IN Kansas City April 2022 by KC Media

What’s Opened, What’s Coming for KC Restaurants COMMUNITY GARDENS: GROW YOUR OWN IN THIS MISSION HILLS MANSE

COLOR REIGNS

CHIC HOME BARS

COCKTAILS & CUISINE APRIL 2022 | INKANSASCITY.COM

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOUR HOME RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOUR HOME RIGHT NOW, IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING IT ABOUT WHAT WOULD BE?

YOUR HOME RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE? You’ve likely spent more time than ever in your home during the last few weeks. Perhaps now you have valuable insight into what your home might be lacking or how you can make your interior space better. Now is the time for beauty and functionality.

Bringing European Tradition & Design to Your Home

You’ve likely spent more time than ever in your home during the last few weeks. Perhaps now you have valuable insight into what your home might be lacking or how you can make your interior space better. Now is the time for beauty and functionality. Bringing European Tradition & Design to Your Home

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FOPE is an Italian goldsmithing company which has evolved over time into an international fine jewelry brand. The headquarters and production facilities are located in Vicenza, Italy, where the company was established in 1929. Today all jewelry is still proudly made in-house thanks to a unique combination of craftsmanship and bespoke technology. The FOPE creations share a distinctive character given by the 18ct gold weave that varies in gauge and design. This signature jewelry represents a quintessentially Italian idea of style which has gained further global recognition with the introduction of Flex’it. The Flex’it mesh is crafted solely in 18ct gold and is rendered fully flexible thanks to tiny gold springs hidden between each link and has revolutionised the way bracelets (and rings) can be worn with its original, and patented, roll-on mesh. To create a unique, contemporary look for casual or evening wear, discover FOPE’s latest collections with the unparalleled versatility of Essentials and the precious details of Prima.

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MIXED-USE

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE

COMMERCIAL

CELEBRATING OUR DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY With more than 60 years of excellence in service and design, we proudly continue our legacy and tradition of creating timeless and memorable moments in design.

3515 W 75th St #201 | Prairie Village, KS 66208 913.831.1415 | NSPJARCH.COM

RESIDENTIAL

MULTIFAMILY & SENIOR

LIVING

LAND PLANNING

Spring Design Sale Continues With SAVINGS up to 45% OFF through May 2nd

Your place of peace . . . where a perfect blend of beauty and comfort invite your family and friends to enjoy life, laughter and luxury. It’s your home and during Seville Home’s Spring Design Sale, the options to reimagine your favorite spaces are endless. And, with the largest in-stock inventory in our 22-year history, you really can have it all and have it now.

Your Seville Home Designers

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CELEBRATE LIFE EVERY DAY...

in every way!

Visit our collection of European “cocktail hour” essentials for entertaining and curated gift-giving packages

NOW OPEN - our new “via Saluté” corner in our Plaza store

Now, you can enjoy the full, fun Salute’ experience – earth-friendly candles and home scents inspired by Italian aperitivi cocktails, the latest barware... and introducing our “hand-selected” spirits to mix these authentic drinks – all at via Saluté in our iconic Plaza store! Locally owned and a Country Club Plaza icon for over 35 years | 501 Nichols Rd. at Pennsylvania | 816.753.4144 | www.terrasi.com

The Ultimate Design Resource

kitchens | bathrooms | home

Portfolio K i t c h e n

h o m e

215 W. Pershing Road Kansas City ▪ Missouri ▪ 64108 816.363.5300

www. por t foli o - ho m e. co m Monday—Friday 9 to 5 Saturday 11 to 3

Contents APRIL 2022 60

74 Features 60

IN CONVERSATION WITH CHRISTINE COLBY JACQUES The former Broadway dancer reminisces about being in the original cast of Dancin’ and working on the revival, Bob Fosse’s Dancin’.

Departments

GROWING GARDENERS The Kansas City Community Garden has evolved from a small, local nonprofit to a nationally recognized organization making a broad impact on our whole community.

2022: THE YEAR IN FOOD Familiar faces are taking over KC’s restaurant scene.

COLOR STORY Bold hues and bespoke architectural details make this Mission Hills home a treasure.

RAISING THE BAR Three Kansas City designers show us how to step up our home bar game.

WOMEN IN BUSINESS IN KC

ENTERTAINING IN KC

OUR MAN IN KC

ARTS & CULTURE IN KC

BEHIND THE MUSIC IN KC

LOOK IN KC

WOMEN’S HEALTH IN KC

LIVING IN KC

FLAVOR IN KC

104

FACES

112

MY ESSENTIALS IN KC

IN EVERY ISSUE 12

EDITOR’S NOTE

On the cover You can order the Ora King salmon crudo with citrus, radish, and black salt later this

INKANSASCITY.COM

month at the opening of Earl’s Premier. See page 64 for more information. Photo by Anna Petrow.

THIS MONTH IN KC

APRIL 2022

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C R O W N C E N T E R , L E V E L 3 • 816 . 274 . 32 2 2 MON – SAT: 10 AM – 6 PM • SUN: NOON – 5 PM SPECIAL SPRING E VENT HOURS APRIL 7 – APRIL 9: 10 AM – 7 PM

Editor’s Note

If You Love It, Let It Go

Vol. 5 | No. 4 APRIL 2022

Editor In Chief Zim Loy Digital Editor Emily Park

Zim

APRIL 2022

| 12 | INKANSASCITY.COM

Art Director Alice Govert Bryan Associate Art Director Eva Tucker photo by aaron leimkuhler

his is a tale about a chair. It’s a chair I bought at an estate sale soon after my husband and I moved into the very first home we owned together. So, I’ve had it for a long time. It’s a 1920’s Louis XV-style bergére, which sounds very fancy, but it was a little worse for wear. That chair has moved with us from that first house through every home we’ve had since. And now it’s sitting in my library. When I bought it, the cushion was saggy and baggy, so I overstuffed it with down from the many vintage goose-down pillows I’d purchased at estate sales. (By the way, I did have the down drycleaned, but it was totally worth it because they just don’t make pure goose down like that anymore.) It may be the same chair, but it’s gone through many transformations—of fabric, of paint, and at one point I even had it totally rebuilt. For that first house, I painted the trim red (yikes!) and reupholstered it in a fabric I hand-painted. And when I say fabric, I mean white sheet, and when I say hand-painted, I mean brushed on swaths of house paint in an “expressionist” style. When we moved to our second home, where we lived longer than any other house we’ve renovated, the chair suffered through several metamorphoses. The frame was painted white, then black, then finally I gilded it, which has remained ever since. But fabrics, oh my. There was a black chintz, a fuzzy leopard print, a bold stripe. And in those days, I was doing my own upholstering. By the time we moved again, I needed to hire someone to rebuild and reupholster it because the chair was suffering from my constant revisions. I picked a luscious silk plaid, which cost by far the most I’d spent on any fabric. I was in love with it, so it stayed on the chair through the next three houses. Finally, dogs and time made their mark, consequently it needed a refresh. I picked a lush purple velvet I was sure was going to stand out in a room of gray and white. And stand out it did. Just not in the right way. The upholsterer brought it into the house, and I made him take it right back out. I’ve never been so wrong about something I was so sure of. So, I pivoted to a lovely gray, white, and pale-yellow ikat. (This was when ikats were everywhere.) The chair made the cover of a national magazine. My personal high point. When we built our “forever house,” the ikat print just didn’t work. For a contemporary house, the chair needed something edgy—a fabric that didn’t shout Louis XV chair. One weekend at an antique store, I saw just the thing. A few yards of authentic, vintage African mud cloth, just enough to upholster it. With this last move (and hopefully, I do mean last), the gilded Louis XV chair in the African mud cloth just can’t find the right place. I tried it in the living room, the bedroom, and now the library. My new home is the very definition of downsized. The basement is already full of furniture, etc., for my planned, grand garage sale. When you move as often as I do, you learn to let things go. But this one—this one is more difficult. It’s the only piece I’ve had through every home, and its many transformations have illustrated my changing taste. Hmmm, maybe I could give it to one of my lovely nieces? They could reupholster it.

Contributing Writers Kelsey Cipolla, Judith Fertig, Timothy Finn, Cindy Hoedel, Cody Hogan, Merrily Jackson, Damian Lair, Rachel Murphy, Patricia O’Dell Contributing Photographers Charlie Burt, Corie English, Katherine Jianas, Kenny Johnson, Aaron Leimkuehler, Anna Petrow Ben Pieper, Andrew Schwartz Publisher Michelle Jolles Media Director Brittany Coale Senior Media Consultants Katie Delzer, Nicole Kube, Krista Markley, Darlene Simpson Newsstand Consultant Joe J. Luca, JK Associates 816-213-4101, jkassoc.net Editorial Questions: zloy@inkansascity.com

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Lilliane’s J E W E L R Y

Spring Sales Event through May 31

50% OFF

+ Additional

10% OFF nearly everything in stock

Featuring a burst of Dabakarov gemstone earrings in all the colors of the rainbow and accented with fine white diamonds.

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EXPLORE OUR WEBSITE AT

INKANSASCITY.COM ENTER TO WIN

An egg-cellent Easter

Home is where the wine is.

Who says Easter fun has to be for kids only? In Kansas City, there’s plenty of fun to be had by kids and adults alike. Head out to hunt eggs that you can trade for prizes—while enjoying a drink or two. From KC Wine Co’s Boozy Adult Egg Hunt to KC Ren Fest’s Kegs ‘n’ Eggs, there are numerous ways to shake up your Easter weekend. We’ve got your guide to the best Easter happenings around town—from adults-only events to goings-on for the whole family at inkansascity.com.

Raise a glass to warm and breezy April weather while enjoying a bottle of wine on your porch or patio—on us. One lucky winner will bring home a bottle of wine and two Riedel Winewings—modern wine glasses reimagined to capture delicate and layered aromas and flavors for the perfect sip—from Terrasi Living & Scandia Home. Enter to win by April 30 at inkansascity.com/themagazine/enter-to-win. Good luck!

The HeART of Kansas City

During the last few weeks of March, Parade of Hearts installed 154 hearts across the Kansas City metro as part of a public arts initiative designed to highlight this city at the heart of the country. Heart designs run the gamut, including one that resembles Patrick Mahomes, one that’s a cupcake-inspired heart, and hearts that portray iconic Kansas City scenes, such as the Country Club Plaza, the Nelson-Atkins Museum, and more. Check out our Parade of Hearts viewing guide at inkansascity.com.

FACEBOOK @INKANSASCITYMAGAZINE

TWITTER @INKANSASCITYMAG

Raise a Glass

Did you know that April 7 is National Beer Day? The day commemorates the date in 1933 when beer and wine became legal in the U.S. for the first time since before prohibition. Luckily for us, Kansas City has no shortage of amazing breweries to choose from to honor the date, so why not make a day of it? Many of Kansas City’s breweries will be hosting special events and deals to celebrate. Find out where to go at inkansascity.com. APRIL 2022

Patio season is just around the corner!

If you’re dying to know about the local restaurant scene, we’ve got the city’s most comprehensive dining guide. So many restaurants to please your palate—many that will soon be opening up their outdoor spaces. Score! Head to inkansascity. com/eat-drink/dining-guide.

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INSTAGRAM @INKANSASCITYMAG

WEEKLY NEWSLETTER subscribe at INKANSASCITY.COM (under The Magazine tab)

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CMY

3/10/22

5:16 PM

Women in Business

IN KC by

Emily Park

photo by

Corie English

Ingred Sidie

BUILDING COMMUNITY PRESENCE

or Ingred Sidie, the best thing about Kansas City is that it’s big enough to be able to make a difference but small enough that you can make a difference—and that’s just what she’s done for the last 25 years as the co-owner of Design Ranch. Sidie launched Design Ranch with her business partner, Michelle Sonderegger, in 1998 with the vision of helping businesses create reinvigorated and forward-thinking brands. Since that time, Design Ranch has helped both local and national corporations, small businesses, and nonprofits build a community presence. “With everything we do, we want to add beauty and simplicity to the world through design,” says Sidie. “We started the firm knowing that never compromising quality would be the key to our success.” Design Ranch set out to distinguish itself from other advertising agencies. Instead of just focusing on advertising copy or just focusing on image and brand design, Sidie and Sonderegger created a hybrid model. “We had this layer that other design firms didn’t have, and it was heavily rooted in copy, concept, and language that we build into brands,” Sidie adds. Looking back, Sidie says the younger version of herself would be shocked to see how her talent for design has transformed into her presAPRIL 2022 |

ence as a business leader. What started as Sidie working with Sonderegger practically 24 hours a day to build the business has transformed into a team of ten designers, writers, and project managers that oversees branding, design, marketing, interactive technology, and art direction. In 25 years, Sidie has built a legacy in Kansas City that people can count on. “With our approach, we’re able to cut out a lot of the middlemen, and that process makes it smooth and seamless for our clients,” says Sidie. “When a client brings us a project, they aren’t questioning if we’ll get it done or if we’re going to meet the deadline. They know the output is going to be exceptional.” Look around Kansas City and there’s a good chance you’ll see some of Design Ranch’s strategy and design in play. Just some of the firm’s local clients include Boulevard Beer Company, Bo Lings, St. Luke’s Cardiovascular Consultants, H&R Block, the Kansas City Art Institute, Hallmark, and the Truman Library Institute. Some of Sidie’s favorite recent local projects include Who Needs Art, a campaign for ARTS KC that brought out the importance of art to the well-being and happiness of the community; ProX, a program from the Kauffman Foundation and Thalia Cherry that connects students with professional experiences to prepare them for what’s beyond high school; and branding for a new foundation that will fund legal aid for accused minorities. “We do a lot of community work and community service through design,” says Sidie. “We give them a voice and an image they might not have had to really help them with fundraising and presence within the community. Seeing our work in the community makes us feel like we’ve made a difference. There’s so much chaos, clutter, and ugliness, and if we can make the world a better place through design and beauty, then we’ve done our job.” If you ask Sidie if she has any advice for young entrepreneurs in the same spot she was 25 years ago, she’ll say be prepared to do a lot of hard work. “If you don’t want to give it your 100 percent then you probably shouldn’t own a business. It’s a 24/7 job that offers great satisfaction, but it’s not for everyone.” Her other piece of advice? Never stop evolving. Sidie just joined the Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program as a mentee to learn new ways to think about business and grow in new directions. “Even after 25 years there’s still more to learn, and I’m really enjoying working with my mentor and looking at how we’re running as a business and how we can continue to evolve and grow our leadership,” says Sidie. Sidie says her clients inspire her to keep learning and growing. “We’ve had clients cheer for us and cry when we present our work and just be so grateful with how we’ve been able to affect and change their success,” says Sidie. “So that keeps me going when I see the success of our client, see what we’re doing is recognized by peers, and seeing our clients being elevated in the community to places they never would’ve been. Everything we touch, we want it to be the best it can be. Everyone gets the Design Ranch magic.”

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RESIDENTIAL + COMMERCIAL • INTERIOR DESIGN + FURNITURE T R A N T H O M A S D E S I G N . C O M • 913.268.9595 • INFO@TRANTHOMASDESIGN.COM

This Month IN KC

April

WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AND WHAT YOU NEED TO SEE BY

Emily Park

APRIL SPOTLIGHT Bra Couture: Celebrating Diamonds April 22 TWA Museum at the Downtown Airport bracouturekc.com

CELEBRATING SURVIVORS

The Color Run April 2 Arrowhead Stadium thecolorrun.com FLYING COLORS If you’re going to run a 5K, it might as well be bright, cheery, and fun, right? Wear a white shirt for The Color Run and by the end of the route you’ll have a commemorative T-shirt to remember the day. At each kilometer mark, runners will be doused from head to toe in colored powders. After the run, the fun continues with music, dancing, activity booths, and more color throws.

