Kansas City’s Hottest Neighborhoods
Happy atHome Living with Great Design
FEBRUARY 2021 | INKANSASCITY.COM
TO ALL THE RESTAURANTS WE’VE LOVED AND LOST
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Design Connection 2-21_NKC_Spread_FA.indd 1
Come meet us! Call 913.851.8776
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1/14/21 2:19 PM
Contents FEBRUARY 2021
64 76
80
60 Features 60
IN CONVERSATION WITH DAVID JIMENEZ The Paris-based interior designer talks about his time in Kansas City, Paris during the pandemic, and what we should be listening to now.
64
ON THE STREET WHERE THEY LIVE A Leawood family moves next door and starts fresh.
Departments
72
LOVE LETTERS TO RESTAURANTS WE’VE LOST Local food lovers share their remembrances and offer words of hope to restaurants hanging on.
76
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Ten of the hottest neighborhoods in Kansas City.
80
PERFECT PERCH A historic Kansas City aerie holds a lifetime of collecting.
On the cover
The light-filled kitchen and dining rooms of a new home in Old Leawood. Flower arrangement from The Little Flower Shop. Story on page 64. Photo by Aaron Leimkuehler. FEBRUARY 2021
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20
WOMEN IN BUSINESS IN KC
24
ENTERTAINING IN KC
30
OUR MAN IN KC
36
ARTS & CULTURE IN KC
44
BEHIND THE MUSIC IN KC
50
LOOK IN KC
56
LIVING IN KC
100
FLAVOR IN KC
112
MY ESSENTIALS IN KC
IN EVERY ISSUE 14
EDITOR’S NOTE
16
INKANSASCITY.COM
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Editor’s Note
Vol. 4 | No. 2 FEBRUARY 2021 Editor In Chief Zim Loy
The Twelfth Time’s the Charm
Art Director Alice Govert Bryan Digital Editor Michael Mackie
H
ow fortuitous for me that this is our annual Home issue. It’s chock-full of even more design and renovation tips and trends than usual. I have a major project brewing myself, so it’s been a fantastic resource for me. In one sense, I’ve got the jump on anyone else with a home project. At all of our interviews and photo shoots, I’ve peppered each subject for their best sources and suppliers. I may get to them first, but we are sharing them with you, too. Courtesy of the pandemic, everyone is spending much more time at home than usual, so any issues can become glaring problems. Anything from that irritating door that doesn’t close tightly to a major kitchen remodel—all are fair game when you’re stuck inside and can’t see past the aggravation. Personally, I thought our home on the hill was our forever place. After all, I designed it for the way my husband and I (and our two dogs) live. What I didn’t factor in was the case that I pretty much need a project every five years or so. Or sometimes less, like that ten months we spent in a downtown loft. That two-story loft had spectacular views and lots to love, but every time the furnace or air conditioner turned on in that humongous space, it sounded like an airplane taking off. We had to shout to be heard over it. So, on to the next project. Right now, we’re living in a nice little ranch rental while we finalize the changes we want to make on our newly purchased Fairway house. As the real estate agents say, “location, location, location!” There’s no substituting the golf course view and the lovely, shady backyard. While the main living area is open and airy, with a vaulted ceiling and gorgeous original hardwood floors, the kitchen and bathrooms need to be gutted and updated. Also, a room addition is in the works. But most of all, this time I’m planning for a sweet little plunge pool in the backyard. Of all of the previous 11 houses we’ve renovated or built, only one had a pool, and I loved every minute of it. We had specified one for our house on the hill, but budget overruns meant it got crossed off the list. Maybe this time we should add the pool first.
Contributing Photographers Melanie Acevedo, Zach Bauman, Gaëtan Chekaiban, Aaron Leimkuehler Graphic Designer Eva Tucker Copy Editor Craig Magnus Publisher Michelle Jolles Media Director Brittany Coale Senior Media Consultants Katie Delzer, Nicole Kube, Shelayne Lawyer, Krista Markley Newsstand Consultant Joe J. Luca, JK Associates 816-213-4101, jkassoc.net Editorial Questions: zloy@inkansascity.com
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Zim
photo by aaron leimkuhler
Contributing Writers Kelsey Cipolla, Stacy Downs, Judith Fertig, Timothy Finn, Cindy Hoedel, Cody Hogan, Merrily Jackson, Damian Lair, R. Murphy, Katy Schamberger
FEBRUARY 2021
| 14 | INKANSASCITY.COM
“E very great love story should include
gorgeous jewelry . . . in my humble opinion.” – Lilliane
And now is the perfect time to add fresh sparkle to your love story.
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At Lilliane’s we’ve been helping write love stories for more than half a century. No wonder we’re one of Kansas City’s most trusted jewelers.
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EXPLORE OUR WEBSITE AT
INKANSASCITY.COM ENTER TO WIN
Oui, oui! Our friends at Terrasi Living & Scandia Home on the Plaza are
Art attack. We asked Consuelo Cruz from Belger
Arts to dish on her favorite piece of art. Cruz chose a 2001 print by the artist Nick Busbash. The five-color lithograph entitled Tattoo Guy (from The Entertainers) is colorfully eclectic and surreal. Read the story at inkansascity.com.
giving away a pair of French designer throw pillows. Think of it as a chance to refresh your décor with an elegant splash of color! Available in 18 colors and three sizes, you can customize the pair to suit your space. Constructed with lustrous velvet on the front and solid linen on the back. Enter by February 28 at inkansascity.com/the-magazine/enter-to-win. Good luck!
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Curry flavor. KC Hopps’s corporate executive chef Ryan Sneed has created a multicooker Indian butter chicken dish that’s tantalizing, tasty, and oh-so easy to make at home. It’s perfect for a cold winter night and guaranteed
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to help warm you up! Find the recipe at
Trying to decide where to eat (or get takeout)?
We’ve got you covered with the city’s most comprehensive dining guide. Check it out at inkansascity. com/eat-drink/ dining-guide
inkansascity.com/eat-drink-recipes. TWITTER @INKANSASCITYMAG
Memorable music. No thanks
to Covid, February 12 marks one year since our music critic, Tim Finn, officially saw a live concert. We asked him to wax nostalgic and narrow down his all-time favorite on-stage performances. From Prince to Tom Petty to, uh, Air Supply—see what made the cut. Find it at inkansascity. com/arts-entertainment/ contemporary-music.
FEBRUARY 2021
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GREAT PLAINS SPCA ANIMAL EXPERT ANSWERS YOUR PET QUESTIONS Animal expert, Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA, is the Director of Animal Behavior & Training at Great Plains SPCA. Ashley has more than 16 years of experience in animal training and behavior.
Does your dog need help with the basics?
This December, please join us in support of our holiday donation match campaign to help all of our pets find homes this holiday season.
Dear Ashley – My dog paces all night and whines. It seems to happen when his routine is disrupted just slightly (like I am on PTO and not going to work). Any suggestions on how to reduce his anxiety around change in routine that seems to create a lot of unwanted behaviors at night where he just cannot settle? – Annie Runnion A short-term solution is seeking medications from your vet that can help your pet sleep at night. The longer-term solution is getting back to your baseline normal behaviors, which for you is having a consistent routine. Then slowly changing parts of your routine for a small amount of time and rewarding the dog when your dog is not displaying anxiety. Repeat this with a little more disruption and a little longer duration, then reward when appropriate. If the dog is displaying mild levels of anxiety from the disruptions, then you know you have gone too long or you have too many disruptions so start with a smaller amount next time. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA
New classes are starting soon, please visit our website to sign up or learn more!
GREATPLAINSSPCA.ORG
5424 Antioch Dr. | Merriam, KS 66202
Dear Ashley – Both of my dogs are friendly with other dogs, but they can be extremely reactive when walked by other dogs on leash, especially when passing close distance. I tried to work on the “Look at me” cue but sometimes dogs just pop up unexpectedly and it is frustrating and embarrassing. Any tips on
how to manage my two dogs and their reactivity while on walks? – Emily Wallace I recommend walking them separately until they are individually walking and greeting appropriately. Dogs feed off of one another and will easily become hyper-focused on stimuli, in your case, other animals. It is much easier for a dog to follow another dog that is freaking out instead of following the leader who is trying to calm them. Train them individually and once they are both walking on leash and greeting unfamiliar people and animals appropriately, start training them to walk together. This training will take a while, but will result in years of good walks together, so hang in there. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA
Dear Ashley – What advice do you have for a neutered cat who has recently started urine spraying on vertical surfaces? – Dr. Rhiannon Koehler It sounds like your cat is displaying marking behaviors. Marking territory with urine is your cat’s way of dealing with stress. Try thinking about environmental changes that have recently happened in your home. They may be subtle for humans, but a bigger deal for the cat. Try to figure out what is stressing your cat and decrease that stress in the home. There are some great destressing options such as Feliaway diffusers or sprays to help stressed out kitties. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA
Email askashleyinkc@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered here.
ADOPT. DONATE. VOLUNTEER. About Great Plains SPCA: Great Plains SPCA is an independent 501 (c)(3) no-kill shelter serving approximately 6,000 animals annually in the Johnson County community. As Kansas City’s premium family shelter, we continue to support the seven municipalities that we are contracted with including Overland Park, Leawood, Shawnee, Lake Quivira and Johnson County Parks and Recreation and unincorporated Johnson County.
Small Team. Small Team. Results Big - That MOVE -- That MOVE SmallBig Team. Big Results Results ThatYou! MOVE You! You! More than More 100 than Properties 100 Sold Sold More than 100 Properties Properties Sold $81+ Million $81+ Million Closed in Sales inSales 2020in $81+ in Million in Closed Closed Sales in 2020 2020
Susan Susan Fate Laurie Fate BarndsBarnds ConnieConnie CurranCurran Susan Fate Laurie Laurie Barnds Connie Curran Stacy Curtis Stacy Susan Susan Jones Jones Blair Tyson Blair Stacy Curtis Curtis Susan Jones Blair Tyson Tyson
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K i t c h215 e W. n Pershing & h Road o m e
Kansas City § Missouri § 64108 816.363.5300 215 W. Pershing Road
Kansas City § Missouri § 64108 816.363.5300
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Love At First Sight
LoveAt AtFirst First Sight Sight Love
Women in Business by
IN KC
Michael Mackie
photo by
Melanie Acevedo
Kelly Porter & Bridgett Cochran
BRIDGETT COCHRAN, LEFT, AND KELLY PORTER CREATED AN INTERNATIONALLY ACCLAIMED DESIGN BUSINESS THAT HAS ITS ROOTS RIGHT HERE IN KANSAS CITY
F
ifteen years ago, artist Kelly Porter and designer Bridgett Cochran launched Porter Teleo. The company’s stunningly detailed hand-painted wallcoverings and fabrics are “a uniquely beautiful product that is inherently different from anything else out there,” says Porter. What started as a labor of love has blossomed. The duo’s exquisite products are now “sold world-wide to top designers and architects,” says Porter. The women-owned, women-operated company—a creative vision of the two owners—proudly manufactures their handmade goods in the USA and exports to more than 15 different countries. One look and it’s easy to see how their product is unique. “Kelly and I created Porter Teleo from nothing,” says Cochran. “We have consistently relied on our combined instincts to grow our company into a nationally recognized brand in a highly competitive industry. We are fiercely dedicated to authenticity in our work and in the processes by which we create, and equally dedicated to maintaining a work environment that embraces humanity and balance for all of our employees.” The two entrepreneurs have always bucked typical retail strategies and tactics. Instead, they’ve tried a same planet, different world approach. “We try to add designs that are truly breaking new ground and offering
FEBRUARY 2021
something different and needed in the world,” says Porter. “We’re not looking at what sells well—but rather what we are inspired by from our own individual sources, much like how art or music is created.” (And yes, if you’re wondering, their list of celebrity clients is long. The roster includes Gwen Stefani, Cameron Diaz, Reese Witherspoon, Kaley Cuoco, and Ryan Seacrest, just to name a few. “There are some who are so amazing we had to sign non-disclosures and we simply cannot tell,” says Porter with a smile.) While Cochran’s background is interior design, her savvy business skills helped with logistics early on. Porter, meanwhile, has honed her artistic talent. “My paintings are abstractions of life at the cellular level, as well as botanical life,” she says. “Fine art has a very natural and symbiotic relationship with surface design—so the dive into designing wallcoverings was very natural.” Girl power rules the roost at Porter Teleo. “Kelly and I run a business with 99 percent female employees at various stages of life,” says Cochran. “It is an incredibly supportive environment, with each of us learning from the other. It’s one I am very proud of being a part of creating.” Both Cochran and Porter have a long list of women who have inspired them both personally and professionally. It runs the gamut from Cochran’s beloved mom to Coco Chanel. Porter names several more, including the artists George O’Keeffe and Helen Frankenthaler. “Any woman who is brave enough to go against the grain and resilient enough to endure suffering but come out of it by making the world a better place—these women are my heroes,” she says. Team Porter Teleo is glad to have 2020 in their respective rearview mirrors. Both women are looking forward to 2021’s hopeful, not-so-wonky retail landscape. The duo made massive (and risky) changes in marketing and sales efforts last year. It paid off as Porter Teleo managed to grow 30 percent last year even with a twomonth pandemic shutdown. “Last year holds some of our very best and also most challenging times as a company,” says Cochran. “I can honestly say that 2020 made us a stronger, more grounded, and a more focused company.” Porter adds, “When I look back on all we endured in 2020, I am so very happy we are exactly where we are positioned right now. We are in a great place—and poised to keep growing steadily and rapidly. I feel like nothing can stop us now!” porterteleo.com
| 20 | INKANSASCITY.COM
Know Your Worth
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. POWER IS PERSONAL. Whether it’s a path to security, a gateway to your dreams or the road to being your own boss, we have the people and resources to empower you. Learn more at UMB.com/WXW
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Entertaining
IN KC
My Favorite Kitchen Stuff, Part Deux OUR ENTERTAINING MAVEN SHARES HER FAVORITE KITCHEN APPLIANCES—AND RECIPES THAT MAKE GOOD USE OF THEM by
Merrily Jackson
photo by
Aaron Leimkuehler
Email me with your entertaining questions, dilemmas, or triumphs at mjackson@inkansascity.com
FEBRUARY 2021
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I
t’s February, isn’t it, and we are that much closer to the return of fun times together— happy hours, brunches, cocktail parties, dinner parties. Remember them? In a normal February I might be offering you ideas for Valentine’s, Oscar and Super Bowl parties, but—vaccine notwithstanding—it’s still not normal. I’m staying home, as the ‘rona ain’t over yet. This pandemic has turned me into a cooking fool. I’m grateful for the many hours I’ve been able to spend in my cozy kitchen in South Hyde Park, making meals for me and my sweet, appreciative hubs. If you haven’t been at the stove, do not let me guilttrip you. You do you, honey. We all have our interests, essential distractions during the sadness of this pandemic. I happen to like cookery, and all the gadgets associated with it. In the June 2020 issue, I waxed on
C O L E FA X A N D F O W L E R FA B R I C S P H I L L I P J E F F R I E S WA L L C O V E R I N G
Celebrate more time at home.
Interior sanctuaries created here.
8 510 M a r s h a l l D r i v e | L e n e x a , K S kdrshowrooms.com
Entertaining
IN KC
Waffle Around I use my Cuisinart Belgian waffle iron to make these four-ingredient waffles; I can whip them up anytime because the ingredients are shelf-stable. The club soda makes the waffles crispy on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside. They sop up syrup like a sponge, so if you like your syrup sitting neatly atop your waffles, this is not the recipe for you.
CLUB SODA WAFFLES Makes about 12 four-inch waffles 2 ¼
cups biscuit mix cup vegetable or canola oil
2
large eggs
1
10-ounce bottle club soda
In a large bowl, combine the biscuit mix, eggs, and oil. Add club soda—you want to keep it fizzy as long as possible, so open at the last minute. Stir batter until smooth. Pour just enough batter to cover the plates in your heated waffle iron. Cook until golden. Repeat until batter is gone. Serve waffles with maple syrup, heated if you are so inclined. You can freeze cooled waffles between layers of waxed paper, and pop them in the toaster, or microwave on high 30 to 60 seconds until heated through.
