible). There isn’t one.

When making a pit stop here, the Dagwood Sandwich is a must-try. It’s a breakfast sandwich made with thick slices of Texas toast, crispy hash browns, American cheese and your choice of meat. If you’re feeling especially hungry, make sure to ask for it smothered in gravy. It’s a nice respite from the standard bourgeois brunches that can be found all around town. Just be sure to smoke outside. –P.M.

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Smoked Brisket Hash The Classic Cup Cafe 301 W. 47TH ST., KCMO

Classic Cup on the Country Club Plaza has always had a reliable brunch. It’s also a great place to work.

I’ve known a number of happy former employees. (They didn’t hire me as a server many years ago, so you know they have taste.)

My go-tos here are usually the classic eggs benedict or their B&G, but I recently tried their smoked brisket hash and, boy, it did not disappoint.

The hash was crispy, the poached eggs were perfectly cooked, and the brisket was tender. It’s topped with— wait for it—a bloody mary sauce, of all things. It’s the perfect combination of spicy, sweet and savory. –P.M.

Kolache

The Kolache Factory 13103 SHAWNEE MISSION PARKWAY, SHAWNEE & 7112 W. 135TH ST., OVERLAND PARK

Skip the bagels and doughnuts and head to the Kolache Factory. This little stop is in the burbs, just off 135th and Metcalf. Kolaches are Czech and Slovak puff pastries usually filled with fruit, cheese or meat. We recommend the hot polish kolache filled with spicy Polish dog or the apple kolache if you’re craving something sweet to start your day. Go ahead and order a dozen; these handheld treats are the perfect morning surprise for your office mates. - K.W.

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Big Momma Plate

PeachTree Cafe’teria 6800 EASTWOOD TRAFFICWAY, KCMO

If you’re looking to start your day with fried chicken, collard greens or smothered pork chops with a side of neck bones, then PeachTree Cafe’teria has you covered. If you hadn’t considered any of these for your morning meal, then let this soul food spot introduce you to real southern comfort food. Start by ordering the Big Momma Plate: two meats and three sides. Don’t forget a slice of red velvet cake for dessert. -T.S.

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BREAKFAST BUBBLY A list of every place doing bottomless brunch drinks, as far as we can tell, with the cost and drink offerings for each

LULA SOUTHERN COOKHOUSE

$20 bottomless mimosas on Saturday and Sunday STREETCAR GRILLE & TAVERN

$13 traditional bottomless mimosas and $15 cranberry bottomless mimosas on Saturday and Sunday HOME STEADER CAFE

$13 bottomless mimosas or bloody marys WALLY’S GRILL & DRAFTHOUSE

$15 bottomless mimosas on Sunday BROOKSIDE BARRIO

$15 bottomless mimosas on Saturday and Sunday GRAND STREET CAFE

$15 bottomless mimosas and bloody marys on Saturday and Sunday BIG WHISKEY’S AMERICAN RE STAURANT & BAR

OG Breakfast Sandwich Housewife 801 MAIN ST., STE, 104, GRANDVIEW

Yes, I am sure your wife cooks the best breakfast in town, but in second place is Housewife.

This warm and clerestory little breakfast spot in downtown Grandview attracts foodies from all over the metro with its innovative fare.

The OG Breakfast Sandwich is a standout. A homemade English biscuit buttered and toasted, with a thick scrambled egg, melted sharp cheddar, and classic breakfast sausage will keep you fueled all day. We understand if you need to get down and dirty with it. In that case, head up to the loft so no one sees you. It’s greasy, cheesy and beats Jimmy Dean any day. –K.W.

BRICK HOUSE KC

$15 bottomless mimosas and bloody marys on Saturday and Sunday

$14 bottomless mimosas on Saturday and Sunday

THIRD STREET SOCIAL

PINCHES TACOS

$16 bottomless mimosas on Saturday and Sunday

$16 bottomless mimosas on Saturday and Sunday BLVD TAVERN

$22 bottomless mimosas or $27 bottomless brunch flight (mimosas, bloody marys and rum punches) on Saturday and Sunday

RED BRIDGE BARRIO

$15 bottomless mimosas on Saturday and Sunday BISTRO 303

$14 bottomless mimosas on Saturday and Sunday

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Kelce-style French Toast Succotash 2601 HOLMES ST., KCMO

Recently declared a “Kelce favorite” by People Magazine, the folks at Succotash know that there’s no better way to build community than with great food and a homey feel. The Strawberry Hill restaurant’s owner Beth Barden makes French toast like no other. Three thick, spongy slices of toast accompanied by crisp, juicy bacon and two eggs done any way (but always just the right way) is Midwestern comfort food at its finest. Of course, it isn’t complete without that Kelce-approved delicate sprinkling of powdered sugar. –R.L. Vegetarian Sandwich Mildred’s Food + Drink’s 1901 WYANDOTTE ST., KCMO & 908 BALTIMORE AVE., ST. 103, KCMO

Chicken and Waffles Niecie’s 6441 TROOST AVE., KCMO

You can pop into one of Niecie’s booths as early as 5:30 am and dive into a variety of hefty, heavenly meals—fried pork chops, T-bone steaks and country fried steak, to name a few (all served with fried eggs, of course). But the fluffy waffle, served with a scoop of butter and topped with lightly battered fried chicken, remains a favorite of Kansas City magazine. Add a healthy drizzle of maple syrup on top and commence the eyerolls to the back of your head. It’s that good. –T.S.

Pop’d Heart HomeGrown’s VARIOUS LOCATIONS, HOMEGROWNKITCHEN.COM

Lovingly called a Pop’d Heart, HomeGrown’s homemade take on the boxed grocery store classic Pop-Tarts are what’s called for when you want to start your day off with a bit of sugary goodness. Known for its locally sourced and organic ingredients, HomeGrown specializes in comfort food with a modern twist. The Pop’d Hearts are a fan favorite and not to be missed. You can always count on the brown sugar cinnamon with sprinkles (of course), but they mix it up with a seasonal flavor, too. Right now the Nutella Pop’d Heart, a flaky pastry filled with Nutella and topped with vanilla frosting and chocolate sprinkles, is on the menu, and it shouldn’t be missed. –D.B.

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With the Crossroads Arts District’s continued growth, there’s no shortage of restaurants that are open early for both business and pleasure, but Mildred’s is one of our favorites. It has long been considered a place for meetings, catching up on emails and, of course, grabbing a bite with friends. To power you through your day, we think Mildred’s vegetarian sandwich is just the fuel you’ll need. Their house-made pepper-dijon mayo with a thin layer of melted cheese compliments the ultra-fluffy eggs and crisp wheat bread, leaving you feeling energized and light. Be sure to pair your sandwich with their locally roasted Marcell Roasting Club coffee for that extra boost. –R.L. Pancake s Kate’s Kitchen & Ronnie’s Re staurant KATESKITCHENKC.COM

Dave and Kelly Hendrix, owners of both Kate’s Kitchen in Gladstone and Ronnie’s Restaurant in Lenexa—named after their daughter and son, respectively—serve up traditional and delicious breakfast and lunch fare at their establishments. Although you can’t go wrong with any menu pick, it’s their heavenly, fluffy pancakes that are the star of the menu. The made-fromscratch pancakes can be had the old-fashioned way, plain with syrup, but they can also be dressed up with a variety of toppings such as bananas, craisins and granola or the crowd-favorite cinnamon, apples and pecans. –D.B.

Chilaquiles

AR’s Breakfast & Brunch 8021 METCALF AVE., OVERLAND PARK

Downtown Overland Park is fast becoming a culinary hub. Along with its farmers market being voted “America’s Favorite Market” by the American Farmland Trust, new restaurants keep popping up. Of them, AR’s Breakfast & Brunch is serving breakfast classics with a south-of-the-border twist. It should not be missed, especially if day drinking is in your near future. Mimosas take center stage here. Not a mimosa person?

They have plenty of flavors of margaritas, too.

As for the best dish, the chilaquiles are sure to please. A bed of freshly fried chips gets smothered with your choice of AR’s special red or green sauce, then topped with your choice of meat, queso fresco, sour cream and, of course, eggs cooked your way. - K.W.