At Bra Couture KC it’s not about the bra, it’s about the survivors. Support uninsured/ underinsured breast cancer patients at Celebrating Diamonds. Breast cancer survivors will model the top 14 couture-designed bras live on the runway, and you’ll have a chance to take one home. Each bra will be auctioned off with packages that include trips, jewelry, a night out in Kansas City, and more.

Planet Comicon April 22-24 Bartle Hall planetcomicon.com

Kansas City Fashion Week April 13-16 Union Station kcfashionweek.com

COMIC TIMING HIT THE RUNWAY Get a sneak peek of the hottest looks for this spring and summer at KC Fashion Week. Models wearing clothes and jewelry from local, national, and international designers will strut down the runway with looks sure to leave you with all the fashion inspiration you need. After the show, you’ll have a chance to order apparel and accessories featured.

Call forth your inner nerd and drop by Planet Comicon for a chance to meet celebrities from your favorite shows and video games and bring home the latest knick-knacks in pop culture. You’ll have the chance to meet Kevin Conroy, the voice behind Batman in Batman: The Animated Adventures; Bret Iwan, the voice of Mickey Mouse; Adam Savage of MythBusters; and actors from Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Trek: Next Generation, Halo, Power Rangers, Impractical Jokers, and more.

For Kansas City’s most comprehensive calendar of events, go to inkansascity.com APRIL 2022

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APRIL SHOWERS

Bring May Flowers! EVERY WEDNESDAY IN APRIL

Conquer April showers and enjoy May flowers when you grow with Anthology. Take a tour of any of our beautiful Kansas City communities, and we’ll give you an umbrella and flower seeds to plant! Get answers to your questions about senior living and discover all the wonderful amenities and more that Anthology has to offer you or your loved one. This will be a socially distanced event. Masks required.

RSVP TO RESERVE YOUR TIME ANTHOLOGY OF BURLINGTON CREEK

ANTHOLOGY OF THE PL AZA

ASSISTED LIVING / MEMORY CARE

A N T H O L O G Y O F O V E R L A N D PA R K

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CONTINUE YOUR LIFE STORY WITH US

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Entertaining

IN KC

Low-Energy Entertaining

WE ALL GO THROUGH TIMES WHEN WE FEEL TOO DRAINED TO PULL MUCH OF A PARTY TOGETHER. OUR ACE OF ENTERTAINING OFFERS TIPS FOR TUCKERED-OUT HOSTS

Merrily Jackson

photo by

I Email me with your entertaining questions, dilemmas, or triumphs at mjackson@inkansascity.com

APRIL 2022 |

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Corie English

had bilateral (for us non-medical people, that means both at the same time) knee replacement surgery in mid-January. Honey, let me tell you, I’ve never been laid so low. I’m not saying this to spoil anyone’s intention to undergo elective surgery; I have no regrets and it’s wonderful to have brand-new, pain-free knees. But in my case, the surgery triggered other problems, making my recovery difficult. I was beset by stomach pain and—something I wouldn’t wish on anyone—a complete and total loss of appetite, for weeks and weeks on end. I didn’t feel like eating anything; even foods I normally love grossed me out. Fatigue quickly set

MCCROSKEYINTERIORS.COM 913-282-1161 • info@mccroskeyinteriors

Entertaining

IN KC

Need Something Easy to Serve with Drinks?

I don’t usually serve store-bought dips because they have an underlying taste of preservatives. I found one, made right here in the metro, that tastes so fresh, your guests will think you whipped it up yourself: Mad Greek Spicy Feta dip. I like to serve it with pita chips, but it also would be delicious with crudité or on a charcuterie tray. Go to @madgreekfoods for a list of grocery stores where you can find it in the refrigerator case.

APRIL 2022 |

22 | INKANSASCITY.COM

in because I was eating so poorly. I subsisted on saltine crackers and protein drinks. For someone who has all her life adored food, and the preparation and serving thereof, it was a sad, disconcerting place to be. I felt very far away from that person who writes a cheery monthly column advising people about food and entertaining. And although my appetite and energy are slowly returning—how lucky we are in KC to have such quality medical care—I am having a hard time summoning that girl as I write this month. Many of you can relate, I feel certain of that. We all go through times when we feel we must remember who we are and conjure that person up out of very thin air. So, this month, for you and for me, to get us in the mood for springtime hosting and partying, I’m offering up some new low-energy insights on my most frequent advice themes—dedicated to all of you who are “goin’ through somethin’.” ORDERING TAKEOUT IS BETTER THAN EVER You can totally have a terrific party, even if you don’t feel like cooking. There are so very many options. During the pandemic, our favorite restaurants all sharpened their skills at packing their specific menu items for takeout, at the same time meal delivery services such as DoorDash and Uber Eats were coming into their own. A couple of weeks after my surgery, a thoughtful friend ordered dinner for my husband and me from Kona Grill, delivered by Uber Eats. It arrived hot and delicious. Well, for Bobo anyway; I watched him gobble down miso soup and pad Thai noodles while I sipped on a Fairlife vanilla protein drink. I see no reason why you couldn’t serve the same or similar cuisine for a dinner party at your house, minus the protein drink. Before my surgery, I wasn’t cooking at all; my knees wouldn’t allow it. But I had several rowdy little dinner parties wherein I set my table and served fried chicken and all the trimmings from Rye on the Plaza. They have, hands down, the best chicken in town, and they pack everything in such a way that it’s easy for you to quickly transfer everything to serving dishes to be served buffet or family style while your guests enjoy cocktail hour. One caveat about Rye: they offer only curbside pick-up, so if you don’t live reasonably close to one of their locations, it’s probably not a good option. But Stroud’s delivers, and they have excellent fried chicken—and those yummy cinnamon rolls.

913.327.8784

AND SPEAKING OF CONJURING THINGS UP… The right ambience puts your guests—and most APRIL 2022 |

23 | INKANSASCITY.COM

Entertaining

IN KC

importantly, you—in a happy frame of mind. It’s easy to achieve. Good smells, fresh flowers, romantic lighting, and great music—all combine to create a sense of hospitality that guests will remember much longer than whatever food you serve. Light a divinely scented candle or two, so your place smells welcoming the minute guests walk in. (My new favorite is the clean, fresh scent of Sempre Beve Limoncello candles, available at Terrasi Living on the Plaza.) I tell Alexa to play the Charlie Parker station or the Billie Holiday station, timeless music that never fails to evoke a chill, unquestionably hip vibe. Then it’s off with the overhead lights and on with the lamps, fitted with 15-watt bulbs. I love how my house looks in the dreamy, lower lighting—and how great my guests look in it, not to mention me, myself, and I. FRESH FLOWERS CAN BE SUPER EASY Flowers add life and cheer to any room. I used to do my own arrangements using blooms from big box stores or the grocery store. Sometimes, however, one needs to protect one’s time and energy. Many florist shops have grab-and-go flower arrangements, in varying sizes, reasonably priced. Trapp and Company and The Little Flower Shop are my go-tos for beautiful, quick, small-but-mighty centerpieces. These also make swell hostess gifts.

Pear Tree

LET’S TALK ABOUT COCKTAIL HOUR While I was recovering from surgery, the last thing I felt like doing was drinking alcohol. But Bobo would frequently at dinnertime have a whiskey or a glass or two of wine. I found it cheering that someone in our house could enjoy a civilized bevvie. Before my surgery, I had discovered Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey. I know it sounds weird, but it’s delicious over ice: a little salty, a little sweet, and velvety smooth. I’d gotten in the habit of offering it to guests, sort of as a novelty. It’s nice to have an unusual drink to offer people in addition to the standard wine, beer, and liquors, and especially nice when it’s something that doesn’t require mixing ingredients together. Most of us like to try a new drink. I would never have tried Skrewball if a party host hadn’t offered it to me. And now my across-the-street neighbor says Skrewball is all she drinks, because I offered it to her. Bobo has even put it in his whiskey rotation. A FINAL THOUGHT FOR THE LOW-ENERGY HOST Be vulnerable. Accept help. Use online grocery delivery services. Let friends bring starters, dessert, ice, cocktail napkins, whatever you need. Let ’em load the dishwasher if they want to. You know you would do the same for them. People are just happy to be invited to your house, and they’re not expecting perfection. You will have a fabulous gathering, and it will energize you and your guests.

Celebrate All the Joys of Spring at Pear Tree!

Direct importer of European antiques, decorative furnishings, and unique gifts.

303 E 55th Street, Kansas City, MO 64113 | 816-333-2100 | Open—Mon-Sat 10-5pm | PearTreeDesignAntiques.com

APRIL 2022 |

24 | INKANSASCITY.COM

Spring Spring is Just Spring Spring is is is Just Just Just Around Around the Corner. Around Around the the the Corner. Corner. Corner. And And so the Spring And And so so so is isis is the the the Spring Spring Spring Real Real Estate Market. Real Real Estate Estate Estate Market. Market. Market.

Whether Whetherinterested interestedininbuying buyingor or Whether Whetherinterested interestedininbuying buyingor or selling, selling,now nowisisthe thetime timetotostart start selling, selling,now nowisisthe thetime timetotostart start getting gettingready. ready.All Allof ofus usat atLocate Locate getting gettingready. ready.All Allof ofus usat atLocate Locate are areready readytotomeet, meet,advise, advise,support, support, are areready readytotomeet, meet,advise, advise,support, support, and andanswer answerany anyquestions questionsyou you and andanswer answerany anyquestions questionsyou you have haveabout aboutthe therapid rapidreal realestate estate have haveabout aboutthe therapid rapidreal realestate estate market. market.Give Giveus usaacall callto toset setyour your market. market.Give Giveus usaacall callto toset setyour your plan planininmotion. motion. plan planininmotion. motion.

Tom TomSuther Suther Tom TomSuther Suther 816.585.6144 816.585.6144 816.585.6144 816.585.6144 tom.suther@compass.com tom.suther@compass.com tom.suther@compass.com tom.suther@compass.com

Kevin KevinBryant Bryant Kevin KevinBryant Bryant 816.769.9564 816.769.9564 816.769.9564 816.769.9564 kevin.d.bryant@compass.com kevin.d.bryant@compass.com kevin.d.bryant@compass.com kevin.d.bryant@compass.com

Becky BeckyLoboda Loboda Becky BeckyLoboda Loboda 913.481.8270 913.481.8270 913.481.8270 913.481.8270 becky.loboda@compass.com becky.loboda@compass.com becky.loboda@compass.com becky.loboda@compass.com

Katherine KatherineGregg Gregg Katherine KatherineGregg Gregg 816.679.8500 816.679.8500 816.679.8500 816.679.8500 katherine.gregg@compass.com katherine.gregg@compass.com katherine.gregg@compass.com katherine.gregg@compass.com

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Our Man BY

IN KC

Damian Lair

dlair@inkansascity.com

: @damianlair #OurManINKC

HI/LO Workout

t the encouragement of my friend Denise Delcore, we met bright and early before work at Sweat Forum in Prairie Village. Located in the State Line Shopping Center at State Line Road and 76th Street, Sweat Forum is a women-owned business that’s a group fitness community. SF’s approach can best be described by their split, balanced concept: the HI room and the LO room. In the HI room, they offer an array of strength and cardio classes that target alternating muscle groups. I did the 50-minute Arete H.I.I.T (high intensity interval training) class, led by instructor Jackie O’Leary, who offered beginner, intermediate, and advanced options at every step. The all-black room boasts the perfect level of super-dim lighting and a killer playlist of beats that gave me life at this sunrise hour. Interval training is an incredibly efficient way to torch the body, which is why it’s my jam—lots of bang for what pockets of time remain in my always-packed schedule. And bonus—you’ll keep burning calories hours after the workout. The Arete class cycles through all of SF’s state-of-the-art equipment: benchwork, bands, free weights, and water rowers. And on the topic of equipment, it bears noting that I was impressed to the point of speechlessness. I’ve taken a lot of classes at a lot of gyms, but I’ve never left gushing to friends about equipment. Everything felt good—

Above: Sweat Forum’s LO (left) and HI (right) rooms. Right: Damian Lair ready for his workout.

even luxurious—to the touch. First, everything is beautiful and black. You had me right there—incredibly chic. The foam-top benches were solid but with the perfect amount of cushion and support. The rubber medicine balls provided a grip-able texture, without feeling like they’d been thrown around by hundreds of sweaty strangers. Even the rubberized floors, which looked like plenty of others I’ve encountered, just felt nicer—matte and dry, not sticky. In one word, it all felt expensive. And, hello, who’s going to argue with that? Whomever sourced it all should be given an award. In the LO room, the focus is on mobility and heat. Yoga and low-impact classes place emphasis on movement, breath, reconnection, and the mind. The LO room also features infrared heating panels in the ceiling. I’ve expounded on the benefits of infrared heat in this space before, but for a refresh, the dry heat warms your body from the core, increases flexibility and circulation, and reduces stress, joint pain, and inflammation. I’m ready to get back and try a LO room class next. SF has showers on-site so you can clean up before heading to work, and their monthly and annual unlimited packages struck me as quite reasonable, given the elevated experience you’ll have. Not to mention, I was sore the next day— the best sign that whatever Jackie had me doing worked. On the way out the door, I grabbed a protein-infused coffee from the cooler, feeling incredibly energized and accomplished for a day just ready to begin. APRIL 2022 |

26 | INKANSASCITY.COM

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Our Man

IN KC

LUCK OF THE IRISH

A FARM IN MISSION

Bierocks at Gaels Public House & Sports.

I HAVE BEEN to Gaels Public House & Sports on several occasions—both for events and just drinks with friends. But what I hadn’t yet done is properly try their food. So, on the eve of St. Patrick’s Day, I thought it appropriate to head over to their Troost location, on the southern end of the Rockhurst University campus, for some Irish (or more broadly, northwest European) fare. Proprietor and friend Derrick Bachman had left for the day, but we were in plenty capable hands. Boasting three bars and 26 (!) massive TVs, Gaels is very much a watering hole—but one that doesn’t overlook its restaurant undertaking, which too often translates as an afterthought at some spots. With a menu much larger than I was expecting, we dug right in. First up: those delicious, long, thick house-made potato chips paired with a dome of aged-cheddar dip. I’ve heard their beef n’ bites (fontina-topped stout meatballs resting in a cheddar cream) are also a hit. The menu also boasts a sizeable variety of pub-style pizzas— so, we had to try. We went the more adventurous route with the kit and caboodle (pepperoni, sausage, bacon, chicken, and lamb, paired with a red sauce.) The square pieces essentially collapsed under their own weight of meat, which was hardly a bad thing. Note: there were plenty of leftovers for the days ahead. Skipping over what appeared to be delicious wagyu beef and lamb burgers, I was reminded why we came. The shepherd’s pie was a no-brainer. While not my go-to dish on any menu, this one packed a ton of flavor and might be the best I’ve ever had. Success. And last, but absolutely not least—the bierock. HOT Beef, cabbage, carrot, onion, and cheddar GOSSIP: impossibly stuffed inside a seamless and crisp yeast dough pastry. It was so pretWhose very ty and perfectly browned that I hardly distinctive “lost” wanted to cut into it. Hands down, a belt was spotted on winner—the bierock and the entire someone else? dinner experience.

APRIL 2022 |

OVERHEARD “How many DIY bloop-gloop paintings can the market absorb?”

