12 Kansas City Restaurants With Great Ambience
the
ARTS are BACK! AUGUST 2021 INKANSASCITY.COM
Someone is accidentally injured every second
Schedule online at GetInQuickERKC.com. In case of a life-threatening emergency, call 911
That’s why our ER experts stand ready 24/7 to care for you. Unexpected moments happen. When they do, you can trust that AdventHealth’s ER experts are ready to safely care for you at four locations throughout Johnson County. And, we’ve made it easy to schedule a non-life-threatening emergency room visit online so you can wait in the comfort of home and arrive at a time convenient for you.
Your Seville Home Designers
Sophisticated Sanctuary Make It Yours and
Enjoy up to 50% OFF In-Stock and Custom Orders Included thru September 6th
Bedrooms are more than simple retreats. They should be filled with indulgent moments of reflection, connection and ultimate relaxation. And it all starts with stunning furnishings that invite you in and embrace you with pure escape.
During our August Sales Event, you’re invited to select from the finest makers and experience the remarkable differences Seville Home Furniture and Design offers. We’re local, family owned and specialize in creating true sanctuary.
August Feature Savings Include: • 50% OFF Bernhardt Interiors • 50% OFF Huntington House • 40% OFF Vanguard Including all “Make It Yours” options • Access to our expansive new Designer Fabric Library • In-Home Consultations included at no extra charge • 12-Month No Interest Financing thru August 31st
Preferred By Designers and Open To Everyone See store for complete details, expirations and limited exclusions.
135th & Nall | Leawood | SevilleHome.com | 913-663-4663
4500 W 119th St, Leawood, KS 66209 (913) 312-1660 www.diamondsdirect.com
Private.
Gated.
E x t r a o r d i n a r y.
Limited Lots Available Offering lake, golf and wooded views from $200,000 Shown by appointment.
r e a l e s t a t e @ l o c h l l o y d. c o m | ( 8 1 6 ) 3 3 1 - 9 5 0 0 | Lo c h L l o y d. c o m
Clairvaux_INKansasCity_FullPage_AugustFinal.pdf
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7/16/21
1:30 PM
DA R L E N E LOV E
N E W DA N C E PA R T N E R S
We’re gearing up for our Fall 2021 season and we invite you to join us! K A N SAS C I T Y AND ALL T H AT ’ S JA Z Z
ANA G AS T E Y E R
H O S T E D BY B RYA N B U S BY
SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER SHOWS ON SALE NOW! Scan this QR code to purchase tickets.
Or call the Box Office at 913-469-4445, Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
L A R RY CA R LTO N
S U SA N WERNER
E N D L E S S V A R I E T Y, M AT C H L E S S TA L E N T !
JCCC . E DU/MIDWE ST TR USTCE NTE R
KC JA Z Z O R C H E S T R A /H A N OV E R B I G BA N D (G E R M A N Y )
THE REMINDERS
Portfolio Portfolio Project ProjectRefresh Refresh Love LoveLife LifeatatHome Home · · ·
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Tile · Tile Plumbing · Plumbing Paint · Paint Selection Selection Carpet · Carpet
· · ·
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Lighting · Lighting Hardware · Hardware Countertop · Countertop Backsplash · Backsplash
It’sIt’s time time forfor your your Kitchen, Kitchen, Bath Bath & Home & Home Refresh Refresh BeBe Holiday Ready! Holiday Ready!
Portfolio Portfolio K i t K ci th ce h n e & n
& h o hm oe m e
215 W. 215Pershing W. Pershing RoadRoad Kansas City §City Missouri § 64108 Kansas § Missouri § 64108 816.363.5300 816.363.5300
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I
Contents AUGUST 2021
82
72 Features 62
IN CONVERSATION WITH KENNY BROBERG The Park University graduate student talks about living in Parkville, competitive classical piano, and winning the 2021 American Pianists Awards.
66
THE ARTS ARE BACK, BABY! It’s time to celebrate the full return of inperson arts experiences. We have a glimpse into events, exhibits, and more happening into early 2022.
On the cover
Departments
72
A GARDEN IN TIME Interior designer and enthusiastic gardener John Rufenacht regenerates a Kansas City historic garden, again.
78
A FEAST FOR THE EYES KC coffee shops, bars, and restaurants serve up aesthetics that pique our appetites and artistic sensibilities alike.
82
THE GATHERING PLACE Interior designer Carmen Thomas and architect Scott Bickford craft a family home that embraces a couple and their children.
Kansas City Ballet dancer Marisa DeEtte Whiteman. Photo by Kenny Johnson.
AUGUST 2021
78
62
| 12 | INKANSASCITY.COM
22
WOMEN IN BUSINESS IN KC
26
ENTERTAINING IN KC
32
OUR MAN IN KC
38
ARTS & CULTURE IN KC
46
BEHIND THE MUSIC IN KC
52
LOOK IN KC
58
LIVING IN KC
94
FLAVOR IN KC
112
MY ESSENTIALS IN KC
IN EVERY ISSUE 14
EDITOR’S NOTE
18
INKANSASCITY.COM
NISSAN
Not all who wander are lost
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Rugged styling and off-road capability meets an inspired, versatile interior for everyone on board in the all new 2022 Nissan Pathfinder.
I-35 & 67th Street | Merriam, KS 66203 | ElevatedAutomotive.com | (816) 941 - 0770
Editor’s Note
Vol. 4 | No. 8 AUGUST 2021
A Personal Editor’s Note
Editor In Chief Zim Loy Art Director Alice Govert Bryan Digital Editor Michael Mackie
I
f you glance a little to the right on this page, you’ll notice a name I’m pretty sure you’re not familiar with—Craig Magnus, our copy editor. You don’t know him because that’s a nom de plume for my husband, Warren Maus. He came up with that years ago when he first began copy editing the previous magazine I edited, Spaces. While he was paid for copy editing Spaces, he’s been copy editing IN Kansas City gratis since its launch more than three years ago. His belief in the premise of this title was so strong, he was happy to do that. He continued to edit the magazine with a sharp eye (and even sharper pencil) until just a couple of months ago. The issue you hold in your hands is the first one he hadn’t read any proofs of before it went to press. The ravages of the Parkinson’s disease he was diagnosed with just six years ago finally caught up with him. Warren died last week, and as I type this, I’m mourning the loss of my best friend, my dearest, the most brilliant and funniest man I know. Warren taught college-level classes in creative writing and journalism after receiving his MA from the University of Arkansas and, in a career change, became the publisher and editor of several magazines, both national and local. It was a perfectly obvious occupation for him; for me, not so much. My background was in art, both as a graphic designer and art director. But he was well aware of my passion for magazines, since dozens arrived in our mailbox every month. When I decided that Kansas City needed a local home design magazine and I wanted to produce it, he was behind me every page proof of the way. He critiqued and refined my business plan to make it more attractive for an investor. His unwavering support made me believe in myself. Thus, the first title I helmed, Kansas City Home Design, was launched. Under his tutelage, I learned everything I know about producing a magazine. Warren went on to his third career chapter as a fund-raising and marketing executive for KCPT, Union Station, and KKFI, but he always kept his love of print alive by his writing and copy editing for Home Design, Spaces, and this magazine. IN Kansas City will be the poorer without his guidance. So, if you happen upon an error or two as you read this issue, give us a pass just this once. We are grieving the glue that held us together.
Contributing Photographers Corie English, Jeremy Enlow, Aaron Leimkuehler, Christine May, Jenny Wheat Graphic Designer Eva Tucker Copy Editor Craig Magnus Publisher Michelle Jolles Media Director Brittany Coale Senior Media Consultants Katie Delzer, Nicole Kube, Krista Markley, Missy Nance Newsstand Consultant Joe J. Luca, JK Associates 816-213-4101, jkassoc.net Editorial Questions: zloy@inkansascity.com
Advertising Questions: bcoale@inkansascity.com
Distribution Questions: mjolles@inkansascity.com
Magazine Subscriptions:
Mail: In Kansas City, PO Box 92257 Long Beach CA 90809 Phone: 888-881-5861, M–F, 8–4 PST Email: inkansascity@psfmag.com
Subscribe Online:
inkansascity.com Find the subscribe link under The Magazine tab
IN Kansas City is published monthly by KC Media LLC
118 Southwest Blvd., 2nd Floor Kansas City, MO 64108 816-768-8300 | inkansascity.com Annual Subscriptions are $19.95
Zim
Contributing Writers Kelsey Cipolla, Judith Fertig, Timothy Finn, Cindy Hoedel, Cody Hogan, Merrily Jackson, Damian Lair, Rachel Murphy, Patricia O’Dell, Katy Schamberger
AUGUST 2021
| 14 | INKANSASCITY.COM
Lilliane’s
ANNIVERSARY SALE 57 Years Serving Kansas City +3 Years at Ranch Mart 60% OFF Every Piece in the Store *
Sale Ends August 31
Emerald - 2.68ct, Diamonds - 2.58ct total weight, 14kt White Gold
Sapphire - 4.87ct NO HEAT, Diamonds - 0.75ct total weight, Platinum
Center Diamond - 2.29ct, I Color, VVS2 Clarity, Diamonds - 0.82ct total weight, 18kt White Gold
Open Daily until 5 pm 9437 Mission Road • Leawood, KS 913•383•3376 • lillianesjewelry.com Over 3,000 Creations In Stock *See store for complete details and limited exclusions
Lilliane’s J E W E L R Y
Escape to summer bliss ...inspired by sunny afternoons in places near and far
Experience our newest “Terrasi Living Essentials” collection. Quality, comfort, and style at accessible prices.
Manufactured by quality certified producers that respect the environment
Locally-owned and a Country Club Plaza icon for over 35 years • Corner of 501 Nichols Rd. & Pennsylvania 816.753.4144 • (toll free) 800.875.4144 •
www.terrasi.com
HOME IS
KANSAS CITY We are honored the following agents have found their place at Compass.
WARD RESIDENTIAL 913.226.8093 1217 W 55th St, Kansas City, MO 6 Bed | 5 Bath, 2 HB | 10,006 SF $7,290,000
MALFER & ASSOCIATES 913.800.1812 16417 Turnberry St, Loch Lloyd, MO 5 Bed | 5.1 Bath | 5,506 SF $1,800,000
BRIMACOMBE & COHEN TEAM 913.269.1740 3805 W 123rd St, Leawood, KS 4 Bed | 3 Bath, 2 HB | 6,124 SF $1,575,000
Discover properties in the Kansas City market & across the country at compass.com Compass Realty Group is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.
EXPLORE OUR WEBSITE AT
INKANSASCITY.COM ENTER TO WIN
A Wearable Work of Art
Art attack. Raechell Smith, director and curator of the H&R Block Artspace at the Kansas City Art Institute, chose a painting by local artist David Ford as her favorite piece. “Some areas are mysterious,” she says. “Maybe I like it so much because it reminds me to keep looking and watch out for the unexpected.” Read the story at inkansascity.com.
Jam session. The only
FOLLOW US
thing better than sweet and savory? It’s sweet, savory, and a lil’ spicy. Behold this black pepper biscuit and strawberry jam recipe from Verbena’s pastry chef Nikki Vavra. “They’re fast and easy to make, especially if you’re in a pinch for time,” she says. Find
Grind on. We chatted up Yoli
FACEBOOK @INKANSASCITYMAGAZINE
the recipe at inkansascity. com/eat-drink-recipes.
Step up. Besides being
Tortilleria’s Marissa Gencarelli to find out her stomping grounds, go-to locales, and other sundry items. Read the story at inkansascity.com.
in a beloved yacht rock cover band, Billy Brimblecom is busy heading up the Steps of Faith Foundation, which funds prosthetics for uninsured amputees. Oh, and he’s BFFs with Jason Sudeikis too. That much you might know—but we found out five things you might not know about the civic-minded performer. Read the story at inkansascity.com.
You’re tired. You’re hungry. Oh, and it’s hot out too! Never fear, people. From cool
happy hours to the local restaurant scene, we’ve got the city’s most comprehensive dining guide. It’s guaranteed to please your palate this summer. Find it at inkansascity.com/eat-drink/dining-guide
AUGUST 2021
| 18 | INKANSASCITY.COM
@INKANSASCITYMAG
INSTAGRAM @INKANSASCITYMAG
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER subscribe at INKANSASCITY.COM (under The Magazine tab)
BILLY BRIMBLECOM PHOTO BY JASON DOMINGUES
This month you can enter to win this delightful diamond and white gold pendant loaded with sparkle from our friends at Lilliane’s Jewelry. The timeless teardrop shape is ideally suited for both casual and formal occasions. Featuring diamonds (0.55ct) and measuring a full 1.75 inches in length, this impressive piece retails for $1,500. Enter to win by August 31 at inkansascity.com/the-magazine/ enter-to-win. Good luck!
Life happens. happens. Life Lifehappens. happens. And you you want wanttotobe be And Andyou youwant wanttotobebe ready when ititdoes. when does. ready readywhen whenit itdoes. does. Let us us help help you most Let you take takecare careofofwhat whatmatters matters most
LetLet ustohelp you take care ofcare what matters us help take care of most what matters mostfor college, taking care of an Getting know youyou and what you about —most planning Getting to know you and what you care most about — planning for college, taking care of an elder family member, awhat legacy tocare future generations, buying a second home —care is Getting to know you passing and and what you you care most about — planning for college, taking care of so an Getting to know you most about — planning for college, taking of an elder family member, passing a legacy to future generations, buying a second home — is so important. Once we understand priorities, together, we can help the elderelder family member, passing a your legacy to future generations, buying ayou second home —goals is— sois so family member, passing a legacy to future generations, buying a pursue second home important. Once we understand your priorities, together, we can help you pursue the goals important. we understand youryour priorities, together, we can helphelp you you pursue the the goals you’ve set forOnce yourself andunderstand your family. Callpriorities, to learn more today. important. Once we together, we can pursue goals you’ve set and youryour family. Call more today. you’ve setfor for yourself and and your family. Call totolearn more today. you’ve setyourself for yourself family. Call tolearn learn more today.
Group One Wealth Management Group OneOne Wealth Management Group Wealth Management
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Group One Wealth Management Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Merrill Lynch Wealth Management 3401 College Boulevard
3401 College Boulevard 3401 College Boulevard Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Leawood, KS 66211 Leawood, KSBoulevard 66211 Leawood, KS 66211 3401 College 913.906.5239 Leawood, KS 66211 913.906.5239 913.906.5239
fa.ml.com/groupone
fa.ml.com/groupone fa.ml.com/groupone 913.906.5239
fa.ml.com/groupone Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are affiliates of Merrill Lynch, Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). MLPF&S a registered registered investment SIPCproducts and a wholly ownedmanaged, subsidiary oforBofA Corp. Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &Fenner Smith&Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) makes available certainadviser, investment products sponsored, managed, distributed provided by companies that arethat are Pierce, Smith Incorporated (alsoisreferred to as broker-dealer, “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) makes available certainMember investment sponsored, distributed or provided by companies affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). MLPF&SFDIC is a and registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, adviser, MemberMember SIPC andSIPC a wholly of BofA Corp. affiliates Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, investment and aowned wholly subsidiary owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. Banking products areofprovided by Bank of America, N.A., Member a wholly owned subsidiary ofregistered BofA Corp. BankingBanking productsproducts are provided by Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC andFDIC a wholly of BofA Corp. are provided by Bank of America, N.A., Member and aowned wholly subsidiary owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. Investment products: Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value Investment products: Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value Investment products: Are Not FDIC Insured Are Not Bank Guaranteed May Lose Value Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (also referred to as “MLPF&S” or “Merrill”) makes available certain investment products sponsored, managed, distributed or provided by companies that are The Bull Symbol and Merrill are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. affiliates of Bank of America Corporation (“BofA Corp.”). MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, registered investment adviser, Member SIPC and a wholly owned| subsidiary of BofA Corp. The Bull Symbol and Merrill are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. The Bull Symbol and Merrill are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. © 2021 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. MAP3058310 AD-06-21-0182 | 471089PM-0720 | 06/2021 Banking products areBank of America provided by Bank of America, N.A., reserved. Member FDIC and a wholly owned subsidiary of BofA Corp. © 2021 Bank of America Corporation. All rightsAllreserved. MAP3058310 | AD-06-21-0182 | 471089PM-0720 | 06/2021 © 2021 Corporation. rights MAP3058310 | AD-06-21-0182 | 471089PM-0720 | 06/2021
Investment products:
Are Not FDIC Insured
Are Not Bank Guaranteed
The Bull Symbol and Merrill are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. © 2021 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.