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Cake Doughnut Donut King 2320 ARMOUR ROAD, NORTH KCMO

I’ll admit it: Donut King serves the doughnuts of my childhood. No, they’re not gussied up to look like unicorns or Patrick Mahomes with chocolate sprinkles for hair. Instead, this Northland institution keeps it classic with chocolate glazed Long Johns, glazed twists and vanilla old fashions. Stick with the cake doughnuts and you can’t go wrong. -T.S.

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TENDER LOVING CARE Crossroads’ newest cafe, Take Care by OLEO, forgoes tipping to focus on good ole coffee.

Mark Sappington and Chris Oppenhuis are no longer just the silent middlemen between coffee producers and retailers. The duo, who have been procuring, roasting and supplying beans to some of your favorite local spots like Mildred’s and Heirloom Bakery, are now at the end of the supply chain, too.

The pair started their roastery Marcell Coffee in 2019 but decided to leap into retail last fall with their own cafe, Take Care by OLEO (419 E. 18th St., KCMO).

Take Care is an ode to cowtown, with rustic Western pieces like hanging overalls and tattered Folgers coffee tins decorating the space. Midwestern friendliness is the name of the game here. There’s no screen separating you and the barista, oneounce bags of coffee are easily available for purchase, and the pastries—scones, biscuits and mini bread loaves—are freshly

baked each morning. These small details are what Oppenhuis refers to as “subtle hospitality.”

“Whether it’s the bag of coffee or the space itself, we’re trying to create a memorable experience beyond a cup of coffee,” says Oppenhuis.

OLEO, which means fuel in Portuguese, is the specialty coffee brand Sappington and Oppenhuis created for their new cafe. The brand’s name is inspired by one of the duo’s primary suppliers and travel destinations: Brazil. “It’s also one of my favorite places in the world,” Oppenhuis says.

There’s no pressure to tip, as Take Care pays their employees a wage that doesn’t depend on tips, they say. This ensures the same wage for everyone, and the barista isn’t flipping the screen toward the customer after every sale.

But what really sets Take Care apart from other coffeehouses?

“It’s the product,” Oppenuis says. –T.S. kansascitymag.com February 2024

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

2024 KANSAS CITY

F I V E S TA R AWARD WI N N E RS RESEARCH DISCLOSURES In order to consider a broad population of high-quality wealth managers and investment professionals, award candidates are identified by one of three sources: firm nomination, peer nomination or prequalification based on industry standing. Self-nominations are not accepted. Kansas City-area award candidates were identified using internal and external research data. Candidates do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final lists of Five Star Wealth Managers or Five Star Investment Professionals.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FIVE STAR INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER

DETERMINATION OF AWARD WINNERS CRITERIA

The investment professional award goes to estate planning attorneys, insurance agents and select others in the financial industry. Eligibility Criteria – Required: 1. Credentialed with appropriate state or industry licensures. 2. Actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years. 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review. 4. Accepting new clients.

Evaluation Criteria – Considered: 5. One-year client retention rate. 6. Five-year client retention rate.

7. Number of client households served. 8. Recent personal production and performance (industry specific criteria). 9. Education and professional designations/industry and board certifications. 10. Pro Bono and community service work. This year, we honored 1 Kansas City-area investment professional with the Five Star Investment Professional award.

DETERMINATION OF AWARD WINNERS CRITERIA

Award candidates who satisfied 10 objective eligibility and evaluation criteria were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. Eligibility Criteria – Required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser or a registered investment adviser representative. 2. Actively employed as a credentialed professional in the financial services industry for a minimum of five years. 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review. 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal firm standards. 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation Criteria – Considered: 6. One-year client retention rate.

7. Five-year client retention rate. 8. Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered.

9. Number of client households served. 10. Education and professional designations. 1,897 award candidates in the Kansas City area were considered for the Five Star Wealth Manager award. 136 (approximately 7% of the award candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers.

All award winners are listed in this publication.

Financial Planning Patrick Aubry ∙ Morgan Stanley Page 9 Brett M. Bacon ∙ Creative Financial Designs Page 7 Jessi Chadd ∙ Aspyre Wealth Partners Sheila K. Davis ∙ Morgan Stanley Page 8 Richard Joseph Enna ∙ Enna & Associates Jimmy Gaona ∙ LFS Wealth Advisors Page 7

Mark A. Gash ∙ Summit Pointe Financial Group

Alex Michael Petrovic III ∙ Petrovic Financial Services

Jim Guyot ∙ LFS Wealth Advisors Page 7

Ryan Poage ∙ Ryan Poage & Co.

Christopher Heckadon ∙ Summit Pointe Financial Group Page 2 Kyle Edwin Hogan ∙ Buttonwood Financial Group, LLC Tony Richard Moeller ∙ MN Wealth Advisors Richard Kevan Myers ∙ Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Alisa Roth ∙ Mariner Wealth Advisors Teri L. Salach ∙ Morgan Stanley Page 8 Bryson C. Slater ∙ Petrovic Financial Services Mitchell Lane Smith ∙ Buttonwood Financial Group, LLC

Investments Mark Allison ∙ FCI Advisors Page 6 Rick Bain ∙ Lighthouse Financial Strategies Page 10

Greg Alan Harvey ∙ Integrated Wealth Solutions

Kristin Patterson ∙ FCI Advisors Page 6

Frank Mall ∙ FinanciaLife Outfitters Page 5

Brian Perott ∙ FCI Advisors Page 6

Pete Martinez ∙ Insight Financial Services Page 3

Joe Pribula ∙ Intellego Investment Partners Page 10

Stuart Berkley ∙ FCI Advisors Page 6

Matthew Montgomery ∙ FCI Advisors Page 6

Steven T. Cox Sr. ∙ Providence Financial Advisors, LLC Page 11

Kyle L. Moore ∙ Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Carra Sprague ∙ Morgan Stanley Page 11

Steven T. Cox Jr. ∙ Providence Financial Advisors, LLC Page 11

Brian L. Taylor ∙ Taylor’d Financial Services Page 8

Ethel J. Davis ∙ VZD Capital Management, LLC Page 4

Doug James Mottet ∙ Mottet Wealth Craig Novorr ∙ Paragon Capital Management, LLC Page 9

Scott Sollars ∙ FCI Advisors Page 6 Satu Stechschulte ∙ FCI Advisors Page 6 Emily West ∙ FCI Advisors Page 6

Continued on FS-12

This award was issued on 01/01/2024 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 04/10/2023 through 10/31/2023. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Selfwealth managers were considered for the award; 136 (7% of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: 2021: 1,678, 118, 7%, 1/1/21, 4/20/20 - 10/23/20; 2020: 1,579, 115, 7%, 1/1/20, 4/1/19 - 11/13/19; 2019: 1,574, 134, 9%, 1/1/19, 5/11/18 - 11/27/18; 2018: 1,387, 119, 5/20/14 - 10/15/14; 2014: 785, 176, 22%, 12/1/13, 5/20/13 - 10/15/13; 2013: 766, 203, 27%, 12/1/12, 5/20/12 - 10/15/12; 2012: 676, 200, 30%, 11/1/11, 5/20/11 Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth F S - 1 — LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEALTH MANAGERS

Christopher Heckadon CLU®, RICP®, Managing Partner

12 YEAR

WINNER

Left to right: Tim Alvarado, RICP®; Twelve-year winner Christopher Heckadon, CLU®, RICP®; Terek Wilson, MBA, FSCP®; Benny Stewart, RICP®

A Higher Standard of Care • Over 25 years of industry experience Chris is the founder and managing partner of Summit Pointe Financial Group. Whether on the front lines of working with business owners or advocating for those who have little or no voice in financial decisions, Chris prides himself on seeing the firm’s clients reach financial success.

He feels his greatest asset is the team he’s built around him, who work together to create customized plans for his clients.