IT HAD BEEN AWHILE since I visited Enjoy Pure Food + Drink, so I thought I’d drop in on a recent trip to Mission Farms in Overland Park. To my surprise, it had doubled in size since that last visit. Clearly business has been good. And it’s no wonder—their incredibly robust menu of food and drinks makes healthy eating a breeze. With dinner right around the corner, I skipped over the more substantive options. But their smoothies, bowls, salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers, boxed lunches, and separate breakfast menu made me wish I’d come with more appetite to spare. Well, another time . . . Instead, I went straight for the juice bar. Pure juices are named for their properties: Cleanzing, Metabolizing, Oxygenizing, Rejuvenating, and Greenzing. I grabbed one of each—one for now; several for later. You save by buying in bulk, as the woman ahead of me in line was taking advantage of for a juice cleanse. Not a bad idea. I’m a huge fan of cleanses (ask me sometime about my crazy, annual “lemonade diet” borrowed from Beyoncé). Cleanses are great for giving your body, digestive tract, and waistline a little rest. Or a big rest, depending on duration. While at the register, I also picked up some of their protein balls in lemon-turmeric and cookie dough flavors. Perfect for a little pre- or post-workout. Everything at Enjoy is made with our on-the-go culture in mind. So, whether you’re dining in or grabbing to go, you’ll wind up with something nourishing and delicious. Aside from my later dinner date, I’d headed out this way for something I’d been wanting to try for years—cryotherapy. I’d made an appointment at CryoSalon to give it a whirl. For the uninitiated, cryotherapy is a hyper-cooling process designed to reduce musculoskeletal pain and inflammation by rapidly lowering a person’s skin temperature. There are various choices, but I opted for the full-body session. Stripped to undergarments, plus socks and gloves, you’re encapsulated in a liquid-nitrogen-cooled chamber for three chilly minutes. My chamber was set to -305°. That’s no joke. I, of course, insisted on some pics for my Instagram, which gobbled up one-and-a-half minutes. Hey—halfway there! The rest went by much more slowly but was entirely tolerable. More tolerable, I discovered, if you dance around a little. The purpose of all this? Well, the sudden temperature drop stimulates the nervous system, prompting your body to constrict tissues—sending blood from the skin surface, muscle tissue, and surrounding joint space to the core to protect the body’s temperature. As the blood travels to the core, it passes through the cardiovascular system where it is cleansed of toxins and supplied with oxygen, nutrients, and enzymes. This circulation and cleansing repeats on a continuous loop for the duration of the extreme cold exposure. Upon exit and a return to normal temperatures, the body begins circulating that enriched blood to cleansed, peripheral tissues. Athletes commonly use cryotherapy sessions to increase recovery and performance. And in that vein, CryoSalon also offers localized cryotherapy and compression therapy for isolated areas of the body—think of a puffy sleeve that fits over arm or leg suffering from a soft tissue injury. This can accelerate healing, alleviate muscle stiffness and fatigue, and reduce swelling and pain. Another service offered, which I’m sold on trying next, is their ten-min-

28 | INKANSASCITY.COM

ute cryo facial. Imagine a blow dryer directed at your skin, but with freezing cold air. This is said to increase collagen production, tighten skin, and reduce pore size and puffiness. And makeup wearers will love that no cleansing is required. You’re in and out. Leaving my appointment, I’ll admit that I noticed a late-day jolt of endorphins and energy; a day’s worth of fatigue and cobwebs had been blasted away. Finally—dinner time! Having opened not terribly long before the pandemic shut everything down, I’d not yet visited Páros Estiatorio. So, I met a friend there to finally experience what everyone had been long buzzing about. We sat at the bar because that was the only Friday night reservation I could obtain a week in advance. Good sign. From the moment I opened the menu and saw the word Mezés at the top, I sighed aloud, “Man, I really miss Greece.” Named after the Cycladic island, Paros serves honest Greek fare with a modern twist. Nothing flashy—just everything done the right way. So, as one does in actual Greece, we embarked on a tasting tour. For the two of us, we managed to narrow the mezé/starter options to just three. Like queso at a Mexican restaurant, there is no set of circumstances that I can see spanakopita (flaky filo triangles filled with spinach, feta, leeks, and dill) or dolmades (rice, lemon, mint, and dill rolled and wrapped in grape leaves) on a menu without ordering. They’re the table stakes of any proper Greek meal and call my name like sirens at sea. For good measure, we also threw in an order of char-grilled octopus. All lived up to my Grecian dreams. We skipped over salads, though I have a strong sense that the grilled peach and roasted beet options would have been dynamite. For entrées, we shared the traditional moussaka (casserole layered with ground beef, eggplant, potato, zucchini, béchamel crust, and lamb jus) and the arnisia souvlaki (grilled lamb skewers) plus sides of feta mashed potatoes, braised lima beans (far better than I remember as a child!), and Greek fries to boot. And there was zero chance I was leaving without baklava for dessert. The whole meal was as divine as the space was fresh and beautiful. Not quite a summer of island-hopping in the Aegean Sea, but considering the time and cost savings, it was a pretty good proxy. For now.

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APRIL 2022 |

29 | INKANSASCITY.COM

Art & Design Auction A benefit for student scholarships

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June 4, 2022 live & silent auction bid on 100’s of works

by alumni, faculty, friends, and staff or purchase jewelry, ceramics and small artworks in the KCAI Marketplace.

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Arts&Culture

IN KC

INKC: When you were a boy growing up in Iowa, did you

dream about becoming a photographer specializing in food? (Probably not.) How did that come about? Pieper: My career in the food world started with my first kitchen job at sixteen, cooking on the line of the local cafe. I eventually made my way to Kansas City to pursue a culinary degree and had the great opportunity to work with some very talented local chefs in country clubs and fine-dining restaurants. I’d always had an entrepreneurial side doing small catering gigs for extra cash. After several years of long hours, my wife helped me pivot toward photography. I earned my degree at the Culinary Institute of Art in Denver, while working as a co-executive chef, so my photo portfolio was naturally food focused. During this time, my cookbook collection had really grown, and I drew inspiration from the amazing stories told in my collection. Those were artists that I aspired to be. Shortly after graduating, I moved back to Kansas City and got my start at Hallmark. It was there that I honed my lighting skills and my own technique and style. In 2009, I went out on my own, and have been fortunate to work on a lot of great projects both locally and nationally. My culinary background has worked well for me, because I understand the process behind and in front of the camera.

Ben Pieper

THE FOOD PHOTOGRAPHER ANSWERS FOUR QUESTIONS by

Judith Fertig

photo by

Ben Pieper

INKC: What is one piece of advice you’d give to amateurs posting food photos on Instagram? Pieper: Avoid using your flash, if possible, and try to tell a story either with the food or with the setting. INKC: Those fish photos and those pomegranates! Why

are food photos so compelling? Pieper: I’ve always felt that cooking and photography are

ood photography is everywhere. Instagram. Cookbooks. Magazines. Food photos celebrate special moments, sell books or brands. They whisper “abundance” and “the good life.” Sometimes it’s hard to tell when crafty “what I’m having for dinner” or “look what I just made” merges into artful still life. Even local food photographer Ben Pieper has trouble finding that line. But his photos—whole fish on a bed of salt or a cascade of ruby pomegranates—might say otherwise. Pieper—who has a studio in North Kansas City that includes a kitchen—cooks “elevated kid-friendly dishes” almost every night for his wife, Kim, and his children, Olivia and Lincoln. His favorite cuisine is “a fusion of French techniques with Asian flavors.” Says Pieper, “I love the depth of soy or fish sauce, with sesame oil. With classic cooking techniques you can elevate any simple ingredient into a memorable meal.” Comfortable in the kitchen, Pieper, who has extensive knowledge of ingredients and methods, loves to cook so that he and his camera can coax every nuance from a dish or have it tell its own unique story. benpieperphoto.com APRIL 2022

| 32 | INKANSASCITY.COM

a craft, and have strived to create that feeling whether for commercial or editorial work. It sounds cliche, but food brings people together from both past and present. It evokes memories, and it’s how we all come to celebrate each other and our heritage. For me, that is why food photography is so compelling.

INKC: How has the Kansas City area nurtured your career? Pieper: Kansas City is where I learned to cook. It’s where my

photography career began and has thrived. It’s where I married my wife, and started my family. It’s where I put down my roots. I wouldn’t be where I am without this community and my family. All food photography is the sum of the team. Kansas City has amazing talent from food and set stylists, production, art directors, and assistants. Each member is essential for building strong photography, and that collaboration shows in the work. I’m very grateful to be a part.

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Arts & Culture by

IN KC

Judith Fertig

THE ROYALE GETS A KNOCKOUT IN ROUND TWO WITH KCREP FOR ALL

photo by kristi jan hoover

TWO BOXERS enter the ring. Only one can win. That’s the drama infusing Marco Ramirez’s The Royale, which had a successful run on Broadway in 2016, winning two Obies, a Drama Desk Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award. The story is deceptively simple. It’s 1905 and Jack “The Sport” Johnson dreams of being the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. He’s strong, he’s talented, he has the vision and the drive. The only problem? He’s Black. It’s the Jim Crow era, and very few people want him to succeed. The question is—will he? At what cost? Directed and choreographed by Steph Paul, this tour-de-force is an electrifying adrenaline rush, and all the more remarkable because it gives the “you-are-there” feel of a ringside seat without actual boxing. (You can’t have your actors beaten up night after night.) After its March run, the play starts a community tour. In a project supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, KCRep is making theater more accessible. Following The Royale on UMKC’s Copaken stage, the Rep will bring the play to Kansas City libraries and community and senior centers. Admission is free for KC Rep for All. Check for dates April 1 through April 22, venues, and times at kcrep.org/event/ kcrep-for-all.

Something to live for. Something to die for.

APRIL 30 - MAY 8, 2022 AT THE KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS kcopera.org

Tosca photo by Cory Weaver

APRIL 2022

| 34 | INKANSASCITY.COM

PHOTO BY KRISTI JAN HOOVER

JIM COSGROVE AND A LONG STRANGE SEARCH FOR A KILLER JIM COSGROVE is a renaissance man. The former feature writer for The Albuquerque Journal and staff writer for Hallmark might be better known as the quirky “kid-rocker” known as “Mr. Stinky Feet.” In 2020, his music was streamed over one million times on Spotify alone. When the pandemic hit, he also put on his investigative journalism hat again and wrote a book chronicling his decadeslong search for the truth about the disappearance and death of Frank McGonigle, a family friend. Ripple: A Long Strange Search for a Killer takes readers from Kansas City to a fishing village known as Murrells Inlet in South Carolina. This strange, tragic, yet ultimately rewarding tale, takes many twists and turns. The long-lost “boy in the woods” was finally found through the help of Cosgrove, an energy reader, and one of McGonigle’s eight brothers. But who was the killer? And can the bereaved family find the justice McGonigle deserved? Rainy Day Books sponsors this talk and book signing on April 5, 7:30 p.m. at Unity Temple on the Plaza. General admission. rainydaybooks.com

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Arts & Culture Judith Fertig

JOYCE DIDONATO RETURNS TO THE FOLLY FOR EDEN ALWAYS WELCOME in her hometown, mezzo-soprano Joyce Didonato returns with Eden, a continuation from her highly acclaimed production In War and Peace for the Harriman-Jewell Series. Meshing traditional opera, poetry, newly commissioned music by composer Rachel Portman, and Didonato’s dynamic stage presence, Eden delivers a one-of-a kind, multi-faceted performance—for just one evening. Says Didonato about her inspiration for Eden, “In a world that is bustling at full speed, brimming with ever-demanding technologies, I find myself searching more and more for the nourishing solitude and the restorative balance of nature. The force that we dare call ‘Mother Nature’ never fails to reclaim Her dominance, to illuminate Her mystery or to humble us at Her feet—all while lavishing on us Her wondrous gift of life.” With the Italian Baroque ensemble Il Pomo d’Oro and music director Maxim Emelyanychev, Eden will include the world premiere of Portman’s new work as well as works by composers through the ages: Ives, Cavalli, Handel, Gluck, Mahler, Wagner, Valentini, Marini, and Myslivececk. For information and tickets for Eden on April 12 at the Folly Theater at 7:30 p.m. visit hjseries.org.

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APRIL 2022

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photo by sergi jasanad

IN KC

PHOTO BY SERGI JASANAD

THE QUEEN’S CARTOONISTS TAKE SIX GUYS born on three different continents, all musically (but not grammatically) gifted. Plunk them down in Queens, New York, where they meet their future artistic director, Joel Pierson, who loves watching cartoons and fusing classical music with jazz. Have them start playing together in the New York subway, then the Blue Note jazz club in Greenwich Village. They hit the big time with a performance of music with cartoon and contemporary animation clips alongside The New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center. Now they’re bringing that show to Kansas City. During the Classic Age of cartoons, beginning in the 1920s and ’30s, most animated films and cartoons were accompanied by classical music and jazz. You may not know the original composer or the title of the piece, but you’ll recognize the music. For short clips of what’s in store for this performance, check out thequeenscartoonists.com. The ensemble performs at Kauffman Center on April 27 at 7:00 p.m. For tickets, visit kauffmancenter.org.

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APRIL 29TH 8 MAY 1ST

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Behind the Music

IN KC

Mikala Petillo by

Timothy Finn

photo by

Andrew Schwartz

usic became important to Mikala Petillo early in life, a way to endure the sorrows, disappointments, and losses of her childhood. Born into a family of five children in Kansas City, Kansas, where she attended Christ the King School and joined the school’s choir. Then her life started changing profoundly: Her grandmother died, her parents got divorced, her family moved to Parkville (she’s a Park Hill South grad), and music became an earnest pursuit. Her first music inspiration? The Beatles and Lennon-McCarthy, thanks to a now-favorite film she saw in middle school, Across the Universe. From there, she started learning guitar—the start of her music odyssey as a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. These days, Petillo performs live as a solo artist, Miki P, and as the leader of a trio, Miki P and the Swallowtails, comprised of Petillo on guitar, Rachel Lovelace on bassoon, and Adee Dancy on cello. She recently answered questions from IN Kansas City about her upbringing, her songwriting processes, her band, and her late mother, who continues to be a source of inspiration. What was your childhood like? What events shaped you early on? Mikala Petillo: My childhood was somewhat turbulent, but overall, I think I made it out with a strong creative drive. One of my fondest memories is my brother being born in 2004. Watching my mom being pregnant with grace and giving birth to my little brother was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. My [grandmother] passed away when I was about 8; that was my first experience with death. It absolutely crushed me. The following year my parents got divorced. That changed a lot for me in how I just generally saw the world and processed relationships. My dad was in and out of my life for most of my childhood. My mom was really a rock for me and my siblings, and my stepdad really showed me what working hard can afford you in life. I learned so much about life and loss very young, and it made me wise and taught me how to let go.

The game Rock Band was also huge for me, it taught me how to play drums. I’d play with a real electronic set, with all the pedals and cymbals, playing bands like Rush and Metallica on expert and get 100 percent. I always learned really fast when it came to instruments. What was the first record you bought? MP: The first record I ever bought was Rush’s self-titled debut album.

I really loved them. I bought it at the flea market at the Boulevard Drive-In Theater.

When did music significantly enter the picture for you?

What songwriters most inspired you to start writing songs?

MP: I always had a strong imagination growing up. I loved painting and

MP: Definitely Lennon-McCartney had a big influence in the begin-

drawing; I wanted to be an artist. I watched the movie Across the Universe in sixth grade with my best friend, Sarah, and it changed my life. I became hooked and fell in love with music, more specifically the Beatles and the late-’60s early-’70s psychedelic sounds. I thought it was so cool to be able to play my favorite songs while learning guitar and then try to write my own. I was obsessed with the idea of creating an album from very early into learning music. APRIL 2022

ning. I remember being fascinated with Pink Floyd, too, and their huge concept albums. The album Tommy by the Who was also another album that gripped me. I had a wide range of inspiration, though. I would listen to a John Williams soundtrack, then a Broadway show, and then old rock albums. I consumed all of it.

