Kansas City magazine May 2024 by Kansas City Magazine

SUMMER FUN IN KC! 15 SUMMER WEEKEND ITINERARIES, FROM MEMORIAL DAY TO LABOR DAY.

kansascitymag.com | May 2024 | $4.95

PLUS CANNABIS CONUNDRUM IN KANSAS JAZZOO: IT’S TIME TO PARTY AT THE ZOO BIRRIA RAMEN. WHAT’S THAT?

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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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OUR MISSION

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

PUBLISHER

Kathy Boos

Allure In All Seasons

MANAGING EDITOR

Dawnya Bartsch ART DIRECTOR

Kevin Goodbar ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR

Molly Higgins FOOD EDITOR

Tyler Shane MUSIC EDITOR

Nina Cherry DIGITAL MEDIA STRATEGIST

James Lampone PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

Dominique Parsow ART INTERN

Maci Gunter COPY EDITOR

Kelsie Schrader WEB COORDINATOR

Madison Russell WRITERS

Plan your stay at

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Explore with #VisitHermann Give us a call at 573.789.0771

Nina Cherry, Molly Higgins, David Hodes, Nicole Kinning, Sophia Lacy, Rachel Layton, John Martello, Ian Ritter and Tyler Shane. PHOTOGRAPHERS

Matthew Anderson, Zach Bauman, Annie Bolin, Josie Henderson, Laurie Kilgore, Laura Morsman, Nate Sheets and Joe Zlatnik

SUBSCRIPTIONS

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Kansas City May 2024

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features

M AY 2 02 4

Cover Story: 15 Amazing Weekends of Summer Fun

Cannabis in Kansas

A look at Kansas cannabis laws through the lens of Antonio Wyatt’s case

Kansas City May 2024

Backyard ’Cue Cook-off

Who won the American Royal’s amateur BBQ competition? We’ll tell you.

Your curated guide to a summer of perfect KC weekends

42 Story Time

An immersive children’s museum centered around books comes to the Northland

DO TIME IN

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

JEFFERSON CITY

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

Katy Trail State Park

MissouriPenTours.com

Missouri State Museum

VisitJeffersonCity.com

may

IN THIS ISSUE

23 loop

31 beat

41 current

85 savor

23 Party Animals

31 Mother’s Day Picnic

41 Walled In

85 Mushroom Mayhem

It’s Jazzoo time

Treat mom to a Mother’s Day picnic on the grounds of the Kansas City Museum

Local artist makes handpainted statement wallpaper

A year-round mushroom farm sprouts in the Northland

42 Down the Rabbit Hole

86 Birria Ramen

A children’s book museum offers an immersive experience

This brazen take on comfort food is all the rage

26 Battery Powered A multibillion-dollar battery plant just outside Olathe is taking shape

34 Classic Tech N9ne KC native and rapper Tech N9ne collabs with the Kansas City Symphony

36 Backbeat Back Alley Brass hits all the right notes

44 The Right Fit Bespoke menswear creator talks about the perfect suit and the brand’s Chiefs player co-owner

46 Take the Plunge IN EVERY ISSUE

Editor’s Letter................ 16 Up Front........................... 18 Calendar......................... 32 Surreal Estate............... 96

ON THE COVER:

Photography by Ross Ellen/Shutterstock

Kansas City May 2024

Local designers highlight their favorite pool projects

90 Drink This blissful lavender latte is sure to warm your soul

92 Perfect Day Crossroads Hotel chef Aaron Wells-Morgan talks pasta

93 ’Cue Card Backyard BBQ cook-off

94 Newsfeed The latest in KC food news

GASCONADE RIVER Dixon, MO

AND SHE LOVES TO SHARE. Gentle rivers full of twists and turns through spectacular scenery make an outdoor adventure in the heart of the Ozarks worthy of any family scrapbook or journal. Here, the warm sunshine reflects on the water just as it did centuries ago, giving all who visit a sense of life in simpler times. And there’s always something to do on and away from the water. Spend a day or a week and discover what makes Pulaski County the perfect spot for your next outdoor adventure.

Come Say “Hi” to Mother Nature. For more info, visit pulaskicountyusa.com.

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

Sunny Skies Ahead SUMMER WEATHER IS creeping in. Some days are hot, and some days are not. While a thunderstorm

might roll through one day and then the next the thermostat tops off over 80, it’s still quite lovely. Right now, as I write this, a tornado warning has been issued and my patio umbrella just slammed to the ground, even though yesterday I was walking my dog comfortably along a tree-shaded street. Fortunately for us, regardless of how the spring day plays out, we do know we won’t be in fear of losing a finger to frostbite while pumping gas, or desperately darting from one air-conditioned building to the next, hoping to escape a heavy blanket of humidity. So I say, let’s enjoy this somewhat mild weather while we can. However, even though temperatures are destined to start rising and we all know that the summer heat can sometimes pack a wallop, it’s also a lot of fun. There’s sipping cocktails by the pool, enjoying a dip in the lake, taking in an outdoor movie or finding the perfect restaurant to dine al fresco. It was while dreaming about all these upcoming leisurely days that Kansas City magazine writers went in search of some of the best summer activities and events occurring around the metro. We came up with an itinerary for every weekend

between Memorial Day and Labor Day, so if you decide that one of these summer weekends might be a good time to try something new, we’ve got you covered. This issue isn’t all fun in the sun. Associate Managing Editor Molly Higgins took a deep dive into several cannabis legal cases that highlight the heavy-handed Kansas marijuana laws and how they are impacting individuals and the state of Kansas. Her comprehensive research and look at the issues is eye-opening. It’s a long informative read, making it perfect for an indoor rainy May day or for sitting under a patio umbrella in the backyard. Dawnya Bartsch MANAGING EDITOR

dawnya@kansascitymag.com

Contributors

Molly Higgins, Associate Managing Editor

Maci Gunter, Design Intern

Joe Zlatnik, Photographer

This month’s feature on cannabis laws in Kansas was written by Molly Higgins, Kansas City magazine’s associate managing editor.

Maci Gunter, a student at KU, has been working at Kansas City magazine as a design intern this past semester. She graduates this month with a degree in digital marketing, advertising and public relations.

This issue’s piece on Crossroads Hotel chef Aaron Wells-Morgan’s Perfect Day in KC was photographed by Joe Zlatnik, who specializes in portrait and commercial photography.

Kansas City May 2024

Clay County,

MISSOURI Paradise Point Golf Course at Smithville Lake

Worlds

Shops

Briarcliff at the Village of

Whether you’re hitting the links at the beautiful Paradise Point Golf Course, taking the family out to Worlds of Fun, shopping local or snapping Insta-worthy pics, it’s always a good time to VisitClayMO! Located just North of the River in Kansas City!

Fun Farm

of Fun

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UP FRONT

Feedback

Say What?

Numbers From This Issue

154,000

The stadium downtown would have been amazing for small businesses. They could have made a killing with restaurants and shopping before and after games. This wasn’t smart. – Rachel Nicole Rogers

The Hunts and Shermans want socialism for their stadiums and capitalism for their profits. – Magus Johannes Faust

The Kingdom has spoken. – Michelle Hammack

Hold another election with East Village as the new stadium location and the voters will approve. – John McAnulty

No one should be surprised if the Royals leave town for a larger media market. It is about money. Both for the owners and the community. The owners will get theirs either way. It’s a business. But once lost, there will be an impact in lost tax revenue in the community. Then the discussion will be where to make up those lost dollars—increase taxes or drop services. The city and county are fortunate we have these sports organizations here (for now). – Bmeiers

Kansas City May 2024

They can both go to Kansas or North Kansas City. – Larry Spagner

Don’t be stupid—separate the votes. We would have gladly approved money for the Chiefs. By making the teams a package deal, the Chiefs suffer now, at least temporarily. – Josh Ganesha Wilson

I’m pretty sure the Chiefs have been getting a lot of offers from other places to move to their cities as they will provide them a new stadium at no cost. Similar to [how] Los Angeles [built] SoFi Stadium for the Chargers and Rams and how Las Vegas [built] Allegiant Stadium for the Raiders and a new baseball park for the A’s. It’s all about money and, as a small market city, what we’ll be willing to offer.

Page 23

1951

The year the Sunflower Army Ammunitions Plant was reactivated due to the Korean War. The plant produced more than 166 million pounds of propellants, with a peak employment of 5,374 workers. Page 26

The number of dinners in the Kemper Museum’s annual Artist Dinner Series this year. Page 94

– Rapper Tech N9ne, who is performing with the Kansas City Symphony this month.

Shout-out

KC magazine’s former Assistant Editor Nicole Kinning saved the day, stepping in to copy edit this issue and allowing our regular editor a much deserved Italian vacay.

– Ed Mardiat

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

editor@kansascitymag.com

Behind the Scenes Scan QR code to check out Kansas City magazine online.

Photographer Zach Bauman creating the perfect shot for this issue’s feature on birria ramen.

PHOTOGR APHY BY K ANSAS CIT Y ROYALS; SAMANTHA LEVI; PROVIDED

What’s Next? By far the most interest and comments from readers came from a Kansas City magazine Instagram post @kansascitymagazine. We asked followers what they think about the failed tax vote to renovate Arrowhead and fund a new Royals stadium.

“They [KC Symphony] had their whole list of songs they wanted. I was so flattered, man. Such a wonderful feeling for them to choose you. A beautiful thing and a wonderful marriage.”

People visited the Kansas City Zoo in March, making it the busiest month in the zoo’s 115-year history.

Eat. Drink. Learn. Grow.

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

Kansas City Zoo executive director Sean Putney

PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED

Zootopia

Immerse yourself in all things wild at the Kansas City Zoo By Dawnya Bartsch THE KANSAS CITY zoo is booming and the

beloved institution is doing what it can to keep the momentum going. “We’re coming out of one of our most successful quarters,” says Sean Putney, the

zoo’s executive director. “March was our best month ever with 154,000 visitors.” There are many reasons to credit the zoo’s success, Putney says, not the least being the new aquarium and an emphasis on zoo

renovation and upkeep so that coming to the zoo is an enjoyable experience. Putney has been with the Kansas City Zoo for more than 16 years, starting as an animal curator and working his way up the ladder to Chief Zoological Officer. In that role, Putney oversaw the zoo’s animal collection, animal care staff, conservation program, veterinary health department and (Continued on next page) kansascitymag.com May 2024

LO O P

Z O OTO P I A

What is making the zoo strong? Putney credits many programs and initiatives, but the backbone of all these programs is really the community support, he says.

24 Kansas City May 2024

Party Animals The best community and zoo partnership, paws down, is the highly anticipated annual fundraising event Jazzoo. This “creative black tie” event not only helps keep the zoo alive and thriving, but has proven to be a great way to keep the community actively involved and interested. Thousands descend on the afterhours zoo event to eat, drink and party like animals. This year’s Jazzoo proves to be no different, with food and drink vendors from around the GO: June 7. 7:30 pm. metro and six bands The Kansas City Zoo, and a DJ providing Swope Park. live entertainment. kansascity.org.

↓

PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED

facilities. He was named the zoo’s executive director in 2022, replacing longtime director Randy Wisthoff. What is making the zoo strong? Putney credits many programs and initiatives, but the backbone of all these programs is really the community support, he says. The KC Zoo, which opened in 1909 in Swope Park, was the vision of a group of community activists who decided a world class zoo was something the city needed. Known at the time as the Kansas City Zoological Gardens, its initial inhabitants were four lions, three monkeys, a wolf, a fox, a coyote, a badger, a lynx, an eagle and a multitude of other birds. It has since evolved with more than 1,700 animals. In the last 20 years, the zoo has invested more than $85 million in capital projects, including the Zoo Learning Center, river otters, Polar Bear Passage, the African Safari, Tiger Terrace, the Helzberg Penguin Plaza and, of course, the new Sobela Ocean Aquarium. The new aquarium, partially funded by the Helzberg family, has proven to be a blockbuster. It opened in September 2023 and it was so popular that reservations were required during the first four months. The zoo is governed by a private non-profit organization and is operated with an agreement with the Kansas City Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners and is partially funded by the Zoological District. The district is made up of Jackson and Clay Counties and supports the zoo through a 1/8th sales tax, which also allows residents of these counties reduced zoo admissions along with other perks.

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LO O P

Battery Powered

A multibillion-dollar development bonanza is haunted by decades-old land concerns By David Hodes A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR battery plant is energizing development in a town just

a stone’s throw west of Olathe. But despite this behemoth project’s developers promising monetary benefits in the billions for the region, there are detractors. On the outskirts of DeSoto, Kansas, construction of a $4 billion, 4.7 million squarefoot Panasonic Energy lithium-ion electric vehicle battery manufacturing plant is well underway. The 300-acre plant project is projected to generate $2.5 billion

annually in economic activity throughout the region, says Mike Brungardt, DeSoto city administrator. The Panasonic plant is part of a development known as Astra Enterprise Park, located within the 9,035 acres of the former Sunflower Army Ammunition plant. Along with the Panasonic plant, housing developments and municipal infrastructure projects are planned. “We’ve been busy with a number of the public infrastructure projects, and we also have water distribution, sewer collection system improvements and treatment plant improvements,” Brungardt says. The ammunition plant closed in 1992, according to Johnson County documents, and in 1997, the Army began looking for buyers. The plant was transferred to the Sunflower Redevelopment LLC in August 2005 and was then annexed by DeSoto in 2022. But the history of ammunition production at the Sunflower plant is causing ongoing concern among developers and residents. Between 1943 and 1947, explosives were produced at the plant. Later, beginning in March 1951, propellants were produced there. During its ammunition production heyday, any excess propellant waste was simply washed into drains that fed into nearby creeks, according to Army cleanup documents. Other soil and water contaminant wastes the Army has found at the site include arsenic, mercury, chromium, asbestos, traces of nitroglycerin and lots of lead. Although most of the soil contaminants are cleaned up, many remain in the groundwater. “There are approximately 2,800 acres, or 17 sites, potentially containing munitions constituents that pose a potential explosive hazard,” the Army Environmental Command reported in 2020. There are 35 sites that are still in active remediation status in some form or

The History of Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant 1941: The Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant was originally known as the Sunflower Ordnance Works, the world’s largest smokeless power plant. Construction began immediately and was followed by the first production of propellant 10 months later.

1941–1945: During World War II, the Sunflower Ordnance Works produced more than 200 million pounds of propellants and employed as many as 12,067 people.

