IN Kansas City February 2025

THE GETAWAY HOUSE A SECOND HOME IN KC Q & A WITH ELLE JACKSON KC-BASED HARLEQUIN AUTHOR

Special Section

KANSAS CITY WEDDING GUIDE

The Romance Issue

AVAILABLE AT

A full-service, in-house construction and design team: Ross offers both construction and design services under her supervision which significantl impacts the client experience for the better.

Impeccable attention to detail: Like the show-stopping interiors she creates, Ross understands the art of details and will bring the smallest of project elements to new heights.

The embodiment of luxury: When infusing luxury into a home remodeling project, Ross looks beyond price tags and instead embraces not only what luxury is, but how it makes a client feel.

Invest where it counts: When you work with a kitchen and bath designer it can save you time—and money, not to mention stress.

The art of trend-setting: Ross isn’t shy about crediting her Western European heritage for helping her cultivate a keen eye for interior trends. “I set the trends; I don’t follow them,” she says.

THE LUXURY OF HOME

returns you to personal places and inspired spaces

Few things feel as good as returning home. At the end of a journey. Or simply the end of the day. The yearning for home lives in each of us.

At Seville Home, we create relaxing retreats that offer an immediate embrace and pure comfort.

For over 25 years, it’s been our passion and privilege to furnish luxurious homes across Kansas City. As 2025 continues unfolding, let’s make refreshing your places of peace and inspiration a priority.

During our February Fine Furniture Event, save up to 55% OFF from America’s finest makers:

• Up to 55% OFF American Leather Motion Sale

• 50% OFF Lexington Furniture

• 50% OFF Bernhardt Interiors Boutique

• Up to 50% OFF Luxury Outdoor - Pre-Season Pricing

Kimberly Karen Becky Carrie Meredith

Your Seville Home Designers

Paulene Kelly

E BLAKE & ASSOCIATES LAKE & ASSOOCCIIATTEES S

For the Ones You Love

AMAZING VALENTINE’S DAY GIFTS YOU CAN GET AT TOWN CENTER PLAZA AND TOWN CENTER CROSSING

BRIGHTON

Interlok

TOWN CENTER PLAZA

4EverYoung

Aerie

Allen Edmonds

Altar’d State

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Anthony Vince Nail Spa

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Athleta

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Bath & Body Works

Blue Chip Cookies

Brighton Collectibles

Bristol Seafood Grill

Brooks Brothers

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Buckle

Chicos

Claire’s

CycleBar

Dry Goods

Escapology (Coming Soon)

Francesca’s Collections

Frannie Franks

Gap Body

Gap Kids/Baby

Gorjana

Hudson/Hawk Barber & Shop

J. Jill

Kansas City Aerial Arts

LaserAway

LOFT

Macy’s

Madewell

MTHD Hair Co. (New)

Natalie M. Studio

OFFLINE by Aerie

Pandora Jewelry

Panera

Pinot’s Palette

Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn Kids

Power Life Yoga Barre Fitness

Rally House/Kansas Sampler

Restoration Hardware

Revocup Coffee

Salon Ami Aveda

SandboxVR

Scout & Molly’s Boutique

Sephora

Sola Salon

Soma

Sundance

Sunglass Hut

Sushi House

TAO Reflexology

Tempur-Pedic

Infinity Post Drop Earrings, $52; Interlok Luxe Double Hinged Bangle $138; Interlok Knot Ring, $48; Eternal Stack Ring, $42; Interlok Twist Hinged Bangle, $88 Celtic knots, with no beginning or end, symbolize love, friendship, and eternity—which is why all Brighton’s Interlok pieces go so perfectly together.

SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE

Tomahawk Trio for Two, $199

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with Sullivan’s Tomahawk Trio for Two that includes a shareable 32 oz Wagyu tomahawk, two North Atlantic cold water lobster tails, all paired with a bottle of Gruet Brut sparkling wine. Or order from their classic menu of bone-in steaks, fresh seafood, and signature cocktails.

PANDORA

Engravable Bar Link Bracelet, $195: Organically Shaped Stacking Rings, $165 Words can speak as loud as actions. Whether you want to celebrate your friendship or treat yourself to a jewelry piece that has your name all over it, Pandora engraving can do it all.

WOODHOUSE SPA

Couples Retreat: $260 | 50 min., $350 | 80 min., $450 | 110 min. The Body Balance Massage for two: A take on a classic Swedish massage. Long, flowing movements of light-to-medium pressure reduce tension and increase circulation, leaving your mind and body in balance.

BATH & BODY WORKS

Beard Kit, $49.95

Give him the gift of a new routine and put a smile on his face. Includes beard and face wash, beard and scruff cream, beard oil and beard brush arranged inside a case.

BLUE CHIP COOKIES

Place an order for KC’s best decorated cookies or a creative cookie cake for your Valentine. All made from scratch the day you pick up!

PINOT’S PALETTE

Sip some wine and make some art. Celebrate Valentine’s Day with your special someone and have the best night ever created by you.

VERA BRADLEY

Fleece Socks, $10; Verona Heart Crossbody Bag, $135; Hathaway Tote, $100; Hot Water Bottle, $45, Travel Pill Case, $25; Notebook, $15 for set of two

Discover the perfect Valentine’s Day gift at Vera Bradley! From thoughtfully designed totes in romantic patterns to stylish travel accessories for any adventure, find the ideal present to celebrate your love. You’ll be sure to find a bag, wallet or cute accessory she’ll love.

TREATS UNLEASHED

Pamper your dogs and cats with Treats Unleashed’s baked on-site pet-safe treats this Valentine’s Day. They also have toys, stylish attire, and all the essentials your true love needs.

The Art of Sports

The North Face

Tommy Bahama

Vera Bradley

White House | Black Market

Whole Harvest Kitchen

Williams-Sonoma

X-Golf

Yankee Candle Co.

TOWN CENTER CROSSING

Apple

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Purple

Roasterie Café

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Sullivan’s Steakhouse

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Treats Unleashed

Vineyard Vines

Warby Parker

Woodhouse Day Spa

Yeti

PLAZA • CROSSING

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Conveniently

Leawood, Kansas

Color Theory

Is there anything drearier than the Midwest in February?

“All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray,” to quote the Mamas and the Papas. They must have been in Kansas City when they wrote that.

If you’re feeling a little drab and sad too, try cheering things up by introducing a bold shot of color in your home. Take baby steps, maybe a couple of exotic embroidered Indian pillows on your white sofa (remember, Diana Vreeland said that pink is the navy blue of India for a reason), or a shapely vase in a vivid shade of coral on your walnut sideboard.

I am not afraid of color, but it seems that my timing is off. In the 90s when beige was all the rage, our Hyde Park home was filled with color. The library was painted a glossy Revlon Fire and Ice-lipstick red. The guest bedroom was the color of a carnival caramel apple. Our bedroom was a complex yellow/green/gray color that doesn’t sound restful, but I loved it. And the dining room—oh my! This was in my faux finish phase, so I stippled the walls the orange of a Hermes box. With creamy white trim and stained black floors, it was a room to behold. Now, I’m aware that sounds a little Halloween-y, but believe me, everybody loved that room.

Now color is everywhere. So of course, my home is a balm of serene whites, creams, and browns. (Except for the library, which is swathed in the deepest pea-green hue on the walls, trim and ceiling. I did dip my paintbrush into the trend.)

