IN Kansas City February 2023

iW ROLEX

THE DATEJUST

The ultimate Rolex classic, the Datejust was the first self-winding waterproof chronometer wristwatch to display the date in a window, and continues to be the quintessential watch, reflecting the essence of timeless style.

#Perpetual

Fresh looks to refresh your favorite retreats

The freshest perspectives can be found in abundance at Seville Home during our February Sales Event.

Enjoy fabulous savings from the finest makers . . .

• 50% OFF Bernhardt Interiors Boutique

• 50% OFF Lexington Home Brands

• Up to 50% OFF specially marked “I LOVE IT” selections

• Outdoor Pre-Season Sale

Up to 50% OFF all luxury brands

• Substantial In-Stock Inventory

• Professional Designer Services included at no extra charge

Your Seville Home Designers

Carrie Dave Karen

Kimberly Becky Elizabeth

Flowers for your Valentine by

Created for you by our Design Team, Bob Trapp and The Trapp Family

HONEY, SWEETIE, DARLING

Danú | St. Patrick’s Celebration

Trending

For some reason, when it comes to designing and decorating the various homes I’ve lived in throughout the years, I’m either ahead of the trends or behind the trends. More often the latter.

This was brought to mind because of our feature on 2023 home trends that our contributor Judith Fertig very thoroughly researched, interviewing Kansas City’s leading experts in the fields of architecture, renovation, and design.

The color and finish of kitchen cabinets is a surprisingly trendy subject. The section is actually titled “Goodbye, Bright White Kitchens.”

If you’re a regular reader of my column, you might know that I recently completed the renovation of the 11th home I’ve lived in since moving to KC.

In my very first reno, I painted the cabinets dark brown. Meh. For the second house (and this was almost 30 years ago), I painted the cabinets forest green, which would be right on-trend today.

At the third house, I wanted the “bright, white kitchen” that was just beginning to be featured in the national magazines. I shopped every cabinet maker in town, and no one had white kitchen cabinets. In Kansas City the trend was glossy oak, and it was everywhere. So, I had glossy oak cabinets installed and sanded them and painted them bright white.

And just so you know, when I say, “I painted,” I mean I painted. It was one of the jobs I could do myself, and I got quite good at it.

At the next house, I installed cherry cabinets, which 20 years later I think would still look great. Unfortunately, I still drive by the house on occasion, and it’s clear that they’ve renovated the kitchen. It’s so hard for me not to knock on the door and request to see what they’ve done to my house.

Then (and this was around 2006), we moved to a contemporary house, and I painted the cabinets black. That was unheard of at the time. Now black cabinets are de rigueur.

After that, in a quick succession of homes, I painted the cabinets in various kitchens gray, then white, then black again.

Which leads to my newest home. It called out for white cabinets to go with the gorgeous Calacatta Vagli marble that serves as both countertop and backsplash. I’m well aware that white kitchens are supposed to be “over.” But (and this time I had experts paint them rather than do it myself), white cabinets I have, and I love them.

This is all to say take our home-trend advice with a grain or two of salt. It’s great to know what the experts are seeing, but make sure you love whatever you choose.

Zim

Vol. 6 | No. 2

FEBRUARY 2023

Editor In Chief Zim Loy

Digital Editor Emily Park

Art Director Alice Govert Bryan

Associate Art Director

Madeline Johnston

Contributing Writers

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

Contributing Photographers

Corie English, Jonathan Horst, Angie Jennings, Aaron Leimkuehler, Mindy Tucker

Publisher Michelle Jolles

Media Director Brittany Coale

Senior Media Consultants

Katie Delzer, Nicole Kube, Krista Markley

Business Consultant Chad Parkhurst

Newsstand Consultant

Joe J. Luca, JK Associates 816-213-4101, jkassoc .net

Editorial Questions: zloy@inkansascity.com

Advertising Questions: bcoale@inkansascity.com

Distribution Questions: mjolles@inkansascity.com

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

Subscribe Online: inkansascity.com/subscribe

photo by aaron leimkuhler

We’ll drink to that! One lucky winner is going to score this marble and antiquebrass bar cart valued at $550, plus a one-hour design consultation at your home courtesy of our friends at ULAH Interiors. Enter to win by February 28 at inkansascity.com/ the-magazine/enterto-win. Good luck!

Will you be my Valentine?

Still trying to track down that perfect gift for your Valentine? Instead of buying the first thing you see on Amazon, maybe look for something more local—and unique. Not only do gifts from local makers help the community, but we can all probably agree they feel a little more personal too. Whether it’s a pair of earrings shaped by a local jeweler, a handcrafted mug featuring your Valentine’s favorite sports team or KC attraction, or a locally hand-poured candle with an alluring scent—buying something local automatically makes a gift feel thoughtful. Need some ideas? Head to inkansascity.com for our roundup of 14 gifts from local makers to buy your Valentine.

When Andrew Longres opened Acre in Parkville last summer, his restaurant quickly became a metro foodie staple. Some nights Parkville may feel like too long of a drive, depending on where you live. If you’re craving one of Longres’s homecooked meals, but don’t want to leave your house, we have the perfect recipe to share with you: Acre Boneless Cauliflower Steak. Perfect for vegetarians and carnivores alike, this recipe might just make you feel like you’ve ordered right off the menu of Acre’s dry-rubbed steak program. Plus, it’s a perfect recipe for a date night in. Head to inkansascity.com to learn how to make Longres’s recipe for a vegetarian steak.

On cloud wine. February is full of excuses to sip on a smooth—or bubbly—glass of wine. Not only is it the month of Valentine’s date nights and romance, but National Drink Wine Day happens to fall on February 18. While you may not think of Kansas City as wine country, there’s a surprisingly large crop of wineries within an hour’s drive of Kansas City that offers a delectable selection of wines crafted from locally grown grapes. Celebrate National Drink Wine Day with a trip to a local winery. Not sure which one to go to? We created a guide to the perks of each local winery that you can view at inkansascity.com

TIKTOK @inkansascitymagazine

This Month IN KC

February

WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AND WHAT YOU NEED TO SEE

by Emily Park

FEBRUARY SPOTLIGHT

Valentine’s/Galentine’s Day in Kansas City.

Whether you’re celebrating this month’s holiday of love and romance with a special someone or toasting the friendships you’ve made with the best of friends, there’s plenty of Valentine’s and Galentine’s Day fun all over the Kansas City metro. Let this be your guide.

Galentine’s Day parties begin as early as February 5 in Overland Park at Craft Putt with Galentine’s Day Brunch and Bingo starting at 11 a.m. A reservation for a group of four includes a round of mini-golf, one charcuterie board, and bingo. From February 6-8 enjoy a Galentine’s Three-Course Fondue Meal at e Melting Pot with your gal pals for $35/person. At Powell Gardens, you can bring your group of besties to Galentine’s Day Brunch on February 11 from 10 a.m. to noon for brunch favorites and a mimosa bar overlooking the gardens. Is wine more the vibe for your squad? Join e Girls and e Grape at Vintage House in Overland Park on February 13 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for a Galentine’s Day Wine Tasting featuring a four-bottle tasting of California wines.

Looking for hands-on activities to enjoy with your Valentine or Galentine? Head to Forks N Chill on February 11 for a Valentine’s/Galentine’s Day Charcuterie Workshop where from 1-3 p.m you’ll learn how to make a heart-shaped charcuterie board. Are owers your favorite Valentine’s Day tradition? Create a bouquet of one dozen red roses during the Flowers by Roya Valentine’s Day Workshop on February 11 at 11 a.m. in Lenexa. If you’re looking for a new way to connect with your partner, Megan’s Tribe Yoga in Lee’s Summit is hosting a Valentine’s Couples Yoga Date Night on February 10 from 7-9 p.m.

Hoping for something more kid-friendly? ere are plenty of Valentine-themed cookie-decorating classes to go around. Stop by Eclairs De La Lune for a Kids Valentine Cookie Decorating on February 11 from noon to 2 p.m. in Independence; Lee’s Summit’s MY Play Café’s Ulti-Mutt Valentine’s Day Cookie Decorating session on February 10 from 6-8 p.m. (each ticket bene ts Adopt Rescue Foster); or the Culinary Center of Kansas City’s Intro To Cookie Decorating: Sweet Valentine’s Day Designs class on February 11 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For a traditional Valentine’s Day experience, look to Merriam Community Center’s Valentine Ball on February 4 from 6-8 p.m.; Powell Garden’s Valentine’s Soirée on February 10and 11 from 6-9 p.m.; Valentine’s Tea at Rye’s Plaza location on February 11 beginning at 11 a.m. with a menu created by the restaurant’s pastry chef and co-owner Megan Garrelts; or the A Starry Night for Sun ower House: 41st Annual Valentine Gala at the Overland Park Convention Center on February 11 from 6-11 p.m.

Romantic Revels Gala

February 11

InterContinental Hotel

kcshakes.org/gala

How romantic. e Heart of America Shakespeare Festival has made Shakespeare more accessible in Kansas City for over three decades. Since 1993, thousands of Kansas Citians have gathered each summer at Southmoreland Park to watch live— and free—performances of the playwright’s most famed works from a talented group of local and regional actors and actresses. How is this tradition made possible? rough community donations and funds raised at their annual gala. is year, the Romantic Revel Gala supports the development of the 2023 Heart of America Shakespeare Festival’s play: e Tempest, from June 13 to July 2. ere’s a tropical air to this year’s gala, so dress creatively. Tickets to this evening of dancing, dinner, and merriment start at $300.

Let’s Wine About Winter

February 18, 1-5 p.m.

Historic Downtown Liberty historicdowntownliberty.org/current-events

Wine and dine.

Let’s be honest. In the winter months, getting out and about seems less than ideal. But you don’t have to let that winter chill get in the way at Let’s Wine About Winter. Keep warm while sipping wine on your way through a shopping spree in historic downtown Liberty. Your $30-$40 ticket will include a commemorative tasting glass you can use to sample 25plus wines throughout Liberty’s downtown area. And don’t worry, there will be plenty of opportunities to get some food in your tummy to soak up all that wine. Still, we’d recommend selecting a designated driver or calling a ride-sharing service to take you home safely.

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

How to Summon a Hosting Frame of Mind

GREAT PARTY HOSTS POSSESS QUALITIES OF SELFLESSNESS AND FEARLESSNESS. AND IT HELPS TO HAVE A SUPPLY OF GLUTEN-FREE FLOUR, AS WELL Email

by Merrily Jackson

My St. Louis sister called me a while back, in a snit. She was in the throes of hosting a dinner party, occasioned by a beloved girlfriend’s significant birthday. Sissy had presented her friend with a handmade certificate, redeemable for dinner for 12 at Sissy’s house, on a mutually agreed-upon evening, the guests to be of the birthday girl’s choosing. Isn’t that a darling idea? Sissy gives you leave to steal it.

But back to the snit. The dinner had

photo by Corie English

Panache Truffle Cake

A dessert good enough to distract warring dinner guests, and certainly quite perfect for a Valentine’s Day gathering.

From Beyond Parsley, legendary cookbook of the Junior League of Kansas City, Mo. Serves 10

CAKE:

8 ounces semi-sweet pure chocolate

1 cup sugar

1 cup unsalted but ter

½ cup brewed coffee

4 eggs

In a double boiler or microwave, melt chocolate, sugar and butter; let mixture cool. Add coffee and beat in eggs. Butter and line with foil an eight-inch springform pan. Cool to room temperature and refrigerate overnight. Remove from pan.

WHIPPED CREAM:

8 cup heavy cream

¼ cup confectioners’ sugar

¼ teaspoon vanilla

Whip cream with sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Pile whipping cream on top of cake. Decorate with fresh strawberries or shaved chocolate. Keep refrigerated. Cake can be made five to six days ahead or frozen; add whipped cream when ready to serve.

been months in the planning; every detail engineered to reflect the honoree’s favorite flowers, colors, and especially her favorite foods. The evening before the party, as she was making the boeuf bourguignon to be served the next night, Sissy got a text from a guest. “Hey, it’s Debbie,” it said. “Remember I’m gluten-free.”

Sissy barely knew Debbie, so there was no “remembering” about her gluten-freeness. “She’s known for a month about this dinner and she lets me know the night before that she’s gluten-free? Who does that?” fumed Sissy.” Put that in your column.” And so I am, because the story has a good ending

SISSY GETS OVER HER BOEUF

After the initial hissy fit, Sissy did what good hosts do. She gritted her teeth and took care of business. The boeuf bourguignon recipe called for three tablespoons of all-purpose flour. She got gluten-free flour and made a separate little batch for the ill-mannered Debbie. She bought gluten-free crackers for the appetizer and an individual gluten-free dessert.

“In the middle of my venting about G-free Debbie, I remembered that I was doing the dinner as an act of love for my friend, who would give you the shirt off her back,” says Sissy. “And I knew it would mean a lot to her that everyone had a great dinner, including Debbie. After that, I didn’t mind going to any extra trouble.”

All good parties are an act of love, don’t you think? And also, an act of courage, a quality more typically associated with, say, the French resistance than with entertaining, and yet you must admit good party hosts possess a kind of fearlessness: So what if my kitchen is tiny/my furniture outdated/my dog sheds everywhere/ people won’t know each other? So what?

Or in Sissy’s case, she was giving her friend a love bomb; so what if she didn’t know some of her dinner guests. The party turned out to be a real humdinger, and a gift her friend will never forget. Email me for Sissy’s boeuf bourguignon recipe and any others mentioned herein.

AN ECLECTIC GUEST LIST MAKES FOR NOTEWORTHY GATHERINGS

When I look at some of the groups I put together in my early days of party-hosting, I marvel at my own bravery, or maybe it was stupidity. I had a dinner party once to which I’d invited several couples who’d never met each other. One woman in particular was an outspoken liberal, one gentleman an equally vocal conservative.

I’d done all the tactical hostess things I always recommend: The hooch was flowing, the lighting low, Billie Holiday was playing in the background. During cocktails,

Entertaining IN KC

everyone got on like a house on re. en we sat down to dinner (a rst course of endive, pear, and Roquefort salad followed by spaghetti and meatballs for a crowd) and conversation turned to politics. Suddenly people were screaming at each other. It got ugly. e liberal and the conservative went after each other with hammer and tongs. I changed the topic several times, and thought I had them separated but, like bull elks during rut, they wheeled and charged each other again and again.

It took my really spectacular dessert (Panache Tru e Cake, recipe on page 20) to get them o politics, but the party never got its groove back. For a time, I was horri ed about it, but you know what? People still talk about that party, and wouldn’t you rather something happened that people will talk about later?

It’s always worth the risk to invite people who don’t know each other. Your parties can become the catalyst for great friendships, and there’s nothing more meaningful than that.