26 Kansas City May 2024

June 1948: The plant was placed on full inactive status.

1951: The Sunflower Ordnance Works was reactivated due to the Korean War. This time, the plant produced more than 166 million pounds of propellants, with a peak employment of 5,374 workers.

June 1960: The plant was inactivated.

August 1, 1963: The name of the plant was changed from the Sunflower Ordnance Works to Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant.

August 1965: The plant was reactivated to support the Vietnam War and produced more than 145 million pounds of propellants, with a peak employment of 4,056 workers.

August 1967: A major facility modernization program was started.

PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED; SHUT TERSTOCK

B AT T E RY P L A N T

another of the 97 sites that the Army is tracking for corrective action, according to Scott Smith, the Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant’s site manager on the ground overseeing day-to-day operations. That means that there is still the likelihood cleanup work will continue around the Panasonic plant even after it is operational. “For some of those sites, the Mattel work is being completed right now,” Smith says. Soil decontamination Adventure Park efforts should be concluded by 2028, Smith says, but cleaning the ground The Kansas City metro is a water is a little trickier. hotbed of development right now “If there’s something in the groundwater that is considered a contaminant, it’s coming from the soil source,” Smith says. “As a general The $150 million Margaritaville Hotel Kansas City, featuring 229 rooms in a resort-like setting, is now under construction. rule, the Army tries to clean up the source while continuing to monitor It’s slated to open Spring 2025. the groundwater. If there were contaminants in the groundwater, usuThe $486 million Mattel Adventure Park, featuring a ally they biodegrade over time. Or once the source has gone, then they Barbie beach town, a Big Wheels ride and more Mattel toyand game-themed attractions, is coming sometime in 2026. eventually go away.” Panasonic’s acres have been cleared by the Army for development. Once the battery plant is operational, the general consensus is it will present a huge economic boost to not only DeSoto, but the state in general. According to the Kansas Department of Commerce, the battery manufacturing plant is expected to create approximately 8,000 total jobs (around 4,000 with Panasonic Energy, paying on average $30 an hour, and 4,000 indirect jobs with suppliers), as well as 16,500 construction jobs. Batteries will be made primarily for Tesla cars. Kansas’ Rising Star “We are in talks with other suppliers who will provide additional growth Since 2019, Kansas has attracted more than $18 billion in and opportunities to the region,” Allan Swan, president of Panasonic private-sector investment. For the second quarter of 2023, Energy of North America, wrote in response to emailed questions. Kansas had the second-strongest growth in real gross domestic product in the country, at 7.4 percent, according Evidence of that prediction came on March 20, when H&T to the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Recharge—one of the largest battery component manufacturers in the Analysis. There are projects in 85 of the state’s 105 counties. world—announced it will invest $110 million in a building co-located with Source: Kansas Department of Commerce. the battery plant, mass-producing cylindrical battery cans used to encase the components of Panasonic’s lithium batteries. The battery plant is on target to begin operations in early 2025, with the expectation Meanwhile, the investigation about the exact locathat soil and groundwater remediation efforts around the plant will still be active. tion of the contaminated groundwater that needs to But Smith addressed whether or not residential housing can be safely accommobe cleaned up is continuing. “We’re not at that point dated on land near the battery plant during a public meeting with DeSoto residents yet to work with different remedies for addressing in June 2023. He said it’s a question the Army can’t answer, citing differences in whatever contamination is found in the groundwater,” approved levels of cleanup between industrial sites like Sunflower and residential says Ian Thomas, the Army’s Base Realignment and development sites. Closure project manager. The Army does expect to do “I think we had one person that was a bit perturbed about the contamination long-term monitoring of the site, Thomas says. that is there and the potential for it going into the groundwater and into the rivers,” “The Army no longer owns any of the property,” Thomas says. “We are monitoring and investigating all sources on site, and we Smith says. “So we’re just finishing our obligation here have yet to see anything that was produced on site that has gone outside of the on the property.” boundaries of Sunflower.”

1975: A facility for the production of nitroguanidine was added. This facility was the first of its kind in North America.

1992: The plant was inactivated.

1997: Sunflower AAP was declared excess by the U.S. Army, and the General Services Administration began the process of selling the site.

October 2002: Army responsibility for disposal of the property was transferred from the Army Materiel Command to the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management, Base Realignment and Closure Division.

October 2004: The Army, in consultation with the General Services Administration, conveyed Sunflower AAP to an entity selected by the Johnson County Board of Commissioners.

July 2005: The Army submitted the transfer documentation to the governor of Kansas for approval and signature. Pursuant to the enacted legislation and the governor’s approval, Johnson County approved Sunflower Redevelopment, LLC (SRL) as the redeveloper.

August 31, 2005: All 9,065 acres were conveyed to SRL.

2022: The site was annexed by the city of DeSoto.

Source: U.S. Army Environmental Command.

kansascitymag.com May 2024

Dr. John Bleazard’s Innovative Work in Total Ankle Replacement

r. John Bleazard is a highly esteemed orthopedic surgeon specializing in Total Ankle Replacements (TAR) at Kansas City Bone & Joint. With a unique focus on ankle joint preservation and restoration, Dr. Bleazard stands out in his field where only a select few practitioners undertake ankle replacements.

function in the ankle joint. With his specialized skill set and dedication to advancing ankle joint treatments, Dr. Bleazard continues to make significant contributions to the field of orthopedic surgery, helping patients overcome the limitations imposed by ankle arthritis and empowering them to live life to the fullest.

In a field predominantly oriented towards treating knee and hip issues, Dr. Bleazard’s dedication to ankle replacements showcases his commitment to providing comprehensive care for patients suffering from ankle arthritis. By offering TAR as a treatment option, he enables patients to regain mobility and lead more active lifestyles, thus significantly improving their quality of life.

As a former collegiate tennis player, he is passionate about sports injuries related to the foot and ankle. If you are suffering from failed conservative treatments for ankle arthritis such asanti-inflammatory medications, bracing and physical therapy, a consultation with Dr. Bleazard may reveal that you are a viable candidate for total ankle arthroplasty. The benefits include retention of most of your movement and putting the remaining joints of the foot under less stress. It is a more viable option than ankle fusion for maintaining mobility as you age.

Dr. Bleazard focuses on the body & musculoskeletal system, including bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and any related structures. While Dr. Bleazard enjoys performing general orthopedic procedures, such as total knee replacements, carpal tunnel release, and trauma, his passion is foot and ankle surgery. In particular, the treatment of complex foot and ankle reconstruction including total ankle replacements (referred to as ankle arthroplasty), flat foot and cavovarus deformities, as well as tendon and ligament reconstructions. Before the advent of ankle replacements, ankle fusion was the standard treatment for severe ankle arthritis. However, this procedure often limits mobility and functionality in the joint. Dr. Bleazard’s expertise in TAR not only provides patients with an alternative but also offers a solution that preserves motion and

Dr. Bleazard is an active member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, and American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society.

To learn more about Kansas City Bone & Joint, visit them at kcbj.com or call Dr. Bleazard to schedule an appointment. He is currently accepting new patients.

Kansas City Bone & Joint 10701 Nall Ave #200 Overland Park, KS 66211 913.381-5225 ❘ kcbj.com

There are two kinds of people in this world. The ones who think Nebraska is nothing more than a 77,000-square-mile cornﬁeld, and the ones who don’t. We ﬁnd that second group to be a lot more interesting, and are comforted by the knowledge that there are people willing to look deeper to discover what makes this place so special. We’re not trying to convince everyone. Just you. So go to VisitNebraska.com and be the kind of person who gets a free Travel Guide.

W H E R E YO U WA N T TO B E I N M AY

Picnic in the park by Dawnya Bartsch MAKE MOTHER’S DAY memorable with a catered picnic on the his-

toric East Lawn of the Kansas City Museum. The Mother’s Day picnic bundle is being provided by SipSteady, a Kansas City-based organization that promotes and organizes non-alcoholic events. GO: The Mother’s Day package includes a Green March 12. 1 pm. Dirt Farm charcuterie board for two, a bottle Kansas City Museum. of non-alcoholic wine—your choice of red, kansascitymuseum.org.

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Photography by David Remley

white or rosé—and a sweet finale of delightful macaroons, plus a small, festive floral arrangement to set the scene. You provide a blanket or lawn chair and, of course, the guest list. Kids are welcome, and “healthy” soda pop will be provided on the house, but bringing your own kid-friendly bites is recommended. Adults who would rather bring your own food to the picnic can do that, too. The event isn’t just for moms, organizers say, but really for anyone who wants to enjoy a spring day in the museum’s gardens. Built in 1910 by lumber baron and civic leader Robert Long as a private home for his family, the 35,000-square-foot mansion was donated to the city in 1940 by Long’s heirs and became a museum shortly thereafter. kansascitymag.com May 2024

may B E AT

WHAT YOU WA N T TO D O TH IS MO NTH BY MOL LY HIGGINS

Trampled by Turtles

Trampled by Turtles hails from Duluth, Minnesota, like fellow folkie Bob Dylan. The group has a contemporary bluegrass sound that relies heavily on banjo and fiddle with harmonious vocals, a formula that has served bands like The Avett Brothers and Old Crow Medicine Show well in the last decade. May 2. 6:30 pm. Uptown Theater.

Journey to Valhalla Lyric Opera of Kansas City presents Richard Wagner’s legendary four-opera cycle, The Ring of the Nibelung, which is based on ancient Norse mythology. In this semi-staged concert, Journey to Valhalla brings to life the best moments from Wagner’s epic, breathing new life into the story of gods, dwarves and humans in a world full of magic, power and greed. May 3, 7:30 pm; May 5, 2 pm. Muriel Kauffman Theatre.

The Derby Party

7–12

Multi Tony Award-winning MJ: The Musical brings the King of Pop to audiences as never before. Created by Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, this jukebox musical centers on the making of the 1992 Dangerous World Tour, going beyond Jackson’s iconic moves and sound to offer an inside look at the creative mind and spirit that made him a legend. May 7–12. Times Vary. Kansas City Music Hall.

Kansas City May 2024

4. 3 pm. Kansas City Museum.

Tech N9ne with the Kansas City Symphony

Kansas City’s own singer and rapper, Tech N9ne has been a hometown favorite for decades, founding the record label Strange Music over 20 years ago and releasing Chiefs anthem “Red Kingdom” in 2019. He is bringing a new twist to his classic hip-hop sound by collaborating with the Kansas City Symphony and guest conductor and arranger Tim Davies. May 4. 8 pm. The Midland.

PHOTOGR APHY MAT THEW MURPHY; PROVIDED

MJ: The Musical

The Kansas City Museum’s ninth annual Derby Party takes place on the museum’s historic grounds, and the fundraiser promises an afternoon of cocktails, mocktails, southern bites, live music and dancing alongside the Derby live stream. Derby attire is encouraged. May

7–8

Portugal. The Man

Over the past decade, Alaskan altindie band Portugal. The Man has established themselves as a staple of the alt-indie scene and a live favorite, having performed nearly two-thousand shows. They are coming to KC as part of The Knik Country Tour, joined by opener Reyna Tropical. May 7. 8 pm.

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Gary Clark Jr. Austin native, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Gary Clark Jr. has been a favorite for over a decade, fusing blues, rock and soul with elements of hip-hop. Clark’s latest album, JPEG Raw, fuses elements of different musical genres, as before, but turns it up a notch by adding more electronic forms to his classic blues style. May 15. 8 pm. The Midland.

The Truman.

The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie

Early-aughts emo-alt staple bands The Postal Service and Death Cab for Cutie are exciting millennials everywhere by co-headlining their tour to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of their most celebrated work, the albums Give Up and Transatlanticism, respectively. For every performance, Ben Gibbard, the co-founder of both bands, will pull double duty and perform with each. May 9. 7:30 pm. T-Mobile Center.

10–12 & 17–19 Jewels

Kansas City Ballet presents Jewels, which sets the music of three composers to three ballet acts. “Emeralds” features the music of Gabriel Fauré and evokes the elegance of the French Romantics’ 19th-century dances. “Rubies,” with music by Igor Stravinsky, is crisp and jazzy, showcasing the collaboration of Stravinsky and choreographer George Balanchine. Tchaikovsky’s music is featured in “Diamonds,” which epitomizes the feeling of Imperial Russia, where Balanchine was trained. May 10–12 & 17–19. Times vary. Muriel Kauffman Theatre.

14 & 15 Cake

Sacramento-based ultimate ’90s rock band Cake has been a staple in the alternative rock scene for 30 years, and their mega radio hits like “Short Skirt/Long Jacket” and “The Distance” can still be heard hourly on 96.5 Not-the-Buzz. Cake added a second show to outdoor venue Grinders after selling out the first

performance, proving that they’re still going the distance, they’re still going for speed. May 14 & 15. 8 pm. Grinders.

Local Natives

Los Angeles-based alt-indie group Local Natives has released five albums since they formed a decade and a half ago. Known for a chill pop-rock sound that dominated the airwaves in the 2010’s, they are on tour for their newest album, Time Will Wait for No One. May 15. 8 pm. The Truman.

¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva America!

This exciting program celebrates the union of Mexico and America through music and dance, combining elements from both sides of the border. Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar opens

with a traditional performance before exploring more modern sensibilities with the celebrated, colorful group Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles. May 17. 8pm. Yardley Hall.

17 & 18

Sci-Fi Spectacular

The Kansas City Symphony presents Sci-Fi Spectacular, an out-of-this-world concert conducted by guest conductor Jack Everly and featuring music from sci-fi favorites like 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Trek and E.T.. May 17 & 18, 8 pm; May 19, 2 pm. Helzberg Hall.

Union Station Memorial Day Concert and Firework Show

One of the largest free Memorial Day weekend concerts in the Midwest is held on the grounds of

Union Station and the National WWI Museum and Memorial, drawing crowds of 50,000. This year’s headliner is the Kansas City Symphony in concert with rock band The Resilient and other bands like Drive On and the Back Alley Brass Band. There will also be food trucks and vendors. The evening concludes with KC’s largest fireworks display. May 27. 5 p.m. Union Station grounds.