FEBRUARY 2021
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about my favorite simple, low-tech tools. Herewith are my most indispensable higher-tech things. My kitchen is small, so I must be selective about my stuff. BLENDS WITH BENEFITS Do you have an immersion blender? Mine has become my new BFF while I’ve gone on a mad jag of making wholesome, broth-based vegetable soups and puréeing them, as they sit in their pots, into little oceans of creaminess that taste decadent but are not. My immersion blender is by Everus, and—for a mere thirty-seven bucks—it comes with several useful attachments, including a whisk, and a small, light, food-chopper bowl. The latter makes it super easy to mince shallots or dice onions, without having to get out my huge, heavy pig of a food processor. I learned about the Everus from my friend Donald Loncasty, aka The Snobby Chef, who uses his in a number if inventive ways, including dropping the blender stick directly into an open can of whole San Marzano tomatoes to break them up for a fresh-tasting tomato-basil sauce he serves with pasta. Snobby has shared the recipe—it’s really more of a technique—with me. Email me and I’ll send it to you, along with any other recipes mentioned herein, such as Julia Child’s Potage Parmentier (potato and leek soup— only six ingredients, counting water and salt!) which I like to purée into velvety goodness with my Everus. It would make a snug little winter supper for you and your pod. THE THERMAPEN: CHEAP INSURANCE My ThermoWorks Super-Fast Thermapen instant-read digital thermometer cost me a usurious hundred bucks, but it bought me the security of knowing I will never again ruin a high-dollar chunk of meat, fish, or fowl. There’s just no way you can know what’s going on inside a $120 tenderloin of beef unless you take its temperature. Once you own a Thermapen and you know that your filet needs to be taken out of the oven the very instant its internal temperature reaches 132 degrees (it will rise about 10 degrees while it rests), your stress level drops considerably. There is a slew of $15 to $20 digital meat thermometers out there, but they are big fat liars. Buy the Thermapen and you will only cry once. While we’re on the topic of beef, my favorite tenderloin recipe is Ina Garten’s filet of beef with gorgonzola sauce, from Barefoot Contessa Parties. AAAND SHE’S TALKING ABOUT THE INSTAPOT AGAIN My six-quart Instant Pot (manufactured by Nova) is a truly useful gadget; worth the space it occupies. Email me and I’ll send you the boeuf bourguignon recipe from New York Times food columnist Melissa Clark, who has written a terrific book of multicooker recipes called Dinner in an Instant. Her recipe for wild mushroom, pancetta and pea risotto is perfect for feeding someone who eats gluten free, and delicious even if you use plain old button mushrooms. Email
FEBRUARY 2021
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Entertaining
IN KC
and I’ll send it to you. One thing to bear in mind: although cooking in an Instant Pot is way faster than other methods, don’t expect instantaneous meals. When you use the pressure-cooker function, be prepared for the lag time it takes for the machine to reach and release pressure—ten to 30 minutes. It’s never factored into the recipe’s prep time. I learned this the hard way. I WOULD NEVER THROW AWAY MY CROCK POT Even though I have the InstaPot, I still use my Kitchenaid 6-Quart Slow Cooker; I bought it because it got six out of six stars from the persnickety editors at Cook’s Country magazine. Inexpensive cuts such as pork shoulder, lamb shoulder, beef brisket, and chicken thighs transcend themselves after eight hours in le crock pot. The cold months are here, perfect weather for one-pot meals like Yankee pot roast, beef stew and Southwest-style posole. You can load up the slow cooker in the morning, toddle off to do whatever you do all day, and dinner awaits when you walk through the front door. SO SOUS ME Many home cooks now own a sous vide (French for “under vacuum”), which produces melt-in-your-mouth foods with minimal exertion. With sous vide, practically any vessel in your kitchen can be trans-
formed into a precisely controlled water bath. You put food into a Ziploc bag, pop it into the water-filled pot, insert the sous vide device, set the temperature and time, and walk away, sometimes for as long as three days. Once cooked, the items can be held at the perfect degree of doneness for as long as you like. I have a brand-new Anova sous vide which I cannot wait to use; I like how it fits neatly in my utensil drawer. The first thing I will make will be The Snobby Chef ’s delectable sous vide pork tenderloin with garlic and shallots. You know what to do if you want the recipe. YES, THE IDIOT BOX I have an 18-inch flat-screen TV on my kitchen counter. The room would look a million times better without it, I know my design-y friends are horrified by the sight of it, and they will pry it from my cold, dead hands. It keeps me such company while I’m cooking. I watch the news, costume dramas on KCPT, Forensic Files, The Food Network, Turner Classic Movies and of course, my beloved Patrick (don’t call him Pat!) Mahomes and the Chiefs. On election night, glued to the telly, I made the spaghetti sauce from my friend Sally Uhlmann’s tour de force Just Cook with Sally. It calls for six different dried herbs, three types of canned tomatoes, and simmers for three hours, while you stir it every fifteen minutes. Yes, I will send you the recipe, but you won’t regret buying the book.
RELAX.
Isn’t that what you want to do when you buy or sell a home? Relax and let the experts guide you.
Kevin Bryant Melinda Chalfant Katherine Meiners Gregg
Kathy Scaglia Green Becky Loboda Sandy Palmer
Heidi Peter Tom Suther Nancy Weeks
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Our Man BY
IN KC
Damian Lair
dlair@inkansascity.com
: @damianlair #OurManINKC
Pivoting
A
year ago, just steps from my downtown condo, I was thunderously applauding the Kansas City Chiefs during a decades-in-the-making hometown Super Bowl parade. Little did I know that in the coming days a long-planned trip to China and Singapore would be scuttled by a mysterious, Asia-confined virus. And I’d have never believed you if you’d told me that for the next year, there would be essentially no parties, galas, live performances, games, large gatherings, or restaurant openings. On top of that, there would be unimaginable loss and suffering. Boy, what a year it’s been since that jubilant day. Amidst it all, however, your intrepid “man about town” got extra creative. Not only to offer ideas for passing the time, but for maintaining my own sanity as well. Gradually progressing from virtual floral arranging and charcuterie making to masking up and making my way back into the (more distanced and sanitized) world. We’re hardly out of the woods just yet. But like many, I can finally see a glimmer ahead of what life used to be like and might flourish to be like again. So as I eagerly trudge forward, I continue these monthly create-your-own adventures. In a vast field of uncertainty, they’ve become an unexpected pleasure. And they are among the many such joys that I’m likely to carry forward into what “normal” looks like next. But I still miss parties.
Damian Lair at West Bottoms Whiskey Co.
from the gilded age that represents optimism, discovery, and progress. He’s a beacon of excellence. And he’s the top-hatted, steel-jawed symbol of WB Whiskey Co. This fictitious (or is he?) character is the embodiment of the vibe at WB Whiskey Co.’s cocktail parlor. Not a bar. Intimate, and open for reservations only (heads up, this could change by print time), this lofted parlor has all the charm of a Westworld saloon. First things first—a cocktail. I was, without option or menu (they do have one), promptly served up “Kansas City’s Best Old Fashioned.” Who am I to disagree? Alex wielded a flame torch to sear an oak-barrel stave, capping the rising, woody smoke with a cut-crystal double old-fashioned glass. The smoldering cloud was the perfect, husky complement to the whiskey and orange bitters. BOTTOMS UP, UP, UP! Enjoying my cocktail on a buttery leather sofa upstairs, tiny slivers of golden light peeked through the wooden planked floorboards This past month, several reasons (some old, some new) brought me from the distillery below. Alex explained that this space once housed to revisit the Historic West Bottoms. Often, one new and shiny a tractor factory, and we were inside the train track tunnel that dething will be the impetus for a day of adventure that I build the livered raw materials and then carted away completed machinery. rest of an outing around. Give it a try next time you hear of Much like that grueling, industrious process, the whiskey now something new. manufactured here represents invention, innovation, and In this case, the “new” was the soon-to-open (and now, HOT hard work. WB’s signature tonic is a 50/50 blend of Ameractually open) West Bottoms Whiskey Co.. A friend, MiGOSSIP: ican bourbon and rye whiskeys and a spot of 15-year-old chael Hopkins, alerted me of the opportunity—and oh, What former KC oloroso sherry, for a hint of sweetness. how I love getting a first peek. (Read: I adore invites—you welcome wagon’s There are also experimental micro batches that they’ll know this.) Easy as that, I met Michael and owner/master private Twitter be releasing on a quarterly schedule. American malt, wheat, distiller Alex Lindsey the next day for a tour and tasting. account is causing and rye will be among the first. But you’ll have to remain Another necessary introduction: Murdock. He’s inquite the stir? patient for those. Besides simply grabbing a single cocktail dustrious and hard-working, classically refined, and comes
FEBRUARY 2021
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or dropping in for a full evening of general buffoonery, you can also reserve all or a portion of the parlor for your own private or semi-private tasting. That’s next on my agenda, having vetted the joint for my discerning partners in nonsense. Not in the area or still sticking close to home? Fortunately, you can pick up their sold-out first bottling batch at Mike’s Wine & Spirits (MO) and Lukas Liquor (KS). After whiskey, I dashed directly across the street to Hatch + Home, which I’d been meaning to check out ever since I missed their opening event roughly a year ago. Hatch + Home is a retail and design studio, all in one. The retail offerings lean bohemian, with plenty of jewelry baubles, clutch bags, and home accessories. I picked up a nice Trapp and Company candle in a transition-to-spring scent. On the design side, they’ve got walls full of fabric samples, wallpapers, kitchen and bath fixtures, tile, countertop materials—you name it. A one-stop design service shop. And the space is so perfect; they certainly know what they’re doing. Needing to make my dinner reservation, I jaunted a handful of blocks to check out the expanded dining room at The Ship. Named “All Else The Sea,” the new space is a brighter and more spacious addition. I’m told that The Ship’s “bar & grill” have both been in effect for quite some time, but I’m going to shamelessly admit that I’ve only ever hit the bar, utterly oblivious of the grill. I’m happy to report it was worth the wait. True to form, I took charge and insisted that my gaggle order “one of everything!” How else can you get a representative first sampling? We wallowed in fried pickles, smoked salmon dip, and cheesy corn. For entrées, we primarily went for the sandwiches, which they’re known for. We had the Ship-Fil-A (chicken, not fish!), the Cubano, the KC Reuben, and also an order of jerk chicken alfredo to boot. Desserts included chocolate bread pudding, cookies, and a lemon tart. Everything was yummy, and I’m still reeling that The Ship has food! When you’re ready to stretch your sea legs, check out the new dining room. Or you can always order for pick-up, dockside.
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THIS WEEK
Become an INsider FEBRUARY 2021
N
ot able to pack everything on my West Bottoms list into one late afternoon, the following day I ran back over for a few more stops. First up—Bottoms Up. As in Bottoms Up Antique Market. Open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the first weekend of the month, or on Saturdays-only the rest of the month and located on the second floor of the former Stowe Hardware Building, you can always find something you didn’t know you needed. HOT Though I have a routine of making the GOSSIP: full loop at this consortium of individuWhat little one ally managed shops, I’m really there for privately boasted The Green Door Antiques & Fine about having co-hosted Art, which happens to be the outfit of a party, when the my friends Darren Killen and Dustin host had no idea? Swartz. They’ve always got a beautifully assembled menagerie of home-and-garden | 32 | INKANSASCITY.COM
OVERHEARD “Oh, I do love a good boat shoe in winter… ”
goods that reflect the care they put into sourcing each item. There’s typically a healthy dose of the Bel“Shut up and have a gian aesthetic I continue leaning tosip of your Cosmo.” ward. Nothing is fussy or precious. “It’s a Pomtini.” Check it out. And if that’s not your look, I guarantee one of the other dozen or so shops will match with your particular taste. Next up on the list? One more retail jolt: Fetch. It’s a super fun shop with lots of artisan cards and paper goods, gifts, and a ton of vintage apparel. Anyone who knows me can attest I love sending greeting cards. I almost always stay loyal to our hometown Hallmark, but I make an exception for really small, independent brands—which Fetch is full of. I can flip through cards for hours, and at Fetch I quickly amassed a stack of very silly ones. Fetch also has a wide array of gifts that are just perfect for a housewarming, birthday, or any time you need to bring a host gift (i.e., always). Pro tip: Dedicate part of a closet near your front door to storing fun, versatile gifts that you can choose among on your way to a gathering or party (now is a great time to stock up!) For this purpose, I scavenged until my arms were full. Devotional candles (paying tribute to Dolly Parton and Tupac), boxed unicorn chocolates with rainbow sprinkles, quirky stationery—I could go on, but don’t want to spoil future gift surprises. The staff was lovely—eager to jump down from their Mardi grasbead hanging with offers to help. Having an appointment to get to, I took a rain check for delving into the extensive collection of vintage wear, for which I cannot be in a rushed mental state. Final stop—my framing appointment at Dolphin Frames, tucked inside Haw Contemporary. At the recommendation of a good friend with the shrewdest art eye, Peregrine Honig, I scheduled time to meet with Archie Scott Gobber. I’d recently purchased a large photography artwork, and (unusual for me) I needed advice on how it should look, framed. I brought along a snapshot of the piece, dimensions, and another pic of where it would ultimately hang in my home. We tackled the issues of matting, frame color/shape/size, as well as mounting and glass options. Aiming for a gallery-like look, it was a breath of fresh (masked) air to plow through the smallest details with someone who’s a true pro. I’ll also note that for such a large work, I had a scary budget in mind. I happen to know Dolphin is trusted by many of our city’s finest art collectors, which is why I’m all the more delighted to tell you that their bid came in reasonably less than what I was expecting. Before you head to a big-box craft store or online, give them a ring. Everything is very custom, very personal, and you’ll be far happier than you would be with more commercial options. And their thoughtful guidance along the way is worth something, too.
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Arts & Culture
IN KC
Kathy Barnard THE GLASS ARTIST ANSWERS FOUR QUESTIONS by
Judith Fertig
F
ebruary marks a seasonal turning point when we begin to notice light coming back into the world. And wow, do we need it. Glass artist Kathy Barnard specializes in creating a natural world that the light shines through. Says Barnard, “After years of working with glass and learning how it behaves, I have mastered how it holds and reflects light. I use this knowledge in my designs to vividly portray a color as no other substance can.” In her Locust Street studio, she might pair orange monarch butterflies against a blue, blue sky to breathtaking effect. Or portray a green turtle in the deep water as a purple dragonfly flits on the surface. She might etch a delicate spider web in glass as if it were rimed with frost. “When I was a child,” recalls Barnard, “my mom filled glass de-
FEBRUARY 2021
photos by
Hollis Officer
canters with colored water and put them on the window ledge of our dining room. She called it ‘poor man’s stained glass.’ Every evening, as the sun set, colored rays of light would shoot across the room sometimes blending in the most unbelievable combinations. I have never forgotten how beautiful it was.” Barnard has exhibited at the National Cathedral Galley in Washington, D.C. in their Fantasy, Fables, and Other Muses series. For Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Overland Park, Barnard created contemporary stained-glass windows that represent the four natural elements (earth, air, fire, and water) and a fifth window that represents spirit. The 12 carved sanctuary doors represent “Beauty in the Cycles of Life,” the natural order of life and death—as clear as glass. kathybarnard.com
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INKC: Glassmaking is a process that turns the ordinary—sand—into the extraordinary—glass—through extreme heat and artistic skill. How and why did you get involved in making art glass? Barnard: As a child, I needed to entertain myself, especially in the summer. I would spend all day at Turtle Creek roaming the banks looking at the flowers that grew under certain trees, what floated on the water of the creek, and what swam and crawled under the water. My older sister was my first art teacher. During middle and high school, I earned scholarships for summer art programs through both the Kansas City Art Institute and the University of Kansas. Eventually I earned a BFA in graphic design and illustration at KU. After college I worked at Hallmark for three years where I was introduced to sandblasting on wood in the creative workshop. Additionally, I have always had a love for the Steuben and Lalique glass of the 1920s and 30s. On a visit to the Queen Mary ocean liner, with its bas relief-carved glass of the ’20s, I came away with the notion that I could combine my love of carved glass with my love of nature and my skills at sandblasting. And so, after leaving Hallmark and being self-taught in my method of glass etching and carving, I established the Kathy Barnard Studio in 1980 and started creating original designs and commissions in carved and stained glass. INKC: Tell us a little bit about your process. How do you make
stained glass? Barnard: Eventually some of my carved-glass clients started asking
about pieces made with colored or stained glass. Most of my stainedglass work is commissioned. I have created a relationship with Glashütte Lamberts, a glass studio in Germany, who works with me to create my own blended colors of glass, which I use in most of my large commissions. The blending of the colors in a single sheet of glass provides movement and depth in the pieces. I have evolved my technique in stained glass to incorporate etching and carving, painting, and fusing colored glass pieces in a kiln. INKC: What is it about light through glass that makes the combination so right for sacred spaces? Barnard: When I do stained-glass pieces for hospitals and churches, my main objective is to bring a sense of joy and peace while also telling a story. Also, I think that there is something about sitting in an environment looking at stained glass that causes a person to just slow down, embrace their own inner peace, and become a bit reflective. INKC: How has the Kansas City area nurtured your creativity? Barnard: Kansas City is a wonderful place to visually experience na-
ture. The changing of the seasons is phenomenal. Our thriving arts community keeps me artistically stimulated and trying to learn new aspects of my art. I have worked on some amazing projects with other artists because they wanted my art glass techniques represented in their projects. Recognition by your peers and colleagues is great for nurturing your craft.