2641 NE McBaine Drive • Lee’s Summit, MO 64064 Office: 816-251-3333 • Cell: 816-645-3626 chrish@sptfg.com www.sptfg.com

Securities offered through The O.N. Equity Sales Company. Member FINRA/SIPC. One Financial Way, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242. (877) 663-7267. Investment Advisory Services offered through O.N. Investment Management Company.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 1,897 Kansas City-area # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2023: 1,843, 138, 7%, 1/1/23, 4/18/22 - 10/21/22; 2022: 1,670, 128, 8%, 1/1/22, 4/20/21 - 10/15/21; 9%, 1/1/18, 5/17/17 - 11/30/17; 2017: 952, 212, 22%, 12/1/16, 3/26/16 - 11/28/16; 2016: 880, 216, 25%, 11/1/15, 5/20/15 - 10/15/15; 2015: 1,572, 201, 13%, 12/1/14, 10/15/11. investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com. This year, we honored 1 Kansas City-area investment professional with the Five Star Investment Professional award.

LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 2

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEALTH MANAGERS

Pete Martinez President, Private Wealth Manager

13 YEAR

WINNER

Left to right: Back row: Lorinda Gregg; Greg Keal; Larry Broxterman; Adam Waybright; Robyn Horsley; Front row: Kelly Stephenson; Thirteen-year winner Pete Martinez; Tracy McCormick; Lisa Meyer

Make the Most of What You Have. Invest With Insight.

If you’re looking for an experienced financial advisor who will listen to you and design a financial plan built around where you are today and where you want to go in retirement, we’re Insight Financial Services, and we would like to meet you. After working closely with you to establish your objectives, we place your dreams beside the reality of your assets, expenses, risk tolerance and tax situation, and we evaluate them on a practical timeline. Only then, once we know who you are, where you are and where you want to go, do we create and implement your customized financial strategy. Contact us today at 913-402-2020 to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation second opinion service (S.O.S.) review. We hope to meet you soon!

• Using a personalized, client-centric model to produce tailored experiences for our clients • Distinctive designations held by IFS staff members include Master of Business Administration (MBA), Chartered Life Underwriter® (CLU®), Registered Financial Consultant (RFC®) and Behavioral Financial Advisor (BFA)

7101 College Boulevard, Suite 740 Overland Park, KS 66210 Phone: 913-402-2020 pmartinez@ifsadvisors.com • www.ifsadvisors.com www.facebook.com/InsightFinancialServices

Investment advisory services offered through IFS Advisors, LLC (IFSA), an SEC registered investment adviser.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

This award was issued on 01/01/2024 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 04/10/2023 through 10/31/2023. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Selfwealth managers were considered for the award; 136 (7% of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: 2021: 1,678, 118, 7%, 1/1/21, 4/20/20 - 10/23/20; 2020: 1,579, 115, 7%, 1/1/20, 4/1/19 - 11/13/19; 2019: 1,574, 134, 9%, 1/1/19, 5/11/18 - 11/27/18; 2018: 1,387, 119, 5/20/14 - 10/15/14; 2014: 785, 176, 22%, 12/1/13, 5/20/13 - 10/15/13; 2013: 766, 203, 27%, 12/1/12, 5/20/12 - 10/15/12; 2012: 676, 200, 30%, 11/1/11, 5/20/11 Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth F S - 3 — LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEALTH MANAGERS

Ethel J. Davis CEO, Portfolio Manager

Left to right: Nathan Salary; Ten-year winner Ethel J. Davis, CEO; Nikisha L. Johnson

The Odyssey to Wealth Creation and Multigenerational Legacies Passionately committed to financial literacy and wealth creation, Ethel J. Davis, founder and CEO of VZD Capital Management, LLC, believes an odyssey exists to create sustainable wealth and multigenerational legacies. VZD Capital Management is a boutique, independent, high-caliber, discretionary, fee-based registered investment advisory firm. Becoming a member of the underrepresented class of wealth managers, Ethel is among the few African-American women to own 100% of the firm.

• Fee-based, discretionary investment management services, financial and investment consulting services and estate and accounting collaborations

She believes in treating her clients as extended members of her family. After all, VZD Capital Management is the namesake of her parents, Vergie and Zether Davis. Ethel defines wealth creation as the opportunity to invest in companies with significant growth potential. The harvest becomes more prominent than the seeds planted over a long-time horizon.

With over three decades of experience, Ethel has leveraged her distinct trading background and deep knowledge of domestic and international markets to empower VZD to build, manage, preserve and transfer wealth through her customized approach to unique investment management services. She works with affluent individuals, multigenerational families, entrepreneurs and executives to create strategic, customized plans for their unique circumstances.

8953 Mill Creek Road • Lenexa, KS 66219 Phone: 816-726-7066 info@vzdcap.com www.vzdcap.com

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

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 1,897 Kansas City-area # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2023: 1,843, 138, 7%, 1/1/23, 4/18/22 - 10/21/22; 2022: 1,670, 128, 8%, 1/1/22, 4/20/21 - 10/15/21; 9%, 1/1/18, 5/17/17 - 11/30/17; 2017: 952, 212, 22%, 12/1/16, 3/26/16 - 11/28/16; 2016: 880, 216, 25%, 11/1/15, 5/20/15 - 10/15/15; 2015: 1,572, 201, 13%, 12/1/14, 10/15/11. investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com. This year, we honored 1 Kansas City-area investment professional with the Five Star Investment Professional award.

LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 4

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEALTH MANAGERS

Frank Mall Financial Advisor

12 YEAR

WINNER

Left to right: Andrea Snyder; Twelve-year winner Frank Mall; Joy Mall

Live Richly. Journey Confidently.

In early 1986, Frank Mall started a financial services practice with a simple philosophy: provide financial guidance based on each client’s needs and build long-term relationships to monitor and adjust the results of that guidance. More than three and a half decades later, that core philosophy is still fully employed day in and day out.

Frank believes that someone equipped with a well-thought-out financial road map can make wellinformed financial decisions. He works with each client to understand what they want to accomplish, when they want it accomplished and what resources are available. From there, a financial road map is developed for further discussion, with action being taken on the highest priorities.

As an advisor and the manager of client service and experience, Joy Mall joins in delivering the same philosophy. Andrea Snyder rounds out the team to ensure everyone has a friendly, positive experience, feeling individually valued and well cared for by the Outfitters’ team.

Helping outfit you: • For key financial life decisions • With objective tools and knowledge to keep you on a path toward success • Through your journey with a long-term working relationship

6900 College Boulevard, Suite 520 • Overland Park, KS 66211 5921 NW Barry Road, Suite 200 • Kansas City, MO 64154 Phone: 816-888-5800 www.financialifeoutfitters.com Registered Representatives are registered with and securities are offered through Kovack Securities, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. 6451 North Federal Hwy., Suite 1201, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308, (954)782-4771. Investment Advisory services are offered through FinanciaLife Outfitters, LLC. FinanciaLife Outfitters, and Five Star Professional, are not affiliated with Kovack Securities, Inc. or Kovack Advisors, Inc. FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

This award was issued on 01/01/2024 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 04/10/2023 through 10/31/2023. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Selfwealth managers were considered for the award; 136 (7% of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: 2021: 1,678, 118, 7%, 1/1/21, 4/20/20 - 10/23/20; 2020: 1,579, 115, 7%, 1/1/20, 4/1/19 - 11/13/19; 2019: 1,574, 134, 9%, 1/1/19, 5/11/18 - 11/27/18; 2018: 1,387, 119, 5/20/14 - 10/15/14; 2014: 785, 176, 22%, 12/1/13, 5/20/13 - 10/15/13; 2013: 766, 203, 27%, 12/1/12, 5/20/12 - 10/15/12; 2012: 676, 200, 30%, 11/1/11, 5/20/11 Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth F S - 5 — LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEALTH MANAGERS

FCI Advisors

13 YEAR

WINNER

Left to right: Twelve-year winner Brian Perott, CFA; Thirteen-year winner Stuart Berkley, CFA; Nine-year winner Kristin Patterson; Four-year winner Scott Sollars, CFP ®; Ten-year winner Mark Allison, CFP ®; Thirteen-year winner Satu Stechschulte, CFA; Five-year winner Matthew Montgomery, CFA; Eight-year winner Emily West, CFP ®

Creating Peace of Mind Serving Your Investment and Wealth Planning Needs • Financial solutions centered around you • Premier investment advice • Comprehensive wealth planning • Individually tailored portfolios and services • Experienced, credentialed professionals At FCI Advisors, we collaborate with you to understand your financial goals and develop a wealth plan and investment strategy that best support your needs. Whether your goals include the preservation of wealth, growth of your portfolio, continuation of your legacy or planning for your family’s multigenerational financial success, FCI has the experienced professionals and breadth of investment solutions to help. Our firm’s 57-year heritage of accessibility, communication and transparency with our clients is paramount to the success of our enduring relationships and the firm.