Within our pages (see interior designer Connie Fey’s Plaza project beginning on page 60), and in the pages of every national shelter magazine, color reigns. While Connie relied on a background of bold black and white, the color ebbs and flows from room to room. The malachite wallcovering in the living room and the walls clad in aqua green mosaic tile paired with the gold-leaf ceiling in the bar vibrate with joyous color. It’s a signature look that makes a statement.

And if all that doesn’t inspire you, remember white is a color, too!

Vol. 8 | No. 2

FEBRUARY 2025

Editor In Chief Zim Loy

Digital Editor Evan Pagano

Art Director Alice Govert Bryan

Contributing Writers

Judith Fertig, Merrily Jackson, Cindy Hoedel, Damian Lair, Patricia O’Dell, Jenny Vergara

Contributing Photographers

Bridget Chang, Aaron Leimkuehler

Publisher Michelle Jolles

Media Director Brittany Coale

Senior Media Consultants

Katie Delzer, Nicole Kube, Krista Markley, Josie Rawlings

Intern Annie Woodson

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

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INKANSASCITY.COM

ENTER TO WIN

Doubling Up. Enter to win a $100 gift card to any of Gift Card Market’s ve million participating restaurants, spas, and salons. You choose! In addition, local medspa AesthetiCare is sweetening the deal with a free HydraFacial (value: $195). Enter to win by February 28 at inkansascity.com/the-magazine/ enter-to-win. Best of luck!

There’s always chocolate. Do you know a soul who would complain about a box of chocolates on Valentine’s Day? We don’t—but there are levels to this. You could rush it with a quick drugstore buy, or you could spend some time picking each bonbon at one of the many local chocolatiers in Kansas City. Find our list of the top KC chocolatiers on inkansascity.com

rush it with a quick drugstore

Hungry? Our comprehensive dining guide has just about everything under the Kansas City sun. Bookmark inkansascity.com/eatdrink/dining-guide to spice up your dining life.

Climb underground. On an quiet stretch of Mercier Street, there’s a long parking lot with nothing but an unassuming tower. It’s an elevator. Ride it down (its only direction), and you’ll pop out in the revamped cave system that houses RoKC Underground, a bouldering gym that just ts. Get a look inside at inkansascity.com

We’ve got this, lovebirds. If you put a lot of pressure on yourself during the season of love, fret not—we looked at all Kansas City has to o er and got the ball rolling for you. Find our list of perfectly KC date ideas on inkansascity.com

Kansas City has to o er and got

This Month IN KC

February

WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AND WHAT YOU NEED TO SEE

by Evan Pagano

Beetlejuice

February 18–23

Kansas City Music Hall kansascity.broadway.com/shows/beetlejuice

It’s showtime! Twenty-one years after the Tim Burton classic delighted and disturbed audiences at the movie theater, Beetlejuice took the Broadway stage as a musical—and now it’s on the road. From Feb. 18 to 23, the ghost with the most will haunt the Music Hall stage for eight shows. Tickets start at $50.

Boozy Book Fair

February 22

Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center simpletix.com/e/boozy-book-fair-tickets-193700

Scholastic sippin’. Bookworms, this is big! The Gilded Page’s Boozy Book Fair is coming back, and this time, it’s going to be at the Sheraton Kansas City. For the uninitiated, it’s like a grown up Scholastic Book Fair with book vendors, authors, and of course, booze. People younger than 21 are technically allowed, but it’s not geared toward kids. Early admission tickets are $32.64, late admission tickets are just $11.63, and a VIP ticket ($53.65) gets you in first.

FEBRUARY SPOTLIGHT

Kansas City Brew Fest

February 22

Union Station kansascitybrewfest.com

More than a beer festival. Don’t get us wrong, Kansas City Brew Fest is totally a beer festival—the organizers are promising more than 45 breweries, from local craft breweries to international powerhouses—but you have to remember, Union Station is a big place. Attendees will also have access to an array of food trucks.

Stockyards Brewing Co., ExBEERiment Brewing, and Cinder Block Brewery are just a few of the local participants; notable out-of-towners include Perennial Artisan Ales (St. Louis), Fiction Beer Company (Denver), and Delirium (Belgium—yes, the country).

The food truck lineup includes 451 Pizza, Wing Stand by Jeffersons, and Twisted Taters, to name a few. It looks like all the fare will pair well with a brewski.

Tickets are $50 and will land you pours from every brewery in the building. A $15 upgrade gets you in an hour early and access to exclusive beers. Designated drivers, those saints, get in for $20. Food is sold separately.

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

BY Merrily Jackson mjackson@inkansascity.com

Romancing the Friend Group

Ibelieve in romance. Two cases in point: e Love, Actually “to me you are perfect” cue card scene always reduces me to a sobbing piece of wreckage. Secondly, I would argue that Jane Austen’s Persuasion is the nest novel in the English language. As a recent widow, with great friends who have helped me through the dark times, I also believe in the allure of friendship, that love doesn’t have to be romantic to be transformative. Valentine Day—why not say all of February?—presents an opportunity to acknowledge the joy you’ve found in your friends. Here then, without hope or agenda, (see what I did there?) I o er some thought-starters for hosting a gathering to celebrate your circle.

Just have drinks. Like romantic relationships, friendships need attention and time. Having your peeps over shows them you care. No one expects you to put on the dog, or even to have matching wine glasses. Open bottles of wine and throw down some cheese and crackers. A wedge of Cambozola and water crackers are always a crowd pleaser. In fact, I have a list of classic cheese and cracker pairings. Email me for them or any recipe I mention herein. Regarding wine, I nd that sauvignon blanc and pinot noir will suit most white and red wine drinkers.

Or have a dinner party. Here are four ideas. My friend Chuck Matney makes the most delicious lasagna—it incorporates Bolognese and béchamel sauces—that is perfect for a winter dinner party (See page 22 for the recipe).

Ina Garten’s boeuf bourguignon, from her Barefoot in Paris cookbook, is absolutely killer. Or you can save time but not money and buy Williams Sonoma’s Boeuf Bourguignonne Braising Sauce and use the recipe on the label.

If you’re feeding a vegetarian or someone gluten free, I have a recipe called Creamy Mushroom Risotto with Peas that you make in a slow cooker. It’s hearty enough to serve everyone as a main course.

If you don’t feel like cooking, set your table and serve takeout from a great restaurant that has a catering menu on its website, like Lidia’s, Q39, or French Market (excellent quiches and family-style salads).

You could even do brunch. All you need for a respectable brunch are: a big, gooey, egg casserole; a fruit salad; an assortment of baked goods, and, if your group likes to day drink, mimosas and Bloody Marys. Email me for my favorite brunch recipes.

A creative group outing idea. Stationery purveyor Cuorebella at Mission Farms o ers private watercolor workshops for groups of six to eight, led by owner and watercolor artist Trish Church Podlasek. No artistic experience is necessary, just the enthusiasm to try. e fee of $68 per person includes refreshments (like prosecco!), and all the supplies needed to create a painting, which Trish will transform into a professionally nished 100-page notepad. Round up your tribe and go!

Entertaining IN KC

PARTY FAVOR IDEAS

COMFORT IN EVERY BOWL

JUST WILD

A packet of wild ower seeds is eco-friendly and o ers friends the joy of planting something that grows and blooms. Messner Bee Farm Honeybee Garden Wild ower Seeds, $6.

