IN Kansas City August 2023

the ARTS ISSUE

FALL ARTS PREVIEW

INTERURBAN ARTHOUSE

with Art

AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT A HOME DESIGNED FOR ART

CRISS-CROSSING THE GLOBE

The watch ofchoice for travelers. Introduced in 1955, the original GMT-Master was soon adopted by transatlantic pilots as a navigational aid. A 24-hour hand and rotatable bezel allow it to display two time wnes simultaneously. Today, the GMT-Master II is the ideal timepiece for travelers, its high-tech two-color Cerachrom bezel mirroring the aesthetics of the original model. The GMT-Master II.

Carrie

Dave Karen Raja

Your Seville Home Designers

Kimberly Becky Elizabeth

Do you feel it? The embrace of beautiful home furnishings. Everything paired to express your unique, personal style.

Creating your favorite retreats is our passion and has been for nearly 25 years.

From gorgeous, hand-crafted creations to in-home consultations, offered at no extra charge, we have become THE preferred partner to Kansas City’s top designers AND homeowners alike.

Whether it’s a single statement piece or an entire home refresh, enjoy the exceptional experience at Kansas City’s original, family-owned Seville Home.

Coming Fall 2023

Five Years and Counting

Yesterday, I was sitting in the waiting room of the Urgent Care nearest my home, holding an ice pack on my nose, passing time by scrolling mindlessly through Facebook. (Is there any other way to scroll Facebook?)

You know those Memories that pop up in your feed from time to time, most of which are annoying reminders of times you don’t need to remember and would rather forget? This one, however, was special. On that day, five years ago, the first issue of IN Kansas City was released.

We had big plans.

We were a team that believed in the power of print. We wanted our coverage to be as wide and deep as your interests. Arts, culture, music, people, food, fashion, home design, and long-form articles that delved deeper into all the excitement that’s going on in Kansas City. Of course, since the very beginning, we wanted to provide immediate, fresh, daily content too. So we launched inkansascity.com and our social media sites at the same time.

We’ve faced some daunting challenges. (Hello, pandemic!) And we managed to make it through, even covering the impact of Covid-19 on the businesses and people of our town.

We’re amazed at how fast a ride the past five years have been. It’s fun to look back at the successes (and a few failures) that we’ve faced. So much has happened that KC has every right to celebrate, from sports successes (Super Bowl, NFL Draft, host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup) to the city’s growth (expanded streetcar lines, Pennway Point Ferris wheel, a burgeoning restaurant scene), to the thriving arts community (this issue is all about that!) and we’ve been thrilled to report on all of it.

We’ve been astounded by our growing, devoted readership, both in print and online, and the kudos we’ve received. Last summer, we were honored that Kansas City’s Media Mix organization awarded us the Print Publication of the Year at its annual awards banquet.

We know that without you, dear reader, we wouldn’t be here. You’ve let us know what you’ve liked and what, well, not so much. You’ve supported our loyal advertisers, sometimes even tearing pages out of the magazine to let them know exactly what it is you’re looking for. You’ve inspired us to produce the best print and online content we’re capable of creating.

We still believe in the power of print.

We want to continue to be your source for living IN Kansas City for the next five years. Because before you know it, 2028 will be here.

Oh, and about that ice pack on my nose. That’s a story for another time.

Zim

Vol. 6 | No. 8 AUGUST 2023

Editor In Chief Zim Loy

Digital Editor Liz Schroeder

Art Director Alice Govert Bryan

Contributing Writers

Susan Cannon, Judith Fertig, Cindy Hoedel, Cody Hogan, Damian Lair, Patricia O’Dell, Jenny Vergara

Contributing Photographers

Tisha Brene, Corie English, Aaron Leimkuehler, Andrew White

Publisher Michelle Jolles

Media Director Brittany Coale

Senior Media Consultants

Katie Delzer, Nicole Kube, Krista Markley, Josie Rawlings

Business Consultant Chad Parkhurst

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 Subscriptions PO Box 292374, Kettering, OH 45429 Phone: 888-881-5861 Email: SUBS@inkansascity.com

Subscribe

photo by aaron leimkuhler

INKANSASCITY.COM

ENTER TO WIN

Back to school treat. Enter to win a $200 gift card to the Prairie Village Shops. It’s that time of year again—do you or your kids need school supplies? Grab what’s new in back-toschool clothing trends or treat yourself to a haircut. If there’s no one headed back to school, have a fun night out at one of Prairie Village’s delicious restaurants. You deserve it! Enter by August 31 at inkansascity.com/the-magazine/ enter-to-win. Good luck!

The monster maker. Artist and sculptor Haley Lane brings fantasy into the everyday with her functional art designs. Now, this otherworldly creator is getting larger than life with a solo exhibition at Upper Level Gallery. “Creation is a meditation on the human experience,” Lane says, and each of her monsters brings a hint of whimsy with a touch of terror. “It is my attempt to show how I see our world, a sensory playground lled with incredible animals.” We sat down with the artist and sculptor to learn more about these fanciful creations. Find the full interview at inkansascity.com

August’s musical medley. It’s always concert season in Kansas City, and Timothy Finn has your guide to all the best that August is bringing. Ed Sheeran starts the month o with his stadium tour, but music lovers can nd a wide range of events to satiate their appetite for live concerts. From rock to pop to rap to jazz, outdoor arenas to intimate shows, August is giving summer a truly spectacular musical farewell. Check out inkansascity.com for the full monthly guide.

Under the sea in KC. e Kansas City Zoo is opening the Sobela Ocean Aquarium on September 1. Mark your calendars, because all the ocean creatures you’ve been missing are making their way to the Midwest just in time for fall. e opening brings community bene ts, an additional science curriculum for area schools, and strengthens the zoo’s existing conservational e orts. We spoke to Sean Putney, the CEO and executive director, about how the aquarium came to be, and what visitors can expect to see. What’s your favorite sea creature? Check out inkansascity.com to see if you’ll nd it there in September.

Social calendar need a reboot? Discover the most comprehensive calendar in the metro—art galleries, dance, theater, social events, food, music and so much more at inkansascity.com/events

This Month IN KC August

WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AND WHAT YOU NEED TO SEE

by Liz Schroeder

Innovation Festival

August 3-5

Crown Center

theinnovationfestival.com

Bright ideas. Kansas City’s Innovation Festival kicks

o August with a three-day conference and entertainment experience. Discover what’s new in tech with the festival’s slate of groundbreaking innovation talks, or explore science exhibits all across Crown Center. Find opportunities for training programs and exciting new tech careers between conference programming, then relax with live music. Lovers of tech, arts, and innovation unite!

Pod Meets World

August 6

Midland Theater midlandkc.com

Back to school.

e ’90s are back, and everybody’s rewatching their favorite nostalgic sitcoms. Boy Meets

World is now 30 years old, and cast members Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, and Will Frielde who played Topanga, Shawn, and Eric, host their hit podcast, Pod Meets World, from Midland eater this August. Special guests have previously included Adam Scott, Ethan Suplee, and Kathy Ireland, and this show will feature none other than Tony “Mr. Turner” Quinn! Hear stories from the set, and come dressed to impress in your best Boy Meets World costume— annel, anyone?

Hip-Hop

50 KC

August 12

Gem Theater

Find tickets at eventbrite.com

Rap session. 18th and Vine Lives is partnering with Shawn Edwards and Don Juan to celebrate 50 years of Kansas City hip-hop and culture. is bene t has a hyperlocal focus, with local rappers, DJs, gra ti artists, and dancers coming out to enjoy the scene they helped build. Proceeds will be donated to the American Jazz Museum and the Mutual Musicians Foundation to further cultivate the relationship between hip-hop and jazz.

AUGUST SPOTLIGHT

We Care Brunch

August 26

Hotel Kansas City kccare.org/events/brunch

Kickstart your day. Providing access and care to everyone in the Kansas City community, regardless of insurance or income level, KC Care Health Clinic is hosting its rst in-person We Care KC Brunch event. is boozy brunch is serving up mimosas and mission-driven stories at the Hotel Kansas City, with a post-event cabaret show and optional afterparty at Nighthawk.

Kemper Museum Block Party

August 26

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art kemperart.org

Summer ing. Give one last hooray for summer at the Kemper Museum’s block party! Featuring last looks at Virginia Jaramillo’s Principle of Equivalence and a rst look at the eighth annual Atrium Project, Sarah Zapata: So the roots be known , this art event will include local food and drink vendors, with a backdrop of live music. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be screened on the lawn after sunset.

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

Wisdom From My Party-Savvy Pals

MERRILY SHARES ADVICE AND IDEAS FROM FRIENDS WHO FREQUENTLY ENTERTAIN

Merrily Jackson

by Corie English

Even if you’re serving only pistachio nuts and wine, having people over is a big fat P.I.A., isn’t it? It costs money and time. It obligates us to spiff up our homes. It begets squabbles with our spouses. It makes us vulnerable: in the very act of inviting people, we open ourselves up for rejection. It’s a wonder we entertain at all. So why do we?

I posed this and other questions to some friends who entertain frequently and well. And I asked them to share with me their hard-won party-giving advice to pass along to you. Following are a few of the nuggets they shared.

BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WORTH IT

Entertaining might be considered a frivolous topic, but good hosts take their party-giving seriously.

“It’s almost sacred,” says Deirdre Devine, a healthcare consultant who gives the most rollicking little dinner parties in her

Deirdre Devine’s Tarragon Vinaigrette

MY FRIEND Deirdre Devine serves this tangy dressing over a combination of arugula and romaine lettuce tossed with whatever salad mix-ins she has on hand. It’s also delicious over warm fingerling potatoes. As with any salad dressing, the better your ingredients, the better the result.

Makes 1 cup

1 sprig fresh tarragon, chopped finely

1 large clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

½ cup white wine vinegar

¼ cup vegetable oil

¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil

Small glass jar

Add tarragon, garlic, mustard, salt, pepper, and vinegar to jar and shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Add oils and shake vigorously for 10 seconds. Keeps for 2 weeks in refrigerator. Best served at room temperature.

tony Sulgrave condo high above the Plaza. “The act of serving food and drink to my friends is precious to me. And while it is a lot of work, for me it’s pure joy. Whatever effort you put forth comes back to you many times over, because people are truly grateful to be invited over.”

Beth Zollars, who divides her time between KC and Southern California—she is on the faculty at USC—is one of the most accomplished hostesses I know. “Entertaining for me is truly primal,” she says. “It’s my love language. No matter what is on the menu, treating your guests with your time, attention, and beautiful objects creates the foundation for bonds of friendship and building a deeply rooted and long-lasting communit

KEEP IT SIMPLE, SWEETHEART

When I ask friends to tell me the biggest mistake they’ve made when giving a party, all give pretty much the same answer: Overdoing it.

“Early in my entertaining life, I felt that bigger was better,” says Beth. “Numerous floral arrangements, multiple courses, layer upon layer of flatware and china … a complex evening that often left me a bit flustered and exhausted.

“I’ve grown and so has my style. Today’s typical ‘look’ involves non-ironed linen napkins tied with twine and an herb clipping from my garden, a few tall cuttings in my favorite vases from same garden, organic shaped simple handmade ceramic dishes, and a less complex meal with farmers-market purchases made that morning and prepared in part on the grill and often served buffet style.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Style icon DeeDee Arnold hosts sophisticated, merry gatherings in her George Terbovich-designed Plaza condo. She says the phasing of pre-dinner drinks is important for a lively dinner party: the cocktail hour should be neither too long nor too short. “The worst mistake is to wait to serve dinner until everyone is cross-eyed from too many cocktails,” says DeeDee. “But it’s almost as bad to give people time for about two gulps and then hustle them into dinner.”

Speaking of sitting down to dinner, Deirdre has a lovely tradition. As soon as everyone is seated, she says something specific about each person and why she is grateful he or she is there, and then she raises a glass to her guests. It’s such a simple thing, but a wonderful way to start dinner because it makes everyone feel beloved and welcome

MIXING IS GOOD

Susan Gordon, known for her creative and elegant cocktail parties, used to work for the U.S. Department of State. She calls upon her experience with diplomacy to create her guest lists.

“Synergy is key,” she says. “I make it a point to have enough high-energy types to keep the party going, and I think about how guests will interact with each other.”

She says she makes sure everyone invited knows at least two

other people at the party. “Unless you have time to care for that guest, he or she will feel isolated,” she says.

“On the other hand, it is important to shake up the usual-usual crowd. Invite one or several people who are outside your regular group, but whom you think will blend well with the others.”

POINTERS FROM PAULA

My college friend Paula Gabrault is the most intuitive cook I know. I have never seen her use a recipe, yet she effortlessly produces dish after delicious dish for casual gatherings at her spacious home in Andrew County, Missouri. What are her secrets? “Know how to sear meat in a hot cast-iron skillet and have a meat thermometer handy,” she says, “and always have a garlic-butter-parsley mixture made up in the fridge.

“Have a few finishing sauces under your belt so you can fancy a dish up,” she adds. Hollandaise, white wine reduction, bechamel, and bourbon/brown butter reduction are the sauces she uses most. Since she doesn’t use recipes for any of them—yes, she is that smooth—I can’t share them with you. But I can email you the sauce recipes I use. They produce a worthy result, but they’re not as good as what Paula makes.

DID SOMEONE MENTION RECIPES?

Beth has offered to share her menu for the perfect late summer dinner party: A first course of roasted beet hummus with fresh veggies, followed by moqueca (Brazilian fish stew with coconut milk, tomatoes, and peppers served over rice), then for dessert a gorgeous berry fruit salad in honey lime dressing.

In just a few short months it will be perfect weather for Deirdre’s hearty Irish stew, her go-to recipe for when the thermostat starts to drop, which she serves alongside a simple green salad dressed in her amazing tarragon vinaigrette and Farm-to-Market rosemary olive-oil bread.

For winter dinner parties, DeeDee turns to a recipe she got years ago from The American Restaurant, which she calls “Dressed-up Short Ribs with Cognac and Mustard.” She serves it over noodles or polenta. Email me and I will send you any of the above-mentioned recipes.

Any discussion of my friends who cook is deficient without mentioning Don Loncasty, known amongst his friends as The Snobby Chef. For all his insufferable ways, Don is a wondrous cook. He’s prepared a compendium of his favorite recipes called “Things I Cook,” which I can also send you if you ask nicely.

by Damian Lair

dlair@inkansascity.com

: @damianlair #OurManINKC

Outfitted Like Legends

It may seem silly, but some of my fonder childhood memories were of our annual back-to-school shopping trips to Kansas City. From a very small town, and pre-internet, there wasn’t much in the way of children’s clothes nearby. My two sisters and I, accompanied by our patient mother, would make the annual trek. But before scooting o to the city, there was the serious matter of funds negotiation. Every year, we each had to prepare an itemized list—for our father—of what we needed, including anticipated costs for each item. It was a nerve-wracking exercise, but in hindsight, a meaningful and educational one. Cheers, Dad.

With summer winding down and school somehow just around the corner, what better way to relive my back-toschool shopping fantasies than, vicariously, through my nieces and nephews?

Followers of this column know I love a spontaneous adventure, but with ve kids (including an infant) and a summer calendar packed with soccer, dance, swimming, camps, and the occasional vacation, there was no room for spontaneity. When did kids’ lives become so scheduled and complicated? We settled on a rare free date and met at the Legends Outlets. ere, we could cover a lot of retail ground for numerous children and divergent tastes in an e cient manner.

Surely, you’ve been to the Legends? It’s been an anchor of the Village West development in Kansas City, Kansas, for more than 17 years now. For anyone not familiar, the Legends is an outdoor shopping and entertainment destination, just 15 miles west of downtown. With more than 100 retail, dining, and entertainment options—topping more than a million square feet of space—there’s something for everybody. Yours truly, included.