28–31

The Cher Show

Based on the incredible 50-plusyear career of icon Cher, this 2018 Tony Award-winning jukebox musical by Rick Elice tells Cher’s life story through her songs. In the show, Cher is played by three actresses: the young hopeful of the ’50s and ’60s, the glam pop star of the ’70s and the icon of the ’80s and ’90s, proving that fads come and go, but Cher is forever. May 28–31, 8 pm; June 1 & 2, 8 pm. Starlight Theatre. kansascitymag.com May 2024

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STRANGE MUSIC

Blended Tastes

KC’s Tech N9ne celebrates 39 years in the music industry with the Kansas City Symphony By Rachel Layton WHEN TECH N9NE was first approached by the Kansas City Symphony to see if he

wanted to collaborate, he was surprised to learn the musicians were fans of his music. “They had their whole list of songs that they wanted. I was so flattered, man,” says N9ne, who will be performing with the symphony at the Midland Theatre on May 4, which just so happens to also be the informal Star Wars Day celebrated by movie fans everywhere. “[It’s] such a wonderful feeling for them to choose you. [It’s] a beautiful thing and a wonderful marriage. I can’t wait to say ‘May the Fourth Be With You.’” N9ne is a Kansas City native and an avid symphony attendee. With famous tracks like “Lacrimosa,” which samples Mozart’s own “Lacrimosa Dies Illa,” it’s no surprise that the artist is somewhat of a classical music buff himself. “Having a diverse family that listened to everything, it bled over into my music and it made my music taste broad,” says N9ne, who attributes his interest in classical orchestra and chamber music in part to his background growing up in church.

34 Kansas City May 2024

N9ne has now spent nearly 40 years in the music industry, produced 24 albums and founded his own record label, Strange Music. He’s noted for his ability to graft sounds together, forming truly unique hip-hop tracks that blend orchestral components, chamber singers, hardcore metal and many other genres. He has collaborated with dozens of artists, ranging from Machine Gun Kelly to church choirs. This collaboration with the symphony has been in the works for many months and N9ne has been involved in every way. The roughly hour-and-a-half long show will interweave more than a dozen of N9ne’s original tracks with live performances from the rapper and the symphony itself, creating a truly Kansas City bornand-bred performance. Along with his upcoming Kansas City Symphony performance, N9ne is currently writing and recording an upcoming studio album, COSM, part of his “Collabos” project, a series of albums where the rapper collaborates with other artists. He has no intentions of slowing down, “I learned no barriers early on, and I’m glad I did because it allowed me to work with so many different people and so many GO: Tech N9ne with the different genres throughout Kansas City Symphony. my career, and it’s still going,” May 4, 8 pm. N9ne says. Midland Theatre.

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Photography by Darryl Woods

SYMPHONY PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED

The show will interweave more than a dozen of N9ne’s original tracks with live performances from the rapper and the symphony itself, creating a truly Kansas City born-and-bred performance.

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Streets to Stage

Back Alley Brass Band to perform at Kelce Jam, Boulevardia and more this summer By Nina Cherry NEW ORLEANS-STYLE BRASS band Back Alley Brass has become a staple of the

Kansas City scene. Although the group has performed at an array of venues and festivals throughout KC since forming in 2018, trumpeter Tom Lawlor and trombonist Matt Fillingham agree that playing at the inaugural Kelce Jam last spring takes the cake as their most memorable performance. The festival is the brainchild of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. “Being able to be a part of that—after the Super Bowl and hosting the NFL Draft—and being on stage with Kelce as he’s slamming a beer with his Lombardi trophy on the ground, I’ll never forget that,” Lawlor says. “That’s for sure.” Now, Back Alley Brass is gearing up to repeat the magic at Kelce’s music festival later this month. Formed by a group of post-grad college friends from their days at Pittsburg State in Kansas, the band’s chemistry quickly proved to be cohesive in some of their first rehearsals. “It really caught fire with the passion from each player,” Lawlor says. But it was when the then-fledgling band was playing on First Fridays in the streets of the Crossroads that it began getting noticed and captivating passersby, cultivating its fan base. “I think that’s what catapulted us at the beginning,” Fillingham says. Performing repertoire from the more traditional New Orleans second-line marching tradition, as well as the region’s second wave of brass bands—which draws heavily

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from funk and hip-hop—Back Alley Brass consistently delivers dynamic, boisterous performances. Currently, the 10-piece ensemble includes two trumpeters, two saxophonists, three trombonists, a sousaphone player and two percussionists. Impromptu guests often join in on the fun, too. “If we have local artists and friends who are out and about, we’ll have a rotating cast jump up on stage and jam with us,” Lawlor says. “We get pretty crowded up there sometimes.” Last month, Back Alley Brass released a new album, Last Chance to Dance. The title pays homage to a traditional and frequent call-out in the New Orleans tradition. The album includes an exuberant mix of old and new, with originals written by band members, funky pop song arrangements such as Fillingham’s take on “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus, and their own renditions of NOLA standards, such as “Can’t Nobody Get Down.” The band has a busy summer ahead. Following Kelce Jam, Fillingham and Lawlor’s most anticipated upcoming performances include the coveted Saturday evening slot at the ninth Boulevardia and headlining the inaugural Lee’s Summit Jazz Festival, both in June, as well as consistently performing at First Fridays in the Crossroads. But beyond their local shows, Back Alley Brass has a couple other GO: Kelce Jam, big priorities. May 18, Azura “One of our big goals is to get a Amphitheater, lot of original songs and arrange633 N. 130th St., Bonner Springs, ments of popular tunes written,” KS. Tickets Fillingham says. “And we’d love to available soon at do a Midwest tour.” kelcejam.com.

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PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED

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Explore the World at Overland Park Farmers Market! Embark on a global culinary adventure in the heart of Overland Park. The Overland Park Farmers Market (OPFM) is more than just a market—it's a thriving hub where the world's flavors converge, offering an array of foods and ingredients from across the globe. Vendors bring the essence of their homelands to your plate, providing a unique opportunity to explore tastes and dishes you might never have encountered. While this isn't an exhaustive list, it's a tantalizing snapshot of the world's bounty waiting for you at OPFM. SPONSORED CONTENT

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Celebrating 150 Years of Convivencia at the Kansas City Public Library

Kansas City City Council

he Kansas City Public Library is currently celebrating its 150th anniversary, a landmark occasion recognizing its pivotal role in the community. Throughout this period, the library has not only been lauded by local city and county officials but has also played host to a series of speakers who have shared their unique perspectives on the significance of libraries in both communal and personal spaces. The celebrations commenced in December at the Plaza Branch with a presentation by Tommi Laitio, a Finnish scholar and a Bloomberg Public Innovation Fellow at Johns Hopkins University. Laitio, who has extensively studied public spaces such as libraries and parks, introduced the concept of “Convivencia” to describe his findings. This Spanish term encapsulates the idea that libraries serve as communal spaces where diverse groups coexist and learn from each other, thus strengthening community ties. In the urban environment of KCPL’s ten locations, this concept manifests in daily interactions among various patrons: parents and toddlers on their way to storytime, individuals seeking help with taxes or job applications, and refugees attending naturalization classes or ceremonies. According to Laitio, these interactions, though sometimes challenging, are crucial for fostering community resilience and understanding. A poignant example of this was a February event where the Kansas City City Council acknowledged KCPL’s 150 years of service.

Tommy Laitio

Jacqueline Woodson

During the session, Mayor Quinton Lucas and council members praised the library for its extensive contributions to the city, transcending mere book lending to provide essential services that support the community’s quality of life. Councilwoman Melissa Robinson emphasized the library’s role in promoting informed decision-making and civic engagement, especially in challenging times. The council’s discussions also touched on personal connections to the library, ranging from childhood visits to its role in meeting constituent needs and standing up for First Amendment rights amid book censorship attempts. Each guest speaker throughout the anniversary year has contributed their reflections, enhancing the library’s narrative. Notably, award-winning novelist and poet Jacqueline Woodson shared in March how the library was a sanctuary for her after school, where she discovered books that mirrored her own experiences, thereby influencing her future career. The library’s ability to adapt and evolve with the city was highlighted by Mayor Lucas, who noted that KCPL is only slightly younger than Kansas City itself, and has been integral to every local movement and issue. In essence, the Kansas City Public Library has not just served as a repository of books but as a vibrant, dynamic entity that plays a critical role in fostering community learning and interaction. This 150th anniversary celebration underscores its enduring legacy and ongoing commitment to the principle of Convivencia, where diverse community members not only coexist but thrive together.

kansascitymag.com May 2024

CURRENT

PHOTOGR APHY BY NATE SHEE TS; SHUT TERSTOCK

HOME

Taking the Plunge Dip into these stunning aquatic backyard hideaways By Nicole Kinning

AS THE SUMMER sun begins to beckon, pools come to mind. Think of your perfect summer day. It probably involves basking by the pool, right? While pools are primarily a leisurely escape, their entertainment-focused design and surrounding areas often require meticulous planning that deserves acknowledgment. These home swimming pools might just inspire you to start building your own backyard oasis. kansascitymag.com May 2024

CURRENT

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HOME

Well-Contained

PHOTOGR APHY BY NATE SHEE TS

ACCORDING TO CICADA

Company designer-owner Tara Davis, installing a shipping container pool at this home didn’t require much convincing—it was a concept that both the designer and homeowner had their eyes on. This style of pool, which can be installed above ground or below, found a happy medium. “We decided to push the boundaries and design the pool to be partially above and partially below,” Davis says. “We utilized one of its unique features by designing the space around a pool window to create an interactive experience.” This allowed for the large lounge area next to the pool, to which Davis added plants and grasses to softly and naturally break up all of the deck and hardscape elements. kansascitymag.com May 2024

CURRENT

50 Kansas City May 2024

PHOTOGR APHY BY L AURIE KILGORE

HOME

↑ Wide-Open Oasis DESIGNED WITH ENTERTAINMENT and family

← Missouri or Montauk? PHOTOGR APHY BY MAT THEW ANDERSON

“[THE HOMEOWNER] WANTED it to feel like a

Hamptons resort,” designer Abbey Humphreys of Collected Living Design says of this pool. “We went with very light, bright, airy colors.” (As bright as they could go while keeping the sometimes-unpredictable Midwest elements in mind). The chic and functional ergonomic loungers are so comfortable that they don’t require cushions, and the striped fringe umbrellas add that Hamptons touch. Another standout is the al fresco dining space, which overlooks the entire pool area, a luxuriously designed spot that just begs for a morning mimosa poolside. The stone hardscaping surrounding the pool seamlessly blends with the home’s style, creating a cohesive expanse across the property.

in mind, the spacious deck around this pool offers ample room for lounging and hosting gatherings, complemented by various seating and entertainment areas, including a grill station. Not to mention, the oversized lot is surrounded by lush trees, creating a picturesque retreat. Another family-friendly feature is the pool’s tanning ledge, which is great for families with small children. “Until the kids learn to swim, it’s the perfect place for them to hang out and play with their toys,” says designer Maureen Lindstrom of ML Designs. “And once the kids can swim, that seems to be where parents congregate.” According to Lindstrom, there were a lot of clean black and white elements throughout the home, and she wanted that to continue outdoors with the striped umbrellas and sleek black furniture and fixtures, from the Adirondack chairs surrounding the fire pit to the iron railings following the stairs from the grill area to the pool deck.

kansascitymag.com May 2024

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Photography by Samantha Levi

HOME

Slopeside Escape

PHOTOGR APHY BY JOSIE HENDERSON

THIS POOL, DESIGNED by

Photography by Samantha Levi

Kristin Malfer of real estate group Malfer & Associates, proves that even if you have a sloped backyard, a stunning pool is achievable. Making this pool possible required significant leveling and a tiered design to seamlessly blend with the slope. “We had three tiers,” Malfer says. “Walking right out of the lower level onto the first tier of the patio was access to a covered walkway and patio space under the primary suite along with a grilling area, putting green and access to the pool bath.” The following tier is the pool deck for seating and lounge areas that were surrounded by landscaping, and then they did a sunken patio with built-in bench seating around a cozy firepit. The team also went with a rectangular pool so that they could install a motorized pool cover to protect it from leaves and debris. The pool cover is the color of the pool coping and patio decking so that it perfectly blends when the cover is closed. kansascitymag.com May 2024

15 WEEKENDS OF SUMMER FUN! Whether you want to soak in the sun and listen to live music or watch a movie under the stars, there’s something just right for you. Here’s our guide to some of KC’s best summer activities. By Dawnya Bartsch, Rachel Layton and Ian Ritter

54 Kansas City May 2024

TO DO: MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, MAY24–27 Memorial Day Weekend at the National WWI Museum ☞ EXPERIENCE MEMORIAL DAY weekend at the

National WWI Museum and Memorial, America’s primary “Great War” remembrance site. The grounds of Penn Valley Park, with its Liberty Memorial Tower and sprawling views of downtown and westward, will house vintage wartime equipment used from World War I through Operation Desert Storm. Visitors can find ancestral connections to WWI at free research stations, among other exhibits. Formal Memorial Day ceremonies take place on Monday, May 27, from 10 am to 2 pm, including a bell tolling and keynote address by Lt. General (Ret.) Wendy M. Masiello. theworldwar.org.

Oceans of Fun Opens

PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED; SHUT TERSTOCK

Oceans of Fun opens for the season on May 25, three weeks after parent theme park Worlds of Fun. The 60 acres of water slides, aquathemed rides and hangout spots are open from 11 am until 7 pm. worldsoffun.com.

CELEBRATION at the STATION ACROSS PERSHING ROAD and down the hill from the museum at Union Station, the free Bank of America Celebration at the Station promises to be “the largest free Memorial Day weekend concert in the Midwest,” with a Kansas City Symphony performance on Sunday, May 26. The celebration, with 50,000 attendees expected, lasts from 5 to 10:30 pm. kcsymphony.org.

Bonus: Check out Coconut Cove. It’s the largest pool at Oceans of Fun with half a million gallons of water and is home to several slides, plus an obstacle course where swimmers can hop between lily pads and floating logs. Poolside luxury cabanas can also be rented.

kansascitymag.com May 2024

TO DO:

MAY 31 THROUGH JUNE 30

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TO DO: MAY 31– JUNE 2

☞

MINI GOLF at the MUSEUM IT’S BACK! A summer highlight, Art Course offers an artist-designed mini-golf adventure within the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park at the Nelson-Atkins Museum. Every Friday through Sunday, you can play nine unique holes, each offering a creative spin on a masterpiece from the museum’s collection. nelson-atkins.org.