EVERYONE LOVES COOKIES

Bake a batch or two of your favorite cookies, package them prettily, then send them home with your guests. (You can buy 5-inch by 7-inch

cello bags online.)

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Smoked Brisket Chili

PINK SALT ROCKS!

Pink Himalayan salt is thought to be healthier and smoother tasting than table salt. And it looks smart and artisanal next to the stove. Olde Thompson Himalayan Pink Salt, $10, available at Pryde’s Kitchen & Necessities.

SPRUCE THINGS UP

OH, STOP IT!

One can never have too many wine stoppers, and they make for a useful and sophisticated party favor. Michael Aram Butter y Ginko wine stopper, $115, available at Terrasi Living & Scandia Home.

ReimaginedReal Estate

A baby evergreen tree (actually a seedling that has grown roots and is ready for planting) makes a meaningful party favor, symbolizing enduring friendship.

BATHE LIKE A BOSS

Bath zzies will give your friends a relaxing, spa-like experience at home, encouraging self-care after a long day.

Old Whaling Company Bath Bombs, $8 each, available at Cuorebella.

Entertaining

IN ADDITION to being one of KC’s most sought-after floral designers, Chuck Matney of The Little Flower Shop is also an accomplished cook and host. He adapted this recipe from one he found in Perfect Recipes for Having People Over by Pam Anderson.

CHUCK MATNEY’S REALLY GOOD LASAGNA

FOR THE BOLOGNESE-STYLE SAUCE

3 tablespoons butter

1 small onion, cut into small dice

1 small celery stock, cut into small dice

2 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto, cut into small dice

2 pounds ground beef

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup vermouth or dry white wine

1 cup whole milk

1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes

FOR THE PARMESAN WHITE SAUCE

21/2 cups whole milk

1 cup chicken broth

4 garlic cloves, minced

3 tablespoons butter

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

FOR THE LASAGNA

11/2 tablespoons of salt

15 oven-ready rippled lasagna noodles

8 ounces grated fontina cheese (about 21/2 cups)

3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

TO MAKE BOLOGNESE-STYLE SAUCE

Heat butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery and cook until just soft, about three minutes. Add prosciutto and sauté until vegetables are fully softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add ground beef and cook, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste and stirring frequently, until it loses its raw color, about 3 minutes. Add vermouth and simmer until almost evaporated, about 5 minutes. Add milk and cook until almost evaporated, 5 to 7 minutes longer. Add tomatoes. Cook,

TO MAKE WHITE SAUCE

Combine milk, broth, and garlic in a two-quart Pyrex measuring cup or a microwave-safe bowl, cover with a small plate, and microwave until steamy hot, 8 to 10 minutes (or heat in a medium saucepan over medium low heat).

Meanwhile, melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. When foaming subsides, whisk in flour until well blended. Pour in hot milk all at once; whisk vigorously until sauce is smooth and starts to bubble and thicken. Stir in Parmesan and season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and place plastic wrap directly on the sauce’s surface.

TO ASSEMBLE AND BAKE LASAGNA

Adjust oven rack to upper middle position and heat oven to 425°. Dissolve salt in 2 quarts hot tap water in a 13 x 9 baking dish. Add noodles and soak until soft, about 10 minutes. Drain noodles and stack loosely. (Noodles may stick together as they dry but will pull apart easily.)

Wipe baking dish dry.

Smear 1/4 cup white sauce over bottom of baking dish. Top with a layer of three noodles, then 2/3 cup of white sauce, one cup meat sauce, 1/2 cup fontina, and 2 tablespoons Parmesan. Repeat three times, then make a final layer with remaining noodles, white sauce, and cheeses. Cover with aluminum foil. Bake until very hot throughout, about 30 minutes. Leaving pan on rack, remove foil and turn oven to broil. Watching carefully, broil lasagna until cheese and sauce are spotty brown. Remove from oven and let stand to set, 10 to 15 minutes. Cut

With warmer temps just a few months away, now is the time to plan for your inspirational garden zen just steps from your door. Call today and we’ll take care of everything, from design to installation to maintenance.

With warmer temps just a few months away, now is the time to plan for your inspirational garden zen just steps from your door. Call today and we’ll take care of everything, from design to installation to maintenance.

Thinking of Buying or Selling in 2025?

by Damian Lair dlair@inkansascity.com

A Match Made in Heaven

It is atypical for me to write about something before it happens. is, however, was not your typical invitation. On a snow-packed Saturday in January, I was invited to spend some time with the legendary fashion designer Jeremy Scott as he was working on a forthcoming exhibit at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art

The exhibit, A Match Made in Heaven: Katherine Bernhardt x Jeremy Scott , is, as the title suggests, a collaboration. Scott’s fashion creations will be shown alongside the paintings of Katherine Bernhardt in a mixed-media extravaganza consuming the entire first floor of the museum.

nothing short of exuberant. Her subjects are quotidian objects, often tying back to consumerism or pop culture—tacos, Crocs, Lucky Charms, melon slices, E.T., McDonald’s, Windex, Pink Panther, etc. For anyone familiar with Jeremy Scott’s work, it is, as the exhibition’s title declares—a match made in heaven. Immense congratulations are due to the Nerman Museum’s executive director and chief curator, JoAnne Northrup, for envisioning this unimaginably perfect pairing.

When I visited, Bernhardt’s works had already been installed along the gallery walls, and I couldn’t help but notice so many themes overlapping Scott’s oeuvre. Scattered throughout her pre-existing works are some new pieces directly inspired by articles within Scott’s collections—namely, from his longstanding collaboration history with Adidas. If visions of his winged sneakers or those donned with plush teddy bears or poodles don’t come to mind, they should. And their use as subject matter for Bernhardt’s paintings feels like destiny.

For anyone unfamiliar, Jeremy Scott is most well known for having spent ten years as creative director of the Italian high-fashion brand, What former neighbor will be less than thrilled to learn—he’s baaack?

Katherine Bernhardt is a contemporary artist based in St. Louis. Her paintings are primarily composed of thinned acrylic and spray paint and are

PHOTO

Damian Lair at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art with fashion designer Jeremy Scott.

Our Man IN KC

Moschino. Almost two years since his departure, I asked what his life looked like now. He cheekily replied that he felt like the busiest “technically unemployed” person on the planet. Did I mention he’s modest? With his ongoing Adidas collaborative work, a recent capsule collection with cosmetics brand Spoiled Child, and his own eponymous line—he’s hardly lacking work. He ticked off several future projects I promised not to divulge. By every account, he appears to be making the most of his time away from helming a titan fashion company. And given fashion’s game of musical chairs, one wonders—as I did—how long he may remain on the sidelines of that specific circus. He declined to share.

Scott was especially grateful that his more flexible schedule allowed him to take on this major project. And what a project it is shaping up to be. Scattered across the museum’s expansive lobby were dozens of rolling racks containing hundreds of priceless couture garments. From his Los Angeles warehouse(s), his team packed up a multitude of options. In fact, nearly every space of the museum was filled with these objects of flamboyance. The cafeteria space had been cleared for accessories. Golden sunglasses, Happy Meal handbags, and tables of bejeweled costume jewelry had me mesmerized. One entire room was dedicated to several hundred pairs of shoes. And the auditorium was sheathed in the most precious garments, presumably too delicate for hanging. After leaving him, I spent hours just looking and examining. A black velvet gown outlined in what appeared to be a golden baroque wooden frame was, upon further inspection, handwoven gold bullion. There were bloomers made entirely of pearls and headpieces sculpted to look like whipped frosting The dedication to craft, detail, and precision can only be properly appreciated in person and up close. And it is for this reason that this body of work is unequivocally deserving of a proper museum exhibition.