We began at my personal go-to, Ralph Lauren. ere’s clothing for kids and grownups galore. Lucy found some particularly adorable dresses—Uncle-D approved. Unexpectedly, I spotted a denim jacket (yes, I weighed whether I need a 10th one) with a very Southwest-style embroidered and quilted back. Very di erent from anything I have, and it would be perfect for an upcoming autumn trip out west. In our basket it went.

e Nike and Adidas stores were big hits across our diverse age and gendered clan. New sneaks for everyone! Also, we couldn’t walk by Claire’s without 1.) 5-year-old Lucy relitigating her ear-piercing

case (Mom still says no!), and 2.) dropping in for some (I suppose) classroom-appropriate baubles. Hey, a girl has to shine . . .

HOT GOSSIP:

Who donated to a charitable cause, in sincere hopes of mending friendship fences?

e Legends J.Crew store has the metro’s only Crew Cuts (children’s line) section. Another go-to of my own, so we found plenty of mini-me options that didn’t make the kids roll their eyes. Sadly, we’re getting to that age. ey’re no longer infants we can dress up as our objection-free porcelain dolls.

For many boys, this age is accompanied by an aversion to Mom-preferred clothing to sportswear galore. Au revoir, precious Peter Pan collars. César and Alexander are no exception here. In the can’t-beatthem-join-them spirit, I took them to a place I knew they’d love: Rally House. I’m no expert, but the Legends location may be the largest metro-wide outpost (it’s certainly the largest I’ve visited). e kids were equally impressed by its endless array of sports stu . Not surprisingly, Chiefs gear was No.1. Have to be geared up for Red Friday, after all. K-State also got a strong shout-out (2022 Alumni Family of the Year proud!). As for me—still lacking some gear to show my new KC Cur-

Damian Lair with his niece and nephews (Lucy, César, Alexander, and Sebastian) at the Legends Outlets.

Our Man IN KC

rent pride—I scratched that off my list. And I will say, teal is such an attractive color.

Wrapping things up for the day, we had one final stop. As a reward for mostly good kid behavior: tickets for Dave & Buster’s. And as a reward for shopping with five kids under the age of ten: cocktails. We had dinner also, but that was a small, pesky box to check in order to be let loose among a mind-blowing array of arcade games. This was a first D&B experience for me, and it was a bit jarring—in a fun way. We got all the fixings—loaded fries, burgers, chicken tendies, boneless wings— you name it. I got to catch up with my sisters, played a few games with the kids, and selected prizes. The kids loved it. Lucy was so entranced by the experience that she’s since declared she will have her next birthday there. We’ll see if that sticks. And if it does, I would be pleased to return. Perhaps denim jacket #11 will be calling my name . . .

A GRAND EXPERIENCE

BOULEVARDIA has a tagline: A Grand Experience for your Senses. It’s an apt description. Originally held in the West Bottoms, the event now dominates the surrounding blocks, streets, and park at Grand Boulevard and Pershing Road. And, as Kansas City’s largest urban street festival, it covers three big sensory bases: food, music, and beer.

For one summer weekend, this pop-up nation transformed the Crown Center area into our own baby-Coachella. People pulled out their festival looks to pose amidst the numerous Instagram-ready backdrops and photo opts. Guests could get a snap at the Coca-Cola Airstream photo booth or a caricature by Capybara Caricature. Interspersed were ambient street performers—curiously dressed in stilts, costumes, and melted ice cream hats, waving color guard flags and glow sticks. Are you feeling festival-y yet?

category, there were cocktail bitters from Good Bitter Best, beeswax lip balm, honey, and bee pollen (I sprinkle it in my lunch shake every day to keep the allergies away!) from Messner Bee Farm, and live plants from The Rolling Garden

OVERHEARD

“These new [Apple] headphones say: ‘I’m rich and busy. Get out of my way.’”

If shopping weren’t entertaining enough (it is for me), there were a bevy of other options. With no ice in summertime, the Crown Center Ice Terrace was transformed into a daytime retro roller-skating party by Winwood Skate Center At night, the terrace transformed again into the Monster Energy Silent Disco where you could pick up wireless headsets linked to one of two DJs mixing at nearby stages (in silence). I believe the first-ever silent disco I participated in was at Boulevardia, during the very early West Bottoms years. Now, the concept is everywhere. Almost too everywhere. Nearby was the familiar Ferris wheel of Boulevardias past. (Side note: I cannot wait for the permanent one being installed (as I write!) on our downtown skyline at the future Pennway Point development, just blocks away, along I-35.)

And what’s a festival without live music? Spread across three scattered stages, there was music around the clock. Frontliners included Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, The War and Treaty, Surfaces, Grandson, K.Flay, and Big Freedia. Last but not least—drag performers Daisy Buckët, Lana Luxx, and Victor Shawn made Boulevardia her-story by being the first included in the festival’s eight-year entertainment lineup.

All the jamming, skating, and silent-discoing work up an appetite? Fortunately, there were food trucks and stations by many familiar local restaurants, including Fairway Creamery, Mission Taco Joint, Taste of Brazil, André’s Confiserie Suisse, Arthur Bryant’s Barbeque, Beer Kitchen, Char Bar, Earl’s Premier, Gus’s Fried Chicken, Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop, Meat Mitch, Pressed Penny Tavern, Taco Naco, Teocalí, and many others. One could stay all weekend and never eat the same thing twice.

HOT GOSSIP:

In the streets and park, there were a myriad of yard-game options: frisbee golf, ladder toss, Jenga—you name it. Summer was made for this. Also in the park was Makers Village, which included more than 50 local vendors purveying art, clothing, jewelry, candles, and décor. Acira Studio had an array of contemporary Mexican paper art—intricately cut, 3-D paper designs in a bouquet of colors. There was tie-dyed loungewear from Bleach Bae, customizable hats by Cosmic Cowgirls, and vintage apparel at a Fetch pop-up shop as well as GoodKid Collective and Tall Tale Vintage Red Hare Leather (you may have seen on the runway at a recent West 18th Street Fashion Show) had handsewn leather goods, and there was joyful clay jewelry from Tucker & Scout Lex Moderne had very attractive, decorative cement planters—some with candles—and more candles from Ipomoea Organics, a mother/child operation that donates a portion of its sales to the Kansas City Center for Inclusion to benefit LGBTQ youth. And in the less-expected

As for beer—and that is sort of the point of Boulevardia—don’t expect to be drowned in propaganda from Boulevard Brewing Company. You’re never more than a stone’s throw from a Boulevard tap, but the festival is an equal-opportunity beer purveyor. I’d go so far as to say they celebrate competitor brewers. Case in point, the popular Taps & Tastes event where brewmasters from 50-plus national and international craft breweries poured selections from their breweries alongside several Kansas City culinary stars who serve savory bites to accompany. The extra ticket price covers an unlimited sampling of bites and beer. Included, of course, were local brewers Alma Mader Brewing, BKS Artisan Ales, City Barrel Brewing Co., KC Bier Co., Pathlight Brewing, and the new Vine Street Brewing Co. There were also brewers from as nearby as Topeka (Blind Tiger), to as far away as Cooperstown, New York (Brewery Ommegang), Paso Robles, California (Firestone Walker Brewing Co.), Freeport, Maine (Maine Beer Co.) and Achouffe, Belgium (Brasserie D’Achouffe). Also coming from afar—visitors. Of the many people I talked to throughout my time at the festival, so many were visiting from out of town. Have beer—will travel!

TEMPEST IN THE PARK

IT IS A RITE OF SUMMER in Kansas City to experience the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival in Southmoreland Park, just blocks east of the Plaza. Nothing beats it. Prove me wrong.

On this particular annual trek, I was accompanied by HASF supporter extraordinaire (and fellow columnist here), Merrily Jackson. In addition, we had Carl Bennum (who double-dutied as the most luxe and gracious chauffeur) and the lovely Marsha Ramsey. Serendipitously, we selected the most glorious, mild, storm-free evening—of which this season was remarkably full. Often, I will pack a blanket and picnic basket full of bites from a favorite local restaurant. But, being the guest of Dame Merrily, we got the royal treatment. Besides the frontrow, reserved actual seats, being a patron member of the Good Will Society (how clever), entitles one to enjoy the pre-festival and intermission times with tented plush seating, fellow theater enthusiasts—and wine. If you’re lucky, the inimitable Bernie & Dr. Scott Ashcraft will be there pouring, as they were on this fateful evening. With plenty of time to spare, we hit up the food trucks and brought our feastings back to the Good Will tent for consumption. Ragusa’s Italian Café had its food truck on hand for hungry Bard-lovers, and we all agreed their meatball sandwich was top-notch. My intermission s’mores crepe was also the perfect summer’s night treat.

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As for the performance, this year’s was The Tempest. While the storyline can be a little difficult to follow—quite a number of loosely-connected characters—I will go out on a washedup limb and declare it to be the best HASF performance in memory. And I’ve been attending for years. The vibrantly lit set was stunning—in fact, all the lighting was incredible. There wasn’t a dud actor in the bunch (special applause to Chelsea Rolfes who sparkled as Ariel the airy spirit). The costumes were whimsical and joyful where they needed to be. The live (new this year!) original music (nod to Greg Mackender and Amando Espinoza) was exceptional and completed the stormy, magic-spirit atmosphere. It was a stellar production, beginning to end.

OVERHEARD

“Seems like every house in Mission Hills has a charter bus parked out front . . . ready to be swept to

For the utmost enjoyment—unless a Shakespeare expert—I strongly recommend pulling up a synopsis online before the show. It will make your life easier. Because summertime under the stars isn’t for deep thinking. It’s for getting a little lost in the sky while still tethered to a verdant lawn. Bravo, bravo, to the executive artistic director, Sidonie Garrett!

So, KC—where do you want to go? XO

401 Westport Rd • KCMO fountainhauskc.com

Thursday: 6pm - 1am

Friday: 2pm - 3am

Saturday: 2pm - 3am

Sunday: 2pm - 1am

Where ANYTHING can happen and everyone is WELCOME!

Taylor Swift.”

Chelsea Rolfes as Ariel in the Heart of American Shakespeare Festival production of The Tempest

HOW IT WORKS

by Judith Fertig

Tyrone Aiken

When he is all alone and the music comes on, what might be the signature move for a dance professional? “Think the urban version of the ‘dancing baby,’” says Tyrone Aiken, chief artistic officer of Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey. In-the-moment joyful. “When I’m dancing, I feel connected to a spiritual realm,” he says.

He not only dances. He teaches, choreographs, mentors, leads, organizes, and does whatever else it takes to connect young people—and the entire community—through dance.

Nationally, Aiken’s choreographic credits include works for Dance Institute of Washington, Kwanzaa performed at the Kennedy Center, Summerland commissioned by Dance Theater of Harlem’s Virginia Johnson, and works for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, The Dance Theater of Harlem Ensemble Company, and Blue Mercury Dancing Company. In Kansas City, he has choreographed for The Lyric Opera, The Coterie Theater, The KC Symphony, Wylliams/Henry Danse Theatre, KC Ballet, and the KCRep.

Aiken has taught at universities and colleges, elementary and secondary schools, and conservatories throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States.

He came to Kansas City in 1995 as the director of artistic and educational programs and then became the executive director from 2005 – 2015.

As the executive director, Aiken successfully launched KCFAA’s move to the 18th and Vine Jazz

photo by Corie English

THE CHIEF ARTISTIC OFFICER OF KANSAS CITY FRIENDS OF ALVIN AILEY ANSWERS FOUR QUESTIONS

Arts & Culture IN KC

District, received the Neighborhood Builders Award from Bank of America, and led KCFAA through a strategic plan with Michael Kaiser creating a new Festival On the Vine and Symposium series. His upcoming partnerships include projects with The Nelson/Atkins Museum, Heartland Men’s Chorus, and the American Jazz Museum. The dance goes on. kcfaa.org

INKC: How does a kid growing up in Amityville, New York, (famous for that ghost movie) and a member of the German club come to be the chief artistic officer for Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey?

Tyrone Aiken: I come from a large family of 16. My parents were sharecroppers from South Carolina and a part of the Great Migration to New York. We always danced at home during family parties: the Hustle, line dancing, and German folk dancing. Ballet came first at Sandy’s School of Dance and later the Eglevsky School of Ballet and the Long Island School of the Performing Arts. After high school I continued my training in the Certificate Program at the Ailey School in 1981. At the Ailey School, I found myself reflected in one of the best training programs in the world. My connection to The Ailey has been consistent and continues today. Working at AileyCamp since 1991 and KCFAA since 1995 has been rewarding.

INKC: Although you teach many styles of contemporary dance from jazz to ballet and hip-hop, do you have a personal preference?

TA: My personal preference is teaching the Horton technique created by Lester Horton between 1932 and 1953. The technique is linear, full of movement that is codified in forms called studies and fortifications. Think of a yoga chart that comes to life through movement.

INKC: Right now, you are involved in AileyCamp 2023, a summer day camp for kids ages 10 to 14 centered around dance. What do you hope they gain from their camp experience?

TA: The camp is centered around dance and more than dance, including art, percussion, and creative writing. It is also about the whole child, the psychological and social wellbeing of the child. In personal development, campers discover the importance of empathy, team building, and drugs and their effects and impacts on our bodies. AileyCamp gives campers opportunities to become passionate about learning, the arts, wellness, and health.

INKC: You have worn many hats in your career: student, dancer, performer, administrator, teacher. If the spotlight were on you for This Is Your Life , what do you think you’ve been put on this earth to do?

TA: To have a conversation using the art of dance with people that are like me and especially those that are not. That conversation is in the form of words, movement, class, and being in community with others.

Arts & Culture

by Judith Fertig

NOW WHAT? AT THE LEEDY-VOULKOS GALLERY

AFTER THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE, the two terms of our first Black president, the furor over George Floyd’s death, and the founding of Black Lives Matter, we might well ask “Now what?”

In answer, over 30 Black creatives with ties to the Kansas City area gather their poetry, sculpture, paintings, dance, and music focused on the Black experience from yesterday, today, and what they envision for tomorrow.

Curated by acclaimed artist Sonié Joi ThompsonRuffin, the exhibit runs through August 26, after which Thompson-Ruffin’s own contemporary fabric art will be on display. The collective aims to foster an inclusive and engaging environment, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the profound stories and experiences conveyed through various art forms.

For information, visit leedy-voulkos.com

photo by corie english

COOL SUMMER JAZZ ON THE LAWN

THE KANSAS CITY MUSEUM has reopened after recovering from water damage inside the museum, and that includes the concerts on the lawn.

On Friday evening, August 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. the Clayton DeLong Trio will perform, with Clayton DeLong taking the lead on guitar.

Born in California but raised in Kansas City, DeLong began playing the violin at age 12. After receiving a guitar for Christmas when he was 16, he immediately began pursuing a career as a guitarist. Working toward a degree in jazz guitar at The University of Missouri Kansas City Conservatory of Music., he studied under Kansas City greats such as Rod Fleeman, Danny Embrey, Doug Niedt, Michael Pagan, and Bobby Watson.

Today that dream has come true and he performs in several bands in several musical genres.

Tickets are $5 per adult in advance, $10 at the gate, which opens at 6:30 p.m.

For ticket and performance information, visit kansascitymuseum.org

Arts &Culture IN KC

by Judith Fertig

CHILL OUT AT BLUE GALLERY’S SUMMER EXHIBITION

IT’S HOT. It’s August. And the perfect time to escape the heat to nose around a gallery specializing in contemporary art.

Here is a sampling of the artists and works on view:

Jamie Chase works in acrylic on canvas or panel, giving the female figure a geometric form in subdued or vibrant colors because “image-making has such deep roots in the human psyche,” he says.

Joe Ramiro Garcia employs images from cartoons, animals, and objects in his work. He doesn’t believe in creating a specific narrative, but rather how we project our own stories onto these objects.

If you look out of the plane window flying over the Midwest, the patchwork quilt of fields will be a familiar pattern in the work of Karen Mattheis, who punches it up with color and more abstract form.

Kansas City’s Kelly Porter, the artist behind Porter Teleo’s hand-painted wallpaper, shows original acrylic works with her hallmark contemporary flower imagery.