Were you active in your schools’ music programs? Did you ever

| 40 | INKANSASCITY.COM

take lessons of any kind? MP: Growing up I sang in the church choir at Christ the King, and in middle school I started learning guitar from the church’s music director, Carol Finney. I’m so immensely grateful for that happening. I was a terrible student, so finding music, and more specifically guitar, showed me I am an avid and capable learner. Other than those initial guitar lessons, I’m a completely self-taught instrumentalist. In middle school and high school, I was in choir and a part of all the musicals and plays. I loved singing and performing on stage, it ignited this fire in me that hasn’t ever gone out. What do you remember about your first big live performance? Where was it and how old were you? MP: My first big live performance I believe was at the Harley Davidson stage. I was probably 14. I remember it being really cold, and we were all wearing our coats and gloves because it was outside. I was definitely excited to be playing on a big stage. There were probably 20 people there. It was just fun to perform at that point. Your mother died in the past couple of years, and occasionally you pay tribute to her on social media. How did she influence and inspire you, as a person and a musician? MP: It was three years this March since she passed. She influenced me in the ways she approached life and treated the people in her life, when she was well. She was so open and loving towards everyone. She was

the person people entrusted their secrets with. I can be a lot colder than her, so I try to remember how she would walk through a situation with warmth and love if I’m struggling to do so. She always, always encouraged my music. I remember telling her when I decided not to pursue a college education, that I just wanted to do music, how happy she was for me. She was really proud of me, and I remember that fondly and miss it when I have new music to share now. Talk about the evolution of the Swallowtails: What was the concept going in and how has it evolved? MP: The concept going in with the Swallowtails was to create a band around my music, I didn’t feel comfortable being alone when I was branching out into a solo artist in 2018. At first I was just going to keep the band name Miki P and center it around me, but once Rachel and Adee joined, I realized it was becoming bigger than that. I liked the name Miki P and the Swallowtails because we evolved like the butterfly. My solo music now is very complex and produced, so it’s taking on a life of its own. I want to keep the Swallowtails a band that can deliver and crush a live setting with just the three of us playing our instruments unplugged, raw. You play several instruments. Do you have a favorite? MP: I go through seasons with certain instruments, and I try to let them call to me rather than force a connection. This season I’ve really gravi-

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Behind the Music

IN KC

tated towards playing piano; songs have been coming very easily when I sit to write. Drums are probably the most “free” feeling for me, I never have to think when I play, it sort of just happens. I love guitar if I’m in an emotional mood or want to write a rock song. How would you describe your music to those who haven’t heard it yet? MP: My music is bedroom pop/rock with hints of folk and Americana. Yours is the only band I know that incorporates a bassoon. How did that get started? And how do the songwriting and arrangements have to adapt to its sound? MP: It initially started by making friends with Rachel. We met at a jazz jam-type thing, and I thought she was really cool. I was playing a Sofar Sounds show, and I asked her if she wanted to join me and we could play as a duo. That show turned out to be the founding of the Swallowtails. The songwriting process I have isn’t affected by the bassoon or cello because I’m always writing and just following inspiration instead of writing to their instruments. Once I’m done with a song, we three will get together and collaborate on their melodies. Adee and Rachel got classical degrees together, so it’s really fun to watch them create parts together. They’re really geniuses.

What determines if a song is for the band or for you as a solo artist? MP: Lately I’ve been able to tell very quickly after writing a song

where it’s going to go. If I hear a lot of complex parts in the arrangement, or if it’s more of a pop song with basic lyrics/chords, I save it for myself. If it’s a song that I’d be able to play with just my acoustic guitar and me singing, it’s for the band. The Swallowtails usually get my strongest lyrical songs.

Which songwriters would you most like to collaborate with, living or dead? MP: I’d love to collaborate with Phoebe Bridgers or Doja Cat. I just really love their production styles, and I’m kind of in awe of their talents. What do you like most about being part of the Kansas City music community? MP: I like the family aspect of being a part of the Kansas City music community. It feels like we all have each other’s backs, and we all want to work together and collaborate—explore things that have never been done before. Even though I’m a freelancer, I feel like I have colleagues and friends all over the city doing really cool stuff with their lives. It’s inspiring.

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Fashion BY

Rachel Murphy

Flower Show

fter two years in sweatpants and T-shirts, the people of Kansas City are ready for some fun. Luckily, fashion is here to oblige us—florals and flounces are the look du jour. With the popularity of shows like Bridgerton and The Gilded Age, it’s no surprise that this season’s look leans heavily into pattern and embellishment. It would be easy to assume that florals are always appropriate for spring, but this year feels different. Gone are your grandmother’s florals—tiny prints in staid colors. Instead, punch it up with abstract blossoms, vivid hues, and large prints. And gents, don’t feel left out. The botanical brigade has something for you too.

GENTLEMEN INCLUDED Feeling jealous, guys? Never fear— florals are in for you as well. Instead of using a standard floral pattern, this short-sleeved button-down takes a painterly angle, offering a Monetinspired version that’s less botanical and bolder. Didcot Monet print shirt in sky blue and rust by Wax London, $145, available at Ulah in Westwood.

BIG AND BRIGHT April in Kansas City is unpredictable, so this long-sleeved maxi offers a bit of coverage for chilly nights with mood-lifting big, bright florals. This dress has serious retro vibes with crocheted accents on the sleeves and a smocked top. Bonus? With plenty of stretch in the bodice and a full, flounced skirt, this is as close to feeling like pajama pants as you can get. Dress by Angie, $49.99, available at The Parlor On Water Street on the historic Liberty Square.

BLACK AND WHITE AND BLOOMS ALL OVER This blouse is essential if you want to bridge the gap between winter and spring. Dorothee Schumacher makes the floral trend modern with white abstract flowers on a black background. With a half-placket front and gauzy transparent fabric, this is bold and ethereal at the same time Floral Transparencies blouse by Dorothee Schumacher, $490, available at Clairvaux in Fairway. APRIL 2022 |

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PRESSED POSIES If you’re not ready to drape yourself in florals, add a dash of botanical beauty with a garden-inspired necklace. This sizable pendant can be worn on a chain length of your choice and features dried and pressed flowers and petals for a bright pop of color. Pair it with a solid top to make it the star of the show. Confetti Petals necklace by Duplika, $84, available at duplikajewelry.com.

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Look

IN KC Beauty BY

Rachel Murphy

Euphoric Excess

uphoria—before 2019, this was just a term for a feeling of intense pleasure and happiness. After 2019? It’s all about HBO’s show about the sex lives and drug use of the present-day high schooler. While the morality police can sort out the good and the bad of the show, one thing is sure–the makeup looks are au courant and worth emulating. If watching Euphoria gives you flashbacks to the ’90s, there’s a reason. Their fashion and makeup looks channel the decade where brighter is always better, and a little bling never hurt anyone. While not all of us are heading to keggers to party, it’s easy to adapt these trends for spring nights out with friends.

LOOK: GRAPHIC EYELINER Inner corners, outer corners, triple wings—the women of Euphoria embrace the power of a strong line. While black liquid liner is a favorite, try light colors for a blink-and-you-missed-it subtle look. For springy, pastel colors, try ColourPop’s crème gel liner. Available in 22 colors, you can accent any look. We like Fluffle, a pastel pink, or Aglow, a lime with gold shift. ColourPop crème gel liner, $7, available at Ulta.

LOOK: NEON EYES If there’s one look that nearly every character embraces, it’s vivid eye hues. Put the nude shades away and dial up the color with a bold palette that extends to the brow bone. We like the Violet Voss Care Bears eyeshadow palette. With five bright colors representing another ’90s throwback, you can mix and match to create a bold look that won’t go unnoticed. Violet Voss Care Bears eyeshadow palette, $18, Available at Sephora.

LOOK: NUDE OR BROWN LIPS Does anyone else remember Bobbi Brown? Well, the doyenne of the ’90s nude makeup palette would be thrilled to see this look coming back. Grab a nude or brown lip liner and go to town, but make sure to give it some shine. We love the Nude Glass Gloss from PinkLipps Cosmetics. With ten nude shades to match any skin tone, you’ll nail the trend in style. Nude Glass Gloss by Pink Lipps Cosmetics, $12, available at the Pink Lipps retail store east of the Plaza or pinklippscosmetics.com.

APRIL 2022 |

46 | INKANSASCITY.COM

Look

IN KC

Wellness

Rachel Murphy

Sound Healing

an a sound heal you? Research says yes. According to a 2016 study on the effects of Tibetan singing bowls on mood, tension, and well-being, researchers observed a significant decrease in tension, anger, anxiety, and depression after a 60 minute ‘sound bath’ using Tibetan singing bowls, gongs, and crystal singing bowls. So, what is a ‘sound bath,’ and why does it help? A sound bath is a period of meditation where participants either lay on a mat or engage in light stretching while surrounded by sounds produced by gongs, Tibetan singing bowls, or crystal singing bowls. Many yoga practitioners incorporate gongs and bowls into their practices, but a sound bath focuses solely on vibrations and sounds to center and calm the body. While researchers are unclear about a singular reason behind their perceived benefits, they can see measurable differences, especially in people who haven’t experienced a sound bath before. If you’re curious, there are several healing centers that offer sound bath events or incorporate elements of sound healing into their services. Here are just a few to get you started.

APRIL 2022 |

KUNDALINI YOGA KANSAS CITY Yoga leader Karta Purkh Singh offers a program called ‘Gongs, Singing Bowls, Healing Bowls’ where participants are immersed in sound for 60 minutes. The sound bath promises to initiate healing and relaxation. Learn more under programs at kckundaliniyoga.org. VERY WELL KC Unwind the Week: Meditation and Sound Bath with Lauren promises to ease your nervous system and unwind tension by helping you connect to your breath. Find the schedule at verywellkc.com. HAVEN WELLNESS Sound healing is often paired with energy healing practices like reiki. With the energy balancing services at Haven Wellness, practitioners assess your seven chakras and then attempt to align them using crystals, sound, and vibration. Learn more at havenwellnessop.com. AT HOME While it’s difficult to achieve the same resonance as a sound bath at home, Tibetan singing bowls are widely available at shops like Aquarius, aquariuskc.com, or Spectrum A New Age Shop, northlandmetaphysical.com.

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ASK THE EXPERT

I have inherited jewelry from I have from Q : familyinherited memberjewelry or I have jewelry Q : athat a family member or IWhat have do jewelry I no longer wear. I do with it?

that I no longer wear. What do I do with it?

First, it is important to know the difference First, it is the important to know the difference A : two most common types of A : between between the two most common types of appraisals associated with jewelry evaluations

appraisals associated jewelry evaluations based on what your endwith goal is: based on what your end goal is:

1.1.INSURANCE APPRAISALS INSURANCE APPRAISALS reflect the full retail amount,

reflect the full retail amount, which is ideal if you wish to retain which is ideal if you wish to retain & insure the item. & insure the item.

This type of appraisal can be This type of appraisal can end be goal is counter-productive if your counter-productive if your end goal is to sell the piece, because the value to sell thereflects piece, because value generally the “new”the insurance generally reflects “new”often insurance replacement valuethe - which times replacement value which often is a higher amount than what the times is a higher amount than item was purchased for. what the item was purchased for.

2. 2.LIQUIDATION LIQUIDATIONAPPRAISALS APPRAISALS or “Liquid Value Assessments” or “Liquid Value Assessments” provide the amount an item is provide the amount an item is likely to sell for an immediate likely to sell for an immediate payment situation. payment situation. Diamond Banc offers complementary Diamond offers complementary liquid valueBanc assessments, even if you liquidprepared value assessments, aren’t to part witheven yourif you aren’t prepared to part with your pieces. This enables you to accurately pieces. This enables you accurately determine the value of thetoinherited determine theinto value the inherited pieces and go theofdecision making pieces and go into the decision making process informed. process informed.

items does Diamond Banc accept? Q What items does Diamond Banc accept? Q:: What We are actively seeking diamonds, A : We are actively diamonds, jewelry,seeking fine swiss timepieces A : designer

designer Rolex jewelry, fine swiss timepieces including & Patek Philippe, and including Rolex & Patek Philippe, and bullion. precious metals, such as gold & silver precious metals, such as gold & silver bullion.

does the process work? Q How does the process work? Q:: How Set up an appointment and visit our Set uplocated an appointment and visit A : on the Country Clubour Plaza A : office office located on the Country Club Plaza or at either TIVOL locations. Clients also or at the either TIVOL Clients have option tolocations. leave their items also have the toan leave their items at TIVOL tooption receive evaluation at TIVOL to receive an evaluation within 24 hours. within 24 hours.

SICILY VON OVERFELT, GIA DIAMONDS GRADUATE SICILY VON OVERFELT, GIA DIAMONDS GRADUATE DIRECTOR OF DIAMOND BANC, KANSAS CITY DIRECTOR OF DIAMOND BANC, KANSAS CITY SICILY@DIAMONDBANC.COM | 816.977.2677 | 435 NICHOLS RD. SUITE 200, KANSAS CITY, MO 64112 SICILY@DIAMONDBANC.COM | 816.977.2677 | 435 NICHOLS RD. SUITE 200, KANSAS CITY, MO 64112 Untitled-3 1 Untitled-3 1

1/19/22 1:58 PM 1/19/22 1:58 PM

Women’s Health presented by

AdventHealth

IN KC

Breathing Easy

Emily Park

ONCOLOGIST AND HEMATOLOGIST M. JAMEEL KYASA DISCUSSES LUNG CANCER

hen it comes to women’s health, breast and cervical cancer are often top of mind. But did you know lung cancer kills more women each year than breast and cervical cancer combined? “Lung cancer is an extremely important disease to address and to allocate special attention and resources to,” says M. Jameel Kyasa, an oncologist and hematologist with AdventHealth Medical Group Hematology Oncology at Shawnee Mission. “If you look at lung cancer deaths in women, it’s disturbing. In terms of cancer mortality, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women.” While many may think lung cancer is more likely to impact men, women are almost just as likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer too. Overall, the chance that a man will develop lung cancer in his lifetime is about one in 15; for a woman, the risk is about one in 17. In 2022, the American Cancer Society estimates that close to 119,000 women and 118,000 men will be diagnosed with lung cancer. While those numbers sound scary, there are ways to make sure your lungs are in tip-top shape. And there’s plenty that can be done to lower the risk of a lung cancer diagnosis.

LUNG CANCER RISK FACTORS Unsurprisingly, smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer, but Kyasa says there are several genetic and environmental factors to consider. “Somebody with a family history of lung cancer— particularly first-degree relatives—has a higher risk of developing a malignancy compared to a similar person without such family history,” says Kyasa. He added that environmental factors such as exposure to high levels of radon, nickel, and cobalt can in-

crease the likelihood of developing lung cancer, as well as inhaling fumes released by cooking oils used in a space that doesn’t have adequate ventilation. Additionally, exposure to asbestos fibers is the number one risk factor for mesothelioma, a rare type of lung cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and abdomen. REDUCING THE RISK Thankfully, it takes just a few steps to be more proactive in protecting your lungs, thus significantly reducing the chances of a lung cancer diagnosis. “At the top of the list? Avoiding smoking. It’s very important to avoid it, particularly at a young age,” says Kyasa. “Young people seem to be more susceptible to the risk factors associated with smoking as the carcinogenic process evolves over decades.” While it’s best to never take up smoking, the earlier in life you stop smoking, the lesser the likelihood of developing lung cancer. For non-smokers, it’s important to pay attention to others smoking around you and avoid being near the smoke—especially for women. “We pay particular attention to secondhand smoke, which seems to be a more significant risk factor in women rather than men,” says Kyasa. “More women are diagnosed with lung cancer due to secondhand smoke for reasons we’re not 100 percent sure about, but we believe it revolves around environmental exposure and possibly hormonal cycles.” In addition, it’s important to take precautions to avoid environmental risks. Test your home for high levels of radon, inspect it for asbestos materials, and ensure your kitchen has proper ventilation. If you’re exposed to chemicals in your work environment, make sure you’re wearing the proper safety equipment. “You can also keep healthy by avoiding areas where there’s pollution, maintaining physical health and regular exercise, and getting adequate, healthy nutrition,” says Kyasa. WHEN TO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR If you’re concerned about any of the risk factors, you should speak with your doctor. Lung cancer screening is recommended for patients starting around the ages of 45-55 who meet high risk criteria or anyone experiencing any concerning symptoms. “Over the last several decades there has been development for lung cancer screenings, and we anticipate that this recent implementation of an effective screening tool will hopefully bring down the mortality rate from lung cancer,” says Kyasa. APRIL 2022 |

50 | INKANSASCITY.COM

Oncologist and Hematologist M. Jameel Kyasa

WARNING SIGNS OF LUNG CANCER INCLUDE: • Coughing, especially if it persists or increases in intensity • Pain in the chest, shoulder, or back unrelated to coughing • A change in color or volume of sputum (saliva and mucus) • Shortness of breath • Changes in the voice • Coughing up blood THERE ARE TWO WAYS TO SCREEN FOR LUNG CANCER: • Low-dose computed tomography: An X-ray machine scans the body and uses low doses of radiation to photograph the lungs. Studies have shown that LDCT scans reduce the risk of death from lung cancer in populations considered high-risk. • Sputum Cytology: A sample of phlegm is examined under a microscope for the presence of cancer cells.