TO DO: JUNE 7–9 Sugar Creek Slavic Festival CELEBRATE SLAVIC heritage

PHOTOGR APHY DOUG HARMONSON; PROVIDED; SHUT TERSTOCK

FESTA ITALIANA

Festa Italiana comes back to the Zona Rosa shopping center located in the Northland, at Interstate 29 and Barry Road, from May 31 through June 2. Put on by the KC chapter of Italian American service organization UNICO, the event shamelessly targets residents’ stomachs, with the tagline: “Come for the Food … Stay for the Experience.” Aside from Italian food vendors, the street fair includes an Italian auto show, wine tastings, a live music stage and more. zonarosa.com. Bonus: Friday night starts off with a meatball eating contest.

Jazzoo Mix it up with food, drinks, music and wild animals at Jazzoo on June 7. Jazzoo is an annual “creative black tie” (no jeans) fundraiser for the Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium, and the $250 ticket price includes unlimited food and drinks from dozens of participating local restaurants. Walk around the zoo and check out a plethora of food and drink vendors while listening to a variety of musical performances. Proceeds go toward the care of the zoo’s 10,000 animals. Attendees must be 21 with ID. jazzookc.com.

KC PrideFest 2024 The city’s biggest LGBTQ+ festival is back at Frank A. Theis Park, across Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. from the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. KC PrideFest features three days of food, live music, pageants and more. On Saturday, June 8, the festival will move to Broadway Boulevard in Westport, where the KC Pride Parade is scheduled at 11 am. kcpridealliance.org.

with polka, Polish sausage, other Eastern European foods and more at the Sugar Creek Slavic Festival, just 10 miles northeast of downtown KCMO at William Henry Harrison Park. Last year, there was even a traditional Croatian wedding! The festival is from 5 to 11 pm on Friday, while Saturday’s hours are between noon to 11 pm. Admission is $5 for adults, while children 12 and under are free. slavicfest.com. Bonus: There’s an annual cabbage rolling contest that you have to see.

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BOULEVARDIA and BREAKAWAY

Start the weekend off with two KC music festivals. The annual Boulevardia Festival is hosted at Crown Center by Boulevard Brewing Company and as usual, this three-day festival will have ongoing live music—with Milky Chance headlining on June 14. Along with a weekend of entertainment, the festival will have a makers market, food and craft beer vendors. boulevardia.com. Breakaway Music Festival returns to Bonner Springs’ Azura Amphitheater with headliners Tiësto and Two Friends starting Friday night off. breakawayfestival.com. Bonus: Boulevardia’s roller skating party

Big Shoal Vintage Auto Show Save your Saturday morning for the Big Shoal Vintage Auto Show at the Atkins-Johnson Farm. The show, which is completely free and open to the public, hosts an array of pre-1980s automobiles, local food trucks and a vintage attire contest with a super secret prize. friendsoftheatkinsjohnsonfarm.org.

The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival Neighbors of Southmoreland Park, next to the Nelson and KC Art Institute, will tell you they know it’s summer when they see the outdoor theater scaffolding go up in the park. This year, the festival will present Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. The summer Shakespeare performances actually start June 11, but run weekends through the end of June. kcshakes.org.

PHOTOGR APHY BY KYLIE GHR AHAM; JEFF BHUSTED; PROVIDED; SHUT TERSTOCK

15 WEEKENDS OF SUMMER FUN!

TO DO: JUNE 14–16

TO DO: JUNE 21–23 WATERFEST AS YOU CAN imagine, the people of Excelsior Springs know a thing or two about water,

and their annual weekend festival, Waterfest, pays homage to the city’s mineral water heritage. The historic downtown transforms into an old-time fair with bounce houses, pony rides, music and all sorts of food and craft vendors. visitexcelsior.com. Bonus: Saturday morning starts off with a pancake breakfast, followed by a community parade.

Croquet, Anyone? ☞ LOOKING FOR something a

little different? Heading to Parkville’s very own croquet club might be exactly the thing to do. Kactus Creek Croquet Club opened in 2007 and is an official United States Croquet Association member. When not hosting official events, the club is open for social play and pickup matches, and newbies are welcomed with open arms. It’s casual—croquet whites are not a must. Open weekend play is generally from 2 to 4 pm. kactuscreek.com.

TO DO: JUNE 28–30

Theater in the Park The city of Gladstone will once again be hosting summer theater performances at Oak Grove Park’s outdoor amphitheater. The first of two musicals is Fiddler on the Roof which runs throughout the weekend. Bring a lawn chair and get ready to set up shop on the gentle sloping hill. The following weekend, Something Rotten will be performed. gladstonetip.com. Bonus: It’s free.

☞ Kansas City Current Although Kansas City’s professional women’s soccer season has been underway for some time, this June 28 home soccer game against the Houston Dash is a great game to attend. It’s Women’s Cancer Awareness Night, presented by the University of Kansas Health System. kansascitycurrent.com

kansascitymag.com May 2024

TO DO:

JULY 4 THROUGH JULY 28

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TO DO: JULY 4–7

FIREWORKS and MORE

Here’s everything you need to know about the long July 4 weekend in KC. With a plethora of fireworks and festivals taking place, this holiday is sure to be a mini staycation.

PHOTOGR APHY SHUT TERSTOCK

On the Fourth, there’s the Stars and Stripes Picnic at the National WWI Museum and Memorial where dozens of local craft and food vendors will set up shop. There will be live entertainment followed by a fireworks display. theworldwar.org. If you’re wanting less of a city vibe to celebrate July 4, there’s plenty of fireworks shows in the ’burbs, too. There’s shows in Overland Park and Parkville, just to name a few. At Overland Park’s Star Spangled Spectacular at Corporate Woods Founders’ Park, folks are encouraged to bring chairs and

blankets. There will be food trucks with tasty bites beginning at 5 pm. opkansas.org. In Parkville, July 4 starts off with a pancake breakfast and a parade. After the sun sets, the fireworks begin at English Landing Park and can be seen from various locales throughout the historic town. parkvillemo.org. KC RiverFest held at Berkley Riverfront is one of the most popular Independence Day celebrations in the metro. There will be family-friendly entertainment, food vendors and, of course, a dazzling display of pyrotechnics come nightfall. berkleyriverfront.com.

kansascitymag.com May 2024

15 WEEKENDS OF SUMMER FUN!

TO DO: JULY 12–14

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☞ KC Fringe THE 20TH ANNUAL KC Fringe Festival

kicks off this weekend. The 16-day festival showcases local, national and international artists in all sorts of categories, from film to live performance pieces to the visual arts. The various shows and activities are scattered throughout the downtown area. kcfringe.org.

CINEMA UNDER the STARS IF YOU’RE LOOKING for more sedentary entertainment this weekend, you can check out one

of the many venues throughout the metro that are hosting outdoor movies the entire summer season. Options include Crown Center’s WeekEnder series that showcases a movie every Friday night, or the Kansas City Public Library’s Off the Wall film series, hosted by downtown’s Central Library. Then there’s the Northland’s Screenland Armour Backyard Movies series, which hosts outdoor movies on Saturday nights throughout the summer, or Lenexa’s Movies in the Park. Bonus: Crown Center shops stay open until midnight during WeekEnder movie events.

TO DO: TO DO: JULY19–21 JULY 26–28

Butterfly Bonanza The Festival of Butterflies at Powell Gardens kicks off this weekend and nature enthusiasts of all ages are encouraged to celebrate butterflies—those fluttery creatures loved by all. Spend a day outdoors exploring tropical and native butterflies alongside stunning botanic displays. powellgardens.org.

PHOTOGR APHY TR ACY MAJKOL; SHUT TERSTOCK; DANA ANDERSON; FULL OUT CRE ATIVE

STARLIGHT THEATRE COME SEE YOUR favorite ogre and his sidekick at the Starlight Theatre this

Lawn Party Celebrate National Park and Recreation Month at KC’s biggest lawn party on Sunday, July 21. The outdoor event stretches from the Nelson-Atkins Museum to Brush Creek. This fun-filled evening of live music, food trucks, art activities and lawn games is not to be missed. Either pack a picnic or grab dinner from an on-site food truck. kcparks.org. Bonus: Check out the Quick Paint Contest, where contestants are encouraged to “capture the spirit of the party.”

weekend. Shrek the Musical is one of many stellar programs showcased at Starlight throughout the summer. The large theater in Swope Park opened in 1950 as a way to celebrate the city’s centennial. Starlight, an almost 8,000seat theater, is one of the largest and oldest continually operating nonprofit performing arts organizations in KC. kcstarlight.com.

Royals vs. Cubs THIS MIGHT BE the perfect weekend to catch a baseball

game. The Royals play the Chicago Cubs at The K this weekend, so don your royal blue and enjoy one of America’s most beloved summer traditions—a baseball game. mlb.com. Bonus: Friday night’s ball game is Patrick Mahomes bobblehead giveaway night.

kansascitymag.com May 2024

TO DO:

AUGUST 2 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2

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TO DO: AUGUST 2–4

TO DO: AUGUST 9–11

FOUNTAIN CITY

Bonus: The streetcar tour stops at Union Station, where a yummy lunch can also be had.

PHOTOGR APHY SHUT TERSTOCK

Hot Dog Sampler WHO KNEW THAT the Negro Leagues

Baseball Museum hosted the Heart of America Hot Dog Festival? Kansas City magazine sure didn’t. Hot dog aficionados from far and wide are welcome to the museum to sample delicious ballpark franks, including the signature Kansas City Monarch Dog, while listening to live music. nlbm.com.

☞

This might be a good weekend to learn more about KC’s fountains. There are more than 200 fountains in the greater Kansas City area and community leaders have been making a concerted effort since the 1950s to promote and create fountains throughout KC. In 1992, a fountain motif became part of the city seal. To find the perfect tour, check out kcfountaintours.com.

Drive-In

Experience an old school drive-in movie at B&B’s Twin Drive-In theater in Independence. Pull up your car and open your trunk. Moviegoers often set up a full tailgating experience, complete with lawn chairs and coolers. bbtheatres.com. Bonus: The cost of a movie is per car, not person.

Shawnee Mission Lake It’s hot—and the perfect weekend to head to the water. Shawnee Mission Park has two marinas and a beach—the perfect place to take a dip or leisurely sail on the lake. jcprd.com.

kansascitymag.com May 2024

66 Kansas City May 2024

ETHNIC ENRICHMENT FESTIVAL KANSAS CITY

KC’s annual Ethnic Enrichment Festival is one of the largest of its kind in the nation. The three-day celebration encompasses the large field on Swope Park’s west side with booths representing 60 nations and ethnic groups. Most booths offer food, with some selling handmade goods. The large picnic shelter at the park houses a dance floor where groups perform throughout the weekend. eeckc.org. Bonus: Sample food you won’t be able to find anywhere else in the metro.

SUNFLOWER FESTIVAL AND 5K GET OUT YOUR jogging shoes and support

two great causes while also getting fit. The annual Atkins-Johnson Sunflower 5k run and walk at Gladstone’s Atkins-Johnson Farm and Museum benefits the North Kansas City Schools Education Foundation and farm programs. Runners will weave their way through Big Shoal Farm and the sunflower field, and can tour the farm house after finishing. atkinsjohnsonfarm.com.

PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED

15 WEEKENDS OF SUMMER FUN!

TO DO: AUG 16–18

TO DO: LABOR DAY WEEKEND, AUG 31– SEPTEMBER 2

TO DO: AUG 23–25 PHOTOGR APHY SHUT TERSTOCK; PROVIDED

Parkville Days It all began with a painting of Parkville’s quaint Main Street by local artist Gale Stockwell, who had been commissioned by the federal government to capture everyday life in America. Stockwell lost track of the painting after he submitted it to the government and then, some 40 years later, learned it was hanging in the White House. Parkville officials were able to get the painting on loan from the White House, and they decided to celebrate with a fair, which they called Parkville Days. Now some 50 years later, the three-day festival with a carnival, vendors, food and music has become a Northland staple. parkvillemo.gov. Bonus: Take a ride in a helicopter.

SANTACALIGON DAYS FESTIVAL

The first SantaCaliGon Days Festival was held in 1940 as a way to celebrate the unique heritage of the city of Independence as the starting point of the Santa Fe, California and Oregon trails. In 1947, a second celebration was held after World War II before taking a hiatus until 1973, and the festival has been going strong ever since. With lively entertainment, vendors and carnival, the event draws more than 300,000 annually and is one of the area’s most popular Labor Day celebrations. santacaligon.com.

Irish Fest IN THE 1800S, Irish immigrants used their knowledge of quarrying and

bricklaying to quite literally pave the way for downtown Kansas City. Today their descendants, who are said to make up 10 percent of the metro, gather on the same downtown grounds and show their Celtic pride every August. The weekend includes several Irish folk bands, traditional and modern céilí dance, Irish pub food, whiskey tasting, comedy, a Sunday mass and an Irish breakfast. kcirishfest.com. Bonus: Scavenger hunt for the kiddos

kansascitymag.com May 2024

“Providing care to people is a privilege. I never forget that.”

- Becky N. Lowry, MD Physician Internal Medicine

For me, there’s nothing more rewarding than the meaningful connections I make with my patients. Maybe it’s growing up in a small town where those personal values remain strong. Or maybe it’s the belief, shared with all of my co-workers, that people come first. Whatever it is, the opportunity to provide care is a privilege I never forget. To schedule an appointment, call 913-588-1227 or visit KansasHealthSystem.com/Appointments.

Celebrating Women in Medicine 2024

Celebrating Women in Medicine 2024 Since the middle of the 20th century, research has provided increasing knowledge about sleep-wake disorders. “So many illnesses including cardiac disease, strokes, dementia, anxiety, depression etc. are caused by or exacerbated by poor sleep,” said Dr. Ehtesham. We now have proven therapies that can create a better sleep experience and improve a person’s overall health.”

SLEEP DISORDER TREATMENT Maniza Waseem Ehtesham, MD is a Sleep Medicine and Internal Medicine specialist with more than 15 years of experience. She graduated from Osmania Medical College (affiliated to NTR Health Sciences University, India) and then did her residency training at University of MissouriColumbia and her Sleep Practice Pathway training at University of Missouri-Kansas City. Dr. Ehtesham is board-certified in Sleep Medicine and Internal Medicine. She is the medical director of Excellhealth Sleep Center. She is also an Associate Professor at the University of Missouri Kansas City where she enjoys teaching medical students, as a year 1-2 Docent. She has also served as an Associate Residency Program Director at UMKC. Dr. Ehtesham specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders including snoring, sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, restless leg syndrome, and many others.