Go see them all for yourself. Blue Gallery’s Summer Exhibition goes through August 26.

For information, visit bluegalleryonline.com

COME FROM AWAY

ON 9/11 THE WORLD STOPPED. Over 7,000 airline passengers were stranded in Gander, Newfoundland, an off-thebeaten-path place they never thought they’d visit. Or stay.

But somehow out of the unexpected, the stress, the bickering, the tension, came a feel-good story of people helping people. And a musical.

The critics love it. “ Come from Away beautifully gives people reason to come to the theater and come together,” gushes the Chicago Tribune . Newsweek cheers, “It takes you to a place you never want to leave.” Even the Daily Beast had something good to say, calling it “a celebration of the best of humankind.”

Created in 2015 by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, Come from Away is now touring Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States, with a stopover at Starlight from August 29 through September 3.

The story, of course, is about those stranded travelers depending on the kindness of strangers and the enduring friendships that followed.

For more information and tickets, visit kcstarlight.com

PARK PLL\CE

Summer Concert Series

EverySaturdayinAugust (7pm- 9pm)

Freeoutdoorconcertsfeaturingtoplocalbands.

-August5: The PhilCollinsExperience

-August 12: Surfin' USA

-August 19: TheSuburbans

-August 26: Elton Dan (w/ CHERished)

Second Saturdays for Kids!

Everysecond Saturday(10am - Noon)

Kidsrule! Freeentertainmentformorningsfilledwith play, laughter, andmeaningfulmomentstogether.

-Aug12: "Dog Days" puppyplayw/Wayside Waifs

- Sept 9: Bouncehouse & Live Music

- Oct 14: "Boneyard" Halloweenmarionetteshow

Wednesday Date Night

EveryWednesday (6pm - 8pm)

Livemusicforamid-weekdatenight! Connectovera greatline-up: popcovers, DJs,jazz, evenreggae!

Movies in the Square

EverySaturdayinSeptember(AtDusk)

Freemoviesonthebigscreenunderthestars!

- Sept2: Ferris Bueller's Day Off

- Sept9: TopGun: Maverick

- Sept 16: The ParentTrap (1998)

- Sept23: Black Panther

- Sept30: TheAddams Family (1991)

Guitars & Games

EveryFriday(6pm-8pm)

Freeliveacoustic music & lawn games.

Hadley Clark: Artist + Sewing Educator

BY Susan Cannon

Arecent chat with Hadley Clark reveals her unique, intentional side.

In 2012, fairly new to KC, my rst introduction to Hadley was in her Crossroads shop. It was a refreshing meeting of understanding and inspiration. She was back from studying fashion in Paris, and I had had the good fortune of attending over 30 seasons of fashion shows there, experiencing rsthand what the “conceptual” side of European (and Japanese) design was all about.

What led you to apply to Parsons Paris?

After a cancer diagnosis and a year of treatment alongside an ending of an engagement, I was ready to invest in myself. I wanted to study fashion in Paris in an English-speaking program, and Parsons Paris was the only option!

Who were your key influences during your studies at Parsons?

I was immersed in European storytelling through garments and was led by the head of the fashion department, Sibylle Klose. She had worked with ierry Mugler as a designer in the ’90s and was on the inside of the fashion world that I was so seduced by at the time. She understood me as an artist making garments and helped me build the con dence I needed for that world.

I was already deeply in uenced by the conceptual work of Hussien Chalayan, especially his AW’00 collection “After Words;” also Martin Margiela, Ann Demeulemeester, and trend forecaster and educator Li Edelkoort. eir work became gateways to the possibilities of garment construction.

You’ve exhibited in solo and group shows, you’ve traveled as an artist-in-residence, and you’re now teaching. I’ve always known you as a conceptual clothing maker where craft is paramount, and I see a clear evolution that feels like coming home to Mother Earth: more edgy early on, and more grounded now, yet always artisanal, and sustainable before that was a “thing” in fashion. Can you speak to this??

Yes, the work has been evolving as my own human experience is expanding, which has coincided with my relationship to plants and the resilient teachings and gifts of the earth.

e output of my hands is directly connected to my heart. So, while it appears I am creating garments that can be branded sustainable, it’s

more than that . . . the output is currently ber based, speci cally garments and oor pieces along with educational components like basic sewing skills . . . also conscience-raising exercises of empathy through the act of sewing.

Reverence, spirit, re nement, and acknowledgement are all part of the process. So while it doesn’t sound “conceptual,” there is meaning in all the choices I make when creating work, which will always be tied to my training as a designer in Paris.

FOR HADLEY, GARMENT MAKING TAKES ON MEANING WHEN CRAFTING WITH REVERENCE, SPIRIT, REFINEMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

1. Hadley Clark. 2. Flower Hands, 2023, wool gauze with natural dye agents stitched inside to create color. Currently part of the Flat Files Show at the H&R Block Artspace, through September 22, 2023. 3. Red Flowers are Hummingbirds Favorite, 2019. Captured visions in drawing form. 4. Sister Dress, 2023, muslin dress with naturally dyed scraps collaged on the surface, $533. 5. Hadley one-ofa-kind garments, 2018 to present.

BY Susan Cannon

Art and the Beauty Biz

A BRIEF RETROSPECTIVE OF VISUAL ARTISTS WHO’VE MADE BEAUTY BRANDS COOLER

Clockwise from left: Pat McGrath’s decadent early 20th-century faces for Galliano’s Paris Pigalle Collection, AW 2007. Pat McGrath Labs Mothership VI: Midnight Sun Eyeshadows, $128, at patmcgrath.com. McGrath’s brilliant runway makeup for John Galliano; a drastic display of arti ce turning each model into Bette Davis from AW 2003.

While many celebrities are involved in the beauty industry as spokespersons and models, there are comparatively few partnerships between beauty brands and visual artists. Yet a handful of brilliant alliances do exist and are worthy of shining a light on.

Two early 20th-century eccentrics, fashion couturier Elsa Schiaparelli and Surrealist painter Salvador Dali, teamed up in the late ’30s to created avant-garde fashion together, and Dali began illustrating perfume advertisements for the designer. He experimented with her cosmetic packaging, and in 1946 the artist worked on the Schiaparelli Le Roy Soleil fragrance, for which he designed the lavish Baccarat crystal bottle and perfume case. Only 2,000 were made, and they occasionally pop up on auction today.

A few decades later, the enigmatic pop-art king, Andy Warhol, came on the scene bending all norms and making the public question

1980s full artistry by Serge Lutens for Shiseido. Serge Lutens Fleur d’Oranger Eau de Perfume $248, sergelutens.com

Limited edition Yayoi Kusama packaging and bottle redesign for Louis Vuitton. LV +YK Attrape-Rêves and Spell On You Fragrances, $365 each. us.louisvuitton.com

the meaning of art. He surprised again in the ’80s when he appeared in a Vidal Sassoon men’s hairspray ad. Somewhat ironic since he wore a wig. Another marriage between artist and beauty brand came in 1980, when Shiseido tapped French polymath Serge Lutens to conceive and execute its entire brand image and create its fragrances. Lutens was not only a master perfumer, he was a hair and makeup artist, a photographer, philosophical lmmaker, a clothing designer, and an architect, even designing Shiseido’s boutique d’image in Paris. Lutens went on to create an eponymous line of eau de perfumes in 2000, which are still available today.

It was the Millennial era when MAC Cosmetics hit the industry with a more vibrant aesthetic and bold bravado, quickly garnering Madonna as a fan, putting them on the map. In the ’90s, the owners, who were life and business partners, created the Viva Glam campaign using then little-known RuPaul as the face, where 100 percent of the VG

Clockwise from top left: A reissue of MAC Cosmetics Viva Glam lipsticks paying tribute to ’80s pop-art icon Keith Haring. $19 at maccosmetics. com. Makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury embellished the photo-collage by Miles Aldridge for a MAC ad in 2009. Ad by, and of post-modern photographer Cindy Sherman for MAC, 2011.

capsule sales would go to support AIDS/HIV research. MAC has consistently used visual artists to create its advertisements, including using the artists Marilyn Minter and Cindy Sherman, adding to the notion that art and commerce lifts both worlds.

Ever since Marc Jacobs helmed the design at Louis Vuitton working with artists such as Takashi Murakami and Richard Prince to reimagine its handbag collections, the house has continued this successful tact. Currently Vuitton commissioned whimsical package redesigns for its fragrances by the renowned contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama.

Another limited-edition makeup collection was NARS x Man Ray for Holiday 2017. Makeup artist and ’90s fashion photographer Francois Nars, better known as the founder of NARS Cosmetics, said at the time in response to using the iconic work of Man Ray, “To me, something brilliantly colored can look great represented in black and white. e lack of color forces you to see something deeper in the object, but

often just as beautiful. Makeup is similar. It’s not always about color on the face. A very graphic, lined eye or de ned lip creates a look that isn’t about color at all. And, of course, some makeup—black eyeliner or a very dark red lip against pale skin—can appear almost black and white . . . As a makeup artist, I studied Man Ray’s models very carefully: the shape of a lip, the graphic eyeliner, the placement of the rouge on the cheek. e incredible thing about Man Ray is how his style still seems new, fresh, sharp, even today.”

A similar vision that successfully harks to references of the past, of theater, of art and photography, and with a deep understanding of color and composition, is the undeniably brilliant and world’s most sought-after makeup artist, Pat McGrath. She has painted faces for more runway shows, magazine covers, and editorials than any other artist. She launched her makeup line, Pat McGrath Labs, in 2015, becoming a $1 billion company by 2019. Mind-blowing and inspiring, indeed.

Salvador Dali for Schiaparelli Le Roy Soleil perfume ad and perfume bottle within its gold silklined shell case, 1946.

Vidal Sassoon men’s hairspray ad with Andy Warhol, 1985.

NARS Limited Edition Man Ray Collection, from Holiday 2017. Art direction by Fabian Baron.

by Liz Schroeder

Regaining Control

wide range can be due to differences in research study design, I think it also highlights the likelihood that incontinence is underreported by the general population.”

There are many reasons someone could be experiencing fecal incontinence. Peters says causes can be anything from changes in anatomy to neurologic disorders, poor pelvic floor muscle coordination, or even diarrhea and constipation. And the treatment plans are just as varied. “Management often starts with dietary modification and optimizing stool quality and toilet habits,” Peters says. “Skin care and hygiene can also be addressed as well as social support.”

Medical advancements in this area have made some notable strides in recent years. “Just over the last decade, sacral nerve stimulation has been FDA approved. While not every patient will be a candidate or benefit from this therapy, it has shown significant improvement of symptoms and quality of life for a great majority of individuals studied—including long-term benefits,” Peters says.

The temptation to avoid care due to perceived shame or stigma can be high for patients experiencing fecal incontinence, but Peters remains reassuring. “We want our patients to be able to live their best lives. Many causes of fecal incontinence are treatable, and we can see great improvement or even resolution of symptoms with interventions.” While medical therapies and surgical interventions are available, Peters highlights another important aspect of care. “I think mental health is particularly important, and we encourage patient to work with primary care physicians, psychologists, or psychiatrists, depending on their needs.”

Seeking care for incontinence may also lead to a diagnosis of other health-related issues, which can then also be addressed by AdventHealth’s team of specialists, including doctors from gastroenterology, gynecology, urology, neurology, or physical therapy, including pelvic floor physical therapy.

Many of us put off visiting the doctor for a variety of reasons—finances, schedule, or a belief that our problems simply aren’t that bad. But anxiety can also keep us from seeking medical care, especially when dealing with a condition that causes us to feel embarrassment. Stephanie Peters, MD, MS, a colorectal surgeon with AdventHealth, regularly provides care for patients experiencing fecal incontinence and wants to stop the stigma.

While it’s difficult to know the exact number of people dealing with fecal incontinence, Peters reassures patients they’re not alone. “Some research studies have estimated anywhere from one to 20 percent of the population experiences fecal incontinence,” Peters says. “While this

“Fecal incontinence can really take a toll on the individual and their support sys tem, and we don’t want them to feel like they have to deal with this alone,” Peters says. It’s important to remember your medical team wants to help. “I often hear, ‘I wish I came in sooner.’

I think it is important to remember that it is never too late to seek care and that we are discussing normal bodily functions. There should be no stigma associated with this.”

ADVENTHEALTH’S STEPHANIE PETERS TALKS FECAL INCONTINENCE

Stephanie Peters, MD, MS

by Patricia O’Dell

Weaving A Tale

NICK CAVE LAUNCHES FABRIC LINE WITH KNOLL TEXTILES

Ar tist Nick Cave, a Missouri native and Kansas City Art Institute alumnus, works in the performing and visual arts. One of his Soundsuits was part of the 30 Americans exhibit at the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in 2019, and his work Property is part of the permanent collection. The Air Up There installation is one of the new works at the Kansas City International Airport.

Now you can live with his work at home. Cave has created a new line of fabrics with Knoll. If you’re familiar with Cave’s work, the overlaying patterns, weaves, and rich textures will feel familiar. Button, which reflects the three-dimensional work of the Soundsuits, and Until, which mimics the found crochet that appears in his work.

Knoll is available in Kansas City through Pure, pureworkplace.com

Keep It Cool, Keep It Light

SUMMER HEAT CALLS FOR COOL COLLECTIONS

AS TEMPERATURES CLIMB, clear and clean can cool and refresh. I’m not talking gin and tonics, though that may be a good answer. It’s time to pass on heavier pottery and make the most of these light and airy accessories for the table from Fazeek.

A modern take on classical shapes, glassware by the Austrialian lifestyle company, available at Clairvaux, can lighten up your living room, kitchen counter, or bedside table. Would they make a fabulous hostess gift? Indeed. But why not treat yourself? Keeping calm and cool during the hottest of months deserves a prize (or three). shopclairvaux.com

TASTY TOUCHES.

Why install cookie-cutter lighting in your new kitchen? Bake up something fresh with Wilson

Fazeek Balance vase, $125

Wave bowl, $55

Two Tone co ee plunger, $165

Vice Versa carafe, $148

Morningside is in Full Bloom

LOCAL GROWER LAUNCHES BUSINESS

by Patricia O’Dell

When Noella Chung moved into a house on a large lot with her husband and their small children, she spent the rst several months working to make the house their home. As she was wrapping up the renovations, she received an unexpected reward. Her rst spring in the house, a mature and varied garden began to introduce itself.

“When it came, it was with a raucous profusion of cheery yellow da odils all over the property. It was ridiculous,” she writes in her blog. “ ose were followed by bearded irises with their showy throats and intoxicating fragrance, the peonies in their jolly poo ness, then redbuds and their delicate pink blossoms, and then blowing up like giant marshmallows were the hydrangeas in their rework-like explosions.

“ e land kept on giving and giving blooms, and I found it healed my soul. Beauty healed my soul. It was extravagant, yes, but not frivolous. In fact, it was something my heart needed. I thanked whoever it was that planted all these blooms however many years ago and understood that owers are everything.”

Chung decided to share her remarkable gift with the community. So Morningside Blooms was born. Her owers are available at the Brookside Farmers Market on Saturdays and by delivery and pick up throughout the week. morningsideblooms.com

Noella Chung sells fresh, sustainable, locally grown owers through her business, Morningside Blooms. Morningside Blooms.

AT HOME WITH PERUVIAN COLLECTION

IF YOU’VE FALLEN IN LOVE with the rich and interesting textiles that make up Peruvian Connection’s clothing, its wallpaper, bedding, and linens are a “don’t miss.” Rich orals, crisp stripes, and soothing neutrals combine to create a space that’s just your own.

Bengal Stripe pillowcases, $78.00 - $100.00 for a set of two.

Striped throw with fringe in three available colors, $99.

Ming Garden wallpaper, $275 for a double roll which will cover 54 square feet.

CREATE QUIET LUXURY IN A CUSTOM KITCHEN OR SPA BATH

By Judith Fertig

Photos by Randy Van

More than ever, your home needs to be the place to relax, reconnect, recharge, retreat, renew. You should feel at ease knowing each space designed just for you, with elevated basics and quality materials, will stand the test of time.