May Lose Value MAP3058310 | AD-06-21-0182 | 471089PM-0720 | 06/2021
V I L L A G E
O F
L O C H
H I D D E N
G E M S
H O M E & G A R D E N Trolley Tour
T O U R
Estates Featuring Outdoor Living
Hors d’Oeuvres & Beverages
L L O Y D
Luxury Raffles
Pre-event Cocktail Party & Patron Dinner
SEPT 16
Information &Tickets @lochlloydtour.com
Thank you Sponsors! Premier Sponsors Loch Lloyd Real Estate, Viridity, CrossFirst Bank, House of Rocks Landscape Supply & Building Stone, The Country Club of Loch Lloyd
Platinum Sponsors Elswood Smith Carlson Architects, p.a., Holthaus Building, Inc., Madden-McFarland Interiors, Metro Electric, Stewart Title, Nutter Home Loans, By The Blade, Brynn Morris VP, RBC Wealth Management
Gold Sponsors *Chappellet’s Vineyard,*Chef Jonathan Justus, *Craig Sole Designs, *Diamonds Direct, *Piper Sonoma, *Refocust Digital Marketing, *Ron Burg Studio, *PB&J Catering, *Sidelines Custom Floral Design, *Studio Dan Meiners, *Syndicate Studios, *TIVOL, *Tom’s Town Distilling Co., *Vinetegrity
A BENEFIT FOR CRISTO REY OF KANSAS CITY l o c h l l o y d t o u r . c o m
*In-kind Sponsors
8 510 M a r s h a l l D r i v e | L e n e x a , K S kdrshowrooms.com
Women in Business by
IN KC Michael Mackie
photo by
Corie English
Jeannette Terry
CEO AND OWNER OF TERCONPARTNERS, INC.
W
hen Jeannette Terry talks, people listen—specifically Fortune 50 CEOs, corporate moguls, and high-powered industry leaders. Why? Because Terry is a corporate fixer. In 1995, she co-founded her company TerconPartners, Inc., a small business consulting firm in Lawrence, Kansas. Locally, she was revered for helping companies gain much-needed footing and/or avoid going off the rails. In the early 2000s, Terry and her business partner got “an invitation to speak at a very large, international conference of oil and gas executives on leadership,” she says. “And that was really the beginning of our international business—and a large growth spurt.” Before long, Terry found herself coaching executives at Shell Global. “We did coaching for leaders and training for teams for Shell in Houston,” she says. “They sent us to Europe, and we consulted with Shell projects being built in the U.K., Europe, and Singapore. That was our foot in the water and from there, we were approached by Exxonmobil and Chevron.” Suddenly, Terry’s “conservative, small consulting firm in the Midwest had an opportunity for international business,” she says. When Terry’s business partner left the company, Terry packed up and moved back to her hometown of Washington, D.C. where she held court for nearly 25 years. Terry says, besides having family in D.C., the move also made sense given the ridiculous amount of international travel she was doing. When Covid hit (and international travel dried up), Terry decided to move back to Lawrence where she also has roots. (Terry, her mom, and sister are all KU grads. Her father, meanwhile, was a respected bigwig in the FFA.) Now known as one of the nation’s most respected organizational AUGUST 2021 |
development consultants, Terry says she’s more passionate than ever about helping companies perform at their highest optimum level. TerconPartners, Inc. stakes claim to being experts in three areas: 1) leading organizations and teams, 2) honing high-performance teams built on trust, inclusion, and commitment to collaboration, and 3) creating resilient organizational cultures. “We ask what things leaders can build into the organizational culture that creates resilience, like bouncing back from a disappointment or a business loss,” she says. “It’s about treating mistakes like learning opportunities.” Terry says Covid has changed the dynamics of many companies—especially with the new hybrid workforce model. “Leaders need to be communicating with their organizations regularly to say here are our five—or ten—cultural values and then also demonstrate them,” she says. “That’s where you get a strong, resilient culture when the leader drives the importance of behaviors, values, and practices. Culture can be a competitive advantage for organizations that pay attention to it, reinforce it, and reward people for being culture champions.” As a self-proclaimed people person, Terry has found her niche. “I’m a behaviorist,” she says. “My training is about understanding human behavior. And I can apply those principles and they work.” Terry quickly learned that in many instances, she would be the only woman at any high-level corporate meeting. “I decided I was going to have a strategy for speaking up and I learned to speak early,” she says. “That was my test by fire.” While Terry often identified gender and cultural bias, she constantly reinforced that collaboration was good for any company’s bottom line. Her other strategy? “Ignore putdowns,” she says. “Early on, I did enough research that I learned to expect it, and forewarned is forearmed. I’ve never wavered from it.” Terry adds that she’s happy she’s back in the Midwest. “I miss some of the hustle and bustle of the East Coast, but not enough to go back and do that all the time,” she says. “I like the opportunity to build relationships with people on a personal and professional level.” Terry also says she’s taking her arsenal of skills and now “making it digestible for smaller and mediumsized businesses. We’re adding those into the mix,” she says. “We proved we know how to work with Fortune 50 companies—for years and years and years. From those experiences, we can use those training and coaching programs to help businesses of any size. That’s a good objective for us.” Recently, Terry accepted a position as adjunct faculty member at KU’s Edwards Campus. The course she’s teaching is right up her alley—and then some. “Intercultural communication,” she says. It’s the perfect move for Terry to nurture the next generation of movers and shakers. “Millennials are going to bring a new energy for succeeding in careers and business, and it’s going to help propel them into leadership positions.” terconpartners.com
22 | INKANSASCITY.COM
Know Your Worth
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. POWER IS PERSONAL. Whether it’s a path to security, a gateway to your dreams or the road to being your own boss, we have the people and resources to empower you. Learn more at UMB.com/WXW
35 ART ANNUAL ORIGINAL ARTWORK BY SHARON TESSER
th
SEPTEMBER 17 - 19 new date. same great show. Save the date for the 3rd weekend in September! The 35th Art Annual features nationally recognized artists in the
heart of Kansas City’s favorite neighborhood destination. Enjoy a weekend of culture, cuisine and connections again this year in Brookside. LE A R N M O RE AT B R OOK S I D EK C . OR G
B R E A KIN G O U T,
reconnecting.
It’s a new day – time to break out and reconnect. It’s refreshing to be able to lead a full life again, continue your story and make firm plans for your future. Anthology Senior Living communities stand out from the others: UNCOMPROMISING CARE / ASPIRATIONAL LIVING CELEBRATING INDIVIDUALS / EMPOWERING CONNECTIONS
Call while outstanding senior residences are available. Let’s connect over a delicious dessert and tour. ANTHOLOGY OF BURLINGTON CREEK
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Assisted Living / Memory Care
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101 W. 151st St. Olathe, KS
ANTHOLOGY OF OVERLAND PARK
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Entertaining
IN KC
Settling the Tab
WE CAN DINE OUT AT RESTAURANTS AGAIN! OUR ENTERTAINING MAVEN DISHES ON THE ETIQUETTE AROUND PAYING THE BILL by
Merrily Jackson
photo by
Corie English
The story you are about to read is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent, the opportunistic, and the too-nice-for-their-own-good.
M Merrily dining out at Lidia’s in the Freight House.
Email me with your entertaining questions, dilemmas, or triumphs at mjackson@inkansascity.com
AUGUST 2021 |
26 | INKANSASCITY.COM
y friend Mary was charmed when she received an email invitation from her friend Samantha to celebrate the significant birthday of Ezra, Samantha’s husband, at a tony restaurant here in the metro. The invitation was issued to four couples, all friends who hang together. “I can’t remember exactly how the email was worded, but it sort of inferred that it was Samantha’s treat, her birthday gift to Ezra,” Mary said. The day arrived and the group assembled in a private dining room at the restaurant. Samantha be-
MCCROSKEYINTERIORS.COM 913-282-1161 • info@mccroskeyinteriors
Entertaining
IN KC
HOW MUCH
SHOULD YOU TIP IN KC FOR GOOD FOOD SERVICE?
If you have a drink at the bar: At least 15 percent, before sales tax. If you lunch or dine at a sit-down restaurant: At least 20 percent, before sales tax. If you use a wine steward or sommelier: Fifteen percent of the cost of the wine, in addition to the server’s tip. (Try to tip him/her in cash, separately.) If you eat at a buffet-style restaurant: Ten percent before sales tax. If you check your coat: Two dollars. If there is a restroom attendant: One or two dollars If you pick up a to-go order: Twenty percent, before sales tax. (Packing a to-go order takes time and skill. They deserve it.) If you have food delivered: Ten to 15 percent of the bill, but never less than $5. Tip extra in bad weather or if you live far away from the restaurant.
AUGUST 2021 |
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gan by ordering several pricey bottles of wine and an assortment of appetizers. “And the tuna tartare, definitely the tuna tartare,” she said. “But I want my own order,” she announced to the server. “I don’t want to share it.” “My husband and I were being careful about what we ordered, respectful of the fact that Samantha was probably going to pick up the tab,” Mary told me. More wine was ordered, more appies, then the entrées. And more wine. Then, one of the men at the table addressed the group: “You guys, we can’t let Ezra and Samantha pay—it’s Ezra’s birthday!” “What could we do without looking like total jerks?” Mary said. When the bill arrived, Mary quietly gasped. Almost four hundred dollars per couple. Samantha and Ezra looked demurely down, while their friends got out their wallets and paid. “We were hyperventilating on the way home,” Mary said. “To us, that’s a lot of money. Samantha is a good friend, and I’m sure I’ll get over it at some point, but I have been rather frosty to her since that evening.” IN VINO, VERITAS—AND VEXATION I have recounted Mary’s story to a number of friends and everyone, it seems, has a similar tale. The trouble often starts with wine, which can take a reasonable bill and send it through the roof. In fact, I shared Mary’s story with my friend Jessica, in a conversation we had in the wine aisle at Costco—where everybody runs into everybody—and she told me she had the same experience at the same restaurant, except the tab-per-couple was closer to $500, most of which was for costly bottles of the grape, ordered by others in the party. Everyone split the bill equally, but Jessica’s husband does not drink wine. “It gives him a screeching headache, so he never touches it,” Jessica told me, explaining that he did have a little bit poured into a glass so he could participate in the birthday toast, but he didn’t drink it. “By the time the check arrived, everybody else had a bottle of wine in them and didn’t notice who was drinking and who wasn’t. And it had been such a fun evening up to that point. What could we have said without sounding like buzz-killing cheapskates? We just sucked it up and decided next time we’ll ask for separate checks.” AND SPEAKING OF SEPARATE CHECKS Separate checks are the way to avoid so very many awkward moments in restaurants. But there seems to be a reluctance, especially among us baby boomers, about requesting separate checks—probably left over from the days when bills were tabulated manually. Restaurant computer systems have evolved to the point where complicated checks are pretty easy to split, especially if you are clear with the server before you order that that’s what you want. When my husband and I go out with friends, we try to let the server know right away that everyone is on separate tickets. It’s amazing how quickly everyone relaxes, once it’s been established AUGUST 2021 |
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Entertaining
IN KC
that no one is getting stuck with Merrily’s bar tab. Kidding. ALWAYS BE CLEAR If you are planning a celebratory party at a restaurant, when you issue the invitation make it crystal clear whether it is your treat, whether you expect guests to chip in, or whether, like the supremely weasel-y Samantha, you plan to order your favorite high-end pinot and your own private plateful of tuna tartare, yet wish for your friends to pay. If you don’t entertain at home and are dining with friends who have fêted you repeatedly, pick up the check. If you are dining with someone elderly and infirm, on a fixed income, or unemployed when you are gainfully so, pick up the check. If you spend the meal bragging about how well you’re doing financially, for the love of God, pick up the check. When you really mean business about treating someone, it’s gracious to arrange beforehand for a credit card imprint, and for the addition of a 20 percent tip, thereby avoiding any presentation of a check at the table. WHEN YOU’RE BEING TREATED When someone else is paying the bill—even if you know it qualifies
as a business expense—take a cue from the host as to what to order. Ask what they like or recommend. If they say the lobster is great here, or the pasta is done well, they are providing verbal cues that you order in that price range. Back to the wine thing. Most of the non-drinkers I know are too polite to insist on separate checks. Not my hilarious friend Jerome, a non-drinker who dines out frequently with friends who drink. “I always pull the server aside, tell him I want a separate check and then I never drink anything—not even a Coke—just so there’s no mistake about it,” he says. TALK ABOUT CHEAP To close with, I have another good one for you. My brother in Cleveland knows a couple who were invited out to a restaurant by friends. The friends specified that restaurant because they had a $100 coupon for it. Since that was disclosed, the couple made the assumption that the coupon would be used on the total bill. At the moment of truth, the couple with the coupon (who asked for separate checks) used the coupon for their bill only! If you have a coupon or gift certificate, share the wealth with your dining companions or save it for another time.
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90TH ANNUAL
PLAZA ART FAIR The 90th Annual Plaza Art Fair runs Friday, September 24 through Sunday, September 26, at the Country Club Plaza. Presented by Saint Luke’s Health System, the event features 240 artists, three live music stages and nearly 20 featured restaurant booths. Join us for a free, three-day celebration of art, food and music. Visit PlazaArtFair.com for more information.
Friday, 9/24: 5pm - 10pm
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Saturday, 9/25: 10am - 10pm
Sunday, 9/26: 11am - 5pm
7/22/21 10:42 AM
Our Man BY
IN KC
Damian Lair
dlair@inkansascity.com
: @damianlair #OurManINKC
Fashion Street
R
iding high on last year’s unimaginable pivot-success, the annual West 18th Street Fashion Show was back and in person (with modifications) for Summer 2021. You may recall that last year’s transition from traditional runway show to the social-distancing-approved original film, Summer in Hindsight, premiered at a drive-in theater and resulted in an almost immediate showering of awards. Nearly a year later, the film was just accepted to the end-all-be-all Cannes International Film Festival. This year—still a bit premature for stacked crowds (we see you, 2022!)—the organizers envisioned Summer Tableau, a pedestrian-focused trail of installation stages along that famed block of 18th Street. The inspiration: 1960’s counterculture movements. Or, as senior artistic director (and friend), Peregrine Honig described it, “The West 18th Street Fashion Show draws lines between costuming and fashion, street and cinema, sculptures and garments, gentrification and development. The collective process amplified Kansas City as a place of culture bearers, risk takers, and intuitive makers.” Staggered along the street in these architecturally impressive stage vignettes were individual capsules from seven designers: 3 Minc, Beautiful Dissociation, Birdies, Cosmosphere, Cult of Polka, No Woe, and Reneé Larouge. Some highlights: The louche models for Birdies draped like silk across a vintage brocade sofa, bound in Japanese shibari, and dressed in delicate lingerie—the ultimate juxtaposition of power and soft vulnerability; the gigantic infinity mirror large enough to hold all of Cult of Polka’s models (including fave Logan Nichols) exhibiting evolution in their punkish, metamorphosis garments; and 3 Minc’s take on “all the juice,” which was a contemporary fashion version of my prized junior high Lisa Frank sticker box—rainbows, neon, unicorns, netting, gold foillike leg warmers—sweet, sticky, and delicious. After making my way through all the designers, I decided to pop up to photographer Jenny Wheat’s studio, which has a perfect bird’s-eye view of the entire street and all its happenings. We were nibbling on cheese and sipping on wine when a familiar Victorian chariot—Peregrine’s Sweet Chariot commissioned by the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art—glided from a neighboring alley to the nondescript stage in the center of the street. Theatrically exiting was singer and harpHOT ist extraordinaire, Calvin Arsenia. He GOSSIP: was joined on stage by Mike Dillon Whose recent birthday (in a fantastic, emerald-green caftan party required a and cowboy hat) and Nikki Glaspie (gorgeously decorated) (she recently played drums on tour golf cart for guest for Beyoncé). Together, they fired up transport from valet the crowd for what then transformed to doorstep? into something of a street party before AUGUST 2021 |
Peregrine Honig and Damian Lair at the West 18th Fashion Show.