AND SPEAKING OF FEARLESS

My friends Dana and Doug Nelson had a seated dinner party a num-

ber of years ago at their home in Mission Hills. I think they’d invited ten guests. At the end of the cocktail hour Dana realized she had neglected to re up the oven, and her main course, stu ed chicken breasts with a basil pesto sauce, was sitting in the oven, raw.

A lesser hostess might have panicked, but Dana had a good laugh about it in the kitchen, then strolled gamely into the crowd “I forgot to turn on the oven, so dinner won’t be ready for probably 90 more minutes,” she announced, a merry glint in her eye. “I hope you don’t mind, but we’re all just going to have to have another drink.”

Nobody minded in the least. She was so relaxed about it, and that was contagious. And besides, she had invited an avidly likable group; some of us had never met and we were having fun getting to know each other. ere were crackers and cheese and cocktails, and dinner eventually. What more could we want? I try to channel Dana’s insouciance whenever I am in the midst of any party mishap.

As long as I am sending out recipes, I have an outstanding one for stu ed chicken breasts that I will send you if you email me. It’s not Dana’s recipe (she doesn’t have it anymore) but it’s still a great party dish.

Our Man IN KC

by Damian Lair

dlair@inkansascity.com

: @damianlair #OurManINKC

Grand Prize

For a recent, somewhat lazy Saturday outing, I met up with a couple of friends at the just-opened and relocated District Biskuits on Armour Road in North Kansas City. Post-holiday diet? Must postpone.

District Biskuits was humbly born as a pop-up in 2017 at Lut ’s Fried Fish. Later, it moved to a permanent spot at the Adams Mark Hotel, near the Chiefs and Royals stadium complex. e hotel, however, became a casualty of the Covid pandemic. But as they say, one door closes. . .

Hakim Khalifah, aka chef Guroux, founder of District Biskuits, is a Kansas City native who trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Atlanta. He returned to KC with the inspiration to create a fast-casual space that could celebrate food, drink, and each other. Or, as Guroux puts it—a food experience that is “crafted for the culture.”

My time there felt very much like being inside an NYC silver chromium diner where there’s both a sense of anonymity but also a constant churn of diverse, seemingly familiar faces at the counter. I not only crossed paths with my friend Amber Botros (we roughly plotted out my increased facial regimen goals for 2023), but also local developer Dawn Lynne, known as Ilan Salzberg, who happens to be primarily responsible for this charming new standalone location. Despite the recent opening, word of the new spot seemed to have traveled quickly. Most

seats were occupied, and there was a steady line of take-out customers. Because I had amenable friends in tow, I made everyone order something di erent from this biscuit-based menu. For research. I had the Royal—a fried chicken let with fried egg, American cheese, bacon, and chives, sandwiched between a split biscuit. So, so good. e biscuits were perfectly imperfect, layered with akiness, but with just the right amount of heft and density to hold up as the bookends of a substantial sandwich.

Via my friends, I was also able to try the Crown—two smash burger beef patties, American cheese, grilled onions, pickles, and special sauce—but of course, with biscuits. Have you ever had a biscuit-based burger? I hadn’t. But now it’s all I can think about. Finally, the Charlie Hustle—a Nashville hot fried-chicken let with creamy coleslaw, pick-

Damian Lair at Prize in the West Bottoms.

les, and hot honey. Though all were excellent, this was probably my favorite, and what I really wanted to order for myself in the first place. But, somehow since I was suited up in an outfit of all white, I determined that’d be a huge mistake. Not exactly drippy hot sauce friendly.

With warmer weather in sight, District Biskuits is also pulling together a nice outdoor patio space that will undoubtedly be poppin’ as soon as spring hits. And if you want to make it a boozy brunch, well, they’ve got brews and the fixings for that, too. Plus, with all the action happening in North Kansas City, you could drop in for breakfast and spend the whole day walking from spot to spot. I’ve done it, but not today.

OVERHEARD

“He’s lost his mind. Also his hair.”

a private appointment with Steve. He let me wander at my own pace for hours, creating piles of things as I went. I found oak benches and frames, wooden and marble bowls, candlestick holders, clay pottery, trays, baskets, sculptural pieces, mirrors, lamps, all with the refined but relaxed European austerity I was looking for. When finished, we filled the freight elevator and loaded my SUV to the ceiling. I had everything I needed—and beyond. Sadly, with that project now fulfilled, and my own home in a happy state of completion, I found myself on this most recent Prize trip yearning for a new creative project. Somehow, I imagine it will find me sooner than I’d prefer.

OVERHEARD

Well-fed, we were off to Prize Home + Garden. Currently located on the 4th floor of the Bottoms Up Antique Market, this truly special shop has moved around town a few times, having been both on the Plaza and most recently on Southwest Boulevard. To call it a “shop,” though, feels like an understatement. It encompasses the entire floor of a massive warehouse building occupying most of a city block. Despite its vastness, no space is spared. For a proper assessment, I would budget one to two hours.

Far more impressive than the sheer quantity of products is the— and I loathe this word— curation of its contents. The owner, Steve Rogers , has masterfully pulled together a menagerie of beautiful, foreign, found treasures. Steve travels to Europe multiple times per year, particularly France, to fill cargo container after container with furnishings you simply cannot find here—in Kansas City or the U.S. His wares are so sought after—with multiple clients whose names you’d easily recognize—that his space is seldom open to the public. Dealers have pieces reserved for clients before they’ve even made it off the ship. So, when I saw on Prize’s Instagram page that they’d be open on Saturday, I of course marked my calendar.

What will you find at Prize, you may be wondering? Well, “shabby-chic,” this is not. Nor is it some icky, overly Frenched, Americanized idea of “French country.” If you’re pining for something in sanded-down turquoise or cornflower blue, you should look elsewhere. In fact, if you want color at all, this is not your place. It’s a sophisticated mix of worn woods, refined leathers, honed marble, and patinaed metal. Nothing is new. There is a healthy mix of French contemporary, Dutch brutalist, Danish modern—finds from Belgium, Spain, and Italy. Amongst the cavernous collection, you may even discover some vintage designer pieces from the likes of Lignet Roset, Roche Bobois, or Le Corbusier.

I became acquainted with Prize this past autumn when I was overseeing a renovation of my parents’ residence in Vail. With most furniture already purchased, I was looking for odds and ends that would be the perfect beige-y icing on this mountainside Bavarian-modern retreat. Chalet chic. So, a day before heading out to the mountains, I booked

Often, when an antique store has this much product, it can feel like a giant hodgepodge of old, not particularly interesting, stuff that’s there just to fill the space. What I find astounding is that, despite the vast inventory, Steve has managed to pull it all together with an unwavering, discerning, singular point of view. You could pluck any two of the thousands of items from the store, sit them next to each other at home, and they would complement each other perfectly. Which is a true feat. Prize is indeed a prized collection.

ZERO ZERO UPDATE

BACK IN SEPTEMBER, I wrote about the grand opening of Zero Zero, the precious handmade pasta shop on the Westside. The update? They’re now offering after-hours pasta-making classes inside the shop. I just attended one with friend (and new Leawood Chamber of Commerce CEO) Stephanie Meyer, and we had a total blast. If learning how to make fresh pasta is on your 2023 bingo card—I highly encourage you to check it out!

ADORNED

THERE’S NEVER REALLY a bad time for a museum visit. Somehow, though, I find the dead of winter to be my personal favorite. After all, what better place to spend an afternoon than a comfortably toasty gallery, surrounded by articles of interest and/or beauty?

Beauty was particularly on the agenda as I dropped in to the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, located on the Johnson County Community College campus. On this snow flurry-filled day, I was visiting to see Adorned, an exhibition exploring what it means to be one’s true self through the act of adornment. The collection, comprised of pieces

HOT GOSSIP:

Who took her shoes off at a party (gasp) only to reveal mismatched socks (double gasp)?

“I’m currently dealing with the realization that I must either pack boring travel outfits or put my life in real jeopardy. Which is not my sweet spot.”

by more than 70 artists, covers a lot of territory in terms of the many forms this very personal and intimate act can take. Often influenced by one’s culture, there are an array of examples spanning from an elaborate compilation of 50 Native American bolo ties to gold grills in a piece by Hank Willis Thomas. The exhibition features a significant number of artworks on loan from Christy and Bill Gautreaux’s impressive collection. Throughout, there are also several fashion vignette installations, envisioned by Boi Boy, incorporating garments belonging to the fashion collection at JCCC.

A few favorites pieces: the massive Ebony Patterson beaded and extensively embellished tapestry, titled …Still…for those who bear/bare witness; a mind-blowing, seemingly simple bonnet by Angela Ellsworth, Seer Bonnet XXVIII (Rhoda), constructed with 19,136 unassuming pearl corsage pins; and a mixed-media collage by Vanessa German, Venus as an Around Away Girl, formed around a cover of The New York Times Magazine Finally, I’m transfixed by any and every Nick Cave artwork, and fortunately, there were two of his iconic Soundsuits (the very definition of adornment), as well as a digital video piece. To say that I cannot wait to see our new Nick Cave-adorned airport entry ceiling would be a colossal understatement. The March opening cannot come soon enough!

HOT GOSSIP:

Who was so enamored by the hot, house-party bartender that they left a $100 tip?

So, KC—where do you want to go? XO

Venus as an Around Away Girl, a mixed-media assemblage by Vanessa German.

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Jane Booth

ABSTRACT ARTIST ANSWERS FOUR QUESTIONS

by Judith Fertig

Jennings

One of the first things newcomers notice when they debark at the Kansas City airport is the big sky. It suggests a life of possibilities and infinite change.

Such has been the case for abstract artist Jane Booth, who watches the sky and the prairie landscape and paints monumental canvases that capture the ever-changing spirit of the place where we are lucky enough to live.

Years ago, Booth gave up a corporate career, focused on her art, and eventually moved to a ranch in Spring Hill, Kansas. Says Booth, “Wide-open spaces are essential for me to find peace and ease as a human being. The studio sits high enough on a ridge to see storms building from miles away.”

Booth has other influences, too. “While the natural world is the

ground of my work, I also draw from literature, poetry, music, and other’s art on view in galleries and art museums,” she says. “Right now, I’m studying mythology and the ecstatic poetry of the Kabir, Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past (in English) and Joan Miro’s autobiography.”

Jane Booth’s work is featured in galleries in Kansas City and across the country.

To learn more about Jane Booth, visit janebooth.com

INKC: How does the open prairie around your ranch help inform/ inspire your work?

Booth: My attention focuses on the wind and rain, sunlight and fog, grasses and forbs, raptors and stars. Yesterday as I was walking down the hill, I heard the soft keening of migrating snow geese high over -

photo by Angie

Arts & Culture IN KC

head. The open, gray skies dotted with their tiny, organized forms were achingly beautiful, piercing my being. These experiences are revealed in my work.

INKC: How does a girl who once studied French at the Sorbonne maintain that je ne sais quoi?

Booth: My love of France comes from my mother, who lived in Paris as a young woman, and infused our family’s lives with all things French. Boeuf bourguignon is the centerpiece on Christmas Eve, and Le Fou Frog is our favorite for special occasions.

I love the common French greeting “Je suis enchante de faire votre connaissance” (I’m delighted to make your acquaintance). Through their language, beauty and elegance are woven into their everyday lives. As to swearing in French, it’s entirely unsatisfying for its lack of consonants.

gestures are responses to sensory and intellectual experiences.

INKC: How has your artistic career evolved? Where do you want to be?

Booth: Painting came as a surprise years after graduating from college where I’d focused mostly on ceramics and drawing. I’d stayed alive by working as a welder, which morphed into a corporate career, and kept my artwork alive through life-drawing classes.

Years later while on sabbatical, I stumbled into Philomene Bennett’s studio classes in the West Bottoms. I began to work incessantly and with conviction, and in a leap of faith, I gave notice at my paying job, and began to paint wherever I could find the space to roll out large canvases—sometimes the living room floor, a basketball court, a sleeping porch, eventually settling into a studio set up in a large, unused bedroom.

Arts & Culture IN KC

by Judith Fertig

FLOOD

AS THE THEATRE-IN-RESIDENCE for UMKC, KCRep features works by a variety of playwrights, exploring diverse viewpoints. From January 31 through February 19, Flood by playwright Mashuq Mushtaq Deen becomes the first OriginKC: World Premiere of 2023.

The storyline is simple yet enigmatic. Edith, who lives on the 19th floor of an apartment building, misses her husband who is caught up with a big project, his masterpiece. She wishes her kids would call more, but they don’t. She’s lonely. And, outside, the waters are rising. . .

What to make of that?

“I am interested in the heroic journeys of the heart,” says Deen. He was born of traditional Muslim parents who came here from India. Born a female yet struggling with his identity, Deen transitioned to become a man, the storyline of Draw the Circle, his metaphorical autobiography performed in the New York City area and reviewed by the New York Times

A BRUSH WITH CHINESE CALLIGRAPHY

ON SATURDAY, February 4, the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art is offering a unique class for those 16 and older. From 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with an hour break for lunch, students will learn the ancient art of Chinese calligraphy.

With a special brush and dark ink, learned artisans of long ago created both visual art and literary meaning. Unlike our alphabet, in which a letter also symbolizes a sound, Chinese characters can be an amalgam of forms and sounds and concepts. The meaning of the character can also change in relation to other characters. Students will use this knowledge to decode some of the works in the Nelson’s collection.

They will also get to practice their brushstrokes with ink, led by expert Wanda Hsu. Materials are included, but lunch is not. For tickets and information, visit nelson-atkins.org

Arts & Culture IN KC

by Judith Fertig

RUTH REINHARDT CONDUCTS SIBELIUS FOR THE KC SYMPHONY

NOT TOO LONG AGO, female conductors were a rarity. And yet, in the space of a calendar year, Kansas City will have seen two (Marin Alsop last October).

Ruth Reinhardt, a young conductor from Germany with a master’s degree in that discipline from The Juilliard School, makes her Kansas City Symphony debut from February 10 to 12 with “programmatic imagination,” something she is known for. She’ll also introduce us to a work by little-known Polish composer and violinist Grażyna Bacewicz.

There’s a little something for everyone.

Grażyna Bacewicz’s spirited Overture gives us a melodic, violin-forward flourish, first bloomed in World War II Poland.

Billy Childs, a four-time Grammy Award winner, offers a classical/pop/jazz saxophone concert, co-commissioned by the KC Symphony.

And finally, Jan Sibelius takes us to Finland and the bracing Nordic landscape with Symphony No. 5. Don’t miss the concluding six chords. Visit kcsymphony.org for more information and tickets.