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Living

IN KC

Patricia O’Dell

photo by

Katherine Jianas

SIX QUESTIONS WITH

Anne Riker Powell culture part is important. We studied not just high design and interiors, but everyday objects, too. What was your first impression of the Kansas City design community? I loved Kansas City from the moment I moved here and was especially excited that there seemed to be so much emphasis on the arts. The museum collections in Kansas City are absolutely topnotch, and spaces like Kauffman Center are magnificent. There is so much inspiration and creativity all around. I had a lot of fun exploring areas like the West Bottoms and the shops at 45th and State Line as I was getting to know Kansas City better. How did you find your bearings here professionally? After having worked for years in museum administration, I wanted to explore something more on the creative side. I was lucky to be hired by Natalie O’Shaughnessy, an interior designer in town, who helped me hone my design eye. FOLIO grew out of a need to immerse myself in the world of objects again and to really find and express my own point of view.

irginia native Anne Riker Powell has been interested in decorative arts from a young age, which led her to earn her master’s degree in the history of decorative arts at Bard Graduate Center. She launched her career at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and moved to Kansas City in 2012 following her marriage. Powell recently launched FOLIO, selling vintage and antique objects online and at A Fabulous Find in Mission. What led you to pursue an advanced degree in decorative art? I’ve been interested in decorative arts and design from a young age. A childhood trip to the D&D building in New York with my aunt, who is a decorator, made a big impression on me. In middle school, I requested a subscription to Architectural Digest, and in high school and college I found jobs working in furniture stores and for a dealer of 20th-century design. I studied art history as an undergraduate, and the advanced degree was a way to take those studies further. The program I ended up in was a degree in decorative arts, design, and material culture—the material APRIL 2022 |

You’ve started selling decorative accessories online through Instagram, Etsy, and Chairish. When did you start and what inspired you to begin selling? I was already shopping at the estate sales, and I was looking for a way to exercise my creative muscles again. One day, a little over two years ago, I bought a huge pile of antique Wedgwood transferware at an estate sale knowing that I could never keep it all. (You might not be surprised to learn that I still haven’t offered it for sale.) That was when I started buying with the intention to sell. And, honestly, how much of your finds do you end up keeping for yourself? Too much! Let’s be honest, I’m a seller by profession but a collector at heart. Often, I get emotionally attached. Most of the time I buy things knowing whether they are “to keep” or “to sell,” but sometimes things worm their way into my heart after sitting around for a bit, especially once I’ve photographed them and spent time getting to know them. One more—did you go to the Met Ball? And, if yes, what was the best part? Yes! Well, not so much go, as work. I was usually stationed at check in, where we got a great view of the fashion. But the best part for me was getting to see the décor and the room where dinner would be held before everyone got there. It was always completely over the top and stunning.

52 | INKANSASCITY.COM

CLEAN MACHINES COUNTERWORTHY COFFEE MAKERS MY FAMILY will tell you that I loathe a cluttered kitchen counter. As

Moccamaster by Technivorm thermal coffeemaker, $329.95, available at Williams Sonoma (Town Center Plaza).

I am not much of a cook, I don’t need to have tools and appliances at the ready, because I don’t use them. Coffee is another matter. Coffee is essential, and it’s better still if the path from groggy morning fumbling to a hot, delicious cup of instant energy is a quick and easy one. The answer is a coffee maker that is easy on the eye. Fortunately, my fiancé is a chef with excellent taste and a love of gadgets, and one day the box that he unloaded contained the Moccamaster by Technivorm. At first it seemed a little, well, big, but I’ve come to love its retro chemistry lab look and the java it produces. That said, I still have great respect for the look of a good stovetop brewer. Chemex, $46.50, available at The Roasterie Factory & Headquarters (Westside South). Primula stovetop espresso maker, $39.97, available at Function Junction (Crown Center).

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53 | INKANSASCITY.COM

Living

IN KC BY

Patricia O’Dell

Coming into Bloom

LOCAL DESIGNERS ADD CUSTOM ART TO KANSAS CITY ICON

isitors to Kansas City will receive an extra dose of our hometown goodness when they stay at the Raphael Hotel on the Country Club Plaza this spring. As part of the hotel’s guest room refresh, rooms designed by Connie Fey of Madden-McFarland Interiors will include headboards covered in a custom Porter Teleo fabric designed by Kelly Porter. Fey approached Porter with the rooms’ design elements, and Porter came back with sketches. Bold blooms of bright pink, cornflower blue, ink and tan are a cheerful focal point to the décor. As Porter Teleo’s Hospitality Collection launched this year, this project was not a stretch for them. “We developed our new hospitality collection by painstakingly refining details on several of our patterns,” Porter says. “Connie had seen imagery of some of our custom, art-inspired installations and wanted to push her rooms in that direction.” Fey agrees that rather than including wall art over the bed, the APRIL 2022 |

headboard really becomes the art. She and Porter are thrilled to be involved in the experience the Raphael is providing their guests.

‘‘

The Raphael is such a beautiful, iconic hotel and special treasure of a place that really offers something luxurious and charming to Kansas City’s Plaza area” –Kelly Porter

“The Raphael is such a beautiful, iconic hotel and special treasure of a place that really offers something luxurious and charming to Kansas City’s Plaza area,” Porter says. “With its classic, historic architecture and the buzz of the surrounding neighborhood, we knew it would be a fabulous project.” Now may be the perfect time for Kansas Citians to take a staycation.

54 | INKANSASCITY.COM

RAINDROPS KEEP FALLING UMBRELLA STANDS OLD SCHOOL/NEW AGE

NEWEST PATTERNS

I LOVE KANSAS CITY, but no one lives here for the weather. Still, complaining about the wet and cold of spring does nothing to alleviate the chill, so it’s best to make the most of it and surround yourself with stylish solutions. I prefer a traditional, full-sized black umbrella with a wood handle and since they’re so pleasing, I like keeping them on display. A stylish umbrella stand is the answer. Fortunately, there’s a range of styles so you’re sure to find the perfect one to keep by the front door.

ALL TYPES OF WOOD & LVT

CARPET FROM BASIC TO BEST

Esmond umbrella stand, $248, available at Anthropologie (Town Center & Country Club Plaza).

Maitland-Smith Parfait umbrella stand, $1,679, available at Seville Home (Cornerstone of Leawood).

WOOD, WATERPROOF LVT & INSTALLATION

Yamazaki white Tosca umbrella stand, $54.99, available at The Container Store (Hawthorne Plaza).

127th & Metcalf 913.327.1361 KCWholesaleCarpet.com APRIL 2022 |

55 | INKANSASCITY.COM

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Artistic Directors The TheFriends Friendsof ofChamber ChamberMusic Musicisispleased pleasedtotoannounce announcethe theselection selection of the new Artistic Leadership. Please join us in welcoming to our of the new Artistic Leadership. Please join us in welcoming to ourcommunity community DMITRI DMITRIATAPINE ATAPINEand andHYEYEON HYEYEONPARK. PARK.

Highly Highlyin demandboth bothindividually individuallyand andas asaaacello celloand andpiano pianoduo, duo,Dmitri Dmitriand andHyeyeon Hyeyeonare arefrequent frequentperformers performerson someof Highly inindemand demand both individually and as cello and piano duo, Dmitri and Hyeyeon are frequent performers ononsome some ofof the world’s foremost stages, including Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, Seoul Arts Center, Taipei National theworld’s world’sforemost foremoststages, stages,including includingLincoln LincolnCenter, Center,Kennedy KennedyCenter, Center,Carnegie CarnegieHall, Hall,Seoul SeoulArts ArtsCenter, Center,Taipei TaipeiNational National the Concert Hall and the National Auditorium of Spain to name but a few. They are also regularly engaged by some of ConcertHall Halland andthe theNational NationalAuditorium AuditoriumofofSpain Spaintotoname namebut butaafew. few.They Theyare arealso alsoregularly regularlyengaged engagedbybysome someofofthe theleading leading Concert the leading presenters in the US and abroad, including the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Music@Menlo Festival and Chamber presentersininthe theUS USand andabroad, abroad,including includingthe theChamber ChamberMusic MusicSociety SocietyofofLincoln LincolnCenter, Center,Music@Menlo Music@MenloFestival Festivaland andChamber Chamber presenters Music Northwest, among many others. Their performances are regularly broadcast on American Public Media and have MusicNorthwest, Northwest,among amongmany manyothers. others.Their Theirperformances performancesare areregularly regularlybroadcast broadcaston onAmerican AmericanPublic PublicMedia Mediaand andhave havebeen been Music been featured on PBS Live from Lincoln Center. They have worked extensively with living composers, commissioning several new featuredon onPBS PBSLive Livefrom fromLincoln LincolnCenter. Center.They Theyhave haveworked workedextensively extensivelywith withliving livingcomposers, composers,commissioning commissioningseveral severalnew new featured musical works and being the first to record all of Lowell Liebermann’s sonatas for cello and piano. Deeply passionate about musicalworks worksand andbeing beingthe thefirst firsttotorecord recordall allofofLowell LowellLiebermann’s Liebermann’ssonatas sonatasfor forcello celloand andpiano. piano.Deeply Deeplypassionate passionateabout about musical the future of chamber music as an artform, they are founders and artistic directors of Apex Concerts: a world-class chamber the thefuture futureof ofchamber chambermusic musicas asan anartform, artform,they theyare arefounders foundersand andartistic artisticdirectors directorsofofApex ApexConcerts: Concerts:aaworld-class world-classchamber chamber music series in Reno, Nevada, whose performances have featured the Emerson Quartet, the Borodin Quartet, Leon Fleisher, music musicseries seriesininReno, Reno,Nevada, Nevada,whose whoseperformances performanceshave havefeatured featuredthe theEmerson EmersonQuartet, Quartet,the theBorodin BorodinQuartet, Quartet,Leon LeonFleisher, Fleisher, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center on Tour, David Shifrin, and Paul Neubauer. They also are the co-directors the ofofthe the theChamber ChamberMusic MusicSociety Societyof ofLincoln LincolnCenter Centeron onTour, Tour,David DavidShifrin, Shifrin,and andPaul PaulNeubauer. Neubauer.They Theyalso alsoare arethe theco-directors co-directorsof the Young Performers Program at Music@Menlo Festival, where they nurture the next generation of brilliant chamber musicians. Young YoungPerformers PerformersProgram ProgramatatMusic@Menlo Music@MenloFestival, Festival,where wherethey theynurture nurturethe thenext nextgeneration generationofofbrilliant brilliantchamber chambermusicians. musicians.

To To learn more about Dmitri and Hyeyeon please visit ChamberMusic.org Tolearn learnmore moreabout aboutDmitri Dmitriand andHyeyeon Hyeyeonplease pleasevisit visitChamberMusic.org ChamberMusic.org Also, Also, be sure to sign up for our email list totolearn learn about opportunities totomeet meet our new Also,be besure sureto tosign signup upfor forour ouremail emaillist listto learnabout aboutopportunities opportunitiesto meetour ournew new Artistic Directors and future events. Scan the QR code totosign sign up today! Artistic ArtisticDirectors Directorsand andfuture futureevents. events.Scan Scanthe theQR QRcode codeto signup uptoday! today!

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words by

Cindy Hoedel

photo by

Kenny Johnson

IN CONVERSATION WITH

Christine Colby Jacques

Kansas City dancer who was discovered by Bob Fosse in the 1970s has been charged with making sure a new revival of a show she danced in is faithful to the late choreographer’s distinctive style. Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ opens April 19 at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego in preparation for opening on Broadway. Christine Colby Jacques was in the original 1978 cast of Dancin’, which ran for more than four years on Broadway. Jacques was hired by the revival’s director, Wayne Cilento, who also was in the original cast, to teach the new cast the original dance numbers in the true style of Fosse, which has been lost in many modern interpretations of his work. Jacques, who has lived in Kansas City since 1993, grew up in Cincinnati. After high school, she toured with Disney on Parade until she saved enough money to move to New York, where she began her career as a Radio City Music Hall Rockette. In addition to Dancin’, Jacques performed on Broadway and in the first national tour of Fosse’s Sweet Charity and in the first national tour of the Broadway show Fosse. Some of her

television and film credits include A Chorus Line, Annie, All That Jazz, and The Tonight Show. She was the first guest artist to appear with the Kansas City Ballet, performing as The Vamp in Todd Bolender’s Souvenirs. Jacques holds a BFA from the University of Kansas and lectures there in the Department of Theatre and Dance. IN Kansas City caught up with her by phone from the Fairway home she shares with husband, Steven, and their dog, Gelsey. Growing up, were there dancers in your family? My mom was a dancer in high school, but she never talked about dance. She went to nursing school and became a nurse. But her baby sister became the professional dancer and danced at the Copacabana in New York City. She was tragically killed in a car accident. When did you become interested in dance? My mom took my older sister to dance class, and she had a little trouble remembering the combinations. I used to watch dance routines on variety programs on TV and I could pick up the routines easily. So, my mom decided to enroll me in the class so I could help my sister with the steps. And I got hooked. I was three. MARCH 2022 |

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The original Broadway cast photo of Bob Fosse’s Dancin’ with Christine Colby Jacques on the far right, second row. Bob Fosse is in the center with the black hat. The director of the new production, Wayne Cilento, is in the front row on the right.

Three? [Laughs.] I was three. They usually didn’t enroll children that young, but the teacher could see that I could do the steps, so she let me in.

call you all back in two weeks and then you will sing.” When we came back, I didn’t have a song, because my agent said we didn’t have to sing, and I just didn’t think we would really have to do that. I just didn’t believe it. I also thought if it got to that point, I could just leave. I was heading towards dance company work, not Broadway. What I didn’t realize was that after 21 hours of auditioning, I wouldn’t want to walk away. So, when it came time to sing, I said, “I’m not really a singer. I’m a dancer.” And they said, “We don’t care. We’re looking for dancers. But we have to know what your range is, how you will blend with other people. Sing anything, sing Happy Birthday.” So, I did.

Let’s jump straight to 1978 when you debuted on Broadway in the original cast of Dancin’. How did that happen? I was going into Luigi’s ( Jazz Dance Centre in New York) to take a class—Luigi usually had 30, 40 people in one class—and there were maybe eight or ten people. I said to the teacher, “Where is everybody?” And he said, “Oh, they’re probably at that audition.” And I said, “What audition?” And he said, “Bob Fosse’s doing a new show.” And I said, “You probably have to sing, right?” And he said, “No, they are just looking for dancers.” And I thought, “Crap! How did that get by me?” So, I took class and afterwards I bought a trade paper and found the listing, and they were going to have more auditions. So, I went.