my very eyes. It was a sight to behold and to experience. Sound like can’tmiss fun? Well, next year’s theme is already carved in stone (literally), Summer Coliseum XXII. I’m already dreaming of the perfect, golden acanthus leaf laurel to wear. I know I have one somewhere. SPOTTED: Dr. Regina Nouhan, Scott Heidmann, Ken Petti, John Rufenacht, Frances Baszta, Lee Page, Supatra Brown, Amber Botros, Daisy Chavez, Jenni McSpadden
NOT LONG AGO. NOT FAR AWAY. On the eve of the public opening of Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away., I was fortunate to preview the exhibition at Union Station (open through January 2022). The monumental exhibit is a living memorial to the Holocaust and explores the dual identity of the camp as a physical location—the largest documented mass murder site in human history—and as a symbol of our capacity as humans for hatred and barbarity. It brings together more than 700 original objects and 400 photographs, primarily from the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum, making it the most comprehensive exhibition dedicated to the history of Auschwitz—and the 500-acre camp’s role in the Holocaust—ever presented in North America. Kansas City is only the second city (following New York City) to host the exhibition. The exhibit traces the development of Nazi ideology and describes the transformation of an ordinary Polish town, where during the occupation, German Nazis created a camp at which 32 | INKANSASCITY.COM
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roughly one million Jews and tens of thousands of others would be murdered. Cumulatively, more than six million Jews and up to five million other targets of Nazi ideology (Sinti and Roma, Soviets, disabled, asocials, Jehovah’s Witnesses, homosexuals, and other political prisoners) were murdered during the Holocaust. Among the more touching artifacts on display are simple personal items, such as suitcases, eyeglasses, pots and pans, uniforms, and shoes— all belonging to survivors and victims of Auschwitz. Other artifacts include concrete posts and razor wire that were part of the camp fence, and a welded “Arbeit Macht Frei” (work sets you free) slogan that commonly arched over camp entrances (an image that remains vividly burned in my mind after visiting the Dachau camp years ago). There’s even (placed in front of Union Station) an original freight train car used for the deportation of Jews to extermination camps. It’s also fitting that the exhibit is hosted at Union Station. It’s easy to forget that hundreds of thousands of American soldiers passed through the station on the way to two World Wars. And after the wars, it was the scene of countless, tearful reunions. Some travelers were relocated Holocaust survivors who arrived to the city with no familiar faces to greet them. Imagine, liberated from a concentration camp, wishing to immigrate, having no identifying paperwork or ID, navigating multiple complex systems in different languages, and often no idea of where to go when arriving in America. Part of our preview visit also entailed the premiere of the Kansas City PBS documentary, All These Delicate Sorrows, which details through survivor interviews the journey from concentration camp to rebuilding lives as immigrants to Kansas City. And why Kansas City? I was especially warmed by an interview with Bronia Roslawowski, a Holocaust survivor who immigrated to Kansas City in 1947, who (humorously) described the impulse decision made at New York Harbor: “[They said] ‘You cannot stay in New York.’ I said, show us the map. And we should look at the map. And we say, President Truman is from Missouri. Kansas City is in the heart of America. Let’s go to Kansas City! And Kansas City here I come!” Finally, we were also able to hear from and meet several exhibit producers, including Luis Ferreiro, the director of Musealia, who co-organized the exhibit. He said, “Auschwitz did not start with gas chambers. Hatred does not happen overnight; it builds up slowly among people. It does so with words and thoughts, with small everyday acts, with prejudices... [It is] a warning of where hatred can take us to.” It makes you stop and think about that part of the exhibition title, and how not far removed we are from these acts of horror: Not long ago. Not far away.
OPERATION: BREAK. THROUGH.
HOT GOSSIP:
Who threw a Café Europa lemon cake at a posh dinner party?
It was one of those days that I’d completely over-committed myself, but was dutifully honoring those commitments. After wrapping up a day at work, I was scrambling to finish last month’s column, throw some inspired outfits into a suitcase (ok, two suitcases) for a friend’s trip to NYC at sunrise the next morning, tick off all the remaining work items that couldn’t wait for my return, and meet my dear friend Meredith Allen for Operation Breakthrough’s annual dinner AUGUST 2021 |
OVERHEARD “Anyone want breakfast? I have a shoe full of grapefruit juice.”
and auction event—this year celebrating the organization’s 50th Anniversary. Operation Breakthrough is the result of a rather radical undertaking (the two founders say they had no grand vision and couldn’t have seen past whatever challenges the current day would bring). It all began in 1971 with Sister Corita Bussanmas and Sister Berta Sailer. They taught at St. Vincent’s, in the urban core, where they heard from parents that they needed a place to send their small children while they worked. The sisters lived together in a large house, and they thought they could surely care for some children. They scoured garage sales for what they’d need, and days later they opened. In their words (the most modest you could imagine), “We started with just four kids. And, then, we’ve grown a little bit.” Fifty years later, Operation Breakthrough is serving 700 children and 400 families every day at a 130,000 square foot (and expanding) campus at 31st and Troost.
Operation Breakthrough co-founders, Sister Berta Sailer and Sister Corita Bussanmas.
A lot has changed from the early years, when state audits to check adult-to-child ratios meant the sisters spontaneously pulling nice-looking strangers off the street to hold children. It was a different time. What began as a daycare for the working poor now provides early care and educational services for children between the ages of six weeks and 13 years. Before- and after-school programs also offer tutoring, play and peer groups. Wraparound services also include supportive housing assistance, parent programming like family meal-prep classes, and active fathers’ groups. Soon, due to the generous partnership of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and his foundation 87&Running, the Ignition Lab—a neighboring, defunct auto body shop—will become a working space for teenagers to explore careers in STEM and lessons in launching entrepreneurial ventures. Skill sets will include multimedia, automotive work, engineering, computer science, digital electronics, and will help carry students through high school. It goes without saying that I’ve been to a great number of fundraising events. But I can attest that I’ve never shed as many tears as I did at this one. Despite what felt like a mountain on my plate that day, it was the most freeing experience to detach and celebrate a milestone anniversary for an institution built by two indefatigable women who spent their lives providing for children, with the simple goal of building strong families. Largely, the families they serve are struggling—80% live on less than $12,000 annually. For every
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five children who walk through their doors, one is homeless. Homeless. But despite this, more than 90 percent of their 5 year olds test “school ready” each year, compared with fewer than 50 percent of children in poverty, nationally. Part of the dinner program included a video that summed up Operation Breakthrough’s half a century of service to the community. At one point, I can remember a clip of pre-school-aged children chanting along with their teacher, with fervor and genuine conviction,“I am worthy. I am smart. I am equal.” An inarguable fact, and a reminder that a disparity of resources, beyond a child’s control, shouldn’t destine him or her for anything less. SPOTTED: Darcy & Lindsey Stewart, Jenny Agnew, Kathy & Tom Allen, Meredith Miles
THANK ME LATER Shameless plug. Well, not really, because it is for a treasured cause. Please mark your calendar for Saturday, October 9, 2021. I, along with Emily Uhlmann Fehsenfeld and honorary chairs Helen and Frank Wewers, will be hosting the annual gala for the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. This year’s event, ARTBEAT, was inspired by optimism for the future, as well as the new exhibition, Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Pulse Topology, an immersive light and sound environment featuring 3,000 light bulbs that pulse to visitors’ heartbeats. Attire: Exuberant Party Wear. Fun, right? Those who’ve attended for years know this: the Kemper Gala has always been a celebration— and a fashion show. Throughout history, fashion has been informed, shaped, and advanced by world events—both traumatic and hopeful. All this has creative minds wondering—how might the emergence from a year-long quarantine influence the direction of fashion? We imagine the future will be defined by exuberance. Whether it’s runway high-style, classic glamour, or impulsive creativity, here’s the key: If you have to ask “Is this too much?,” the answer is, it’s just OVERHEARD right. Will you see me “Our hotel is close there? Obviously. Can to so many things. you imagine what I’ll Starbucks, CVS… be wearing? Doubtful. nice hotels.” Will I see you there? I’d better.
So, KC—where do you want to go? XO AUGUST 2021 |
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Arts & Culture
IN KC
Connie Dover
THE SINGER OF SCOTTISH, IRISH, AND AMERICAN TRADITIONAL BALLADS ANSWERS FOUR QUESTIONS by
Judith Fertig
photo by
Christine May
A
dd songwriter, poet, Emmy-Award-winning producer, and now Wild West camp cook to Connie Dover’s achievements, all linked to her music. Spending part of her time in Weston, part of it on cattle ranches in Montana and Wyoming, Dover finds songwriting inspiration wherever she goes. Her crystal-clear voice is of the moment and at the same time otherworldly, perfect for traditional ballads rooted in the past yet with something to say today. Dover recalls, “When I rediscovered traditional music as a teenager, through recordings and live performances from touring Scottish and Irish bands, I was completely besotted. The songs struck me on a visceral level—I fell in love with their powerful imagery, with their gorgeous melodies and the compelling stories they told. Hearing them felt like time travel. To me, they are living artifacts that speak to us across centuries and cultural boundaries.” You can watch Connie Dover perform at facebook.com/conniedoverofficial or conniedover.net INKC: Growing up in Arkansas and Missouri, how did your interest in traditional music come about, especially that of the British Isles? Dover: I remember hearing my father sing snippets of old songs he’d learned from
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his mother in Arkansas, and occasionally when I stayed with my grandmother, she would sing to me. This was all very informal, but it must have made a deep impression, because I was always drawn to the old ballads. I pursued researching and learning the songs, and along the way, met up with other musicians—including my bandmates in the Kansas City-based Irish group, Scartaglen—who shared my love for the music. INKC: You’ve had adventures as a camp cook at cattle ranches in Wyoming and the last frontier in Alaska. How have those experiences shaped your music, your poetry? Dover: My music and camp-cooking careers have been parallel paths. I started as a ranch cook in Wyoming just after I recorded my first solo CD in Scotland. Like so many of us, I’m drawn to the American West. Some part of me must appreciate a bit of struggle, because it’s not necessarily easy work, but it’s fun, and allows me to live and work with remarkable people in absolutely beautiful settings. I find off-thegrid living very grounding and restorative. It creates room in my brain for ideas to percolate, though I don’t always have time to act on them! But the special moments stay with you—I can trace a straight line from many of these moments to songs and poems I’ve written. INKC: What are you working on now? When might we hear you again
in Kansas City? Dover: In the wake of the pandemic and closure of music venues, I start-
ed posting weekly music videos on Facebook, which are now going up
on YouTube. I call the series Luddite Studios. I set up my tripod wherever I happen to be—near our winter camp in Yellowstone or among the horses at the ranch or in my living room at home, and I sing a song. I call it Luddite Studios to pre-emptively lower expectations about my technical finesse. I record everything with my iPhone, and I include photos and videos of my surroundings. This allows me to do what I really love—pairing music with landscape (and occasionally, large fauna). It’s been a great way to keep singing, and better yet, to create a vibrant relationship with listeners. I’ve decided to stay with it—I’ll start posting again in a few weeks. This summer, I’ll head to New Mexico to sing backup on a new album by good friends Chipper Thompson and Mason Brown. I’ll continue rehearsing with my performing partner, Kelly Werts, as we gear up for concerts this fall. Pending confirmation of the dates, we hope to be at the Weston Irish Festival this October. INKC: When not roving and performing all across the country, you’re based in Weston. How has that community nurtured your creative spirit? Dover: I was introduced to the Weston community when two members of Scartaglen moved to the area. We would rehearse at their houses, and as time went by we discovered a wonderful group of friends who supported our efforts, and who were ready and willing to collaborate on all kinds of projects and events. My time there has laid the foundation for lifelong friendships, and I deeply cherish being a part of an extended “tribe” that feels like family.
OFF-SPRING: New Generations
FAR FROM ORDINARY. CLOSE TO HOME. Discover something new in the heart of downtown Kansas City.
@21cKC 21cKansasCity.com
AUGUST 2021
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Arts & Culture BY
IN KC
Judith Fertig
AUSCHWITZ. NOT LONG AGO. NOT FAR AWAY. IN AN AGE OF Holocaust deniers, fake news, and alternate facts, this powerful exhibit at Union Station should hit home. Not long ago, not far away, the unthinkable occurred. The Hitler-led German Nazis rounded up people they deemed “undesirable”—Jewish families, Polish Catholics, dissidents, and others—and transported them to the largest of the concentration camps. The first group to arrive at the Polish complex was a group of Polish prisoners on June 14, 1940. The camp would go on to establish Birkenau, the neighboring site of extermination. In 1944, Birkenau held over 90,000 prisoners. The Auschwitz complex would go on to be the site of over 1.1 million deaths. Those numbers are staggering. It is hard to comprehend. But the over 700 artifacts, gathered from museums all over the world, tell a story. A striped uniform with the Star of David patch. A rickety train car. Bare camp bunk beds. A collection of shaving brushes taken from new arrivals. A child’s shoe. It’s a story we can’t forget. For tickets and times, visit unionstation.org/event/ auschwitz.
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THREE EXHIBITIONS AT THE NERMAN MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART NOW THAT Johnson County Community College is open again to the public, it’s time to take in three exhibits you might have missed. The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art is open, but by reservation only. Evocations: Celebrating the Museum’s Collection does just that, while also paying tribute to curator Bruce Hartman, who retired in 2020 and organized over 200 exhibitions during his 30-year tenure. You’ll see plenty of diverse artists highlighted in paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photographs, works on paper, and textiles. Each work elicits a feeling, a memory, a narrative, or a conscious image. The exhibit real/unreal also features works from the museum’s collection, inspired by the landscape, real or imagined. Joe Bussell—Frags takes the repurposing and recycling into the realm of art. Bussell volunteered for a time at the Johnson County hazardous waste facility. These objects, which look like ceramics, are formed from discarded acrylic house paint and remnants of other found projects—stones, plastic, and a memorable pupu platter. Admission is free, but you need a reservation: Call 913-469-8500, ext. 4989. nermanmuseum.org
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Arts & Culture by
IN KC
Judith Fertig
PAUL MCCOBB—AMERICA’S DESIGNER
CC_PrintAd_Saul-Steinberg_IN-Kansas-City_Half-Page_7-5x4-75_0621.pdf
2
JUST AS at the Paul McCobb exhibit was opening, the pandemic hit and everything closed. This timeout gave the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center a chance to polish it up for viewers now. The versatile, everyday, utilitarian pieces are from the collection of Samuel Hildreth. “Gee, thanks” and an eye roll might have been Hildreth’s reaction when he first received a midcentury McCobb coffee table as a college graduation gift in 2011. Never mind. The rest is history. When Hildreth bought his first house, he filled it with Paul McCobb pieces. Today, the drafter for Black & Veatch who lives in Lee’s Summit is still collecting. And notably, Crate & Barrel has taken notice, coming out with 36 Paul McCobb reproductions for today’s homes. jcprd.com 6/15/21 10:17 AM
Greetings,
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M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
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Saul Steinberg
A free exhibition of original artwork by Saul Steinberg
Gallery at 2450
Level 2, Crown Center Shops May 29 – September 6 Monday – Saturday 10am – 6pm Sunday Noon – 5pm CrownCenter.com 2405 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108
AUGUST 2021
Saul Steinberg Untitled, c. 1954
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HELEN GILLET AT THE 1900 BUILDING
IT’S NOT OFTEN that “surreal” and “cellist” occupy the same space, but in the music of singer-songwriter Helen Gillet, they do. Her globe-trotting upbringing has influenced her music, from 1940s French chansons to Belgian folk tunes sung in the native Walloon, and classical, avant-garde jazz, rock, and punk from her time in New York City. Gillet’s performance style is also unique. She looks enigmatic, her appearance surreal. And she plays her cello in ways decidedly untraditional, pushing the boundaries of what is possible from the instrument and the sounds it can make. Tickets to the performance on Wednesday, August 25 at 7:30 p.m. are available at 1900bldg.com.