KANSAS CITY BALLET PRESENTS: CINDERELLA

FROM ANCIENT CHINA, to the Brothers Grimm to Walt Disney, Cinderella is one of the most long-lived and popular fairy tales, with over 600 variants around the world.

Devon Carney’s world-premiere choreography for the ballet Cinderella more than lives up to the legacy. By turns artful, lyrical, and bumptious—those stepsisters!—the ballet follows Sergei Proko ev’s 1945 score, telling the tale of the lonely girl whose dreams come true, with a little help from a fairy godmother, a pumpkin that turned into a carriage, a wicked stepmother, and a handsome prince. Virtue rewarded.

But was the slipper really glass, or as some claim, a mistaken translation of the French word for fur? Today’s Cinderella, tromping around here in February, would opt for comfort.

Performances run from February 17 through 26. For ticket and performance information, visit kcballet.org.

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by Susan Cannon photos by Stuart Heidmann

Asiatica’s Print Project

A NEW LINE OF HOUSE-MADE PRINTS SPICES UP AN ALREADY UNIQUE OFFERING

Asiatica in Westwood is known for making exquisite one-of-a-kind clothing from vintage Japanese kimono textiles that owner Elizabeth Wilson has collected for over four decades during her yearly sourcing trips to Japan. But with the inability to travel during the pandemic, she and Asiatica’s designer, Kate McConnell, decided to create their own silk print designs to complement the existing inventory of Japanese fabrics used in the clothing collections.

“The Asiatica print project was essentially born out of necessity,” says McConnell. “With such an amazing Japanese textile archive existing in our Rainbow Boulevard shop and design studio, Elizabeth and I decided to pick a group of standout patterns and translate them into our own prints, with the help of freelance designer Michaela Knittel.”

Knittel, a RISD grad, serves often as Asiatica’s website model, but is also a clothing designer in her own right, with a small womenswear label, Cvet Préri, that offers made-to-order pieces. “I was thrilled to help Asiatica develop their own prints using their incredible fabrics,” Knittel says. “Their extensive collection of textiles is gorgeous, often very old and made by hand with traditional techniques. Elizabeth has a discerning eye for unusual and specialty prints. Some kimonos and samplers are unable to be cut and made into new clothing,” Knittel explains. “So they wanted to explore recreating the patterns to be printed digitally.”

Knittel started the process by documenting the fabrics flat with a camera. She created some prints by digitally altering the flat images, though many prints were recreated entirely by her hand illustrating. Often, the traditional samplers would only be about a foot wide, which meant the print’s repeat was defined vertically but not horizontally. “Working off of the archival prints added compelling layers to the process, and trying to encapsulate the spirit of hand-dyed, handpainted, time-aged prints was an interesting challenge that I hope we achieved,” she says.

The initial collection of Asiatica’s house-made prints consists of six new prints translated to dresses, shirts, tanks, camisoles, and pants. It will be fun to see where Kansas City’s preeminent design house takes this special project in the future. asiaticakc.com

Madison Shirt

Ginza Dress Angle Dress

Scoop Tank and PJ Pant

Be Inspired.

We believe your home should be a space that inspires you on a daily basis. Don't settle for ordinary – Come Home to Nest.

www.nestkc.com

BY Susan Cannon

V-Day Prezzies

HAVE A TEEN IN THE HOUSE? FILL THEIR PREEN TIME WITH A LITTLE EXTRA LOVE

The philosophy of Hailey Bieber’s new skincare line, Rhode, is based on simplicity, a ordability, authenticity, and quality. For hydrated, dewy skin, go for Peptide Glazing Fluid, $29. Available on rhodeskin.com

the

Deep

Have smooth hair one day, beach waves the next. Work the waves with the High Tide Deep Waver $145, by Amica. Available at Lumine Salon (Waldo).

A little dab’ll do ‘em. Mind and Body Wash by Bathing Culture is highly concentrated with organic skin super heroes aloe, shea, and guar, smelling as earthy and fresh as the redwoods of Northern Cali. 8 oz., $17, or 16 oz., $30. Available at Welwythn (Prairie Village Shops).

with shea, and guar, smelling redwoods Northern Cali. 8 oz.,

R+Co., $31. Available at Blue Mercury (Town

Get a deliberately undone look with Mannequin Styling Paste, which keeps hair moisture locked in with aloe-leaf extract and conditioned with ginger-root extract, by R+Co., $31. Available Blue Mercury (Town Center Plaza).

For a soft ush of color infused with hydrating hyaluronic acid, mushroom extracts, and vegan collagen, one only needs a drop of Bionic Blush, $22, by Milk Makeup. Available at all Sephora locations.

They’ll want the cult-fave lip balm that comes in a pack of three. Here in coconut, mango, and rose, or choose other combos. Balm Dotcom Trio, $30, by Glossier. Available on glossier.com

Always stay true blue. Once Upon a Blue Luna nail polish $10.50, by Ella+Mila. Available at all Target locations.

A good way to help your kids stress less over their breakouts is with sheer blemish patches to be worn all day. Applying makeup over them works well. Peace Out Acne Day Healing Dots, $19 (pack of 20). Available at all Sephora locations.

Waver, $145, by Amica.

BY Susan Cannon

Reset, Reexamine, Rejuvenate

GROW GRIT, GRATITUDE AND COMPASSION

TIME TO RESET

When the body needs revitalization, turn to Kroma Wellness for its Lifestyle Reset Programs (one-day or ve-day), which include a delicious variety of functional and avorful instant superfoods and beverages. You’ll nd bone and veggie broths, elixirs, superfood meals and snacks, adaptogen super lattes, plant-based meal smoothie blends, tea, and supplements. e Kroma 1-Day Reset includes ten packet servings labeled in numerical order to ensure you are fueled and nourished, $95. You can upgrade to the Kroma 1-Day VIP Reset that includes a Kroma frother and tumbler, and OMG Cookie Butter lled with almond, coconut, goji, hemp, powerful antioxidants, healthy omega fats, hearty plant protein, and just the right amount of sweet to help you feel satis ed and energized, $155. Individual daily superfood essentials are also o ered. Check out kromawellness.com.

GAIN GROUNDED PERSPECTIVES

Husband and wife team

Chelsey Luger and osh

Collins share intimate stories from their life journeys growing up in tribal communities, from the Indigenous tradition of staying active and spiritually centered through running and dance to the universal Indigenous emphasis on a light- lled, minimalist home to create sacred space. e

Seven Circles describes the model of interconnectedness

between food, movement, sleep, ceremony, sacred space, land, and community, which keep all aspects of our lives in balance, functioning in harmony with one another. The Seven Circles, $30. Find it at Hand and Land (Luzier Building, Midtown).

According to author and psychologist Rick Hanson, it’s vital to grow our selfworth, patience, kindness, and joy. ese make you resilient: the foundation of lasting well-being in the changing world of ours. His approach is grounded in the science of positive neuroplasticity, showing us how to overcome the brain’s negativity bias, release painful thoughts and feelings, and replace them with selfcompassion, hope, and inner peace. Resilient, (paperback) $16. Available at Rainy Day Books (Fairway Shops).

STRETCH AND DESTRESS

Whether you want to decrease muscle and joint pain, improve your sports performance, increase your range of motion and exibility, or simply just experience a great stretch to feel loosened up and rejuvenated, there are now three StretchLab locations in the Kansas City metro area, with a fourth coming soon. Choose a professional assisted one-on-one or group session to gain the life-changing bene ts by trained exologists who will aid in placing the missing piece to your tness puzzle. Learn more at stretchlab.com Locations include Fairway, Leawood, Overland Park, and soon, Downtown KC.

by Emily Park

The Heart and Hormones

ADVENTHEALTH’S MICHELLE DEW ON HOW HORMONES IMPACT CARDIOVASCULAR WELLNESS

weight changes, body shape changes, increasing blood pressure, and less desirable cholesterol profiles, which are all known to be related to hormonal changes to some degree.

“With menopause, we see increases in blood pressure and cholesterol,” Dew says. “These have been directly implicated in higher rates of heart disease. About ten years after menopause, a woman’s risk of heart attack approaches that of a man’s risk.”

Dew says patients who experience any of those symptoms should talk to their doctor.

Estrogen and progesterone are two of the most important hormones affecting women. From defining physical characteristics to carrying pregnancies and strengthening bones, these hormones have major impacts on us throughout our lives.

But estrogen and progesterone can also contribute to some not-sogreat symptoms that might coincide with serious health complications such as heart disease, says Michelle Dew, MD, a cardiologist with AdventHealth Medical Group Cardiology & Cardiovascular Surgery.

“While these hormones are not considered, currently, to have a direct effect on women’s cardiac health at younger ages, we know that there can be fluctuations in how we feel with our monthly cycles, sometimes manifesting with palpitations, dizziness, and swelling,” Dew says. “These symptoms can be related to the normal hormonal swings that a woman will experience monthly and not represent cardiac issues. But it is well known that women experience increased rates of hypertension and worsening cholesterol profiles after menopause, which is a significant hormonal shift for our bodies.”

Research suggests changes in heart muscle function after menopause may be related to hormonal changes, Dew adds.

HEART DISEASE AND HORMONES ACROSS ALL AGES

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide in women of all races. This is due to factors such as diabetes, smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, family history of premature heart disease, poor diet, and lack of exercise. Hormones have both a direct and an indirect impact on heart health, causing both symptoms and changes in heart muscle cells in different stages of life.

Puberty: Hormones affect the development of physical and mental changes and can contribute to palpitations, dizziness, fainting, and bloating.

Pregnancy: Hormones that help maintain pregnancy can contribute to palpitations, swelling, and fainting.

Menopause: It’s common for women to experience palpitations,

“I can’t tell you how many women I have seen as patients with various complaints who never had anyone ask them if their symptoms had any relationship to their periods,” she adds. “If a woman has irregular heartbeats, swelling in the legs, or other new things in the body, she should keep a record of when the symptoms occur. Sometimes, the symptoms can be related to her cycle and she should talk to her medical provider about this. For many patients, we can use different medications or supplements on an as-needed basis with very good effect.”

There are other conditions—Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection and Stress Cardiomyopathy, or ‘Broken Heart Syndrome’—that disproportionately affect women, and research into the potential correlation with hormones is ongoing.

SUPPORTING WOMEN’S CARDIAC HEALTH

From screenings to heart-health education and treatment for heart disease, AdventHealth offers many resources for cardiovascular health. The HEARTaware risk assessment is a brief survey that can help identify the risk of heart disease and stroke. This free assessment, as well as information about a set of low-cost screenings, can be found at heartcarekc.com.

In the community, AdventHealth partners with the American Heart Association to increase access to resources and education about heart health. AdventHealth is the Presenting Medical Sponsor for the American Heart Association Go Red for Women initiative in Kansas City, and for the 2023 luncheon this spring, Dew will serve as the medical cochair alongside fellow AdventHealth cardiologist Heath Wilt, MD, FACC.

“As a supporter of the Go Red for Women movement, we work alongside the American Heart Association to educate women on the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and maximizing heart health,” Dew says. “We need to change the perception women have about heart disease and stroke. Making a healthful difference in a woman’s life can have ripple effects. If she is the primary caregiver for her family, she can help raise awareness and improve health for the whole family.”

Cardiologist Michelle Dew, MD, FACC

by Patricia O’Dell

The Old Mango is Fresh and Sweet

NEW SHOP IN DOWNTOWN OVERLAND PARK IS A MUSTSEE

I’ve been writing about home decoration and design in Kansas City for more than 15 years. (I know, I had to count it out on my ngers a few times myself.) I have longtime favorite shops, but recently, I was delighted to run across a new kid on the block in downtown Overland Park.

Courtney Caldwell and her husband, Trevor, opened e Old Mango, a home décor and design studio last March. Set inside a trim brick building, the shop’s products echo the same sense of restraint,

while o ering interesting textures, colors, and functions.

But Courtney, who had been a nurse for 24 years when she went back to design school, is doing more than selling goods. She’s creating community. Regular classes include activities that expand attendees’ creativity. Recent o erings included a crochet workshop, a class on painting your pet, and a clay mugs and cookie-making workshop. Why not show yourself a little love, drop by and nd something to treat yourself? theoldmango.com

Vintage metal table, $575.

Metal baker’s rack, $899.99.

Glazed stoneware mini baker, $14.

Jute gold twine on spool with scissors, $18.99.

Vintage brick mold

Antique brass gooseneck table lamp, $124.

rack, $899.99.

Floral kantha quilted throw, $69.99.

LIT

CLAIRVAUXANT GIFTING FOR YOURSELF OR OTHERS

THERE ARE LOTS of beautiful reasons to shop Clairvaux. ( e combo of Kule sweaters, sparkly dresses, and beaded bags being a few.) But we’re talking about dressing our home and not ourselves here. ese charming candles are sure to be a conversation starter whether you’re entertaining a crowd or hanging out plus one. shopclairvaux.com

Clockwise from top: Mother’s Little Helper set of two (Valium and Xanax), $105; Dolly Would candle, $120; Boom box candle, $130; Peace candle, $40.

A KITCHEN RICH IN STYLE.

We've been spicing up KC homes with bold fixtures since 1975. No one offers you tastier in-stock options

OVERLAND PARK

10530 Marty St. 913.642.1500

Mon-Fri 9 to 6 | Sat 10 to 5

Item #610142

I’m Blushing

by Patricia O’Dell

You may shy away from rosy hues as they can be a bit cloying, but entertaining can bene t from a bit of blush, such as re ected in these items from Jorjy in Brookside. Why not toast your sweetheart or your bestie with pink champagne coupes that you’re sure to pull out again and again? (Everyday can be a celebration, after all.) A brass ice bucket will add a warm glow to your bar and doesn’t need to wait for a celebration.

Prefer to mix it up? A luminescent double old fashioned is the perfect glass for a negroni by the re, or get right to the point with a high-end tequila that you can sip—or shoot—from a frosty shot glass.

It is important to provide a bit of sustenance to ensure your party remains at the table and not under the table. Purchasing a large number of small plates means you can accommodate a crowd big or small.

Invited rather than inviting? Slip a great bottle of pink bubbles in a jaunty striped bag that your host or hostess can use again.

WHILE IT MIGHT NOT BE ORIGINAL TO “THINK PINK” IN FEBRUARY, IT CAN BE FUN

Clockwise from top: Blush pink champagne coupes, $16 each; Midcentury double old-fashioned glass, $15; Winsford antique-brass ice bucket, $148; Cotton striped wine bags, $9 each; Rose Marshmallow Paci ca bread plate, $11. All available at Jorjy (Brookside), shopjorjy.com

BE MINE, VALENTINE

A GIFT FOR THE HOME MAY BE BETTER THAN CANDY

I’VE BEEN A BIG LOVER of Valentine’s Day from the very beginning. With arts and crafts, candy and love, and a big dose of red, who can argue with that? Whether you’re buying for someone else or yourself—oh, yes, self-love should be celebrated, too— there are gifts high to low that glow with goodness for your home.