You sang Happy Birthday? I sang Happy Birthday—as did some other people. And I made everybody laugh, I did a cute little thing. I felt humiliated, but I felt good about myself for having risen to the challenge instead of giving up. Two weeks later Mr. Fosse called me at home.

What was the audition like? It was like that scene in the movie A Chorus Line where the line wraps around the building. It took forever to get inside. And when I auditioned, I was on the stage for seven hours. I made all the cuts. They invited us back for callbacks, and it was another seven hours on the stage. I made it through all the cuts again. They said, “Congratulations, we’ll

No way. Yeah, way! Himself. He was such a big star in show business at that time, as a director, choreographer, dancer, actor. And yet he was the kindest, most respectful man to audition for. Every time a group of three would go, if he didn’t want someone, he would walk up to the person and in a soft voice

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say, “Thank you very much for coming. I can’t use you this time.” And to the other people, he would say, “Thank you very much. Would you wait over here?” And in a group of three if one person made a mistake, he would ask the group to do it again—he truly gave everyone a fair shot. And I felt that was what he did with me. Because I was new to him. He was empathetic because he, too, had been a dancer in no-one-knows-whoI-am auditioning mode. When he called, because I had sung Happy Birthday, he invited me to a private audition with him and the musical director where he put me through some vocalizations, and then we tried a song from the show and my voice had little quivers in it, but after a bit I was singing without the quivers. A couple of days later, he called me at home and hired me. Let’s jump forward to 1986, when you worked with Fosse again on the Broadway revival of Sweet Charity. The role of Ursula March, which you performed as an understudy in addition to dancing in several numbers, is described for casting purposes as a “Hot-headed and jealous girlfriend of Italian movie star Vittorio Vidal. Must be a strong and versatile comedic actress and a good mover.” How is being a good mover different from being a good dancer? Oh! Because movement conveys character. How? So, this girl [Ursula Marsh] is a model, and she’s spoiled and she’s wealthy and she’s used to being given all kinds of attention—that all has to be conveyed by movement. Her head is up, her shoulders are down and back, she walks with confidence—each step is deliberate.

‘‘

When Fosse directed

dancers, there was a certain quality

How do some dancers get Fosse wrong? Some were trained to dance Fosse as hard and as big as they can, and that is not Fosse’s real style. Fosse was about pulling it in, not about showing off. What was it like teaching the dancers who are doing the new revival? Very exciting. We were in New York in the summer. We were working with kind of a skeleton crew. The goal was to get the dance up on its feet and let [director and original cast member] Wayne Cilento see what it looked like. Then I came back in November and taught the material to the real cast. Wayne is recreating a number that was cut from the original production, and it is masterful. I get teary-eyed because I think there might be some purists who say, “That’s not how it was,” but I think he’s brought it into the 21st century and he’s melded in a lot from Bob’s other shows and TV and film work. The poster says: “The moves he invented. Reinvented.” I think it’s going to be the most exciting thing on Broadway. Is there a time frame for when it might open on Broadway? From what I know I think fall of 2022 or spring 2023.

of contained energy. I would liken it to a car that’s in neutral, but somebody has their foot on the gas.”

For the new revival, Bob Fosse’s Dancin’, which opens this month at the Old Globe in San Diego, your mission was to train the dancers in the “real” Fosse style. What is the real Fosse style, and how has it been altered over the years? When Fosse directed dancers, there was a certain quality of contained energy. I would liken it to a car that’s in neutral, but somebody has their foot on the gas. The car is at rest, but you can feel the engine revving. You don’t over-dance. You don’t push. You don’t mug. You don’t contort your face. That might make it sound easier, but it is actually harder. It takes MARCH 2022 |

more stamina to execute his moves in the detail they require. If you look at Bob’s work, and you go, “Oh that’s so sexy when they stick their hip out and do that little hip circle or a little hip thrust forward and back.” Dancers tend to really go for it, and that is not a correct execution. As a dancer you should be holding in your mind an image as to why your hips are doing that, and it will always have nothing to do with being sexy or feeling sensual. When you add that to an unforced expression on your face, that keeps it from being grotesque. Fosse is never grotesque. He’s never overtly sensual or sexual. When the dancer holds back, that is when the irony comes in. There’s a lot of humor in [Fosse’s] movement. He takes ordinary movement and bumps it up and then it becomes funny, because the audience thinks, “I’ve seen people do that!” There’s a step in Rich Man’s Frug (in Sweet Charity) where you flex your wrists in a section that’s called The Boxer. Imagine if you had boxing gloves on and the only way to pull up your satin trunks is to flex both wrists and put them against your pants and kind of pull up a little bit. Fosse made a whole step out of that.

As a dancer, what do you think is Bob Fosse’s most important legacy? I think his legacy is a unique dance vocabulary that is identifiable to everyone. You don’t even have to be a lover of musical theater or dance to recognize Bob Fosse’s work. And his second legacy is approaching dance as an actor, looking at every step: Where did this movement come from? Why am I doing it? How do I get the right dynamic? How do I get something to be provocative but not obnoxious? When you’re dancing Fosse, you’re not thinking, “I’m dancing, and everyone gets to watch me dance.” You’re thinking about conveying a character or an attitude or an environment through movement, and you’re asking yourself, “What do I need to do to convey that properly?” Those are the two biggest things that he’s left.

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Interview condensed and minimally edited for clarity.

FOOd 2022: THE YEAR IN

FAMILIAR FACES ARE TAKING OVER KC’S RESTAURANT SCENE

THE MOST EXCITING food and drink concepts opening in Kansas City this year

come from names you probably already know. Seasoned chefs, such as Howard Hanna, Andrew Longres, and Ted Liberda are opening new restaurants while beloved pop-ups move into permanent spaces. Popular spots are expanding their reach with new locations, and Kansas Citians celebrated for their work in other spheres are diving into the culinary world. Think you already know what to expect? We wouldn’t be so sure.

words by

APRIL 2022

Kelsey Cipolla

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Buck Tui

Café Corazón Kind Food

Meat Mitch

OPEN FOR BUSINESS BUCK TUI 6737 West 75th Street, bucktuibbq.com Kansas City has already had a taste of Buck Tui, and it’s hungry for more. The concept, which brings together executive chef and pit master Ted Liberda’s love of Northeastern Thai cuisine and KC barbecue, debuted at the Overland Park Farmers Market and is now offering carryout at its Overland Park restaurant as it prepares to open the dining room later this spring. On the menu? Sweet chili-glazed pork ribs, fish sauce-marinated brisket and a smoked chicken banh mi, plus craft cocktails from beverage director Matsumoto Mari. CAFÉ CORAZÓN 110 Southwest Boulevard, cafecorazonkc.com Several years after opening its flagship cafe,

Café Corazón debuted a second location in the Crossroads this February. Like the original spot in Westport, the Crossroads cafe was built out by co-owner Curtis Herrera, showcases breathtaking mural work, and celebrates Latin American coffee and yerba mate, an herbal tea long favored by indigenous people in South America. But the spacious new shop also features some exclusive menu items, espresso and latte flights, and expanded food offerings, in addition to favorites like empanadas and tamales.

it’s on a mission to perpetuate kindness—to humans, animals, and the planet. The plantbased restaurant serves up ethically sourced ingredients in dishes like barbecue jackpot nachos, made with cashew queso, slow-roasted jackfruit, sweet potatoes, and beans, plus sandwiches, salads, wraps, veggie burgers, and allergen-friendly treats from Safe Bakes. The restaurant also includes a retail market that stocks zero-waste lifestyle products, packaged foods, and other merchandise.

KIND FOOD 2820 West 47th Avenue, kindfoodkc.com Kind Food got its start doing pop-ups before moving into the Iron District, but it now has its own modern, stylish space in KCK, where

MEAT MITCH 3620 West 95th Street, meatmitchbbq.com After years honing his craft on the competitive barbecue scene, then weathering delays caused by construction and Covid, acclaimed

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COMING SOON ACRE 6325 Lewis Street, acrekc.com Chef Andrew Longres has worked at some of Kansas City’s most renowned restaurants, including The American and Bluestem. Now, he’s opening his own concept in Parkville: Acre, named after his grandparents’ Missouri farm. The 3,500-square-foot, 90-seat restaurant slated to open later this spring will highlight openfire cooking and feature an Argentinian brasero-style, wood-fired hearth, where Longres will prepare dishes such as pickled chicken, served half roasted and half fried, and steaks dry-aged in-house. Acre will also serve handmade pastas, accessibly priced wines, craft cocktails on tap, and coffee by Parkville Coffeehouse. BLUE SUSHI SAKE GRILL 101 E. 14th Street, bluesushisakegrill.com Drunken Fish closed its Power & Light District location earlier this year, but there’s a new sushi spot on the way: Blue Sushi Sake Grill. The sushi chain from Omaha-based Flagship Restaurant Group moved into the KC market with a Westwood location in 2016 and will open in P&L later this year in a revamped space boasting a mezzanine and patio. The menu features sashimi, nigiri, and sushi that runs the gamut from traditional to deliciously far out, plus an impressive lineup of vegan options you can feel good about— the company is committed to responsibly sourcing seafood and partners with the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch.

CAFE CÀ PHÊ 916 East 5th Street, cafecaphe.com Jackie Nguyen provided a jolt of energy to KC’s coffee scene with her mobile Vietnamese coffeehouse, but Cafe Cà Phê will soon be a permanent fixture of Columbus Park. Nguyen and co. are building out a space in the neighborhood with help from a GoFundMe campaign, which has raised more than $50,000 to date. Naturally, the shop will serve the café’s signature drinks made from beans grown in Vietnam and roasted by Nguyen Coffee Supply, but it also promises to be a space for marginalized Kansas Citians to find community. COSMO BURGER 8750 Penrose Lane, cosmoburgerkc.com Cosmo Burger found success operating as a ghost kitchen inside Dodson’s Bar and Commons in Waldo. But chef Jacob Kruger is spreading the love to the Kansas side of the state line with a new location in Lenexa Public Market, tentatively scheduled to open this summer. Cosmo’s will continue to keep things simple with its focus on tater tots and smash burgers— thin but juicy and packed with flavor; topped with house-made pickles, griddle-grilled onions, and melty cheese; served up on a buttered potato bun. The new spot will also boast a bar program from the team at Dodson’s. EARL’S PREMIER 651 East 59th Street Chef Todd Schulte stepped away from running his own restaurants for a few years, but he is once again taking the reins with Earl’s Premier. The intimate American restaurant will focus on fresh seafood, which Schulte has loved since his days growing up on the Chesapeake Bay. Sarah Hogan, formerly of Ça Va, is also joining the crew and working as director of hospitality and beverages. Earl’s Premier will feature banquette seating on one side and a bar and kitchen on the other, plus a patio that doubles the seating—ideal for its anticipated opening in sometime in April. ENZO BISTRO & WINE BAR 20 East 5th Street, enzokcmo.com Ragazza Food & Wine owner Laura Norris is venturing into the City Market for her latest restaurant, Enzo Bistro & Wine Bar. She and brother Grant Norris snatched up the former Bo Lings location and are turning it into a Mediterranean restaurant and wine bar tentatively

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scheduled to open early this summer. Italian food will still be prominently featured, but Enzo will also offer Greek, French, and Spanish-inspired dishes. And just as the name suggests, wine will play a prominent role—the Norrises are even planning to create a wine garden. FOUNTAIN HAUS 401 Westport Road, fountainhauskc.com Whether you’re looking to dine and drink, dance the night away, slink into a speakeasy, or relax on a rooftop, Fountain Haus has you covered. The Westport complex will include four spaces offering distinctive experiences as part of a single 13,000-square-foot venue owned by a group that includes florist Dan Meiners. Playing off Kansas City’s nickname—the City of Fountains—Fountain Haus aims to be a destination for the LGBTQ+ community and allies to gather and enjoy craft cocktails, performances, and more. A phased opening is slated for later this spring. SMALL AXE & AFI 1989 Main Street, manaiacollective.com Chef Howard Hanna’s latest projects aren’t just dining and drinking concepts—they’re part of the first phase of Manaia Collective, a new worker cooperative designed to put workers and community benefits front and center. At Small Axe, diners can enjoy modern, imaginative takes of classic diner fare for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, while wine bar Afi will pair ingredients and techniques indigenous to North America, Africa, Asia, and Latin America with sustainable and natural wines. Look for the neighboring Crossroads spots to open later this spring or early summer. VINE STREET BREWING 2000 Vine Street, vinestbrewing.com Kemet Coleman might be best known for his music career, but his latest venture adds beer into the mix. Along with brewers Woodie Bonds and Elliot Ivory, he’s opening Vine Street Brewing, KC’s first Black-owned brewery. The brewery is slated to open later this spring or summer in the historic 2000 Vine Street building and promises to craft beers and experiences fermented in the spirit of jazz and hip-hop culture, but you can get what may be an early taste at Boulevardia, where Vine Street will be serving brews this June.

EARL’S PREMIER PHOTO BY ANNA PETROW

pit master Mitch Benjamin quietly opened his long-awaited Leawood restaurant, Meat Mitch, days before the start of 2022. Guests can enjoy his award-winning barbecue—16-hour smoked black angus hand-carved brisket, St. Louis-style pork ribs, and burnt ends, just to name a few heavy hitters—Wednesday through Sunday. The family-friendly restaurant is also serving toasted griddled cheeses, brisket smash burgers, barbecue sandwiches, and a host of mouthwatering shareable starters, plus beer, wine, and cocktails.

Acre

Cosmo Burger

Fountain Haus Earl’s Premier

Blue Sushi Sake Grill Cafe Cà Phê

Small Axe Enzo Bistro & Wine Bar

Vine Street Brewing

Below: A Kohler trough sink is set into the honed Negresco granite countertop. Right: A trio of brushed brass pendants from Wilson Lighting highlight the workspace, while the tufted leather and brass barstools pull up to the custom charcoal-stained maple wood bar.

RAISING

THE

BAR

WORDS BY

Judith Fertig

PHOTOS BY

Aaron Leimkuehler

FIRST THERE WAS THE GIN COCKTAIL AND THE BAR CART, THEN LOCAL BEERS AND THE KNOTTY PINE-PANELED BAR IN

The Espresso Martini

t’s a long Uber drive to and from Loch Lloyd, with all the lingering pandemic jitters, so Angie and Eric Baker thought “why not create our own bar at home?” To design the ultimate elegant sports bar—without the neon beer signs or loud games on five different televisions—the couple called on Kristen Ridler of Kristen Ridler Design. “Today’s home bars don’t really look like bars,” she says. “They might have flatscreen TVs and many of the appliances you find in a kitchen, such as a coffee maker, dishwasher, and counter-height refrigerator. But they have style.”

THE BASEMENT REC ROOM. NOW THAT KANSAS CITY BOASTS ITS OWN DISTILLERIES, CRAFT BEERS, LOCAL WINES, AND ARTISAN COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS, WE NEED TO STEP UP OUR HOME BAR GAME. THREE KANSAS CITY DESIGNERS SHOW US HOW

APRIL 2022

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The Bakers chose to go moody, with charcoal cabinetry, a semi-circular bar, and smoky mirrored paneling. A soapstone sink with mosaic tile backsplash makes for stylish cleanup. Bar chairs in brushed metal and black leather, brushed-metal pendant lighting, and illuminated shelves ratchet up the glamour factor and show off the liquors. Close by is the gaming zone complete with foosball, Golden Tee video golf, and two bar tables. “Your home bar can center around sports and still be a showpiece,” says Ridler. kristenridlerdesign.com

Above, left: A pair of brass sconces from Visual Comfort ﬂank the sink and liquor display. Above, right: Two Sub-Zero refrigerator drawers keep bar necessities close at hand. Opposite: Custom brass insets frame the cabinetry, so Noble speciﬁed simple brass knobs and pulls that didn’t distract from the detail.