AUGUST 2021
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Behind the Music
IN KC
Mark Lowrey by
Timothy Finn
I
t should come as no surprise that Mark Lowrey found the piano before it came looking for him, thanks to an older sibling and some keen, innate curiosity: “My older sister was taking lessons. I used to go to the piano after she had left to try and make it sound like she did.” The piano would become his life-long partner, but not until after middle, junior high, and high school flings and romances with other instruments, including the French horn. All that would lead him to his current, lofty place in Kansas City’s music scene: a dedicated, in-demand full-time musician—a jazz pianist at heart but an explorer of all flavors of music—who has entertained in his hometown and beyond for more than half of his 40 years on earth. AUGUST 2021
photo by
Jenny Wheat
Lowrey recently answered questions from IN Kansas City about the people who mentored and inspired him on his music journey, about how he navigated the pandemic, and about his life-changing missions to Africa. What experience or person in your childhood is most responsible for you becoming a professional musician? Mark Lowrey: That’s a tough one to narrow down, so I’ll mention a few big influencers. I had a great piano teacher, Ms. Greer, just a few blocks up the other side of Antioch Road growing up, who taught me reading, sight reading, and technique from fourth through ninth grade. My middle and high school band directors were phenomenal teachers and
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humans as well, and I have the pleasure of still keeping up with them to this day. Another early musical influence was my best friend’s older brother, who was a guitarist/composer that showed me music I’d never heard and later had me play in his jam band. What bands or artists first appealed to you and why? ML: Around the fourth grade, that best friend’s older brother introduced me to Tori Amos’s Little Earthquakes and the musical Chess. Especially the former: Its open wound-like passion would emotionally overwhelm me. As a 10 year old, I was almost addicted to that warm heartsickness that pop chord changes can evoke.
September 17 JOHN PIZZARELLI TRIO October 9 KARRIN ALLYSON December 10 DAVID BENOIT A Christmas Tribute to Charlie Brown January 15 JEFF LORBER TRIO February 12 ANAT COHEN QUARTETINHO
What was the first album you owned? ML: I don’t remember my first, but along with Tori Amos there were Garth Brooks, Boyz II Men, C&C Music Factory. My first CD was Stone Temple Pilots’ Core, but that wasn’t until the eighth grade. What do you remember about your first public performances? ML: As soon as I started, I was playing a lot in church, but the first performance I remember was the fourth-grade talent show at school. I played Right Here Waiting For You by Richard Marx. I won. Were you involved in music in school? ML: I played violin in fifth and sixth grade. I hated it. Mr. Clark, the
middle-school band director, took time after school to let me try all the instruments, and we landed on the French horn, which I enjoyed playing until after high school. I was never great and didn’t practice much, but I loved the occasional revelry that comes from 80 people playing music together, and band in high school was a great hang. In eighth grade, once a week, a few other musically driven band kids and I went to choir instead of band. I sang in an a cappella choir in high school and accompanied the jazz choir. I was also in a jazz big band. My senior year was grammar, film appreciation, and five music classes.
March 12 PAQUITO D’RIVERA QUINTET April 16 ELIANE ELIAS
Who are your favorite pianists, in any genre, and why? ML: Brad Mehldau is probably my most favorite. I mean, there are so
many: Oscar Peterson, Keith Jarrett, Art Tatum, Paul Bley, Bill Evans. Mehldau has a great touch and strong left hand. His harmonic approaches are broad but recognizable, from early Art of the Trio records to the epic, synthy 2019 protest piece, Finding Gabriel. More than just an elite musician, you are also an engaging entertainer. Who influenced you in that realm? ML: I slowly and somewhat unconsciously realized that I would have to be mindful of how I come across through my words and stage presence, probably years later than I should have. I’ve always hidden behind my instrument, but I also naturally prefer to lead a band. Lonnie McFadden, Barclay Martin, and Dave Stevens, three very different entertainers whom I have played with for years and years, taught me by example that it is a big priority to let people know that you appreciate their attendance. They all did it very differently, in ways that complement their artistry and personalities. I’m still learning about stage presence, but I do know that the best gigs are the ones that I’m not using brain space on worrying about whether or not I look like a dork.
Richard J. Stern Foundation for Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts, Commerce Bank, Trustee the Arts, Commerce Bank, Trustee
What musicians in Kansas City have influenced you most and how? ML: This is going to be impossible to narrow down. I’ll list as briefly as AUGUST 2021
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All shows subject to change
Behind the Music
IN KC
possible the most impactful, but will surely regret leaving people out; coming up when and where I did, offered many mentors. Brad Cox, Jeff Harshbarger, and Beau Bledsoe all played together in Tango Lorca and helped me with so much. Brad gave me gig opportunities like introducing me to Lonnie McFadden, for whom I became the main pianist for more than 15 years. Jeff introduced me to new music and taught me both on and off the bandstand. Beau taught me how to play tango music. He gave me a car once. Lonnie McFadden has been a huge influence on me. We’ve played so much music together, and playing with him and drummer Donivan Bailey (rest in power) was a joy. Donivan and I had a deep musical friendship whose nature was beyond words, and I think even non-musicians could sometimes feel it. We were swinging. Miguel “Mambo” Deleon, percussionist, singer, and salsa bandleader took a chance on me when I was definitely too young for his 12-piece band, Grupo Candela. He taught me about clave. Afro-Cuban music remains a big influence and love of mine, and he really gifted me with his knowledge and time. Roger Wilder is my favorite Kansas City jazz pianist. I love his harmony and the quotes he’ll drop in. There really are so many more, but this is already long. Complete this sentence, please: “Many people would be surprised to hear that some of my favorite bands/artists are …” ML: Many people would be surprised to hear that I’m obsessed with
Impressionism and, really, a lot of early to mid-20th century classical music. Check out the Ravel piano concerto in G major; the second movement is the banger. I’m also getting into a lot of ‘70s stuff I’ve missed: George Harrison, Wings, early Peter Gabriel. If you could do anything else that satisfied you as much as music, what would it be? ML: I really enjoy cooking. If love languages is a thing, I think gift-giving is one of mine, and I take pleasure in cooking for people. Also, I’ve only been whitewater rafting once in my life, but I think I love it. You have gone on a few missions to Africa. Talk about those and what they meant to you. ML: I’ve been on three trips through the Medical Missions Foundation. The first two were to Ouélessébougou, Mali, in January 2011 and 2012. There, the art team was mostly doing presentations in schools to spread the word about the importance of hand-washing with soap. We employed a guy that had a PA system and generator who DJ’d weddings in the village. He brought in a local hip-hop artist, Petit Ballo, to be the “hype man” for our school shows. I went to Lachor Hospital in Gulu, Uganda, in September 2019. I played my keyboard in the big courtyard where families of patients stayed so they could cook for their recovering relatives. I also spent a lot of time in the burn unit, playing puzzles with the little ones or giving piano lessons while their parents had their bandages changed. That trip
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was a little harder on my heart; some of the trauma I witnessed became something that I’m still unpacking. There is a shrine near the nuns’ quarters at Lachor that holds the remains of the caregivers that stayed behind to care for patients and help contain the virus during the Ebola outbreak. They knew that they would certainly die of Ebola, which is an absolute nightmare. It was by far the holiest place I’ve ever seen. The other side of it was seeing the kindness, expertise, and dedication among the doctors and nurses. Medical Missions Foundation should be a point of pride in Kansas City, and I hope they get more support to keep doing the incredible work they’ve been doing all over the world. As much as anyone I know in our music community, you took on the pandemic forcefully, making the most of streaming remote performances and keeping in touch with so many of your loyal fans. What did that experience teach you about performing and communicating with an audience? ML: I definitely learned that we all need each other. I felt appreciated during a time when everyone was talking about who is “essential.” I am lucky that it was possible. I already knew this, but it became more internalized that I need to play for other people. In general, though, I’ve come out the other side with a little less faith in humans; there are so many that abandon science, reason, and base-level compassion just like that. But I think it’s important to not let it get me down—and focus on what connects us instead of what doesn’t.
Assess the Kansas City music community: What are its strengths? What does it need more of? ML: My ear really isn’t to the ground like it has been previously, so I’m looking forward to seeing what new art is here or on its way. I’m playing some club gigs, but most every weekend, I’m playing with my friends in Lost Wax. We play wedding receptions and corporate events here and in Chicago, Tulsa, and St. Louis. It’s a great, fun band, and I love the work, but it’s got me at more country clubs and hotels than jazz clubs and house party jams. What I do know is that the caliber of musicianship here is high, and there are a lot of great musicians relative to the population. Ninety percent of people in this city don’t know or care about that, but I certainly enjoy it, both as a bandleader who likes to hire bad-asses to play with and as an audience member.
WANT MORE TIMOTHY FINN? Check out his weekly online-only content at inkansascity.com. Every Wednesday the website publishes his list of Top 5 Notto-Miss Concerts in the metro. Every week you’ll find his revered, rollicking, reasoned reviews and commentary. Email Timothy Finn at tfinn@inkansascity.com
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AUGUST 2021
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CONTEMPLATING A KITCHEN OR BATHROOM UPDATE? DON’T WAIT—AND HERE’S WHY By Katy Schamberger
PRESENTED BY
Visit www.KarinRossDesigns.com to explore Ross’s design and remodeling portfolio and schedule a consultation.
KarinRossDesigns.com
THE
devastating pandemic brought with it many lessons, including this: don’t wait to fulfill your dreams. For many homeowners, those dreams include updating their kitchens and/or bathrooms. And despite some pandemic-related fluctuations in various construction-related industries and supply chains, Karin Ross, owner of Karin Ross Designs, says now really is the best time to move forward with your at-home transformation. “We’ve seen pricing changes not only for large items like appliances, but also smaller, necessary items like bolts and glue,” Ross says. “The more quickly you can start your kitchen or bathroom update, the better position you’ll be in.” As you start to shape your home renovation vision, you’ll likely identify a total project budget that will help guide your decision-making. Along with specifying the total investment you want to make, Ross recommends answering another key question: Where do you want to splurge the most? “Think about the area of your home that’s most important to you — is it the kitchen? The bathroom? Then you can focus on that area and making sure the update is
done right,” Ross says. It might be tempting, especially in the age of Pinterest, HGTV, and so many home interior-focused retail and hardware businesses, to go the DIY route. Yet when you enlist the help of a professional like Ross and her talented design-build team, you get so much more value than you initially realized. Here’s one example. Ross, who moved to the United States from eastern Europe, not only has a knack for understanding and using home interior trends—she’s always far ahead of the
“We’ve seen pricing changes not only for large items like appliances, but also smaller, necessary items like bolts and glue. The more quickly you can start your kitchen or bathroom update, the better position you’ll be in.” curve, introducing colors, textures, and finishes that you’ll see splashed across the pages of home interior magazines months later. It’s that unwavering creativity, along with an eye for the smallest of details, that has made Ross and her team a goto choice for a variety of clients, including high-profile members of the building industry. “I worked with a client who’s wellknown for flipping homes,” Ross says. “When he wanted to remodel his own home, his wife said she wanted some-
thing different. When I shared my vision with them, he said I took him into dimensions he didn’t even know existed! We provided design and construction for the project, and when we were done, his wife said it was exactly what she wanted.” Here’s another reason to start your home update sooner rather than later—timing. Ross says she and her team continue to see some supply delays, especially in appliances and cabinetry. For a home interior project to be complete by next spring, Ross says it’s important to start the process now. “Allowing extra time gives the design-build team an opportunity to work the way they should by keeping a focus on quality,” Ross says. Plus, in the case of a supply shortage, Ross can recommend comparable alternatives to help keep the timeline moving forward while also staying true to the project vision, another benefit of enlisting the help of a professional.
And just think: that project vision can be so much better than you dreamed it would be. Ross understands that any sort of home update is an investment—and it’s a responsibility she takes to heart. “I want you to be happy, which is why I pour my soul into the project,” she says. “If you want to have a truly unique home and approach, especially with European flair, I’m as authentic as it gets.”
Look
IN KC
Fashion
by
Rachel Murphy
photo by paul andrews
All the World’s a Stage– Are You Dressed For It?
Above: Georgianna Londré Buchanan. Right: Costumes designed by Londré Buchanan (left to right) Dragons Love Tacos at the Coterie Theatre, a review at the Quality Hill Playhouse, and Elephant and the Piggie at the Coterie.
W
hen it comes to creating a character, the actors in Kansas City have a strong ally in their corner— Georgianna Londré Buchanan. Londré Buchanan is one of the city’s most esteemed costumers, having worked on more than 300 shows over the last 20 years. If you’ve seen a show at the Coterie Theatre, Shakespeare in the Park, or Quality Hill Playhouse, you’ve likely seen Londré Buchanan’s creativity in action. Londré Buchanan grew up around the theater. Intending to study AUGUST 2021 |
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art history, she gravitated toward costuming classes and found her place with a needle and thread and all of history to pull from. Together with the production team, Londré Buchanan says that telling stories through clothing is what separates fashion from costuming. But even when she’s building pantsfull of tacos, as she did with this summer’s Coterie Theatre production of the children’s classic, Dragons Love Tacos, she’s utilizing current fashion to support the story. “Trends are interesting because people do notice these things. If I’m doing a costume design that has modern-day clothes, it’s more relatable if I’m able to use current trends to say that it’s a modern-day story. I’m always interested in what’s out there, product-wise in fashion. Plus, I have to stay on budget, so using current products helps a lot,” she says. For Dragons Love Tacos, she even repurposed a trend piece—the once-again popular scrunchy—as a tail for the main character’s dog, played by Chelsea Rolfes. With very on-trend baggy brown overalls and the actress’s own pigtails as ears, the character is built with items that you could find at your local Target. Offstage, Londré Buchanan says that although she has a wardrobe full of black from working backstage, she loves to experiment with color. “I think wearing color is a way of putting yourself out there. A lot of people are worried about what other people think. I think that’s a big obstacle in truly wearing and doing what you want. There are items that are going to be a little trickier, but you should put up with it [the risk of being noticed] because you feel good and you look good and want to make that statement,” she says. Another way to step out? Support local designers. Londré Buchanan has found amazing pieces by thrifting and shopping at local stores. Finding those unique pieces help define your wardrobe in a way that makes you feel and look good. Now, to work on lighting. . .
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Look
IN KC Beauty
BY
Rachel Murphy
Cool Ideas
I
t’s a truth universally acknowledged that August in Kansas City is hot. Really hot. Popsicles and an open-freezer-door hot. But despite our tendency for heat and humidity, we also love our patios, so we have to find ways to cool off even in the dog days of summer. Skincare to the rescue! True, there are no miracle products that you can slather on that will keep your face cool all day, but you can at least start with a refreshing outlook with these soothing products. And don’t forget—you can store your skincare products in the fridge for a little added cooling boost to help you wake up and face the day with chill vibes.
AN ARCTIC SEE Is catching up on last year’s social activities taking its toll on your eyes? If your bags have packed bags and need a vacation, Milk Makeup’s Cooling Water stick is just the ticket. This under-eye stick calms the fragile skin in your eye area with seawater and depuffs with caffeine. Put this one in the fridge and wake up your face every morning. Plus, you can use this on rough elbows, knees, or wherever you need a quick refresh during the day (oh, hello cool décolletage!) Milk Makeup Cooling Water Under-Eye gel stick, $28. Available at Sephora. COOL AS A CUCUMBER DEW DROP IN
Sometimes the classics don’t disappoint. Maybe you don’t have time for cucumber slices over your eyes as you relax in the morning, but Peter Thomas Roth’s Cucumber Gel Mask delivers the same soothing ingredients without getting out the paring knife. Not only is this mask perfect for a quick pick-me-up, it can also soothe sunburns or heat rash with its secret ingredient—aloe. And here’s our secret—a thin layer before bed makes for a great overnight deep moisturizer. You can thank us later. Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Gel Mask, $55. Available at Sephora.