Whether you’re showing your love for Kansas City as you lift a glass, cuddled up to watch a game or a movie, or investing in a new painting for your pad, there’s lots of fun to be had on February 14th. A little extra treat to make your heart pitter pat? Rich Bowman has created a nice collection of small paintings that make his work very approachable for tiny spaces or tighter budgets. Don’t forget to seal these with a kiss. ( at is the fun of it after all.)

Happy Habitat arch pattern red throw, $185, available at happyhabitat.com

KC pint glass, $13.75, available at A Store Named Stu (Brookside).

Given to Red by Rich Bowman, $1,300, available at Blue Gallery (Crossroads).

2023: THE YEAR YOU MAKE YOUR DREAM HOME A REALITY

By Katy Schamberger

We’ve all heard he adage, “New year, new you!” It’s true—a new year provides the invigorating promise of possibility and a clean slate. As a result, it’s not uncommon for people to reexamine their homes with a fresh eye, looking for opportunities to rejuvenate the space where they spend the most time. And if it’s truly a transformation you seek, there’s no better resource than Karin Ross, owner, Karin Ross Designs.

Ross brings an innate understanding of home interiors to each project and also prioritizes the artistic vision, both how a space looks and how it functions, which she creates using input and inspiration from each client. Imagine the home interior photo spreads that capture your eye in magazines or online. That’s what Ross and her team create every day.

If you’re considering a new year-inspired home refresh, the first task is to schedule a consultation with Ross. Given the importance of that consultation and the fact that it sets the tone for the transformation ahead, Ross shared some tips to help prospective clients prepare for that meeting and the resulting process.

3 WAYS TO PREP FOR YOUR REMODELING CONSULTATION

1IDENTIFY AND UNDERSTAND YOUR VISION. It can seem daunting to identify exactly how you want your dream kitchen to look and be used. Yet this can actually be the most exciting part of the process. You don’t have to worry about the “how;” instead, you’re simply focused on the “what.” What colors, materials, patterns, textures and sensations do you love? What do you want to feel every day when you step into the space?

Before your consultation, collect as much inspiration as you can, whether it’s magazine or catalog clippings, a chock-full Pinterest board, color and fabric swatches, even mementos or treasured items that represent the essence you seek to evoke. Ross has frequently worked with clients who carry a precious memory of a place or an experience during their travels that often inspires the space they want to create at home.

2BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR BUDGET. Here’s one thing to know about how Ross and her team approach each client project. The more parameters you can offer—most importantly, your budget—the more imaginative she can be.

“We’re a design-driven company, so we need to know the scope and budget in order to shape our creativity,” Ross says. “And when you work with us, you don’t need to worry about any sort of negotiations or price haggling. Instead, you can be

confident that you won’t be manipulated or overcharged and will see every bit of your investment maximized while we create your dream home.”

3EMBRACE COLLABORATION. This is the beauty of hiring a designer as knowledgeable and experienced as Ross. Once she understands your vision, your perspective, and your budget, she’ll take the lead on creating the concept and bringing it to life. If you’ve previously worked with a traditional general contractor, you may be used to taking more of a leadership role, offering guidance and input at multiple points throughout the project.

Instead, Ross creates a design-build scope so that you don’t have to fret over or track the details. Think of Ross as a copilot— and don’t hesitate to let her fly!

“As your copilot, I may know a better route, a shortcut, or how to avoid turbulence,” she says.

And that means you can relax, put your feet up and enjoy the ride!

Michael Kathrens IN CONVERSATION WITH

words by Cindy Hoedel photo by Corie English

One of the top experts on America’s grandest European Revival-style houses—from the Elms in Newport to Cheekwood in Nashville to Andrew Carnegie’s Fifth Avenue mansion (now Neue Galerie New York)—was raised in Roeland Park. Independent scholar Michael C. Kathrens attended Rockhurst High School and University of Missouri-Kansas City. He has always loved research, but academia did not suit him. He lived in New York for 23 years, then spent three years in Newport before returning to Kansas City ten years ago.

Kathrens published his first book, American Splendor: The Residential Architecture of Horace Trumbauer, in 2002. The book sold out and had several printings, as did his subsequent works: Great Houses of New York, 1880-1930; Newport Villas: The Revival Styles 1885-1935; Great Houses of New York Vol. 2 1880-1940; and Kansas City Houses 1885-1938. His newest book, Newport Cottages 1835-1890, comes out April 3. Kansas City Houses is in its third printing and will be available in March or April at Rainy Days Books, Stuff, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, The Little Flower Shop, and Pryde’s.

Kathrens spoke at length by phone with IN Kansas City about our city’s finest homes and how their stories reveal the history of Kansas City’s boom period.

What sparked your passion for residential architecture?

My father was interested in residential architecture as a hobby, so that gave me an entrée. And then when I was 12, I found a book called Great American Mansions and Their Stories by Merrill Folsom. In that, I particularly became enamored of European Revival-style houses in America in the period of 1880 up to about 1930.

I remember reading about the Breakers and Ochre Court in Newport, and the Elms—and that was when I fell in love with Horace Trumbauer’s work. He did the Elms, a French Classical-style house in Newport, and it’s just done beautifully. I appreciated him for the thing

he was criticized for: People said he stayed too close to 18th-century proportion. My feeling is, if you’re doing a Revival style, you need to stick to the proportions for it to be correct.

What do you love about doing historical research?

You go in and look at things that nobody has looked at in 50, 60, 100 years—it’s new information that isn’t published. And you see patterns and develop theories, and then when you discover your theories were correct, how exciting is that?

How did you get your first book published without having any academic credentials?

Acanthus Press in New York was founded by Barry Cenower. He had an architectural and decorative arts bookstore that mostly sold rare and out-of-print books. I got to know him because I bought books from him. When the margins were no longer there for selling those books, because people didn’t know what they were and would put them on eBay for ten bucks, he decided to do new works. He knew I had a passion for Trumbauer and said, “Why don’t we do a book?”

So, getting my first book published was easy. Normally it’s very difficult. And once you publish one book, it’s easier to get the next ones published.

What qualities make a house great, regardless of its style?

Quality, proportion, and scale. Sometimes people want to try something new, but that doesn’t always work. If the proportions don’t work, you end up with a hodgepodge, and you can see that today in some very expensive homes.

Are there differences in Kansas City’s European Revival-style houses compared to those in New York and Newport?

The houses in New York City and Newport are much grander than the Kansas City houses. Kansas City, even in the era when they were build-

ing the really ne houses, was always a conservative town. e owners didn’t want to spend the money, particularly for the interior ne paneling and marble oors—you have a little bit of that in Kansas City but not a lot. But there is a quality that is consistent.

Some people don’t realize that Kansas City was a boomtown from the 1880s to about the 1930s, and there were huge fortunes made because of the manufacturing here and wheat and cattle. e one I was shocked to learn about was oil. ere weren’t oil elds around Kansas City, but many people from Texas and Oklahoma (with oil wealth) moved to Kansas City because it was the nancial juggernaut.

The homes in your book are presented in order by the year they were built, and it’s fascinating to see the interiors evolve over time. Can you describe the shift that occurs from 1885 to 1938?

In the 1880s, they were what we would call Victorian, with heavier detailing and bric-a-brac. en in the 1890s, there’s a Classical Revival with rich ornamentation, marble oors, wrought-iron balustrades and ornate paneling, all sourced from Europe.

In the ’20s come the Tudors and the Georgians that Kansas City is known for. Georgians would have been traditional red brick with classical detailing outside and inside, there’s plasterwork and it’s lighter.

But the Tudors are what we are best known for. One of my favorite Tudors is the Penrod House at W. 55th and Summit streets. Its interiors were very East Coast. Very formal entrance hall. e house was built by John Penrod, president of Penrod Walnut and Veneer Company. He had a daughter named Blanche who married Ralph Jurden, who was also in the wood industry in Memphis. When Penrod and his wife died a few years later, Ralph and Blanche moved back to Kansas City and took over her parents’ house. ey added on to it and created what we see today. It has very elaborate interiors and exteriors. It’s one of the nest European Revival interiors in the city. It re ects what you’d see on the East Coast, which is not surprising, because the Jurdens summered in the Hamptons, and he was a big polo player, so they hobnobbed with all those East Coast socialites.

I cannot prove the architect who did the additions on it, but I think it was an architect who worked on their house in Memphis, Bryant Fleming. Fleming designed Cheekwood in Nashville, which is very elaborate inside.

e building permit was signed by Ralph Jurden rather than an architect or even a contractor. I found out from a society article that [Fleming] was in town at the time [the Jurdens] were doing the work on the house. Fleming did not have a license to practice in Missouri. So that’s my theory about why Ralph Jurden signed his own building permit.

Where in Kansas City do you live?

In the Valentine/Roanoke neighborhood. I moved back to Kansas City about ten years ago and it was going to be temporary. I had moved to Newport and did writing there for three years, but it was a bad economy, and I couldn’t nd a job that paid anything. So I thought I’d just move back here for a while.

I got a job as a designer at Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams in Leawood. But then I had a major stroke eight years ago. It’s good I was here, with a good job and good bene ts and family to look after me. It

was di cult for a year or so. But I was lucky. ey have really good drugs now if you get them within two or three hours. I was mostly recovered after three months, and I’m about 95 percent now, just a few minor issues that I can certainly live with.

What is your home like?

I live in a little 1920s apartment complex. By New York standards, it’s a large apartment. [Laughs.] I love it. I go for long walks through the Roanoke area and Coleman Highlands. e whole area is very pretty.

Has your research influenced what the interior of your apartment looks like?

No. I can’t a ord what I would really like, so it’s just very me. ere’re tons of books. ere’s some decent furniture. I like that my friends say my apartment looks like me.

When you are inside the grand houses you love, do you imagine what it would be like to live in them? Is it hard to have such a deep appreciation for them and not be able to afford to live in one?

When I was younger, I certainly did fantasize about living in many of the houses that I’ve written about. But as I have matured, I simply analyze the exterior and interior elements to create a framework for my writing.

The houses in your books all exude character and personality. Why do you think that is often absent in large houses today?

e problem is, we don’t see our homes as homes anymore. We see them as investments. We’re going to ip them. I nd that the upper classes are now emulating the upper middle class.

How so?

e furniture is all contemporary. It’s more expensive than Restoration Hardware modern, but it’s the same look. It used to be with the upper classes that you could see things in their homes that they picked up along the way in life and from their travels. You don’t see that anymore. Another problem is when owners of older homes take down walls and you can see the kitchen sink from everywhere. It’s ridiculous. In Prairie Village taking a wall down between the living and dining room

‘‘

The problem is, we don’t see our homes as homes anymore. We see them as investments. We’re going to flip them. I find that the upper classes are now emulating the upper middle class.”

works very well, but why are you taking walls down in a big house with big rooms? It doesn’t make any sense.

But I’m hearing from my friends in the business that that trend is changing. People want walls again. ey don’t want to live in an auditorium.

Do you have any other insider predictions about interior trends?

I think antique furniture will come back. My theory is that there was the Great Depression and then World War II and after that, everyone wanted modern. Now we’re in another phase that started in the 1990s where everyone wants modern. But I think the pendulum will swing back because it looks so soulless. Not just here. e homes in those pencil towers in New York, for example, look like luxury hotel lobbies. ere’s nothing you could associate with a human being in them. I think that is going to end.

ere’s an apartment in New York at 820 Fifth Avenue that belonged to Jayne Wrightsman of the Wrightsman Galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. She died a few years ago and her apartment on the third oor is a half-block long facing Central Park. ey can’t sell it. My theory is that Wrightsman was known for impeccable taste, and the inside is full of boiseries and beautiful detailing, and that isn’t the style now, but no one wants to be known as the person that ripped that out.

But history tells us things will change. People will get tired of the coldness of a really contemporary interior. At auction, museum-quality antiques are still demanding high, high prices.

I loved the stories in Kansas City Houses about the owners of the homes. Why did they interest you? Why not just write about the architecture?

Because that’s not what I wanted to read. e books are about documenting structures, so I want a oor plan, I want photos, and I want to tell the story of who commissioned the house. It fascinates me, people

Three

by Michael Kathrens. A second printing of Kansas City Houses will be out soon.

who have the wherewithal to build whatever they want, what do they choose to build? Plus, these people were the movers and shakers of their day, so they were important to the growth of the community. ey’re just interesting people who did interesting things.

Are you working on another project?

ere’s another book that we need to nd funding for. Prior to 2008, publishers would take risks on niche audience books. Now, not so much. You have to nd funding for them. e book is on the houses of Ogden Codman Jr. You won’t know who he is, I’m sure. . .

You are correct.

But you know Edith Wharton, right? Her rst book, which was not a novel, was called e Decoration of Houses. She co-wrote it with Ogden Codman Jr. It is a treatise on moving away from Victorian clutter to more classical simplicity. So [Wharton and Codman] helped move that European Revival style to the forefront. When you go into a luxury hotel in Paris and it’s that Louis XV, Louis XVI style, very simple, that’s what they espoused.

Codman did a lot of interior decoration, but he also built 22 houses completely from scratch. Edith Wharton is the one who introduced him into Newport. Since you lived in Newport. . .

In Navy housing, yes.

You know the Breakers. On the second oor of the Breakers, the rooms are quite a bit di erent from the grand rooms downstairs. e rooms upstairs are a little simpler, so elegant. Ogden Codman designed the rooms upstairs. en that introduced him into the deeper pockets of the New York socialites, and that’s how he got established.

I’m working on another project with a gentleman here in Kansas City named Bill Bruning. We’re working on a book on New York penthouses and maisonettes. Do you know what a maisonette is?

In France, it’s an apartment on two floors.

In New York it’s a little di erent. Let’s say you have a Park Avenue apartment—a maisonette has an exterior door, so you don’t have to go into the lobby. It can be a single oor to three oors. Bill has an amazing collection of New York City oorplans. He’s been collecting them for decades.

en there’s another book we need to nd funding for. It documents Kansas City stores. at’s already written. It’s about all the great Kansas City stores over the years—Woolf Brothers, Emery Bird ayer, Swanson’s, Harzfeld’s, Halls, Mindlin’s, Adler’s, Chasno ’s, Cricket West. ey were gorgeous. And the stories about the people that owned them are fascinating.

Share one quick one.