The Classic Manhattan

ust like the 19th-century cocktail created in old New York, this home bar has that upper-crust brownstone vibe in the updated Fairway residence of Amy and David Rose. The couple wanted their bar to have “plenty of wow,” says designer Sara Noble of Sara Noble Designs. She envisioned a bar space taking up one wall in the dining room—perfect for entertaining. “Creating cocktails is a craft in its own right,” says Noble, so the place where it happens should be special, too.

APRIL 2022

And it is. The lacquered black finish and brass details on the cabinetry could easily hark back to the original Manhattan Club. With four children in the household, the couple also wanted to be able to hide the libations from curious tasters. When the cabinets are closed, the bar area blends in with the other dining room furniture. Stylish and elegant with a soapstone counter, classic sconces, and a beveled smoky mirror taking center stage, the bar sparkles at night. Home bars are trending, says Noble. “They’re the wave of the future.” saranobledesigns.com

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Above, left: Custom cabinetry curves to follow the granite countertop. Above, right: The wine room. Opposite: The bar backsplash is clad in iridescent mosaic herringbone tile. Visual Comfort pendants light the seating area.

A Spicy, Full-Bodied Shiraz

hen Courtney and Matt Schulte moved into their Stilwell home, they hired Carmen Thomas of Tran + Thomas Design Studio to make it their own. “We wanted to bring the bling, make it glamorous in a bold, black-and-white palette,” says Thomas. Especially the bar. “Courtney is a wine enthusiast, so she wanted the bar area to include a wine room. As the mother of four children, Courtney calls it ‘momma’s escape place’ after a long day.” And what an escape place. Thomas pulled out the design stops, while keeping to the original footprint. “The bar was a large mono-

APRIL 2022

lithic element, and we wanted it to shine,” she says. The original curved soffit got a refresh with black moiré fabric. Black fretwork on either side repeats in the bar chairs. Pendant lights feature silver feather details that pick up the shine from the silvery foil wallpaper on flanking walls. In an arched nook, the bold wine room showcases the wines on mirrored glass shelves, lit from above by dangling silvery lights that look like wind chimes. On the back shelf of the bar, a wine dispenser and preservation system keeps four wines fresh for pouring a guest’s choice. “If you build it, they will come,” says Thomas with a laugh. tranthomasdesign.com

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Growing Gardeners words by

Rachel Murphy

APRIL 2022

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THE KANSAS CITY COMMUNITY GARDEN HAS EVOLVED FROM A SMALL, LOCAL NONPROFIT PROVIDING SEEDS TO LOWINCOME FAMILIES TO A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATION MAKING A BROAD IMPACT ON OUR WHOLE COMMUNITY Students reap the rewards of their schoolyard garden.

f the contents of your grocery bag have shrunk, but the price of your purchase has swelled, you’re experiencing one of 2022’s most disturbing trends—food price inflation. The USDA predicts that farm-level fruit and vegetable prices will increase up to three percent in 2022, after rising five percent from January 2021 to January 2022. It’s almost enough to make you want to grow your own. The Kansas City Community Gardens (KCCG) thinks that’s a great idea. The not-for-profit, started officially in 1985, was initially envisioned as a way to provide healthy food for lower-income families, says the executive director, Ben Sharda. Sharda has been with the organization since 1985 and has seen tremendous growth. KCCG was an offshoot of another food-oriented organization— Harvesters–The Community Food Network. When Harvesters started working to rescue food going to landfills and put it into the hands of the hungry in 1979, it was one of only 40 food banks in the country. In its first year, it distributed 155,000 pounds of food. It also distributed packs of vegetable seeds to individuals. An idea, pardon the pun, began to take root. The small community garden project began seeing more interest— and more need. “They started thinking about what else they could give to people, like fertilizer, vegetable plants, etc.,” Sharda says. “Then groups started to approach them, wanting to start gardens for group homes.” As word spread, KCCG spun off into its own organization in 1985, providing low-cost seeds, fertilizer, and starter plants based on income level, as well as schoolyard garden programs, orchards, and community gardens on leased land. The organization has grown over the last four

APRIL 2022

decades, but never more than during economically challenging times, especially the 2008 recession and the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. NOT JUST GROWING BUT SAVING There are many gardening clubs and organizations in Kansas City now, but KCCG distinguishes itself by saving money for its members. The director of development, Jennifer Meyer, says that the financial impact for families is enormous. Memberships are offered in three tiers based on income—the lowest tier is a mere $2 a year and comes with ten packets of seeds, a bag of fertilizer, and starter plants for .50 cents for three plants. “It’s highly, highly subsidized. All in, our cost to help support that garden [for a green card member] is about $150. If you were doing that on your own—getting tilling on your own, buying plants at retail costs, it would be even more expensive—at least double that to garden through three seasons,” Meyer says. She says that their lowest-income clients, who fall below the 50 percent line of the Kansas City area median household income, typically invest around $25 per year in their gardens and get almost $500 worth of produce from their gardens. With nearly 3,000 households serviced across three membership levels (green and yellow are income-based, while blue is available without restriction), KCCG helped grow more than 700,000 pounds of produce in 2021 alone. At $2 a pound, that’s $1.4 million worth of produce. FITTER, HAPPIER The financial impact of KCCG is undeniable, but health outcomes are

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Left to right Roger Shelton with some very impressive cabbages.Volunteer Frank Ellison watering the garden. Development director Jennifer Meyer in the greenhouse.

also significant. With low-cost materials and training and guidance from KCCG staffers, 98 percent of gardeners successfully harvested food from their garden last year. That success rate not only means that they increased their servings of vegetables (by 98 percent as well), but nearly all gardeners also reported that they stayed more physically active because of their gardening efforts. LEARNING IN THE DIRT Sharda says that he understands how growing your own food can help encourage healthy eating. He’s a living example. “I didn’t like vegetables at all when I was a child. By the age of 12, I ate raw carrots and mashed potatoes. My dad asked if I wanted to help grow a garden. He got me all the seeds and then pretty much walked away. He traveled a lot, so I planted the garden, and believe it or not, the seeds came up,

Beanstalk Children’s Garden at the height of summer.

which was amazing,” he says. His gardening experiment led to trying some of his bounty—red peppers at first. This sneaky parenting trick led to a subscription to Organic Gardener magazine and later a degree in horticulture. Knowing how impactful seeing the entire life cycle of your food can be led to the Schoolyard Gardens project. The Schoolyard Gardens project launched in 2008, building raised-bed gardens on school grounds. Students are involved with every aspect of the gardens, from planting to weeding to harvesting and cooking. With more than 200 schools in the metro area involved, Meyer says it’s not only an excellent opportunity to teach horticulture but to introduce healthy eating habits from an early age. There are schoolyard gardens at every age group, from preschool to high school, with some developed as after-school programming for youth gardeners. The organization also plants and maintains the Beanstalk Children’s Garden on the grounds of KCCG at 6917 Kensington Avenue. The garden is a destination for field trips, self-guided tours, and the organization’s major fundraiser, Gardens at Sunset, in September, as well as the free Fall Family Festival. It features many of the organization’s more unique plant offerings, as well as sections for vegetables, fruits, herbs, seeds, and grains, water gardens, and insectary gardens. OLD GARDENERS, NEW TRICKS As the pandemic hit, mere weeks after the beginning of another year for many Schoolyard Gardens participants, the organization pivoted to at-home learning with video support, which eventually revolutionized their online content. “We stayed in close touch with many of our teachers, and rather than just shutting down programming, our team did a phenomenal job of figuring out how they could support teachers in the predicament they were in,” Meyer says. “Ultimately, what that looked like was a whole lot of video content so the kids could garden at home.” That video content, featuring short lessons on gardening basics such

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Right: Executive director Ben Sharda with greenhouse coordinator Stasy Lasley. Below: A team of community garden coordinators at the Good Samaritan Christian Center.

as thinning, pruning, and cooking lessons, has become a digital library of content available for free for anyone, regardless of membership status. Teaching is another focus of KCCG. Sharda says that while many of the volunteers don’t have formal training, they all have a passion for gardening and they have practical experience in the garden. While they used to offer in-person workshops on Fridays, they now record them for viewing at any time on their YouTube channel, Kansas City Community Gardens. That education isn’t just for the kids. KCCG member Cheryl Wyrick has been a member for several years and says she has learned how to extend her growing season using row covers from staffers at the gardens. “My goal is to have enough broccoli and cauliflower to put in the freezer. I learned about row covers from them, which a lot of people aren’t aware of. With mild Kansas City winters, you can put in broccoli and cold weather crops super early and not worry about it,” Wyrick says.

A TREE GROWS IN MIDTOWN While packets of seeds may be how KCCG started, their project offerings have expanded, not just in Kansas City but across the nation. Their 2013 offshoot, the Giving Grove, has grown to 20 cities across the country, planting mini orchards in food deserts. When the Giving Grove started in 2013, they knew that orchards were larger projects that required more community involvement. Within a few years, the program had planted more than 100 orchards featuring fruit and nut trees, with all produce available for free to the community. “When we started The Giving Grove, there really wasn’t anything like that across the country,” Sharda says. “Now we have over 200 small, medium, and a few large community orchards, sometimes in particular neighborhoods, some associated with a school or community partner, and they are growing lots of fruit.” Outside of The Giving Grove’s organized orchard efforts, trees, berry plants, and brambles are available for low prices as well—only $25 for green card holders, $35 for yellow cards, and $45 for blue cards. Sharda says they try to focus on trees that not only thrive in our unique environment but that are also disease resistant, decreasing the need for chemical pesticides.

and more for the culinarily minded. “These are a lot of the special plants that people saw in the Beanstalk garden, like the Bright Lights Swiss Chard. It’s a mixture of all different colors, so it’s really great for kids and a great garden variety to grow,” Sharda says. Even with the Beanstalk Garden Seeds’ higher price point—a whopping $2.50 a pack—they far undercut most big-box stores and garden centers. Better yet, they introduce children and adults to more unique varietals, increasing enthusiasm and keeping gardeners growing. Kansas City Community Gardens has grown from a relief effort for the hungry to a community of growers in every part of the city. With a tightening economy, they expect to see even more participation as families find ways to cut grocery costs. And with their programs setting the standard for community-based food advocacy across the country, they are leading the way to healthy families, one seed package at a time. Learn more about KCCG and The Giving Grove at kccg.org and givinggrove.org.

UP THE BEANSTALK Looking for the best producing and most disease-resistant plants has helped boost those productivity numbers—and keep gardeners growing. While every membership includes ten packets of free seeds, KCCG has also started specializing and now cultivates its own Beanstalk Seeds line, available for retail purchase. Named for the Beanstalk Children’s Garden, the seed line features lesser-known varietals and what Sharda refers to as “interesting” plants. The Beanstalk line features some of the trendier fruits and vegetables, such as ground cherries, yellow doll watermelon, Easter egg radishes,

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Harvesting peaches in the Giving Grove.

COLOR STORY

BOLD HUES AND BESPOKE ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS MAKE THIS MISSION HILLS HOME A TREASURE words by photos by

Patricia O’Dell Aaron Leimkuehler

nspired by a house they saw on a visit to the Atlanta, Georgia, Buckhead neighborhood, Chasitie and Mike Walden decided to build a new home for their family. “It was unique and like nothing we have seen in Kansas City,” Chasitie Walden says of the Atlanta house. The Walden’s Mission Hills home took three years to build, but it was fortuitously completed in 2020 just in time for their home to become a welcome retreat for the two of them and their

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In the Walden’s dining room, Designmaster “Destin” chairs, upholstered in a cheery, saffron-hued Knoll fabric, pull up to the dining table. Flowers from Trapp and Company. Opposite: Chasitie and Mike Walden with their son, Buddy, and daughter, Halston.

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Above: Pattern upon pattern abounds in the living room. In one corner, a sculptural tree displays colorful glass hearts the couple is gifted from a favorite Cabo San Lucas hotel they frequent. Flower arrangement from Trapp and Company.

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Right, top: Glass-walled wine storage flanks the entrance to the dining room. Right, middle: The dramatic checkerboard tile floor in the entry is comprised of customhoned dark gray Bardiglio marble tile and white statuary marble tile from International Materials of Design. Right, bottom: The music room is swathed in brilliant color.

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Above: Kitchen cabinets in Farrow & Ball Hague Blue flank massive double islands topped with polished white Panda marble. Left: Antiqued glass is inset in both the islands and range hood. Opposite: In the library, a pair of tripodbased Global Views chairs and a velvet-upholstered Global View sofa face the glass-topped desk. Ceiling is papered in a Phillip Jeffries wallcovering, and custom wool plaid curtains frame the French doors.

daughter, Halston, and son, Buddy, during the pandemic shutdown. The family’s contemporary home, designed by Mark McHenry with McHenry Schaffer Architecture, incorporates traditional elements that ground it in the neighborhood. The iron of the classic carriage-house lantern over the arched stone masonry at the entrance accents the steel-framed windows and door. The crisp, white stucco of the exterior walls is balanced with the ashlar masonry that graces the exterior of the kitchen wing. These juxtapositions continue inside. The couple worked with interior architect Oliver Carter on the interior architectural details. Classic black-and-white marble tiles and traditional balusters in the double-height entry are leavened by the oversized, brass-framed mirror and modern bench. The elevated music room houses a timeless, black, baby-grand piano and a riotous Dale Chihuly chandelier. Interior designer Debbie Cansler of Trapp and Company came into the project to assist in the selection of finishes and furniture. “The building phase of the project took longer than expected,” Cansler says. “So, our priority was getting everything selected and ordered as seamlessly as possible. Fortunately, the family works great together, which made it easier.” Walden and Cansler agree that the living room is one of their fa-

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The Walden’s Brussels griffon, Coco, poses prettily in the primary bedroom. Floral arrangement from Trapp and Company.

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Above: In the powder room, the custom console sink is topped with Exotic Blue Roma quartzite. Top left: The floor of the expansive primary bath is clad in oversized 12-by-24-inch honed Grigio Delcato marble tiles from International Materials of Design. Bottom left: A pair of mirrors, each flanked with distinctive crackled-glass sconces from Wilson Lighting, hang above calacatta quartz-topped custom vanities.

vorite rooms in the house. A pair of grass-green tuxedo-style sofas with crisp white bases flank the fireplace. The graphic geometric rug is a showstopper. But both women think that the wallpaper is the star of the show. “The custom Porter Teleo wallpaper is spectacular,” Cansler says. Separated from the living room by glassed-in wine storage, the rich color of the dining room trim paired with the Phillip Jeffries wallcovering creates a cozy cocoon for entertaining. The pair of antique crystal chandeliers make a dramatic statement over the custom Eric Thomas-designed rift-sawn white-oak table, which seats 14 and is perfect for holiday entertaining. Nearby, Mike’s office received plenty of use during lockdown. While its dark woodwork and shelves of law journals denote an air of seriousness, Hunt Slonem’s Abraham Lincoln painting and the “honest lawyer” pillow lend a modern and lighthearted air. Cansler wanted to keep the kitchen casual, comfortable and easy to maintain. “With two children and three dogs, I wanted this room to look great and feel comfortable,” she says. The double islands provide plenty of space for the family to

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color story continued

eat and hang out at the counter, while being out of the way of meal preparation. Ann Sacks tile on the backsplash is a dramatic accent in a utilitarian space. The primary suite is a quiet retreat for the couple, with its walls papered in a deep blue Phillip Jeffries shagreen wallcovering, custom wingback leather-upholstered bed, and plush hand-knotted Stark rug. The dramatic, light-filled primary bath serves as the couple’s personal oasis with a freestanding tub that fronts the generous shower clad in an Artistic Tile water-jet mosaic from International Materials of Design. The Waldens are thrilled with the final result. The home’s wow factor meant it was a hit on the recent Kappa Kappa Gamma tour. “Our last house sold right after we were on a previous Kappa tour, so Mike was worried that might happen again. But this time I told him ‘no matter what, we’re staying put,’” Chasitie says with a laugh. “When I finish a project, I always want the client to feel like I have listened to their wants and needs,” Cansler says. “When they walk into their home, I want them to think, ‘Wow! I love this,’ and smile because they are so pleased with it.” The Waldens are settled in and loving it. It appears Cansler got her wish.