This man who’s famously dressed Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Madonna, and Paris Hilton— to name just a few of his top fans—is a Kansas City native. It’s a fact that is not lost on him. He made a particular point to tell me how proud he was, not only of this exhibition, but of the ability to share this complete retrospective in his hometown. For a country boy, once declined admission to FIT for “lacking originality and creativity,”and later living homeless on the streets of Paris, it’s not just an exhibition of talent and beauty, but one of hope and fearlessness.

From the moment I walked into the museum, falling into a chaotic cyclone of irreverent fashion pieces, I was overcome with a sense of pure, unbridled joy. The blank, white canvas became an exploded Lisa Frank sticker box of iconic garments and viral fashion moments. Once open, you’ll get to see both the 40-pound chandelier dress and the hamburger garment Katy Perry famously wore to the 2019 Met Gala, as you’re immersed in a vibrant world. I shared my visceral response to the space with Scott, and he, too, was overcome with joy.

Following my afternoon with him, I watched the 2015 documentary (available on Amazon Prime) Jeremy Scott: The People’s Designer. In his

OVERHEARD

“I’ve never been disliked by someone I would want to trade places with.”

wrap-up interview, he shared: “I think so much of fashion is, in a way, not real because it’s not going anywhere but down a runway or maybe on an actress on a red carpet for one moment. I feel like those clothes aren’t going to have a real life. And that makes me sad. I want my clothes to live, to party, to have fun…. To me, that’s true fulfillment as a designer.” Having spent the better part of a day immersed in the playful, kooky world filled with those very garments, I can be the first to testify—they are partying and having so much fun

The exhibit opens February 7. Go—and have fun.

HONORING FORTY YEARS

THE Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey recently hosted their annual Race, Place & Diversity event at the Zhou B Art Center of Kansas City. This year, on the occasion of the organization’s 40th anniversary, the event was reimagined. In lieu of a local and national awardee, the event was an evening of recognition honoring its founding board members. Those present included founder Allan Gray II, Bunni Copaken, Sharon Hoffman, and Ronald Posey

Following a cocktail hour of hors d’oeuvres and post-holiday catching up, KCFAA CEO, Carla Williams-Evans welcomed guests at a dinner taking place on what was once the gymnasium floor of the historic Crispus Attucks School—now an event space inside Zhou B Art Center. Tyrone Aiken, the KCFAA chief artistic officer, served as MC for the evening and took us on a historical journey of both KCFAA and Alvin Ailey’s life.

Later, KCFAA founder Allan Gray II recounted for us both how he met Alvin Ailey and KCFAA was subsequently born. In summary, they bumped into one another at the Kansas City airport. He showed Ailey around Kansas City, including the 18th & Vine area (prior to its current redevelopment), where they spotted children playing at a car wash. Ailey wanted to stop and interact with the kids, and he showed them a few dance moves. Feeling stifled by the pressures of New York, he imagined an offshoot of the company where he could express his creativity without the weight inherent to operating an internationally acclaimed company. In coordination with Mayor Richard Berkley, more than 100 prominent community leaders came together to form Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey.

At the program’s conclusion, we all enjoyed a soul-warming performance by a troupe of KCFAA dance students. They performed a piece from their recent participation in the Owen/Cox Dance Group’s modern jazz rendition of The Nutcracker & the Mouse King

Later, we all danced!

Still in the Ailey spirit, the following week I attended KCFAA’s annual Ailey Trio event. Held at the GEM Theater . The event is part performance, part lecture, and part audience participation. Every year, fresh off their month of performing at New York City Center and ahead of their national spring tour, three dancers from the company bring their talents to Kansas City. In addition to performing at area schools, the Trio event is the capstone of their days here. This year, we were fortunate to have Solomon Dumas , Ashley Kaylynn Green , and De’Anthony Vaughan

The three performed, individually and together, a series of excerpts from pieces across the company’s hailed repertory. Robert Battle’s Takademe was new to me and was an exquisite deconstruction of Indian Kathak dance rhythms set to a syncopated score. Solomon was brilliant. And one of my absolute favorites, Kyle Abraham’s Are You in Your Feelings? had me entranced. In addition to others, they performed the interim artistic director Matthew Rushing’s Sacred Songs, which resurrects and reimagines the spirituals used in the original version of Ailey’s seminal Revelations that were later redacted.

But I’ve saved the most touching and special part for last. This was Vaughan’s first time performing in his hometown since he joined one of the most elite dance companies in the world. Vanghan was a KCFAA AileyCamp participant (a now-national summer program that originated in Kansas City), and he was a student at the studio. He is the first Kansas Citian to become a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and it started with KCFAA. It was incredibly moving to hear his story.

In a 40th Anniversary tribute video, Tyrone Aiken offered this about the children KCFAA serves: “When they’re inspired to do the work, the result is incredible. And it is our job to clear a path that allows them to do the work and flourish.” Vaughan is a living, breathing, dancing example of what can happen when that path is cleared.

SPOTTED: John Hoffman, Paul Copaken, Ellen & Jamie Copaken, Lynn Carlton, Jamila & Dr. Michael Weaver, Debby Ballard, Tammy Edwards, Susan Stanton, Brian Williams, Karen Curls, Pamela & Irvin Bishop, LaMonica Madden, Denise & Calvin Ricks

OVERHEARD

“It’s like I fell out of a wormhole and landed in SIMP City.”

So, KC—where do you want to go? XO

Arts & Culture

IBY Judith Fertig

Virginia Reed

OPERA SINGER ANSWERS FOUR QUESTIONS

f you saw e Barber of Seville last November, then you heard mezzo-soprano Virginia Reed sing the role of Berta in her Lyric Opera debut. For the 2024-2025 season, Reed is one of four opera singers chosen to be a resident artist at the Lyric. is program is a great opportunity for young opera singers to get more experience performing, make professional connections, and learn how to make opera a career.

“No two days look the same as a resident artist,” says Reed. “ e Lyric has crafted a unique program that provides a wealth of resources paired with skill-appropriate performance and outreach opportunities. We four singers receive voice lessons (technical instruction), coaching

(linguistic and stylistic instruction), as well as feedback and seminars from professionals in adjacent parts of the opera industry. ese are resources whose cost would normally add up very quickly, so to receive them all for free is a tremendous help to us as young singers.”

Reed continues, “We put these skills into practice through roles performed in mainstage productions, as well as in outreach performances such as Opera to Go and our regional children’s opera tour. Having the chance to get stage time in any form, ‘Getting the reps in,’ so to speak, is crucial in feeling comfortable and commanding onstage.”

Next month, Reed is slated to sing the role of Grandmother in Maya and the Magic Ring, an opera for families. Maya discovers a beau-

photo courtesy of lyric opera of kansas city

Arts & Culture IN KC

tiful ruby ring in her grandmother’s possessions. When she rubs it, a genie appears, and before you can say uh-oh, chaos ensues. And Virginia Reed is just the person to handle it. kcopera.org

INKC: How did you become interested in opera?