When the heat hits, it can bring with it rosy, inflamed skin. Enter blue tansy, a botanical ingredient that calms redness and soothes irritation. The BeDew Dab Ozone Beauty Balm combines the soothing power of blue tansy oil with cooling peppermint oil and the oxygenating power of ozone. Not only will this beauty balm soothe your complexion, but you can also use it on cuts and rashes below the neck. Living Libations BeDew Dab Ozone Beauty Balm, $40. Available at Welwythn (Prairie Village). AUGUST 2021 |
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Look
IN KC
Wellness
And Stress Floats Away by
Rachel Murphy
F
or centuries, people have traveled to the Dead Sea to float in the hyper-salinated waters with nothing to worry about but sunburn and dehydration. But being landlocked on the other side of the world makes a dip in those salty waters a bit tough. Luckily, float therapy is possible right here in Kansas City at several spas. But what is float therapy? In its simplest form, float therapy creates an environment of peace and tranquility by allowing clients to float in heavily salted water to create a positive buoyancy atmosphere. The concept was developed by Dr. John C. Lilly in the 1950s using what became known as a sensory deprivation tank. While floating weightlessly in the water, clients are able to let their consciousness wander and release, creating a feeling of complete relaxation. Floating has also proven effective for those with joint pain. Pregnant? Floating in zero gravity can take all of the pressure from those loose joints and give relief, especially when pharmaceutical means aren’t an option. Floating can also help reduce cortisol caused by traumatic events and PTSD. The idea of climbing into a small enclosed space and floating in the dark may not seem relaxing to some, and floating facilities have come a long way since Lilly’s first tanks. Now, float spas feature private rooms with taller ceilings and soothing lighting so that floaters can relax and recharge for an hour at a time. Intrigued? Here are a few of the places you can dip your toe in the floating pool. AUGUST 2021 |
FLOATING KC Floating KC, located in the Waldo area, has been keeping people buoyant since 2015. Their float rooms offer a spacious experience with seven-foot ceilings and more space than a king-sized bed. Floating is the focus here and they offer memberships or packages for those that are hooked on the lack of sensation. floatingkc.com TOTAL BLISS MASSAGE AND FLOAT SPA For Northlanders, there’s a new option for a relaxing float. Total Bliss Massage and Float Spa combines float chambers with more traditional massage therapy options, so you can make a day of it. Start with soothing music to ease you into your float experience and then let the sensations dissipate along with your stress. totalblissmassage.net ANU AESTHETICS AND OPTIMAL WELLNESS At aNu Aesthetics, wellness is always the goal. Stepping into their float pod is like boarding a ship to outer space, as you achieve weightlessness without having to make a billion dollars and launch yourself into the atmosphere. The spa offers 60 or 90-minute sessions as well as packages at its River Market location. anuaesthetics.com
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Living
IN KC BY
Patricia O’Dell
Keep It Cool SUMMERTIME AND THE LIVING IS… SCHVITZY
S
ome like it hot and some like it not. As a Leo, I tend to liven up in August, but I understand the heat may make some folks languish. I’m always looking for easy ways to modify my home to address issues, like changes in temperature or changes in total occupancy (cheers for back to in-person school!) One surefire answer to cooling your head, heels, or jets is adding blue to your décor.
PILLOW TALK What’s that? House is quiet? New book on the side table? Even a quick respite would be better with this embroidered Gatha pillow. You can read until you a) doze off or b) are discovered and disturbed. Gatha decorative pillow with insert, $149, available at Jorjy (Brookside).
BLUE PERIOD Often, Kelly Porter is recognized for her work as one of the partners of Porter Teleo, our own locally based international wallcovering sensation. In addition to her decorative product, produced in conjunction with her partner, Bridgett Cochran, Porter is a painter whose work is available through—you got it—Blue Gallery. Her work on paper is a great way to pick up fine art on a tight budget. Blue and White Series V, 17” x 17” ink, graphite, oil pastel on paper, $375, available at Blue Gallery (Crossroads).
AUGUST 2021 |
BEACH DAY Yearning for a trip to the beach, but very firmly homebound? Set your sound machine to “waves” and light Mer-Sea’s Voyager candle. Relax and imagine sand between your toes as the scents of pepper, citrus, and moss cool your jets. Mer-Sea Voyager candle, $34, available at mersea.com.
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DESIGNING WOMEN REDUX
I KNOW your physical or virtual shopping cart maybe full to overflowing with the newest design books, but somewhere in the void that is the internet I stumbled across an image from Designing Women, Interiors of Leading Style Makers, by Margaret Russell, former Architectural Digest and Elle Décor editor in chief. Featuring the homes of women designers, the interiors have a timeless and surprising attainable appeal. The best part is that the narratives are personal and not overblown. No screaming fonts, no hard “don’ts.” It feels a bit like coffee with a friend. Available through online retailers for less than a latte.
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reensman (816) 523-1516 www.thegreensman.com
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Living
IN KC BY
Patricia O’Dell
Clear Out Breathe In
A
fter over a year at home, most people have taken a good, long look at the rooms in which they live. Some bailed altogether, pulling up stakes for places unknown. Others made a shift either up or downtown. But reconnecting to your home doesn’t have to mean pulling up stakes. Native Kansas Citian Tracy Gordon helps people find the best version of their space through Clear Out Breathe In, her home organization business. Unlike some homeowners who find managing the stuff of life overwhelming or tedious, Gordon does not. “I’ve always loved it,” she says. “It’s a little bit of control in a chaotic world. It’s so satisfying.” Generally, Gordon sets up the first visit after she has a sense of the project from the initial phone call. “I always say, ‘Please don’t clean before I come!’” she says. “I want to have a real idea of the homeowner’s priorities and go from there.” Gordon can help with major projects—she recently helped create an art studio over a client’s garage—or smaller ones, including styling and display services, which can make a big difference with existing pieces. “I really enjoy all of it,” she says. “I’ve organized attics, basements, garages—everything. Though I do love kids’ rooms because you get to play a little bit.” Gordon charges $40 an hour and is willing to take the “go” pile to a donation drop off, which is a win-win. Contact her at clearoutbreathein.com.
Tracy Gordon
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I’d Follow You Anywhere LOCAL FAVORITES WE’RE FOLLOWING ON INSTAGRAM
127th & Metcalf
LOCAL ARTIST Pat O’Brien creates the most delightful
three-dimensional art featuring vintage postcards and, yes, tiny people fishing, napping, camping, and sometimes unknowingly on the brink of being attacked by bears. These, yes, tiny escapes can grace tabletops or be mounted on the wall. George in Crestwood usually has O’Brien’s work on display. O’Brien’s Instagram account, @tinyescape, is a charming mélange of snaps of her work, her French bulldog, the birds at the feeder, and her partner Don Jahn’s, @donjahnpottery, gloriously organic pottery, which is also a George mainstay.
Open to the Public Free Financing Full Service Installation -or- Carry Out
KCWholesaleCarpet.com AUGUST 2021 |
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AUGUST 2021 |
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words by
Cindy Hoedel
photo by
Jeremy Enlow
IN CONVERSATION WITH
Kenny Broberg
T
wenty years—almost to the day—after his teacher Stanislav Ioudenitch, founder and artistic director of the International Center for Music at Park University, won the gold medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Kenny Broberg took top honors at the American Pianists Awards Competition in Indianapolis in June. Broberg, 27, hails from Minneapolis. Before coming to Park University four years ago to study with Ioudenitch, he earned a bachelor of music degree at University of Houston Moores School of Music. Broberg was already one of the most highly decorated pianists in the world under age 30, having won the silver medal at the Van Cliburn competition in 2017 and the bronze medal at the International Tchaikovsky Competition in 2019. His triumph at the American Pianists Awards comes with a $50,000 cash award, a recording contract with the Steinway and Sons record label, and an artist-in-residence post at University of Indianapolis. Broberg is known for his extraordinary technical skills, clarity, and precision. His playing style has been lauded for its agility, finesse, and great sensitivity to dynamics. Broberg spoke with IN Kansas City by phone a few days after his win about how his life is about to change and shared an inside perspective of the world of competitive classical piano.
AUGUST 2021 |
Where are you calling me from? I’m back here in Kansas City. Do you wake up every morning and remember all over again that you won? I think it hasn’t really sunk in yet. But I think eventually it will be something I will remember pretty well. You were born and raised in Minneapolis. What was your neighborhood like? It was a nice neighborhood until [laughs], well, I actually lived right near where all the protests were. Was that traumatic for you this summer? I was following it extremely closely, I was very worried. What was it like growing up there? There are so many lakes there, in the summer you just go [to the water]. It’s like there’s a lake every hundred feet. [Laughs] What kind of a kid were you? I was a weirdo.
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continued
>>>
you’re not careful, it does not cultivate a good mindset. Because this is not what music is about. Music is about connecting us, not trying to single people out. And so often it becomes so much more about getting all the right notes in and playing in a way where judges can’t deduct anything because you didn’t do anything quote-unquote wrong.
How so? Because I wanted to play piano all the time. My dad was trying to get me to go outside and play in the street, and all I wanted to do was play piano. How old were you when you started taking lessons? Six years old.
So the playing could become kind of defensive? I feel like students in major conservatories are afraid to do anything or take any risks. And that robs you of the absolute most important thing, which is individuality.
When you first started, did you actually enjoy practicing? I enjoyed making music. For sure.
Why did you choose to go down the competition path? There are many different roads to go where I want to go, but none of them are very clear. There isn’t really a blueprint for how you make a career as a concert pianist. This is one good way to create exposure. And I’m very grateful to all these competitions. I decided to go that route because it’s the most clear-cut path. Winning gives you confidence.
At what point did you decide you would like to become a musician as a profession? I’m pretty lucky because I’ve always known what I wanted to do, and I haven’t had many moments where I thought otherwise. What was it like in school, knowing you were interested in a different path than most kids? I was homeschooled until high school, and then I went to a public high school.
Now that you’ve won this major competition do you feel that you can step out of competitive piano? Yes. I can retire from the competitions.
Did your teachers understand your focus on music as a career choice? I think that maybe one or two did and the rest absolutely not.
Is that exciting? Oh, yeah. I’ve been wanting to do that since the first one I did. [Laughs]
What did your parents think? They’ve always been supportive of me. How is life in Parkville different than living in Minneapolis? Honestly, of course it’s different, but I’ve kind of lived my whole life in the Midwest: Minneapolis, Houston, and now Kansas City. So, there’s a certain comfort factor. You know, people aren’t too fastpaced around here. I like the Midwestern niceness. I travel a lot for concerts, and I travel to a lot of big cities, and so it’s nice to be able to come back and work in kind of a quiet, little place. Do you have any places that are favorite hangouts in Parkville? I go to Parkville Coffee in downtown Parkville four or five times a week. Is winning this competition going to radically change your life? I don’t think the change will be that abrupt. After I did the [Van] Cliburn [International Piano] competition, that significantly changed the way I live. How? Four years ago when I did the Cliburn competition, I was playing at the level of a professional. But I wasn’t playing concerts. I was living as a student. So, after Cliburn I went from playing no concerts to playing a lot of concerts, like 60 or 70 [per year]. The whole idea of competitive classical piano, to me, seems odd. Oh, it is odd! You could not be more right. It’s anti-musical. I don’t want to come off sounding anti-competition or ungrateful, because competition has really helped me in my career. But there absolutely is that element to it because it is a subjective thing. And if AUGUST 2021 |
Do you feel that you have picked up any habits because of competitions that you need to unlearn? No. I think competitions gave me good habits.
“ ”
Discipline. You have to practice, because there’s no other way to do it. I practice probably six hours a day with the most intense concentration that I possibly can.
Like what? Discipline. You have to practice, because there’s no other way to do it. I practice probably six hours a day with the most intense concentration that I possibly can. Do you expect now to see a change in your music when you are freed from the constraints of what notes the judges want
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photo by evgeny evtyukhov
Broberg performing at the 2019 International Tchaikovsky Competition.
to hear, or how they think Bach ought to be played? Bach is a very particular case with that. [Laughs] I remember one time Stanislav [Ioudenitch] was telling me, “If anyone tells you that Bach should only be played a certain way, you throw up on them!” Because with Bach, we don’t play it—or I don’t play it—on the instrument that he wrote it for. So we’re already playing a transcription of it. We have much less information about him than about a lot of composers, about performance practices of his time. So we kind of recreate our own way of playing Bach, and anybody that thinks they know exactly how Bach would have played it—ahhh, I don’t think that they do. When you’re by yourself at the piano, do you ever play any other styles of music besides classical? For example, could you play jazz piano, and do you have any desire to? I love jazz, and actually I listen to it pretty frequently. But I think it’s a completely different mindset from classical piano. There are a lot of classical pianists that [laughs] claim to play jazz, and very few of them really do it the way jazz players do. That’s because, with classical musicians, we’re all about recreating what’s AUGUST 2021 |
already written on the score. We’re trying to faithfully reproduce the music that somebody else wrote. Jazz is kind of planned improv, so there’s a level of spontaneity and a level of quick thinking that really astonishes me. What is the thing you are looking the most forward to now that you don’t have to play competitions anymore? Getting back to being able to just play concerts. This was very good timing, because after a year and a half of not playing concerts because of Covid, presenters are still very wary of organizing events, so things are moving in the right direction, but they are still moving pretty slowly. So this is the right place and the right time for me to resurrect where I was headed before things shut down. What is it that you love so much about playing concerts? It’s a kind of validation. I spend so much time working on what I do, and it’s not worth doing if you can’t share it with other people.
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Interview condensed and minimally edited for clarity.
words by
Katy Schamberger
FESTIVALS
The Arts Are Back, Baby! LET’S BE CLEAR—THANKS TO THE INGENUITY OF KANSAS CITY’S ARTISTIC COMMUNITY, VIRTUAL PERFORMANCES AND EVENTS KEPT US CREATIVELY CONNECTED AS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC RAGED. NOW, IT’S TIME TO CELEBRATE THE FULL RETURN OF IN-PERSON ARTS EXPERIENCES. PERUSE THE FOLLOWING LIST FOR A GLIMPSE INTO EVENTS, EXHIBITS, AND MORE HAPPENING INTO EARLY 2022.
Work by the Plaza Art Fair featured artist, Deana Goldsmith.
Plaza Art Fair Did we even truly experience fall last year without the Plaza Art Fair? One of the first significant events of the city’s autumn calendar returns this year, September. 24-26. This year marks 90 years of the Plaza Art Fair, a can’t-miss opportunity to see textiles, paintings, photography, jewelry, sculpture, and more from a nationwide selection of juried artists. Several Plaza restaurants get in on the fun with elaborate food booths that showcase their signature food and drinks. Plus, multiple stages throughout the Plaza are home to live music and other performances. See a full schedule at plazaartfair.com.
SO, WHERE ARE YOU HEADED FIRST?
Troostapalooza Make a day out of Troostapalooza, a “fun and free community celebration” that highlights local artists, makers, musicians, and so much more. Shop more than 75 vendor stalls, watch live mural painting and feast from an enticing selection of local food trucks. The family-friendly fun happens on October 2 at 30th and Troost. While you’re there, make time to explore the flourishing Troost corridor, a significant location in Kansas City history and home to an increasing number of locally owned businesses, non-profits, and arts-focused organizations. Visit troostapalooza.com for a full schedule as the event approaches.
PUBLIC ART
Art in the Loop
Poppies by Sharon Tesser, the featured artist of the 2021 Brookside Art Fair.
Brookside Art Fair You might know the Brookside Art Fair as one of the city’s first outdoor art shows of the year. They pushed this year’s dates back in response to the pandemic, which means Brookside will be transformed into a giant outdoor gallery from September 17-19. This year marks the 35th annual event and is consistently ranked among the top 25 art shows by industry resource Art Source. Plan for a weekend of art browsing and buying, then don’t miss a chance to hit up your favorite Brookside restaurant and the eclectic, inviting mix of locally owned shops. Keep an eye on brooksideartannual.com for event details.
Fun fact: Kansas City Streetcar stops also double as blank canvases. For the last several years, the Streetcar Authority has offered space on the stops (and on the streetcars themselves) to the annual Art in the Loop installation, a partnership with the Downtown Council of Kansas City and part of an ongoing effort to enrich and revitalize the area. This year’s aptly named theme, Resilient, features the work of 11 artists. Start your journey on “the jazz car,” a KC Streetcar wrapped in art created by Hector Garcia, and travel the 2.2-mile streetcar line to enjoy art installations at most stops. The public art, on display through October, is accompanied by a performance arts and music series that includes Jessica Ayala (August 16), The Wires (August 26), and Kadesh Flow (September 2). Visit artintheloop.com for details.
Charlotte Street Foundation
Prairie Village Jazz Festival Enjoy a day dedicated to Kansas City’s favorite music genre at the Prairie Village JazzFest, which returns on September 11. Favorite local gathering spot, Harmon Park, will host a full line-up of jazz musicians, all of whom are in some way connected to Kansas City. Visit pvkansas.com for an updated festival schedule.