This type of well-being has a new name.

Quiet luxury.

You invest in it. You love it. And it pays dividends now and later.

In clothing terms, quiet luxury is a much-loved designer handbag worn year after year. In kitchen terms, it’s a beautifully veined quartz countertop that provides a durable background to a dressed-up holiday turkey or casual mezze.

You sense quiet luxury more than simply see it. Quiet luxury fits you like a glove, the difference between a dress you buy off the rack at a department store and a couture garment with dressmaker details and fine workmanship.

“Quiet luxury is not necessarily ‘look at me,’” says kitchen and bath designer Karin Ross of Karin Ross Designs. “What you get is a great look and a wonderful feeling. Clients want to feel they’re being understood, being taken care of.”

When your kitchen coffee station perks away, and your bathroom lighting and makeup organizer make getting ready a breeze, you start the day with the invisible help of great design.

“You start happy and look happy, and it carries throughout your day,” says Ross.

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Quiet luxury doesn’t just happen, however. Ross gives her clients an extensive questionnaire to help understand their likes and dislikes, habits, desires, and the way that they want to live. “I do over 100 hours of research for a medium-sized kitchen,” says Ross. “That comes with a price tag. Like an investment advisor, I can suggest where it is more important to spend money and where they could cut back.”

ELEVATED BASICS

After a customized design, quiet luxury relies on quality materials. Ross prefers quartz for countertops as it is non-porous—unlike marble—and will look great for many years with little upkeep. Luxury is also in the ease in which you live with it.

Cabinetry is also an important element. Ross avoids oak or pine because of the prominent grain in oak and the reddish gold that comes through with pine. Instead, she prefers maple, walnut, cherry, or knotty alder. “Maple has no grain and stays smooth. We also prefer walnut, cherry, and knotty alder. We use cabinet makers who finish the cabinets in the shop, and they

come with a lifetime warranty,” she says. “You never have to worry.” Cabinets finished with paint from a store can chip and fade over time—not a luxury. Ross’s cabinetry uses a German product that ensures a timeless finish.

“Lighting can elevate the mood of a room and make you feel great,” she says. It can animate and accentuate, adding movement and flow. Knowing where to put it for best effect is another reason to rely on a designer.

“Our clients know we will take care of it all,” Ross says.

Quiet luxury is knowing you’re in good hands.

Cynthia Kaye McWilliams IN CONVERSATION WITH

words by Cindy Hoedel photo by Tisha Brenee

It ’s easy to see why top Hollywood stars and directors want to work with acclaimed actor and Kansas City, Kansas, native Cynthia Kaye McWilliams. Her words flow rapid and fresh like a mountain stream, yet she remains supremely present, tuned in to subtle shifts in the conversation.

McWilliams is currently starring in Average Joe, a pulp thriller from BET+. Last year, she played opposite Samuel Jackson in The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey on Apple+ and starred with Kevin Hart in a revival of Real Husbands of Hollywood on BET+.

A graduate of Sumner Academy of Arts and Sciences in Kansas City, Kansas, McWilliams earned an MFA in acting at DePaul University in Chicago. She immediately landed a role in the feature film The Lake House and the series Prison Break. Many more films and TV shows followed, including a recurring role on Bosch.

In a sparkling, wide-ranging phone chat from her Los Angeles home, McWilliams talked about how television is evolving and shared behind-the-scenes observations about working with elite Hollywood actors, including a story about a screen test where she was asked to improvise with a famous comedian without warning.

You were born in Berlin. Why were your parents there?

My dad was in the military. My parents have actually been together since they were 16.

That’s so cool.

Yeah, it’s very interesting. They got married at 18, very young, and had my brother and then decided to have me. I can’t imagine being 20 and saying, “Let’s have more kids.”

Do you have memories of Berlin or were you too young when you were there?

Not really. I was definitely too young to remember, but because we have pictures, sometimes I feel like I’ve convinced myself that I have memories of it. I have a picture of my dad and me—he’s holding me and we’re standing in front of the Berlin Wall.

In your bio it says you grew up “primarily” in Kansas City, Kansas. What ages were you when you lived there?

That would have been from about 5th grade, so late elementary school. Then I did 6th grade at Coronado Middle School, 7th grade at Arrowhead Middle School, and then Sumner Academy of Arts and Sciences for [grades] eight through 12.

What neighborhood did you live in?

It’s off Parallel [Parkway] and State [Avenue] in Wyandotte County, my parents are still there. It’s funny, when I tell people I’m from Kansas, I don’t view it as a really small town, but people, when I tell them the names of those nearby streets, they think it’s really small, like there’s one main street and then a street that runs parallel to the main one. [Laughs]

How often do you get back to Kansas City?

Honestly probably only once a year, always for one of the holidays, usually Thanksgiving or Christmas. I’ve gotten better. My brother has four kids—he had all the kids so I didn’t have to [Laughs]—and over the last three or four years, I’ve been really intentional about going more. Even if I can only go home for one day, then I’ll do that, so that it doesn’t end up being that I’m only there for the holidays.

When I do those quick trips, I’m not getting to see the city very much. I’m just hanging out with my parents. I’m in PJs, watching movies and sitting around the table talking. But when I go for the holidays, it’s nice because I get to be there and actually drive around town, see a show, do things.

We love to go down to the Phoenix, a little jazz place. We don’t even see who’s on the lineup that night. We just go and surprise ourselves because it’s always someone great.

Since you’ve been gone from Kansas City for so long, are your football loyalties divided?

[Laughs] I will never say I’m not a Chiefs fan, because I know what a big deal it is to be a Chiefs fan. However, I’m going to be honest. I never really had any football loyalties. I was always a theater kid. I was always

a big nerd. I didn’t get into sports in high school. So, it didn’t live with me, you know?

My family, my father, my brother, all of them are Chiefs fans. My brother went to K-State. They are all very big fans. But I’ve never been a fan of any sport.

That’s a brave answer.

But it was exciting when we were in the Super Bowl! And when the Royals won the World Series! It’s all very exciting. I’m mostly excited because I know what a big deal it is to my family and all the people I went to high school with and the friends I still have that live there.

I know what a great source of hometown pride that is. I love that Kansas City still has that sense of hometown pride. I think that’s part of what has helped make us more unified and communal. It feels less like there’s this side and that side and these neighborhood lines. I feel like the hometown pride has fostered a lot of communication between cultures in Kansas City.

more television credits, and I worked on a feature film there. In Chicago I was able to be a bit of a bigger fish. In LA I was swimming with sharks and dodging to not be eaten. [Laughs] Going back to Chicago was great because it taught me to swim a little stronger.

Also, Chicago has a really strong artistic community. So I had a lot of support from other women, a lot of other artists, really a lot of encouragement and that helped me to come to LA and understand how important it was to do the same thing, to build a really good tribe and surround myself with like-minded people so that I wouldn’t get lost.

I really appreciate my first failures in LA because they taught me how to regroup and be stronger and be ready.

Your new series on BET+, Average Joe, is hard to place in a traditional genre. How would you describe the show? That’s exactly what I say whenever I’m talking about it. First of all, because of Deon Cole, we all love him from Black-ish and his comedy specials and tours. But it’s not a situational comedy. It’s not a kitchen-sink comedy either. And it’s not even quite a dark comedy because, at the end of the day, if you say it’s a comedy you forget that what the story is about is suspense.

What do you remember about growing up in Kansas City?

My earliest memories are probably from when we lived with Papa, my grandfather. He lived in Kansas City, Missouri, near 18th Street. He took me to the 18th and Vine district. I remember my Papa telling me all about what Kansas City was like, 30, 40 years before that—all the things about jazz and how it had come to the city and why. And telling me about the Negro League baseball team and what a big deal that was for so many of the men that he had grown up with.

So from early on, I understood that Kansas City was a city that had such a history. Now coming back it’s amazing seeing how much things have changed since I left after high school. In 20 years, I’ve watched so many neighborhoods pop up and neighborhoods change and build on the city’s history to create cool new communities.

How long have you been in California?

Longer than I’d care to say. [Laughs] I came out right after I graduated from college in 2003, so 20 years. I went to DePaul University in Chicago, which was already a huge jump from Kansas City. And then the leap from Chicago to LA—both of those moves were a huge leap of faith. I went to DePaul because it was good to have a conservatory theater program, which taught me an immense amount and prepared me to come out here.

But LA was not too kind to me in my first year or two.

How so?

I had a lot of nos. A lot of doors shut in my face. I could not get an agent to save my life. So I left and went back to Chicago. I stayed there another three or four years because that was where I was able to get

The opening scene establishes these characters and in the first episode we know that somebody died, somebody has some money, and we don’t know why he has it, we don’t know if we’re going to get it, and the process of getting it is literally life or death And plus, there’s a giant secret that immediately the wives are in on, which I love. I always hate when there’s a show where these men are having all these exploits and their wives are in the dark. Because how is that possible? There’s no wife on earth who doesn’t notice when her husband is doing anything differently.

True.

If my guy comes home and he starts buttering his bread differently, I’m gonna look up. [Laughs] “Why’d you do that? Why’d you put the peanut butter on first instead of the jelly?” I know him.

So I love that from the very beginning they establish that these women are a part of whatever the ride is that we’re about to be on. But it’s impossible to pin it to one genre. It is funny, but it’s funny in ways that sometimes seem inappropriate and/or unexpected. The humor is not what it is in a traditional sitcom—one, two, three, punchline, or set up, punch. The humor is definitely in between the lines. It’s under the lines. Sometimes it’s nonverbal. It’s got a really lovely subtle comedy inside some sometimes very big physical comedy. It’s unafraid to be whatever genre it is in the moment. Because what it’s doing is just telling the story. I think that’s super cool.

I think we’re in a phase now where television is getting super creative and we don’t have to stick to genres anymore, and we can tell the stories the way life happens, which is a bunch of unexpected mess. We can literally be crying at a funeral and then laughing and telling stories the next minute. That’s life. We can literally be in love with our partner and then wonder if 20 years of marriage is even worth saving. We can be in a marriage we hate and think we want to leave and then go, “I love you like I met you yesterday all over again.” We can think we know our children and then be surprised by the secrets they keep from us. And we can think we know ourselves and be surprised at what we will do in an unexpected, high-stakes situation. I think this show covers all of that.

. . . from early on, I understood that Kansas City was a city that had such a history.”

What did you enjoy about playing Cathy, your role on Average Joe ?

I love Cathy so much. When I read the script, I closed the last page, called my agent, and said, “I have to be Cathy. There’s no question. That’s who I want to read for, that’s who I want to be.”

I think she’s unfiltered. It’s very easy to write off a character like her as a bitch and that’s it. But I loved the process of finding all of her layers, understanding that her hard edge came from somewhere and beginning to understand how that might have happened.

I love that she’s unfiltered about her opinions and her feelings. I love that she’s a little on edge. [Laughs] I love that she’s a little crazy. I mean, that’s fun. What actor doesn’t want to play something a little crazy every now and again? I think Cathy is this really cool version of someone just darkly twisted enough that you still relate to her. She’s a psycho you want to hang out with.

Your real-life boyfriend, Malcolm Barrett, plays your husband on Average Joe. Was it weird creating a fictional relationship with someone you have a real relationship with?

[Laughs] I don’t know if “weird” would be the word, but it was definitely new. I think that more than anything, it was a pleasure. Because of course I know and love him as an individual, but I’ve also known and loved him as a performer for years before I met him and started dating him. I always tell him, “You’re America’s favorite lovable nerd.” We all loved him in Timeless and Better Off Ted and in this show he gets to do a new thing and be this fierce friend. If you give him a comedy, he’s going to play it, if you give him a drama, he’s going to play it. If you let him surprise you with an improvisation, he’s going to come through and take the story to a different level. He’s just a fine actor. I love watching him. I love working with him. I love the support he gives me as an actor.

What was it like working with Samuel Jackson in The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, the Apple+ miniseries that got rave reviews?

Oh, honey, that was wonderful! He is so practiced at his craft. That guy’s been doing major films for 30 years. If you are not an actor, I think that number has to sound like something, but for an actor, that is just unfathomable. To be able to sustain a career for that length of time. But what’s more unfathomable is that he didn’t really get started until he was in his 40s. That’s insane. And then once he got started, he did nothing but leading roles. And that’s really cool. I think what people forget is that he started in the theater.

That script was written by Walter Mosley, the award-winning author who also wrote Snowfall. So I felt like this show was a real group of artists. Sam is a theater performer and I got to see that fully, the way he handles text and props and partner work with such care and intentionality. He doesn’t need to do more than one or two takes ever because he gets it on the first one.

He’s just lovely. He’s also a great storyteller. He’s just so excited by the work that he does. He loves being an actor. He’s not tired of it. He doesn’t take it for granted, and he expects everyone around him to perform and behave at a certain level, and that’s a great thing to be around on a set, when your lead is really serious about the work. He’s a great role model.

One of my favorite guilty pleasures is BET’s Real Husbands

of Hollywood, which ran for five seasons starting in 2013 and was revived last year. I love your character, Trina, but I can’t imagine how intimidating it would be to do comedy with Kevin Hart.

Yeah, and you know what? They sure did make sure that I could. That audition process was unlike anything I’d ever done. When we did the screen test, there was no script. What they did is, I walked in the room, and here’s Kevin Hart! I had no idea Kevin was going to be there.

Wow.

Yeah. And they said, “Tell us about Trina.” And I did. I described this lawyer who was successful and represented most of Hollywood’s black elite. And then they said, “Tell us who Kevin Hart is.” So I described him. And then they said, “OK let’s talk about a situation.” It was like being back in theater school playing an improv game. I remember the situation [starts laughing]: For whatever reason, Kevin Hart was crashing at my place, and I had come home, and he had eaten all the bread. And I wanted a sandwich very badly. So we began an improv.

Of course, it was impossible and scary, nerve-wracking. But Kevin is an incredible improvisor, and I would love to believe that I am also very funny, but I think the great thing about working with someone funny isn’t trying to out-funny each other. It’s about if they give you space to tell the story with whatever humor is present. If you are both just available to one another, it can work. And immediately we learned that about one another. And we sat there and improvised for 23 minutes straight, and that was why I got the job.

What a great story. A downside of success can be how much work it requires to maintain. Do you have any dreams for the future that don’t involve work?

Oh, goodness, so many. I love to travel. I really enjoy seeing different places and different cultures. I also love learning languages. I started learning Spanish as an adult after a trip to Barcelona. I’d like to learn French. I studied it in high school. I thought it was a beautiful language, and I hated that I lost it. It’s a romance language, so I should be able to pick it up pretty easily. I want to keep learning. I want to keep being a better person, a better citizen of the world.

Here in LA I work with a group called Door of Hope, doorofhope.us. I could talk for hours and days about it. It’s a homeless shelter but that I think is ingenious in that they don’t just shelter, they give people keys to their own homes. They teach them autonomy. They deal with the holistic individual and the family. They offer counseling. They help people that were born into homelessness and don’t know any other options. They teach them how to build resumes and careers and how to be in society.

And that is something I have a dream about, is becoming someone who is successful enough and has enough of a platform that we can talk about systemic issues and bring awareness that there are people out here solving these problems and help them get the attention and the money and the support they deserve. One of my biggest dreams is to take all of my life experiences and funnel them back into providing other people better life experiences and an opportunity to have dreams as big as I did.

Interview condensed and minimally edited for clarity.

words by Judith Fertig

OVERLAND PARK’S SURPRISING NEW HOT SPOT

InterUrban ArtHouse

At the heart of all creative activities is an idea. As Elizabeth Gilbert wrote in Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, “Ideas are a disembodied, energetic life-form . . . Ideas are driven by a single impulse: to be made manifest. And the only way an idea can be made manifest in our world is through collaboration with a human partner.”

That’s a long and breathy way to introduce InterUrban ArtHouse in downtown Overland Park, a place where artful ideas connect with human partners to flourish—and thrive.