Virginia Reed: I was raised in a very musical family and began violin lessons at the age of 5—as well as my family being active in Irish and folk music—but didn’t genuinely look at performing as a career until my first year at Crane School of Music (SUNY Potsdam). I went to see a Metropolitan Opera Live in HD broadcast of Eugene Onegin at a movie theater. Tchaikovsky’s music, and the passion of the singers—Anna Netrebko and Mariusz Kwiecień at their respective primes—hit me right across the face. I gushed to my voice teacher at the time and she gave me the “permission” I needed to consider a career as a performer. The next year I transferred to Manhattan School of Music, where I completed my Bachelor of Music, after which I did my master’s at San Francisco Conservatory of Music. In San Francisco I studied with Catherine Cook, whom I credit with giving me a solid technical foundation as well as sharing her deep knowledge of the industry—every singer needs a teacher like Cathy in their corner.

INKC: Since your voice is your instrument, how do you keep it in tip-top shape?

VR: I like to think of singers as vocal Olympians—our instrument is built into us and is not replaceable! I focus on taking care of my body

and mind as holistically as possible. Sleep is a big priority to me, as well as getting enough cardiovascular exercise so that I don’t have to worry about losing stamina during rehearsal or onstage. A lot of singers completely avoid certain irritants like caffeine, alcohol, or spicy foods, but it really comes down to knowing and working with your own voice. Personally, I am a major coffee addict!

INKC: Since you are from the East Coast, what has surprised you most about living in Kansas City?

VR: Without a doubt the sense of community and civic pride. Before I moved here, I was looking forward to good barbecue, jazz, and amazing sports teams like the Current and the Chiefs. Since moving here, I’ve been delighted by how much people love being KC residents. The community pride is evident whether in planned civic improvements or general community ethos and has made for a really warm and welcoming adjustment.

INKC: What are your favorite guilty pleasures—in music or in food?

VR: This is a tough one! I try not to feel too guilty about enjoying things—life is so short and dessert is delicious! I do have a major sweet tooth but can usually justify my baking habit by bringing treats to rehearsal to share.

Musically, I am a diehard Wagner fan, despite having a voice that will likely never be appropriate for his music—perhaps in this case the grass is greener on the Wagner side.

Arts & Culture IN KC

by Judith Fertig

DIFFER WE MUST

NOW THAT a new presidential term begins, we might wonder how our divided nation will cope.

To help us chart a new path during contentious times, maybe we need the advice of a past president who also governed a divided country—Abraham Lincoln.

In his new book, NPR’s Morning Edition host Steve Inskeep illuminates our iconic president through 16 different encounters he reconstructs in Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided America. Inskeep will be in Kansas City to give a talk and answer those questions on February 11 at 7 p.m. at Unity on the Plaza.

Here’s an example. In 1855, with the United States at odds over slavery, Abraham Lincoln wrote to rebuke his best friend for failing to oppose slavery. But Lincoln added: “If for this you and I must differ, differ we must,” and said they would be friends forever. Throughout his life and political career, Lincoln often agreed to disagree. Democracy demanded it, since even an adversary had a vote. The man who went on to become America’s 16th president has assumed many roles in our historical consciousness, but most notable is that he was, unapologetically, a politician. And as Inskeep argues, it was because he was willing to engage in politics—meeting with critics, sometimes working with them and other times outwitting them—that he was able to lead a social revolution.

For more information, visit rainydaybooks.com

stumpffhomeworks.com

BROKE-OLOGY AT KCREP

WHEN NATHAN LOUIS JACKSON, Kansas City’s homegrown playwright, passed away suddenly in 2023 at the age of 44, the world lost an amazing talent. He had grown up in Kansas City, Kansas, and knew well the blend of class, culture, and ethnicity. After getting an associate’s degree at Kansas City Kansas Community College, he went on to study theater at Kansas State, which presented few opportunities for Black actors. “I’m there in the Midwest, and there ain’t no other Black folks doing this, so I’d just end up doing August Wilson every time,” Jackson told e New York Times. “I wanted to do a piece that speaks for me, so I said, ‘I’ll just write my own stu .”

Jackson was still a student at Juilliard when his play Brokeology premiered at the Williamstown eatre Festival in Massachusetts in 2008. It told the story of two young Black men growing up in Kansas City, Kansas, who confront each other over the care of their father, who has multiple sclerosis. A year later, Broke-ology opened o -Broadway and then Lincoln Center. And Jackson’s star was o cially on the rise.

Jackson was the playwright-in-residence at Kansas City Repertory eatre from 2013 to 2019.

is month, from February 11 through March 2, KCRep honors the legacy of Jackson with a new staging of this smart, funny, and quietly powerful play.

For more information and tickets, visit kcrep.org

Embrace the Gold

Nathan Louis Jackson

Arts & Culture IN KC

by Judith Fertig

MOMIX: ALICE

WHO BETTER to take us down the rabbit hole than Momix, a company of dancer-illusionists under the direction of Moses Pendleton on February 15 at 7 p.m. at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.

As the Harriman-Jewell Series continues another successful season, the contemporary dance group conjures a new Alice

In her topsy-turvy world, Alice grows and shrinks and grows again. She meets a surrealistic group of inhabitants, from the Red Queen to the White Rabbit and the Cheshire Cat.

“You can see why I think Alice is a natural fit for Momix and an opportunity for us to extend our reach,” says Pendleton. “I want to take this show into places we haven’t been before in terms of the fusion of dancing, lighting, music, costumes, and projected imagery.”

As with every Momix production, you never quite know what you are going to get. Audiences will be taken on a journey that is both magical, mysterious, fun, eccentric, and much more. As Alice falls down the rabbit hole and experiences every kind of transformation, so will you.

For more information and tickets, visit hjseries.org

A TRIO OF EXHIBITS AT LEEDY-VOULKOS GALLERY

YOU CAN SEE not one or two but three exhibits of artists’ work at the Leedy-Voulkos Gallery in the Crossroads from now through March 28.

In A Perspective, Kansas City Art Institute graduate Kate Hunt explores the power of landscape expressed with the material and symbolic nature of newspaper. She rst worked with newspaper as a material during her studies at KCAI. In works like Calcium Flag Here in Mexico, which combines newspaper, calcium, and steel, “I create sculpture using newspaper as my primary material. ey are constructed through processes of stacking, cutting, gluing, wrapping, coating, and burning,” says Hunt, who now lives in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

In Two Cracked Pots by Don Joyner, the ceramic artist remembers and celebrates his friendship with the late founder of the gallery, Jim Leedy, as a creative dialogue and collaboration between friends.

In Still on Track, you’ll see the tiny sculptures made by Charlie Poynter, who retired after 55 years in the mailroom at the Kansas City Star. Poynter uses found and recycled objects such as bottle openers to create small character sculptures that remind us that it’s never too late to get creative.

For more information, visit leedy-voulkos.com

Dark Torrington by Kate Hunt

DATE NIGHT DRESSING

Single, married with children, or empty nesters, there’s probably a date night on your calendar in February. What to wear, what to wear? We’ve got some style inspiration for you.

Sometimes the best date nights are at home. Or maybe it’s out for dinner and a movie. Or, if it’s a special occasion, rock their world in a stunning dress.