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The Charlotte Street Foundation celebrated the grand opening of their newest space, 3333 Wyoming, in June, which is open Tuesday-Saturday. Stop by to explore exhibitions like Aftermaths, which concludes August 28. The group exhibition “features artists who point to the bludgeoning effects of Western Artwork by imperialism on the world and the Astro Escudero. cultural phenomena that linger long after its initial encounters,” according to the foundation. Participating artists include Astro Escudero, Rami George, Gonzalo Reyes Rodriguez, and Sanaz Sohrabi. Visit charlottestreet.org for details and upcoming exhibits.
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PHOTO BY JACOB LUCAS
PERFORMING ARTS
The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs
Lyric Opera
Danielle Nicole
Folly Theater
In-person audiences return to Kansas City’s historic Folly Theater just in time to celebrate a milestone: the 50th anniversary of Cowtown Ballroom! A quick history lesson: The live-music venue opened in 1971 and, in its short lifespan (it was open just over three years), Cowtown Ballroom helped catapult Kansas City into music history. Legends such as B.B. King, Alice Cooper, Seals and Croft, Linda Rondstadt, and local folk music icon, Danny Cox, all took the Midtown stage. The Folly Theater is one of several locations hosting Cowtown Ballroom 50th anniversary festivities. A Cowtown Revival at the Folly Theater (September 10) welcomes a stellar line-up, including The Danielle Nicole Band, Danny Cox & Friends, The MGDs, The Clay Kirkland Band, and Chuck Haddix as emcee. Get tickets at follytheater.org.
Innovation collides with the classics in the Lyric Opera’s 2021-22 season. First, The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs (March 11-13, 2022) offers a dramatic and immersive exploration of Jobs and his legacy as one of the most important technology icons of all time. “Every piece of Jobs’s life reveals more of the puzzle, as we try to discern how a person whose devices have connected us in so many ways could struggle to make meaningful connections with the people closest to him,” according to Lyric Opera. Then, catapult yourself to the distant past to experience one of opera’s classic tragedies, Puccini’s Tosca (April 30; May 6, 8, 2022). Visit kcopera.org for tickets and details on two add-on experiences, including a production of Amahl and the Night Visitors (December 2-12, 2021) with lifesized puppets designed by Paul Mesner.
Celebrate the “triumphant return” of the Friends of Chamber Music Kansas City with a full 2021-22 season, which kicks off with a hauntingly beautiful performance of Beowulf by Benjamin Bagby (October 29), using only a six-string harp “that’s based on an instrument excavated from the 7th century,” according to the organization. On December 9, enjoy “a veritable feast of words and music performed by one of the top vocal ensembles in the world” when Stile Antico takes the stage for a sequence of works inspired by Nine Lessons and Carols. As Friends of Chamber Music Kansas City welcomes back live performances, they’ll continue to offer Chamber Music Now, which includes a variety of streaming programs and performances. Visit chambermusic.org for details. Benjamin Bagby AUGUST 2021
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PHOTO BY KENNY JOHNSON
Friends of Chamber Music Kansas City
Kansas City Ballet It’s only fitting that Kansas City’s beloved ballet company returns to the stage with a 2021-22 season filled with iconic performances, including Celts, Dracula, and the much-anticipated holiday hit, The Nutcracker. This season also gives you another chance to marvel at The Wizard of Oz, created by choreographer Septime Webre in a joint production between the Colorado Ballet, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and the Kansas City Ballet. Secure your seat at kcballet.org.
PHOTO BY LOIS GREENFILD
Late Night Theatre
Harriman-Jewell Series
Parsons Dance
Founded by Richard Harriman with William Jewell College in 1965, the Harriman-Jewell Series has brought memorable—and often historic—performances to Kansas City for decades. Case in point? It was the Harriman-Jewell Series that presented Luciano Pavarotti in his 1973 recital debut. Fast forward a few decades, and the series is back this year with several ticket packages that offer a better value compared to single-ticket purchases: Inspire (where community, artistry, and value intersect in an array of performances and venues), Music and Dance (grand-scale performances that include both longtime favorites and exciting new acts), and Masters (a more intimate and unexpected way to appreciate some of the world’s best artists). Visit hjseries.org for full schedules and tickets.
The mission of Late Night Theatre hits differently after the devastating toll of the pandemic. “Late Night Theatre, founded in 1997 by Ron Megee, is a ragtag band—united in the goal of lifting the weight of the world off the shoulders of its audience, one three-second laugh at a time,” according to the organization. This year, the future of the “mystical, mythical theater” housed within Missie B’s is uncertain after nearly two years with no revenue. Visit facebook.com/latenighttheatre for options to purchase merchandise packages, the proceeds of which directly benefit Late Night Theatre and future productions. Keep an eye on the Facebook page, too, for upcoming show announcements.
Alicia Keys
Starlight Theatre There’s nothing like a night under the stars at Kansas City’s iconic Starlight Theatre. In addition to an exciting range of concerts featuring everyone from The Doobie Brothers and Pitbull to Barenaked Ladies and Alicia Keys, this year’s Starlight season also includes two Broadway shows: On Your Feet! (September 7-12) and Escape to Margaritaville (September 21-26). Arguably one of Starlight’s most anticipated events is Van Gogh Alive (October. 23-December 31), an immersive, large-scale experience presented by both Starlight and The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Starlight’s stage house will be transformed, offering a glimpse into Van Gogh’s life and art as you explore the exhibit. Visit kcstarlight.com for tickets.
Formerly Johnson County Community College’s Carlsen Center, the Midwest Trust Center is home to Yardley Hall and Polsky Theatre, which means there’s no shortage of events to enjoy. Choose from concerts, performances, even workshops! Upcoming fall and winter highlights include New Dance Partners, The Ultimate Collaboration (September 16-17); KC Jazz Orchestra in concert with Germany’s Hanover Big Band (October 22); Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience (October 24); and Ana Gasteyer’s Sugar and Booze Holiday Tour, December 5. For a full schedule and tickets, visit jccc.edu/midwest-trust-center.
Yesterday and Today:The Interactive Beatles Experience
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PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBERG
PHOTO BY MILAN ZRNIC
Midwest Trust Center
Kansas City Symphony Soon after in-person attendance at KC Symphony concerts resumed in May and June, the Kansas City Symphony announced their full 2021-22 concert season, complete with full capacity audiences starting in September. “There’s a spark that happens when musicians perform before a live audience,” says the KC Symphony executive director, Danny Beckley. “You can see and hear our musicians’ passion. And we see on your face how the music makes you feel.” The current season includes a mix of classical, pop, and family series performances, plus beloved traditions like holiday concerts. Don’t miss two world premieres: Gabriel Kahane’s Piano Concerto, a Kansas City Symphony co-commission (September 24-26); and Stuart Murray Turnbull’s Odyssey (October 29-31). Gather the family to celebrate spooky season with the Halloween Symphony Spooktacular on October 3. Another fun family activity? Watch Home Alone with a live orchestra from December 22-24. More information at kcsymphony.org.
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MUSEUMS, EXHIBITS, & EVENTS The 1900 Building Talk about a two-for-one opportunity! Celebrate the second anniversary of The Restaurant at 1900 with “Talking Food at 1900: Oysters and New England Cuisine” (September 24 and 26). Executive Chef Linda Duerr goes back to her New England roots by welcoming Perry Raso, founder of Rhode Island’s Matunuck Oyster Bar. Choose from three available events: a discussion, an oyster shucking and smoking party, and a full shore-style dinner. Details and tickets at 1900bldg.com.
4 Heads 1 Heart by Zachary Bendrick
Kansas City Artists Coalition Created in 1975 to “change the lives of artists living in Kansas City” and the surrounding region, the Kansas City Artists Coalition did their best to not let the pandemic derail their goals. As one example, they took one of their signature annual events, Coalesce, virtual in a multimedia production filmed on and around the Kansas City Streetcar. Now that in-person gallery visits have fully resumed, KCAC is continuing its commitment to produce ten exhibits per year in each of two spaces: The Main Gallery and the smaller Snap Space, which hosts experimental exhibits from artists 18-35 years old. Fall exhibits include Kemi Radji (September 3-30) and his bold, colorful paintings that show his take on abstract art; Desiree Warren (September 3-30), who took a 15-year hiatus from drawing and is back with impeccably detailed black-and-white floral illustrations; and Zachary Bendrick (December 3-31), whose vivid, energetic paintings are a means to facilitate “a conversation between the viewer and the art,” he says. A full schedule is available at kansascityartistscoalition.org.
National WWI Museum & Memorial Have you ever wondered how exactly museums decide what to keep and exhibit? Make a note to attend Why Keep That?, which opens January 27 in The National World War I Museum and Memorial’s Ellis Gallery. According to the museum, the exhibit “follows the journey of a collection item from the moment it is donated, to the decision-making and archival process of our collections staff.” Grab your favorite snacks and a blanket and close out the summer with the museum’s Friday Film Series, which features Anastasia on August 20. Full details at theworldwar.org.
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The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Like other museums, galleries and arts organizations, the Nelson-Atkins made a pivot to all-virtual programming seem effortless. While September’s Deaf Cultural Festival will be held virtually this year (September 22), in-person festivals return to the museum with Dia de los Muertos (November 1-15), featuring an altar installation in tribute to lost loved ones. Browse a full calendar of exhibits at nelson-atkins.org, including Testimony: African American Artists Collective (through March 27, 2022); Weaving Splendor: Treasures of Asian Textiles (opening September 25); and Monet Water Lilies: From Dawn to Dusk (through January 23, 2022). The Hues of Her Father’s Dreams by Joseph A. Newton
Kansas City Public Library
Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art
You could almost hear the cheer city-wide when the Kansas City Public Library opened its doors once again to the public earlier this year. Visitors not only have access to locations throughout the city that are stocked with books, but also to one of the city’s most wide-ranging arts and events calendars. A few highlights to consider in the coming weeks: The Fourth Grade Project, a posthumous exhibit at the Central Library from photographer, artist, and filmmaker Judy Gelles. She spent nearly a decade asking fourth graders around the world three questions, then used the words and images she collected to create an immersive and thought-provoking exhibit. The family-friendly Off the Wall Film Series: Movies Under the monStars continues with Harry and the Hendersons (August 27) and Young Frankenstein (September 24). Stay up to date with all upcoming library events at kclibrary.org.
Exhibits, artist talks, trivia nights, guided meditations—there’s no shortage of events and programs to explore upon your return to the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. Pay special attention to the sixth annual The Atrium Project (a showcase of commissioned projects from emerging and mid-career Hispanic and Latinx artists), which opens August 19. New Yorkbased artist Aliza Nisenbaum created largescale portraits of people who are key members of Kansas City’s salsa music and dance communities. You’ll want to return to the museum in early 2022. Artist Natalie Frank of Brooklyn will present Natalie Frank: Unbound ( January 27-May 15, 2022), a series of drawings inspired by culturally significant literary narratives. Visit kemperart.org for details.
Kansas City Museum If you go to one arts-oriented event the rest of this year, the Kansas City Museum’s Derby Party should be at the top of your list. The event itself is the perfect excuse to break out your finest vintage fashions to showcase your take on the encouraged attire: Bohemian goddess to Gatsby glam. But then there’s the reason for the party: to celebrate the hotly anticipated grand opening of the Kansas City Museum. Grab a ticket to the party and you’ll be among the first to experience the carefully renovated and restored Corinthian Hall in the city’s historic Northeast neighborhood, an exciting new chapter in the museum’s approximately 80-year-old story. Get your tickets—then, start planning your outfit! kansascitymuseum.org Or Worries by Judy Gelles. AUGUST 2021
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Island of Happiness I by Natalie Frank
Hornbeams from Rufenacht’s first round of planting on the property frame a shady retreat for friends to relax, revive, and enjoy the coming and going of the resident birds.
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John Rufenacht in the garden with Lamar.
words by photos by
Patricia O’Dell Aaron Leimkuehler
INTERIOR DESIGNER AND ENTHUSIASTIC GARDENER JOHN RUFENACHT REGENERATES A KANSAS CITY HISTORIC GARDEN, AGAIN
G A Garden in Time AUGUST 2021
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ardeners steel themselves, or resign themselves, to the inevitable changes that weather, growth, and death bring to the garden each season. Even one shrub’s exuberant success, seemingly a triumph, can overshadow— and place in peril—another’s life sustaining sunbath. Undaunted, John Rufenacht and his husband, Richard Lara, have returned to a house they’ve owned before, to foster a historic Kansas City garden again. “I like a garden that has a messy, carefree feel,” Rufenacht says. “I prefer things to not be too manicured.” It’s an interesting philosophy for a man who is resolutely unflustered and seemingly fastidious in life and in work. With an easy air of calm and confidence, Rufenacht has managed local and national projects through
Original brick from the Weatherly sisters frames a soothing fountain surrounded by zinnias and geranium.
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Low walls and sharply trimmed boxwood outline the beds near the trellised room, which Rufenacht designed.
A large potted fern, a French pot filled with blooms and a weathered terrarium live in harmony on an iron table with a galvanized top.
A shady spot awaits friends and family.
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his design firm, John Rufenacht Associates, for over 40 years, and was an original founder of Dining by Design, which evolved into a national event that raised more than $20 million for AIDS charities. Despite his attention to detail in design, with gardens, he shrugs. “Sometimes I buy the most distorted plant that I see,” he says. “They have the most character.” Rufenacht, who serves on the development board of Powell Gardens, and Lara purchased the house the first time in 1995, but sold it when they bought and rejuvenated “Evening Place,” their escape near Clinton, Missouri. Along with its designer, their garden has its own national acclaim as the home and project of the late Sarah and Virginia Weatherly. “The Weatherly sisters were very wellknown and well-respected gardeners,” Rufenacht says of Sarah and Virginia, who lived in the house with their mother and developed the garden over 70 years ago. “When I came to the house the first time, it was at the suggestion of Sara Morgan and Wendy Powell, who are great friends of mine, because they wanted the garden to stay intact.” While the footprint, beds, brickwork, and the boxwood are original, likely dating from the 1950s, few of the original plantings remain. Even most of the plants that Rufenacht planted on his first go-round are gone. Regardless, the garden has an established feel. The hornbeams that Rufenacht planted during his previous ownership still provide ample shade to the east side of the lot, even as they were not traditionally pruned by the previous owner. “Oh, well,” he says with a shrug. As he’s redeveloped the garden, he says he focuses on texture and leaf color as much as blooms. “The flowers come and go so quickly,” he says. To that end, the Weatherlys’ old herb garden is home to a sentry of topiaries, cautiously guarding the hosta that surround the fountain. “Topiaries are such easy structure,” Rufenacht notes. Tall stalks of downy wood mint provide purple punctuation to the knot. The hand-tied narrow bamboo trellis against the fence—that is painted a cool brown—supports the climbing plants. On the west side of the lot a grass
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Clockwise from top left: A succulent and various cuttings make their start. The west beds and lush grass walk. Hostas in bloom soften the weathered antique cast-iron architectural elements; the clever diamond “window” in the garden gate is just beyond. Low containers of yellow lantana greet visitors just outside the back door. Ferns, hostas and the bird bath— ornamental for the owners and utilitarian for the birds who splash here daily—epitomize the “secret garden” feel. While there’s always room for more blooms, Rufenacht makes sure there’s a spot to lay down a book or set a drink. An iron marker in the “Weeping Garden” that is in honor of a friend, draws the eye to this calm and quiet spot. Zinnias brighten a bed. Opposite, clockwise from top left: The cool comfort of the trellis room interior, enlivened by a red wicker chair. The blue-and-white birdhouse is one of many on the property, where more is often more. An aviary protects a variety of plants of delightfully varying hues that Rufenacht keeps in one spot to ensure regular watering. Looking out from the trellis room.