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FEBRUARY 2021
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Arts & Culture BY
IN KC
Judith Fertig
PLUCKY: KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY DEBUTS NEW CLASSICAL SERIES, EMPHASIZING STRINGED INSTRUMENTS
PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBERG
THE KANSAS CITY SYMPHONY will be reopening their Classical, Family, and Pops concert series with new protocols in place, following Kansas City Health Department guidelines. Smaller, in-person concerts will emphasize string instruments rather than those played with the breath. There is also a new option to experience these musical events livestreamed or on-demand at home through mysymphonyseat.org. Music director Michael Stern will be conducting ten concerts in the Classical series. The orchestra will be socially distanced, and the repertoire will be heavy on strings, light on horns. Yet, “the choice of music mines the richness of some of the greatest music ever written for string orchestra,” says Stern. “From Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven, through Verdi, Tchaikovsky, and Shostakovich, through the diversity of some of the most compelling voices of our time.” The symphony is back! As we go to press, details of the concerts are still being worked out, but check out the Events section of the Kansas City Symphony website for updated information. As with all in-person events, it’s best to check ahead of time to make sure the concert will go ahead as planned. kcsymphony.org
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BE OUR VALENTINE: DANIEL VEIS AND HELENA VEISOVA IN CONCERT
PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBERG
AFTER A YEAR OF ZOOM DATING, wouldn’t it be wonderful to take your beloved to an intimate dinner in a clean, contemporary yet luxurious restaurant? And enjoy a pre- or post-dinner concert that is just as intimate and wonderful? Yes! That’s just what you could do on Saturday, February 13, at the 1900 Building. Masks and social distancing are still required and everything, as we’ve learned, is subject to change. In this rescheduled concert, husband-and-wife musicians Daniel Veis and Helena Veisova will perform classical pieces made for the cello (him) and the piano (her). Both musicians have an extensive European concert background and are associated with the International College of Music at Park University. They will play selections for cello and piano from the works of Beethoven, Schumann, and Dvorak, full of passion and yearning. Perfect. Tickets required. As always during the pandemic, check ahead to make sure the concert will go on as scheduled. 1900bldg.com
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Arts & Culture by
IN KC
Judith Fertig
DYANI WHITE HAWK: SPEAKING TO RELATIVES IN HER SOLO EXHIBIT Speaking to Relatives, Minneapolis-based artist Dyani White Hawk, of Sičáŋǧu Lakota ancestry, combines indigenous cultural forms with abstract expressionism to create multi-media works that show how the past, present, and future are all interconnected. Her unique perspective of our shared history allows White Hawk to “see what others cannot,” says Sean Harrow, executive director at Kemper Museum. In paintings, sculpture, video, and installations, her work evokes images of handsewn moccasins, beaded dresses, quillwork, and feathers used to beautify everyday objects that take on heightened significance. A series of photographs capturing images of Native women in I Am Your Relative suggests that we’re all connected. The video Listen features eight women whispering their “lost” Native languages—Cocopah, Dakota, Diné, Hocąk, Kwatsáan, Ojibwe, Seneca, and Tiwa—telling their stories, saying their prayers. Thursday, February 18 through Sunday, May 16, at Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art. Visitors need to reserve timed tickets online. kemperart.org
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WINTERLUDE: ALL THAT KANSAS CITY JAZZ KANSAS CITY’S rich jazz legacy enters a new era with smooth, contemporary, fluid, and innovative riffs and rhythms from four Kansas City Jazz Disciples. On February 21, the Polsky Theatre in the Carlsen Center at Johnson County Community College offers an intimate concert setting, a jazz club without the cigarette smoke and booze, where the focus is on the music. Gerald Dunn channels his inner Charlie Parker and John Coltrane with a seductive alto sax that sings the blues. Pianist Everett Freeman tickles the ivories. Bassist De Andre Manning pulses the music forward. And drummer Michael Warren keeps everything upbeat. Tickets required. As always during the pandemic, check ahead to make sure the concert will go on as scheduled. jccc.edu
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Behind the Music
IN KC
Judy Mills by
Timothy Finn
T
photo by
en years ago, Judy Mills decided it was time to leave the corporate/retail business universe and apply her wisdom and experience to a more fulfilling pursuit—the world of recorded music. In 2011, Mills was buying most of her new vinyl in other cities and trucking it back, awkwardly, on flights home to Kansas City. Tired of that, she took matters into her own hands, and the concept of Mills Record Company was born—a place where music fans could buy new releases on vinyl. It was a fortuitous move, but one based on solid numbers. In 2013, by the time she opened Mills on Westport Road, just east of Broadway, vinyl sales had risen slightly but steadily since 2008. They have risen precipitously since then. In 2020, vinyl sales exceeded CD sales for the
FEBRUARY 2021
Zach Bauman
first time since 1986. The rise in vinyl popularity was great news for Mills, but to keep up with rising demand, it meant expanding her space, then moving to a considerably larger space around the corner, on Broadway, where she and her staff oversee an inventory of more than 50,000 albums plus other music-related merchandise. She is no longer alone in this pursuit. Mills Record Company is now just one of many music stores in metropolitan Kansas City and Lawrence selling vinyl albums, both new and used, a retail renaissance that also includes turntables and other stereo equipment. Mills recently answered questions from IN Kansas City about the life that led her into music retail and what it has taken to keep her business prospering, especially during a pandemic.
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Where were you born and where did you live growing up? Judy Mills: I was born in Miami, Oklahoma, and have lived mainly in the Midwest—Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma. I grew up in Pittsburg and went to school, both graduate and undergrad, at Kansas State. I went from desperately not wanting to be a small-town girl into being OK with that and now, having deep feelings for the small and often-forgotten towns of the rural areas where my family is from. What was your childhood like, your family life? JM: I am the older sibling with a younger brother, and my parents were very strict. My dad owned auto-parts stores. It was a very typical division of responsibilities in that household, so my father worked very long hours. My mother and I had a difficult relationship, so at an early age I learned the safe escape of books and then music. I loved school and learning, and I worked hard to make my teachers happy. When did music enter your life and what role did it play? JM: When my dad took a day off, and when everything was perfect, he’d pull out his records. You knew that was going to be a good day. Or at least a fun morning. Playing records meant we were happy, and my dad was around. Later, I remember hearing the alarm clock/radio play in the morning from my parents’ bedroom next door and the plaintive sounds of John Denver singing “Take me home, country roads” and feeling so
sad. I think music helped me understand feelings and my own emotions and feel less alone because other people felt these things, too. Sort of a community, I would say. What were some of your earliest favorite songs, albums or artists? JM: My first favorite song was These Boots Were Made for Walking. Nancy Sinatra was so beautiful and tough and cool. But I quickly settled into the Carpenters because I could sing in Karen’s range, and, god knows, I had all those same feels, at least the angst and sadness part. My older cousins shamed me into liking Alice Cooper because he was edgy and dangerous, and my first purchased record was the Stylistics’ You Make Me Feel Brand New. So I have always loved dramatic pop music. What about your first big concert? What do you remember about it? JM: My first big concert was Journey in 1980 at Arrowhead with my boyfriend. Horrible seats, but the sheer number of drunk people all in one place, singing together, gave me a taste of what freedom would feel like since college was just a year away. Describe yourself as a teenager. JM: I was a serious student in a lot of organizations—debate, newspaper,
student government. But all I wanted was to get out of there. My most
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Behind the Music
IN KC
memorable moment was fighting to get the school paper to publish my article on Planned Parenthood because our school needed that. I lost. But the fight made me stronger. Overall, teenage years were about getting ready to get out on my own. And what was college like? JM: I loved the books, the anonymity, the freedom, and the classes. I never wanted to leave college. You have a lot of experience in the retail/management world. What has that taught you about life and about running a business? JM: I liked the tangible results around retail and, therefore, management. If you do it right, you get results. The criteria are set, and it’s up to you to be smart and work hard enough to get there. I feel like I’ve had to adjust that mindset owning my own businesses. The criteria aren’t always clear, so you have to keep looking up to see above what you’re doing, be fast to adapt, and you have to do work that’s aligned with your heart. What inspired you to open a record store? What was the retail-music landscape in Kansas City like back then? JM: I was flying back home a lot with new vinyl under my arm, which is annoying to carry on a plane, but no one was selling new vinyl in Kansas City at the time. I was sort of heckled at a store for wanting to buy a
FEBRUARY 2021
new record on release date. I was sick of corporate retail, saw a hole in the market, and thought, “Let’s try it.” Kansas City has seen several beloved record stores come and go: Recycled Sounds, the Music Exchange, Capers Corner, Village Records among them. What did you know about that history? JM: I had been to each of those record stores. Recycled Sounds was my favorite, but I always felt very self-conscious in all records stores. I never felt cool enough to be in there, which is the opposite of how I wanted people to feel in my store. I wanted to exactly not be the High Fidelity image. And so, I didn’t really let past records stores guide me. I wanted to carry on the in-store show tradition that wasn’t really happening in Kansas City at the time, and “New Release Day,” also not a thing at the time. Other than that, I wanted it to feel different. Knowing now what you didn’t know then, what, if anything, would you do differently? JM: I would have opened in a bigger space. Having to expand one year later, then triple again the year after that, was expensive. But I love our block and our landlord, Tom Platt, and I wouldn’t have wanted to miss that. I also would not have listened to all the people who dismissed me for not being one of the “record guys.” I underestimated myself at the beginning, and when I got over not being from that culture, my job became immensely more fun.
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Like most industries and businesses in our culture, yours is dominated by men. How often do you confront gender bias? JM: Gender bias works both for and against me daily. Men who ask me to speak to the owner, men who like to say, “I bet you don’t even know who (fill in the blank) is,” and I’m like, “Sir, I bought that record so you could buy it, so, yeah. I know.” But it works for me, too, because the perception is that women can be more heart-on-their-sleeves, and I can create a home and a family at the store. Men can absolutely do this, too, but it’s expected of women, so there’s less resistance. And probably most importantly, the composition of vinyl nation is changing. And I’m here for it. Women buy vinyl, kids buy vinyl, families buy vinyl: The stereotype is dissolving, and I’m proudly here to help that dissolution. How has the pandemic affected your business? JM: People are home more, and for many of us our turntables have never been more important. It’s an escape and an outlet and an activity. So in that sense, I’m lucky as a small-business owner. However, you can never recoup being closed for two months, for needing to shorten hours, for having to limit the amount of people in your building at one time, for alienating the customers who won’t wear masks or properly wear masks, for the decrease in service we’re forced into in order to leave six feet of distance between us and customers. Until the vaccine makes things easier, “Safety is the new
service” is our new mantra. I can only hope that keeping people safe will keep them coming back. Mills Record Company has hosted many in-store performances, by local and touring bands. Which have been the most memorable? JM: Anytime Ebony Tusks is here, it’s special. Any High Dive [Records] release show is special: Once the team formed a band and played a Christmas set. Casket Lottery on a Record Store Day. Mike Doughty playing Is This Chicago solo. Temples playing to an absolutely packed house here. When Bummer played and chipped paint from a recently uncovered old ceiling snowed over the room. When Gnarly Davidson poked a hole in our ceiling. Anytime Conductor Williams is here in any project. There are so many more. I think those were just the times when I stopped working and became a part of the audience and let myself have a moment. Anyone who works at a store like yours gets exposed to much more music than the average fan. Name a few albums or artists you discovered at work that you are especially fond of. JM: This is the best part of what I do. You don’t need to know everything about music to work at a record store, but you must be curious about music and willing to adventure. So the Comet is Coming and all the Shabaka Hutchings projects I
Specializing in fine antiques and distinctive gifts.
(913) 400-3117 5905 Slater Street, Merriam, KS 66202
FEBRUARY 2021
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Behind the Music
IN KC
discovered in the store. Nubya Garcia was sent to us in a promo pack, and I was busy and didn’t notice it and then [an employee] handed it to me and said “You need to take this home.” It was on my Top 5 of last year. The team that surrounds you and surprises you with music is crucial, as is listening to your customers. Other than music, what have you indulged in during the pandemic? JM: We opened a bookstore, Wiseblood Books, around the corner just three months before the pandemic hit. So reading books and reading poetry again have become an important part of how I spend my day. Having a morning routine that incorporates that and my journal helps me to feel grounded during a completely insane time of the world. Books were my first love, after all. You are a proud dog owner and dog lover. Tell us about your pupper. JM: My boy was found on a country road, and because my last dear pup was Loretta Lynn, I decided to name him Conway Twitty. His first day available to adopt, the day I got him, I found out it was the real Conway Twitty’s birthday. It was fate.
And Kansas City supports its locals. I feel that, and my small businesses are still around because of it. Music: They’re so supportive of each other. I would say that there are several different scenes, and they tend to not necessarily mingle, but each group is there to help each other, from equipment-sharing to member-swapping to emotional support. I’m not a musician, but as a host I’ve seen this play out so often, and it’s always heartwarming.
WANT MORE TIMOTHY FINN? Check out his weekly online-only content at inkansascity.com. Every Wednesday the website publishes his list of Top 5 Notto-Miss Concerts in the metro.
What do you like most about Kansas City and its music community?
Every week you’ll find his revered, rollicking, reasoned reviews and commentary.
JM: Kansas City: It used to be kind of shy about itself, but Kansas City
Email Timothy Finn at tfinn@inkansascity.com
has learned to love itself, and watching that transition has been so fun.
International Materials of Design TILE & STONE
4691 Indian Creek Parkway (I-435 & Roe) Overland Park, KS 913.383.3383
www.imdtile.com FEBRUARY 2021
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“Chic Happens” Sell Trade Washing Restoration Again “THE KNOTTIER THE BETTER” Knotty Rug Co. Kansas City’s Largest and Most Reputable Showroom 4510 STATE LINE RD.