5901 College Boulevard, Suite 110 Overland Park, KS 66211 Phone: 913-663-0600 info@fciadvisors.com www.fciadvisors.com

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified finanCial Planner™, and the CFP® mark (with plaque design) in the U.S. Investment Advisory Services provided by FCI Advisors, an SEC registered investment adviser. We encourage you to view a more complete explanation of our wealth planning and investment services and our disclosures at https://www.fciadvisors.com/our-firm/form-adv/.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 1,897 Kansas City-area # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2023: 1,843, 138, 7%, 1/1/23, 4/18/22 - 10/21/22; 2022: 1,670, 128, 8%, 1/1/22, 4/20/21 - 10/15/21; 9%, 1/1/18, 5/17/17 - 11/30/17; 2017: 952, 212, 22%, 12/1/16, 3/26/16 - 11/28/16; 2016: 880, 216, 25%, 11/1/15, 5/20/15 - 10/15/15; 2015: 1,572, 201, 13%, 12/1/14, 10/15/11. investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com. This year, we honored 1 Kansas City-area investment professional with the Five Star Investment Professional award.

LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 6

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEALTH MANAGERS

LFS Wealth Advisors

12 YEAR

WINNER

Left to right: Four-year winner Brett M. Bacon, CPWA®, Director of Wealth Management; Twelve-year winner Jim Guyot, CFP®, Founder, CEO; Melissa Gunter, Managing Director; 2024 winner Jimmy Gaona, Wealth Manager

Wealth Management Simplified In the world of wealth management, our team at LFS Wealth Advisors are not just number crunchers. We’re dream cultivators. Our all-encompassing approach doesn’t just stop at your financial goals. We’re here to tackle the whole picture, from your bank balance to your bucket list. Let’s cut through the noise, ditch the distractions and zero in on what really matters, which is making your dreams a reality without the unnecessary fluff.

Our advisor teams are exceptionally good at identifying the best course of action for our clients’ unique needs and circumstances. We are big enough to deliver an impressive breadth and depth of knowledge to help get and keep your finances aligned with your vision, yet we are small enough to be highly attentive to our clients’ needs. We believe you deserve better than much of the financial industry has to offer.

At LFS Wealth Advisors, we provide a collaborative partnership designed to create a simplified wealth management experience. We build a realistic plan for you based on your vision, then encourage you to tune out the markets and endless “breaking news” that distracts you from that vision and causes you anxiety. We have a fearless commitment to clarity that runs counter to the confusion of Wall Street.

• Believes that financial conversations can be simplified and free of industry jargon • Believes our success is achieved by improving the quality of life for the families we serve • Believes the investor’s biggest problem is likely themselves — in the end, how your investments behave is much less important than how you behave

8730 Bourgade Avenue, Suite 100 • Lenexa, KS 66219 Phone: 913-322-0006 • jim@lfswealthadvisors.com www.lfswealthadvisors.com

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified finanCial Planner™, and the CFP® mark (with plaque design) in the U.S. Investment Advisory Services are provided through Creative Financial Designs, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Securities are offered through CFD Investments, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, 2704 South Goyer Road, Kokomo, IN 46902, (765) 453-9600. LFS Wealth Advisors is not a subsidiary of nor controlled by Creative Financial Designs, Inc. nor CFD Investments, Inc. FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

This award was issued on 01/01/2024 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 04/10/2023 through 10/31/2023. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Selfwealth managers were considered for the award; 136 (7% of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: 2021: 1,678, 118, 7%, 1/1/21, 4/20/20 - 10/23/20; 2020: 1,579, 115, 7%, 1/1/20, 4/1/19 - 11/13/19; 2019: 1,574, 134, 9%, 1/1/19, 5/11/18 - 11/27/18; 2018: 1,387, 119, 5/20/14 - 10/15/14; 2014: 785, 176, 22%, 12/1/13, 5/20/13 - 10/15/13; 2013: 766, 203, 27%, 12/1/12, 5/20/12 - 10/15/12; 2012: 676, 200, 30%, 11/1/11, 5/20/11 Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth F S - 7 — LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEALTH MANAGERS

The Plaza Group at Morgan Stanley We Listen Like a Friend and Support You as Family • Working through daily issues and life transitions, sharing all that life throws at you • Helping you spend less time thinking about your finances and more time living your life

8 YEAR

WINNER

Left to right: 2019, 2021 – 2024 winner Teri L. Salach, Wealth Advisor; 2017 – 2024 winner Sheila K. Davis, Financial Advisor; Jennifer Denning, Financial Advisor

11161 Overbrook Road, Suite 225 Leawood, KS 66211 Phone: 913-402-5204 • Phone: 913-402-5281 sheila.davis@morganstanley.com teri.salach@morganstanley.com www.advisor.morganstanley.com/theplazagroupkc

Sheila K. Davis and Teri L. Salach founded The Plaza Group at Morgan Stanley in 2021, bringing together knowledge, insights and substantial experience. They combine their talents with the resources of Morgan Stanley to create a wealth management experience that is customized for you where you will feel listened to, understood and always the most important part of their relationship. Sheila is a 2017 – 2024 Five Star Wealth Manager and Teri is a 2019 and 2021 – 2024 Five Star Wealth Manager.

©2024 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC 6080189 11/23.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

Brian L. Taylor President, MBA, AIF®

Your Plan “Taylor’d” for You • Family owned • One-on-one partnership • Individually customized financial plans

3

YEAR WINNER

Left to right: Katrina Crites; Three-year winner Brian Taylor

Taylor’d Financial Services

6710 W 121st Street, Suite 200 Overland Park, KS 66209 Phone: 833-829-5673 • Phone: 913-620-1299 brian@taylordfs.com www.taylordfinancialservices.com

No two individuals are alike. Their financial plans shouldn’t be either. Whether you’re envisioning your retirement or already enjoying life after work, we meet you where you are and work to position you to achieve your unique goals.

We work diligently to provide individuals and families with expert service and support in the framework of a family owned business focused on lasting relationships. Clients choose us to create personalized wealth management plans that better position them to experience financial security as they define it.

Investment Advisory Services offered through Cornerstone Securities, LLC.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 1,897 Kansas City-area # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2023: 1,843, 138, 7%, 1/1/23, 4/18/22 - 10/21/22; 2022: 1,670, 128, 8%, 1/1/22, 4/20/21 - 10/15/21; 9%, 1/1/18, 5/17/17 - 11/30/17; 2017: 952, 212, 22%, 12/1/16, 3/26/16 - 11/28/16; 2016: 880, 216, 25%, 11/1/15, 5/20/15 - 10/15/15; 2015: 1,572, 201, 13%, 12/1/14, 10/15/11. investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com. This year, we honored 1 Kansas City-area investment professional with the Five Star Investment Professional award.

LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 8

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEALTH MANAGERS

Patrick Aubry Senior Vice President, Wealth Advisor

Enriching Lives with Financial Solutions • Estate planning and strategies • Portfolio risk assessment • Customized investment management • Goals-based planning

5

YEAR WINNER

Left to right: Diane D. Lair, Portfolio Associate, Financial Planning Specialist; 2020 – 2024 winner Patrick Aubry, Senior Vice President, Wealth Advisor

11161 Overbrook Road, Suite 225 Leawood, KS 66211 Phone: 913-402-5295 Cell: 913-991-3172 patrick.aubry@morganstanley.com

Throughout his 39 years in the financial services industry, Pat Aubry has worked with families and individuals to transfer, grow and preserve their wealth. He is focused on providing personalized investment advice and exceptional client service. By coordinating his efforts with clients’ other trusted advisors, he develops and executes a disciplined plan, incorporating personal needs, financial objectives and risk tolerance tailored to help clients achieve their investment goals. His areas of focus include investment management, financial planning, retirement income planning, estate planning strategies and wealth transfer. Additionally, he is a 2020 – 2024 Five Star Wealth Manager.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Clients should consult their tax advisor for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving trust and estate planning and other legal matters. For more information on award methodology and criteria, scan QR code. ©2024 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC6118450 11/23.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

Craig Novorr President, Chief Investment Officer

• Custom investments providing downside protection from market losses • Alternative fixed income solutions providing income not tied to interest rates

12

YEAR WINNER

Twelve-year winner Craig Novorr, President, Chief Investment Officer

9200 Indian Creek Parkway, Suite 600 Overland Park, KS 66210 Phone: 913-451-6330 • Phone: 913-451-2254 cnovorr@paragoncap.com • www.paragoncap.com www.youtube.com/@paragoncap

Most financial advisors focus on financial planning and use simple asset allocation strategies to provide diversified investment portfolios. Paragon Capital Management focuses on the asset management and goes above and beyond simple ETF or mutual fund strategies. Paragon creates custom portfolios to help clients achieve their goals utilizing a variety of strategies from individual securities, structured products, private credit, private equity and private real estate. Contact us for a unique investment experience.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

This award was issued on 01/01/2024 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 04/10/2023 through 10/31/2023. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Selfwealth managers were considered for the award; 136 (7% of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: 2021: 1,678, 118, 7%, 1/1/21, 4/20/20 - 10/23/20; 2020: 1,579, 115, 7%, 1/1/20, 4/1/19 - 11/13/19; 2019: 1,574, 134, 9%, 1/1/19, 5/11/18 - 11/27/18; 2018: 1,387, 119, 5/20/14 - 10/15/14; 2014: 785, 176, 22%, 12/1/13, 5/20/13 - 10/15/13; 2013: 766, 203, 27%, 12/1/12, 5/20/12 - 10/15/12; 2012: 676, 200, 30%, 11/1/11, 5/20/11 Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth F S - 9 — LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEALTH MANAGERS

Rick Bain RICP®, CFS®, Founder and Advisor

Guidance When You Need It! • Our passion is coaching you through individual financial decisions • We encourage you to begin with the end in mind to build confidence in your financial future

12

YEAR WINNER

Left to right: Kylie Hays, CFP®; Twelve-year winner Rick Bain, RICP®, CFS®, Founder and Advisor; Ethan Hays, CFP®, CPA

8730 Bourgade Avenue, Suite 100 Lenexa, KS 66219 Phone: 816-537-5148 rbain@lighthousestrategies.com www.LighthouseStrategies.com

A past survey by NEXA Insights showed the top reason our clients stay with the firm is because of “the firm’s personal touch.” We know every client’s situation is unique, and we pride ourselves in taking the time to understand each client’s specific goals and building strong relationships throughout the years. Rick also has a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 98. The financial services industry benchmark is 85 with a range of 0 to 100.

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified finanCial Planner™, and the CFP® mark (with plaque design) in the U.S. Investment advisory services are provided through Creative Financial Designs, Inc., a Registered Investment Adviser. Securities are offered through cfd Investments, Inc., a Registered Broker/Dealer, Member FINRA & SIPC, 2704 S. Goyer Rd., Kokomo,IN 46902. 765-453-9600. Lighthouse Financial Strategies is not a subsidiary of nor controlled by Creative Financial Designs, Inc., nor CFD Investments, Inc.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

Joe Pribula CFP®, Managing Partner, Financial Advisor

Helping Clients Make Intelligent Decisions • Serving business owners, professionals, preretirees and retirees • Planning for millennials, generation X and baby boomers

8

YEAR WINNER

Left to right: 2016 – 2022, 2024 winner Joe Pribula, CFP®, Managing Partner, Financial Advisor; Leslie Darrington, Financial Advisor; Kim Pieper, Senior Registered Client Service Associate; Charlie Schorgl, Financial Advisor, Managing Director – Investments

4000 W 114th Street, Suite 180 • Leawood, KS 66211 Direct: 913-800-2802 • Fax: 913-800-2809 joe@iipkc.com www.iipkc.com

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

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, Certified finanCial Planner™, and the CFP® mark (with plaque design) in the U.S.

Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC, a registered broker-dealer and non-bank affiliate of Wells Fargo & Company. WFAFN uses the trade name Wells Fargo Advisors. Any other referenced entity is a separate entity from WFAFN. PM-06142025-6162376.1.1.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 1,897 Kansas City-area # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2023: 1,843, 138, 7%, 1/1/23, 4/18/22 - 10/21/22; 2022: 1,670, 128, 8%, 1/1/22, 4/20/21 - 10/15/21; 9%, 1/1/18, 5/17/17 - 11/30/17; 2017: 952, 212, 22%, 12/1/16, 3/26/16 - 11/28/16; 2016: 880, 216, 25%, 11/1/15, 5/20/15 - 10/15/15; 2015: 1,572, 201, 13%, 12/1/14, 10/15/11. investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com. This year, we honored 1 Kansas City-area investment professional with the Five Star Investment Professional award.

LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 10

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEALTH MANAGERS

Steven T. Cox Sr. and Steven T. Cox Jr. Individualized, Objective, Independent • Wealth and investment management services • Financial planning services • Customized financial solutions

8

YEAR WINNER

Left to right: 2022 – 2024 winner Steven T. Cox Jr., CFA; 2017 – 2024 winner Steven T. Cox Sr., CFA, President; Mark Donaldson, CFA

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

At Providence Financial Advisors, we believe it is important to maintain a balance between growing your assets and protecting your wealth. We take a long-term approach to investing, avoiding fads and market timing. To accomplish this, portfolios are designed and managed using modern portfolio theory.

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

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

Carra Sprague

QPFC, Vice President, Financial Advisor, NMLS 1088408

11161 Overbrook Road, Suite 225 Leawood, KS 66211 Direct: 913-402-5209 Cell: 816-307-3296 carra.sprague@morganstanley.com morganstanleyfa.com/carra.sprague

6

YEAR WINNER

• 2019 – 2024 Five Star Wealth Manager

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

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

©2024 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC 5994684 10/23.

FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGER AWARD WINNER

This award was issued on 01/01/2024 by Five Star Professional (FSP) for the time period 04/10/2023 through 10/31/2023. Fee paid for use of marketing materials. Selfwealth managers were considered for the award; 136 (7% of candidates) were named 2024 Five Star Wealth Managers. The following prior year statistics use this format: YEAR: 2021: 1,678, 118, 7%, 1/1/21, 4/20/20 - 10/23/20; 2020: 1,579, 115, 7%, 1/1/20, 4/1/19 - 11/13/19; 2019: 1,574, 134, 9%, 1/1/19, 5/11/18 - 11/27/18; 2018: 1,387, 119, 5/20/14 - 10/15/14; 2014: 785, 176, 22%, 12/1/13, 5/20/13 - 10/15/13; 2013: 766, 203, 27%, 12/1/12, 5/20/12 - 10/15/12; 2012: 676, 200, 30%, 11/1/11, 5/20/11 Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Five Star Wealth Managers. The award is based on 10 objective criteria. Eligibility criteria – required: 1. Credentialed as a registered investment adviser (RIA) or a registered Been subject to a regulatory action that resulted in a license being suspended or revoked, or payment of a fine; B. Had more than a total of three settled or pending complaints filed against them and/or a total of five settled, pending, dismissed or denied complaint process; feedback may not be representative of any one client’s experience; C. Individually contributed to a financial settlement of a customer complaint; D. Filed for personal bankruptcy within the past 11 years; E. Been terminated from a financial Non-institutional discretionary and/or non-discretionary client assets administered; 9. Number of client households served; 10. Education and professional designations. FSP does not evaluate quality of services provided to clients. The award is not not be construed as an endorsement of the wealth manager by FSP or this publication. Working with a Five Star Wealth Manager or any wealth manager is no guarantee as to future investment success, nor is there any guarantee that the selected wealth F S - 11 — LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEALTH MANAGERS — INVESTMENT PROFESSIONALS All award winners are listed in this publication.