Through her work and involvement in clinical practice, medical research and education, Dr. Ehtesham has made significant contributions and has earned the respect of the medical community. She has published several articles in peer-reviewed medical journals and practices evidence based medicine for her patients. Excellhealth Sleep Center provides sleep disorder treatment in both clinic and sleep lab setting and also works with allied specialists like ENT, dental and psychologists for comprehensive sleep therapies. Under Dr. Ehtesham’s direction, the team includes nursing staff specialized in helping sleep disorder patients and board-certified sleep technologists. Excellhealth provides comprehensive home sleep testing and in lab sleep testing for sleep disorder identification and treatment.

EXCELLHEALTH SLEEP CENTER

10640 W 87th St. Overland Park, KS 66214913- 203-4040 excellhealthsleep.com

Maniza Waseem Ehtesham, MD SLEEP MEDICINE AND INTERNAL MEDICINE SPECIALIST

Celebrating Women in Medicine 2024

Kalila Steen, MD, FRCSC

PLASTIC SURGERY

Dr. Kalila Steen, a distinguished surgeon based in Leawood, excels in cosmetic and reconstructive plastic surgery. She completed her undergraduate education at Penn State University, achieving the highest GPA among her peers. Dr. Steen earned her medical degree from Queen’s University, followed by a residency at the University of Toronto. As a double board-certified surgeon in both the US and Canada, she specializes in procedures like tummy tucks, labiaplasty, and breast augmentations, focusing on natural results and patient-centered care. Outside her practice, she enjoys culinary exploration, fitness, and spending quality time with her family.

Shawna VanLeeuwen, APRN-C

Shawna VanLeeuwen, APRN-C, has 20 years of nursing experience, specializing in cardiovascular care and weight management. She is committed to helping patients improve their health by managing weight, which enhances cardiovascular outcomes and overall well-being. Shawna earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from the University of Kansas. Previously, she ran her own practice at Olathe Medical Center, focusing on weight management and aesthetic treatments. Certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, she also holds certifications in Aesthetic Medical Dermal Toxin and Obesity Management in Primary Care. Shawna provides personalized care in a supportive environment.

MONARCH PLASTIC SURGERY & SKIN REJUVENATION CENTER 4801 W. 135th Street | Leawood, KS 66224 | 913-663-3838 | monarchps.com

When you walk into Kisling Family Dentistry, music is playing, people are smiling, and you’ll feel at ease in a relaxed environment curated by Dr. Rebecca Kisling and her all-female staff. The women at Kisling Family Dentistry deliver quality, non-judgmental, and compassionate dental care using the most current technology in their modern office opened just last year. Dr. Kisling graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. After graduation, she attended UMKC School of Dentistry’s Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency, with special focus and training in cosmetic dentistry, TMJ and occlusion, and implant dentistry. She is a member of the American Dental Association, Kansas Dental Association, and several local continuing education groups. She and her team offer patients a variety of treatment options including cosmetic and therapeutic Botox, sleep apnea appliances, as well as preventative, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry. They are accepting new patients and welcome the opportunity to show you the Kisling Family difference.

KISLING FAMILY DENTISTRY 13401 Mission Rd., Suite 212 Leawood, KS 66209 913-357-8333 | kislingfamilydentistry.com

Rebecca Kisling, DDS FAMILY DENTISTRY

Celebrating Women in Medicine 2024 The team of physicians, nurse practitioners, and dietitians at the Center for Nutrition design powerful, comprehensive treatment plans that address root causes of weight gain. As a patient, you will receive a plan specifically designed to help you lose weight while taking into account important medical conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol. Dramatic improvements in self-esteem, energy levels, activity levels, and health measures have been typical among patients while losing 20, 40, 60, 100 pounds, or more.

WEIGHT LOSS & OBESITY MEDICINE Kari Brown, MSN, APRN, FNP-C is the Director of Clinical Operations for the Center for Nutrition & Preventive Medicine, with clinics in Leawood and Topeka. Kari, an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and a member of the Obesity Medicine Association. A lifelong pursuer of health, Kari is passionate about engaging, encouraging, and empowering patients on their weight loss and optimum health journey.

For more information or to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation, contact the Center for Nutrition at 913-814-8222 in Leawood or 785-273-4443 in Topeka, or visit TagueNutrition.com.

CENTER FOR NUTRITION & PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE 4963 W. 135th St. Leawood, KS 66224 | 913-814-8222 TagueNutrition.com

Kari and the team at the Center for Nutrition, founded by medical weight loss specialist, Rick Tague MD, MPH & TM, help patients manage common appetite problems such as excessive hunger, food cravings, chronic overeating, “yo-yo” dieting and stress eating. As well as the common challenge of a “sluggish” metabolism using medical strategies.

Kari Brown, MSN, APRN, FNP-C DIRECTOR OF CLINICAL OPERATIONS

Celebrating Women in Medicine 2024

Georgia Cirese, RN,CANS, CLT NON-INVASIVE AESTHETICS Georgous Aesthetic Bar’s founder, Georgia Cirese, is a nationally recognized master injector and skilled cosmetic expert. When she and daughter Mary Katelyn opened Georgous Aesthetic Bar in 2019, they defined a new category of boutique clinics. Under Georgia’s direction, they have created a clinic that doesn’t feel clinical. It is both professional and personal, with a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.

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

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

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

GEORGOUS AESTHETIC BAR 4505 Madison Ave Kansas City, MO, 64111 816.946.8484 | georgouskc.com

PHOTOGR APHY SHUT TERSTOCK

Cannabis Conundrum

Kansas City May 2024

in Kansas

Kansas is one of only four states where cannabis remains completely illegal and Kansans are paying the price for the lack of policy reform in the state. Antonio Wyatt is one person affected by the staunch state laws. What will it take to free him? By Molly Higgins kansascitymag.com May 2024

PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED

six has served over Antonio Wyatt ce for ten sen ar ye 11 years of an ssion in Kansas. cannabis posse

Kansas City May 2024

gal drugs. “Even though the law requires that consent be knowing, intelligent and voluntary, troopers don’t generally let such niceties stand in their way,” U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Vratil wrote in her decision. “For drivers who are not initially forthcoming with consent, troopers are trained to conclude the traffic stop, somehow signal that the driver is free to go, then immediately re-engage the driver in friendly, casual conversation to keep the driver at the scene and enable the trooper to develop reasonable suspicion or take another stab at getting consent.” This lets the police officer search the motorists’ vehicle one way or another. If the driver refuses consent to search, the officer can search the vehicle on reasonable suspicion. Judge Vratil wrote: “The war is basically a question of numbers: stop enough cars and Antonio Wyatt learned that his petition for clemency had been denied you’re bound to discover drugs. And what’s by the Kansas Prisoner Review Board. the harm if a few constitutional rights are Wyatt has already spent over six-and-a-half years in prison for possessing cannabis, a subtrampled along the way?” stance now legal in 24 states, three U.S. territories, and D.C.—including Missouri and Colorado People with out-of-state license plates on either side of Kansas. on I-70 headed to or returning from recreNow, Wyatt, a father of two, spends another year in prison, unable to watch his children ational marijuana states like Missouri and grow. Wyatt was sentenced to 11 years after being pulled over in a traffic stop in Kansas with Colorado are frequently targeted by the KHP, cannabis in his vehicle by Highway Patrol—a practice that a federal judge recently ruled including Wyatt. violates the Fourth Amendment. This “two step” traffic stop refers to the practice of troopers Wyatt continues to serve his sentence taking a few steps away from the stopped vehicle before coming back to ask more questions. behind bars for cannabis, which is now This was used to initiate a voluntary encounter with motorists—potentially leading them to legal for recreational use in half the counoffer incriminating information. try. Kansas is one of only four states where In May of 2017, Wyatt was driving on I-70 cannabis is fully illegal and criminalized. In from Colorado to his home state of Tennesthe Last Prisoner Project’s “Cannabis Justice see when an officer pulled him over during a Report Card,” Kansas was given a “D-” grade traffic stop in Kansas and smelled marijuana for lacking legalization, resentencing and a in his vehicle. The officer then searched it pardon program. “Kansas falls behind and A 2018 ACLU report and found eight pounds of cannabis. offers only a very narrow avenue for record showed Black people Officer Nicholas Blake was parked in the clearance that fails to expedite cannabis were 4.8 times more median of I-70 when he saw Wyatt driving in offenses, therefore offering minimal and likely to be arrested for the left-hand lane, citing “No other vehicles delayed relief for impacted individuals,” cannabis possession were near Wyatt’s car and nothing prevented the report reads. than white people in Wyatt from driving in the right-hand lane,” A 2018 ACLU report showed Black people according to the Kansas Court of Appeals court were 4.8 times more likely to be arrested for Kansas, despite the transcript, State v. Wyatt (2019). So, on that cannabis possession than white people in fact that both races basis, Blake decided to conduct a traffic stop. Kansas, despite the fact that both races conconsume cannabis at Blake testified that he smelled the faint sume cannabis at about the same rate. Overall, about the same rate. odor of raw marijuana coming from inside Kansas ranks 12th in the U.S. for largest racial Wyatt’s car. The district court found Wyatt disparities for cannabis possession arrests. guilty of marijuana possession with intent to The extent to which racial bias affects distribute, failure to affix a drug tax stamp those pulled over for traffic stops remains (even though marijuana is illegal in Kansas, mostly uncertain because no statewide possessing it does not exempt it from taxation) and possession of drug requirement exists for police to track the data. Individual cities and paraphernalia. Wyatt was convicted after a bench trial, and on February counties create their own policies, so it’s largely unknown just how vul16, 2018, was sentenced to 142 months—almost 12 years—in prison. nerable Black drivers are compared to others when getting pulled over. Last year, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas found that The few reported statistics on traffic stops in Kansas follow a the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP) has a long history of unethical vehicle troubling pattern of racial discrimination, where Black motorists are search procedures like the one Wyatt experienced. The U.S. District disproportionately pulled over and, thus, given more punishments, Court ruled that the KHP’s policies and practices violated the Fourth especially for cannabis-related offenses. In Wichita, the police departAmendment, saying the patrol “has waged war on motorists—especially ment gave 17.5% of its citations to Black people, but Black people out-of-state residents traveling between Colorado and Missouri on only make up 10.3% of Wichita’s population. In Riley County, the federal highway I-70 in Kansas,”⁣ who would be more likely to be in police department gave 14% of its citations and warnings to Black possession of marijuana across state lines. people, but Riley County is only seven percent Black. In KCK and The KHP has been consistently criticized for using its controversial the majority of cities in Kansas, the police department doesn’t track “two-step” stop to gain entry into motorists’ vehicles in order to find illeany demographic data on arrests or traffic citations.

Just before the holidays last December,

kansascitymag.com May 2024

Kansas City May 2024

PHOTOGR APHY BY ANNIE BOLIN

In Wyatt’s case, the U.S. District Court A Case Unfortunately Not Unique concluded that the traffic stop and search One of Antonio Wyatt’s bunkmates in the Lansing, Kansas, prison was Donte West, née and seizure of the vehicle did not violate the Westmoreland, who was 21 years old when he was pulled over while driving along I-70 visiting Fourth Amendment (the “two-step” traffic his friends at college in Manhattan, Kansas. Fortunately, West’s story has a positive ending. stop wasn’t struck down until last year). In March of 2016, West was living in Stockton, California, and was on a road trip with friends While incarcerated, Wyatt has taken in a two-person car convoy en route to Kansas. West had never had any brushes with the law classes and worked as a prison barber, before, but he was pulled over in Kansas on the basis of having an “obstructed license plate,” which he is now licensed by the State of which was dirty from road debris. His friend, the driver, was ticketed for a small amount of Tennessee to do. He has even been able to marijuana that was found on the floorboard of the trunk. leave prison to share his story with at-risk “They took us out of the car, they searched it and they found a nug [of marijuana] in the youth. Nashville’s District 9 Metro Countrunk of the car with a Swisher wrapper,” West says. “They wrote the driver, Dashaun Percilor Tonya Hancock has publicly supported kins—my co-defendant at the time—a ticket, and they told us to go off at the gas station and Wyatt’s second chance and has offered clean our license plate off. So we went down and cleaned the license plate off. I went in the him the opportunity to participate in the store and got a water and I glanced up and I saw a group of officers staring down at us. We’re Nashville Police Department’s Citizen like, ‘this is odd.’ But it’s our first time out of California, so maybe they’re just, like, very, very Academy upon release and return to his strict here. We saw an unmarked vehicle circling the gas station so we thought that was kind native Tennessee. of alarming—this was a different level of harassment. But we hadn’t really been in trouble After Wyatt’s petition for clemency and with the law before, so we proceeded on our way.” release was denied late last year, lawyer Unbeknownst to the group, officer Nicholas Blake—the same officer who would go on Barry Grissom—who was the United States to pull Anotnio Wyatt over on the same interstate a year later—called Lieutenant Justin Attorney for the District of Kansas from 2010 Stopper, saying he believed that the two cars driven by young men of color were a drug to 2016—urged the review board to look at convoy from out-of-state delivering illeWyatt as a whole person and consider what gal substances into Kansas. The police let he can and would contribute to society if he them go with just a ticket in order to follow were released: “He has had job offers with them to what they believed was a bigger the Davidson County Police Academy. He drug transaction. has the support of his family, his church, Stopper believed the Hyundai that West and his local political leaders. He’s a master was in was the decoy vehicle, while the Lexus barber—everybody needs a haircut. He’s got was carrying the narcotics, and told Lieua job. I hope that they see all those things tenant Daryl Ascher of the Riley County Police Nearly 70% of and they [look] through the lens that conDepartment of this suspicion. Working in Kansans support tinued incarceration not only is a waste of plainclothes and driving an unmarked car, cannabis legalization, Kansas taxpayer money but is a waste of Ascher followed West and Perkins’ Hyundai to according to a human capital.” an apartment complex in Manhattan, Kansas. statewide survey In 2021, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly West was waiting in his friend Jacob conducted by commuted the sentences of five incarcerGadwood’s apartment for the other car to Fort Hays State ated people and granted pardons to three arrive before going to check in to a nearby University last year. others who she cited as “show[ing] strong hotel. The rest of the group from the second signs of rehabilitation and the ability to car—the Lexus—entered the apartment, and safely re-enter society.” Wyatt was not on shortly after, Perkins and West headed out that list. of the complex, where they were confronted The Governor’s office held an exhaustive by plainclothes officers. review of the over 200 applicants for clem“These guys—plainclothes detectives— ency, and the decisions were made on who popped out the bushes and flagged us down to commute or pardon after independent and said we’re being detained. We’re like, reviews were also done by the Prison Review Board, the Department of Administration and ‘Detained for what? We got pulled over the Governor’s legal team. Because of so many variables and potential political implications, on the freeway, you searched our vehicle, pardons don’t happen often, and the process is extremely thorough, with few actually becomwrote us a ticket and let us go,’” West says. ing pardoned. “They said ‘We believe a drug transaction “Governor Kelly [gave out] a handful of pardons and commutations during her first term. was going on.’” That took real political courage, because typically people offer pardons on the last day of their Despite already searching their car and administration as they’re going out the door,” Grissom says. “It takes courage for a politician finding nothing but a small nugget of marto step in and to commute someone’s sentence.” ijuana, the officers demanded to search the Kansas does have the 2022 Senate Bill No. 366, which offers an avenue for “record clearance Lexus, which Perkins and West did not have that includes relief for non-violent cannabis offenses.” However, the policy was not written keys for or access to. The men driving in the specifically for cannabis, and this means that cannabis offenses are not prioritized or guarLexus—Victor Lara, Enrique Hinojosa and Jose anteed, making the process slow. Jimenez—had become scared when they saw Kansas is in a unique situation because the state has no eligibility criteria for pardons or the policemen confront West and Perkins and commutations. This lack of criteria makes this a potential avenue for justice and relief for ran, eventually getting arrested in Topeka. cannabis-related offenders. But as seen in Wyatt’s case, Kansas lawmakers’ attitudes towards Officers searched the Lexus and found marijuana-related offenses remain largely unchanged despite nearly 70% of Kansans supprescription pills and six pounds of marporting cannabis legalization, according to a statewide survey conducted by Fort Hays State ijuana. Inside Gadwood’s apartment, they University last year. found myriad pills and packaged drugs that Wyatt’s story of unjust time served for cannabis possession in Kansas is not unique. matched the ones found in the Lexus.