KANSAS CIT Y, KS 66103
(913) 677-1877
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Look
IN KC
Fashion
UPCYCLED AND EXCITING If you or your sweetheart love a little something old and something new, Shannon Gaines Bowman’s vintage upcycled pieces are perfect. Combining bits and bobs from other pieces—a single vintage earring is married to an antique French or Chinese mother-of-pearl gaming piece—she creates striking statement pieces sure to turn heads. Engraved mother-of-pearl and rhinestone necklace, $63, etsy.com/shop/makemepritty
BY
R. Murphy
Wearable Art IF THERE’S ONE THING THAT 2020 TAUGHT US, IT’S THAT THERE’S A WEALTH OF TALENT RIGHT HERE IN KANSAS CITY. THERE ARE MANY LESSERKNOWN ARTISTS TURNING OUT FANTASTIC, UNIQUE JEWELRY THAT WILL WOW YOUR VALENTINE, GALENTINE, OR HECK,
LIFELIKE If you are currently perusing the Baker Creek Heirloom Seed catalog and counting down the days until you can start seeds, Wanda Wolmar is making jewelry for you. This former ceramic artist has taken a more transparent view of art, literally. Her pendants, earrings, and rings feature plants captured in clear resin, creating beautiful minimalistic jewelry that seems to breathe. Triangle fern earrings, $48, duplikajewelry.com
YOURSELF. HERE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE GORGEOUS PIECES WE ARE LUSTING AFTER THIS MONTH.
ROUGH HEWN For those who love a bit of shimmer but prefer a more natural look, Opal and Gold is your bulls-eye. Focusing on raw-cut and rough-faceted gems combined with rustic metalwork, these pieces combine beautiful colors and fun angles to create something truly unique. Labradorite and sterling-silver ring, $48, Opal and Gold (Westport), opalandgold.com
FEBRUARY 2021
A STRANGE SORT OF LOVE For every Gomez, there is a Morticia. And every Morticia will love a one-of-a-kind piece from Corvus Curiosities by Sarah Charlton. While she studies archeology, she entwines animal bones with Victorian flair to culminate in delicate works and just a little on edge. Bone necklace, $55, etsy. com/shop/corvuscoraxcurios
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Look
IN KC Beauty
Face the Cold NATURAL WAYS TO KEEP YOUR SKIN HYDRATED THIS WINTER BY
R. Murphy
Rose Best Skin Ever (30 ml.), $30. Sandlewood Best Skin Ever, (30 ml.), $40. Chocolate Best Skin Ever, (30 ml.), $22. livinglibations.com
The Life Cycle Brightening Mask (55 ml.), $40. chuckandsam.com
All Seeing Opulent Eye Crème (5 ml.), $20, livinglibations.com
E
ating your greens is always good advice. Wearing them may seem a little more difficult, but according to aesthetician and owner of Clove Skin Studio in Brookside (cloveskinstudiokc. com), Kate Fisher, natural ingredients that harness the power of botanicals are the way to go. She specializes in not only using plant-based products in her studio, but in teaching her clients how to continue their self-care at home. Since our faces need a little TLC in between facials, we asked Fisher what three things we should focus on to keep our visages glowing all winter long. QUALITY, NOT QUANTITY If you’re on a budget, or short on time, Fisher says to put your money toward a couple of high-quality products instead of a
FEBRUARY 2021
handful of lower-quality items. She says to prioritize cleansing and moisturizing, and to look for organic, ethically sourced ingredients. “Everything you put on your skin gets absorbed into the skin, so you want to be really conscious of not just what you’re eating or drinking but what you’re applying as well,” she says. Fisher likes oil cleansers like Living Libations’ Best Skin Ever, which can double as moisturizers for those short on time or shelf space. MASK ME ANOTHER One of Fisher’s favorite treatments is a good facial mask. “It gives the skin a larger dose of vital ingredients and you get the immediate effect of smooth, glowing skin,” says Fisher. In addition to the skin benefits inherent in a great mask, doing a treatment like this gives you permission to relax for a few minutes. Fisher says that she uses a mask nearly every night as part of her skincare routine. THE EYES HAVE IT Fisher says that one of the most powerful tools in your skincare arsenal is a good eye cream. She also recommends that clients start using one in their 20s, far before fine lines have a chance to form. “I think it’s a really important part of your routine. The eye area is really delicate and especially right now, as people work so much on screens, there’s a lot of squinting,” says Fisher. She recommends a cooling, soothing eye cream, such as Living Libations’ All Seeing Opulent Eye Crème which features a blend of moisturizing oils with aloe vera and rosewater. | 52 | INKANSASCITY.COM
L I V E YO U R PA SSIO N CL A SSIC Q UA R T Z L A DIE S’
Parkway Plaza || 4850 PARKWAY PLAZA 4850W. W.135th 135 THStreet STREET Leawood, KS 66224 | 913.491.4111 LEAWOOD, KS 66224 | 913.491.4111 800.735.5112 | mazzarese.com 800.735.5112 | MAZZARESE.COM
Proud Classroom Supporter
Look
IN KC
Wellness
by
R. Murphy
Ancient Wisdom, Modern Service
W
hen LaToyia Mays’ husband, Joe, was playing NFL football, painkillers were a way of life. After multiple injuries, pain management had decreased his kidney function at age 28 to that of a 50 year old. LaToyia knew that something had to change. “Our first thing that we did was we started to grow some food on our own to eliminate chemicals, in a big way. To keep him off of those pain meds, we started to only eat certain foods that would reduce inflammation. That led us to keeping chickens and growing herbs. And we did pretty well managing his pain in the latter years of his career on just herbs,” says LaToyia. What began as at home remedies soon led LaToyia down an ancient path of learning about Ayurvedic healing and Yoruba herbalism. Now, she has assumed her rightful place as the Herban Myth and founder of the Laya Center. The Laya Center is LaToyia’s workshop and sacred space, carved out of downtown into an oasis of integrative healing. LaToyia says that she wanted the Laya Center to be the hub of natural healing
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information that she had needed but never had when looking for help for Joe. “I first wanted to dig into the roots of natural medicine and holistic wellness. That took me back to Yoruba medicine, which is the African version of natural medicine. So the Laya Center has become what we call Afro Vedic wellness because it’s a fusion of African bush medicine where they take into account the internal elements, and Ayurveda, which was an initial product of the esoteric philosophy of inner Africa,” says LaToyia. What does that mean? The Laya Center tries to channel modern delivery methods into ancient channels such as elements (earth, wind, air, fire). “We say that massage becomes earth. Our hyperbaric chamber becomes ether space, our cryotherapy machine creates air in the body. Infrared and halotherapy creates fire and hydrotherapy creates water,” she says. In addition to traditional spa services, the Laya Center also offers herbal nutrition and spiritual support for a whole-body focus. Who knew that the wisdom of the ages was so nearby?
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Come Home to a Vibe.
COME HOME TO NEST.
5911 Johnson Dr. u Mission, KS 66202 u 913.901.8257 u www.nestkc.com
Living
IN KC by
Stacy Downs
Mood Lighting ELEVATE YOUR SPACE WITH THESE EXPERT TIPS
A
sk any interior designer and they’ll tell you the secret sauce to a warm, inviting space is in the lighting. “Creating a mood through lighting is something most people don’t realize, but they can really feel and sense it,” says Kerri Frazier, owner of Relative Lighting, a service based in Kansas City. “The fixture itself can be sculptural and add a dramatic element to a room, and the color and temperature of light can add the right glow.” To gain some bright ideas (and dim ones, too!), we talked to Frazier, a lighting concierge who partners with designers and homeowners to create lighting plans and source fixtures. Here are her top suggestions. ADD LAYERS. To create a pleasing tone in a room, add different light sources. That could mean a ceiling fixture, sconces, picture lighting,
FEBRUARY 2021
and table lamps in the same space. MAKE THEM DIMMABLE. Through switches and smart bulbs, you can adjust your lighting for tasks, mood, and time of day. PURCHASE THE RIGHT BULBS. Frazier suggests high-quality LEDs (light-emitting diodes). 3000 Kelvin will be too blue and bright, but 2700 Kelvin creates a warm light similar to incandescent that makes rooms and their inhabitants look and feel their best. LIGHTING WE’RE LOVING. Organic shapes in ceiling fixtures and sconces. Metal shades that provide dramatic uplighting and downlighting. Natural materials, such as alabaster, crystal, plaster, gesso, and unlacquered metal that create interesting patina.
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A Touch of Silk ASIATICA (Westwood) is renowned for its clothing and décor fashioned from rare textiles and vintage Japanese silk kimonos. The brand’s pillow collection is a feast for the senses. The colors! The patterns! The textures! Scrumptious. Their descriptions sound like items from a dessert menu, making it hard to choose. – Chartreuse silk damask checkerboard with an appliqued band of magenta patternedsilk ikat. – Japanese silk obi brocade with black damask “wave” patterned reverse. – Wide-striped silk with thin gold lines. The pillows are available in squares and rectangles. HANDLE Their down-filled muslin WITH CARE interior includes an invisDon’t throw silk in ible zipper. Each is numthe wash! Take it to a dry cleaner. bered and is one of a kind. asiaticakc.com
FEBRUARY 2021
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Living
IN KC BY
Stacy Downs
Soak It Up
Clockwise from above: The Elena tub by MTI Baths is nestled in a hand-made steel cradle. Scala Freestanding by BainUltra features crisp, elegant lines and metal feet. Chapal 70 by Barclay is made of a copper interior and black copper exterior. Victoria + Albert tubs, including Pescadero (shown), are available in 194 colors.
I
f ever there was a time to wash away your worries, the past year has been it. Lynn Nelson, showroom manager of Kitchens & Baths by Briggs (Lenexa), says the increasing popularity of freestanding tubs are proof positive. “People are looking for a quiet, relaxing soak,” Nelson says. We caught up with her to discover the latest offerings for the bath. Modern shapes are in high demand, everything from stark cubism to free-flowing organic lines with asymmetry. Claw feet have been replaced by interesting metal bases and legs. The Elena With Cradle by MTI Baths includes a steel tub base that resembles chopsticks. Metal tub exteriors are on trend—mirrored, chrome, polished brass, and especially matte black. If you’re looking for color, Victoria + Albert offers their tubs in a rainbow array of 194 exterior options for its freestanding tubs in matte or gloss.
FEBRUARY 2021
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: • Thinner tub walls allow for larger bathing wells. • If you’re trying to retrofit a small space but must have a soaker, there are tubs available at 48 inches long. • Other materials such as acrylic and stone composites warm water faster than cast iron and retain heat longer. Nelson’s top piece of advice for selecting one: “Shopping for tubs is like shopping for shoes. I tell people to take their shoes off, sit in a tub and try it on to see if they like it.” kbbriggs.com
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HEARTFELT CARE WITH SMART DEVICES
Follow us on instagram BRANDY ARCHIE has a doctorate in occupational therapy and is owner of AccessAble Living, helping people who have health issues live as independently as possible. Archie matches tools to clients’ needs and finds a number of smart devices helpful to people of all abilities. “It’s a big and growing world, and it’s a lot to stay on top of!” Smart power strip. Anything that you plug in—a TV, lights, or a crockpot—can be turned on and off, and timers can be controlled for each individual outlet on the strip, through an app and Amazon Alexa. It requires WiFi. “These are helpful if you’re bedridden,” Archie says. Auto shutoff safety outlet. This plugs into appliances, like electric stoves, and shuts it off after one, two, four, or eight hours. No WiFi required. Wireless door chime. This will allow you to know when someone opens a door. “This is a great solution for caregivers of a person with dementia and other cognitive issues,” Archie says. “It’s also good for parents with little kids who might run out the door.” The chime plugs into any wall outlet, and the sensors can be applied with adhesive to the door and its frame. Digital electric deadbolt. Instead of keeping track of keys to give to family, caregivers and people who work on your home, you can program up to six different codes. It also has a remote for homeowners with limited mobility to lock and unlock. “It allows for more peace of mind and security,” Archie says. Archie is also a fan of smart speakers, such as Alexa and Google Home, that allow people to do tasks around the house such as turning on lights and other smart-activated devices through voice command. “It’s helpful to people with limited vision and mobility.” Archie urges people to adjust the settings on their everyday devices, such as their phones and computers. accessableliving.com
FEBRUARY 2021
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words by
Cindy Hoedel
photo by
Gaëtan Chekaiban
IN CONVERSATION WITH
David Jimenez
H
e changed the way we shop and the look of our homes. Acclaimed designer David Jimenez turned stores from mazes of shelving and sales counters into rooms you wanted to linger in with clubby seating, soothing aromas, warm lighting, and cool jazz. Jimenez spent eight years in Kansas City as his corporate career was peaking. After high-level gigs at Banana Republic, Williams-Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, and Restoration Hardware, he served as vice president for visual merchandising at Hallmark. Five years ago, he followed his heart and relocated to Paris despite not knowing a soul there and not speaking the language. His design studio, David Jimenez LLC, djimenez.com, attracts an international clientele. Recent projects include a residence in Santa Rosa, California, and a restaurant design for a California-based company that plans to open 12 to 15 locations across the US. Jimenez’s Instagram is a delicious reel of romantic Parisian streetscapes, lush interiors, and off-the-beaten-path tabacs, bistros, and boutiques to seek out on your next visit. Jimenez phoned us for a leisurely chat from his sumptuous apartment on the Ile Saint-Louis in central Paris at the end of his first day back to work after New Year’s Day. What were you doing just before this call? I just got back from toting my little Christmas tree to the park. Paris has a city-wide recycling system for Christmas trees. Wherever you go in Paris, the closest park is not more than two or three blocks away, and each park has a drop-off spot for Christmas trees. Workers grind the trees up into mulch to use in the parks. It’s lovely.
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Your professional resume is so impressive—not many people have had such a profound influence on American home interiors. How would you describe the aesthetic you helped create that is still very much in evidence? When most people describe what they aspire to, they often use words like “eclectic” and “stylish but warm.” I think people want to create a vibe that feels good, but also want to feel comfortable putting their feet on the coffee table or setting a glass on a table without worrying about it. I think style has evolved from being either stuffy or overtly minimal, to being something that feels more relaxed and that reflects the person who lives there. I tried to develop that style through the lens of the brands that I worked with. Your biography on your website is very brief. What was your childhood like in New York? I had a wonderful childhood. My parents were both incredibly selfless and loving and really wanted my brother and me to grow up with the very best that they could offer us. We had a beautiful home in the Bronx. Starting when I was about nine, every Saturday afternoon, I would completely remerchandise the living room. My parents would leave the room long enough for me to totally rearrange it. Then I would go grab them and show them what I did, and they were always so enthusiastic. Honestly, at a very early age, I had a sense of, “I’ve got this.” It was a very nurturing, very warm environment. Were your parents in creative professions? My mother was a seamstress. She worked for some big companies and also did her own designs, so she had a creative background. My parents
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FEBRUARY 2021
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had three markets in the Bronx early on, and then when my mom decided to focus on her couture work, my dad went to work as a foreman for different companies. My mother was very driven and hard-working and motivated to move forward assertively, while my father was a real dreamer—just this warm, gentle, kind soul. I think if he’d ever been given the chance to paint or do sculpture, he would have been great at it because he was such a sensitive man. As I started quickly ascending in my career, moving from sales at the Gap to assistant manager, to floor manager to area manager and then piloted the first regional visual merchandising position at Banana Republic, my parents were incredibly supportive. I would come home from work really late at night, often after midnight, and my mother would get out of bed to warm up my dinner. Just incredibly kind.
‘‘
Kansas City will always have a special place in my heart. It has a lot to do with the people.”