Continued from FS-1

Wealth Managers

Brett Michael Flood ∙ LPL Financial

Matthew Maciel ∙ Maciel Wealth Management

Matthew Scott Sayers ∙ FCI Advisors

Vestana Von Achen Ahlen ∙ Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Austin Wesley Gates ∙ Morgan Stanley

Christine M. Malmgren ∙ Morgan Stanley

Gregory Robert Schaff ∙ Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

Clark Stevens Gay ∙ Visionary Wealth Advisors

Brad Germain Masek ∙ MML Investors Services

Jeffrey A. Schoenekase ∙ Principal Securities

James Richard Azeltine ∙ Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

Nicholas John Gertsema ∙ Gertsema Wealth Advisors

Erica Droste Massman ∙ Index Wealth Advisors

Andrew D. Scianna ∙ Core Concepts

James Bradley ∙ Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Ken Arthur Gilpin ∙ Sound Investments

Daniel Neal Mathews ∙ Creative Planning

Samuel Robert Scott ∙ Creative Planning

Idonna Lucile Bragg ∙ Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Bruce Glenn ∙ Infinitas

David Wayne Mattern ∙ Mattern Wealth Management

Michael John Searcy ∙ Searcy Financial Services, Inc.

Ryan Wayne Brooke ∙ Searcy Financial Services, Inc.

Stephanie Lyn Guerin ∙ Buckingham Strategic Wealth

Bob Joseph McCarthy ∙ Creative Planning

Jessica Ann Searcy Kmetty ∙ Searcy Financial Services, Inc.

Michael Eugene Brun ∙ Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Brian Lee Heithoff ∙ Mariner Wealth Advisors

Kelly Stiefel Arias ∙ AlegrÌa Wealth

Tim S. Carlin ∙ V Wealth Management Brent A. Caswell ∙ Normandy Investment Advisors

Len Henry Hempen ∙ Planners for Financial Success Aaron Steven Herwig ∙ Gen4 Wealth Advisors

Sandra Lynn Chism ∙ Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.

Kelly Jeanne Hokanson ∙ Buckingham Strategic Wealth

John Paul Chladek ∙ Chladek Wealth Management

Adam Gregory Hoopes ∙ Creative Planning

Don Caldwell Clark ∙ Personal Financial Group

James Clay Horlacher ∙ First Affirmative Financial Network

Scott Patrick Connors ∙ LPL Financial Charles Sherwood Cooper ∙ Strongbox Wealth Jessica Ann Culpepper ∙ Creative Planning Joseph Patrick DeLargy ∙ Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Angela Hudson ∙ Hudson Planning Services Peter Wellington Hughes ∙ LexAurum Advisors Dru Berton Hull ∙ LPL Financial

Michael Richard McCaw ∙ Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Steven Bradley Seiler ∙ Stifel Nicolaus & Co.

Scott A. McMillen ∙ Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC

Marc Clinton Shaffer ∙ Searcy Financial Services, Inc.

Ryan W. McQueary ∙ Morgan Stanley

Dianna L. Smith ∙ Morgan Stanley

R. Brook Menees ∙ Instrumental Advisors, Inc.

Matthew David Starkey ∙ Aspyre Wealth Partners

Susanne R. Meyer ∙ Nicholson Meyer Capital Management

Kristie B. Svejda ∙ RBC

John Michael Nauman ∙ Infinex Investments David James Neihart ∙ Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Jeffrey Alan Nelson ∙ Lincoln Financial Advisors

Matthew Ryan Thompson ∙ Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Jeffrey Alan Tudas ∙ Normandy Investment Advisors Brandon Alan Turner ∙ Ameriprise Financial Services, LLC Park Ulrich ∙ Ameriprise Financial

Kyle Richard Hummer ∙ Morgan Stanley

Jennifer Dawson Nicholson ∙ Nicholson Meyer Capital Management

David Dickens ∙ KC Financial Advisors, LLC

Nichole Dove Jansen ∙ US Bancorp Investments

Michael George ONeill ∙ Mariner Wealth Advisors

Timothy James Walla ∙ Walla Street Wealth Management, Inc.

Christian Daniel Dunker ∙ Financial Partners Group

Brigid Anne Jones Mook ∙ Creative Planning

David Gregory Pacer ∙ Infinitas

Kaylynn Delaney Watts ∙ Creative Planning

William Todd Easley ∙ Prosperity Advisors

Sam Irby Jordan ∙ Synergy Wealth Solutions

Jerry Leon Perfect ∙ infinitas

Brad B. Welch ∙ Morgan Stanley

Jason Stephen Edmonds ∙ Edmonds Duncan Registered Investment Advisors

Brian Nelson Kaufman ∙ Prairie Capital Management Group, LLC

Josh L. Perfect ∙ FAS Wealth Partners

Amy Renae White ∙ Prairie Ridge Asset Management, LLC

David Edward Enenbach ∙ Enenbach & Associates

Chris P. Kelliher ∙ Creative Planning

John Christopher Fales ∙ Searcy Financial Services, Inc. Deb Lynn Fehl ∙ Stephens Heffner Financial Partners James Scott Fitzgerald ∙ Merrill Lynch

Wendall Alan Kennedy ∙ On Investment James Curtis Knapp ∙ Knapp Family Wealth Troy Lee Kuhn ∙ Creative Planning John Tempel Ludwig ∙ Morgan Stanley

Mark David Rabin ∙ LPL Financial Randall Paul Rhyner ∙ Smith Moore

Ryan Gregory Widrig ∙ Morgan Stanley

Thomas C. Riordan ∙ Morgan Stanley

Richard Edgar Witherspoon ∙ Reliant Financial Services

Domenic Rizzi ∙ Reliant Financial Services

Investment Professional

Mark Ronald Roberts ∙ Affinity Asset Management

Tyler Jessup ∙ Convergence CPAs LLC

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

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

completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 1,897 Kansas City-area # Considered, # Winners, % of candidates, Issued Date, Research Period. 2023: 1,843, 138, 7%, 1/1/23, 4/18/22 - 10/21/22; 2022: 1,670, 128, 8%, 1/1/22, 4/20/21 - 10/15/21; 9%, 1/1/18, 5/17/17 - 11/30/17; 2017: 952, 212, 22%, 12/1/16, 3/26/16 - 11/28/16; 2016: 880, 216, 25%, 11/1/15, 5/20/15 - 10/15/15; 2015: 1,572, 201, 13%, 12/1/14, 10/15/11. investment adviser representative; 2. Actively licensed as a RIA or as a principal of a registered investment adviser firm for a minimum of 5 years; 3. Favorable regulatory and complaint history review (As defined by FSP, the wealth manager has not; A. complaints with any regulatory authority or FSP’s consumer complaint process. Unfavorable feedback may have been discovered through a check of complaints registered with a regulatory authority or complaints registered through FSP’s consumer services firm within the past 11 years; F. Been convicted of a felony); 4. Fulfilled their firm review based on internal standards; 5. Accepting new clients. Evaluation criteria – considered: 6. One-year client retention rate; 7. Five-year client retention rate; 8. indicative of the wealth manager’s future performance. Wealth managers may or may not use discretion in their practice and therefore may not manage their clients’ assets. The inclusion of a wealth manager on the Five Star Wealth Manager list should managers will be awarded this accomplishment by FSP in the future. Visit www.fivestarprofessional.com. This year, we honored 1 Kansas City-area investment professional with the Five Star Investment Professional award.

LEARN MORE AT FIVESTARPROFESSIONAL.COM — F S - 12

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EATING AND DRINKING WELL IN KANSAS CITY

Raise the Bar PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED

By Dawnya Bartsch

MISSOURI’S VERY OWN Askinosie Chocolate is so much more

than just a trendy bean-to-bar factory. The chocolate bar company, which Food & Wine magazine declared has “the best chocolate in the United States,” is also on a mission to help the people that help source and create Askinosie’s very gourmet and expensive chocolate. Founder and CEO Shawn Askinosie is doing this through education and social programs in the often impoverished countries where cacao beans are sourced. These programs are administered via Askinosie’s Chocolate University.

But back to the statement-making chocolate bars. Printed on each bar’s packaging are the name of the bean, the area it was grown in, an image of the lead farmer and other details about where the chocolate came from. The black-outlined image of the farmer printed on brown paper makes for a very rustic yet chic-looking package.