InterUrban ArtHouse (IUAH), interurbanarthouse.org, was itself an idea that dawned on artist and community arts activist Nicole Emanuel in 2011. When she lived in San Francisco, recalls Emanuel, “I was working in the streets, painting murals in neighborhoods. We were a motley crew of students, artists, neighbors, men, women, seniors, children, black, white, Latino, gay, straight, left, right,” she says. “That inclusion deeply changed me. Doing narrative art in neighborhood streets taught me that the story is not in me. The story—the narrative—only comes to life between us, only matters among us, not for the maker alone.”

Having also studied design and industry at San Francisco State University, the Kansas City Art Institute graduate leaned into what she calls “creative placemaking” or establishing live/work spaces for artists of all kinds.

After several years of grant-writing, fundraising, and temporary

housing, IUAH set up shop in the vacant mail-sorting space adjacent to the downtown Overland Park post office. The wide-open interior features 19 art studios with 24 working artists, with studios and staff offices around the perimeter of a large gathering area. Emanuel has her own studio at IUAH and remains on its board of directors.

To make sure that this project continued to be dynamic, inclusive, and self-sustaining, Emanuel and the other board members established six guiding principles or “pillars” for InterUrban ArtHouse.

ArtSpace

“We offer affordable, inclusive, accessible space for artists to work,” says CEO Angi Hedjuk. And that’s crucial for artists. Having a dedicated studio has certainly helped resident artist Chico Sierra, who formerly worked in his garage, which was cold in winter, hot in summer—neither ideal for painting or showcasing his work. The El Paso native turned to art after learning disabilities caused him to drop out of school. He learned to express himself through acrylic paint on canvas, working to “reclaim the spiritual iconography of Indigenous people around the world, reclaim it as a language,” he says. The studio space at ArtHouse has given him “the space to express myself,” he says, “and the confidence that comes with it.”

Today, resident artists include jewelry-makers, printmakers, mixed media/fabric artists, portraitists, muralists, palette-knife painters, sculp-

tors, leatherworkers, and plein air painters. Artists must apply for a oneyear residency.

IUAH artists also have a profile with contact information on the organization’s website, so interested parties can contact them for future work.

ArtWorks

And speaking of work, artists also need business training, and this is where ArtWorks comes in. IUAH works with the Kauffman Foundation to offer peer-led business, professional development, and entrepreneurship classes via Zoom for attendees all over the metro area. These classes address the specific needs of artists, from how to write an artist statement to how to handle commissions, taxes, and bookkeeping.

ArtMatters

“Each of our centerpiece exhibitions focuses on important social topics,” says Hedjuk. Resident artists like Sierra might exhibit works that pertain to the theme or talk with community members and school kids about it. Recent exhibitions include the yearly Queer Experience, Tangled Roots—an exploration of diversity and connection, Her Art/Their Art—in partnership with the UMKC Women’s Center featuring works by those who identify as female or non-binary, and ArtHeals—the important role that art plays in healing.

ArtHeals

Another imperative is to explore how art can heal. Arts-based mental, emotional, physical, and community health programming and events are open to the public at IUAH. Family and art therapist Sherri Jacobs works with clients at her ArtHouse studio. “I met Nicole Emanuel through an arts event, and she was eager to get an art therapist in the mix,” says Jacobs of how this came about. “I bring art-making into the process of helping people overcome obstacles in their lives. It’s a key component to go beyond traditional talk therapy,” she says. “Usually when a therapist asks clients about something that happened that’s difficult to talk about, sketching or painting or drawing softens the trauma a bit. It helps access things faster. Making art also helps conceptualize the future so people can envision a way out.”

ArtSmart

As Chico Sierra makes evident, art can be a way to give kids who might have “fallen through the cracks” a voice. IUAH partners with the Shawnee Mission School District to offer cross-cultural arts enrichment in economically disadvantaged schools. Kids engage with local artists through dance, storytelling, music, poetry, painting, sculpture, and field trips. For artist instructors, ArtSmart provides professional development opportunities. In 2021 alone, ArtSmart instructors led 18 classes in four participating Title-1 schools, serving 336 students.

ArtsConnect

The InterUrban ArtHouse aims to connect with adults and kids in the metro area. Reaching out to the community and involving disparate voices is central to the InterUrban ArtHouse’s mission. Wolfe Brack, the art director at IUAH, makes sure of that. A trained chef from an artistic family, Brack met founder Emanuel when he was freelancing as a performing fire-breather. (“My best advice: Don’t inhale,” he quips.)

“She was looking for someone who was open to all kinds of creativity, who could do lots of strange things,” he says with a laugh.

“I enjoy creating experiences,” he explains, whether it be spoken-word storytelling nights, socially conscious exhibits, or art crawls. Every third Friday, he helps host a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. so community members on both sides of the state line can see what’s happening. “We’re all about breaking down barriers.”

Right now, he is gearing up for the Arts on Fire! fundraiser scheduled for Friday, October 20. Local and resident artists are asked to create and contribute a six-by-six-inch work of art on any medium, signed on the back, which will be for sale at the event. Brack expects hundreds of small works of art. And hundreds of attendees.

“It will be a blast,” says Brack. “It’s a night of fundraising, sideshows, performances, treats, and libations.”

Until then, what would InterUrban ArtHouse most like IN Kansas City readers to know?

“We’re here,” says Brack. “We provide a place where art is part of our lives, every day.”

Adds Hedjuk, “I am proud of the authenticity in everything we do and our commitment to continually learn, adapt, and pivot to meet the needs of the community. “

“It’s amazing how unifying art can be,” says Brack.

Left: The studio space of artist Melanie Nolker. Above: Muralist Donald “Scribe” Ross created a colorful bluegill fish on the side of InterUrban ArtHouse. Opposite: ArtHouse’s gallery and event space is used for exhibitions, classes, presentations, performances, and private events.

WORDS BY Jenny Vergara

Chilly Icy &

COOL DOWN IN THE AUGUST HEAT WITH A FUN AND FROTHY TREAT

You can pretend to be an adult the rest of the year, but when summer is in full swing, and it’s hot outside, all of us have the potential to turn into big kids. What do all kids, both big and small, want in the summer? We all scream for ice cream, oats, smoothies, popsicles, and more, anything icy cold, frozen, and sweet.

Blame it on the summer’s sweltering heat, longer days, no school, and a whole lot of nostalgia for the summer traditions that we remember from our childhoods. For me, childhood summers meant drinking water from the garden hose, jumping through the sprinkler in the yard, jars of sun tea baking on the back patio, a cherry vanilla Dr. Pepper in a cup full of Sonic pebble ice, chasing the ice cream man down the street to nally sit on the curb and enjoy that popsicle, because we weren’t allowed to eat them inside the house. (Sorry, my Generation X is showing.)

ese summertime snack vibes can manifest themselves in very subtle ways. For example, you might suddenly nd yourself craving a shaved ice with tiger’s blood syrup after the sun sets each day, or maybe every weekday at 3 p.m. you nd yourself pulling in to order a favorite smoothie or iced co ee from that spot you love. You might even get the urge to order a boat drink at happy hour or pile the kids (or pups) in

the car to eat ice cream after dinner but before bed, just because you can. ese cravings don’t really happen any other time of year, not like they do during the long, hot summer months.

To that I say, treat yourself. Who is going to stop you? Not me.

A hand-crafted soda in a fun, fruity avor or a soft-serve ice cream cone dipped in chocolate are simple indulgences that just seem to taste better during the summer months than almost any other time of year. ink of these icy frozen treats as being at their peak in the summer, kind of like tomatoes, sweet corn, or watermelon. You wouldn’t deny yourself those summer treats, so why are these any di erent? Besides, it is fun to be a kid again, especially if you have kids. It is good for your kids to see you get ice cream on the tip of your nose from actively and enthusiastically licking an ice cream cone before it melts. It shows them that parents are people too.

What follows is a list of 15 spots where you can get chilly, icy, and frozen treats to try this summer. Since I have already penned an article about Betty Rae’s Ice Cream in this issue, (be sure to check it out on page 88), I have not listed them here, but they would most certainly be on this list, as would many others if time and space allowed.

Don’t blink, my friends, summer is almost over. It’s time to treat yourself.

KC Wine Co.

FROZEN WINE SLUSHES With a gorgeous outdoor patio that has views of the vineyard and a handsome tasting room with a barrel-roof ceiling, owners Kirk and Julie Berggren have created an oasis in Olathe where you can order a charcuterie tray while you sip on their local wines, ciders, and beers along with an ever-changing variety of avorful wine and fruit slushes. Stay frosty this summer drinking wine slushes. kcwineco.com

Billie’s Juicery

GOLDEN MYLK Unbakery and Juicery has a new name. Owner Robin Krause has changed it to Billie’s Juicery to bring her little mid-mod co ee and juice bar in East Brookside into the family. Serving co ee, cold-pressed juices, tonics, and immunity boosting mylks, a glass of her golden mylk made with almond milk, turmeric, honey, Himalayan salt, and coconut oil tastes like a cool creamy and healthy treat in this heat. unbakeryandjuicerykc.com

High Hopes Ice Cream

JOY OF ALMONDS DAIRY-FREE

ICE CREAM Troost Avenue is a hot spot in the city and Jamie Howard’s ice cream shop with a walk-up window, High Hopes, is part of the latest wave. As a chef, she brought her own ideas to what ice cream can and should taste like, giving us avors like black sesame, bourbon butter pecan, and French silk pie, along with fantastic dairy-free options like Joy of Almonds, which is made with coconut milk. high-

hopes-ice-cream.business.site

One More Scoop

MAMA’S TEXAS SHEET CAKE ICE CREAM Owned by four friends in Belton, Missouri, this locally owned, handcrafted ice cream shop is making all its ice cream in-house, using only quality ingredients. Look for avors including root beer oat, peanut butter cup, and a chocolate ice cream called Mama’s Texas sheet cake that I highly recommend. onemorescoopicecream.com

Baba’s Pantry

LEMONADE OF THE DAY e

Kamal family has put a lot of love into their colorful Palestinian market and café near Troost, which always o ers a rotating selection of delicious and refreshing house-made lemonades, made from real fruit, herbs, and spices. Whether it is lemon mint, cherry sumac, or tropical fruit, they sell it by the glass or gallon to take home. babaspantrykc.com

and spices. Whether it is lemon

After almost 20 years in business with four scoop of horchata ice cream or tamarind sorbet. palacana.com

I Am Frozen Dessert Café

YOU ARE FABULOUS SHAVED ICE CREAM With desserts named after a rmations, I Am Frozen Dessert Café owner Ann Riensin Piyapant is putting positivity into the universe while bringing popular Asian-inspired treats to Overland Park. Her giant bowls of shaved ice cream are a study in texture and avor, the taste of ice cream, and the texture of u y shaved ice. e “You Are Fabulous” is her strawberry limeade and tastes like summer in a bowl. instagram.com/iamcafekc

French Custard

HONEYCOMB ICE CREAM French Custard is the new kid on the ice cream block. Owners Jessica and Alex Wood nally opened their own storefront on the Trolley Trail earlier this year making their ice cream base in-house by combining milk, cream, egg yolks, and sugar with no arti cial colors or avors used. It is a French-style ice cream that is richer and creamier. Honeycomb is their signature avor, which makes it the perfect place to start. frenchcustard.com

Fairway Creamery

TAIYAKI FILLED WITH SOFT SERVE

ICE CREAM Since Christopher Elbow passed the reins to the new owners, Fairway Creamery has continued to innovate its o erings, including the addition of a Japanese sh-shaped cone called taiyaki. e new cones are hollow and can be lled with housemade avors of soft-serve ice cream and toppings of your choice. Recent taiyaki had Nutella inside, topped with vanilla-bean soft serve and dusted with Oreo cookie “dirt.” fairwaycreamery.com cookie

Kinship Café

CHAI Head over to Kinship Café in Kansas City, Kansas, to enjoy a glass of iced house-made chai, a chilled version of this deeply spiced and sweetened milk tea that is simply a way of life in India. Owner TJ Roberts o ers a host of drinks and a full food menu at his super cute co ee shop, and the community spirit he brings to his business is contagious. Catch it. kinshipcafe.us

locations across the city, owner José Luis Valdez has made Palacana

Ruby Jean Juicery

KALE YEAH! SMOOTHIE Chris Goode has turned his passion for imparting the importance of health and longevity into three Ruby Jean Juicery locations. His Grandma’s Smoothies are delicious and pack a serious nutritional punch. Try the Kale Yeah! made by blending kale, cashews, ginger, sea salt, dates, banana, cinnamon, and almond milk. rubyjeansjuicery.com

Bruú Café

Lilo’s Shaved Ice

LIME IN THE COCONUT SHAVED ICE With locations in both Parkville and Liberty, owners Matt and Angela Muir have the beginnings of a shaved ice empire. Drive up and park, then walk to the window to place your order. e Lime in the Coconut is a Lilo specialty, with lime, coconut, and wedding-cake syrup poured over shaved ice that has been lled with creamy coconut ice cream and topped with a “snow lilosshavedice.com

cap” made from sweetened condensed milk.

Flying Cow Gelato

HAZELNUT GELATO Sheri Weedman opened the Flying Cow Gelato next to Annedore’s Fine Chocolates in Westwood Hills last summer. Now she has announced plans to open shops in both downtown Shawnee and downtown Overland Park. Her creamy Italian-style gelato comes in rotating avors, such as toasted coconut, mint chip, key lime, hazelnut, and pistachio, along with dairy-free options. yingcowgelato.com

Foo’s Fabulous Frozen Custard

GERMAN CHOCOLATE

FROZEN CUSTARD Foo’s is

such a part of the fabric of downtown Brookside, it is truly hard after 35 years in business to imagine one without the other, especially during the summer. Owner Betty Bremser bought the business from her brother in 1996 and has continued the tradition of being the place to get scoops of German chocolate, co ee to ee or Cinnaberry frozen custard. foosfab.com

WORDS BY Liz Schroeder

MUSEUMS & EXHIBITS

2023 Fall Arts Preview

THE WEATHER’S COOLING DOWN, BUT THE ARTS SCENE IN KANSAS CITY IS HEATING UP. THE 20232024 SEASON IS HERE, AND OUR WORLDCLASS ARTS AND CULTURAL DESTINATIONS HAVE PULLED OUT ALL THE STOPS THIS YEAR. OUR LOCAL TALENT IS THE BEST IT’S EVER BEEN, AND YOU’RE NOT GOING TO WANT TO MISS A MINUTE OF IT. WE’RE MAKING IT EASY TO SAMPLE EVERYTHING KANSAS CITY HAS TO OFFER IN ARTS THIS FALLHERE’S YOUR GOTO GUIDE TO FINDING IT ALL.

Kansas City Artists Coalition

Borne from the sentiments of the sixties—civil rights, anti-war, student activism, the women’s movement, free love, and the impulse for self-determination, the Kansas City Artists Coalition began with a goal to create a strong voice for the concerns of artists. is season kicks o with sculptor Elaine Buss (August 4-25) and Philo Northrup (August 4-25). For art celebrating cannabis culture, nd Fresh Karma’s show starting September 22. e annual Art for All show runs from November 3-24 and focuses on small works priced under $500. More information can be found at kansascityartistscoalition.org

Johnson County Arts And Heritage Center

A beacon of arts and culture in Johnson County, the Arts and Heritage Center hosts three resident theater companies: eatre in the Park, e Barn Players, and Spinning Tree eatre Company, putting on shows like Tick, Tick…Boom! (September 8-17), Little Shop of Horrors (October 6-22), and RAGTIME: In Concert (October 26-29). e museum partners with artists for local installations like Chris Dahlquist’s Cloud Cover, and celebrates Johnson County history with exhibits and presentations on artifacts in the museum and the stories behind them, called Once Upon an Artifact, with Johnson County Community College (September 27). e museum celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with a free event on October 4. jcprd.com/1835/arts-heritage-center

Breathe Before (Iteration 2) by Elaine Buss.