What do you love about Kansas City? You often speak warmly of it. Kansas City will always have a special place in my heart. It has a lot to do with the people. Before I came here, I was living in San Francisco, so Kansas City was not a place I had ever been to or even heard much about. I had no idea what to expect. I found an incredible house that I wanted to purchase in Hyde Park. It was designed in the early 1900s by an architect for himself and for his mom, so he spared no detail. The day I moved in, I was all by myself, surrounded by boxes. The truck had not been gone 20 minutes and somebody rang the doorbell. I thought, “Well, that’s unusual. Who would be at my front door?” It was the loveliest and kindest neighbor with a plate of cookies. She said, “I just wanted to welcome you to the neighborhood and let you know how happy we are to have you here.” And then—I’m not exaggerating—it happened three more times over the next two hours, with champagne, and more cookies and a beautiful pie someone had baked. I thought, “Where am I?” I was so caught off guard by the warmth and graciousness and hospitality of people in Kansas City, and that was just the beginning. I made so many wonderful friends for life there. What were some of your favorite haunts? For food: Le Fou Frog for the osso buco, the hypnotizing vibe, and swank bar. Extra Virgin for the tasty cocktails and pork belly steamed buns. Gram & Dun for chicken and sausage gumbo like a mother’s hug. Lidia’s for the fresh pasta trio, and because it felt like a trip to Bologna without leaving your zip code. The shops at 45th Street and State Line are a must-see on every visit to KC: Christopher Filley, Barbara Farmer, Modern Love. For culture, you can’t beat old-school jazz downstairs at the Majes-
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tic on Broadway—a classic, vibrant steakhouse with the best gimlets. I also love The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art for impeccably curated exhibitions and striking Bloch addition. Also, just about any concert or recital at the Kauffman Center. I miss the fun and worthwhile fundraisers throughout the year, like the Romantic Revels Black & White Ball benefiting the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. Why did you move to Paris? I fell in love with Paris on my first trip here. That may sound clichéd because most people that come to Paris are really moved by it, really touched by it. But something visceral, something profound, happened to me my first time here. It was the beauty of the city, first and foremost. The architecture is so unlike anything I had ever experienced. And the charm of the streets, and the Seine River, and the music in the cafes, and the food, and the language, which is so lyrical you can get lost in it—it’s just so incredibly beautiful. So I made it a point to come back to Paris for my birthday for ten days every July. And I will tell you, it became hard and harder to go back home. To the point that on the last trip, if anyone had said, “You don’t have to go back. You can stay,” I would have been the happiest person. I was emotionally unhinged by the time I got back on the plane because I didn’t want to go home. I felt such a strong connection at that point. What has Paris been like during the pandemic? It has been exciting to see the level of responsibility and the pace at which the government has moved to protect us. Within about four weeks of the virus arriving in France, the government shut the city down. When we went into our first confinement, it was a little scary. We didn’t know what to expect. But it felt great to see aggressive action being taken to make sure hospitals weren’t overwhelmed and to keep people safe. Within about two weeks, we began getting together at night: At about 6:30, we would open all the windows onto the street, and everyone would lean out over the bannister and clap in unison. It was a really powerful moment of unity and solidarity. My perception is that there’s a real resilience in the French. For example, I remember the absolute ache in my heart that I shared with everyone watching Notre Dame burn. Notre Dame is on an island right next to the island I live on, so it’s the equivalent of just a couple of blocks away—and I remember Ile Saint-Louis was covered with massive hoses, trying to contain the fire. At around 11 o’clock at night, I wanted to get a little closer to see if I could see anything, and what I found was about 100 or 150 people clustered together on the edge of the Seine facing Notre Dame holding candles and singing the most beautiful hymn in unison. There was this sense of shared pain and community and sense of, “It’s OK. We’re going to get through this together.” For people who can’t afford a designer, what is your advice for how they can make their home more appealing? I would say, think about what you want your space to feel like, and then think about how you can bring that out. For example, do you want your space to feel warm and collected and nurturing because things are a little bit unsure in the world? That doesn’t require much. It requires at most going to an antique shop or a flea market in your neighborhood and supporting somebody local and picking up a couple
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In 2019, a feature on Jimenez’s Avenue Marceau apartment, pictured here, was the cover story in Architectural Digest Italy.
photo by xavier béjot
of items that move you. It might be as simple as rethinking how you are using your space. Maybe pull the sofa away from the wall and drop a console behind it so you can have a lamp and art and a stack of books you love behind the sofa. Those things will make the space feel more layered and cozier. You speak fluent Spanish. Is that helpful in France, and do you speak French? Speaking fluent Spanish has been helpful in many ways. In the United States, certainly, when I was living in California, it was extremely helpful. When I arrived in Paris, I knew no French outside the little niceties that you say when you walk into a store. French is very challenging. It is very different how you pronounce the language versus how it is written—they’re like two different languages that are parallel. Unlike Spanish where you pronounce every letter in every word, and you can rely on that, in French you can’t. But Spanish did help me with my French enunciation. It throws people when I tell them I’m American because I sound like a Spaniard when I speak French. You famously created the music CDs sold at Pottery Barn. What playlist selections can you offer to lift people’s spirits in this difficult time?
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I had great fun putting those CDs together. I picked every song. The one most people remember is Dinner at 8, which was basically a compilation of everything I personally love, old and new. I have found over the last few months that all I want to listen to is music that warms my heart and makes me feel happy. I love many genres of music, but my all-time favorite is jazz. There are a couple of jazz artists that I’ve been listening to a lot recently. One is Melanie Gardot. She is American but she speaks perfect French. She has a stunning, stunning voice and she sounds as classic as some of the great names you would think of like Ella Fitzgerald or Sarah Vaughan. Madeleine Peyroux is also American and spent many years in Paris singing and has a mix of French and classic American songs on her CDs. And when I just don’t feel like selecting, I find the easiest thing to do is go to iTunes or any of those apps and create a station by entering the name of an artist—one that I use is Coralie Clément. She’s a young French singer that does a few American songs and because of her artistry, if you put in her name you get a wonderful playlist in the same genre for the whole day that goes back and forth between English songs and French songs, jazzy, upbeat plus a few that are a little moody. It’s just delightful.
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Interview condensed and minimally edited for clarity.
On the Street Where They Live A LEAWOOD FAMILY MOVES NEXT DOOR AND STARTS FRESH
WORDS BY
Judith Fertig
PHOTOS BY
Aaron Leimkuehler
H
ome is more than just a house. It’s a place where you feel you belong. In 1955, this suburban street was lined with the latest in home styles—the ranch. Over time, families moved in and out, trees grew tall and leafy, and Leawood matured into a very desirable location. “I love our neighborhood,” says the homeowner, a marketing manager at the same business where her husband is in sales and operations. When their small ranch became too small, they simply moved next door. “We have two boys, kindergarten and second grade, and we know our neighbors. We just couldn’t leave,” she says. “The house was for sale. We bought it and closed in a few days,” she says. And then came the fun part—working with architect Gerald Janssen of Elwood Smith Carlson Architects, P.A. to design the house of their dreams. It involved tearing down the old house, but “we worked with him so that the new house still fit in the neighborhood,” she says. “We had a three-hour meeting and Gerald came back with a plan that was exactly what we wanted,” she says. And that was streamlined, open plan, indoor/outdoor living with plenty of hidden-away storage. “We want to grow into this house.” The homeowners also wanted a blank canvas—white walls and dark oak flooring. “I tried a million different white paints when we lived next door and I settled on Snowbound from Sherwin-Williams,” she says, which was used in the new house too. Growing up with an artistic mother who liked to
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The flat-screen TV is hidden in plain sight in the crisp, neutral living room. Just above, the homeowners’ collection of white pottery is highlighted against the black cabinetry. Sofa blanket is vintage handwoven wool from India. Windows and doors throughout are Elevate from Marvin.
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Above: In the office, flags from the husband’s favorite golf courses were framed and hung as a grouping. A burlwood veneer Parsons desk sits atop a vintage Beni Ourain Moroccan rug. Opposite, top: Two vintage trunks and an antique French mirror that the couple inherited from the husband’s family form a striking vignette tucked between the living and dining rooms. Opposite, bottom: The kitchen, dining, and living areas flow together to create the hub of the house. Flower arrangement from The Little Flower Shop.
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Opposite: A vividly hued vintage Persian handknotted rug adds texture and color to the kitchen. Above: Rattan stools from Serena & Lily pull up to the island, which is topped by a statement-making brass pendant from Restoration Hardware. Left: In the dining room, the custom table is surrounded by Thonet chairs from Design Within Reach. Flower arrangment from The Little Flower Shop.
change things up, the homeowner is the same. “My décor style is fluid rather than static,” she says. “I like good basic furniture pieces and then change it up with art, rugs, pillows. We have a mix of high and low.” She and her husband consider themselves to be art lovers on the way to becoming collectors. Their collection ranges from famous (a Josef Albers in the office) to family—paintings by her parents, colorful pictures by the kids, framed family photos arranged gallery-style in the hall. The sense of open space draws you in. The living, dining, and kitchen spaces look out onto the backyard. The living room features a cast-stone fireplace surround that is special to the homeowners as it was made by a deceased friend’s company. An ample sofa is upholstered in family-friendly, hardwearing fabric. “My husband wanted the TV over the fireplace, but I wanted art,” says the homeowner. They compromised with a TV next to the fireplace, camouflaged against black cabinetry. A vignette of stacked antique chests topped by an antique mirror from the husband’s family suggests the flow into a new space. Low bentwood chairs surround the dining room’s long walnut table crafted words continued on page
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In the principal bedroom, art includes a portrait discovered at an estate sale and a landscape painted by the wife’s mother. Flowers from The Little Flower Shop. The mohair velvet lumbar pillow on the bed came from the Little Design Co. shoplittledesignco.com
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Above: The freestanding cast-iron tub gives the principal bathroom a spa-like vibe. Far left: Nero marquina herringbone tiles line the shower. Left: In the powder room, Phillip Jeffries grasscloth wallcovering surrounds the sink—a RH chrome base topped with a quartzite slab plumbed with Kohler fixtures.
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Letters to Restaurants We’ve Lost IT’S BEEN A YEAR UNLIKE ANY OTHER, ESPECIALLY FOR KANSAS CITY’S HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. CONTRIBUTING WRITER KELSEY CIPOLLA REACHED OUT TO LOCAL FOOD LOVERS, ASKING THEM TO SHARE THEIR REMEMBRANCES OF THE FOOD AND DRINK ESTABLISHMENTS FORCED TO CLOSE THEIR DOORS DURING THE PANDEMIC— AND OFFER WORDS OF HOPE TO THOSE HANGING ON.
Dear KC Pin
oy,
ne. set us up. lieve you’re go nd wanted to ie fr l ua ut m I still can’t be asn’t that t you. A to say—it w t heard abou ve rs fi ha I I n d he an w , a before a. “Lumpia I remember d tried lumpi e than lumpi or ha I m t h bu uc , m it t so I was open to u were abou assured me yo ou Y to meet. . le ed ab re or ag mem u said. I dishes, and yo ” t, en om m most prized s ur it d yo ha of l y ra ad alre displayed joyed seve and artifacts ly good. I en os al ot re ph as w ed te fram Our first da through the t your family ee m to t go I even ert, comaved ice dess sh . a ls t al w ou t ur on yo ur dad You brough shared how yo ou even better. Y as s. w le te nk ri da in that s, and sp Our second him. It was marshmallow om fr p, d ru te sy e ra at pa ol oc were se plate. plete with ch t before you an food on a h this desser uch more th it m w so u t yo ou d ab le bled spoi you were to turn. I stum derstood that ’t know where ate dn pl di moment I un y I ic re sp he y, my life w ispy, tang in cr y y, lt da sa rk g, da zzlin There was a fort. I ate a si for some com in our city. ng pi pe ho ho e, as w on in, al to start a like there g in el fe e m family, eager ft A . le ay at th aw d rk ie carr of po e togethfurniture was left of our lif ur as yo t w at gh ni th e ng anythi ever y last I was there th your eyes as happy to take in as s w es n, dn ow sa r e thei w th tr ying restaurant of place, but I sa forced smiles, laughed, we ing to a good e go W . as or w it do e, ck er. Sur d out the ba dream slippe piece of your ories. the good mem to hold on to Salamat, man Danielle L eh
After launching as a food truck, KC Pinoy opened in Kansas City’s West Bottoms in 2018, introducing many to the cuisine of chef-owner Chrissy Nucum’s native Philippines. Nucum announced the restaurant’s closure in September 2020 but is accepting limited orders from its new online store. Follow KC Pinoy on social media for details.
Danielle Lehman is the founder of marketing agency Boxer & Mutt, host of the food-focused podcast Open Belly, and creator of Curbside KC, a platform showcasing locally owned KC restaurants offering takeout, curbside takeout, and delivery during the Covid-19 outbreak.
After 17 years, acclaimed Westport restaurant Bluestem served its final dinner on December 19, 2020. The restaurant earned chefs and owners Colby and Megan Garrelts numerous James Beard Foundation Award nominations, and Colby won Best Chef Midwest in 2013. The Garreltses continue to operate Rye, which has locations on the Country Club Plaza and in Leawood.
Dear Bluestem, I recently dug out the very first photo I took at Bluestem in May of 2004. It was mortifying. Using a point-and-shoot camera with flash lighting in a dark dining room, I made the beautifully seared slice of foie gras look like an autopsy report. It is a cringey and humbling reminder of just how astonishing it is that, 16 years later, by the grace of God and people like Colby and Megan Garrelts, I now find myself being paid to photograph food. Life is weird and wonderful (and sometimes mercifully forgiving) like that. The Garreltses and I got off to a rocky start. They were inexperienced and I was opinionated, and all of us were too young to have anything figured out. I ate at their fledgling restaurant and had thoughts, which I regrettably shared online. They rightfully took offense and shot back. Yet, despite our online tussle, when we met in person, we realized that we shared a common desire: to make Kansas City a better place to eat. In its 17 years at 900 Westport Road, Bluestem not only became a second home to me, but a personal boot camp in food photography and writing, learning about ingredients, cooking techniques, and the hospitality industry. The Garreltses let me hang around the kitchen with my camera and accepted me as family. They let me write and photograph a cookbook with them when I had absolutely no business doing so. Outside of the restaurant, we became dear friends. In 2020, a good thing came to an end, as they all inevitably must. But Bluestem was not for naught. There are countless memories—my sister celebrated her wedding there. And there were many lessons learned and friendships made. Bluestem changed the way Kansas City dined and experienced hospitality, for the better. I’m very lucky to have had a frontrow seat for the ride. Bonjwing Lee
Bonjwing Lee is a photographer, writer, and editor. In addition to writing the blog The Ulterior Epicure, Lee is a published cookbook writer. His work has appeared in The New York Times,The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, GQ, Food + Wine Magazine, and Bon Appetit Magazine.
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The Rieger,
re than we could afford e and I ate out probably mo Pre-Covid, my husband Kyl sidered our favorites, The t of local restaurants we con to. While we had a shortlis e and our any-old-occaIt was our special-occasion plac Rieger was always our spot. always impeccable, yet we were there, the service was sion place—and no matter why fortable. somehow still casual and com dful of national publicaRieger and its food for a han Early on, I wrote about The our friends. For nearly bartenders and servers became ks, coo the of y man r, late s; tion ngers when they asked me -of-town guests and sent stra out k too I re whe it’s , ade dec a lly discovered a red blend and it’s where Kyle and I fina y, Cit sas Kan in eat to re whe iversaries there, and it’s the celebrated birthdays and ann We d. like ally actu h bot we closed on our house, we sat r my miscarriage. When we afte go to ted wan I e plac t firs e… okay, and cocktails, too. at the bar and drank champagn close last year, but aurants were going to have to rest rite favo our of e som w I kne t’s because it always ’t be one of them. Maybe tha ldn wou ger Rie The e hop I held out d and drinks, of course. —in addition to amazing foo love h wit g stin bur e plac a felt like this? Unfortunately, love ved by so many not survive How could a business so belo staff pay theirs. doesn’t pay the bills or help the the spring and summer. to feed a lot of people over Love did, however, manage Rieger into the Crossward Hanna transformed The Seemingly overnight, Chef Ho re than 80,000 pay-whatand turned donations into mo roads Community Kitchen ced it was “going dark,” it r, when The Rieger announ you-can meals. But in Octobe Unfortunately, the federal couldn’t keep the lights on. was clear even good karma ndent restaurants or their care what happens to indepe government doesn’t seem to one of too many. employees, and this stor y is uld have to get our last nt more than we probably sho In its final week, we again spe I knew being there would t Kyle to pick it up because supper from The Rieger. I sen out most of our dinner. We still ended up crying through upset me too much, but we te a return to “normal” ld eventually choose to celebra realized that the place we wou to feel normal at all. y, and that nothing is going won’t be there when we’re read Emily Farris
In the early days of COVID-19, Crossroads favorite The Rieger pivoted to operate as a community kitchen, providing food to community members in need. The restaurant shut its doors last fall, just shy of its10th anniversary.