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Above: In dense display, the heights and shapes of the plants along the east side of the property epitomize the solace of this urban retreat. Opposite, top: Never one to shy away from color, Rufenacht’s yellow garden chairs provide a sunny place to rest and visit. Opposite, bottom left: A crowning glory of succulents shows off varying heights and hues. Opposite, bottom right: Classic iron urns in royal purple create some majesty at garden’s edge.
walk features hydrangeas and azaleas, lamb’s ears and lilies, clematis and anemones. The French hollyhock is volunteer. Rufenacht says he likes to force a lot of plants into a tight space. “If I see dirt, it needs to be filled.” Unlike with interior design, he doesn’t create a color plan outdoors. “I don’t think in terms of palette,” he says. “I’m a farm guy. Planting a garden is not new to me, but I’m a bad plantsman. I can’t remember names. I just go to the nursery—maybe I have a space I’m wanting to fill, like with furniture—and I buy what I like.” One of the first additions to the garden was a trellised room that is in the spot of the old kitchen garden. Rather than the earthy brown of the fences, this trellised space is the fresh green of young moss. Vines grow up and over, spill down just in front of the door and draw darting birds and butterflies. Wicker furniture, tile tables, and ceramic garden seats fill the grotto. A ceiling fan overhead keeps away the summer heat along with flying and biting pests. If this garden is a lesson in anything, it is the enduring quality of good structure coupled with tenacity, a willingness to work, and a pleasant disposition.
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“Gardening is an eternal project,” Rufenacht says. And gardens need to be shared.” It seems certain that the Weatherly sisters would agree.
THE WEATHERLY SISTERS VIRGINIA AND SARAH WEATHERLY grew up on a farm in Hannibal, Missouri. When their father died in 1943, they moved to 57th Street in Kansas City, Missouri, with their mother. The lot was, “Mostly bottle caps and cinders,” Sarah told the New York Times in 1993. Despite the challenges, the Weatherly sisters built brick paths and raised beds and planted roses, azaleas, viburnum, perennial gardens, and a small orchard of dwarf peaches and apples. The sisters and their garden were featured in The American Woman’s Garden, by Rosemary Verey and Ellen Samuels.
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words by
Kelsey Cipolla
A Feast for the Eyes
WE EAT FIRST WITH OUR EYES, AS THE AGE-OLD EXPRESSION GOES. BUT BEFORE YOU EVER CATCH A GLIMPSE OF THE MAIN COURSE, YOU’RE ALREADY ENJOYING AN AMUSEBOUCHE IN THE FORM OF YOUR DESTINATION’S DÉCOR AND ATMOSPHERE.
WHILE NOTHING BEATS A TRULY TASTY MEAL OR photo by aaron leimkuehler
DRINK, THESE COFFEE SHOPS, BARS, AND RESTAURANTS SERVE UP AESTHETICS THAT PIQUE OUR APPETITES AND
Fox and Pearl
ARTISTIC SENSIBILITIES ALIKE. YOU MIGHT EVEN CALL THEM MASTERPIECES.
2143 Summit Street, foxandpearlkc.com Chef Vaughn Good and partner Kristine Hull breathed new life into a more than 100-yearold building when they opened Fox and Pearl in 2019. Windows flood the main dining room with natural light, allowing plants placed throughout the dining area to flourish. Their vibrancy helps ground the more grandiose interior elements, which include high ceilings and a gorAUGUST 2021 |
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geous central bar. The sense that you’ve stumbled into an urban garden continues outside to Fox and Pearl’s brick patio, but Good and Hull also have something slinky up their sleeves. A spiral staircase from the main level of the restaurant takes you down to a speakeasy-style bar with green velvet booths and banquettes and stretches of exposed rock and brick.
The Mercury Room
1800 Walnut Street, themercuryroom.com The cosmos seems well within reach at this much buzzed about cocktail bar at Reverb in the Crossroads, where thousands of LED lights, mirrors, and windows combine to give guests the sense they are floating among the stars. The sensation can be heady, but the rest of the bar smartly avoids competing—instead, clear chairs and swanky gray seating areas complete with comfy pillows and throws help ground the experience. The result is an experience that looks and feels unlike anything else in Kansas City.
Café Sebastienne
4420 Warwick Boulevard, kemperart.org/café
photo by aaron leimkuehler
The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art isn’t just a spot to grab lunch between checking out exhibitions. Café Sebastienne is an art-viewing experience in and of itself, complete with a rotating selection of works and installations by artists from all over the world. The café features two unique spaces: an intimate dining room with a floor-to-ceiling installation of boldly colored paintings by Frederick James Brown, and an architectural, natural light-filled courtyard enclosed by a glass ceiling. The interplay of sunlight and structural elements is just as eye-catching as more conventional pieces of art.
Monarch Coffee monarchcoffeekc.com
If you’re curious as to why Monarch Coffee is so ridiculously chic, look to co-owner Jaime Rovenstine. As an artist, Rovenstine’s work is candy colored and abstract, but in her role overseeing the brand’s aesthetic vision as well as café design, she leans into black and white to create a style that’s both modern and timeless on the ground floor of the historic Ambassador Hotel building in Midtown. Meanwhile, Monarch’s Grand Boulevard coffee bar introduces more color in the form of muted blue-grays and plenty of houseplants. And the drinks are just as artfully crafted as the interiors. AUGUST 2021 |
Paros Estiatorio
10561 Mission Road, parosleawood.com Can’t make it to Greece for your next date night? Paros Estiatorio provides a taste of the peninsula’s sun and sea-soaked spirit (not to mention its seafood-heavy cuisine) to Leawood’s Mission Farms. The dining room is a study in restrained elegance—white walls and tablecloths, cream booths and soft gray chairs provide a clean backdrop for elements like gold-ringed mirrors that call to mind portholes. Subtle cerulean renderings of seascapes bookend one wall, while the restaurant’s simple but striking bar dominates on the opposite side of the restaurant which is also sprinkled with a few nods to Greek antiquities.
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photo by aaron leimkuehler photo by aaron leimkuehler
The Town Company 1228 Baltimore Avenue, hotelkc.com/dine/ the-town-company
The Town Company achieves an impressive feat—despite its location in downtown’s Hotel Kansas City, it offers a stylish, sophisticated dining experience that is completely self-contained and a world away from the typical comings and goings of a hotel eatery. The effect is greatly aided by the dining room’s design, which takes guests past an open, hickory-burning hearth into the main area featuring quilted caramel leather banquettes, wood floors, and walls broken up by swaths of steel blue and pops of gold. Just like the Town Co.’s food, the restaurant is an artful mix of soulful and sophisticated.
Billie’s Grocery
3216 Gillham Plaza, Suite 100, billiesgrocery.com Whether it’s your first stop of the day or a lunch-date destination, walking into Billie’s Grocery provides a respite. The large, open space is bathed in light thanks to an abundance of windows, and white walls and neutral furniture and accents throughout make the most of the natural brightness. Clean, modern lines also ensure that the focus goes to what matters most—the food. Bakery items are showcased in all their glory at the counter and in a wrap-around pastry case, and breakfast, brunch, and lunch dishes are often intensely colorful thanks to the kitchen’s focus on organic, nutrient-dense ingredients.
Canary Rooftop 3835 Main Street, canarykc.com
It would be easy for Canary’s rooftop bar to let its location atop Midtown’s historic Netherland building do all the heavy lifting, but instead owners Keely Edgington and Beau Williams developed an en plein air experience with appeal all its own. Vibrant faux greenery surrounding the bar packs a visual punch that is referenced throughout the rooftop, with patches popping up to add color and texture to railing along the perimeter. Canary-yellow umbrellas provide reprieve from the sun during the day, while string lights offer ambience after dark, creating a vibe that feels both like a vacation and distinctly rooted in Kansas City—if you need a reminder, just look out to the sweeping views of the city skyline. AUGUST 2021 |
Stock Hill
4800 Main Street, Suite G-001, stockhillkc.com Dark hues and masculine materials have become almost as expected at steakhouses as their signature protein. Lucky for us, Stock Hill breaks with tradition. Instead of wood-paneled walls and leather booths, you’ll find floor-to-ceiling windows and deep green-velvet loungestyle seating by the bar, just a few of the many elegant touches that make this modern take on a Kansas City tradition so special. Another? The well-appointed patio, the perfect place to take advantage of Stock Hill’s daily social hour specials. 82 | INKANSASCITY.COM
photo by aaron leimkuehler
Heirloom Bakery & Hearth 401 E 63rd Street, heirloomkc.com
On the outside, Heirloom Bakery & Hearth looks like a trendy, industrial-meet-rustic café. But inside, it sidesteps the increasingly trendy clean lines and modern finishes on display at so many local spots to remind us that lots of warm wood, patterned wallpaper, and black-and-white photos have familiar charms all their own. The cozy-cool space is tailormade to encourage long, lingering conversations over cups of coffee and sweet and savory galettes that look just as inviting as the Brookside eatery that makes them.
The Savoy at 21c
219 W 9th Street, thesavoykc.com Past meets present at The Savoy at 21c, which pays tribute to the Savoy’s long history in Kansas City—the first iteration of the iconic Savoy Grill opened in 1903 and played host to a lengthy list of presidents, among other notable figures. Now owned and operated by 21c Museum Hotels, the restored and reimagined lounge space weaves in elements like the carved oak bar, stained-glass windows, muscular columns, and vintage tile, all a reminder of its impressive history.
Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room
1830 Walnut Street, corvino.com This Crossroads spot has deservedly earned a host of accolades since it opened in 2017, not just for its modern American cuisine but also for the darkly glamorous atmosphere. Designed by Hufft, the restaurant features a subdued palette dominated by shades of gray as well as natural materials. Combined with arresting crow murals, sleek angles, and a stage for live music complete with a custom-fabricated feature wall, Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room is a grown up goth’s dream come true. AUGUST 2021 |
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Above: The entry hall says an easy-breezy hello with Spanish-style ironwork, bold tile, and hits of blue-green. Right: Hammered-metal side tables and lamps, heavy wood beams and mantel anchor the lofty living room, a branching crystal and metal chandelier by Visual Comfort hangs overhead.
The Gathering Place INTERIOR DESIGNER CARMEN THOMAS AND ARCHITECT SCOTT BICKFORD CRAFT A FAMILY HOME THAT EMBRACES A COUPLE AND THEIR CHILDREN
WORDS BY PHOTOS BY
Judith Fertig Aaron Leimkuehler
T
his Leawood home has all the hallmarks of traditional American architecture— sprawling lines, generous porches, peaked gables, and that feeling of easy well-being. It didn’t just happen. Three and a half years ago, this house came to life detail by detail, the vision of Casey Cooley-Brock and her husband, Randy, working with architect Scott Bickford and designer Carmen Thomas with Tran + Thomas Design Studio. The couple owns the Five Guys
AUGUST 2021
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Above: The owners love the lettuce-green Schumacher wallpaper and bleached-wood furniture in the light, fresh dining room. A pair of curvy gilded Visual Comfort chandeliers hang overhead. Flowers from Randy Neal Floral Design. Opposite: Custom paneling, designed by Carmen Thomas, and bold colors create a happy mood in the study.
AUGUST 2021
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Above: Buttery-yellow accents meet cream kitchen cabinetry, a long wood-topped blue-green island, and marble subway tile. Below: The famous cozy corner off the kitchen, Casey Cooley-Brock’s favorite hangout spot. Opposite: Finn, the family cavapoo, keeps watch from an antique settee in the garden room. Flowers from Randy Neal Floral Design.
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Opposite: The principal bedroom exudes Quietude, the Sherwin-Williams’ wall color. Top, left: The principal bath’s branching Carey Lind by York wallpaper repeats the chandelier design in other rooms. Top, right: More bold color from metallic Antonina Vella by York wallpaper in the powder room.
franchises in the Kansas City area, so welcoming guests is part of their D.N.A. They wanted a house that would embrace friends and family, says Casey. It also impresses. Getting there was half the fun. The two most important considerations? “Space and light,” Cooley-Brock says. “I spent a lot of time thinking about that.” About how the rooms would face—the western dining room catches the light of sundown, the eastern kitchen gets the “soft, beautiful early morning sun when I have my coffee,” she says. She and Thomas walked out room dimensions and ceiling heights—how big, how high feels airy but still cozy?—to get just the right balance. Cooley-Brock hates wasted space, so there are no unreachable cabinets or lofty perches for objects that only gather dust. “We use every room,” she says. And when it came to lighting, she relied on Thomas’s sage advice— go above and beyond your builder’s lighting allowance. “We spent three times as much, but it was well worth it,” admits Cooley-Brock. Says Thomas, “Lighting—especially chandeliers—are the jewelry of your home. They finish the look of a room.” When Cooley-Brock first started working with Thomas, “I didn’t know my own style,” she admits. “At one of the first meetings, they showed me pictures of materials and I came to realize I love a neu-
AUGUST 2021
tral palette with pops of color, wood, iron, and tile. So, we have lots throughout the house.” The family also came from a “home full of hand-me-downs,” Cooley-Brock says, “so we went big on furniture and accessories. This is the home our three teenage children, and Finn the cavapoo, are growing up in.” The heart of the home is what Cooley-Brock calls the cozy corner, a bookshelf-lined sitting area to the rear of the kitchen, with views to the backyard. The seating in neutral linen-like fabrics nestles around a coffee table and under a Currey & Co. chandelier. Nearby is a garden room with the blue-green accents and sunny colors that pop up in the rest of the house. The kitchen, with traditional creamy cabinetry and a large woodtopped island, sings a love song to tile: marble subway behind the Wolf range, glazed Moroccan medallions on the interior of the curved archway. It’s also highly functional, with a butler’s pantry nearby to house all the clutter, and two ovens and two dishwashers to handle a crowd. The dining room shows how working with a designer pays design dividends with pairings most homeowners wouldn’t envision. They make this room. It features a traditional Schumacher Chinoiserie wallpaper in an emerald green amidst a pair of curvy gilded Visual Comfort
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the gathering place continued
chandeliers, draperies in a delicate red print with ball fringe, and bleached-wood chairs that add a casual note to what could have been a formal and rather stuffy space. “I spend lots of time in this room,” confesses Cooley-Brock. The kitchen opens to the living room with tall windows framed with patterned draperies. Arched shelves on either side of the fireplace also accentuate the height. “The light here is beautiful,” she says. Basket-weave tile surrounding the fireplace and a heavy wooden mantel add texture and heft to a room that soars. The principal bedroom, painted, appropriately, in soft blue Sherwin-Williams’ Quietude, exudes just that. The tray ceiling is papered in a metallic damask pattern, making an interesting play of light from the capiz-shell chandelier. The spa-like principal bath features a generous soaking tub and a Murano glass chandelier for a hint of luxury. A laundry room right off the bath and a generous walk-in closet add the practical touches. Painted in Sherwin Williams’ dark gray Grizzle, the paneling in the study features a diagonal pattern that adds interest to the small
AUGUST 2021
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Outdoor Living Essentials • Holiday Décor
Chunky pillars, peaked gables, generous porches, and a sprawling footprint by architect Scott Bickford signal comfort and ease in this custom home.
room, a design idea from Thomas. “We designed our house to embrace rather than impress,” says Cooley-Brock. And if it could give you a genteel hug, it would.