The Dark Milk Chocolate and Fleur de Sel bar, made with cocoa beans grown in the Philippines, goat’s milk powder and organic sugar cane, is a Kansas City magazine top pick. The 62 percent chocolate bar has a slight and subtle fruity flavor that compliments the rich and creamy chocolate.

The Askinosie storefront and factory are located in Springfield, Missouri, but the chocolate can be found at various retailers throughout the metro, including Whole Foods. (askinosie.com) kansascitymag.com February 2024

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S AVO R

The Lunar New Year is on Feb. 10, and one of the city’s biggest celebrations will be happening at Café Cà Phê.

Lunar Latte

By Tyler Shane

PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED

SINCE ITS ORIGINS as a coffee truck in 2020, Café Cà

Phê has always been proudly offbeat and proudly Vietnamese. Owner Jackie Nguyen, who was an actress on Broadway before owning KC’s first Vietnamese coffee shop, sources her beans from the woman-owned Vietnamese Nguyen Coffee Supply. In fact, Nguyen pays homage to the entire Asian community throughout the Café Cà Phê menu, with drinks such as a latte inspired by the traditional Thai dish of mango sticky rice.

Don’t worry. There’s no rice in this caffeinated beverage (although, if there were, I’d trust Café Cà Phê to do it right). Instead, there’s mango syrup and a Robusta true-grit espresso blend to round out the sweet coconut condensed milk. Iced or hot, it’s delightfully sweet, thick and a morning meal all on its own.

It may seem a month too late to be celebrating the New Year, but for many in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, the celebration is right on time.

The Lunar New Year is on Feb. 10, and one of the city’s biggest celebrations will be happening at Café Cà Phê.

While the sticky rice latte remains a menu staple, the Columbus Park location (916 E. Fifth St.) will celebrate the Lunar New Year on Feb. 10 with a menu change. The big celebration, however, will happen at their second location in the West Bottoms’ 12th Street Post building (1501 W. 12th St.) with vendors, food, dragons, dancers, raffles and, of course, coffee. kansascitymag.com February 2024

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P E R F E C T DAY

↓

Top Ramen

Youtuber and food content creator Lisa Nguyen talks ramen, lessons in home cooking and potential pop-ups.

By Tyler Shane NO MATTER WHAT social app you’re scrolling, it doesn’t take long before

you stumble upon a chef or influencer wanting to show you the latest recipe, cooking hack or piece of stylish kitchen equipment. Yet even in the saturated market of food content, KC-based Youtuber Lisa Nguyen manages to stand out. Between her lighthearted cooking fails and hilarious food challenges, Nguyen’s authenticity has captured the attention, and views, of millions.

“Food is such a great connector,” Nguyen says. “I like to show my fails in my videos because maybe I can save one person from making the same mistake.”

84 Kansas City February 2024

Nguyen doesn’t have any professional cooking training. The Wichita native was a paralegal before moving to KC, where her brother lives, to become a full-time food content creator. She figures it out as she goes and lets her viewers in on the process, burned chicken and all.

Before she began experimenting with air-fried lobster tails and attempting the perfect pan-seared salmon, Nguyen was filming unique menu items at local restaurants. Her first viral video? A feature on the crab rangoon pizza at Old Shawnee Pizza. But when the pandemic hit and restaurants closed, Nguyen had to shift her content.

“Of course as [the restaurants] were shutting down, I didn’t know what to do,” she says. “I didn’t know how to cook, so I was eating instant ramen every single day. I was like ‘You know, I have the camera. Why not share what I’m eating?’”

Her cooking videos are approachable and, in a way, relaxing. To watch someone be so candid about their mistakes in the kitchen LISA NGUYEN’S is a rarity in the picture-perfect realm of P E R F E C T D AY social media. What’s even more captivating is the sheer indulgence of Nguyen’s content.

Coffee: Café Cà Phê. I Whether she’s whipping up cheesy ramenget the Saigon drink and filled dumplings with renowned Waldo Thai a doughnut from Mr. D’s General Manager James Chang or collaboDonuts. rating with former Chiefs offensive lineman KC views: I would walk to Mitch Schwartz to make a meaty burnt end the World War I Memorial sandwich, each documented experiment because it’s the best view of downtown Kansas City. consistently racks up hundreds of thouAnd after that, you can just sands, sometimes millions, of views. walk over to Union Station.

That place has so much “It’s kind of the intrusive thoughts in history and it’s so beautiful. our mind that we end up trying because we want to see how it turns out,” Nguyen says.

Tacos: I’m going to Taco Naco in Westport for the This sentiment is most obvious in her carne asada quesadilla 30-day ramen challenge, where Nguyen made with Yoli’s pork fat experiments with the many ways she can tortillas. They are so good.

They also have passion incorporate instant ramen into everyday fruit margaritas that are meals, like ramen-filled spring rolls or tamareally good. les. Happily, for all her fans, this hilarious Thai: I love Thai food so self-imposed challenge has quickly escamuch, and Waldo Thai does lated: Nyguyen traveled to Tokyo in January a great job at it. For an appetizer, I get the nam to learn how to make authentic ramen. khao tod—crispy rice with She’s now looking to branch out. cured pork sausage. They “I would like to do pop-ups when I get also have this amazing coconut pumpkin curry back,” Nguyen says. “It would be a cool way with braised brisket. It’s so for me to meet my followers, plus share good I don’t even know if I take time to chew it. the food.”

PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED

Keep updated with Lisa Nguyen and her ramen journey through her Youtube channel, @LisaNguyen.

’CUE CARD

Back to the Future

The Hickory Log’s new-ish owner is punching up the menu while respecting the establishment’s legacy.

By John Martellaro A NEW OWNER for a decades-old neighborhood fixture faces a classic challenge:

how to put a personal stamp on things while keeping the place comfortable and familiar for those who have long loved it.

That was the situation Clayton Wells faced in 2022 when he bought The Hickory Log, which had been serving classic Kansas City ’cue for nearly half a century to the neighborhood around 51st Street and Leavenworth Road in KCK. Wells has been running his own barbecue catering business, the Kansas City BBQ Bistro, since 2004. His cooking is also classic Kansas City style, but every pitmaster puts his own spin on things.

“I grew up near 34th and Kimball, not that far away,” he says. “I thought about how long this place had been here and what it meant to the community. That’s why I didn’t change the name.”

He also kept most of the restaurant’s old-fashioned knotty pine decor, only updating some of the lighting and furniture. Still, about 75 percent of the menu is based on Wells’ longtime family recipes and techniques. For example, there’s no longer any hickory at The Hickory Log. Wells smokes his meats over a mixture of oak and pecan wood.

“The oak gives you a nice, even heat and a basic smoke flavor while the pecan gives it a hint of that nutty flavor,” he says. “We don’t do barbecue; we craft barbecue.”

Photography by Laura Morsman

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The Roundup Sandwich (choice of sausage, ham, pulled pork, turkey or brisket), a longtime favorite, remains on the menu, and Wells plans to bring back another sandwich, the Jayhawker, from the old regime.

He’s also working hard in the kitchen to replicate the old Hickory Log coleslaw, which the regulars love and still miss.

Plates are served with two homemade sauces: a dark, sweet one with a definite molasses note and a brighter-red one with plenty of spice and vinegar.

One of Wells’ most popular additions are his smoked chicken wings, available with lemon pepper, Jamaican jerk or classic barbecue seasoning. More flavors, including honey sriracha, are on the way.

On Wednesday nights, there’s karaoke and specials such as fried onion petals and barbecue loaded fries.

Wells’ goal is to get people to come for the feel of the place as much as the food.

“We want to be the Cheers of barbecue—a place where you’re recognized and comfortable and a family place where you can bring the kids,” he says. “A place known for great food and that makes people want to come here and enjoy themselves.”

Wells feels accepted by the neighborhood and the Side note: The longtime regulars. restaurant’s sign on Leavenworth Road sits “They’re coming around next to a large, gray and getting acclimated to building with an imposing the new style,” he says. black wrought iron fence.

That’s not the restaurant.

“They still want that old The Hickory Log is coleslaw, though. We reasactually directly across at sure them it’s coming.”