Kansas City had a Kentucky Derby winning horse, Lawrin, in 1938. It was owned by Herbert Woolf of Woolf Brothers, and it was raised at 83rd Street and Mission Road, where Woolford Farm was.

Interview condensed and minimally edited for clarity.

of the coffee table books

2023 Kansas City Home Trends

WHAT’S HOT AND WHAT’S NOT? OUR HOME EXPERTS PRESENT THEIR FORECAST

words by Judith Fertig

HOME IS WHERE WE DO EVERYTHING

Covid influenced how we want to live, says Will Ruder, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City. With the second largest HBA Parade of Homes in the country, KC’s Ruder is in a prime spot to notice. “Homebuilders are responding to an intense demand for more space,” he says, now that we work, dine, exercise, play, podcast, and even worship from our homes.

“As we head into 2023, creating a home that is good for you, good for the planet, good for your mind, and good for your future, is The Good Home,” says Nora Gomez of NFM. “A smarter home with energy-efficient appliances, technology to help express yourself, better fitness options, and personalized interiors lead to a home that helps you be you.”

We want our homes to welcome and refresh, says interior designer Kacy Childs Levin, ASID president Missouri West-Kansas. “After being stuck inside, people want to bring the outside in. Greens in natural elements in furnishings are trending and contribute to a warmer and cozier interior.”

We also want our homes to be pretty, says Mark Sudermann of M. Sudermann Interior Design and Sid & Co. “Pretty is never out of style. Layering textures, colors, and collections is a wonderful way to warm up your surroundings.”

We want more. “The simplicity of the modern farmhouse gives way to more maximalist design,” says Carmen Thomas of Tran + Thomas Design “Wallpapers with scenic landscapes and oversized stylized florals are gaining popularity. Color is fighting to make a comeback.”

An open-plan kitchen and gathering space is still popular, says Alex Roach of Martanne Construction, and a member of NARI, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, “but we’re seeing clients wanting a separate dining space again. They want to make it special.”

WHAT TRENDS DO ARCHITECTS SEE?

“Functional, quiet, home office space is a priority. Indoor amenities like fitness rooms, golf simulators, and informal media spaces help make that added time at home more enjoyable.”

Todd Hicks, associate principal architect and vice president of NSPJ Architects

“More modern styles are increasingly popular whether they are strictly modern or a modern take on prairie, French, or farmhouse. My clients want larger pantries and closets, more outdoor living spaces, larger garages with more storage or living space, siding rather than stucco, hard-surface flooring.”

Scott Bickford of Bickford and Company

APPLIANCES AND LIGHTING WORK SMARTER

“Natural elements continued to be a strong theme throughout,” says Mikeal Allen of Wilson Lighting. “Wicker, rattan, seagrass, and raffia are braided, wrapped, and woven into every category of fixture. Amazing smoked and pearlescent glasses are replacing their clear cousins to create a beautiful glow. Alabaster, alabaster, and alabaster. Sconces, pendants, and chandeliers are all being decked out with the gorgeous stone, which adds tons of character and warmth.”

Mikeal Allen of Wilson Lighting

“The sophisticated Gourmet feature is included across Wolf’s vast offering of ranges and wall ovens. Gourmet uses algorithms to optimize timing, modes, airflow, and heat transfer. In addition, users are also prompted about the best rack position.”

Denise Knoblich of Roth Living

“Today’s design trends continue to integrate LED light sources into basically every type of light application. Mixed-metal finishes—black and gold—and anything in a gold finish, or warm burnished brass. Organic lighting designs that incorporate natural fibers, alabaster, or wood are having a moment as well.”

Wendy Rensenhouse of Rensen House of Lights

GOODBYE, BRIGHT WHITE KITCHENS

BATHS: A SPA IN YOUR HOME

Sa ra Noble of Noble Designs says that primary baths are becoming spas. “We are adding lots of digital showers, which give you complete control of the water source, temperature, and timing from one touch of a control pad,” she says. “Both steam showers and digital showers allow you to step into a warm, spa-like space in your own home.”

Lynn Nelson from Ann Sacks at Kohler Signature Store sees hand-painted Moroccan clay tiles—rustic and roughedged sunbaked slabs of Mediterranean stone—making a comeback. Also, the black-and-white “Portuguese pavement” of Lisbon along with Middle Eastern glass mosaic, narrative, or geometric tiles make a statement.

For Geri Hig gins of Portfolio

Kitchen & Home, contemporary or classic kitchens might go cream, but warm it up further with wood islands, furniture-like pieces in mushroom or sage green, and hardware finishes in brass and bright to a classic French gold.

Karin Ross of Karin Ross Designs notes her clients don’t want a quick fix; they want the dream. “They want everything on their wish lists: clean European lines, strong transitional lines with classic elegance, countertops with bold veining, brass in a satin-gold finish, and nature-inspired elements.”

Lisa Otterness of Classic Kitchens notices “lines are simplified, but often the scale is larger and more dimensional. Warm wood tones, particularly oak, especially when paired with white-and-black accents. Countertops show less gray and more gold tones. Unusual elements, such as the varied tambour profiles from Art for Everyday, are great for customizing and adding curved elements.”

“White background with gray veining really held its popularity in 2022,” says Barbie Heniss, VP of sales and business development for Rocktops . “Late in the year, it started to shift, with stained cabinets, warmer paint tones, and pops of color becoming more popular in design trends. We’re now seeing an upswing in granite and quartzite.”

“Everyone wants color now,” says Amy Sanders of International Materials of Design. “With wallpaper coming back, so is antique marble in pinks, purples, and greens—no more plain white subway tile.”

Designer Kurt Knapstein sees primary baths extending into entire wellness rooms. “Clients want cold-plunge tubs and steam showers, as well as daylight saunas. Clients with demanding careers are wanting to pamper themselves more at home.”

And open concept for baths? Yes, says Christine Hawkins of Ferguson Enterprises “Open-concept wet-room bathrooms contain all the luxe elements with zero-entry showers with frameless glass and a freestanding tub. A very clean, modern look that can double as ADA compliant. The wet-room trend is gaining momentum and expect to see an increase this year.”

RUGS GO TRADITIONAL

“Lighter, faded colors have been popular, but we have seen a real uptick in more traditional colors and patterns again. Classics like Serapis, Mamluks, Aryanas, and Herizes always seem to be a solid foundation to build around.”

Darrel Wingo of Knotty Rug

“The current trend is monotone and more muted colors, but now it seems to be trending more towards splashes of color.”

Jay Erwin of Area Rug Dimensions/ KCWholesale Carpet

“We are seeing a renewed interest in traditional area rug designs as well as sustainable materials, particularly wool and silk. Wool, because it’s durable and easily cleaned.”

Phil

Aitken,

owner and president of to-the-trade Rug Studio

ANTIQUES: OLD IS NEW AGAIN

Scott Higgins of Swanky! maintains, “More people are upcycling. Vintage is readily available, of quality construction, customizable, affordable, stylish, and leaves a much smaller carbon footprint than most new or custom furnishings.”

With the return of the dining room comes a new interest in antique dining pieces, says Todd Miller of Charlecote. “Sideboards, tables, chairs, we have them or can get them in on approval from our network of reputable antique dealers,” he says. “It’s important to buy from a reputable dealer, and we try to buy pieces that are as pure as possible.”

Antiques can imbue a “collected over time” look, says Cindy Barnhill of Pear Tree. “Adding an antique mirror or a beautiful white, green, or yellow glazed French confit pot lends a sense of ‘soul.’ Antiques tell a story, and I truly believe every home should have pieces that can tell a story.”

FORM MEETS FUNCTION— BUT IT HAS TO BE BEAUTIFUL

“The spaces in our homes need to do more and be more. The form has to be beautiful, but it also has to function. For a recent home office project involving space for Zoom calls, ‘quiet’ was the theme for both sight and sound—quiet colors, wool wallcovering, and in the rug underfoot.”

Lisa

Schmitz, Lisa Schmitz Interior Design

“While we’ll continue to see a rise in more layered, traditional looks, there also will be blending of the old and new. Think cherished, loved, and beautiful antiques mixed with newer pieces and natural materials for a cleaner, more modern look.”

Laura McCroskey of McCroskey Interiors

TRADITIONAL FURNITURE HAS STAYING POWER

“White-oak doors, whiteoak floors, and white-oak accents are the new gray, contrasting with a pop of color in the art, rugs, or wallpaper.”

Elizabeth Johnson of Seville Home

“We are seeing a trend in furniture that shows individuality, craftsmanship, and quality. While clients are still appreciating minimalism, they are injecting personality and warmth with unique pieces that speak specifically to them and don’t look mass produced.”

Buck Wimberly of Ulah Interiors and Design

“We are often inspired by the trends of the day, but we are tried, true, and traditional at our core. Our customers come to us for timeless, often generational, pieces that might not necessarily be trendy.”

Katie Laughridge of Nell Hill’s

“Traditional is back in a big way. And so is texture: cane, rope, strips of leather and wicker, often paired with shearling, hides and boucles. And motion. All of the manufacturers seem to be competing to have the most comfortable and the best-looking swivels, gliders, and swivel + gliders, great for a ‘man cave’ and even outdoor spaces.”

Katy Sullivan of Madden-McFarland

BED LINENS—GOTTA LOVE IT

‘‘Trends come and go,” says Ursula Terrasi of Terrasi Living and Scandia Down, “but we should always choose what we love: Colors, patterns, how the fabric feels, as well as pillows and comforters, as they can literally enhance and transform our lives.”

Lisa Payne of Annabelles Linens sees a more romantic feel in luxury bed linens with “bright colors and plush floral patterns.”

HOME ACCESSORIES MAKE IT PERSONAL

Jorjy’s Pam DiCapo stocks plenty of coffee table books and everything malachite. “Its emerald green has been popping up in every category from wallpaper to tabletop to lamps,” she says. “My Jorjy peeps love all the colorful pieces, from candy-colored hurricanes to our knife collection from France.”

At Cuorebella, Trish Church Podlasek sees “bold, beautiful colors and graphics as a striking way to add elegance and energy to neutral color palettes, from large-scale serving pieces with bold florals to jewel-toned cocktail and wine glasses.”

Everyday kitchen items need a yearly refresh, too, says Jenny Steffens Hobick of JSH Home Essentials. “The kitchen sink is a focal point, so I like to make sure it looks great—glass bottles for dish soap, bamboo dish brushes, and a little bud vase all perched on top of a cake stand. And I start fresh every year with a stack of new dish towels. I recently switched all of my spices into glass hinge jars, which I love.”

OUTDOOR LIVING. RESORT LIVING

“The days of having a rectangular swimming pool and diving board surrounded by a concrete deck are gone. Today outdoor living is all about having the same creature comforts offered at a high-end resort. Pool features now include reef ledges, sunken fire pits, swim-up bars and perimeter-overflow. Our clients want 365 days of resort living in their own backyard.”

Kurt Kraisinger of Lorax Design Group

“Gone is the outdoor dining table and chairs. Outdoor furniture is now geared toward seating pieces around a firepit.”

John Southerland of Seasonal Concepts

“Grilling in the garden is in. Grills, flat-top griddles, smokers, pizza ovens, and food prep areas are big. We design a lot of outdoor bars around a grill island so people can hang out while the food is being prepared.”

Kristopher Dabner of The Greensman

“Our outdoor kitchen business continues to grow. Homeowners can now design their outdoor living space using more high-quality, built-in appliances than ever—gas grills with built-in sear burners, charcoal grills, outdoor griddles, smokers, pizza ovens, undercounter refrigerators, wine coolers, and beer keg tappers, plus side burners, sinks, and much more.”

Lloyd Doolittle of Doolittle Distributing

And storage for everything. Says Christine Fee of Inspired Closets Kansas City, “Homeowners seek to bring their favorite design ideas into their most personal space, including coffee bars for home offices. Center islands in closets add counter space for packing and folding clothes with additional storage underneath. Garage organization will become a bigger conversation as many homeowners look to maximize every square inch of space.”

Any room can do more with a little help. “How do we turn that lightly used guest bedroom into an office, but still have a comfortable space for company when they come to visit?” asks Michael Payne with California Closets. “The solution is utilizing a wall bed to create a space that combines both the office and guest room into one. With a wall bed you can essentially put it away when not in use. Along with that newly open floor plan, we can create a fully functioning office space with an abundance of desktop areas, cabinets with adjustable shelving, task lighting, and a multitude of drawers in one organized spot.”

FABRICS, WALL, AND WINDOW COVERINGS

“We’re seeing bold and bright hues in textiles. Textured fabrics are also going to be big this year, especially boucle. Wallpaper is becoming more popular. A bright, bold wallpaper can be used as an accent wall or even break up a space within an open floor plan.”

Madison Duenke of Design & Detail “We are trending towards pops of deep jewel tones and warmer neutrals like cognac brown and creams. Designer’s projects are centering around bold patterned wallcoverings and large-scale murals. Think moody, cozy, and fun!”

Maggie Parker of to-thetrade KDR Showrooms

“With the rise of the smart home, motorized window treatments are a great option. They have a clean design with no visible controls, are a great solution for large and out-of-reach window treatments and can help improve energy efficiency.”

Adam Skalman of The Shade Store

TREES INTO THE

A CONTEMPORARY HOME NEAR LOOSE PARK BRINGS THE OUTDOORS IN

words by Judith Fertig

photos by Aaron Leimkuehler

In 1935, famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright fell in love with falling water in Mill Run, Pennsylvania, and designed a modern house to embrace it.

Flash forward—and westward— to 2014 Kansas City. Art collectors Deborah and Tom Macon swooned over three stately oak trees in a backyard near Loose Park. At this stage of their lives, they wanted a deeper connection between daily life and nature.

They bought the 1960s French cottage-style house that came with those trees and thought to renovate it enough to get close to their vision. But an unlooked-for opportunity presented itself. Structural issues couldn’t be solved, and the house had to be torn down.

Back to the drawing board.

And into the trees. “We really started with how we wanted to live,” says Deborah Macon, an attorney and artist. Bringing the outside in. “And we soon realized that a traditional home with a hallway and little rooms didn’t suit us anymore. I’m all about the floor plan. I’m a function over form person, but the form must be beautiful.”

In contrast to the open living spaces, there are smaller rooms, too. Deborah wanted an office/art studio. Tom, a serial entrepreneur, wanted an office/den (along with a TV, banished from the living room). Little by little, the shape and substance of the new house changed.

“We chose one concept—inside/outside—and one word—serene—on which to base every decision,” says Macon. “We invited the landscape into the home with more than 180 windows and glass doors.” Wood, stone, and raw steel both inside and out created a seamless transition from one to the other. Serenity dictated one paint color for most of the rooms—Benjamin Moore O-95—a warm white. Rift-sawn oak floors and cabinetry, ten-foot-tall sliding-glass doors, and passive solar panels blend function with form.