Staying in can be just as romantic as going out. And comfy doesn’t have to mean frumpy. Slip into a matching cropped hoodie and wide-leg sweatpants, both made from garment-dyed, heavyweight cotton

STAYING IN

Slvrlake crop hoodie and wide-leg sweatpants, each $289, available at Clairvaux

A NIGHT OUT

Joseph Ribkoff silky knit cropped jumpsuit, $285, available at Alysa Rene Boutique

for ultimate comfort and style.

What could be easier for a date night than a one-and-done jumpsuit look? A sweater knit is comfortable yet pulled together. The mock neck and bell sleeves add a touch of warmth and coziness, while the cropped wide-leg pants allow you to showcase your favorite boots.

If it’s an occasion, nothing says special like a stunning red dress. A silky blouson top cinched at the waist and paired with a floor-length column skirt creates a sensual and sophisticated look that’s perfect for a date night or any other special event.

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W EALT H

DATE NIGHT

You don’t have to be young and single to plan a romantic date night. In fact, if you’re neither of those things, an indulgent romantic evening out might be even more important. Plan what to wear on page 42. And to remind them of why they fell in love with you, put together a soft, romantic makeup look to nish it o .

ink the ladies of Bridgerton or any Jane Austin movie.

Soft, ushed, dewy looks—this is not the time for a full-coverage matte foundation or bold lippies.

Dip into skin tints and sheer lips. Swipe a wash of color across the eyelids, add plenty of uttery mascara and do be bold with the blush. You look radiant, darling.

PinkLipps Lumi Balm Lip Tint, $10, available at pinklipps.com.

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick, $48, available at Welwythn

Elta MD Skincare tinted sunscreen, $45, available at Hollyday Med Spa + Aesthetics.

$23, available at Sephora

Natasha Denona Mini Glam Eyeshadow Pallete, $27, available at Ulta Beauty.

by Judith Fertig

Who Knew? Oral Health and Other Surprising Factors in Women’s Heart Health

A CONVERSATION WITH CARDIOLOGIST MICHELLE DEW

The eyes may be the window to the soul, but the mouth— surprisingly—can be a portal to a woman’s heart. Oral health is just one of many hidden factors that contribute to women’s heart health.

Although 51 percent of the U.S. population is female, for years, women’s heart health was misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or just plain missed as doctors relied on research done on men. But all that is changing.

Michelle Dew, MD, FACC, cardiologist with AdventHealth Medical Group and medical director of Women’s Heart Care at AdventHealth, explains more.

Why does heart health in women seem to be less straightforward than that for men?

Heart health can be complicated. Between the coronary arteries, heart rhythms, valves, and the electrical system, there are many parts that keep the heart working. For so many years, the medical establishment has been focused on male patients when identifying symptom patterns, performing research, and developing treatments. Our medical teachings and textbooks did not previously address female differences, one of the reasons of which was to avoid monthly hormonal variations as well as pregnancy. More recently, research has shown that women’s hearts are different from men’s. Hormonal influence, size, physiology, and propensity for certain diseases affects women’s heart health differently than men.

Today, there is more interest and research to specifically address our gender health differences. Unfortunately, if your provider isn’t up-todate or doesn’t have a particular interest in women’s cardiac health, you may be compared to the old teachings which were primarily based on male patients. Heart disease is the number one killer of women, some-

times because of a delayed or missed diagnosis. Speaking with an up-todate provider may make a big difference in your heart health.

What might be a few underlying health factors that could impact heart issues in women?

There are many specific conditions that have a higher association with heart diseases. Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, certain cancers such as carcinoid and breast cancer, even endometriosis and PCOS are associated with higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Some treatments for these conditions can also have cardiac complications. Diabetic women have a greater risk of CVD than diabetic men.

Oral health is also related to heart health. Dental cavities and gum disease cause chronic, low-level inflammation which has been associated with increased risk for stroke and heart disease. Regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups can really make a difference.

Our female hormones can also impact our heart health. Throughout a woman’s life, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are more impactful on the cardiovascular system than you may think. Monthly cycles can contribute to palpitations; pregnancy could bring on preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, or diabetes. Changes associated with menopause may cause increased cholesterol and hypertension.

What are warning signs of heart problems in women?

I always tell my patients that “change” is what we are most interested in. If you find yourself short of breath or just worn out after routine tasks, then your medical provider needs to know. A primary care provider can order a stress test, ultrasound of your heart, and make a referral to a cardiologist if needed. A quick, dedicated calcium score/CT scan of your heart can provide additional information regarding your personal risks for cardiovascular disease. Unexplained dizziness, chest/back/shoulder discomfort, or unreasonable fatigue could also be warning signs that something is wrong with your heart.

Regular exercise is important on so many levels. Each time you work out, take a long walk or increase your heart rate for 20 minutes or more is a “stress test” for the heart. This is not only helpful for both your brain and body but as a marker for “change.”

Remember: if something feels different to you, talk to your provider. Try to collect data before your appointment, such as blood-pressure readings, weight fluctuations, symptoms, and the days and conditions under which they occurred. Knowing your numbers is just part of living a healthy life, making the most of your body. HeartCareKC.com

Michelle Dew, MD, FACC

We Know The

We know the heart. We’ve mapped it. Repaired and rehabbed it. We’ve strengthened, and saved it. We know the people to whom those hearts belong and celebrate the triumphs of their recovery. We know your heart, and we know there is an unstoppable human spirit at the center of it.

Aby Patricia O’Dell photo by Aaron Leimkuehler

Let’s Stay in Bed

CREATING A RELAXING RETREAT CAN BE SMARTAND SULTRY

h! We are all so busy. Work, family, life can be incredibly demanding. While we yearn for the pace to slow, while we dream of sandy beaches and margaritas on the terrace, while we swear we are going to learn to say “No,” it’s likely the pace may not change dramatically. What we can do is make our home a refuge, or at the very least, our bedroom. A peaceful place to end your day is a great way to recharge, both your energy and your roommate’s—if you happen to have one—be it

for a lifetime or overnight. e keys to a welcoming retreat are good lighting, inviting furnishings, music, and refreshments.

I’VE GOT YOUR BACK

Let’s start with the foundation. If you’re still sleeping on the mattress you bought after you graduated—and that was more than seven or eight years ago, it’s probably time for an upgrade. Believe me, your back agrees. Part of that decision may lead to change in mattress size or room design. You may be committed to a certain size bed, or have a “dream”

The white Anichini bedspread is from Terrasi Living and Scandia Home; the linen quilt and lumbar pillow are from Parachute.

bed in mind, but be sure to measure both the room and the home’s access. Not being able to get your box springs up the stairs, around a corner or through a doorway can be a headache.

LEAN ON ME

Once you’ve settled on your mattress, the next step is a headboard. Headboards have a more practical side than you may think. Their sturdiness and ability to anchor your bedframe are pragmatic. Also, they are pretty! I prefer an upholstered headboard as they provide a bit of cushion if you read or watch TV in bed. (Though I’m a big proponent of no television in the bedroom.) But wood headboards are handsome! Rattan, as well, certainly has appeal.

MAKE YOUR BED

Now it’s time to dress the bed. Ah, bed linens! You’re creating a haven, and now that you’ve made smart decisions about the foundation, the fun is about to begin. I’m firmly a white sheet gal myself, but if you want color or pattern, your bed is a good place to use it. You’ll have to talk to someone else about the value of high thread-count bedding. I am no princess, and big-box store sheets have evolved to the point that I can’t justify bedding that exceeds a car payment. That said, I do like a good bed cover, such as a mattlesse or quilt, as they provide a nice weight, which can be relaxing.