5047 Welborn Lane.

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kansascitymag.com February 2024

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Garage Bar

Night Goat Barbecue

Newsfeed

What’s new in Kansas City food and drink

By Tyler Shane

Dive Bar ’Cue

AFTER TWO YEARS of operating Night Goat

Barbecue out of his New American restaurant Fox and Pearl, Chef Vaughn Good has finally found a spot where his pitmaster abilities can take center stage. Good is moving Night Goat into Fox and Pearl’s basement— and turning the space into a dive bar.

Night Goat will have a “tavern-y” feel, according to Good. The building’s basement was a speakeasy, El Pozo, not long before Fox and Pearl opened upstairs, but it’s sat empty for the past several years. Good and his team have been using it for storage.

“The space lends itself already to being a dive bar,” Good says. “I think the last time it was an actual legal bar was probably in the ’80s at some point.”

Currently, customers can only indulge in Good’s barbecue—which ranked No. 8 in

86 Kansas City February 2024

our 2023 roundup of KC’s best BBQ—on Sundays at Fox and Pearl. Night Goat Tavern, expected to open late spring, will serve Good’s barbecue Wednesday through Sunday from 5 pm until midnight.

With the move, Good wants his barbecue to resemble bar food, with an emphasis on tacos and sandwiches. As for drinks, Good says they’ll have “yard beers, riffs on classic cocktails and focus a lot on whiskey and agave spirits.”

Aesthetically, Night Goat will resemble its predecessors as a low-key drinking establishment, but the decor will be inspired by the ’60s and ’70s.

“This is definitely down in a basement,” Good says. “It’s just going to have that dive bar vibe. We’ve got a really cool vintage speaker system, and we’re going to play a lot of vinyl.”

Deli and Jim’s Alley Bar are known for their top-notch drinks and cool but unpretentious atmosphere. Now, the makers behind the sister bars are bringing their talents to the burbs. Next summer, Hank’s Garage and Grill will join downtown Shawnee’s hopping drinking scene.

Hank’s (5801 Nieman Road, Shawnee, KS) will resemble a neighborhood bar with plenty of beers on draft and TVs to watch the games.

The 3,000-square-foot space will be inspired by the former automotive shop it housed.

“We’re not reinventing the wheel,” owner Eric Flanagan says. “If you’ve been to King G’s and Jim’s, we’re just going to do what we do in terms of the aesthetic. It’s not going to have some kitschy Route 66 signs, but we are going to lean a little bit into the vintage auto garage feel.”

Hank’s outdoor patio will have a second bar. Flanagan and his team are building a large canopy to shade the patio, similar to one you might see at an old-school Texaco or Gulf gas station.

“We want to make it look like it’s been there forever,” Flanagan says.

The drink menu will be casual with yard beers, craft beers on draft, classic craft cocktails and made-from-scratch soda and tonics.

“It’ll be a relaxing place to watch the game and feel comfortable bringing your kids there, but also comfortable if you’re in your mid-20s and want to have more than a few,” Flanagan says.

As for bar fare, Flanagan plans on developing a menu with elevated casual eats and an emphasis on burgers.

To keep updated, follow Hank’s @hanksshawnee.

PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED

CROSSROADS HOT SPOTS King G Bar and

BITES

Bánh Mì, Please PARIS BANH MI Cafe and Bakery, a shop

devoted to bánh mì sandwiches, recently opened in Westport, creating lots of buzz.

“We saw the concept and we thought, ‘Kansas City needs this kind of franchise,’” says co-owner Binh Dang.

The sandwich, characterized by its savory, often marinated meat with crunchy vegetables on a crispy baguette, has a bit of a cult following. Paris Banh Mi’s (1106 Westport Road, KCMO) menu features eight variations on the sandwich, and Dang says the most popular is the Special Combination. It’s loaded with several meats of your choice and plenty of condiments, like soy sauce and mayo. You can even swap out the baguette for a croissant or burger bun.

“This is very new to the Kansas City area,” Dang says of the bánh mì shop. “We’ve never had anything like this in the surrounding area, so I think the menu speaks for itself. We have a standard.

We do it like you’re supposed to make it and have it taste good every time you come in.”

Soon to join the menu are Korean corn dogs and pho. The drink menu consists entirely of boba teas.

Paris Banh Mi is part of a nationwide franchise. The 3,500-square-foot KC location includes an open kitchen and French-style bakery. Along with fresh-baked baguettes, customers can also purchase desserts like cheesecake, lemon tarts and coffee cake.

Mike’s Wine & Spirits previously occupied the space but moved next door. “We took over a space that had been vacant for at least five to six years,” Dang says. “We took a big risk. We literally turned this [place] upside down.”

Paris Banh Mi Cafe and Bakery

Green Dirt on Oak

Proud Sponsor of The Super Bowl LVII Champions

Cheese Factory STARTING NEXT YEAR, Kansas Citians won’t

have to travel as far to dine at Green Dirt Farm, a sheep and dairy farm based in Weston, Missouri. The award-winning artisan cheese producer is opening a full-service restaurant in the Crossroads.

“We’re thrilled to bring our cheeses to our loyal fans and customers in Kansas City and create a unique experience for our community highlighting delicious mission-driven, small-batch foods,” says Sarah Hoffmann, owner and founder of Green Dirt Farm.

Unlike Green Dirt’s flagship eatery in Weston, which only serves a small menu of sandwiches and charcuterie boards, the new Crossroads restaurant, called Green Dirt on Oak (1601 Oak St., KCMO), will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Opening this month, the two-story space will feature an open kitchen, local market, cafe and cheese-producing facility. Through viewing windows, customers will be able to watch the cheese-making process in action.

“It’s pretty unique in the sense that the cheese will be manufactured on site, cooked on site, eaten on site,” says Green Dirt on Oak’s general manager Matthew Gude.

Green Dirt’s specialties—lamb and cheese—will create the base of the menu.

Lamb tartare, lamb chops and lamb burgers will be featured alongside more casual options like Reuben sandwiches and charcuterie boards.

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kansascitymag.com February 2024

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

surreal estate

If you’re lucky, you might get a guide who has lots of knowledge and can regale you with stories from the past and other fun facts.

Getting High in KC

An observation deck atop KC’s City Hall offers a bird’s-eye city view.

By Dawnya Bartsch THERE ARE LOTS of reasons to head to the observation deck topping Kansas City

City Hall, not the least being the incredible city-wide views.

The 1937 structure is an architectural gem worth a visit in its own right, whether you make it to the 30th-floor observation deck or not. The building is a complementary mix of both the Beaux-Arts and Art Deco styles. Designed by Wight and Wight, a popular Kansas City architecture firm at the time, the building replaced an earlier city hall at the same location. It was one of the tallest buildings in KC and

88 Kansas City February 2024

Missouri when it was first built. Sitting on a hill, the 443-foot building (525 feet if you count the antenna), remains the fifth-tallest building in KC today and one of the tallest city halls in the country, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

KC City Hall was one of many government buildings built to counter the effects of the Great Depression.

It was constructed under the influence of KC’s most notorious political boss, Tom Pendergast, who owned the company that provided the immense amount of concrete needed for the steel and concrete slab construction method.

The interior is elaborate, with marble stairways and bronze architectural details. The structure cost $6 million at the time, far exceeding the $4 million bond allotted for the project. Imported Italian and French marble and hand-distressed oak and walnut veneer paneling are just some of the awe-inspiring particulars.

Others include custom brass door knob plates, elaborate light fixtures and sculpted brass elevator doors depicting the city’s major modes of transportation. The overall effect is that of a big-city metropolis building —so much so that if you do ride the elevator to the 28th floor and climb the two flights to the top, you start to believe you might even see Superman do a flyover.

The open-air observation deck wraps around the entire building and provides sweeping views of the city and surrounding suburbs. The deck is open to the public, weather permitting, via a tour guide. If you’re lucky, you might get a guide who has lots of knowledge and can regale you with stories from the past, such as when a man proposed to his girlfriend on the deck to everyone’s surprise.

Tour reservations are required and can be made via email. For more information, visit kcmo.gov.

Photography by Zach Bauman

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