Although streamlined and minimalistic, the home also had to be friendly and welcoming. “The great thing about Kansas City neighborhoods is that they’re alive, embracing differences. They accommodate change and growth over time,” says Macon. She had gone to law school at UMKC and used to walk in Loose Park. Tom also had roots here. “We met in Washington, D.C. and vowed that if we ever got a chance to move back to Kansas City, we would.”

That opportunity came after Hurricane Katrina destroyed much of New Orleans in 2005. Tom moved his business and some employees to Kansas City; Deborah and their two children followed. “People couldn’t have been nicer to us,” she says.

As this house was coming together, through

Vertical and horizontal planes and a mix of materials, including local limestone, stucco, and sheet metal, travel from the exterior to the interior of the house.

Top left: In the foyer, the limestone wall carries through from the exterior all the way through the living room. Raw steel frames the entrance to the public spaces. Bottom left: The unframed canvas painting over the sofa is by Christopher Clark. This page: Deborah Macon collaborated with David Davis on the console design, which is book-matched walnut wrapped in steel. The Macons commissioned the painting by Li Wang above the fireplace.

Deborah’s floor plan, collaboration with their architects Mike Cress and Tom Proebstle of Generator Studio, and Tom’s approval, they realized that their traditional furniture might not be quite right. They took a page from Frank Lloyd Wright’s notebook and commissioned custom furniture from David Davis of iCon Architecture to fit the new living room, primary bedroom, and dining room.

The couple also wanted customized space for their extensive art collection. “We collect living artists,” Macon says, “because they have a vision and have worked on their craft, and they need to make a living. We’re not interested in the publicity of art. We support artists whose work we like, whether they are famous or not.” Many works are by Kansas City artists, including Lori Buntin, Lisa Lala, Christopher Clark, and Deborah herself. “We also have a garage gallery where I also hang

some of my work,” she says.

The kitchen features a dramatic wall of rift-sawn cabinetry across from a wall of windows. “Where women spend their time is given short shrift in most floor plans. My kitchen is filled with art and the sliding doors provide direct access to the garden. The kitchen is loaded with views, light, and volume. It’s pure joy to spend time there,” Macon says.

“One of our favorite dinner parties took place during a summer deluge,” she recalls. “We opened all the doors and listened to the rain. Who needs music when nature provides such beautiful accompaniment?”

The primary bedroom is minimally furnished, with a diptych by New Mexico artist Gregory Lomayesva over the custom walnut bed. Nearby is a fabulous closet you could get lost in, designed to accommodate both Tom’s neatness and Deborah’s more messy side. She also loves

The open kitchen and dining space is a study in light and dark. Kitchen cabinets are rift-sawn oak stained dark walnut. The walnut dining room table is custom-made.

the private, secluded, outdoor shower room off the spacious and sleek primary bath. “When the moon is up and the stars are out, it’s a piece of divinity,” she says. And there’s a Buddha in the tiny courtyard to prove it.

In the light-filled foyer sits a Chinese sculpture the couple found at the former Brookside Antiques. Perfectly balanced on a rosewood plinth, the “scholar’s rock” symbolizes serenity as it celebrates the beauty of the garden.

The couple now enjoys a joyful ease of living in an airy, light-filled space, surround-

Top right: Centered in the home is the dramatic floating staircase, with a central steel beam and rift-sawn oak steps.

Bottom right: Phillip Jeffries silver-hued grasscloth brings dark drama to the powder room. “I think a powder room should be a vacation from the rest of the house,” Deborah Macon says.

In the primary bedroom, a pair of hanging ceramic pendants leave the bedside tables free for accoutrements. The custom bed is dressed in Donna Karan linens.

ed by the things that matter most to them—a sense of connection to nature, plenty of room for friends and family, and meaningful art.

“This house has given us a new lease on life,” she adds. “It’s rejuvenating.”

“Contemporary can be just as comfortable as traditional,” Macon maintains. “It’s all in the use of materials and arrangement of the living spaces. It’s so peaceful. We live in every room. Morning and evening, Tom and I sit in our living room and look out at the trees. It’s endlessly entertaining.”

THE IT LIST

Architects Generator Studio generatorstudio.com

Builder RM Contracting 913-208-6928

Custom Furniture and Millwork

iCon Architecture icon-architecture.com

Above, left: Clerestory windows and whitewashed maple lighten up the closet. Above, right: The outdoor shower is tucked behind a trio of tropical plants and a serene Buddha. Left: Because of the long, narrow nature of the primary bath, Deborah Macon specified oversized (24” by 24”) porcelain tiles set on the diagonal.

words by Jenny Vergara

MMM, CHOCOLATE

A BRIEF HISTORY OF KANSAS CITY CANDY

It is almost impossible not to think about chocolate as February 14 approaches. Luckily, in Kansas City we have chocolatiers and confectioners who would love to indulge your chocolate cravings with something sweet to eat from their candy cases.

Speaking of hearts and flowers, let’s take this opportunity to clear up a major myth around this holiday. We cannot blame our local greeting card company, Hallmark, for inventing Valentine’s Day to sell more cards. The prim and proper Victorians created Valentine’s Day so they could send scandalous adult messages to their lovers, sometimes anonymously, using penny postcards. Naughty, naughty!

We can, however, take credit for the red heartshaped box of Russell Stover chocolates that is still the gift du jour on this holiday, as it is made locally by a Kansas City-based company, something we can (and should) be proud to support and consume.

Kansas City has enjoyed a rich chocolate-coated candy history, full of colorful stories and characters. The Cherry Mash, for example, was invented in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1876 by Dr. George Washington Chase after his son, Earnest, suggested he create a candy they could sell at their shop GW Case & Sons Mercantile. The two-bite candy mounds in the classic red-and-white wrappers were a hit and remain on local store shelves to this day with their distinctive pink maraschino cherry-flavored fondant, double-dipped in chocolate and crushed peanuts.

Valomilk candy cups are another confection that we take credit for in Kansas City. In 1903, Samuel M.Sifers had been making and selling hard penny candy and marshmallows at his candy store in Iola, Kansas, located southwest of Kansas City. In 1931, a worker making marshmallows had been taking sips of the real vanilla (made with pure alcohol back then) and got so tipsy he put too much extract in the recipe, creating by mistake a kind of runny marshmallow fluff. One of Samuel’s sons, Harry Sifers, took a chocolate cup and dipped it into the sticky white fluff, and the Valomilk was born. Today, descendants of Samuel Sifers are still making the nostalgic candies in their factory in Merriam, Kansas.

Whether you choose to celebrate Valentine’s Day or not, take time this month to indulge and explore the offerings of our local chocolate makers. If you simply can’t choose just one, why not do a progressive chocolate-shop tour, tasting your way across the city?

Russell Stover

Founded in 1923

Kansas City is proud to be the home of Russell Stover chocolates. Even after the company was acquired by global chocolate manufacturer Lindt & Sprungli in 2014, the corporate office remains here, and much of the manufacturing continues at two different Kansas plants. Russell and Clara Stover started the business at their kitchen table in Denver, Colorado, in 1923, and the following year they opened their first Kansas City store. Russell Stover was an engineer with an entrepreneur’s mind, but the candy we know and love today was thanks to Clara’s recipes and her talent for making handcrafted candies in small batches. Today Russell Stover is the nation’s leading manufacturer of boxed chocolates, and they have retail stores that serve both ice cream and boxes of their cream, caramel, and nut-filled chocolates. russellstover.com

Andre’s Confiserie Suisse

Founded in 1955

Since 1955, the Bollier family has been dedicated to bringing Kansas Citians the finest Swiss chocolates and confections. Three generations of Swiss-trained confiseurs have made its Swiss-style confections for both Andre’s Confiserie Suisse locations. Recently, Andre’s remodeled their historic tearoom and added a new all-day café at their flagship store under the guidance of founder André Bollier’s grandson, René Bollier, and his wife, Nancy. They also collaborated in 2021 with J. Rieger & Co. to create KC Whiskey Drops, a milk-chocolate shell that’s filled with smooth, Kansas City-made, whiskey-infused caramel. Show your love that you think they are one-of-a-kind with Andre’s Nussbergerli Sticks, a Swiss confection that’s so unique you won’t find it anywhere else in the country. It features creamy caramel, house-candied orange peel and fresh roasted nuts all covered in creamy Swiss chocolate. andreschocolates.com

Laura Little’s Candies

Founded in 1970

Erwin Little opened Laura Little’s Candies in 1970, and the family has continued to enjoy a 53-year run at their location on 75th Street in Prairie Village. Walk through the door, and your nose will tell you why they continue to thrive. It’s their wide selection of fantastic fudge, truffles, and chocolate candies. This charming old-fashioned candy shop still makes its own chocolates using quality ingredients made in copper kettles and stirred with wooden spoons. Try their chocolate turtles, handmade chocolate dinner mints, or fudge in unique flavors, such as chocolate rum, penuche (maple pecan), and vanilla peanut butter. Laura Little’s also carries a large selection of sugar-free chocolate bonbons and fudge so you’ll be sure to find a treat for everyone. lauralittlecandy.com

Panache Chocolatier

Founded in 1979

It was called Kron Chocolatier for three years before the original owners renamed their chocolate shop Panache Chocolatier, which is French for “with flair,” in 1979. Eileen Cohen and Sharon Hoffman opened the store on the Country Club Plaza, and eventually sold their business to Mark and Barbara Bailey, who put Panache on the map for their custom corporate chocolates and signature candies Choco Poppo and Choco Flakes, chocolate-covered popcorn and cereal flakes. When Julie House, a grand master chocolatier, and her husband, Derrick, bought Panache Chocolatier 2013, the shop had been delighting both locals and tourists for 34 years. The couple began the transformation of turning Panache into a boutique chocolate experience by moving it in 2019 to Park Place, with room for a retail shop, a new tasting bar and private-event space for tastings. Known for its award-winning small-batch chocolates made with the highest quality ingredients and unique flavors, Panache’s selection of truffles, caramels, bars, and seasonal chocolate barks is a testament to its excellence. chocolatekc.com

Annedore’s Fine Chocolates

Founded in 1982

Sheri Weedman moved Annedore’s Fine Chocolates to its current home nestled in the middle of the charming Westwood Hills shops in 2014, after purchasing the business from the original owner, Nancy Hatch, in 2007. Hatch had run the shop for 25 years at its original location on 43rd Street. The stylishly stunning chocolate shop makes its own handcrafted European-style truffles, along with caramels, toffees, and brittles that are all are house specialties. They have also become known for their more whimsical chocolate gift items, such as the chocolate toothbrush or life-size football, which can be filled with bonbons of your choice. Weedman expanded her confection credentials last year by opening her new ice cream shop, The Flying Cow Gelato, which will reopen for the season in March. annedores.com

Christopher Elbow Chocolates

Founded in 2003

When Christopher Elbow first started making his trademark chocolate bonbons in 2003 in a small apartment above what used to be Shiraz restaurant on Southwest Boulevard, and is now Blvd Tavern, the number of American chocolatiers making their own bean-to-bar chocolate could be counted on one hand. Today, Elbow has gone from a fantastic confectioner to Kansas City’s own Willy Wonka, making boxes of colorful handcrafted, gourmet chocolates—in flavors including strawberry-balsamic, butterscotch-bourbon and fleur de sel caramel—to making his own bean-to-bar chocolate bars, sourcing cacao beans from Madagascar, Costa Rica, and Ecuador. Then in 2020, Elbow turned heads again by entering the medical marijuana industry, teaming up with Clovr, a cannabis-infused product manufacturer in Kansas City, to develop recipes for chocolate confections and handcrafted bonbons with varying levels of THC and CBD. There is nothing this man cannot do with chocolate. elbowchocolates.com

Bizz and Weezy Confections

Founded in 2010

Although Jonathan and Amy Pitcher began their candy careers by making truffles and chocolates for friends in 2008, they quickly expanded, selling wholesale candy made in a professional kitchen in their basement just two years later. As word of their chocolate-covered cookies, truffles, and caramels continued to spread, they launched their first retail location in 2015 at 1800 Baltimore Avenue, under the name Bizz & Weezy, which came from the combination of their gamer names on the video game World of Warcraft. Since then, they have expanded beyond just chocolates, becoming a café and coffee shop. To increase their sweet expertise, they brought on a full-time baker last year to broaden their pastry and dessert selections. bizzandweezy.com

Sweet Kiss Brigadeiro

Founded in 2015

Garza’s Goodies

Founded in 2012

Richard and Heather Garza began making homemade, hand-dipped chocolate confections in 1996 as gifts for friends and family. That led to opening their first candy store in Waldo in 2012, which earned them a loyal following. Now, 27 years later, the couple is still making and selling their nostalgic, chocolate bonbons and baked goods from their home-based cottage kitchen. They have specialized in traditional chocolate candies, and today that includes truffles in a wide array of seasonal flavors, brownies, fudge, toffee, bonbons with cream fillings, including cherry limeade, coconut, peanut butter, and homemade caramels. As the couple continues their search for a new retail location, customers are encouraged to check out their seasonal offerings on their website and place a phone order or via Facebook. garzasgoodies.com

Located on the Country Club Plaza, Sweet Kiss Brigadeiro, Kansas City’s first artisanal brigadeiro shop, is a family affair. The popular Brazilian candy is made from sweetened condensed milk, butter, and cocoa powder that’s cooked down and rolled into balls before being covered in sprinkles, granulated or powdered sugars, or candies. More important than the wide selection of flavors that Sweet Kiss offers—such as crème brulee, salted caramel, strawberry, pistachio, sweet corn, lemon and many more—is the cultural presence of these sweet treats at all of life’s most important events in Brazil, including weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and baby showers. Regina Antunes and her daughter, Jessica Harris, both from Brazil, started making these famous Brazilian candies to not only honor and remember their own family traditions, but to help others start new ones that include these sentimental and sweet treats. sweetkissbrigadeiro.com

Bliss Chocolatier

Founded in 2020

Bliss Chocolatier may be the newest shop in town, but this chocolate boutique in Blue Springs, Missouri, is already garnering rave reviews for its beautiful hand-painted bonbons filled with layers of familiar flavors, including key lime cheesecake, s’mores, caramel apple, praline, vegan raspberry, and more. Bliss is the creation of the mother/daughter team of Jessica Washburn and Pat Jarstad. As head chocolatier for Bliss, Washburn, who moved to Kansas City from New York during the pandemic, learned how to make chocolates by taking online classes and training with several master chocolatiers to hone her craft. Starting with quality ingredients—sustainably grown couverture chocolate that has a higher percentage of cocoa butter, fresh dairy, perfectly ripe fruits and purées, deeply roasted nuts, and spices—Bliss chocolates taste as good as they look. blisschocolatier.com

The Pink House

A CLASSIC 1920s MARY ROCKWELL HOOK— DESIGNED HOME MOVES INTO THE 21st CENTURY WITH EASE

As a loc al real estate agent, it’s Margy Regan’s business to be aware of new residential listings. And while she and her partner, Dirk Schafer, were not looking for a new home, two years ago a listing popped up and she sent it to Schafer suggesting he take a look. While she was intrigued, at first glance, he had, let’s say, reservations.