Cloud Cover installation by Chris Dahlquist.

The National WWI Museum & Memorial

An iconic part of Kansas City culture, the World War I Museum and Memorial was designated as the nation’s official WWI Museum in 2004 and designated a National Historic Landmark on September 20, 2006. The museum’s Night at the Tower event on September 30 celebrates and benefits this historic and cultural landmark. The Main Gallery of the museum holds a permanent exhibit dedicated to seeing the war through the eyes of those who lived it. Another exhibit hall highlights the various ways soldiers entertained themselves and kept up morale, and the Ellis Gallery exhibits unique envelopes and letters in Mail Call. An online exhibit details some African-American wartime experiences, during a time of federal segregation when the national call for “the rights of mankind” rang hollow. Learn more at theworldwar.org.

Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art

Since opening in 2007, the Nerman Museum has received national and international acclaim for its exhibitions, architecture, and permanent collection. PhotograpHER runs through November 26, highlighting photographic works by women. The artists employ the female gaze to challenge assumptions, change perspectives, and catch ourselves in the act of looking. Resilience Story by Andrew Mcilvaine explores how art can transcend systemic inequalities. Featuring his relationship with his father, this show “is about redemption through imprisonment and generational movement,” Mcilvaine says. This mixed-media and sound installation runs through October 15. More information at nermanmuseum.org.

Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

The work of photographer Evelyn Hofer is coming to the Nelson with Eyes on the City, the first major museum exhibition of her photography in the United States in over 50 years. The exhibition features more than 100 vintage prints focusing on European and American cities (September 16). The photography continues with Cities are for People: Street Photography, featuring a selection of candid shots from everyday life (September 30).

Also on display this fall is My Father’s Death from Sonam Dolma Brauen, a sculpture assembled using robes donated by Tibetan monks. The exhibition is paired with Buddhist sculptures from Nepal and Tibet (October 28November 11). Visit nelson-atkins.org for a full calendar of upcoming exhibitions.

New York-based artist Sarah Zapata plays with sculptural and textile techniques in her new installation Sarah Zapata: So the roots be known, in part inspired by local lesbian and feminist histories, with allusions and notes of homage to local revolutionaries and writers. Zapata uses sewing, coiling, and weaving techniques to express the intersections of her plural identities, and the installation will be on display from August 17, 2023 to July 27, 2024. Julie Blackmon: A Life in Frame runs from September 14, 2023 to January 6, 2024. The photographic exhibition is tied to Blackmon’s Midwestern cultural heritage. She was inspired by growing up in “a generic town in the middle of the U.S.,” and the work engages broader ideas of family dynamics, social space, and art history. More details at kemperart.org.

Sarah Zapata’s A resilience of things not seen.

Phoenix Park on Sunday, Dublin by Evelyn Hofer.

Coyote Tales No. 1 by Cara Romero.

PERFORMING ARTS

City in Motion

A dance school, a performance series, and a professional dance company, but also more than that—City in Motion calls itself a community first. Specializing in fostering the next generation of dance talent, the Youth Dance Theater and Apprentice Company provide opportunities for Kansas City’s children to express themselves through artistry in motion. The 23rd annual Dance in the Park event on September 9 is your chance to catch them this fall at Roanoke Park. Learn more at cityinmotion.org

Folly Theater

Rock and soul singer Bette Smith is bringing her new album, The Good, The Bad, and the Bette, to the Folly as part of the Bridge-Americana Concert Series, a collaboration with Kansas City’s local NPR music station, 90.9 The Bridge (September 30). The Folly Jazz Series calendar invites singing sensation Samara Joy (October 14) and the Alexa Tarantino Quartet (November 11). The Folly Kids Series ends the year with It’s Okay To Be Different—Stories by Todd Parr (November 13), adapted by The Mermaid Theater, and Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System (December 11). View the full schedule at follytheater.org

The Coterie

Delighting and enriching the lives of young audiences for over 40 years, The Coterie was once described as “a theatre that resolutely refuses to talk down to its audience” by Travel+Leisure magazine.

The 2023/2024 season begins with Justice At War, an interactive drama about Mitsuye Endo, the inspiring young woman who challenged her incarceration in the American internment camps during WWII (September 19-October 15).

Returning to the stage is Electric Poe, with three newly adapted Poe works (October 19-November 5), and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical is ringing in the holiday season (November 7-December 31). Check out the full schedule at thecoterie.org

Friends of Chamber Music

Since Friends of Chamber Music began in 1975, it has evolved from performances in private homes to dozens of annual concerts from musicians all over the world. The 48th season is described simply as “brilliance,” beginning with the Aizuri Quartet, winners of the Cleveland Quartet Award and the M-Prize, making their Kansas City debut (September 23). Also on the schedule are Grammy nominees VOICES8 (October 21), Quartetto di Cremona (October 28), and Master Pianists Sir András Schiff (November 14), and Alessio Bax and Lucille Chung (December 5). The Friends also co-commissioned a program exploring the “new horizons” of chamber music, including a piano trio with composer David Serkin Ludwig (October 7). Find out more at chambermusic.org.

Grupo Folklorico Izcalli performing at Dance in the Park.

Bette Smith

Aizuri Quartet

Harriman-Jewell Series

The 2023/2024 season of the Harriman-Jewell Series is all about “classical performing arts—with a twist.” Since 1965, this performing arts organization is responsible for bringing some of the most respected and recognizable performers to Kansas City. Highlights from this 59th season include Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Featuring Wynton Marsalis (October 20), the Mark Morris Dance Group Performing The Look of Love (November 17), tenor Juan Diego Flórez (November 26), and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (January 23). The Discovery series is free, offering a chance to see exciting new emerging artists like pianist Mahani Teave (September 9) and violinist Kelly HallTompkins (November 10). Find the full schedule at hjseries.org

Heartland Men’s Chorus

In 1986, a small group of gay men formed a choral group that quickly became a safe haven for a community looking for respite from prejudice and the devastating AIDS crisis. Holding this history close, the Heartland Men’s Chorus continues to evolve and build community with diverse audiences. Their season begins with an annual holiday concert the first weekend of December, putting a fresh twist on the usual fare. Stay updated for the rest of the season at hmckc.org

Kansas City Actors Theatre

Kansas City Actors Theatre (KCAT) is artist-led and artist-driven, defined by its tagline, “Great actors. Smart plays.” Found on City Stage, in the lower level of Union Station, KCAT’s 19th season begins with Grand Horizons, a 2020 Tony Award nominee for Best Play, depicting the amicable downfall of a marriage and the fallout within a family and retirement community (August 16 - September 3). From September 13 to October 1, Skeleton Crew takes you back to the 2008 recession via an auto plant in Detroit. The season ends with the suspenseful thrill ride Gaslight (Angel Street), which depicts a deceitful marriage—and the origins of “gaslighting.” Learn more about each show at kcactors.org.

Kauffman Center Presents

The beginning of this fall season marks 12 years since the grand opening of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and its reputation for bringing internationally recognized artists and performers to Kansas City with Kauffman Center Presents. Gregory Porter, dubbed “America’s Next Great Jazz Singer” by NPR, kicks off the fall season with the uplifting and soulful singing that earned him two Grammy awards (September 10). Herb Alpert and Lani Hall bring their informal performance style to the Kauffman September 21, with an eclectic mix of American standards, Brazilian jazz, some Beatles, and Tijuana brass. Daniel O’Donnell (October 3) continues the season before it finishes up with an irreverent evening of magic inspired and curated by Penn & Teller—though they won’t be in attendance (October 4). Head to kauffmancenter.org/kcpresents for the full fall season.

Kansas City Ballet

Promising an exciting and unforgettable experience for all ages, the KC Ballet begins its 66th season this fall. “I am honored to be able to start our 66th season off with a huge bang with the North American premiere of Val Caniparoli’s original telling of the hugely spectacular psychological thriller of the great literary classic Jekyll and Hyde,” says artistic director Devon Carney (October 13-22). The literary tradition continues with Peter Pan next February 16-25, before concluding with Jewels in May. The Nutcracker will also make its annual return to mark the holiday season between December 1-24. Need more ballet? Visit kcballet.org

photo by kenny johnson

Herb Alpert

Wynton Marsalis

Kansas City Ballet dancer Cameron Thomas.

Kansas City Jazz Orchestra

Kansas City Jazz Orchestra is about both performance and education—preserving the traditions and heritage of jazz, while also nurturing its growth.

e 2023/2024 season re ects these values and celebrates our city’s jazz history and future with a release party for Eboni Fondren’s In e Key of KC (September 23), e Music of Vince Guaraldi (December 5), and a Conversations event featuring stories and performances with award-winning vocalist Lisa Henry (February 9-10). Find more events at kcjo.org

Kansas City Repertory Theatre

Believe it or not, this year celebrates 60 years of transformative theater with the KCRep. e theater is kicking o the occasion with a sexy take on Cyrano de Bergerac (September 5-24), before moving to What the Constitution Means to Me, an emotional and political work hot o the Broadway presses (October 24-November 12). A KCRep classic, Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol makes a return from November 21–December 24. e deeply personal Nina Simone: Four Women takes on the life of one of the 20th century’s most in uential singers (February 13-March 3), and the season ends with the one-of-a-kind man-eating plant musical, Little Shop of Horrors (April 30-May 19). Find the full season at kcrep.org.

Kansas City Symphony

Kansas City Chorale

Bringing choral music to Kansas City since 1982, Kansas City Chorale performs a wide variety of contemporary and traditional music. Since 1988, Grammy winner Charles Bru y has led the Chorale to international recognition. Two October performances of Songs of the Heavens (October 1, October 5), begin the fall season before moving into the Chorale’s annual slate of holiday concerts, including Wintersong (November 30, December 19), A Chorale Family Christmas (December 11), and the returning A Christmas Carol (December 8, 10). Spring Song, a free event at the Nelson-Atkins Museum, is also back in March. Check out kcchorale.org for the full season schedule.

In his 20 years as music director of the KC Symphony, Michael Stern has grown the Symphony to become one of the top orchestras in the country. He’s pulled out all the stops to mark the upcoming season, which will be his last. “Making music matter in Kansas City has been a joyous mission for 20 years, and becoming part of the Kansas City Symphony family has been my honor. Making this season happen has been both bittersweet and a joyous labor of love,” he says. e symphony is planning 14 classical concert series weekends, ve contemporary pop concerts—beginning with Audra McDonald September 1517—and a family series, with fun and educational performances designed with children in mind. Head to kcsymphony.org for your choice of music vibe this fall.

Gary Neal Johnson as Scrooge and Meredith Noël as Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol

Audra McDonald

PHOTO BY DON IPOCK

Lyric Opera Kansas City

In delity, revenge, Italy—that’s where it all begins for the Lyric Opera this season. With Cavalleria Rusticana /Pagliacci, the play within the play is the play. Can you tell what’s real?

September 23-October 1. e Sound of Music, performed in English, tells a story of love, family, and triumph over adversity. Plus, the von Trapps! Running from November 4-November 12. Shakespeare’s most famous play takes the stage reimagined through French opera, as Roméo et Juliette (March 9-17). e season nishes with Journey to Valhalla, an epic musical adventure featuring the KC Symphony and excerpts from Wagner’s famous Ring Cycle (May 3-5). See what else is coming up at kcopera.org

Midwest Trust Center

e Midwest Trust Center at Johnson County Community College presents a diverse range of performances from classical concerts, dance performances, and lm screenings. e Opus

76 Quartet opens the season as Midwest Trust’s artists-in-residence, with a performance reminiscent of Jane Austen or, let’s face it, Bridgerton, in Music of Regency on September 9. Other season highlights include Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Live in Concert on September 22, e Second City’s Comedian Rhapsody September 29-30, Sugar Skull!, a musical celebrating Día de Muertos on October 19, and Million Dollar Quartet Christmas on December 7. Find the full list of performances at jccc.edu/midwest-trust-center

Music Theater Heritage

From a loading dock to Crown Center, Musical eater Heritage has been producing innovative and imaginative professional musical theater since George Harter founded it in 1997. As the name suggests, MTH is dedicated to the appreciation of American musical theater and spreading historical understanding of its contributions. Catch Ain’t Misbehavin’ October 12-19, a celebration of everything Fats Waller, or ring in the holidays with It’s a Wonderful Life reimagined for the stage as a live radio broadcast—iconic, musical, theater (December 7-23). Learn more at musictheaterheritage.com.

Park International Center for Music

Owen/Cox Dance Group

e Owen/Cox Dance Group focuses on collaboration with new music and dance routines, presenting contemporary performances accompanied by live music to Kansas City audiences every year. is season begins with New Dance Partners, a performance debuting new choreography alongside other local dance groups as part of the Johnson County Community College Performing Arts Series (September 15-16). She Breathes Fire premieres October 6-8, and the season ends April 12-14 with a performance titled 4 fragments, both at the City Stage eatre in Union Station. Full details at owencoxdance.org

Classical music fans take note of the Park International Center, known for training some of the best classical musicians in the world. Performances bring in internationally renowned musicians, and this season continues the tradition, beginning with Russian pianist Mikhail Voskresensky, who left Russia for the United States in 2022 protesting the Russian invasion of Ukraine (September 22). Park ICM’s Fall Concert shows o the center’s collective talent on October 6, with a following String Studio Recital (October 28) and Piano Studio Recital (November 30), before ending the year with the traditional Holiday Concert on December 2. Find out which classical musicians are coming to Park ICM this year at icm.park.edu.

PHOTO BY KARLI CADEL

Sugar Skull!

Dancer Christian Warner.

Mikhail Voskresensky

A CONTEMPORARY HOME IN JOHNSON COUNTY EMBODIES ONE FAMILY’S CREATIVE VISION

The exterior of Sue and Lewis Nerman’s white contemporary house, with its broad planes, crisp lines, right angles, and curved windows, foretells the high ceilings and clear light of the rooms inside. The sculpture by the main entrance by Mark di Suvero is a hint, too, of the art that the Nermans collect with curiosity, consciousness, and care.

The house was designed by the late architect Theodore “Ted” Seligson, who was also a fine art professor, to house and highlight the Nermans’ art collection. The collection was not as large as it is now, but they knew it would grow.

“We knew that we wanted a lot of wall space, and we wanted them lined with wood, so they could accommodate large works,” Lewis Nerman says.

Nerman’s late father, Jerry, had a great eye for art. When the family had limited means

A Lifetime Legacy of Art

Above and on the cover: Soundsuit by Nick Cave stands in the center of the living room, while a cozy niche is framed by a Martin Kippenberger painting displayed above some of the Nermans’ ceramic collection, and a Martin Puryear sculpture hangs on the right. Oktopus/Octopus, by Katharina Fritsch, is displayed in the vitrine. Left: A massive Yayoi Kusama sculpture anchors one end of the entry gallery. On the right is a Chuck Close portrait of Merce Cunningham, and the lamp on the left is by Martin Kippenberger.

photos by Aaron Leimkuehler

This page: In the living room from left to right: a Nam June Paik video and neon sculpture, an installation of figures by Magdalena Abakanowicz, a Kara Walker sculpture, and a Wangechi Mutu bust. Left, top: The foyer introduces, from the left, a Charles Ray Hand Holding Egg sculpture displayed on the pedestal, a Marlene Dumas painting, and a Antony Gormley artwork. Left, middle: Encircling the main stairway to the lower level are a Robert Gober Ear with an Axe sculpture, an Ugo Rondinone mask, a neon work by Dan Flavin, and a Njideka Akunyili Crosby painting. Left, bottom: A vibrant El Anatsui tapestry and the Nam June Pak piece frame the doorway to the gallery.

early in Lewis Nerman’s life, Jerry would frame calendar art for their walls.

Jerry Nerman and his wife, Margaret, had a passion for art that would grow, culminating in an outstanding collection in their own home. In addition, they expanded the area’s art community in 2003 by providing a significant gift for the construction of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College, which opened in 2007.

Sue and Lewis Nerman have excellent eyes as well, and a passion for art that matches his parents.