THE IT LIST Architect Bickford and Company bick.com
Interior Design Tran + Thomas Design Studio tranthomasdesign.com
Builder Arch Design Builders archdesignbuilders.com
Flowers Randy Neal Floral Design randynealfloral.com
AUGUST 2021
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www.seasonalconceptsONLINE.com | 93 | INKANSASCITY.COM
Flavor
IN KC
In the Kitchen STUFFED PEPPERS BY
Cody Hogan
PHOTOS BY
A
t the height of summer, unless there has been an extraordinary dry spell, my garden tends to become overrun with peppers of all shapes and sizes. This is a good problem. In the pursuit of a zero food-waste policy at home, I have explored countless uses of peppers from cultures around the globe. One universal theme that reasserts itself again and again is the use of the pepper as a container. Sweet or hot, large or small, all but the most excruciatingly spicy peppers can find some use as a vessel for stuffing. In addition to avoiding wasting an excess of peppers, using leftovers to stuff them can give last night’s dinner odds and ends new life and avoid wasting that as well. The important thing is to try to match the stuffing to the type of pepper and method of cooking. I like to use larger peppers simply because you don’t have to stuff as many of them to make a meal, but even tiny peppers like jalapeños (think jalapeño poppers), and the currently popular mini sweet bell peppers are great for making delicious little flavor bombs. The filling can be as simple as leftover starch, such as potatoes, rice, or stale bread, mixed together with diced vegetables and/or proteins, maybe an egg, and seasoning. If you don’t have any leftovers to salvage, try this summertime favorite from my kitchen featuring shrimp and potatoes, and stuff away! Shrimp and Potato Stuffed Peppers This recipe originated from a “what’s in the freezer and garden” situation that grew into a quick and satisfying theme for endless variations. I frequently use raw frozen shrimp in seafood recipes I share because here in the Midwest we are a long way from the ocean, and I find that the quality of seafood in most outlets is less than ideal. When it is ideal, it can be staggeringly expensive. Once you find a brand you like, frozen shrimp are a reliable seafood for our part of the world. I most often cook for two at home (or 200 at work), and this recipe adapts easily to any size group. Since we are using seafood, which cooks AUGUST 2021 |
Aaron Leimkuehler
relatively quickly, begin by cooking the other ingredients in the filling because otherwise they will not have time to cook. For two entrée portions, peel and dice a medium-sized potato and sauté it in olive oil with two slices of bacon cut into smaller bits (the bacon is optional but adds a smoky, savory quality). While that cooks, dice half an onion, one stalk of celery, and a few inches of carrot and add it to the skillet with the potato. Smash a clove or two of garlic and mince that, adding it to the skillet as well. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Next, prep the peppers. If using larger peppers (like poblanos or bell peppers), cut them in half lengthwise and remove the seeds and core, leaving or discarding the stem as you desire. Smaller peppers can be split open but left connected for stuffing. Slightly season the peppers with salt and pepper. If you would like it spicy and your peppers are sweet, sprinkle them with a bit of crushed red pepper. When the potatoes are tender, remove them from the heat and allow them to cool briefly. Coarsely chop a half pound of thawed, peeled, deveined shrimp—four ounces per person if you’re expanding the recipe—then mix it thoroughly into the potatoes. Add the zest of one lemon or lime and some dried oregano (or other herb, like parsley, basil, cilantro, or mint—or a combination of all of those) and mix again. Taste the filling (sauté a tiny bit if you’re afraid to try it raw) and adjust the seasoning as needed. Mound the filling into the peppers and place them in a pan with a little crushed tomato or tomato sauce and a splash of white wine. Drizzle everything with olive oil and put into a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes (tiny peppers will take less time, enormous peppers might take a few minutes longer). You want the shrimp to become opaque, but not tough. Serve with some of the tomato sauce and a garnish of fresh herbs (the ones you used in the filling). A fresh green salad and a glass of white wine or lemony iced tea make for a perfect summertime meal that you’ll want to repeat again and again.
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In Your Pantry STUFF THIS Poblano The classic choice for Mexican chile rellenos, these dark green beauties vary dramatically in size and Scoville units (the unit for measuring the amount of heat in a pepper). For a pepper-inspired breakfast, try slicing one of these in half, steaming it briefly, then filling it with diced ham, cheese, an egg, and a little oregano. Bake (or continue steaming) until the cheese melts and the egg is cooked to your liking. Serve with fresh tortillas and sunshine.
Ajvar When red, these large, thick-walled, sweet peppers from the eastern Adriatic coast are used to make their namesake spread, ajvar. When green—for those who can’t wait for them to ripen—they make an excellent vessel for stuffing due to their size. Try a filling of cooked rice, diced sautéed vegetables, and your choice of herbs and cheese or seafood. Bake or grill until tender.
Cubanelle The pepper for stuffing Italian-American style and serving over a steaming mound of pasta. These pale green, thin-skinned peppers are boxy square, and perfect for stuffing. Try a combination of raw Italian sausage, bread crumbs, sautéed onions, and cheese for filling, then gently cook the peppers in tomato sauce for 30 minutes until the peppers are tender and the filling is cooked through. Dress the pasta with the tomato sauce, top with peppers, and sprinkle with cheese. Look for them at Italian grocers and the farmers market.
Anaheim
www.classickitchenskc.com
When large enough (Anaheims are frequently skinny), these pleasantly piquant peppers make a great stuffing pepper, especially if you like things spicy. Also known as Hatch and New Mexican chile peppers (depending on the exact variety, season, where they are grown, and the www.classickitchenskc.com level of marketing savvy), these peppers scream “stuff me with cheese and grill me.” The level of heat can vary from mild (like a bland jalapeño) to attention grabbing. Available year round in larger grocery stores.
AUGUST 2021 |
www.classickitchenskc.com
now featuring now featuring
now featuring
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Flavor
IN KC
In Your Cocktail WEST BOTTOMS WHISKEY CO. by
Kelsey Cipolla
photo by
Corie English
The Best Old Fashioned in Kansas City.
W
est Bottoms Whiskey Co. isn’t just named for the neighborhood where the distillery opened earlier this year. For owner and master distiller Alex Lindsey, the West Bottoms has a crucial tie to the spirit of the whiskey he makes—a sense of innovation and optimism that can be traced from the neighborhood’s early days as the epicenter of Kansas City industry and commerce. “I’ve always been fascinated with the West Bottoms,” Lindsey AUGUST 2021 |
says. “What I really love is the history around it.” He pays tribute to that history with the distillery’s Kansas City Whiskey, which uses the pre-prohibition practice of rectification. To keep up with high demand and avoid taxes, which were determined by how much whiskey went into a barrel, distillers started adding a bit of sherry to give it more color and soften the flavor. Rectification was rediscovered and implemented by Lindsey’s neighbors at J. Rieger & Co., who proved to be a big help as he adopted the practice. Ultimate96 | INKANSASCITY.COM
ly, Lindsey created West Bottoms Whiskey with a spicy rye and bourbon that are combined with a 15-year-old oloroso sherry. “It took basically three very, very drunk nights and three very, very sh*tty mornings to come up with that blend,” he recalls. “What it came down to was I wanted to offer a whiskey to Kansas City that was whiskey-forward, that drinks like you would drink it neat or on the rocks.” In addition to that cornerstone whiskey, Lindsey is also working on micro batches, which will be available as limited releases a few times per year. First up? An American malt whiskey he played around with years ago and still considers the best thing he ever created. Made on a ten-gallon still named Hephaestus after the Greek god of fire and metalworking, the spirit is then put in small barrels so it can age in three to five months as opposed to three to five years—keep an eye out for the release this fall. Guests can get a taste of the mainstay whiskey and special releases at West Bottoms Whiskey Co.’s intimate tasting room, which offers a craft whiskey cocktail list designed for whiskey lovers and more apprehensive drinkers alike. Naturally, you’ll find the horsefeather, a Kansas City staple, as well as the sweet and creamy Whiskey Waker coffee martini and a take on the Boulevardier, made with Rondo Spritz, amaro, and a couple dashes of bitters. (It’s Lindsey’s personal favorite—and for a spicy twist, order the off-menu Southwest Boulevardier, which gets a habanero kick.) The cocktail menu also features the drink Lindsey and co. dubbed “The Best Old Fashioned in Kansas City.” The name started out as a joke, but he does consider it a contender for the title. When you order it in the tasting room, a whiskey barrel stave is sprinkled with orange bitters and hit with heat, creating an orange fog inside the glass. That little element aside, “It’s a really, really simple recipe,” Lindsey says. “We try to let the whiskey speak for that one.” Although a smoked stave might not be on the menu for your home bar, the cocktail can be. westbottomswhiskey.co
The Best Old Fashioned in Kansas City
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In Culinary News
MAGGIE AND JOE ZAHNER have always loved entertaining. Now, the veterans of KC’s restaurant industry are running their own show at OurHouseKC, a laidback West 39th Street café, bakery, and restaurant that boasts a rooftop patio and a rollicking live-music lineup. “Music is love,” Maggie says, adding that it has the ability to bring people together in the same way food does. And at OurHouse, there’s a lot of food to choose from, including breakfast skillets with smoked meats, sandwiches, salads, and personalized pastas and ice cream sundaes. One early standout? The Bob’s burntend French-dip sandwich, which combines two iconic dishes into one toasted treat. For a lighter lunch, mom of four Maggie opts for the Southwestern quinoa bowl. ourhousekc.com
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Flavor BY
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BUCK TUI BBQ
In Culinary News
WALDO THAI’S Ted Liberda grew up eating his mom’s traditional Northeastern Thailand Isaan cuisine and plenty of Kansas City barbecue. He’s sharing those bold and sweet complementary flavors with all of KC via Buck Tui BBQ, a new concept in Overland Park launched in collaboration with bartender extraordinaire Mari Matsumoto. A brick-and-mortar restaurant is slated to open later this summer (7200 West 121st Street), but Buck Tui made its debut at the Overland Park Farmers Market, giving the neighborhood a sneak peek of what to expect: Think brined brisket, roasted chicken, and chili-glazed ribs all served over seasoned jasmine rice with housemade barbecue and Tiger Cry sauces, plus sides like brisket rolls and spicy papaya slaw. As for the cocktails, the drinks will have a vacation feel along with some barbecue influences. bucktuibbq.com
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FOODLOVE CAFÉ FRENCH AND SOUTHERN cuisines meet at Food-
In Culinary News
love Café (2101 Broadway Boulevard), a restaurant from longtime catering business owners Kim and Clarence Cole. “I have two grandmothers, one that’s from Europe and one that’s from Arkansas, from Little Rock,” Kim explains. “I’ve basically grown up with all of these different recipes.” Guests can enjoy dishes like fried chicken drizzled with a French pan sauce, macaroni and cheese, and butter-seared chicken breast topped with chardonnay-soaked pears, plus a full breakfast menu on Saturday mornings at the restaurant, which opened in July. And keep an eye on the art in the industrial concrete and iron space—Kim is an artist, and Foodlove Café will include some of her pieces as well as work from other local creatives. facebook.com/foodlovecafe
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Flavor
IN KC
Reservation for One GRAM & DUN by
Kelsey Cipolla
G
photos by
ram & Dun has long been a Kansas City favorite for one big, sun-soaked reason—its spectacular patio is the best on the Country Club Plaza, if not the city. Now under new ownership, the restaurant is reminding diners that it’s more than just a pretty patio with a revamped menu and refreshed interior. AUGUST 2021 |
Aaron Leimkuehler
The look of the restaurant will be familiar to anyone who loved the previous iteration. Inside, the décor has been subtly updated and brightened up without any fundamental changes. But the patio is still clearly the main attraction, packed with people drinking and dining in the shade of massive umbrellas on a warm weeknight. Gram & Dun leans into its designation as a summer spot with
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a lineup of spritzes and seasonal cocktails, offered along with signature favorites and classics, including the G&D Old Fashioned and a refreshing basil smash. The Mr. Pimms, one of the summer spritzes, seems tailor-made for sipping on a hot day—mint simple syrup, mixed-berry shrub, cucumber, and orange combining for a cocktail that deftly balances fruity and herbaceous ingredients. Although some of Gram & Dun’s signature dishes remain on the menu—the Asian pig wings, shrimp and grits, fried catfish, and burnt-end mac and cheese—there are also new selections sprinkled throughout. Start off with the chicken or short rib nachos drizzled with a house-made beer cheese sauce, or opt for Moroccan-spiced tenderloin skewers with tzatziki. Other new starters include the tempura shrimp, magnificently crispy on the outside and tender within, served on a spread of blue cheese mousse and topped with blue cheese crumbles, celery hearts, and a buffalo vinaigrette. Despite all of the bold flavors at play, the sweetness of the shrimp still shines through, holding its own against the building heat of the buffalo sauce. Gram & Dun also introduced entirely new sections of the menu devoted to sushi and tacos. They’re slightly out of step with the rest of the offerings, which skew more Southern inspired, but the dishes are nonetheless tasty. The Flying Dragon roll features blue crab and unagi, with a sweet eel sauce doing most of the heavy flavor lifting. The roll is one of four available on the sushi menu, all of which lean into approachability with limited raw ingredients but plenty of spicy mayo and crunch. The street-style tacos are small yet packed with flavor. Tender shrimp is complemented by candied fresno chili and an avocado purée, while the short rib tacos are topped with pico de gallo, guacamole, and cotija. With a few tacos per order and no sides, they’re best ordered as an appetizer rather than an entrée. Because Gram & Dun’s entrées are anything but skimpy. In addition to the holdovers from the previous menu, diners can now enjoy half grilled chicken, which arrives as a tower built on a foundation of roasted potatoes, sauteed garlic swiss chard, and two pieces of chicken. The grilling doesn’t do much in the way of crisping up the bird’s skin, but the chicken is juicy and imparted with a nice touch of char to balance out the buttery lemon pan sauce that graces the dish. Other options include a vegetable curry, Alaskan halibut, and a handsome dry-aged Duroc pork chop with grits. Gram & Dun also serves up a slightly retooled selection of sandwiches and salads as well as topnotch steaks. The Gram & Dun Bar still reigns supreme when it comes to dessert—the favorite features chocolate mousse, ganache, and peanut nougat, plus salted caramel, pretzel, and peanut-butter cup ice cream in a compact dessert that’s big on flavor. For a lighter finale, consider the coconut crêpe, the light pastry filled with coconut crème and caramelized coconut and served with a sharp pineapple mango coulis and dehydrated pineapple slice. Yes, it’s a dish perfect for the patio. But as we now know, there’s so much to enjoy about Gram & Dun, inside and out. gramanddun.com
AUGUST 2021 |
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LESS WAITING
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My Essentials
IN KC
VLATKO ANDONOVSKI U.S. WOMEN’S NATIONAL SOCCER COACH BY
Michael Mackie
S PHOTO BY JOHN TODD / ISI PHOTOS
mall world—the head coach for the U.S. women’s national soccer team is a proud Kansas Citian. Vlatko Andonovski was born in Yugoslavia where he played for several European leagues. The famed Macedonian defender eventually found his way to Wichita to play for the (now-defunct) Wichita Wings before being signed to play for the Kansas City Comets and two other leagues in California and Philly. We caught up with Andonovski in Hartford, Connecticut, the weekend before relentless Olympic team practice on the field resumed. Andonovski says he’s been working hard behind the scenes getting everything squared away for this year’s 2021 Summer Olympics. “Presentations, analysis, individual work, group work, teamwork—everything has been on video, including game analysis,” he says. “We did as much as possible to prepare, so when we got back on the field, we weren’t starting at ground zero in the comeback process. I’m very excited to be back and get together with the team. We’re ready to go.” When asked his thoughts on Kansas City, Andonovski gushed considerably. With 20 years under his belt this year, to say he’s a fan of the city would be an understatement. “I don’t just like Kansas City, I love Kansas City. I love the city, the people, the communities. I love everything about the city,” he says. “I love how genuine everybody is. The fact I can go on a walking trail and people you come across say good morning or just smile, that makes me feel like we’re all the same, all together, and all friends. I love that.”
Vlatko’s essentials... UP EARLY: Corner Café in
BREAK THE BANK: Plaza’s Capital Grille would be a place where I’d splurge. I enjoy a good steak. B TO THE B TO THE Q: If I have to go to one barbecue place, it would be Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que.. The fries at Joe’s are next level. Actually, I’d go for the brisket at Joe’s, the burnt ends at Q39, the pork ribs at Jack Stack,, and Arthur Bryant’s for pulled pork.
Riverside is my go-to breakfast spot. I change up from time to time, but I order an omelet with mushroom and spinach. Their cinnamon rolls are huge. They put so much icing on top. It kills me. One cinnamon roll is family size—but I end up eating the whole thing. It’s as big as my head—and my kids love them too.
HOMESICK NO MORE: I love the
local experience at Bella Napoli. You go in and you feel like you know everyone. Westside Local is good. I love their appetizers and charcuterie boards. It reminds me of back home.” JAVA JUNKIE: I go to Headrush Roasters, usually for
an Americano and a scone. I love the surroundings and the balcony that overlooks downtown. A lot of us coaches go there to sit, meet, and talk. I also like Café. Their croissants are crazy good. Messenger Café
SHHH! HIDDEN GEM: Carniceria y Tortilleria San Antonio.. It’s a little grocery store (in KCK) that has five or six tables. They have butchers inside. Everything is prepared there—and it’s all so good.
GUILTY PLEASURE: Every time I go to an Italian
restaurant, I get tiramisu. I love good tiramisu. Jasper’s has the best. AUGUST 2021
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