“I drove by and told her, ‘There’s no way I’m moving into a pink house,’” Shafer says.

The house in Sunset Hills is not just a pink house, it is the pink house, designed by the late, legendary Kansas City architect Mary Rockwell Hook for her own family.

words by Patricia O’Dell photos by Aaron Leimkuehler

The clean lines of the Isamu Noguchi table for Herman Miller and a pair of Barcelona chairs blend seamlessly with the more ornate, but still restrained, marble fireplace. Flowers from Bergamot & Ivy. Right: Margy Regan and Dirk Schafer with their shi-poo, Mokie.

The sellers had three offers already and a firm deadline. Despite Schafer’s initial hesitation, Regan was enchanted and persistent.

The couple had been living on the 17th floor of the Sulgrave Regency, and they appreciated the view of the Plaza and beyond. Schafer was hesitant to give that up. Still, he agreed to take a look. “The first thing that caught my eye was the home’s plaque recognizing its designation on the National Register of Historic Places,” he says. “My business is construction, and from our work in state-capital restorations, I understood what it took to achieve that designation.”

But it turned out that was not the only selling point. “As we were walking through the house, we just kept looking at each other. We weren’t saying a lot, but we could just feel that it was right,” Regan says.

When they reached the second floor, they were certain. “As we went room by room, we came upon the second-floor porch off of a bedroom,” Schafer says. “And it has this big view that’s amazing. Now we call it the sunset porch.”

When they finished the tour, the couple felt it was the place they should be and went

This inviting windowed niche is a welcome refuge for solitary contemplation, or a hideaway for visiting grandchildren.

Mary Rockwell Hook was ahead of her time. She liked to repurpose materials and used salvaged stone from a local purveyor for the home’s floors.

straight home to make an offer. “I’ve never written a contract so fast in my life,” Regan says. “By five o’clock that evening it was ours.”

The couple has never looked back. Fortunately, the path to making the house their own was not an arduous one. Creating a clean palette that would highlight the house’s form and details was a priority for both. “We wanted the walls to be a pure white,” Schafer says. “We put about a dozen swatches on the wall until we settled on a color.”

The kitchen and the bathrooms have been updated, but beyond that the couple has been dedicated to maintaining the integrity of Hook’s original design, including keeping the mechanisms that would have supported formal curtains. “When I first saw the house, I thought they may need to go,” Schafer says.

“And then he fell in love with them,” Regan adds.

Ultimately, the couple maintained most of Hook’s selections, choos-

The “Plaza Nook,” with the classic light fixture and original drapery hardware, is a favorite spot for end-of-day catch ups. The curve of the Saarinen table is echoed in the Hugo Guinness floral prints hanging opposite.

ing to replace only two light fixtures.

When they are home alone, often they choose to spend the time before dinner together in the large niche off the living room—one of their favorites—which they sometimes refer to as the “Plaza nook,” because of the view. “We sit out there and catch up on our day,” Regan says. “It’s actually one of our favorite rooms to hang out together or just read. The sunsets are amazing.”

The couple loves to entertain and it’s not unusual for them to start with cocktails in the living room. Guests young and old often gravitate to the small alcove with two built-in window seats. “We’ve found a lot of people like to sit there during parties,” Schafer says. “And it’s one of Margy’s grandchildren’s favorite places.”

The stunning stone terrazzo floor of the dining room is accented with the original fireplace surround and niche above. Regan and Schafer have added a Tom Corbin bronze, contemporary art that feels right at home in the room. The organic nature of

Below: The sitting room, located just off the primary bedroom on the second floor, is a perfect spot to relax at the end of the day. Right: In the breakfast room, the light pendant from Design Within Reach reflects the circular table below. Bottom right: The exuberance of the terrazzo floor and curve of the fireplace surround and niche is balanced with the clean lines and right angles of the chairs and light fixture in the dining room. Flowers by Bergamot & Ivy.

The wood cabinets of the renovated kitchen blend with the original door to the screened porch, marrying old and new.

Above: Soft surfaces and unadorned windows create a cozy, Zen-like retreat in the primary bedroom. The structural lines of the Nelson Bubble Light echo the stitching of the quilted linens. Opposite, top: The refurbished primary bathroom with freestanding tub receives a delightful lift from artist Jenifer Thoem’s wall sculpture. Left: This guest bedroom’s spindled closet doors are original to the house.

the new light fixture fits right in.

The primary suite is a combination of existing rooms that serve this modern couple well. The original sitting room with its barrel ceiling is the perfect place to watch television together and relax at the end of the day. In cooler months, the fireplace is a welcome feature.

The bedroom is on the original sleeping porch and has a restful, Zen-like quality. “It feels like a cocoon,” Regan says.

The couple did not anticipate living in a home this special.

“We both lived in the suburbs when we were raising our children before moving to the Plaza. And I was looking to build a contemporary home when I met Margy,” Schafer says. “But even though this house has a more European look, the architectural details are very pure, and in some ways modern. We’ve been together seven years, and this is our space to be together.”

The powder room sink isn’t original to the house, but perfectly fits the home’s aesthetic.

the pink house continued

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In the Kitchen SWEET AND SAVORY SEAFOOD

BY Cody Hogan PHOTOS BY Aaron Leimkuehler

Ilove the sea, and I love seafood. Given our geographic location—just about as far from any ocean as you can get—there are some obstacles to delicious, fresh and highly perishable aquatic fare. For the home cook in the midwest, unless you’re willing to spend a small (or not-so-small) fortune, truly fresh seafood is often out of reach. Working in a restaurant, I have the luxury of buying from commercial seafood purveyors—but even then, freshness can be elusive. Frozen sh, however—an option that many fail to consider—does lend itself to cooking in saor , one of my favorite Venetian cooking techniques applicable to many types of sh.

Originally used by shermen and frugal coastal cooks to preserve the day's catch, seafood prepared in saor (meaning avor or savor) is simply fried then marinated in a lightly sweet-and-sour preparation (aka agrodolce or escabeche). Coastal cuisines around the globe have similar methods of preparation/preservation for seafood, with variations in degrees of sweet and sour as well as seasonings. For saor, the marinade is usually cooked onions, vinegar, sugar, and seasonings. It is an especially perfect way to make use of leftover fried sh. Although the most traditional sh used is the sardine, other sh, such as monk sh, cod, ounder, tilapia, trout, and sword sh work well in this preparation. It could even work with cat sh.

Regardless the variety of sh (possibly frozen!) or your locale (probably a long way from the sea), I hope you’ll employ this technique the next time you crave a taste of the seaside.

Swordfish in Saor

Begin by preparing the marinade. In a bowl, combine equal parts apple cider (or other) vinegar and water (let’s say ½ cup of each for enough to eventually marinate 4 pieces of sh). Add 1 cup of raisins (any type—even dried cranberries would be nice) and one thinly sliced shallot. Allow this mixture to macerate while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.

Traditionally this dish is made with only onions and raisins, but I like the addition of a few more vegetables for color, avor, and variety—because who doesn’t need a few more vegetables in their diet. ey should be vegetables that stand up well to quick pickling, like carrots, peppers, and celery. Halve and thinly slice 1 onion (any color), slice 2 cloves of garlic, and cut any other vegetables you are using— let’s say 1 carrot, 1 stalk celery, and 3-4 baby bell peppers—into large matchsticks.

Generously season a few sword sh (or other type of sh) lets with salt and pepper, then lightly dredge them in our. If using frozen seafood, I tend to skip the thawing of the sh in this manner of preparation, and proceed exactly as if the sh is fresh–it will thaw and cook completely without the thawing step. Heat a large nonstick skillet, pour in a few tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, and add the sh lets in a single layer. When the sh is lightly browned on the rst side, approximately 8 minutes, turn the sh and cook on the other side. When the second side is beautifully colored and the sh is fully

cooked (this may take a few more minutes if using frozen sh or extremely thick pieces), remove it to a plate, discard any oil left in the skillet, and wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel.

Return the pan to the heat, add a generous splash of oil and begin cooking the sliced onion and garlic. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent browning, then add the prepared celery, carrot, and peppers. Lightly season with salt and continue cooking and stirring for a few minutes more. Next, pour in about 1 cup of whatever white wine you’re drinking. Vigorously cook the mixture until the wine is almost completely evaporated, then add the raisin/vinegar/water mixture to the skillet. Reduce the liquid for a few minutes, then toss in a few sprigs of fresh rosemary, 2-3 bay leaves (I prefer fresh bay leaves, but dried will work in a pinch), a few whole peppercorns, and about 2 tablespoons of honey (or sugar). If you have them, a few toasted pine nuts (or walnuts) would also be a nice addition and could be added at this time. Cook a few minutes longer, stirring to prevent scorching. ere should be a small amount of syrupy liquid at the bottom of the pan. Turn o the heat. In a dish small enough to snugly contain the sh and marinade, begin by putting a thin layer of the vegetable and herb mixture in the bottom of the dish, then top that with a layer of sh, then another layer of vegetables, then sh, nishing with vegetables on top. Pour any liquid remaining in the skillet over the marinating sh and cover the dish with a lid, plastic, or foil. Allow the sh to sit at room temperature for a few hours to work its magic–remember, it's lightly pickled, so there is no danger of pathogens ourishing. If you are preparing the sh for a meal the following day (or several days later), place the covered dish in the refrigerator to rest and marinate. Its avor will only improve.

A few notes on preparing and serving: e next time you fry sh, make more than you will need. en, just make the marinade above and layer it with the excess fried sh for a simple and delicious round of leftovers that are probably better than the original. is dish is best served at warm room temperature, de nitely not cold, where the avors would be muted and the texture of the sh “tight.” It doesn’t bene t from being served hot, but it de nitely shouldn’t be cold. Seafood in saor is delicious served with polenta or fried potatoes, but can make an excellent appetizer or light lunch when shredded and tossed with the vegetables and served atop toasted bread. If you have an excess of the marinated vegetables, I love them combined on grilled bread with crumbles of goat cheese and a drizzle of olive oil.

PRESERVED SEAFOOD

ALTHOUGH HIGHLY PERISHABLE, sh accounts for around 15 percent of the protein consumed by humans. e challenge of preserving the catch has evolved a number of delicious and distinctive methods for us to enjoy. We’ve all seen the little cans of versatile, umami-rich anchovies in the grocery store, but if you look closely, you might notice some varieties of seafood that you previously overlooked. ere is a de nite relationship between price and quality—if you think you don’t like canned seafood, you probably need to spend a little more. Good quality preserved seafood should be delicious straight out of the can or jar without any other modi cations necessary. Watch for some of these on your next grocery shopping adventure.

In Oil

Some of the most delicious, healthful, and highest quality canned fish is preserved in oil. Although many consumers opt for fish packed in water or brine for caloric reasons, tuna, sardines, and mackerel are at their most luxurious when packed in oil. The type of oil can have a substantial impact on flavor, so look for fish packed in olive or extra-virgin olive oil. And keep in mind that the flavorful oil can be used as well— cooking the onions or garlic for a seafood pasta sauce, for example. And watch for point of origin. Canned seafood from the western Mediterranean, especially from Spain (where preserved fish has a cult status) and Italy, is some of the best stuff out there. Note: peppers and beans have a natural affinity for canned seafood, and make for quick, delicious, and filling pantry salads.

Smoked

One of the oldest methods of preserving food, smoking adds a satisfying layer of complexity to fish like trout, herring, and eel. While delicious simply flaked and tossed in a salad, smoked seafood also blends brilliantly with cream for delicious dressings and sauces. And don’t forget the

or smashing into spreads for your next impromptu cocktail party or picnic.

In Escabeche

Also known as lightly pickled, seafood in escabeche/scapece/savoro/ scabetche has a tangy sweet-and-sour quality that lends itself beautifully to appetizers. Thought to have originated in Persia, the escabeche technique was spread throughout much of the world during Spanish imperialism. The seasonings vary from place to place, taking on a wide range of flavors, from mild to highly spiced. In the Philippines, a related sweet-and-sour technique is referred to as adobo.

seafood in escabe-

oyster—these little flavor bombs are great for topping canapes

One of the oldest methods of preserving and sauces. And don’t forget the oyster—these little flavor bombs are great for topping pickled,

by Jenny Vergara photo by Corie English

In Your Cocktail CHINGU

It is hard not to admire the patience of someone like Keeyoung Kim, chef and co-founder of Sura Eats inside of Parlor food hall, Chingu restaurant in Westport, and now Chingu Coffee in the West Plaza. In an age of instant gratification, he has waited six long years to open his first stand-alone restaurant. With several Korean restaurants in the suburbs that predate him,

Kim has chosen to set himself and his food apart by opening his Korean concepts closer to the urban core, in hot neighborhoods from the East Crossroads to west of the Country Club Plaza.

With each new concept, Kim continues to show us the delicious depths of his own Korean cuisine. It began with bowls of bibimbap and kimchi fried rice at his pop-up-turned-food stand, Sura Eats, and has

expanded to his cocktail-driven, full-service restaurant and bar, Chingu, which serves dishes like pajeon, a scallion pancake packed with meat or seafood and bossam a family-style platter piled high with Napa cabbage leaves and sliced and boiled pork belly where guests can make their own wraps served with a variety of banchan as sides and condiments. Kim and his business partner, David Son’s, colorful new spot combines common Korean street foods, Korean barbecue, and Korean home cooking—a taste of home that also extends to the drink menu at Chingu.

Local bartender Darrell Loo worked with Kim to create his first cocktail menu for Chingu. A favorite new cocktail on the menu is Love In Space, named after a Korean K-Pop song, as are all the cocktails on the menu. It is evident that Kim and Loo wanted to bring Korean spirits together with ingredients used in a Korean kitchen to inspire the cocktail menu, creating a sense of synergy between the food and drinks.

“The Love In Space is our take on an old fashioned. The major difference is we added cognac to the mix, as well as a gochujang honey, to bring a slight kick and fermented flavor to the cocktail that doesn't overwhelm. Strangely, it pairs perfectly with the rest of the combined spirits in the drink,” says Kim.