Sleep temperature is important. Generally, a cooler bedroom is a good idea, but bedmates’ personal temperatures are not always the same. Bedding layers can help. I have two down comforters—a heavy one for winter and a lighter one in the summer, as much for the weight as the warmth. My husband is not wired the same and is happy to kick them off. Another solution is comforters that have different weights on the two halves. Genius! (Wonder why that took so long?)

DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK

My father can fall asleep anywhere—day or night. But darkness is conducive to sleep. Blinds, shades, curtains—whatever it takes—to hide the break of day should help you stay asleep until the alarm goes off. (Or the dog needs out, or the children are hungry, or your boss texts.) Effectively blocking light is good for sleep, which is good for your health. (Just in case you needed to rationalize.)

Thanks to the broad availability of attractive ready-made window coverings, we are no longer limited to custom. Take advantage of these if it makes sense. Do I regret the four panels of Brunschwig and Fils large-scale chinoiserie-pattern curtains that I had made in the 90s? Not a bit, and I’ve reused them in two or three rooms. But I wouldn’t say they are exactly versatile. I won’t discourage patterned curtains, but they are an investment—and tastes do change. Consider your long-term budget before you commit. Today, retailers have great ready-to-hang—and even custom options—that can make your selection and your sleep easier.

ALWAYS UNDERFOOT

When it comes to bedrooms, soft is the name of the game. I loathe shoes and kick them off as soon as I’m home. I realize not everyone feels the same, and their feet may not be bare until they retire for the night. But I think we can all agree that a soft rug underfoot in the bedroom is critical. Rugs are an investment, but it’s better not to skimp. By definition, they take a lot of wear and tear. This is another place where timeless styles are best.

Oh, my, I’ve gotten a little carried away. This may have been a lot for one sitting. Maybe we should take a nap.

Elle Jackson IN CONVERSATION WITH

The first Black author to write for Harlequin’s Historical Romance line is a Kansas City girl through and through. She goes by the pen name Elle Jackson, but her large family and friends know her as Dana.

Jackson was born and raised in Kansas City, Kansas, attending Douglass Elementary, Noble Prentis Elementary, and Eisenhower Middle School before graduating from Sumner Academy. Jackson then earned a bachelor’s in literature and creative writing from University of Missouri-Kansas City and a master’s in teaching at Pittsburg State University before earning an MFA in writing popular fiction at Seton Hill graduate from Seton Hill University.

Jackson has been writing for Harlequin since 2019. Her book A Blues Singer to Redeem Him is set in 1920s jazz-speakeasy-era Kansas City. Her next Harlequin Historical book, still untitled, comes out this year. Jackson lives with her husband, Mikal, and their children, Mikal, 9,

words by Cindy Hoedel photo by Bridget Chang

and Mila, 6 in Kansas City, Kansas, where she is also principal of New Chelsea Elementary School.

She spoke with IN Kansas City about growing up in a large extended family, her favorite romantic places in Kansas City and how romance novels have evolved.

What is your perfect Valentine’s Day scenario?

I would be with my husband and little ones, and we would watch a movie in our backyard.

In Kansas City in February?

Yeah, I think that’s probably what we’re going to do.

That’s brave! I need to hear more about this winter backyard movie setup.

We have a firepit and a projector and a blow-up screen—it’s really big. And we all just snuggle under blankets and watch a movie out there.

If you were the heroine of a Harlequin romance novel, what would your character be like?

She would be a force to be reckoned with for sure. She would know exactly what she wants—or at least think she does. Her hero would have to be someone strong who understands her, because she would be a little complicated to deal with.

In what way?

It would be hard for her to open up and hard for her to let anyone in to help her. She would be very hard to crack at first. She would think she needs to do everything herself. Through the journey she would learn that she can depend on someone else, and that’s OK.

How did you and your husband meet?

We met in high school, at age 13, at Sumner. We were friends forever, and we would never consider dating each other. Our mutual friends would mention it, and we would both say, “No, no. We’re just friends.”

And then when we got closer to 30, I don’t know, something happened, and we started dating. We did it secretly. We didn’t tell our friends at first.

Why not?

We wanted to see what it was going to be first before we told our friends. We started dating in September of 2012 and got engaged in April of 2013 and we were married by December of that year.

How do you keep romance alive when you are raising kids? It’s hard. You have to plan and be willing to try new things. We have date nights. We’re simple, too—our date night can be at home or go grab wine. One of our favorite places is Sail Away Wine. Cooper’s Hawk is another favorite. We keep it simple because it’s just about spending time together and learning about each other. Because every year, you change and grow. We just want to make sure we stay connected and grow together.

How have Harlequin romance novels changed over the years? Their commitment to diversity has changed, I think. So you’re seeing a lot more diverse love stories, which is fantastic.

Some of the keys to what makes Harlequin Harlequin have never changed, like themes of forbidden romance, or friends-to-lovers, the tropes that really make it Harlequin. I don’t think that changes.

‘‘I think it’s very cool how in romance literature you know it’s going to be a happy ending—that’s one of the aspects that has to be there for it to be romance— but you worry and you’re scared, and you don’t know how they are going to get this back together. When you start to question if they are going to be able to figure this out, and then they do. That’s the best part.”

I think it’s very cool how in romance literature you know it’s going to be a happy ending—that’s one of the aspects that has to be there for it to be romance—but you worry and you’re scared, and you don’t know how they are going to get this back together. When you start to question if they are going to be able to figure this out, and then they do. That’s the best part.

Romance novels used to be called bodice rippers. Do they still

contain a lot of racy passages?

It depends. Some authors are more of a slow-burn romance writer. I can do either. I’ve written lots of steamy passages. [Laughs] I think authors try to tell readers how racy the book is so you know what you’re getting into.

Does Harlequin have policies about how racy the text can be?

The different lines do. My line—historical—we don’t have any restrictions. We can write whatever we want. But some lines are not as steamy.

When you were a little kid, were there any signs you would grow up to be a writer?

Definitely. I wrote a story in middle school about aliens at my school and nobody believed the main character. I later went on to be a middle school language arts teacher, and I found that story and I had the context because I was teaching middle school at the time, and that story was actually quite creative. I have always loved telling stories, and I always have stories playing in my mind. I thought everyone was like that, and then I learned that’s not true.

When you think about your childhood in Kansas City, how did the experiences you had and the people you knew shape the stories you write today?

The first novel I wrote for Harlequin is set in Kansas City. I loved growing up here, even though it wasn’t easy. It was difficult because I always felt out of place. No matter where I was, I didn’t quite fit. So my first stories were about that—lots of alien stories, stories about being different.

But you still loved growing up in Kansas City?

Yes. I loved that Kansas City is both small and big. My mom’s side of the family, they are Easterwoods and my dad’s are Carrolls. Those are both really big families. So growing up here in those families, you felt connected. Like at school, I would find cousins I didn’t even know I had. It was nice because of things like that. My family is huge. They are really supportive. We are always doing things together. That family aspect is what’s kept me here.

What are some places in Kansas City that you think are romantic?

Anywhere with a fountain—our city is full of them. I love the big fountain on the Plaza with the horses. And the Northland Fountain off North Oak Trafficway is beautiful.