CRESTWOOD SHOPS 5 5 t h & B R O O K S I D E B LV D hudsonandjane.com

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THE IT LIST

The home’s exterior was inspired by a house the couple saw in Atlanta, Georgia.

Architecture McHenry Shaffer Architecture msarchkc.com Floral and Interior Design Trapp and Company trappandcompany.com Interior Architecture Neil/Carter LLC onc695.wixsite.com Tile International Materials of Design imdtile.com

CRESTWOOD SHOPS 5 5 t h & B R O O K S I D E B LV D hudsonandjane.com

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Flavor

IN KC

In the Kitchen FRESH CHEESE AND HONEY CAKE BY

Cody Hogan

PHOTOS BY

s much as I love gardening (which I love almost as much as cooking), getting the ball rolling in spring is a challenge. Preparing the beds, rebuilding borders, spreading the compost, starting the seeds—it can be overwhelming. But I need to look no further than the beehives to find inspiration to get to work. When I see the bees dashing about cleaning the hives, preparing them for the season’s activities, I, too, feel the pull of the season. And bees naturally make one think of honey, and honey makes me think of eating, and the next thing you know, I’m back in the kitchen, garden chores averted. As a cook and a beekeeper, I’m always looking for new ways to use honey. It is a fascinating and versatile ingredient. If kept in an airtight container, it can be stored for hundreds, even thousands, of years, and although it may crystallize (form crystals and look cloudy and granular), it is still perfectly viable and delicious. Honey has a lower glycemic index than sugar, meaning it does raise blood sugar rapidly, but not as fast as sugar. In terms of sweetness, it can in most cases be substituted for sugar in equal volume—although depending on the variety, honey’s flavor can be assertive and the moisture content may slightly alter the outcome in baking. Regardless, I keep a jar at hand for whenever I need to add a touch of sweetness to a dish. My latest use for honey is in a simple cake made with fresh cheese. And although when one hears “cheese” and “honey” and “cake,” a dessert cheesecake springs to mind, this cake can be interpreted as sweet or savory, depending upon the way it is garnished. It could be eaten out of hand with cocktails, topped with tapenade and served aside a salad for a light lunch, or embellished with fresh fruit or candied cherries—and maybe a drizzle of dark-chocolate sauce—for dessert. My current favorite version reinforces its apiarist roots with a generous embellishment of honey and a grind of coarse black pepper—a grown-up treat suitable for any time of day. Fresh Cheese and Honey Cake You have to decide (or let your fridge decide for you, based on its contents) which type of fresh cheese you want to use for this cake. I normally use something more intensely flavored like a good feta (see In Your Pantry, Brined Cheeses, October 2021 for more info), but a milder, more creamy goat cheese, ricotta, or a blend of any of those makes a lovely version as APRIL 2022 |

Aaron Leimkuehler

well, especially for a cake with dessert aspirations. Preheat the oven to 400F while assembling the cake. I like to bake this cake in a 9-by-5 loaf pan, although it also bakes nicely in an 8- or 9-inch round pan (the larger round pan cooks quickly and can dry out, so be careful). Butter the inside of whichever pan you use and put in a small handful of plain dry breadcrumbs. Tilt the pan from side to side, tapping lightly and coaxing the breadcrumbs to evenly coat the pan, dumping out any excess crumbs. An aside: the sound of a cake pan being tapped always makes me think of my mother baking a cake, the ding of her wedding band on the pan a notification of sweet things to come. I always wonder if others have similar associations. Meanwhile, back to baking. Separate 5 eggs. In a food processor, combine the yolks, 10 ounces of feta (or other) cheese, ¼ cup of cornstarch, and ½ cup of honey. Pulse and blend until relatively smooth. In a medium-sized bowl and using a hand mixer (or whisk, if you have enthusiasm and spring vigor), beat the egg whites until frothy and add a big pinch of salt. Continue beating the egg whites, gradually adding in 2 tablespoons of sugar, until firm peaks are achieved (if these words mean nothing to you, do a quick search on YouTube). Pour the batter from the food processor into a spacious bowl. Fold in one third of the whipped whites until incorporated, then repeat with the remaining whites in two more additions. Pour the mixture into the baking pan and place that on a baking sheet (this helps insulate the bottom so it doesn’t bake too dark). Place the pan in the center of the oven and immediately lower the heat to 350F. After 20 minutes, rotate the pan to ensure even cooking and bake for about 20 minutes more. The cake will have ballooned in size and turned a deep golden brown—and probably have a few cracks in the top. If you insert a thin knife, it will not come out entirely clean, and that’s okay. Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool. It will deflate. When cooled, remove the cake from the pan (it should fall out in one piece when inverted). Slice it and serve it at any temperature, drizzled with your favorite honey and a generous grind of black peppercorns or other garnishes. Perhaps half the fun in eating this little treat is deciding if it is sweet or savory. Regardless, I hope you try it, especially if you are trying to avoid doing something necessary but daunting.

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In Your Pantry

GIFTS FROM THE HIVE THERE IS MORE to bees and honey than plastic bear-shaped squeeze bottles. Look for these bee-dazzled products at larger grocery retailers, farmers markets, and health food stores.

Varietal Honey The same way that wines are influenced by their terroir and place of origin, the flavors of honey are influenced by the plants they pollinate. Although mass harvesters of honey will blend honey from hundreds of hives, keep an eye out for specialty honeys harvested from bees that visit specific types of flowers, forests, and fields. Chestnut, lavender, Manuka, acacia, and orange blossom are just a few of the more popular examples. And they make great edible souvenirs from your travels.

Creamed Honey Over time, honey can crystallize, especially if it is unﬁltered and stored at lower room temperatures. One way to control that process is by creaming or whipping honey. It has the added beneﬁt of making honey wonderfully spreadable, perfect for your next slice of toast. Although you can purchase creamed honey, it is simple to make your own out of neglected honey that has become granular and crystallized, probably residing in the back of the pantry. Just combine equal parts of crystallized and liquid honey in a blender or food processor for a few minutes until it becomes velvety smooth. For a thicker version, store creamed honey in the fridge.

Honeycomb Bees store their honey in wax hexagons that are both beautiful and edible, as well as being a source for numerous micronutrients. Although many people love the texture, some ﬁnd the waxiness a distraction. For the best of both worlds, ask a beekeeper (usually at a farmers market) if they have crystallized honeycomb. The texture is like a delicious ﬂoral and honeyed candy that you don’t have to feel guilty for eating. Excellent as part of a cheese platter or as one delicious little mouthful at the end of a meal.

Bee Pollen Bees collect the pollen from flowers to use as a nutritionally dense food source, bringing it back to the hive in little bundles of varying shades of gold. Containing a dazzling array of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants, it tastes faintly sweet and floral, with a pleasantly bitter finish. The uninitiated, especially those with pollen sensitivities and bee venom allergies, should start with a few granules to see if they have an adverse reaction, increasing the amount a little each day. Try it mixed into smoothies, granola, or other cereals, or as a garnish for honey-based desserts.

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Flavor

IN KC by

Kelsey Cipolla

photo by

Charlie Burt

In Your Cocktail ELECTRIC PARK GARDEN BAR

rom 1899 to 1906, the East Bottoms was home to Electric Park, an amusement park dubbed Kansas City’s Coney Island. Owned by brothers Joseph, Michael, and Ferdinand Heim, the trio behind neighboring Heim Brewery, the park offered the novelty of electric lighting after dark, plus rides, a theater, and German-style beer gardens. The East Bottoms location closed, making way for a new park at 47th and Paseo, but the legacy of Electric Park and the Heim brothers lives on in the neighborhood thanks to J. Rieger & Co. and its Electric Park Garden Bar, which opened briefly last fall before closing for the winter season. Thankfully, spring has sprung, and service is set to resume this month at the one-of-a-kind outdoor bar. APRIL 2022 |

The newest addition to the distilling company’s family—which also includes a tasting room, The Monogram Lounge, and The Hey! Hey! Club—is an amusement-park for grown-ups, one complete with fire pits and tables, cozy lounge areas and even a swing-set table. As guests explore the sizeable space, there’s an energy that has more to do with the sense of carefree fun than the glow of the bright Electric Park sign lights. That sense of nostalgia carries over to the drinks, which are inspired by concession stands and soda parlors of bygone years. Belly up to Electric Park’s big outdoor bar and marvel at the split-flat display board menu, showing the beverage options in the same revolving style once common at train stations around the world.

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Offerings include a selection of snow cones, available with the drinker’s choice of J. Rieger & Co. spirits or as a traditional snow cone, though the flavors are a cut above what you’ll find at any carnival. The promenade features green apple, lime cordial, cucumber, and sage, while the tiger’s head nods to the popular tiger’s-blood shavedice syrup with its blend of tart cherry, passionfruit, pineapple, and coconut. Guests can also get a taste of the past with KC Bier Co.’s Heim Bier, named in tribute to the former brewery. Of course, you come to a distillery bar expecting spirits, and Electric Park doesn’t lose sight of that fact despite all its other charms. The lineup of draft cocktails includes an old fashioned made with J. Rieger & Co.’s KC Whiskey; a KC Ice water with Rieger’s Vodka, riesling, lime, and chamomile soda; and the summer Electric Park Punch, which features Rieger’s Gin, orange, white tea, caramelized pineapple, lavender, and hibiscus. Select draft cocktails can also be made as ice cream floats, including the Railcar, a combination of KC Club Bourbon and Hogan’s orange cream soda that tastes like traveling back in time, especially if you add a scoop of vanilla ice cream into the mix. Another float standout? The Giddy-up and Draw, a salty-sweet delight you can now make at home. jriegerco.com

Giddy-Up & Draw 1¼ ounce salted peanut-infused KC Whiskey (optional) ¼ ounce Amaro Dell'Etna ¼ ounce Giffard Vanille de Madagascar 3½ ounces root beer (J. Rieger & Co. uses Piney River's Andy’s Root Beer) To make peanut-infused whiskey: For every 750ml of Rieger’s KC Whiskey, toast one cup of salted peanuts in the oven for 10 minutes at 300 degrees. While still warm, in a container measuring a quart or more, combine the toasted peanuts with KC Whiskey (save your bottle) and infuse for approximately one week at room temperature. Reminder to label your infusion with the start date. Strain solids, and rebottle. Combine all ingredients in a Collins glass. Garnish with a slice of orange and a sprig of mint.

KANSAS CITY’S ULTIMATE COCKTAILS & CUISINE DESTINATION BLUE KOI TAVERN AT MISSION FARMS RYE PÁROS ESTIATORIO ENJOY PURE FOOD & DRINK MARTIN CITY BREWERY PIZZA & TAPROOM Dine-in or carry out. Our patios are open. Support local!

106th Street & Mission Road • Leawood, KS • mission-farms.com

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Flavor BY

IN KC

Kelsey Cipolla

PIZZA TASCIO

In Culinary News

ERIK BORGER brought Kansas City a taste of Nea-

politan-style pizza with Il Lazzarone. Now, he’s showcasing the thin, pliable slices of New York-style pizza at Pizza Tascio. The concept opened in St. Joseph last April and made its way to the Northland earlier this year, serving up pizza by the generous slice as well as whole pies. “New York pizza has always been one of my favorite things in life. I grew up in New York, so it was just like water, but triangular,” Borger says, laughing. His personal daily go-tos are a slice of cheese and slice of white tomato, made with ricotta and olive oil, but Pizza Tascio also offers supreme, veggie, and spicy pepperoni pies, among many more. pizzatasciokc.com

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PROFESSIONAL OUTDOOR GRILL AND KITCHEN SPECIALISTS

• Built to last from strong, superior materials • Designed to impress with elegance and flair • Purposefully engineered with you in mind • A premium experience without the premium price • Backed by best-in-class, lifetime warranties

14125 West 95th Street Lenexa, KS 66205 913.888.7820 www.ddius.com

Learn all about Blaze Grills and other great products for your outdoor kitchen at BLAZEGRILLS.COM Find a Blaze dealer in your area on the Blaze website.

Flavor by

IN KC

Kelsey Cipolla

TIKI TACO

In Culinary News

THINK WEST 39TH STREET’S Tiki Taco is just for walk-up orders? Not anymore. New owners Lyndon and Lindsey Wade, along with their mother, Judy Rush—the trio behind The Guild, Paradise Garden Club, and RW2 Productions—spent the last year reimagining the space as a Southern California-style Mexican restaurant with a beachy ’80s and ’90s aesthetic. Westport Café alumnus Richard Wiles is also a partner and worked with Carlos Ruiz-Finch to create a new menu influenced by coastal and global flavors. The lineup features dishes like Thai fried chicken tacos and Thai chili pork burritos, plus expanded vegan and vegetarian offerings, Yoli Tortilleria tortillas, and salsas made fresh daily. You’ll also find island drinks and cocktails on the menu—and yes, that beloved walk-up window is still around to satisfy latenight cravings. tikitaco.com

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Oasis OUTDOOR

From patio furniture to outdoor kitchens and décor for every style, Nebraska Furniture Mart has everything you need to relax, rejuvenate and restore. So, turn off notifications and turn on the outdoor speakers. Pour your favorite drink and put your feet up. Because the ideal escape is right in your own backyard.

nfm.com

1601 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, KS 800-407-5000

FURNITURE ❘ FLOORING ❘ APPLIANCES ❘ ELECTRONICS

Flavor by

IN KC

Kelsey Cipolla

LULA SOUTHERN COOKHOUSE

In Culinary News

LULA SOUTHERN COOKHOUSE opened as a popup last fall, but months later, it’s still going strong. The not-so-temporary restaurant comes from Bradley and Brittany Gilmore and Brandon West, who also own Kravin’ It KC catering company, and it’s a love letter to Southern hospitality that draws from Bradley’s North Carolina roots. Dishes include blue crab pimento cheese fritters, Mississippi Delta catfish, biscuits with sorghum butter, and bacon-braised collard greens available for dinner Wednesday through Saturday. Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., it’s all about brunch, with options ranging from apple cinnamon waffles to fried oysters, plus bottomless mimosas. Whether the restaurant becomes a permanent part of KC’s dining scene remains to be seen, but why wait to find out when there’s so much goodness to experience right now? lulakc.com

CAR WON'T WON'T GO? GO? CAR CAR WON'T GO?

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1/13/20 10:05 AM 1/13/20 10:05 10:05AM AM 1/13/20

June 10TH - 12TH, 2022 Friday 5pm - 8pm Saturday 10am - 8pm Sunday 11am - 4pm

The Prairie Village Art Show is celebrating our 65th year of connecting the community to culture and creativity. 100+ artists From across the country will exhibit their work. Musical performances by Drew Six, Private Stock, and tHE vILLAGE mUSIC aCADEMY! Food provided by cHRIS cAKES bREAKFAST, Scratch, CafFETTERIA, Tavern, Blue Moose, Minskeys, chill IN THE Village and More! Follow us For More UPdates! @theshopsofprairievillage