We can’t think of a more perfect drink to make the love in your life this year for Valentine’s Day and beyond. Cheers to a cocktail that is sweet and spicy with a boozy kick. chingukc.com

Love In Space

1 ounce Old Forester 100 Bourbon

1 ounce Pierre Ferrand Cognac

2 teaspoons (or bar spoon) gochujang-honey*

3 dashes of Angostura bitters

Stir with ice in a mixing glass, pour over ice (large ice cube if available) in a rocks glass. Garnish with orange peel.

*GOCHUJANG-HONEY

33 ounces gochujang

33 ounces honey

20 ounces water

Combine all ingredients, bring to a boil, and simmer on low for 15 minutes. Let sit at room temperature for two to four hours and strain.

by Jenny Vergara

GERARD’S AT THE BELFRY

IN 2013, Celina Tio bought the building at 16th and Grand in downtown Kansas City where she opened The Belfry, a lounge serving craft beer, cocktails, and chef-driven bar fare, and Collection, a restaurant turned event space. Last year, Denver developer Ken Wolf offered to buy the building and add a new pool hall in the former Collection space, which Tio would manage in addition to The Belfry. Gerard’s Pool Hall opened in December with five regulation-size pool tables, a dart board, pinball machine, and a chair rail that wraps the room for people to eat, drink, and watch all the action, something Tio had always wanted for the space. She has also been working on a side hustle, launching her own line of quality spirits. ANNX Spirits Co. was created by Tio and named after her private-school experiences in Pennsylvania. She even had a former classmate, Abigail McClure, do the box art for her 600 Acre vodka, Boat House gin, Moon Age bourbon, and Collection rye whiskey, which are now available for purchase at The Belfry and select liquor stores around town. She'll be showcasing her new line of spirits in the basement of her former building where she plans to open an 18-seat bar sometime this spring. thebelfrylounge.com

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ELEPHANT WINGS

AFTER SEVEN YEARS cooking his northern Indian-inspired dishes for groups of eight to 20 in homes across Kansas City as Elephant Wings, Ameet Malhotra will open in March at the Iron District as one of a handful of new food vendors in the container park located in North Kansas City. The former Hallmark designer turned private chef was taught by his father how to cook the dishes he grew up eating in Mumbai, and now he plans to bring his most popular dishes directly to the people by dishing up his Tikka Masala poutine, cilantro shrimp salad, and Bombay-Mi sandwich—his take on a Vietnamese banh mi sandwich made with cumin chicken, coriander chutney, pickled cucumber, shredded carrots, jalapeños, cilantro, and curried aioli on a French baguette. For those wanting to book your own in-home private dinner with Elephant Wings, Malhotra still plans to offer private dinners once he has his staff trained and in place. elephantwingskc.com

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Tribute to Aretha Franklin

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Conducts Sibelius

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BACEWICZ Overture

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Ravel’s Rapsodie and The Poem of Ecstasy

Friday & Saturday, March 3-4 at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 5 at 2 p.m.

MATTHIAS PINTSCHER GUEST CONDUCTOR

GEORGE LI PIANO

LIGETI San Francisco Polyphony

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In partnership with the Kansas City Zoo Symphony’s Wild Adventure

Sunday, March 12 at 2 p.m.

GONZALO FARIAS DAVID T. BEALS III ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR

Lion and tigers and … horns? ... oh my! Join in on the fun as we explore different animal families through music. From cute and cuddly to wild and woolly, we’ll show a menagerie of images and video of our favorite furry and feathered friends from the Kansas City Zoo while the orchestra takes us on a wildlife adventure. Tickets start at $29 for adults and $12 for children.

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Michael Stern, music director

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BY Jenny Vergara

NOVELLA

JOSH BELLA started his co ee career as the co-owner of the Common House, a co-working and mobile coffee bar concept in Independence, but soon he decided to pursue co ee full time. Last year, he opened a West Coast-themed pop-up co ee shop, e Slow Bar, inside the Jones Gallery in the Crossroads. Now he has partnered with Jason Provo, owner of Blackhole Bakery, on a series of espresso bar and pastry concepts that will be located inside established businesses, retail shops, and community spaces. e rst location for Novella opened in December in the West Bottoms where Bella and Provo subleased a space inside Charmed House Interiors, a multi-story red-brick building lled with home décor. e two partners plan to do a series of Novella espresso bar locations, including one that opened in January inside of the Mid-Continent Public Library located in the Northland. at location has a Culinary Center featuring a full commercial kitchen space, the rst of its kind in the region, which will help people learn about food preparation, nutrition, and food culture. Follow on Instagram @novellacafes

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Reservation for One ENZO BISTRO AND WINE BAR

by Jenny Vergara photos by Aaron Leimkuehler

Watching Laura Norris, owner of Ragazza Food & Wine, float around the dining room chatting with guests, glass of wine in hand, as her brother and collaborator, Grant Norris, greets people at the front door, you can almost feel the relief and pride they both share now that their second restaurant, Enzo Bistro & Wine Bar, is finally open for business after numerous construction delays.

The former Bo Ling’s space in the City Market underwent a major renovation, one that most importantly (and from a construction standpoint, most expensively) moved Bo Ling’s never-used cocktail bar away from the front windows to the middle of the restaurant, creating a dramatic focal point. Wrapped in warm, brown wood, the bar has almost a midcentury-modern feel accented with hand-blown glass lamps in swirls of blue and white, the color of the Mediterranean Sea, something the food at Enzo aspires to represent—but more on that in a minute.

The new bar takes up a sizable amount of real estate inside the restaurant, which is completely on-brand for Norris. The bar has always

been the social hub of her restaurants, the place where you may sit down a stranger, but you won’t stay one for long. In fact, Enzo takes reservations online for either a low-top table in the dining room, a bar-height table located near the bar, or a seat at the bar itself.

Although bar seats are prized by Ragazza regulars at Enzo, do not let that deter you from booking a low-top table at the front of the restaurant. With the old bar now gone, the large picture windows reveal a thrilling view of East 5th Street bustling with foot traffic and in full view of the City Market streetcar stop, something this restaurant shares with its sister restaurant on Main Street. Both are located on the Kansas City streetcar line.

The other significant change that the Norris siblings made is the installation of their own private bathroom inside the restaurant, instead of sending guests to use the shared bathrooms managed by the City Market in the common space of the building. I cannot thank them enough for that little luxury.

The two had originally planned to open a second Ragazza loca-

tion here, which would have been much easier to execute and operate rather than investing in a brand-new concept. But they soon realized that the restaurants were just too close in proximity to justify making them exact copies, so they created Enzo’s Bistro & Wine Bar, which they have marketed as northern Mediterranean cuisine that right now consists of a small menu of around 20 items. Half are Italian dishes from Ragazza’s menu, and the other half are mostly Greek dishes, particularly those with lamb, and a few new seafood o erings.

For those who already love the food at Ragazza, you will nd all your favorites on the menu, such as the eggplant frites, Ragazza’s Grande meatball, burrata, eggplant parmigiana, and lasagna. My goal for my meal was to order dishes that were not obviously Italian or on Ragazza’s current menu, to get a sense of where else the Mediterranean menu might be headed.

We decided on the moussaka, a layered Greek casserole, which at Enzo comes to the table in a personal casserole dish. It featured wonderfully tender ground lamb mixed with a tangy red tomato sauce then layered between whisper-thin eggplant slices with only a skin of béchamel baked on top. e dish unfortunately tasted a bit dry and lacked seasoning and spices like fresh oregano, cinnamon, or nutmeg that would have set it apart from tasting like a low-carb lasagna, which it ultimately did.

e lamb keftedes or ground lamb meatballs were tender and moist. ey came three to a bowl and were served over a generous spoonful of thick, creamy and cold Greek tzatziki sauce spiked with cucumber and dill and served with grilled pita bread.

e spicy feta dip was an ordering error on my part as another bowlful of creamy white tzatziki sauce, spiked with feta cheese, spicy Italian giardiniera, and served with crostini and pita bread hit the table.

e mussels were located on the small plates section of the menu at Enzo, but what arrived at the table was a huge, generous portion of perfectly cooked steamed mussels served in a broth of white wine, butter, shallot, garlic, and tomato and served with a side of two hefty hunks of soft focaccia bread for dipping. e best dish of the night, hands down.

We were not planning on dessert until the waiter mentioned cheesecake (never my favorite) topped with a Sambuca-spiked caramel sauce (totally my type). What came out of the kitchen was a ne piece of cheesecake, light, creamy, and drizzled with caramel sauce. I was secretly hoping it would be a ambé dessert situation. Alas, that was not the case.

A word about the drink menu at Enzo. Wine is recommended as the words “wine bar” are in the name. Enzo serves a ne selection of almost exclusively Old-World Italian and French bottles in quality stemware glasses. Norris has always had some choice wines on her list, and if you are not familiar with European wines, ask the sta . ey were quite helpful in pointing me toward a crisp glass of Aldegheri Mondello Soave Classico from Italy to start my meal.

Overall, if you love Ragazza, you will love Enzo Bistro & Wine Bar. My deepest hope is that Enzo develops its own identity, becoming a true Mediterranean wine bar, o ering small plates and wines from ports of call farther away than just Greece and Italy. ey have the location, the bar, and the wine list, they just need to explore avors from a few other ports of call. enzokcmo.com

1900bldg.com

(913) 730–1905

therestaurantat1900.com

(913) 730–1900

1900 Building 1900 Shawnee Mission Parkway

Mission Woods, Kansas

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.

A spectacular, contemporary venue with transformable reception spaces and a magnificent courtyard.

MAKE ROOM FOR ALL OF YOU

MAKE ROOM FOR ALL OF YOU

Faces IN KC

Cocktails & Candlelight

THE KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA Holiday Homes Tour kicked off its Cocktails and Candlelight VIP event on December 7. Guests enjoyed light bites, drinks, and shopping after touring four beautiful Kansas City homes. For more photos go to inkansascity.com/events.

CALL OR VISIT US ONLINE TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY DESIGN CONSULTATION 913.888.1199

CALL OR VISIT US ONLINE TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY DESIGN CONSULTATION 913.888.1199

CALL OR VISIT US ONLINE TODAY TO SCHEDULE YOUR COMPLIMENTARY DESIGN CONSULTATION 913.888.1199

OVERLAND PARK BRIARCLIFF VILLAGE

OVERLAND PARK BRIARCLIFF VILLAGE

OVERLAND PARK | BRIARCLIFF VILLAGE CALIFORNIACLOSETS.COM

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Book Signing with David Jimenez

DAVID JIMENEZ’S new book, Parisian by Design: Interiors by David Jimenez, is a love letter to Paris. Authored by Diane Dorrans Saeks (whom he met at a cocktail party in Paris) and published by Rizzoli, it features allnew photography of his design projects, while the second half of the book is his guide to the best Parisian design sources, including artisans, florists, antiquaries, and flea markets. He came to Kansas City on Friday, November 11, for a book signing and conversation with Vivien Jennings. The multimedia event was held at Unity Temple on the Plaza. For more photos go to inkansascity.com/events

photos by jack bryan

YOU’RE ON THE CLOCK, BECOME A KANSAS CITY

MAKING A BETTER KC THROUGH SPORTS

Playmakers is a community-wide initiative of the Kansas City Sports Commission to raise required funding and maximize the community impact of hosting one of the most significant events in sports: the 2023 NFL Draft.

Becoming a KC Playmaker is the only way for individuals and organizations to enjoy an exclusive VIP experience at the 2023 NFL Draft, as well as receive significant local marketing exposure. In addition to a VIP Party hosted each day of the Draft, our Playmakers will have access to several other events, including a Lunch with Chiefs Legends, behind-the-scenes tour of the Draft and luncheon with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell!

BECOME A PLAYMAKER. VISIT SPORTKC.COM/PLAYMAKERS

Andy’s essentials...

HIDDEN GEM: ere’s this awesome little neighborhood bar in KCK called Hillsiders. It’s the kind of place you go into and just instantly feel comfortable. It’s one of my favorite places to go in KC, and the bartenders are friendly and awesome.

DATE NIGHT: Betty Rae’s Ice Cream is always a good choice. I am a big fan of their co ee ice cream, but the a ogato with peppermint and cookies n’ cream is amazing. Unfortunately, their peppermint ice cream only comes out once a year.

SELF-CARE SESH: Walking through the greenhouse full of plants at Larry’s Nursery in Riverside provides a nice little serotonin boost.

by Emily Park

ANDY THACKER

ENTREPRENEUR. DESIGNER. CRAFTSMAN

After spending a few years working in New York, Andy acker, a furniture designer, artist, and native Kansas Citian, decided to bring his craft back home. “Kansas City is still very much a growing city, and that growth can allow for a lot of cool things to happen. New places are always opening up— weird little spaces run by people who truly care about what they do. If you’re longing for an art scene, music scene, restaurant, or store to exist, you might just have to be the one to start it. I have so many friends who have done this and created their own communities because of it. We have so many people here that have great ideas.”

You’ll nd acker’s work connected to his brand, A-Frame Design ( @aframe_design ). He designs custom, modern furniture with an emphasis on wood designs in uenced by Scandinavian and Japanese techniques. Look at his past work and discover oak storage benches, zebrawood and walnut tables, modern barn doors, and everything in-between. When acker’s not making furniture, he’s hanging out with his dog, Ada, in an apartment with enough houseplants to rival the Rainforest Cafe, competing with his trivia team that is “forever doomed to be in third place,” or exploring his other favorite spots in Kansas City.

BREAKFAST TIME: Los Alamos Cocina makes some of the best breakfast burritos in town! I’ve been going there for years now.

NIGHTCAP: I’ve spent the last few years trying to learn about wine, and I’m nally starting to feel like I know how not to make a fool out of myself. The Pairing, located in the Crossroads, is one of my new favorite wine shops. ey have so many good bottles to choose from and even have a bar in the back where you can hang out and drink.

LOCAL MAKER: Some of my favorites are Phill Sikes Designs, Please Send Word, and brother/sister duo, Elliot and Erin McAnany. Phill is a woodturner who makes some of the most beautiful bowls I’ve ever seen. PSW makes these amazing handmade brooms that I will nd an excuse to buy someday. Elliot is an amazing artist who takes things such as old advertisements, wallpaper, and old frames and turns them into interesting, emotional, and modern pieces. And lastly, Erin is a very talented homeaccessories designer. She makes everything from pillows that she calls Knotties to pottery and jewelry.

SHOP LOCAL: For things I can’t build or smaller accessory pieces, I love going to Kanso, located in the Crossroads. Jason, the shop owner, is super knowledgeable, and I love his focus on modern Scandinavian and Japanese design.

photo by jonathan horst

Oasis OUTDOOR

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

nfm.com

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

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