Emily Farris is a writer and content creator whose work has appeared in Bon Appetit, Food and Wine, Food52, Epicurious,The Cut, and Midwest Living. She lives east of Brookside with her husband, two young sons, two rowdy rescue mutts, and three backyard chickens. Learn more at thatemilyfarris. com or follow her on Instagram at @thatemilyfarris.
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And for those still struggling through this worst of times for the industry, Jill Cockson offers her vision concerning the change for good that could emerge from the ashes of the pandemic.
Dear hospita
lity business
owners,
I have been in the hospi tality indust seven. I hav ry for 23 ye e witnessed ars, an own the beginnin into a seriou er for g of an evol s, viable care ution of our er path. It is face of incred in du stry n ot for the faint ibly tr ying ti of heart. In mes, I would who have re the li ke fused to go to give a shou down withou t-out to thos business to t e a fight. To th the limit. T ose pushing o those deve working tire th lo ei pi r n g lessly and se creative solu lflessly to not tions. To th to also main ose only keep th tain the hea eir business lth and empl afloat, but Too often, w oy m en e are obsessed t of their hos pitality famil with focusin the easy thin y. g on the neg g to do. W h ative, becaus ile it ’s approp important to e th at ri ’s at e to mourn ou see and cele r losses, it ’s brate the po also sitive. In no way is this to sham e anyone wh close; ever y set of circum o has made stances is di the decision wise—albeit fferent. For to painful—thin many, closin g to do. Rat shift the focu g was the h er , this love lett s to those w ho are still in er is simply the heartbeat to the fight. Kee of our indust p fighting. Y ry. ou ar e We are gett ing a reality check of wh dustry—thin at things are gs that hav broken in ou e been brok been the ulti r inen fo r a long tim mate stress e. Covid-19 test. To thos are a glimps e has h an gi e of the futu ng in there, re. I am con thank you. Y back even st fi ou de n t ronger, if we that our indu take this op stry will com po rt e un ity to re-calib Be well. Kee rate. p fighting th e good fight.
Cheers, Jill Cockson
Jill Cockson is a celebrated bartender, the owner of Swordfish Tom’s in the Crossroads and a co-owner of Drastic Measures in Shawnee.
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Location, Location, Location TEN OF THE HOTTEST NEIGHBORHOODS IN KANSAS CITY
W
hether you prefer an idyllic small town on the outskirts of the metro or a charming, historic enclave in the heart of the city, you’ll find your dream neighborhood in Kansas City. As we continue to spend more time at home than ever before, our homes—and the neighborhoods that surround them—have never been more important. Maybe you’re looking for your next home or simply want to see a new part of the city. Consider this your introduction to a few of Kansas City’s best neighborhoods, as well as must-see places to visit while you’re there.
words by
Katy Schamberger
An aerial view of Gardner.
GARDNER, KANSAS Boundaries: East of Interstate 35 between 151st and 199th streets
When Krista French started house shopping, she didn’t have to look far. She grew up near Gardner, Kansas, and returned to the area so that she could get more bang for her home-buying buck. “I bought my house here in 2015 and love that I was able to get everything on my wish list,” she says. “That was impossible in other parts of Johnson County. You definitely get more house for your money here, and I love the small-town feel.” Gardner has a rich history. The city was founded at the dividing point of two key westward trails: the Santa Fe Trail and the Oregon/California Trail. You might not think a small town in Kansas has much in common with the East Coast, but it was primarily Massachusetts-based emigrants who originally settled Gardner, likely named for the Massachusetts governor at the time: Henry Gardner. Once the southwestern-most edge of the Kansas City metro, Gardner is now part of the rapidly growing Interstate 35 corridor in Johnson County. Growth in Gardner and its nearby neighbor, Edgerton, has been partly fueled by a growing number of manufacturing and logistics facilities in the area. Gardner is also home to a vibrant business community that includes the Johnson County Fair board (speaking of, save the date for this year’s Johnson County Fair, July 27-Aug. 1, 2021). In addition to hosting the annual fair, Gardner is also home to another favorite local event: Festival on the Trails, which has drawn up to 10,000 people for a weekend of live music, a car show, craft fair, cornhole tournament and more. A steady influx of visitor traffic has helped fuel growth in the local retail and dining scenes, and French has her own small business wish list. “I would love to have a restaurant and bar at this end of Gardner,” she says. “And to add to the town in general, I’d love a boutique-type store—not a chain or big-box brand.” MUST-VISIT: Groundhouse Coffee, 103 S. Elm St., Gardner, Kansas groundhousecoffee.com
MANHEIM PARK Boundaries: 39th St. [N]; Troost Ave. [W]; The Paseo [E]; Emanuel Cleaver II Blvd. [S]
During the operation of Kansas City’s first streetcar line from 1900 to 1925, Manheim Park flourished as a suburb. With the Troost streetcar line and a Paseo bus line, Manheim Park quickly attracted residents drawn by the neighborhood’s walkability. In fact, many of the neighborhood’s early residents didn’t have cars, so homes weren’t
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Sweet puff puffs and sauce from Fannie’s West African Cuisine.
tude of home styles within the neighborhood, including row homes, patio homes, and single-family homes. That means there’s a larger range of layouts, square footages, and price points, an effective way to attract a variety of homeowners. It’s not always easy to do, but Northgate Village manages to capture that city-within-a-city vibe. The neighborhood itself is a picturesque retreat. And just outside of Northgate Village, residents are minutes away from the recreation hub of Macken Park, complete with picnic shelters, a paved one-mile track, sports fields and more. Minutes to the north, North Kansas City’s appealing main street and downtown district beckon. Just across the river from downtown Kansas City, North Kansas City is in the midst of its own revitalization that’s seen the addition of popular destinations like The Iron District, a food truck park; cocktail-centric businesses like Repeal (a speakeasy) and Mitch e Amaro (a specialty cocktail supply store and bar); and entertainment that ranges from the locally owned Screenland Armour movie theater to Chicken N Pickle, which helped introduce pickleball to Kansas City. And for your four-legged friends: Waggin’ Trails off-leash dog park is nearby for plenty of close-to-home adventures.
built with driveways or garages. That changed as a car-dependent culture began to grip Kansas City in the 1950s. And in the wake of white flight, many of Manheim Park’s stately two- and three-story homes fell into disrepair as the neighborhood’s population decreased. More recently, a steady wave of revitalization that’s spread from downtown Kansas City south includes Manheim Park, part of the larger Midtown area. Many of the homes have been restored or improved. Partnerships between organizations like the Manheim Park Neighborhood Association and Make It Right have introduced newly built homes designed by local architecture firms. And a large community garden—over one acre of contiguous land with an herb garden, playground, and a public meeting space—has helped foster a healthy living environment for another group of residents: bees! Manheim Park is home to its own bee colonies, which help the neighborhood’s garden thrive and provide local honey production. Manheim Park might not be near a streetcar line any longer (well, not until the Main Street extension is complete), but its appeal as a walkable hub remains as strong now as it was in 1900. Just think: you could start your day with a stroll over to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and its surrounding sculpture garden. The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art is nearby, too, as is the Kauffman Legacy Park, Theis Park and the always-bustling Robert Gillham Park. And just a few blocks past the Nelson-Atkins? The shopping, dining and entertainment of the Plaza await. Live here, and you just might find that needing your car is a thing of the past.
MUST-VISIT: Velo Garage and Tap House, 1403 Swift Ave., North Kansas City, Missouri velogaragekc.com
PENDLETON HEIGHTS Boundaries: Kessler Park [N]; Interstate 29 [W]; Chestnut Trafficway [E]; Independence Ave. [S]
MUST-VISIT: Fannie’s West African Cuisine, 4105 Troost Ave., Kansas City, Missouri fanniescuisine.com
Brick mansions border the streets in Pendleton Heights.
NORTHGATE VILLAGE Boundaries: Swift St. [N]; NE 32nd Ave. [W]; E 28th Ave. [E]; Howell St. [S]
There’s no denying that Brookside and Armour Hills are two of Kansas City’s favorite neighborhoods. So when the team at Hunt Midwest Velo Garage decided to develop and build and Tap House. Northgate Village in North Kansas City, it’s no surprise that they emulated the charming aesthetics of these (and other) traditional neighborhoods. Fun fact: according to Hunt Midwest, Northgate Village created the opportunity for the first modern housing to be built in North Kansas City in decades. The result is an effortless blend of homes, green spaces, and gridstyle streets that encompass 91 acres. Neighbors frequently gather at pocket parks throughout the neighborhood or stroll along paved pathways that wind between trees and lush yards. Thoughtful details like ornamental street lighting, benches, and brick entry monuments add to the neighborhood’s appeal. And for residential architecture enthusiasts, you can find a multi-
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Given how much the Kansas City metro has grown in the last century, it’s funny to think of Pendleton Heights—part of the historic Northeast and less than five minutes from downtown Kansas City—as a suburb. Yet that’s exactly what it was—Kansas City’s first suburb. An astounding collection of residential architecture awaits in this charming neighborhood, ranging from Queen Anne, Craftsman, Shingle and Folk Victorian. The jaw-dropping array of stately homes (said to be
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Kansas City’s largest collection of true Victorian homes) was just one of many reasons that This Old House selected Pendleton Heights in 2013 as one of its Best Old House neighborhoods. If you haven’t yet visited Pendleton Heights, it’s hard to narrow down what you should see first. A stroll along the Cliff Drive Scenic Byway is a natural starting point so that you can meander through the lush surroundings of Kessler Park, named for George Kessler, the creator of the city’s park and boulevard system. With Kessler Park, Maple Park, and Lafayette Garden as part of the neighborhood, Pendleton Heights enjoys another local distinction: one of the largest percentages of green space in Kansas City. “We love Pendleton Heights because of the sense of community and the make-it-better/can-do attitude of our neighbors,” says the Lee family, as quoted by the Pendleton Heights Kansas City Neighborhood Association. “We love PH because of its close proximity to downtown, along with the racial and ethnic diversity. We have a wonderful park system and a surprising mix of wildlife for being an urban area.” It’s not always easy to live in a historic neighborhood, as homes typically require more TLC and upkeep than new construction. Yet maybe that’s one of the factors that’s made Pendleton Heights such a vibrant, close-knit community. Aside from carefully restoring the neighborhood’s stately homes, many residents have worked together to introduce beloved annual events like the Holiday Homes Tour and pop-up art markets that draw people from all over Kansas City. And when the temperatures warm, you can likely find residents immersed in the community orchard and garden. It’s not an overstep to say Pendleton Heights is a little slice of paradise! MUST-VISIT: Elvira’s Cakes for churros, pan dulce, tres leches and more. 3838 Independence Ave., Kansas City, Missouri elvirascake.com
ROELAND PARK Boundaries: 47th Street [N]; Nall Ave. [W]; Mission Road [E]; Johnson Dr. [S]
The Roeland Park leaf truck.
Here’s an insider tip about one of the top reasons that’s kept Gene Willis and his wife, Carrie, in Roeland Park, Kansas, for the last 14 years: the Roeland Park Leaf Truck. “The leaf truck is one of the most effective uses of tax dollars at
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work,” Willis says. “Roeland Park is the only town in the Kansas City metro area where you don’t have to bag your leaves. You just rake them in a pile by the curb and a truck comes by twice a month during the fall to take them away.” For anyone who’s had to rake leaves in the fall, especially in a neighborhood with an abundance of mature trees, the Roeland Park Leaf Truck is a clear benefit. And Gene says he’s found plenty else to love in the neighborhood. “We love the central location and how people treat each other, as well as the walkability and civic infrastructure,” he says. Other neighborhood highlights include an emphasis on public art, including a series of sculptures along Roe Blvd. and artwork on display in a favorite neighborhood gathering place: R Park. Visit the park and you’ll see the first of seven art installations planned for the area. The vibrant red and yellow sculpture, the Runner, was created by internationally acclaimed sculptor Jorge Blanco and, according to an abstract on the park’s website, “symbolizes the forward movement and progress of the City of Roeland Park and acts as a welcoming herald for visitors who come to the park for fun, fitness, and community engagement.” MUST-VISIT: R Park, 5535 Juniper Dr., Roeland Park, Kansas myrpark.org
STRAWBERRY HILL Boundaries: Minnesota Ave. [N]; Interstate 70 [E and S]; 7th Street [W]
Strawberry Hill boasts a great view of downtown Kansas City.
Where else can you bowl in the basement of a Catholic Church, see the bed that Pope John Paul II used on his TWA flights to the U.S., or enjoy a slice of povitica, a Eastern European pastry that’s become the official neighborhood cuisine? All of this—and more—awaits in picturesque Strawberry Hill. Perched atop bluffs in downtown Kansas City, Kansas, overlooking the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers, Strawberry Hill’s elevated location made it a popular destination for eastern European immigrants to flee floodwaters in the early 1900s. Most of these new residents had limited income, which is why so many of Strawberry Hill’s homes are on narrow parcels of land. That closeness accentuates the neighborhood’s architecture, including cottage-style homes intermingled with larger turn-of-the-century folk houses complete with front porches. In fact, it was these homes—and a vibrant location near both downtown Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri—that drew Anna Cole to the neighborhood more than a decade ago. “The rent was so inexpensive, my house had a view of the city and the neighbors are so friendly,” she says. “I couldn’t believe it—what is this secret? It’s so close to everything. I immediately fell in love with the brick sidewalks and the neighborhood’s hospitality. And the aesthetic—you’re in Kansas City, but it almost feels like you’re in a little
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East Coast hamlet.” In recent years, more residents have flocked to the area drawn by the opportunity to own homes at lower prices than other parts of the metro. Businesses, too, are increasingly drawn to the tight-knit community, including new arrivals like Splitlog Coffee near longtime neighborhood institutions, such as The 403 Club, Breit’s Stein & Deli and El Camino Real. The Strawberry Hill Museum & Cultural Center includes a comprehensive collection of culturally focused exhibits and artifacts that represent each of the neighborhood’s founding groups. The museum itself is a work of art, nestled inside a Victorian home that dates back to 1887. MUST-VISIT: Strawberry Hill Museum, 20 N. 4th St., Kansas City, Kansas strawberryhillmuseum.org
MCCOY Boundaries: Missouri 24 [N]; N. River Blvd. [W]; N. Noland Rd. [E]; W. Truman Rd. [S]
Many of the homes in the McCoy neighborhood are designated as historic sites. The McClains’ home, for example, is a Queen Annestyle home designed by T.B. Smith and built in 1887 by Aaron Flint Sawyer, a partner in the Chrisman-Sawyer Banking Company. McClain says the neighborhood was already a lively, bustling place thanks to a recent influx of young homeowners and their families. During the pandemic, she discovered just how close-knit the area really is. “During the pandemic, we became our own little community,” she says. “The McCoy neighborhood moms would organize chalk drawing days, obstacle courses, and other activities. They helped get us out of our houses to safely socialize with each other and it really strengthened our neighborhood.” Nearby areas for safe socially distancing include McCoy Park, which, thanks to a spray ground, is a popular meeting place, especially during warmer months. Picnic shelters equipped with grills and water are often the site of family and neighbor gatherings. And then there’s the historic Independence Square, just a short stroll away. The Square is home to ten restaurants, plus a popular farmer’s market that operates twice weekly during the season. Harry and Bess would be proud, wouldn’t they? MUST-VISIT: Independence Square, 112 W. Lexington Ave., Independence, Missouri theindependencesquare.com
OLD BRIARCLIFF Boundaries: Interstate 29 [N]; Highway 169 [W]; North Oak Trafficway [E]; NW Briarcliff Road [S]
The home of President Harry Truman and his wife, Bess.