Donte West holds a picture of former Lansing Correctional Facility bunkmate Antonio Wyatt.

kansascitymag.com May 2024

Gadwood agreed to become an informant and was the state’s main witness. He testified Level four felony offenses in Kansas that he had met West a week earlier and paid him $1,800 for a pound of marijuana. Although are punishable by a mandatory sentence Gadwood testified that he had arranged to buy the drugs from West, he was never charged of imprisonment of five and a half years. with a crime—for intent to buy or for possession in his home. At the trial, several of the officers Intent to distribute marijuana or manutestified that they had made no deal with Gadwood in exchange for his testimony. facturing meth if the quantity is less than Later, a petition by West and his lawyer said the state had failed to disclose its arrangeone gram are some examples of level four ment with Gadwood. “He was never prosecuted despite his claimed involvement and the drug-related felonies. Non-drug-related level numerous illegal drugs found in his apartment,” lawyer Chris Biggs wrote in his petition four offenses in Kansas include things like for a writ of habeas corpus in Riley County District Court. “This all suggests the existence aggravated battery and aggravated indecent of, at a minimum, a non-disclosed gentlemen’s agreement not to prosecute if he testified liberties with a child. for the State.” West’s sentence time of nearly eight years Despite officers admitting that they never saw West inside the Lexus and, after searching as a first-time offender with no prior record him, found no drugs on his person and nothing drug-related on his phone, West was implicated was uncommon, but not unheard of, in a state as the “ringleader” of the drug exchange. Gadwood didn’t face any charges or time in prison with such staunch laws against marijuana. in exchange for his information. Judges across the state vary in their views During the time West was in custody, his grandmother—who was his and his younger and sentencing on cannabis-related crimes, brothers’ legal guardian—passed away. with many giving probation instead of prison “My younger brothers were going to school, kind of on autopilot until I figured out a way time, but that was not the case for West. out,” West says. “When I got out, I would fight my case from home a little bit. I fired my public In Kansas, a defendant could serve a londefender and I had met an attorney. And he told me everything would be cool. ‘Just hire me, ger sentence for marijuana-related crimes I’m familiar with the court system, the judges, the DA, don’t worry about it.’” West was secure than violent crimes, such as voluntary in the fact that he was innocent and that they had no evidence of his involvement with the manslaughter. “The current Kansas law drugs found in his friend’s Lexus. and penalties for marijuana are unjust,” In February 2017, West went to jury trial in says Christopher Joseph, West’s attorney Riley County District Court. Before the trial during sentencing and his appeal. “The law began, West’s lawyer confided in him that he is so out of sync with reality at this point.” In prison, West saw had been ill and had not read his case. He “I was sentenced on my youngest brothfellow inmates read assured West that he had a doctor’s note and er’s birthday, and he had his birthday wish books from the law the judge would grant him additional time. to the judge [for my release],” West says. library to fight their The judge denied the motion and West was “The judge remarked, ‘You will be out to see case. “I felt like if I left essentially without representation because your brothers around the end of their high applied that energy his attorney was unfamiliar with his case. school term,’ which was very unfortunate. I to these 8 years, Ultimately, West was given seven and a ended up getting sent to prison a week later. maybe I can go home half years—92 months—for his first-time I had to choose a foster care family for my a little sooner to see offense, a case built solely on the testimony younger brothers.” my brothers and be of an informant who didn’t face charges Faced with the sudden death of his grandreunited with my because he implicated West for the crime. mother, an uncertain future in foster care for All five of the defendants in the case faced his younger brothers and the possibility of family,” West says. varying charges related to possessing and spending the entirety of his 20s in prison, distributing marijuana. Sentences ranged West was determined to keep fighting. from time served to West’s 92 months, which was the longest. West’s Fight for Justice The majority of first time cannabis-posIn prison, West saw fellow inmates read books from the law library to fight their case. session offenders get probation or time “I felt like if I applied that energy to these eight years, maybe I can go home a little sooner served. According to a motion filed in the to see my brothers and be reunited with my family,” West says. “My motivation was when I case, probation was given in 95 percent of was riding to the airport, I looked in the back seat. I have these two little boys crying and they the marijuana distribution cases in Kandon’t have anybody [now].” sas involving defendants with low criminal West credits that painful memory and the thought of reuniting with his brothers as his history scores. West’s lawyer told him that motivation to fight his case. He began waking up at 5:30 in the morning to spend the day he would probably be the first person that reading from the law library. West estimates that he read over one thousand cases during his year in Kansas to go to prison as a first-time time in prison, learning from both the wins and the losses. Eventually, he began writing a offender for cannabis. motion to appeal his conviction. The issue lies with the laws surroundIn it, West argued that there was insufficient evidence to support his conviction and noted ing marijuana in Kansas. “One pound or that there was no direct evidence that he was in possession or control of the drugs found 66 pounds is the same charge with somein the Lexus. The Kansas Court of Appeals affirmed his conviction on June 29, 2018, on the body like me with no criminal history,” West basis that Gadwood’s testimony supported the state’s theory that West had possession of the says. As mentioned, Kansas is one of only drugs. He was to remain in prison. four states where cannabis is completely West didn’t give up hope. He began seeking advice from lawyers to write another appeal. He also illegal and criminalized in all forms. Based wrote letters to 125 state representatives and 40 senators, outlining his case, the unfit sentence for on the quantity of marijuana found—even a nonviolent first-time offender and advocating for his clemency. Former Kansas State Representaa small amount like 25 grams—the police tive Willie Dove even visited West in prison—he was shocked that the bills he helped pass had led can state there was intent to distribute and to such a lengthy sentence for a first-time marijuana-related conviction. Dove and other Kansas can charge the individual as such, which is legislators wrote letters to the governor asking for clemency or a sentence reduction. West also a level four felony. began going out into the community, telling his story to high school kids in the Johnson County area.

80 Kansas City May 2024

The State of Cannabis Laws in the United States

MAP SOURCE: L AST PRISONER PROJEC T

■ Legalized ■ Medical and Decriminalized ■ Medical

“I stayed consistent reading cases and having a voice, writing legislators from prison,” West says. “One thing I learned: They do answer. A lot of them don’t know [what’s happening] unless you tell them the story. Laws are [often] inspired to be passed from something that’s happened.” Over three years into his sentence, West was visited by his court-appointed attorney and former Secretary of the State of Kansas Chris Biggs. West had been writing another motion to appeal in court, using the knowledge from the countless cases he had read. Biggs told West that this new motion was one of the best he had ever seen an inmate write and that West may just “have a shot” of overturning the case. The Kansas City Star published an article about West’s fight for clemency, and his case started gaining more widespread attention. An Instagram post on West’s fight for clemency got the attention of Last Prisoner Project, a nonprofit committed to freeing individuals who are still unjustly imprisoned for cannabis and creating systemic reform to the criminal legal system. The group reached out, offering support and legal help. West declined the offer—he already had his own legal representation and a motion that was nearly ready to present—but he began a partnership with Last Prisoner Project which would extend far outside of prison. In September 2019, West filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus in Riley County District Court. In the new petition, West claimed that his first attorney had been ineffective at his trial by failing to secure the crucial testimony from the other four men in the car convoy that West did not know about the drugs in the Lexus.

■ Decriminalized ■ CBD with THC Only ■ Fully illegal

One of the men in the Lexus, Victor Lara, said in an affidavit: “Donte at no point had knowledge of the marijuana that was in my car. Nobody else knew what was hidden in my vehicle. Donte and I were on separate trips in the same direction. The only reason I stopped at Gadwood’s house was to take a shower before I went to my final destination.” The petition also stated that the state had failed to disclose the supposed arrangement with Gadwood, which officers testified did not exist. West says that the lawyers told him there was a 98% chance he would lose. West remembers them saying, “The type of motion you’re filing—I’ve got colleagues that have never won that type of motion in the course of them being a lawyer.” However, on Oct. 13, 2020, Judge John Bosch of Riley County District Court ordered that West’s convictions be vacated on the basis that although the state’s failure to disclose evidence about Gadwood was “inadvertent,” it still raised issues of his credibility as a witness. Bosch did not address West’s claim on ineffective assistance of counsel. After three and a half years in prison for a first-time cannabis related-offense, West was released from prison. “If a person wants to go home, you’ve got to be obsessed with the situation in order to reach success,” West says. “If I wasn’t obsessed then, honestly, I don’t think I would have gotten home. I wanted freedom for myself, but I did it for my younger brothers. We do it for the people we love. I just felt like if I’ve done everything I can to get out, I can live with that. If I didn’t do everything I could possibly do to get out, then I couldn’t live with it.” At the time of his release, Riley County District Attorney Barry Wilkerson said he planned to retry West. “I’m just going to err on the kansascitymag.com May 2024

side of caution,” he said. “I’d just rather retry the case and make sure that there are no issues with the integrity of a prosecution than for there to be any questions.” West was adamant that he wouldn’t take any deals or accept a felony charge with time served if he was reconvicted. He would take the DA head-on in trial again. West wanted the case dismissed and off of his record for good. “I’d have to live in the hood with my younger brothers. I [couldn’t get] loans or other opportunities. I can’t vote. I’d got to work a certain job, I’d got to live in a certain neighborhood. I have to raise two younger brothers and the area [we live in] will dictate what high school they go to,” West says. “I don’t want to go to trial again. But I will.” The challenges and limitations convicted felons face once they re-enter society negatively impact them for the rest of their lives, even if they did serve time for something as simple as cannabis use, which a person could have served time in prison for just for it to be legal by the time they’re released. Convicted felons may lose the right to vote, hold office and serve on a jury—along with facing many more nearly insurmountable hurdles and discrimination when it comes to housing and job opportunities. Certain health insurance providers may deny convicted felons. Until 2014, convicted felons couldn’t even apply for food stamps. On March 3, 2021, Wilkerson filed a motion to dismiss West’s case. Bosch approved the dismissal that day. West became the 2,779th person to be exonerated in America. Now, West leads community and business development for Illicit Gardens, a multi-state cannabis company with a criminal justice advocacy focus. He is also the inspiration behind West by Illicit, a product line launched in 2022 that donates a percentage of all sales to Kansas and Missouri incarcerated cannabis prisoners to assist with inmate commissary funds and reintegration fees. Last year, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas and the City Council recognized April 20 as “4/20 Donte West Cannabis Justice Day” as a way to honor West’s legacy as a cannabis justice advocate. He also owns dispensaries in New Jersey and in his former home of Stockton, California. West has remained involved with Last Prisoner Project, where he works as a Legacy Last Prisoner Project Fellow, helping free people incarcerated on has initiated a social cannabis-related charges. West has already media campaign called helped secure the early release of another #FreeAntonioWyatt. former inmate at Lansing, Kyle Page. West made good on the promise he made to Page More information in prison and, with the help of Last Prisoner can be found at Project, helped get Page’s time served back lastprisonerproject. and his release moved up a few months. org/freeantoniowyatt. Now, he is set on doing everything he can to help bring freedom to his former bunkmate, Antonio Wyatt.