The arched hallway that runs the length of the house introduces the home as a gallery. Before you reach the Yayoi Kusama sculpture at the end, you pass works by Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Marlene Dumas, Chuck Close, Charles Ray, and Anselm Kiefer, which are reflected in the gleaming black granite floors.

In addition to the breadth and depth of their collection, the most striking thing about the Nermans is the extent of both their knowledge and their passion about artists, their intent and their process. With each work, Lewis Nerman stops, directs the viewer’s attention

Above: Hanging in the entry to the kitchen and family room is an Ugo Rondinone wax lightbulb; Black Rain by Fred Wilson is to the right in the dining room next to a Malcolm Morley painting. Opposite, top: In the small family room off the kitchen, a joke painting by Richard Prince hangs above the fireplace to the right of Reader by Mark Tansey. Opposite, bottom: Richard Tuttle’s Rough Edges 1 is above the console, and an oil painting by Lynette Yiadom-Boakye is on the right.

Clockwise from top left: At the entrance to the lower level, a Frank Stella painting, one of Lewis Nerman’s first purchases, hangs above a Cindy Sherman photograph. Two pieces by Richard Artschwager: Door II and The Cave (If You Lived Here, You’d Be Home Now). Roy Lichtenstein’s Modern Bull #1-#6. In a sitting room just off the primary bedroom, on the left is a Kerry James Marshall piece and the lithograph series above the sofa is Toothbrushes II by Jim Dine. An Asad Faulwell painting in the forefront, and on the right is a James Rosenquist painting. On the main level, Oedipus and the Sphinx by Hernan Bas hangs in a sitting room stacked with art books and the perfect place to read them.

Right: In the primary bedroom, a Titus Kaphar painting dominates one wall, and the bed is encircled with Picasso prints. Below: A glittering “plunger” by Liza Lou is most appropriately placed in the powder room.

to a detail of the piece, his finger hovering just above it, as he shares the artist’s story and recognition.

“Being collectors of contemporary art has been an enriching and inspiring experience,” Nerman says. “We try to have personal connection to the art and the artists if possible, and we are always considering how a piece is going to elevate the quality of the collection.”

Beyond the Nermans’ passion for art, they are energized by the art community, both the artists and the collectors.

“Contemporary art often reflects the spirit of our times, capturing the narratives of the society we live in. Art can stimulate you intellectually and open a person to interpretation and critical thinking. The social connection of being a collector can create opportunities to engage with other art enthusiasts by sharing in the exhibitions. Building relationships with artists, gallerists, auction houses, and fellow collectors can be rewarding and intellectually stimulating.

“My father always said, ‘The Nermans live by the three S’s— searching for the art, securing the art, and sharing the art.’ Art enriches our lives,” Nerman says. “We made a whole new set of friends in the art world, who we might not have met otherwise.”

PNC Broadway in Kansas City

The American Theatre Guild brings national Broadway tours right to Kansas City’s doorstep this 2023-2024 season. The season begins from October 24-29 with To Kill a Mockingbird, a classic novel reinvented for the stage by Aaron Sorkin. Then, Tina offers a tribute to the life and music of Tina Turner from December 5-10. Continuing the musical theme is Johnny Cash: The Official Concert Experience on February 10, then Mamma Mia! on March 5-10. Finishing out the season are fan favorites, including Clue, MJ the Musical, and Moulin Rouge. More details available at americantheatreguild.com/kansascity

UMKC Conservatory

The UMKC Conservatory is an internationally recognized training center for some of the world’s best talent in music, dance, and theatrical performance. This fall, performances across the city highlight their Wind Symphony, Conservatory Orchestra, Jazz Combos, Conservatory Choir, and more. The Cantate Choral Invitational will be held at the Kauffman Center on October 9. and the Conservatory dance students will perform in their fall concert on October 19. For the full fall schedule of events, check out conservatory.umkc.edu.

Starlight Theatre

A historical landmark in the heart of Kansas City, this massive outdoor theater brings some of the most beloved concerts, theatrical productions, and performances year-round. Alanis Morisette’s music is brought to life with Jagged Little Pill: The Musical August 1-6 Their fall schedule is full of concerts, including 3 Doors Down on September 6, Fantasia on September 17, and Queens of the Stone Age on September 20. For upcoming performances, visit kcstarlight.com.

Unicorn Theatre

A nonprofit organization at the forefront of contemporary theater, The Unicorn is known for tackling social issues in its performances. Each new show is a work that has never before been produced in the region. The 2023-2024 season opens with Native Gardens, a show exploring themes of class, privilege, and entitlement in a comedy about the American dream (September). The rest of the season’s highlights include MacBitches, a play on Macbeth (October), and the world premiere of Journey to the Poles of Inaccessibility. Get all the details for the upcoming season at unicorntheatre.org.

Naomi Rodgers as Tina Turner.

photo by matthew murphy

Jagged Little Pill: The Musical

photo by matthew murphy

A NEW SYMPHONY SEASON BEGINS

Film + Live Orchestra HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS TM

PART 1 IN CONCERT

Wednesday-Friday, September 6-8 at 7 p.m. Sunday, September 10 at 2 p.m.

JUSTIN FREER, GUEST CONDUCTOR

With the full film set to your Kansas City Symphony performing live, the final battle for Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has never been so emotional. Tickets from $40 for adults and $32 for children.

Pops Concert

Audra McDonald with the Kansas City Symphony

Friday, September 15 at 8 p.m.

Saturday, September 16 at 8 p.m.

Sunday, September 17 at 7 p.m.

ANDY EINHORN, GUEST CONDUCTOR

The record-breaking six-time Tony®

Award-winner Audra McDonald (Porgy and Bess, Carousel) joins the Kansas City Symphony for an unforgettable evening of astounding vocal beauty. Tickets from $79.

Sponsored by

Tribute Concert

The Music of Led Zeppelin

Friday, September 22 at 8 p.m.

BRENT HAVENS, GUEST CONDUCTOR

RANDY JACKSON, VOCALIST

Don’t miss this spectacular tribute to rock legends Led Zeppelin, with the help of a blazing hot band, vocalist Randy Jackson, the Kansas City Symphony and more. Audiences will rock out to classic mega-hits such as “Whole Lotta Love,” “Heartbreakers” and “Stairway to Heaven.” Created by Windborne Productions Inc. Tickets from $49.

Special Concert Tower of Power with the Kansas City Symphony

Saturday, September 30 at 8 p.m.

Horn-driven soul/R&B/rock/pop/ funk band Tower of Power has been rocking their sound since 1968, infusing “Soul With a Capital ‘S’” into the music industry for over 50 years. For their Kansas City Symphony debut, hear tunes from their latest album “Step Up,” plus explosive hits like “You’re Still a Young Man,” “What Is Hip?” and “So Very Hard to Go.” Tickets from $49.

Classical Season Begins The Music is Calling

Friday, October 6 at 8 p.m.

Saturday, October 7 at 8 p.m.

Sunday, October 8 at 2 p.m.

MICHAEL STERN, CONDUCTOR

YEFIM BRONFMAN, PIANO

GABRIELA ORTIZ Kauyumari

BÉLA BARTÓK Concerto for Orchestra

JOHANNES BRAHMS Piano Concerto No. 2

Every concert is a celebration of Michael Stern’s visionary artistic leadership as we start his final season as music director. Tickets from $25.

WIZARDING WORLD and all related trademarks, characters, names, and indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR.

Concerts are held in Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

YEFIM BRONFMAN

AUDRA MCDONALD

In the Kitchen

BLACKEYED PEAS

BY Cody Hogan PHOTOS BY Aaron Leimkuehler

Having grown up in a slightly more southern clime and food culture, black-eyed peas were a staple at our family table. Sometimes fresh, sometimes home-canned, but most often store-bought canned, and always seasoned with fat drippings collected in the old percolator co ee pot that lived at the back of the stove. ey were quick, reliable, tasty and lling, and I never really thought of black-eyed peas outside of those parameters. It wasn’t until years later, as a curious gardener and chef, that I began to wonder what else could be done with them.

peas keeps idle hands busy and provides for guilt-free TV viewing on cold nights. (See In the Pantry for more details.)

As they dish,

need to do is look to other hot and steamy regions

dia, where ancient recipes indicate there may be a vari-

A lot, it turns out. For inspiration, all you need to do is look to other hot and steamy regions of the planet like western Africa, where blackeyed peas are believed to have originated, and India, where ancient recipes indicate there may be a variety native to that region as well. at being said, there are numerous varieties of black-eyed pea, v igna unguiculata , varying in color, pod length, and size, and pea texture. Most varieties of the plant have an attractive and robust vining habit—I tend to grow the vining types because I have more available vertical space in my garden—but there are some bush varieties. e owers are delicate and lovely, ranging from creamy white to violet, the pods ranging from palest green to deep purple. ey are harvested at a size dictated by their intended use. We tend to gather them for fresh shelling when the peas are mature and have swelled, creating a rhythmic bumpy texture on the pod. Long beans, the sesquipedalis subspecies favored in many parts of Asia, tend to be harvested young when the peas have not fully formed, the pods remaining smooth, perhaps only one to two feet long. Any variety can be left in the pod to fully mature and dry on the vine to store for winter use, the winter-time shelling of dried

As for preparation, black-eyed peas need a bit of cooking—in whole pea form, about 25 minutes if fresh or frozen, longer if cooking from dried rehydrated beans. As with many other legumes, they can be boiled, mashed, fried, marinated, baked, puréed, ground, or manipulated in any combination of techniques and seasonings. My current favorite preparation is a small pancake, quick and easy to prepare and suitable as a cocktail nibble, a side dish, a salad garnish, or stu ed inside a sandwich. I hope you’ll be curious enough to give these a try.

to give these a try. a

Black-eyed Pea Pancakes

is recipe is a hybrid, a cross really, between Af(or accara—a spicy fritter like Middle Eastern falafel, but made with black-eyed peas) and Indian lobia ka chilla , a highly seasoned pancake or large patty made with a base of ground blackeyed peas. I like to make these pancakes quite small, no bigger than a silver dollar, the perfect size to dip, and I prefer to use dried and rehydrated black-eyed peas, although they can be made with fresh or frozen (they just don’t seem to hold together as well for dipping). Begin by soaking one cup of dried black-eyed peas in water for several hours or overnight (they will approximately double, almost triple in size when rehydrated, so keep that in mind when choosing your soaking vessel and the amount of water to use). If you like to make things more di cult, try removing some of the skins from the peas by rubbing them together under water to loosen the skins (which will then oat on top of the peas), and then discard the skins (this makes for a more uniform, lighter texture, but you do lose some

rican akara accara—a

of the health bene ts of ber). If you are not so inclined, ignore that sentence. In a food processor, combine the peas with one bunch of coarsely chopped green onions (or about one cup of another type of onion, but I like green for the freshness and color), one mildly hot pepper like Fresno or jalapeño (African and Caribbean akara are frequently made with a ery Scotch Bonnet!), and one teaspoon of salt . Pulse the mixture a few times, then allow the processor to run while drizzling in 2-4 tablespoons of water, stopping when the mixture looks like sandy, pale green foamy pancake batter.

Preheat a nonstick skillet, drizzle with a bit of neutral avored oil or ghee , and drop tablespoon-sized dollops of batter into the skillet, spreading them out into attened one-to-two inch disks with the back of a spoon. ey need to cook at least four minutes on the rst side, so monitor the heat so they do not scorch in that amount of time, then ip them over to cook on the second side, this time only for about three minutes. ey should have deep golden to sincerely browned spotty coloration with crispy texture, especially on the edges. With a slotted spoon or spatula, remove them from the skillet and drain on paper towels (the oil in the skillet magically disappears—best not to think about where those calories go), and sprinkle with aky sea salt . Continue until all of the batter has been used, adding more oil to the skillet as needed.

ese really are best when served fresh and hot, so don’t start them until you know your guests are ready. A wonderful canvas for avor, serve the crispy morsels with a selection of dipping sauces: coconut chutney (Google Padma Lakshmi’s Coconut Chutney for Dosa—it's one of my favorite versions of this traditional South Indian condiment), ketchup, Mexican salsa, Italian mostarda, or even chopped up Korean kimchi. For a more traditional Indian variation, add generous pinches of ginger, cumin, turmeric and a handful of cilantro to the batter—no dipping sauce needed (which makes them great for cocktail parties involving white furniture or carpet).

FIELD PEAS AND FAMILY

BLACKEYED PEAS and their cousins, long beans, are versatile legumes. Also known as southern peas, cowpeas, blackeye peas, eld peas, and crowder peas, the names of di erent varieties often describe them to a T, like pinkeye purple hulls, yard long, Chinese red noodle beans, and with crowder peas—the generously stu ed pods are “crowded” with peas. ey come in various shapes and sizes that can be used interchangeably based on their maturity and how they have been processed. Although not as common in the Midwest as in the American South, keep an “eye” out for some of these in farmers markets and grocery stores near you.

Fresh vs Frozen vs Canned vs Dried

that

just waiting to be embellished. Black-eyed

Fresh black-eyed peas are not seen much outside of the southern reaches of the US, although the requisite long, hot, and steamy growing conditions seem to be expanding outside the traditional growing region. Freshly shelled (or frozen, raw), they require about 25 minutes cooking time, but that can vary a bit by size of pea. Most recipes require that the peas be boiled or steamed first, and canned black-eyed peas are at this stage–just boiled, usually salted. Simply cooked peas are a tasty but relatively blank slate, slightly nutty and earthy, and just waiting to be embellished. Black-eyed peas, stewed plain or with other seasonings like salt pork, or herbaceous bay leaves or rosemary, although delicious on their own, are wonderful as a part of a vegetable mélange, like traditional Carolina Hoppin’ John (cooked with rice, onion and bacon), Texas caviar (a dip made with black-eyed peas, corn, onion, peppers and cilantro), or as a vegetable stuffing. And don’t forget to have them at New Year’s, cooked with a ham hock. Dried black-eyed peas are usually, although not necessarily, soaked briefly before cooking to reduce the cooking time. They double in size when rehydrated and cooked, the cooking time generally increasing to about 40 minutes. The dried, rehydrated peas lend themselves to further manipulation, including grinding for vegetarian burgers or when cooked, even as a base for hummus. For those who like to plan, the dried peas can be sprouted (36 hours in a dark place, between damp paper towels), in which case they cook in about ten minutes.

The Long Bean Subspecies: Immature vs Mature

and can be included in rich meat braises or as part of a curry (coconut milk is a good medium

black-eyed peas (varieties with exception-

Long bean varieties, such as green yard-long beans and Chinese red noodle beans, are popular in much of Southeast Asia. They are generally consumed when thinner than a pencil, before the peas are fully formed and before they have a string. They hold up to long cooking times and can be included in rich meat braises or as part of a curry (coconut milk is a good medium for cooking) without fear of them turning to mush. They can be cut into two-inch sections and treated like green beans, or left whole and tied into loose knots and deep-fried, tempura style. Mature beans are shelled and treated just like black-eyed peas (varieties with exceptionally tiny peas will take less time to cook), including drying. For gardeners, they are beautifully dramatic and prolific.

BY Jenny Vergara

In Your Cocktail CAFÉ CORAZON

It has been a hot girl summer for Café Corazon in the Crossroads. e location has slowly been transforming from a Latin co ee shop into a more substantial casual dining and drinking scene thanks to the vision of husband-and-wife team, Curtis Herrera and Miel Castagna-Herrera.

With their original location on Westport Road still serving their signature co ee drinks and pastries, this family business has been evolving the menu at their larger Crossroads location, transforming it into a place where morning, noon, and some evenings (like First Fridays), you can enjoy snack food specialties from all over Central and South America along with a brand-new drink menu o ering cocktails, beer, and wine, all carefully curated to highlight Latinx culture and avor.