One sentence says it all: “Where Harry met Bess.” The McCoy neighborhood in Independence, Missouri, is steeped in history, and the Harry S. Truman home is just the start. Cindy McClain and her husband, Ken, moved to the neighborhood so that they could be within walking distance of the historic Independence Square. They’ve led the Square’s revitalization, helping to turn a once blighted area into a thriving downtown district complete with restaurants, entertainment, and shops, all surrounding the Jackson County Courthouse.
It’s not often that you find people who love a neighborhood so much that they grew up there and never leave. Yet Amy Gerend knows at least three or four people in that category on her street alone in Old Briarcliff. Amy, her husband, Tom, and their three kids moved to the neighborhood from Johnson County after the KC Streetcar opened. Tom, executive director of the Kansas City Streetcar Authority, wanted to be closer to downtown. Once Gerend discovered Old Briarcliff, she immediately fell in love. And then the wait began. “It took us about two years to get here because the houses sell quickly and they don’t frequently go on the market,” she says. The neighborhood itself is a picturesque haven—a wide variety of residential architecture Christine’s Firehouse is the home of a pork tenderloin sandwich the lines streets that wind up and size of a platter. down hills and around mature trees. Speaking of architecture: you can find a Frank Lloyd Wright home in Old Briarcliff. For anyone who says Kansas City is flat, have them take a stroll through Old Briarcliff. The hills contribute to the feeling that Old Briarcliff is tucked away just above the city. Yet it’s certainly not separated. Thanks to the work of tireless community advocates like Tim Johnston, continued on page
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In the living room, a 19th-century Spanish gilded and carvedwood framed mirror hangs over the marble fireplace. A pair of painted 19th-century French Louis XVI bergeres upholstered in a Brunschwig & Fils pomegranate print and pink-and-white plaid add a shot of bright color to the room.
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Guests stepping off the elevator in the foyer are greeted by a framed 18th-century tapestry portrait fragment, flanked by lamps reimagined from18th-century French painted giltwood alter pieces. All atop a circa-1750 burled-walnut chest from Luca, Italy. Flowers from Craig Sole Designs.
A HISTORIC KANSAS CITY AERIE HOLDS A LIFETIME OF COLLECTING
WORDS BY
Judith Fertig
PHOTOS BY
Aaron Leimkuehler
FEBRUARY 2021
T
here are less-is-more people who feel better with edited rooms. And then there are more-is-more people who feel most at home surrounded by objects they’ve collected over time. Jim and Susan Birt are definitely in the more camp. Jim is a property developer and Susan is the Acquirer-in-Chief. They have grown children and a grandchild. “I love buying French and Italian antiques. I just can’t stop,” Susan says with a laugh. “I’ve taken Jim on many forced marches along 45th
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A French wrought-iron and marble patisserie table sits in the living room bay window framed by two Louis XV bergeres upholstered in rose-hued silk velvet.
and State Line,” Kansas City’s antique district. “As you shop, you get to know the dealers,” says Jim. “Every piece has history. And it becomes kind of a hobby.” Jim’s mother was Italian, so many pieces also came from family trips to Florence and Paris. The Birts tried downsizing, they truly did. But their former Brookside cottage and garden just didn’t suit them. Their prized possessions couldn’t breathe. So when a fifth-floor Plaza-area condo in a desirable 1929 property—complete with English knot garden—became available, they jumped. In its early days, their historic home once belonged to Kansas City fashion
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doyenne Nelly Don. With warm, linen-colored walls, dark oak flooring, architectural moldings, and a fabulous crystal chandelier in the dining room, the condo was the perfect new home for the couple’s collections. But they needed help. Lots of help. Who found the right spots for all the treasures? Rich Hoffman of Stage Right Designs, who has worked with the couple for years. “When moving them into this condo, it was my job and joy to display each and every piece, to reinvent each piece. Each one had to find its new home and shine on its own,” says Hoffman. “The word ‘edit’—Susan’s least favorite word—was stricken from conversation,
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and rightly so. Things went up. Things went down, often moved, then moved again, and again.” “See it, enjoy it,” says Jim philosophically. Antique furniture got taken apart and put back together. In order to fit in the freight elevator, the movers had to disassemble an 18th-century biblioteca, now in the living room, and cut the 18th-century dark oak dining table in half. Paintings were restored and reframed. New rugs were found for the new rooms. Garden pieces were repurposed. “Lead
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Above: The Birt’s pup, Cricket, in one of her favorite spots in the den, an ottoman upholstered with an antique kilim rug. Opposite: Flowers from Craig Sole Designs spill out of an antique 19th-century French caned and painted-wood planter just under the antique French brass and crystal chandelier.
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Above: Cheerful “buttah yellow” walls (See: Nancy Lancaster’s iconic 1950s London drawing room) in one of the principal bedrooms are the perfect background for a salon-style display of paintings and objets d’ art. Left: An early 19th-century French barometer hangs over a circa-1850s Italian painted drop-front desk.Opposite: In another bedroom, the carved-walnut four-poster bed is surrounded by circa-1870s framed bookplates of French maps and a collection of vintage Bavarian and German mounted deer antlers.
figures can be found dancing in unexpected places,” says Hoffman. Today, the Birt home looks lived-in, in the best possible way. Accents of pomegranate red and sea blue drift from room to room in upholstery, painted decoration on furniture, needlepoint, and paintings. In the living room, a portrait of Jim’s mother as a young girl takes pride of place next to the fireplace. The biblioteca, made of wild cherry wood, looks no worse for wear after being put back together. The room is awash with saints and holy figures. “We love ecclesiastical art,” says Jim. “There is so much social history and material culture involved in each piece,” adds Susan. Two armchairs in a pomegranate-embroidered upholstery take up the color theme. In the dining room, a needlepoint-esque patterned fabric cushions the chairs around the table. A trumeau over a cabinet, purchased from Barbara Farmer at Parrin & Co., features an oil painting of pheasants and fruit. On the oak vasselier, an 18th-century miniature carriage with working parts continues to fascinate Susan. “I am still enchanted,” she says. In the tiny breakfast room, where the couple has dinner every night, a painted round-topped table also came from antique dealer Barbara
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perfect perch continued
Dine often and dine well.
250
OF THE BEST KC RESTAURANTS
Dining Guide
For the city’s most extensive restaurant guide, head to inkansascity.com/ eat-drink/dining-guide
FEBRUARY 2021
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Farmer, reputedly by way of Cyndi Lauper. Such is the story-within-a-story of each piece. The condo has two principal bedrooms. One is decidedly masculine with a dark wood four-poster, hunting paintings, an Art Deco French chest, and a collection of little boxes. In the second, pale blue and cream lend a softer touch, along with an antique Italian lady’s desk, painted with floral motifs. On a corner table are more little boxes, porcelain and china that also delight Susan. Everywhere you look, there is something to catch your eye. “This is a place where anyone could easily walk in and be at home—looking out at the top of the trees,” says Hoffman. But it’s the perfect perch for this couple.
In the powder room, the lines of the antique overpainted French cabinet contrast with the contemporary soapstone and brass-framed sink.
THE IT LIST Design Stage Right Designs | 816-678-9874 Antiques Christopher Filley Antiques & Design 816-668-9974 Morning Glory Antiques morninggloryantiquesinc.com Parrin & Co. | 816-753-7959 Flowers Craig Sole Designs craigsoledesigns.com
FEBRUARY 2021
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Located in the heart of the Crossroads Arts & Technology District 2009 Baltimore Ave. Kansas City, MO 64108 @flocksalonandgallery ph. (816) 656-5727 - Book today!
SALON AND GALLERY
SATURDAY, FEB. 20 | 7 P.M. | REDHOTNIGHT.ORG We’ll celebrate virtually and support the discoveries being unlocked at the new Children’s Mercy Research Institute to find answers for kids.
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LOOKING AHEAD IN KC
Making a Difference... coming in our March issue
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FEBRUARY 2021
locally by Unruh Furniture. A length of pale oak cabinetry keeps all the clutter hidden. “I didn’t want any upper cabinets in the kitchen,” says the homeowner, “and I wanted to be able to cook and see the boys playing outside.” She also wanted the messy kitchen prep hidden away in a butler’s kitchen, another trick to living with an open plan. Glass-fronted cabinets nearby let the homeowner admire her crystal and china even if, right now, they don’t get used every day. The ground-floor principal bedroom got its inspiration from a Pinterest photo. The bed with hobnail trim came from their old house. Layered seagrass and oriental rugs from Etsy underfoot, drapes from Restoration Hardware, and sconces purchased online all point to her high/low approach. She had to be talked into the standalone tub in the master bath, but a winter soak watching snowflakes fall made her a convert. Two opposing sinks and a coffee station nearby make for easier mornings getting ready for work. A corridor off the garage functions as a mudroom with ventilated drawers for boys’ things and lockers to corral coats and shoes. In the adjacent laundry room, honed black granite countertops and white cabinetry make this room much more than an afterthought. It’s a house that works beautifully with the way they want to live—in the neighborhood this family calls home. | 92 | INKANSASCITY.COM
LOOKING AHEAD IN KC
Cocktails & Cuisines...
coming in our April issue
Above: Brick lines the floor throughout the laundry room and mud room. Opposite: A handy black-and-white enamel sink from Rejuvenation Hardware in the office/laundry room gets plenty of use.
THE IT LIST Architect Elwood Smith Carlson Architects, P.A. escarchitects.com Builder RM Standard & Co. rmstandard.com Cabinetry Built to Fit Custom Cabinets 913-441-5722 Cast Stone Fireplace Caliber Cast Stone calibercaststone.com Flowers The Little Flower Shop thelittleflowershop.com
to advertise, contact Brittany Coale at 913.768.8308
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The Personal Collection of Jack and Georgia Olsen Session I Saturday, March 13, 2021 The Olsens founded American Legacy Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri in 1979.
Birger Sandzen (1871-1954)
Lincoln H. Fox (Born 1942)
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local trails now connect to Waterworks Park and North Oak Trafficway. “We can walk from here to the riverfront on a sidewalk the whole time,” Gerend says. “Actually, we can go all the way to the River Market. We like to ride our bikes there on the weekend to get coffee and shop the City Market.” Other places of note include Briarcliff Village for a trip to Green Acres Market or Head Rush Roasters. Both Waterworks Park and Macken Park are nearby, as is North Kansas City. MUST-VISIT: Christine’s Firehouse, 2021 Swift St., North Kansas City, Missouri., for classic pork tenderloin sandwiches.
OLD LEAWOOD Boundaries: Somerset [N]; Mission Road [W]; State Line Road [E]; Interstate 435 [S]
Old Leawood has a lot in common with its Johnson County neighbor, Prairie Village, including large trees and no shortage of character. Those are two of the reasons that Stephanie Siders and her husband moved to Old Leawood when they needed a bigger home to prepare for a growing family. “We could still check those boxes of a more established neighborhood but get more space, both inside and outside of the home,” she says. An advantage of Old Leawood? The nature extends beyond mature trees. Small streams and creeks trickle through the neighborhood,
FEBRUARY 2021
joining together at one point to create an ideal fishing pond. To get a sense of Old Leawood, all you have to do is stroll down the neighborMature trees hood’s main thoroughfare, Lee line the Boulevard. You’ll see a variety streets of Old of homes, including some Leawood. that are on lots as big as three and four acres. These larger lots have given homeowners a blank canvas to build a new home without having to look elsewhere. Because Old Leawood is fairly narrow, there aren’t as many parks or green spacees as you might find in other neighborhoods. Yet many neighborhood residents frequently gather on the other side of Interstate 435 at the Leawood City Park, where the swimming pool is the de facto neighborhood pool. And inside the neighborhood, thoughtful city planning created an ideal place to raise kids. “The city planners did a great job with the streets decades ago,” Siders says. “For example, High Drive is a really pretty street that’s a block long in one place, then you have to go out and around to get to the next section of High Drive. The layout allows for some privacy and it’s a great place to raise kids—not much traffic.” MUST-VISIT: Spruce Home, 2515 Somerset Dr., Leawood, Kansas facebook.com/sprucehomekc
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BLUE HILLS Boundaries: Swope Parkway [N]; The Paseo [W]; Prospect Avenue [E]; E. 63rd Street [S]
Today, Blue Hills is a thriving residential community, thanks in large part to an active neighborhood association that works to maintain Blue Hills homes, many of which date back to the 1910s and 20s. The Blue Hills Neighborhood Association has also helped introduce a number of community improvement initiatives including a pocket park and community garden. Catina K. Taylor moved to Blue Hills 12 years ago. Now, the fulltime consultant also serves as vice president in the Blue Hills Neighborhood Association and has a front-row seat to the positive changes that have helped imbue the historic neighborhood with vibrant energy. “The residents are committed to and interested in growing the neighborhood,” she says. “They volunteer in different ways to ensure the community continues to thrive for future generations.” It’s hard to beat Blue Hills’ enviable location near beloved Kansas City landmarks, including Swope Park and the Brookside Shops. Of course, there’s no shortage of historic landmarks within the neighborhood itself. Taylor recommends spending time at the Paseo High School steps, located along The Paseo and Volker. You’ll see the name of the high school spelled out in white stones. Climb the steep staircase and you might just see Chris Goode, founder of Ruby Jean’s Juicery, exercising in the same place he did as a high school student. Who said you can’t go home again?
A community garden in Blue Hills.
The next time you’re in the Blue Hills neighborhood, imagine this. In the area’s early days—1904, to be exact—the site of the original Blue Hills Country Club was first used for horse racing. Elm Ridge Racetrack had a short lifespan, however, and closed in 1906.
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MUST-VISIT: King’s Table Soul Food, 5932 Prospect #3626, Kansas City, Missouri facebook.com/kingstablesoul
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IN KC
In the Kitchen EASY CHOCOLATE PARFAIT BY
Cody Hogan
PHOTOS BY
F
or many people, after almost a year of pandemic home cooking, a lot of the luster has worn off of daily food preparation. For me, what keeps it fun is cooking for others while continuing to change and expand my repertoire of recipes. Although I seldom-to-never make elaborate desserts at home, this quick chocolate mousse gives the impression of a good amount of effort and allows you to change up your ingredients so it always seems exciting and fresh. And it’s perfect for Valentine’s Day. First, a few notes on the preparation of this dessert. Because of its simplicity, the ingredients need to be of excellent quality. Everything shows. This is not the place for cheap baking chocolate that has been in the back of the fridge for three years, stale cookies, or nuts that are freezer burned (you probably used all of that up during lockdown anyway). If you love very dark or bittersweet chocolate, use that (I frequently use the 1.75 ounce Dark Chocolate with Almonds bar from Trader Joe’s, but imagine with Andre’s or Valrhona!). If you like milk chocolate, by all means go for it. This mousse is also best right after it is made. Although it is still good if refrigerated, it’s not quite the same. If you have any doubts about your skill level, make a test run on the mousse when you are alone and can focus—it uses a small quantity of ingredients, is very fast, and once accomplished, can be easily repeated. After a bottle of Zinfandel with dinner on Valentine’s Day is probably not the best time to give it a first try. Chocolate Mousse Parfait Combine and gently melt about two ounces of good quality chocolate with a tablespoon or so of espresso, coffee, or heavy cream. The melting can be accomplished in a thick-bottomed saucepan on low heat on the stove, or in the microwave in brief increments. You just want to melt the chocolate without raising the temperature any higher than necessary—the chocolate will not really change in appearance except possibly becoming slightly
FEBRUARY 2021
Aaron Leimkuehler
shiny. This will take very little time. While the chocolate is melting, in a mixing bowl with a whisk or hand mixer—hand mixer is easier and faster—whip about one cup of heavy cream (two if you love whipped cream) with a pinch of sugar until soft peaks are formed. Take about half of the whipped cream out of the bowl and set it aside to use to assemble the parfait. Stir the melted chocolate to combine it with the warm espresso, coffee, or cream and then pour it all over the whipped cream in the mixing bowl. Immediately mix/whisk the cream until the chocolate is fully integrated and fluffy and stiffens like fully whipped cream. This will take only seconds unless you move like a turtle. You could stop here and just eat the chocolate mousse, selfishly and alone in the kitchen, or assemble the parfait and share. I suggest the latter but may have done the former on occasion. To assemble, simply alternate layers/dollops of the whipped cream and chocolate mousse with ingredients you like with chocolate (i.e. fresh berries, toasted nuts, or crumbled cookies). My current favorite combo is gingersnaps or amaretti cookies with good-quality preserved cherries (see Pantry) and their syrup. Another favorite is fresh red raspberries that have been coated in warmed black raspberry jam (delicious, but that involves dirtying another pan). Chopped candied ginger or orange peel would be nice, as would many different poached fruits. For serious chocoholics, a drizzle of bittersweet melted chocolate or chocolate sauce could be used to intensify the chocolate flavor, as could chocolate shavings or chips sprinkled at intervals during parfait construction. For a more adult parfait, a splash of brandy, Grand Mariner, or aged rum could be used to flavor the whipped cream—or served alongside for sipping. The parfait concept is easily expanded for more people (just double or triple the amounts) and makes for a fun interactive assembly station with a variety of toppings, fruits, sauces, and cookies for people to build as they please. Regardless the size or combinations, let this simple and satisfying pantry-centric dessert become a part of your ever expanding culinary repertoire.