The Cost of the War on Drugs Kansas has spent nearly $200,000 to incarcerate Antonio Wyatt in the last six-plus years. The cost per adult inmate in Kansas is approximately $30,100 per year, according to the Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Report from the Department of Corrections. Patrick Armstrong of the Council of State Governors Justice Center estimated that Kansas spent $43 million in 2019 to incarcerate people just for violating the post-release supervision conditions and an additional $41 million for drug offenses. It costs almost 10 times as much to incarcerate—rather than supervise—an offender. According to Last Prisoner Project, 15.7 million people have been arrested for marijuana-related offenses over the past 20 years in the U.S. The “War on Drugs,” the government-led initiative to stop illegal drug use, distribution and trade by dramatically increasing prison sentences for both drug dealers and users, costs over $47 billion a year. Meanwhile, the U.S. legal cannabis market in 2022 was

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valued at $13.2 billion—and expected to continue to grow. Barry Grissom, the former United States Attorney for the District of Kansas, discusses the challenges that have arisen from legalizing cannabis on a state-by-state basis. “Around 2014, Colorado voted for adult cannabis use,” he says. “The Department of Justice had to make a decision because marijuana is still a schedule one drug right there next to heroin, which is foolish.” Schedule one is the highest ranking. These drugs are classified as most harmful, and having the least, if any, medical or therapeutic use. “There’s been some discussion recently by the administration of scheduling cannabis down to a level three so the actual research can be done on it, because right now there’s only one place in the country allowed to do research on cannabis and that’s at a grow facility at the University of Mississippi,” Grissom says. “If you’re a scientist or a researcher and you want to do research, you can’t do it. If it’s rescheduled, folks can do meaningful research. On the flip side of that is the prosecution against someone using cannabis, as an example, in their home, away from their children. You shouldn’t run the risk of having the government come in and deprive you of your liberty and seize your property because you’re engaging in that conduct. That is such an overreach, when compared to something like fentanyl or heroin. It’s just not the same.” This classification makes cannabis-related offenders, in the eyes of the law, on the same level as a heroin user, despite cannabis being legal and generating revenue for states. On the other side of Kansas, Missouri sold more than $1.4 billion worth of legal cannabis during the first year of recreational sales, according to MoCannTrade, the cannabis trade association in Missouri. The cannabis industry in Missouri employs over 18,000 people and has generated $100 million in taxes for the state. According to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, more than 100,000 marijuana cases were expunged in Missouri in the past year as part of a constitutional amendment Missouri voters approved in 2022. However, court officials say it’s hard to determine how many more cases are left because many court records are not digitized, so the process is a slow-going one. It’s estimated that the legalization of marijuana will prevent about 20,000 marijuana arrests in Missouri annually. FBI crime data has recorded over 377,000 arrests in Missouri for marijuana possession since 1998. Those make up 55% of total arrests made for drug possession during that period. Currently, it is a class A misdemeanor to possess 10 to 35 grams of marijuana and punishable by a fine. Possession of any more than 35 grams remains a felony. However, Kansans remain in a precarious position, able to drive several minutes over the state line to access legal marijuana before coming back to it being completely illegal in their home state. “Now, you can go across the state line to dispensaries [in Missouri] and see all the Johnson County and Wyandotte County taxpayers buying cannabis,” Grissom says. “It’s just illogical.” While Missouri is profiting in the billions from the legalized marijuana industry, just over the state line, Kansas is incarcerating people for the same thing. “If you’re a member of the military and you’re stationed at Fort Riley, let’s say you’ve done two or three tours of duty and you have PTSD, but you don’t want to take psychotropic drugs. Maybe the use of cannabis helps alleviate some of the issues that you have,” Grissom says. “So you drive to Denver or Kansas City, and when you are driving back to Fort Riley, you get pulled over. You run a real risk of being dismissed from the military and losing any VA benefits you

might have. It’s really counterproductive, particularly for the men and women in our military, to be faced with something like that if [using cannabis] might help them in some way.”

PHOTOGR APHY PROVIDED

The Fight for Wyatt’s Clemency Continues Kyle Page, an inmate with West and Wyatt, found friendship with the men in Lansing Correctional Facility when they bonded over their drive to start a business in the burgeoning cannabis industry—the same thing they were all serving time for. Page, who was professionally involved with growing marijuana in California, was sentenced to 82 months in prison for possession of cannabis in Kansas. Thanks to West’s help with Last Prisoner Project, Page was released early and made it home in time for Christmas in 2021. Yet, when he got home, Page still had to serve two years of post-release supervision, or parole, which amounts to nearly a decade of time for cannabis possession. Page shares some of the difficulties he’s faced since being free. “With your life in incarceration, you’re truly behind,” he says. “I planned on getting my commercial driver’s license, but I was automatically shot down by the parole, even though it’s a good career—something I can do for the rest of my life. ‘We don’t want you going from state to state.’ They make it so that I have to stay home in my parents’ house being a Kyle Page, another former inmate at Lansing Correctional Facility for marijuana possession, who was released 40-some-year-old man. I’m not allowed early from prison with help from Donte West and Last Prisoner Project. to be independent because they want to come look at my house. What landlord is really gonna want somebody renting with a whole bunch of cops individuals who were either using, possessing, selling or manufaccoming in? They prohibit you and stop you from moving forward in turing cannabis [are] pardoned,” he says. “Their sentences should life. And this is still all about the cannabis. be expunged, and they should be allowed to return to their families, “Through Last Prisoner Project, I was able to get a job in cannabis their communities and be functioning taxpayers.” because I learned how to grow cannabis in California,” Page says. Today, cannabis remains illegal in Kansas. However, two bills have “So I became a cultivator. They have a program—which is a social been introduced in 2023 toward legalizing medical cannabis, as well equity program—where not only did they bring me in and hire me as as one relating to decriminalizing cannabis possession. The state a cultivator, but they also put me in a class—giving people the tools recently amended its law to reduce penalties for first-time offenders and the knowledge to actually run a store.” possessing cannabis, but they are still subject to up to six months Now, Page and West are opening a cannabis dispensary in New imprisonment and a $1,000 fine. Kansas still classifies marijuana as Jersey together. a schedule one substance. Page remains hopeful for his friend Wyatt after seeing what Last With Wyatt’s clemency petition denied by the Kansas Prisoner Review Prisoner Project and West have done for him and others like him. Board late last year and Governor Kelly not giving clemency since 2021, Still, he questions the inequality in cannabis laws and the industry things don’t look as hopeful as they once did. Part of the problem is as attitudes across the country toward marajuana change. “I think that there is no deadline for granting or declining clemency, so there is it’s absolutely ridiculous that [Wyatt] is still sitting in there while less urgency. Kelly’s term does not end until 2026. Neither she nor the people out here are making millions and millions of dollars off of it,” Kansas Prisoner Review Board have returned requests for comment. Page says. “I think it’s unfair. It’s hurting the taxpayers by making Wyatt is just one of countless people in prison for something that is them pay for people to stay locked up. [Wyatt] could be a part of now medically or recreationally legal in much of the country. Despite society working in the cannabis industry, putting back in the tax Wyatt’s petition being denied, he, West, Page, Grissom and everyone money, giving revenue to his community, and instead he’s sitting at Last Prisoner Project remain hopeful for his release. there wasting away.” Last Prisoner Project has initiated a social media campaign called Grissom echoes this sentiment, but wants to extend this to everyone #FreeAntonioWyatt. More information can be found at lastprisonerin prison for nonviolent cannabis-related offenses. “I’m hopeful that project.org/freeantoniowyatt. kansascitymag.com May 2024

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EATING AND DRINKING WELL IN KANSAS CITY

Fantastic Fungi By Tyler Shane

MUSHROOM HUNTING SEASON is coming to an end, but this woman-

owned sustainable mushroom farm will keep you stocked all year round. When Robin Moore left her cushy lab job as a chemist to become a mushroom farmer, she didn’t know just how successful her new venture would be. She started her mushroom farm, MyCo Planet, in 2021 in a North KC warehouse. Now, it’s struggling to keep up with the demand. Lion’s mane, blue oyster, maitake and other gourmet mushroom varieties are flying off the shelves. Moore uses the sterile techniques of her previous lab work in her vertical farming practice. She replicates the natural environment that mushrooms would grow in, but indoors. This allows MyCo (Latin for Photography by Zach Bauman

fungi) to grow year-round fresh produce for KC in a controlled, sustainable way. “Everything we use is organic-certified material,” Moore says. “[The mushrooms] grow on an agricultural byproduct, so it’s waste material that the mushrooms grow on. When we’re done, we give our mushroom compost to local farmers and they spread it on their fields. It’s a full circle.” The most popular shroom? The lion’s mane, beloved for not only its culinary purposes but also its medicinal qualities. MyCo makes lion’s mane powder, tincture and, most recently, coffee in collaboration with the local Rochester Roasting Company. You can visit MyCo’s storefront (1534 Burlington St., KCMO) or find MyCo mushrooms at the Brookside and City Market farmers markets. kansascitymag.com May 2024

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The Ramen Rave The second wave of the birria taco trend is here. Make way for birria ramen. By Tyler Shane / Photography by Zach Bauman WHEN THE BIRRIA TACO, or quesabirria, came on the scene, it

took the internet by storm. The flat-top crispy fried tacos are filled with traditional stewy meat tethered to melty Oaxacan cheese and customarily plunged into a small pool of greasy, rich consommé. These aren’t your average street tacos. They are an act of hedonism, gleaming with grease and indulgent to their core. Now, the second wave of the birria trend is here, and our local chefs are on top of it. Say hello to your new indulgence: birria ramen. It’s exactly what it sounds like. The rich, flavorful broth from birria, a Mexican stew traditionally made with goat but now more commonly made with beef, is used as the base for a traditional bowl of ramen noodles. Tender birria meat makes its way into the ramen as well, and it’s topped with the usual garnishes of the quesabirria—raw onions, cilantro and lime. Celebrity chef Antonio de Livier is credited with inventing birria ramen, which he originally dubbed “birriamen” when he added it to his Mexico City restaurant menu in 2015. Ramen noodles with birria is such a natural pairing that when I noticed it trending, just like its predecessor, I knew it wasn’t just some fad that would fade into the internet abyss. It’s beef ramen but with a Mexican twist. What is it about the humble birria stew that has allowed it to evolve into one of the nation’s biggest food trends and into

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ramen form? At the core of each birria wave—tacos and now ramen—is the innovative use of broth. In the quesabirria, we see it in three acts: first by dousing the tortillas in it before throwing them on the flat top grill to crispen; second when filling the tortillas with the birria filling (the brothy meat dripping out of each bite is quintessential to the experience); and finally when it is served as a dipping sauce for the tacos. Birria ramen is just a step further in making use of a broth so delicious it’s too precious to waste. James Beard award-winning writer Bill Esparza wrote in his Eater essay exploring the origin of the birria taco that its wild success “is the product of the American dream, driven by the entrepreneurship of children of immigrants.” As birria continues to evolve beyond hearty stew, each new variant has blended tradition with innovation. It’s only fitting that fusion is at the heart of this second wave. Birria, with its completely unique and simultaneous notes of sweet and savory, is successful in not only its deliciousness but also its ability to adapt, evolve and turn into something new that can be enjoyed for years to come. Here are three local restaurants serving birria ramen in KC and putting their own creative twist on it.

REVIEW

Taco Naco

8220 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park & 4141 Pennsylvania Ave., KCMO “WE ARE NOT an authentic Mexican restaurant,” says chef Fernanda

Reyes, owner of Taco Naco in Overland Park and Westport, as she gestures towards the birria ramen I’m slurping down during our interview. According to Reyes, “naco” in her restaurant’s name translates to “outsider” in Spanish. Sure, you’ll find plenty of traditional Mexican flavors and dishes in her restaurant, but the ‘naco’ part of her restaurant’s name ensures she has room to play and experiment. Hence, the recent menu addition of birria ramen. The first time Reyes saw birria fused with ramen was in Tijuana, Mexico, where much of her family lives. At Taco Naco, birria broth is poured into a styrofoam container of Maruchan ramen and served with two birria tacos on the side. The Maruchan ramen cup may

seem like a kitschy choice, and it does make one laugh to be served a gas station staple in such a respected KC restaurant, but styrofoam ramen cups resonate with Reyes. “The Maruchan brand is very popular in Mexico,” says Reyes, who grew up in Durango. “We would use Maruchan when I was little in Mexico and would go to my grandma’s house or the stadiums. That was the cheap option.” The birria ramen is one of the most popular menu items at both Taco Naco locations—for good reason. The usual saltiness of the Maruchan was pleasantly placated by the deep spices of the birria. You can barely see the ramen under the sea of maroon consommé topped with raw onions. Give it a squeeze of lime and go to town. (taconacokc.com) kansascitymag.com May 2024

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Streats

1600 Campbell St., KCMO IF YOU WANT hedonistic food content, just head to Streats’ Insta-

gram account, @streatskc. The Crossroads Food Stop vendor has no shortage of graphic images of stacked greasy, cheesy birria tacos, their specialty. As the story goes with many great taco businesses, it started in a backyard. Streats co-owner Tony Gordon had lost his job at the beginning of the pandemic and was looking to make ends meet. Streats began when he paired up with his longtime friend Ashton Shelby and the two began slinging tacos from Gordon’s backyard. “When the demand for the business grew, we decided to look for something fast, and that landed us at the Crossroads Food Stop,” Shelby says. The Crossroads Food Stop opened in 2022 and is a restaurant co-op. Over 20 restaurants are gathered under one roof, but it’s

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not a food hall. You place your order on the Food Stop’s website, (crossroadsfoodstop.com). When it’s ready, head into the Crossroads building that houses a long wall of lockers, go to a screen, enter your order number and one of the lockers will open, revealing your order, wrapped and ready for pick up. The ramen was tightly packaged in a deli container and at the top of it was a beefy layer of birria meat. I forked through the red onions and birria and wasted no time putting a large bite of crimped noodles into my mouth. The birria had a delightful sweetness that permeated the brothy, salty ramen. I didn’t want to stop eating it. It’s served with two birria tacos that might be my new favorite in town. Despite it being a pick-up order, the tortillas were still crisp and absolutely stuffed to the brim with sweet and savory birria meat.

REVIEW

GG’s Barbacoa Café 1032 Minnesota Ave., KCK

I CONSIDER GG’S Barbacoa in KCK a local treasure. It’s a traditional

Mexican restaurant with a barbecue flair and mom and pop feel. There’s no wrong order here. Every dish is dressed to the nines. The ramen alone came with a whole spread of jalapeños, limes, salsa verde, sliced red onions and a dash of cilantro. While their ramen broth isn’t as birria-forward as Streats’ and Taco Naco’s, the flavor manages to be on par. Even better, it comes with an

over-medium fried egg on top that oozes yolk, and the red zesty sauce drizzled on top was reminiscent of hoisin (a common sauce paired with ramen or pho). It was a brilliant touch that added so much depth. You don’t have to get a side of birria tacos with your ramen, but why wouldn’t you? Indulgence is the name of the game here. Besides, the birria taco is a specialty, and this spot serves some of the best in town. (ggsbarbacoacafekc.com) kansascitymag.com May 2024

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DRINK

Once you’ve got your caffeine in tow, you can roam deeper into the nursery and enmesh yourself among the fauna.