Curtis—who is Mexican on his father’s side—and Miel—whose father hails from Argentina—opened Café Corazon to show Kansas City how communal, convivial, and colorful Latin co ee can be, o ering unique co ee drinks, grounded in Latin culture and made

with co ee beans they roast themselves, in addition to traditional tea-based drinks such as yerba mate. en they turned their attention to the food menu, adding breakfast burritos, plant-based biscuits and gravy, empanadas, and tamales, along with a selection of sweet pastries sourced from local Latin makers around Kansas City. Finally, this summer at the Crossroads location only, in addition to being able to add a shot of booze to your co ee, they are now serving three beers, three wines, and seven cocktails.

Two of the beers on o er are from the local Latinx-owned brewery, Rizoma, along with the classic Mexican beer Modelo. e wine selection has a white wine from Portugal, and a red and a sparkling rosé wine that both hail from Chile.

Re ecting the owner’s roots, the cocktail menu has these classic Latinx-inspired cocktails available year-round. ere is the Mojito Classico, Mimosa Classica, Kalimotxo (pronounced CAL-EE-MOCHO), made with red wine, cinnamon, piloncillo, anise, lemon juice and Mexican coke, and their brunch favorite La Llorona Bloody Maria, which is basically a Bloody Mary made with tequila instead of vodka. eir refreshing Watermelon Mint Mojito, Drunken Samba Limeade, which has been making the rounds on Tik Tok and Instagram this summer, and the pretty and powerful Paloma Rosa, are all being o ered this summer as seasonal cocktails.

e Paloma Rosa cocktail is a joint creation between the general manager, Allison Johnson, and Curtis and Miel. is drink has a gorgeous rosy hue from the hibiscus syrup they make in-house, which adds a refreshing ower power to the Paloma. ey use La Gritona Reposado Tequila from a woman-owned and woman-sta ed distillery located in Valle de Guadalupe, Jalisco, in the cocktail. e owner of La Gritona, Melly Barajas, is one of only 12 female master distillers in Mexico, which is even more reason to order one at Café Corazon or make your own at home. cafecorazonkc.com

3 ounces grapefruit juice

5 ounces simple syrup

1 ounce simple syrup

1.5 ounces La Gritona Reposado

1 ounce hibiscus syrup*

In a shaker, combine the grapefruit juice, simple syrup, lime juice, tequila, and ice. Shake well. Pour the hibiscus syrup into the bottom of a rocks glass, then fill with ice. Strain the contents of the shaker into the prepared glass, and garnish with an orange wheel and a sprinkle of dried hibiscus flowers on top.

*Hibiscus Syrup: Take ½ cup dried hibiscus flowers, ½ cup sugar, and 1 cup water. Heat until sugar dissolves, then let it come to room temperature before chilling. Makes almost 1 cup.

Paloma Rosa

Paloma Rosa

KANSAS CITY REAL ESTATE AMBASSADOR

•KC REAL ESTATE INFLUENCER: RANKED ONE OF THE TOP 20 AGENTS IN THE METRO

•200+ BOTTLES OF CHAMPAGNE POPPED ANNUALLY & COUNTING!

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•99.9% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RATING

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•FULL-TIME CLIENT CONCIERGE

Kasey Bourk

Kristin Johnson

Kyla Cauthon

Tricia Gill

Blake Nelson

BY Jenny Vergara

AQUA PENNY’S

COME THIS FALL, the owners of Bamboo Penny’s will welcome a new seafaring sister at Leawood’s Park Place shopping center. Aqua Penny’s will o er impeccably sourced, sustainability-conscious, and seasonally prepared sh at their new coastal seafood house and oyster bar opening in the former Gordon Biersch building, a primo spot at the southern entrance of Park Place. Husband and wife team Penny and Doug Mufuka, along with local concept design and development specialist Michael Werner, all fresh from their joint success with Bamboo Penny’s, have big plans for their new seafood spot, which includes a 100-plus person outdoor-seating area with re and water elements, along with a cool and spacious interior that features both a large craft cocktail bar and a full-service oyster and raw bar. e menu will o er fresh seafood towers, steamed King crab legs, seafood curries, steaks, and more. Look for Aqua Penny’s to open in late October serving lunch, dinner, happy hour, and weekend brunch.

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by Jenny Vergara

BETTY RAE’S ICE CREAM

LOCAL FOOD LOVERS rejoiced as plans were announced that Matt Shatto, owner and operator of Shatto Home Delivery and acting vice president of Shatto Milk Company, had purchased revered local Kansas City ice cream operation, Betty Rae’s, from Betty Rae’s current owner, Alec Rodgers. Assuming the ownership role himself, Shatto plans to preserve and grow the homespun ice cream brand known for their funky and fun flavors. Betty Rae’s currently has two locations, the original store in Waldo, which opened in 2016, and a second one in the River Market, which opened in 2018. Betty Rae’s was purchased by Rodgers two years ago, and after stabilizing the business, he started looking for someone willing to take the concept to the next level. All employees and beloved ice cream flavors are staying, and Shatto has plans to make Betty Rae’s available to more people with new stores throughout the region and by distributing to area grocers and local restaurants, in addition to continuing to rent the Betty Rae’s Ice Cream truck for corporate, family, and neighborhood events. We all scream for the future of Betty Rae’s ice cream. bettyraes.com

The Committee of 100 Presents The 12th Annual Celebratory Luncheon

Tuesday, September 19th at 10 a.m.

Featuring NYC’s famed “neo-traditionalist” designer, Ashley Whittaker. Known for her classic taste and chic sophistication, Ashley will discuss her signature style and latest book, The WellLoved House. All proceeds benefit The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Limited tickets available at C100Luncheon.org.

Honorary Chairs | Kay Newell & Lisa Schellhorn Chairs | Shelley Copaken & Amy Thompson

The 2023 C100 Luncheon Spring Kick-off was held at the stunning Alameda Towers home of Carmen Sabates. While taking in the breathtaking city views, guests were privileged to hear the wisdom of Ann Baum and Shirley Helzberg, C100 Major Benefactors and long-time leaders in support of our city’s crown jewel, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

Join

The C100 Luncheon Spring Kick-Off Party. Photos by David Riffel

BY Jenny Vergara

LULU’S THAI NOODLE SHOP

THIRD TIME IS A CHARM for Lulu’s ai Noodle Shop owner Malisa Monyakula, who opened her third ai restaurant in downtown Overland Park earlier this summer. After spending the last 26 years introducing Kansas City to her family’s favorite ai food recipes, rst in the Crossroads and then at her Westwood location, she has slowly continued to make her way south. Guests will nd the exact same menu at each location, but Monyakula continues to show her creativity in the unique design of each restaurant, making each space feel like you are eating at a di erent colorful night market in ailand. ere is a spacious outdoor patio at the Overland Park location and a full-service bar o ering ai takes on cocktails with ingredients found in the kitchen, which are built to go with her signature wok dishes like Spicy Beef Jantaboon, ai Cashew Chicken, and Massaman curry, in addition to her two popular takes on Pad ai. lulusnoodles.com

A celebration of movement and libation – this is an opportunity for women to come together to gather & gallivant, bond over beers, and toast to all the joys in life that unite us.

Reservation for One MCGREGOR’S BUTCHER & BISTRO

by Jenny Vergara photos by Aaron Leimkuehler

With St. Andrews Golf Club to the south and Sykes/ Lady Overland Park Golf Course to the north, you’ll find the Scottish-themed McGregor’s Butcher & Bistro nestled into the middle of a strip mall on 135th Street surrounded by residential neighborhoods. This two-inone concept delivers two things the southern burbs of Kansas City have been noticeably lacking—a locally owned butcher shop and a reasonably priced upscale steakhouse that is close to home.

The owners may have given the restaurant a Scottish name and backstory based on their own family lineage, but given its location near two of the most popular golf courses in Overland Park, it also feels like it might also be an unspoken nod to the Scots who invented the game of golf. When I arrived for dinner, golf was playing on all three televisions at the bar. I’m just saying, it feels like a natural tie-in they should lean into.

With plenty of quiet ambience, quality meat, and prices that are less than those charged by bigger steakhouses downtown, McGregor’s is teed up to be a hole-in-one for first-time local restaurant owners Michael and

Phyllis Gregg and their financial partner, Kenneth Gregory. This place has all the potential to be Overland Park’s new favorite clubhouse.

Guests will find two front doors under the McGregor Butcher & Bistro awning. One door leads directly into the dark and moody restaurant and bar, and the other leads into the exceptionally clean, brightwhite butcher shop that not only supplies the restaurant with its meaty provisions, but also sells those same cuts and many more to the public, along with pantry staples, locally made condiments, and a full sandwich menu available for lunch only.

The butcher shop is managed by Samson Benford and Matthew Buechele and carries a wide selection of meat from Arrowhead Specialty Meats, and its fish and seafood are supplied by Fortune Fish. Although steaks and seafood are front and center, you can also find a selection of ground burgers and sausages in the case ready to be wrapped up and taken home.

On the restaurant side, the layout smartly eliminates the view of the parking lot when you are dining inside, while the dark, inky-blue walls feel like you are dining in a cozy cave. Green booths are tucked

in around mostly four-top tables covered with white tablecloths. ere is a full cocktail bar and lounge area serving a selection of steakhouse cocktail classics (think Stoli Dolis, with which we started our night), wine, and beer, along with a private dining room.

e food menu is comforting, with plenty of dishes that are surprisingly well executed. Fresh oysters, a Scottish egg, and roasted bone marrow are just some of the appetizers served here. Erik Fernandez, the executive chef and general manager, who previously worked as a corporate trainer and opening chef for Yard House at locations across the country, is managing a kitchen team executing at an impressive level.

For anyone dining here for the rst time, I would recommend the steak ight. It’s an all-inclusive meal, with salad, steak, and one side, plus dessert and a glass of wine for $75 per person. No one will go home hungry, I promise.

e meal includes three four-ounce cuts of their nest steaks—the house let from locally raised Angus cattle, the Kansas City strip from local Cedar River Farms, and an Akaushi rib eye (basically American wagyu beef), all cooked to your speci cations. You also get your choice of the McGregor garden salad or Caesar salad, one side dish (choose from several potato choices, creamed spinach, roasted Brussels sprouts, or onion rings), one signature dessert, and six-ounce wine pour of either an acceptable Sean Minor Four Bears cabernet sauvignon or a Violet Hill pinot noir.

McGregor’s steak ight is basically an education in the avor and texture of various cuts of meat. It is a di cult task to cook a full-sized steak perfectly to temperature in a fast-paced commercial kitchen, now imagine three smaller cuts of steak all needing to be cooked to the same temperature. We ordered our steak ights medium rare, and they both came out juicy and perfectly cooked. e let was silky smooth to the knife, with a big beefy avor, while the KC strip had more of a chew to it, with a salty mineral umami, and the rib eye was buttery and rich from all the marbling.

Lightly dressed crispy romaine lettuce topped with large shavings of Parmesan cheese and croutons, my Caesar salad was exactly what you might expect, while the creamed spinach, my favorite steakhouse side thanks to a childhood of being told to eat my spinach like Popeye, was cheesy in avor, but just a bit runny.

e desserts, consisting of a chocolate cake, a cheesecake, a berry cobbler, and made-in-house donuts, which were cake donut holes cooked to order and rolled in cinnamon and sugar served with chocolate, caramel, and strawberry sauce, were basic. I think they were a favorite because they were served warm, but they didn’t really make sense with the rest of the dining experience. However, for the record, it is hard to be mad at a churro ball dunked in sauce.

For many of us, steak and seafood restaurants are usually considered a ne-dining experience. e same is true here, but there is a casualness in the service, atmosphere, and menu that feels comfortably unfussy, like a favorite neighborhood joint, which I think is the goal of McGregor’s.

I saw it rsthand when the owner, Mike Gregg, made his rounds, checking in on tables and introducing himself. From his questions, I could tell that he always expects to see friendly faces from the neighborhood. When he stopped at our table, I mentioned we had come from downtown. His surprise was obvious as he said, “Welcome, we haven’t had too many people from downtown come and visit us yet.”

Don’t miss your opportunity to become a McGregor’s regular at this new locally owned bistro, bar, and butcher shop. mcgregorsbutcherandbistro.com

(913)

therestaurantat1900.com

(913) 730–1900

Modern-American cuisine from award-winning Chef Linda Duerr. Chef Duerr and team present elegant fare and carefully curated menus for a variety of special occasions.

transformable reception

Come in and enjoy multiple levels of fun and fitness, support local businesses, and plan your next event with us!

Fall Festival Season kicks o with KC Irish Fest then continues with Hallmarket, Dream Big Day and KC Oktoberfest.

Spend your summer with the Boys in Blue with great theme nights, events, and giveaways all season long!

The Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium is excited to open its doors to the brand-new Sobela Ocean Aquarium on September 1!

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram to stay up to date on Greater Kansas City Attractions Association

KC Royals

KC Zoo

Crown Center

Hyvee Arena

My Essentials IN KC

by Liz Schroeder

JON MARZETTE

ENTREPRENEUR. DESIGNER. MUSICIAN

Acreative jack-of-all-trades, everything Jon Marzette does has style. Part of the rebranding e ort of Fetch, a West Bottoms goods and thrift store, his in uence is felt across Kansas City and nationwide. He rebranded the assets for KC Black Owned, a local directory listing local Black-owned businesses, and was involved in the branding for e Deep Grocery Co-Op, a worker-owned grocery initiative dedicated to restoring the community of East Oakland, California.

Marzette found love in music growing up in Lawrence, Kansas, while DJing and playing in local bands. While he used to catch music regularly at the Riot Room, he now lists local favorites Nighthawk, e Ship, or Record Bar as his top haunts. “Kadesh Flow and Hembree are always a good time when they’re in town,” he says. During the day, Marzette works at Barkley as a designer, while still making time to host, curate, and throw events—each one a feast for the senses. While Marzette does his share of traveling, Kansas City is still home. “I nd myself feeling that KC really is a special place,” he says. “We’ve got a lot of the same things other gigantic and more well-known cities have, and maybe even the better, more unique, and a ordable version. Housing, opportunities, nightlife, and, best of all, good people. De nitely not a yover city.”

You can nd Marzette eating hot wings at the Peanut on Main Street every Wednesday.

Jon’s essentials...

CAFF UP: I love going to Made in KC Café

My normal drink is a vanilla latte, but I’ll always try their seasonal drinks.

SELF-CARE SESH:

My version of self-care is going hog wild at The Black Pantry and buying a bit of everything from a bottle of wine to a birthday card, snacks, and all the black-owned goodies I could ever want.

NIGHTCAP: Always a spicy Paloma from Mean Mule

SUMMER SPOTS: A natural answer is, of course, patios. If we do that, I’d prefer mine on a rooftop. My favorite place to drink/eat/ hang is Percheron on top of Crossroads Hotel. I also really enjoy mini golf on the lawn of the Nelson-Atkins Museum.

LUNCH STOP: The Peanut is, and will always be, near and dear to my heart. You simply can’t beat a three-wing and fry combo. Pro tip: Get the wings naked with the sauce on the side for some additional crunch! My friends and I have been getting wings together for years and years at this point, so it’s always a great catch-up spot.

KC SCENT: e Head Bitch

In Charge candle from E ng Candle Co. smells amazing (plus it’s a great name for a scent). She does pop-ups around KC but also has a brick-and-mortar location—or you can always buy online at e ngcandleco.com

personal favorite. And then

LOCAL MAKERS: I’ve got three: Bonicel, aka Easton, makes amazing clothing that can be found at Guevel and online at bonicelsewing.co. He is a master of denim and I’ve got a custom cap of his that’s a favorite. Another is 90SIX—I nd myself impulse-buying everything she makes. My In Good Spirits shirt from her is another personal favorite. And then Cheatin’ Snakes hasn’t made a T-shirt I don’t want ever.

LOCAL SHOP: Guevel is a great shop— most of my dope statement shirts for summer come from there.

HIDDEN GEM: June’s is this amazing combination of disco music with all the vibes of the Green Lady Lounge in one. Finding consistent disco energy in Midtown is rare, and it’s even better to combine that with amazing drinks. Perfect little gem of a place.