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In Your Pantry EXCEPTIONAL CHERRIES Intensely flavored and aromatic, preserved cherries are a delicious and versatile pantry staple. From sweet to savory, try some of these applications. Sadof Sour Cherries Hailing from Bulgaria, these cherries have an exceptionally intense and fresh sour cherry flavor you don’t often find in canned products. They are not candied, so the texture is like that of a freshly cooked cherry. The cherries in light syrup would be delicious anywhere you would use a canned or dried cherry. Those in heavy syrup, more like a jam, are delicious drizzled and dolloped on desserts, and will take your buttered toast to a whole new level. Available at Shahrazad Market (126th St. and Metcalf Ave).
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Fabbri Amarena Cherries Instantly recognizable in their distinctive blue-and-white crock, Amarena cherries are a small wild cherry found in northern Italy. Candied in a delicious syrup with a secret recipe and process, these tiny dark orbs are a requirement in many classic Italian desserts thanks to their slightly acidic finish, which helps balance the sweetness in Italian dolci. They are surprisingly delicious as a garnish for cheeses, especially gorgonzola dolce and pecorino. Available at many fancy food shops.
Luxardo Maraschino Cherries The original candied cherry for cocktails— not to be confused with the bright red flavorless sugar bombs garnishing a Shirley Temple—this dark sour Morello cherry candied in Marasca cherry syrup (the same syrup used to make the famous Maraschino liqueur), is a bit larger than other candied cherries and has a long luxurious finish and firm bite. If you aren’t using these to garnish your Manhattan, it’s time to up your game. Available at better liquor stores.
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.
Grandma Hoerner’s Cherry Everything Filling
therestaurantat1900.com (913) 730–1900
Produced nearby in Alma, Kansas, these tart cherries are a step above canned cherry pie filling in flavor and texture with the bonus of having no high-fructose corn syrup. Although recommended highly for a speedy cherry pie, crisp, or crumble, this filling is delicious enough to stand on its own as a waffle, crepe, or ice cream topping—just be sure to heat it first (microwave or stove top) to eliminate the cornstarch texture. Available at Whole Foods..
1900 Building 1900 Shawnee Mission Parkway Mission Woods, Kansas
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Flavor
IN KC
In Your Cocktail TANNIN by
I
Kelsey Cipolla
photo by
Joan Collins
t’s hard to decide what’s more compelling at Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen, the food or the drinks. Then again, the beauty of the Crossroads spot is that you never have to prioritize one over the other, as they work in resonant harmony. We’ll state the obvious—wine is kind of a big deal here. Approached with love and curiosity, rather than the reverence that can make wine-focused establishments seem inaccessible to the novices among us, Tannin offers wines by the taste, glass, or bottle. Finding your footing? Start by checking out the list of vino available by the glass, a manageable selection that covers the major categories. Happy hour also provides a superb introductory experience from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Guests can score half-price glasses of wine, $10 cheese plates and charcuterie boards, and $3 pommes frites.
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Oenophiles will find themselves swept away in the pages of the weightier list of wines by the bottle, an impeccable collection that includes creations from around the world that exemplify their styles and show off surprising, under-appreciated facets. For the deeply committed, Tannin’s wine clubs include a personal wine locker where a bottle is delivered each month, among other tantalizing perks. All that said, you don’t need to give a damn about wine to fall for Tannin. The dinner menu features an expansive range of snacks and appetizers, such as creamy smoked salmon and caper dip and truffled mushroom soup, as well as entrées. The kitchen produces one of the city’s most consistently delicious takes on risotto as well as a luxurious braised beef short rib with fluffy whipped potatoes and garlic green beans. Or skip straight to dessert. Tannin’s fudge-stuffed peanut-butter cookies have developed a loyal following for good reason, especially when they’re served Elvis-style, aka topped with banana ice cream and bacon. The indulgent cookies are also available during Sunday brunch, when Tannin serves up latkes, shakshuka, pastrami hash, and challah bread French toast, among other edible delights. Since 10 a.m. is a little early for wine, you’ll want to peruse the brunch cocktails, a lineup that includes mimosas by the glass or bottle and the KC Sunrise, a combo of tequila, orange, lime, and beet juice that’s sure to wake you up. And don’t overlook the regular cocktail menu, a seasonal selection of goodness that this winter includes a warmed butter-washed Jamaican rum with turbinado syrup and star anise as well as the bourbon-based honey crisp, a drink that also features spiced honey syrup, lemon and a dry cider. Of course, Tannin is still a wine bar at its core, so it’s only fitting to slip a little vino into its cocktails every now and then. The Joan Collins, a favorite among many of Tannin’s regulars, highlights Bugey Cerdon, a French wine region that produces a sweeter style of sparkling rosé. “There are lots of wonderful producers in this region, but the style of wine produced is the same, so any wine from Bugey Cerdon will work,” explains bar manager Brooke Silvey. tanninwinebar.com
Joan Collins
1 ounce Corruption Gin from Tom’s Town .5 ounce house-made lemon syrup 2 ounces sparkling rosé from Bugey Cerdon
Stir ingredients over ice. Strain into a Collins glass over ice and top with wine. Garnish with a lemon twist.
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“ I DREAMED A SYMPHONY OF COLOR”
Call us to beautify your home year-round with custom outdoor planters. 913.302.7646 or Info@ContainerCreationsPlus.com
Flavor by
IN KC
Kelsey Cipolla
THE COMBINE BEFORE BECOMING the Wonder Shop and Flats,
In Culinary News
2999 Troost Ave. was home to the original Wonder Bread Factory, a history that’s celebrated by The Combine. The new restaurant on the property includes a section dedicated to “Wonder favorites” like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and Fluffernutters, but there’s also more adult fare: cold and warm sandwiches, soups, salads, and Pizza 51 pies whole and by the slice. Pizza 51 owner Jason Pryor is a partner in The Combine, along with Charles Peach, who developed a full bar menu, complete with a rotating list of taps, wine, and craft cocktails. And for dessert? Assorted Hostess Brands treats in a nod to Wonder Bread’s longtime parent company. Nostalgia, table for two. thecombinekc.com
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SANTEFE_1/4.indd 1 SANTEFE_1/4.indd SANTEFE_1/4.indd 11
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IN KC
Kelsey Cipolla
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WEDELIVER AND THE TENDER AND LASAGNA PROJECTS AS RESTAURANTS around the country try to cope with
In Culinary News
the Covid downturn, Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar (4814 Roanoke Pkwy.) owners Big Red F Restaurant Group introduced a novel idea: Serving up food from several ghost concepts and offering it via WeDeliver, an in-house delivery service. Food-service trained staffers prepare, package, and deliver the food directly to guests, generating more revenue for the restaurant and better wages for restaurant employees. In addition to the Jax menu, diners can explore family-style fried chicken dinners from The Post Chicken & Beer; chicken tenders, thigh fries and some truly tasty dipping sauces, courtesy of The Tender Project; and hearty take-and-bake lasagna kits from the aptly named Lasagna Project. And unlike other delivery services, WeDeliver can bring both food and booze to your door, from batched cocktails to bottles of wine. jaxfishhouse.com
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s ighborhood ’s Hottest Ne Kansas City
Happy atHome Living with
| INKANSA Y 2021 FEBRUAR
SCIT Y.CO
M
n Great Desig
IN Kansas City magazine is available at The Roasterie Cafe. Purchase a copy at any of our eight area locations and The Roasterie will donate a portion of the sales to Variety Children’s
ANTS E RESTAUR TO ALL TH D AND LOST VE WE’VE LO
Charity of Greater Kansas City.
Flavor BY
IN KC
Kelsey Cipolla
ICE CREAM BAE & BAMBOO PENNY’S
In Culinary News
IF YOU HAVEN’T STOPPED by Park Place lately, here are two new reasons to: Ice Cream Bae and Bamboo Penny’s. Ice Cream Bae, which got its start in the Made in KC Marketplace, now has a space all its own in the Leawood shopping and dining center, where guests can customize their own cup, cone, or milkshake with rotating soft-serve flavors and mix-ins. Then later this spring, check out Bamboo Penny’s, a new concept from the owners behind Thai House. Bamboo Penny’s will be an upscale take on their first restaurant with some major added perks, including a one-of-a-kind tiki bar on the rooftop with climate control so you can sip your cocktails all year round. parkplaceleawood.com
WOMEN’S SPORTS AWARDS PRESENTED BY
TUNE INTO 38 THE SPOT AT 7PM ON FEB. 13
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For more information visit WINFORKC.ORG CHAMPION SPONSORS:
FEBRUARY 2021
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Flavor
IN KC
Reservation for One WANDERING VINE by
Kelsey Cipolla
N
photos by
ot every castle has a fairytale story. In Shawnee, the historic Caenen Castle has served as everything from a nursing home to a haunted house to a farm-to-table eatery that closed in 2017. Now, it’s been born again as Wandering Vine, a wine-focused restaurant that might just deliver on the building’s natural promise. Thought to be modeled after a French or Belgian castle, the limestone structure’s appeal is hard to deny. Walking up to the door in
FEBRUARY 2021
Aaron Leimkuehler
Caenen’s formidable shadow causes a shiver of pleasure, and the space is just as enchanting inside with its stone walls, rustic, warm wood, and cozy fireplaces. It’s equal parts romantic and approachable, a feeling Wandering Vine smartly emphasizes. Tables are arranged around dividers that work as social distancing tools while providing a degree of intimacy conducive to enjoying a few glasses of wine. The restaurant has partnered with Whitewater, Kansas-based Grace Hill Winery to feature its vino on the menu and in a farm winery
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outlet onsite, the first and only at a restaurant in Kansas. Grace Hill’s wines are far from the only highlight, however; there’s a delightful collection of wines from around the world featured on Wandering Vine’s diverse but not overwhelmingly long wine list, many of which can be sampled through wine flights. Each includes three two-ounce pours focused on a theme, be it contemporary rosés or globe-spanning reds. The flights remove some of the intimidation (both social and financial) from the process of trying new wines. At $16 for base wine flights and $25 for premium selections, Wandering Vines makes exploring new wines accessible, wherever your grape loyalties lie. But the unexpected star of Wandering Vine is the food, a self-assured collection of dishes that follows the journey of travelers heading west via the Santa Fe, California, and Oregon trails who have stopped at Kansas City along the way. Those regions’ influences are felt, but with a light touch, on both the Sunday brunch menu—featuring shrimp and grits with a poblano beurre blanc as well as strip-steak breakfast enchiladas—and the lunch and dinner menus. The lamb empanadas provide a memorable introduction to the concept on the latter. Thin, flaky crust enfolds tender braised lamb filling featuring prickly pear cactus, black beans, and pine nuts. A blackberry chipotle sauce adds sweetness and spice, ensuring the dish checks virtually every box.
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Balancing proves to be a strong suit of Wandering Vine’s kitchen, be it in the bacon-wrapped dates, where almonds are tucked inside the fruit for an unexpected crunch, or the craveable Oregon flatbread, which sees a thin crust topped with duck confit, meaty wild mushrooms, brie, and fig jam. Admittedly the combinations of ingredients aren’t revolutionary, but they are evocative of the state the flatbread is named for, not to mention incredibly delicious. Entrée plates include a stuffed acorn squash, KC strip, and what may soon become Kansas City’s most well-regarded pork chop, a juicy, bonein behemoth that’s glistening and a touch blush when you cut into it. A dark, rich pan sauce adds even deeper flavor. The sides are no slouches either—skillet hominy in a creamy herby sauce acts as the ideal foil to the pork, a mellow sweetness punctuated by bits of herbs and a heat that builds as you go. It’s a dish that makes you lament hominy’s absence on other menus, although it’s hard to imagine it being treated any better. By the time dessert rolls around, it almost feels like a dare—can it hold up to the rest of the meal? The answer to at least the first of those questions is yes, as the light and mellowly sweet brown-butter pear cake proves. The meal ends with a kiss goodbye—a Hershey’s Kiss, that is—in a historical nod to 1907, the year both the sweet treat launched and Caenen Castle was built. After a long, eventful history, the castle may finally be enjoying a happy ending—or at least, a cheerful chapter. wanderingvine.com
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My Essentials
IN KC
ROGER ESPINOZA SPORTING KANSAS CITY SOCCER PLAYER BY
Michael Mackie
T PHOTO BY AARON LEIMKUEHLER
he revered Honduran soccer player Roger Espinoza has had two stints playing for MLS’s Sporting Kansas City (2008-2012 and 2015-). Known for his versatility of playing both as a defensive midfielder and as a wing back, Espinoza has played in two World Cups and represented Honduras in the 2012 Summer Olympics. Now, though, he calls Kansas City home (again) and Swordfish Tom’s in the Crossroads his home away from home. (He says it’s a hidden gem—and he’s a fan of their Jolly Roger cocktail. “It’s an amazing drink,” he says with a laugh.) Even though Sporting KC’s 2020 season was capped early, we caught up with Espinoza, who is enjoying some much needed downtime in the metro after a hectic holiday season and start of his New Year. To say he’s a fan of Kansas City would be an understatement. “It’s a city that’s very livable, a place where you can concentrate on your passions, which for me is soccer,” says the athlete. “It makes it easy for me to focus on soccer while also being able to have fun in the city and get around to visiting the places that I love.”
Roger’s essentials...
EARLY A.M. GRUB: Room
39! I go there all the time on gamedays. My favorite dish there is the 39er or the breakfast burrito. The 39er I usually get with a side of French toast.
NEW KICKS FOR THE KICKER:
For shoes—the place I like the most would be The Bunker in Westport.
OWN IT, COLOGNE IT:
DRESSED TO THE NINES: I usually
It would definitely have to be Creed—and —and the scent is Santal. I usually pick it up at Halls in Crown Center.
don’t wear suits much—but for Sporting games it’s a special day for me, so I dress to impress. It adds to the excitement of gameday.
NIGHT ON THE TOWN SPLURGE:
Eddie V’s, Capital Grille—and I’ll say Gram & Dun. It’s good food, good drinks, good vibes—so you want to spend quite a bit of time there. ACCESSORIZED TO THE HILT: I like to rep a lot of local places in town—brands that are coming out. Typically, I’ll rock hats, bracelets, necklaces or T-shirts that show love to Kansas City.
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SWEETNESS: Easy one right there. That would be Andy’s Frozen Custard. Best place in the world, for sure. I get a custom concrete, small, with three toppings: Oreos, Heath Bar and M&Ms.
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