Lavender Latte By Rachel Layton WHETHER YOU’RE AN iced coffee ride-or-die or need a warm-up on a chilly spring morning,

Café Equinox’s Pollinated Lavender Latte is just right for the occasion. Located in both Overland Park and inside the Family Tree Nursery on Nieman Road, Café Equinox (an extension of Thou Mayest Coffee Roasters) pays homage to their botanically inspired homebase with the Pollinated Lavender Latte. It’s brewed with hand-pulled Thou Mayest espresso, any milk or milk substitute of your choosing and the cafe’s signature house-made lavender simple

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syrup. Finished with local Cooper’s honey and bee pollen, a trending superfood renowned for its many vitamins and antioxidants, the brew has a delicate balance of floral and herbaceous notes with an earthy undertone. Family Tree Nursery feels more like a day in the botanical gardens than a gardening store. Café Equinox’s coffee counter is located in the front, and once you’ve got your caffeine in tow, you can roam deeper into the nursery and enmesh yourself among the fauna in the greenhouse’s lounge. Here, you can sit nestled between crowds of philodendrons, monsteras and curated displays of greenery. You’re certain to leave Café Equinox with a boost of energy from both your morning coffee and the peaceful warmth and greenery of the nursery itself. You might even leave with a new leafy friend, too. Photography by Zach Bauman

Final Voting Begins Tuesday, May 21 FINALS: Voting among the five finalists in each category opens on Tuesday, May 21. Final ballot closes on Friday, June 16. Winners: Winners will be announced online and in print on Thursday, August 1.

Scan Here to Vote!

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Pasta Pro

Chef Aaron Wells-Morgan of the Crossroads Hotel doesn’t want to take food too seriously, but he wants you to take Lazia seriously By Tyler Shane WHEN I CONFESS to Aaron Wells-Morgan that my first few visits to

the Crossroads Hotel’s restaurant, Lazia, were underwhelming, he isn’t surprised. Granted, these visits were years ago and well before he took over the hotel’s kitchen, so I don’t feel too guilty letting him know. Plus, since he’s been there, Lazia’s menu has seen a dramatic change. The chef has been working to revamp the hotel’s food operation and turn around its less-than-stellar reputation, all while making a menu that is exciting and modern. After a year and a half of helming Lazia, the rooftop bar Percheron and the formerly repressed pizza lounge XR, things are starting to look up.

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P E R F E C T DAY

“We’ve been trying to navigate finding Lazia’s voice, and getting into a rhythm has been difficult,” Wells-Morgan says. “The big focus for us is making sure that what we’re doing is very from scratch and classically inspired but with a modern push. It’s a new restaurant in my opinion.” The Columbia native is a natural fit for the hotel’s Italian-themed restaurant. He’s been working in kitchens since he was 14, he attended the Culinary Institute of America, and he’s worked at some big-name restaurants (Thomas Keller’s Bouchon Bistro in Napa and Jean-Georges in New York City, to name a few). All the while, he’s been a “psychopath” about pasta, he says. His pasta menu at Prairie Village’s beloved Verbena turned heads, getting him noticed by those in charge at the Crossroads Hotel. “[Pasta] takes a lot of finesse,” Wells-Morgan says. “It’s time-consuming, but it’s also cathartic to stand there for seven to 12 hours making pasta all day. It’s rhythmic, it’s fun.” Despite his intensity for the quintessential Italian fare, the chef is humble, self-depreAARON WELLS-MORGAN’S cating and would sooner refer to himself as P E R F E C T D AY I N KC a janitor before calling himself a chef. “Some of the chefs at [the Culinary Coffee: If I’m on my bike, Institute] were the old-school types that I love Blip down in the Bottoms. It’s really nice to yelled, screamed a lot and ran Q-tips up bomb down there on my the side of your face to see if you were bike and sit with all the like-minded humans. I also shaved enough,” Wells-Morgan says. “I’ve love Café Corazón. That always run my kitchens more lackadaisical. horchata latte is ridiculously I like great food. I just don’t need to yell at great. Oh, and The Saigon from Café Cà Phê. people to get it.” Maybe Wells-Morgan was what the hotel Dining: My favorite needed all along—someone consistent but restaurant in town is hands down Antler Room. Nick loose enough to experiment. Sort of like and Leslie are some of the pasta-making. most wonderful people in this town and this industry. Lazia is beginning to find its identity as Their programming is a modern Italian restaurant that serves the brilliant. The food that classics while still taking some liberties and they make is incredibly intelligent, thoughtful and keeping it contemporary. For instance, by really, really exciting to me the time this article comes out, they’ll be every time I go. serving the cracked pepper-adorned classic Bar n’ Burgers: Dodson’s in cacio e pepe but tossing it tableside with Waldo is a mainstay for me truffle butter. for melon balls and dirty whiskey. Of course, I’m Percheron, the hotel’s rooftop patio grabbing Cosmo Burger. with one of the best views in town, is also Their pickles are perfect, beginning to draw folks in not just with its the special sauce is tangy and sharp, and obviously drinks but also its impressive small-plate I’m getting tots. Mediterranean menu. And the pizza lounge XR, which has yet to make a name for itself, Westport: I love Harry’s Bar and Tables. I grew up is now beginning to show up as confidently on that patio, so on a nice as its counterparts with comfortable yet day, I grab a whiskey and get a cigar from Fidel’s. experimental wood-fired pies. Photography by Joe Zlatnik

’CUE CARD

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Grand Champions Debby Hoskins and Liz Bucknall

Missing in Action

Despite a team captain no-show, this amateur BBQ team took home the grand prize at the American Royal Backyard BBQ & Steak Cook-Off By John Martello AS LIZ BUCKNALL and Debby Hoskins proclaimed,

giggling and beaming from the stage of the American Royal Governor’s Building, “The wives did it!” What they did was earn the Grand Champion prize at the American Royal Backyard BBQ & Steak Cook-Off competition on March 23 for their team, Bad Influence BBQ. Why the giddy excitement and the unusual victory proclamation? Because Wayne Bucknall, team captain and Liz’s husband, never made it to the competition. Wayne was fully on board when they signed up to enter the contest, one of the top events in the “backyard” or “two-meat” (chicken and ribs) competition circuit. It’s designed for fledgling cooks hoping to eventually achieve Master-level status and become Photography by Zach Bauman and John Martellaro

↓ Bad Influence earned the Grand Championship and a $1,500 purse by placing second in both chicken and ribs. Swine-O-Licious was named Reserve Grand Champion. OVERALL RESULTS:

Chicken: First: Smoke This Drink That BBQ Second: Bad Influence BBQ Third: T-Dawg BBQ Ribs: First: Swine-O-Licious BBQ Second: Bad Influence BBQ Third: RoRo’s Smokehouse There was also a steak grilling competition, won by Go Ham BBQ.

eligible for top-tier competitions such as the American Royal’s World Series of Barbecue in October. Wayne, however, was called away for a meeting of the Machinists Union local. “We decided to go ahead and cook anyway,” Liz says, following the recipes and routines Wayne had led for years. Debby’s husband, Steve Hoskins, is also part of the team. “It was just teamwork and fun.” Wayne’s record isn’t too shabby, either. Bad Influence was Reserve Grand Champion (second place overall) at last year’s American Royal Backyard Cook-Off. The team has also earned first place in both individual categories—chicken and ribs—over the past three years. The chicken was cooked over charcoal, the ribs over pecan wood, both with the team’s homemade seasoning. One judge wrote on a comment card that the seasoning had a touch too much salt—the only thing keeping the ribs from a perfect score. Wayne, for his part, was shocked when he got the news. “I just knew I’d never live it down with all my friends,” Wayne says. “People were calling me and congratulating me, and I’m like, ‘What did I do?’“ The team name? Wayne originally hails from Birmingham, England—not exactly a hotbed of slow-smoked ’cue, hence “Bad Influence.” The American Royal’s Kayci Vincent said 31 teams competed this year, most from Missouri and Kansas but a few from as far away as Minnesota and Illinois. While the competition is geared toward amateur-level cooks, 35 judges certified by the Kansas City Barbecue Society chose the winners. “It’s an inexpensive and fun way to get started,” Vincent says. Kansascitymag.com May 2024

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Newsfeed

CHAMPIONS OF BBQ

What’s new in Kansas City food and drink By Tyler Shane

You deserve nothing but the best.

The Highly Anticipated Aqua Penny’s Is Here

a name for themselves with their beloved Thai restaurant Bamboo Penny’s. The duo now opened their second restaurant Aqua Penny’s, but instead of Thai food, the new digs serve an upscale seafood menu with a raw bar. It’s located on the corner of Ash and 117th streets in Leawood (11652 Ash St., Leawood, KS). The renovated space is stunning, with a full-service bar and floor-to-ceiling display cases brimming with top-shelf liquor and wine. Plants line almost the entire ceiling and give the entire restaurant an aquatic vibe. Menu items include fire-roasted octopus with sweet peppers and a seafood medley of salmon, shrimp, scallops, clams, mussels and calamari all sautéed in a tomato saffron broth. Not feeling fish? No worries. There’s also a ribeye steak and a hefty Duroc pork chop on the menu. The menu will change seasonally and has innovative shareable items along with seafood classics. An extensive drink menu includes wine and champagne flights, house-made infused spirits and craft cocktails.

Muni: A Mexican Thai Restaurant and Bar Opened in the River Market

IF YOU’RE ANY kind of foodie, you already know one of the biggest

EAT LIKE A CHAMPION MIDTOWN 1000 W 39th St, Kansas City, MO 816-255-3753

94 Kansas City May 2024

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

LAWRENCE New Location Coming Fall 2024!

power couples in KC’s food scene, Ted and Pam Liberda. Between Waldo Thai, Buck Tui and their food truck Sandos Shack, the husband and wife duo consistently receive accolades for their Thai and fusion cooking (Pam was recently nominated under the “Best Chef: Midwest” category for the James Beard Awards). The pair isn’t slowing down. They just opened another restaurant—Muni, a Mexican-Thai fusion eatery in the River Market. “I don’t want to say it’s Mexican or Thai,” Ted Liberda says. “It’s a neighborhood bar and eatery specializing in nontraditional Mexican and Thai.”

PHOTOGR APHY BY JAMES L AMPONE; ANNA PE TROW

HUSBAND AND WIFE chefs Penny and Doug Mufuka already created

BITES

Kemper Museum’s Artist Dinner Series

KC’S KEMPER MUSEUM of Contemporary

Muni (which is the combination of the couple’s daughters’ nicknames) will open in the former Tribe Street Kitchen (316 Delaware St., KCMO). Thai tacos, a Thai-style smash burger, birria dumplings and basil beef empanadas are just a few examples of how the Liberdas are leaning even more into the world of comfort fusion food. For those who have visited any one of the Liberdas’ establishments, the fusing of Mexican and Thai flavors is a perfect fit with their diverse cooking style. “I have a Latino-driven kitchen,” says Ted Liberda. “A lot of these guys have been with me for 15 to 20 years. Their kids even work for us now and they’ve been cooking Thai food for years.”

Art kicked off spring with its annual Artist Noah’s Cupboard Dinner Series, an intimate experience that blends together the creative worlds of food and art. Guests can expect to be wowed by top culinary talent, such as with KC’s own James Beard 2023 semifinalist Chef Pam Liberda, who created the menu for the first event. Each dinner, a local chef creates a coursed meal that honors globally recognized artists whose work is also displayed at the Kemper. Liberda, who specializes in Northern Thai food, was the first chef collaborator of the series and her menu paid homage to the late Chinese-American artist Hung Liu with a four-course dinner that combines Liberda and Liu’s “artistic desires to fuse the old with the new.” “Kemper Museum has always cultivated connections between contemporary artists working across the globe and the local creative community through its programming,” says Toma Wolff, Kemper Museum trustee and co-chair of the event. “Pam is one of the best chefs in town, and we are thrilled to highlight her creative contemporary cui-

sine alongside Hung’s meaningful legacy in Kansas City and beyond.” The Kemper, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, will host two additional Artist Dinner Series events in September and November. The featured artist and chef pairings will be announced at a later date. Proceeds from the event series will fund exhibitions and programs that support contemporary artists, free exhibitions and arts programming.

Q39 Is Expanding

THE POPULAR AND respected Q39—we

even ranked it third on our 2023’s Best KC BBQ list—is expanding west. A third Q39 is expected to open in downtown Lawrence this October, at the site of the former Lawrence Journal-World building on 6th Street. “I am thrilled to bring Q39 to such an historic space downtown,” says owner Kelly Magee, who attended the University of Kansas. “In college, I waitressed at [Stanley James] Smokehouse, so this is not my first time serving BBQ in Lawrence.” Lawrence is a place near and dear to Magee. Not only is it the home of her alma mater, but her parents and children are also KU alumni.

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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

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Big Brutus

The world’s largest electric shovel just happens to be in Kansas By Sophia Lacy DRIVING THROUGH THE fields of West Mineral, Kansas, it’s hard to miss Big Bru-

tus. What’s Big Brutus? A massive Bucyrus-Erie model 1850-B shovel that stands 16 stories tall, weighs over 11 million pounds and definitely lives up to its name. The largest electric shovel still in existence, Big Brutus, which is now a museum, sits inoperable after only 11 years of mining. Built on site in 1962 by the BucyrusErie company, the shovel was originally constructed to run for 25 to 30 years. Its purpose was to remove what’s known as overburden, or materials like rock and soil that cover a coal seam. This allowed smaller equipment to get in and extract the coal. The machine dug a variety of depths, reaching around 69 feet, and had a top speed of just over .2 miles per hour. In 1974, Big Brutus was retired after the Environmental Protection Agency found the quality of coal in West Mineral wasn’t what it should be.

96 Kansas City May 2024

“The EPA came in and the coal quality was not where they wanted it to be in this area,” says Cindy Morris, the executive director of the Big Brutus museum and memorial. “It ran totally electric, and the electric cost got to be significant enough that it wasn’t worth keeping it operational.” It was too expensive to dismantle the giant, so they parked the shovel in one of the fields and left it where it stood. It then sat idle just 10 miles from where it was built. However, a few years later, former miners, their families and members of the community had the novel idea of turning the behemoth into a museum. The Pittsburg and Midway Coal Mining Company, the entity that owned Big Brutus, donated it, and in 1985 it was dedicated as a museum. In 2018, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The land around it has deep holes and pits, now filled with water, from where Big Brutus once dug. From a perch on the shovel’s top, visitors can survey the area and see where Big Brutus used to drive and dig. The dinosaur rests as a reminder of the mining era and continues to support the town around it. “I think the community still thinks of it is an asset because it brings GO: in around 25,000 people to this 6509 N.W. 60th St., area every year,” Morris says. West Mineral, KS

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Photography by Cody Morris

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