Kansas City has so many romantic places to go. Parkville, I love

Parkville. It’s so old, but has such creative shops, and you can walk down by the river.

What are your aspirations for your career at this point?

Finish my next books for Harlequin. But I was originally a YA [young adult] author, and I am returning to those roots. I have a 12-book series I’m working on.

What is your favorite thing about being a romance writer?

I love love. I love talking about how people fall in love. I love how complicated it can get and somehow you find your way back to each other.

Interview condensed and minimally edited for clarity.

Jackson’s first novel for the Harlequin Historical line.

WORDS BY Jenny Vergara

Eat Your Heart Out W

CELEBRATE YOUR LOVE AT ONE OF THESE ROMANTIC RESTAURANTS

hether you are head over heels in love, or perfectly ne ying solo, February is the month we tend to talk in terms of hearts and owers and steak and lobster. Restaurants play a large role in how we typically tend to show our love, and while we’ve collectively agreed that dining out on Valentine’s Day is the thing to do, February 14 can be, well, a lot.

Primetime restaurant reservations get gobbled up quickly on the day, and the pressure is sky-high for both couples and the restaurants hustling to serve them on the day. But who says we must play by those rules? is year let’s rewrite Cupid’s handbook, together.

Let’s agree that any night in February can be Valentine’s Day if you decide it is. If you have someone special in your life you’d like to celebrate with, simply plan a date night at a locally owned restaurant anytime this month, and it will count toward Valentine’s Day credit. Cupid’s honor.

Here’s a tip for you lovebirds. Research suggests that if you want

to keep love burning in a long-term relationship, doing something that neither of you has done before is one way to ignite a spark. Getting out of your comfort zones together can create its own exciting high. at can mean trying a new-to-you restaurant or even a cuisine, or it can mean exploring a new part of the metro enjoying a meal at a restaurant you never knew existed.

Have you ever eaten an entire meal with chopsticks or sopped up a delicious Ethiopian meal using just injera bread? How about ordering a bottle of Georgian wine or sipping a glass of Korean soju? No? Well now’s the time to go for it, together.

And here’s the thing about any list of “romantic” restaurants: It’s not just about the candlelight or the music playing. Any spot with an exciting menu, expertly crafted dishes, and a welcoming vibe can bring the romance. Because let’s face it, when you’re a food lover, the thrill is in the food itself.

So, here’s to dining out this Valentine’s month. Remember the love is in the meal—and the memory of enjoying it together.

ACRE

e owner and chef Andrew Longres, whose culinary resume includes Bluestem, e American, and French Laundry in California, opened Acre in Parkville to celebrate the ingredients grown and raised in the Midwest. With an emphasis on dry-aged steaks, the menu also includes seafood, fresh pastas, craft cocktails, amazing wines and imaginative desserts, all served in a fresh, modern space complete with a wood-burning hearth, full cocktail bar, and a chef’s counter. Treat yourselves to the pretty drive to Parkville to sample the delicious fare at Acre. acrekc.com

Acre’s Maxine’s Lemon Cake is bathed in macerated berries and topped with a dollop of sweet cream.

PHOTO BY AARON LEIMKUEHLER

AFFÄRE

Martin and Katrin Heuser opened their modern German restaurant in the Crossroads Arts District 13 years ago. Affäre’s sleek dining room and cocktail bar are matched with a separate wine bar. At the wine bar, you can pull up a stool to sample some of the German and European wines Katrin has secured especially for the wine list—perfect for couples looking to learn more about wine. Martin and his culinary team have earned a place in downtown Kansas City’s food scene by deftly preparing seasonal German dishes using the finest ingredients and modern plating, taking a seemingly simple dish and turning it into something special. For a finishing touch, order Affäre’s famous painted table experience, a flaming dessert created tableside. The perfect finale to celebrate your red-hot love. affarekc.com

BAR MEDICI

When you want a small, intimate cafe to savor a delicious meal and a glass of wine or a cocktail, Bar Medici in the Crossroads is the perfect place to land. Inspired by the art of aperitivo, the Italians’ toast to a pre-meal drink with appetizers, Bar Medici can honor that tradition, or you can dine late since the kitchen is open until 10 p.m. The luxe dining room is decked out in burnished metallics and soft, cozy banquettes. The menu by culinary director Mitch Fetterling and his team is filled with creative appetizers and a list of handmade pastas, such as their Spaghetti alla Chitarra, made with spaghetti noodles tossed in a creamy crab bisque, topped with crabmeat, a little Pecorino Romano cheese,

and aleppo pepper for the slightest kick of heat. barmedici.com

LE FOU FROG

This iconic family-run French restaurant, owned by Mano and Barbara Rafael, has been operating on the edge of the City Market for 28 years, offering guests a serious crash course in French wine, food, and culture all rolled up into one. This restaurant is iconic in Kansas City. The dining room itself feels romantic, awash in pink and red. but the impeccable food by the executive chef Mano Rafael and the extensive French wine list will make you forget the time and linger over Champagne and dessert instead. It is a fun, flavorful French romp that will have you returning again and again. lefoufrog.com

OIL ON LINEN

Open every Thursday night for dinner, Oil on Linen is the new restaurant located inside the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, with food by the chef Ted Habiger and a dining room run by his talented team from Room 39. The menu changes with the art installations in the museum, which you should plan on seeing either before or after your meal. Sit among the moody and modern new art and decor installed in the courtyard. The menu is set up in four courses, and you can choose from the omnivore, pescatarian, or vegetarian menu, or mix and match your meal between all of them. That and a bottle of wine or a cocktail and you’ll thrill to dine among the art. oil-on-linen.com

Top, left: Affäre’s flaming dessert served tableside is a spectacular ending to a meal. Top, right: Subtle neutral hues elevate the dining room at Bar Medici. Bottom, left: Find a cozy niche or dine under the sky at Oil on Linen in the Kemper Museum. Bottom, right: Crack the crust of Le Fou Frog’s justly famous crème brulée.

OSTERIA BIANCHI

Married chefs and business partners Josh and Kelly Bianchi moved back to Kansas City after successful cooking careers in New York and Las Vegas to open their own restaurant, Osteria Bianchi, located just 20 minutes from downtown in North Kansas City. Time to leave your hamlet and travel to enjoy a meal here. With a spacious, handsome bar and a pretty dining room, Osteria Bianchi has a menu stacked with modern Italian favorites, such as crudos, handcrafted pastas, and house-made pizzas, and delicious and affordable entrées, including grilled hanger steak, roasted branzino, and duck breast with parsnip purée and wilted kale. Excellent food with a pleasing cocktail menu and wine list makes it worth the drive. osteriabianchi.com

PÁROS ESTIATORIO

If a romantic trip to the Greek isles is on your wishlist, start with the next best thing in Kansas City, dinner at Páros Estiatorio. Located in the Mission Farms shopping center, the restaurant is coowned by Klajdi Kreka and his mother and head chef, Kozeta Kreka. To authentically deliver the dishes exactly as they are prepared on the Greek island of Paros, they import many of their products from Greece. Order a glass of Greek wine as you take in the white-washed walls that give the dining room the feel of eating at an upscale beachfront restaurant. The bright, fresh-tasting Mediterranean dishes will bring the Greek islands to your dinner plate. parosleawood.com

THE RESTAURANT AT 1900

Just west of the Country Club Plaza, The Restaurant at 1900 offers a true escape from the everyday with fantastic food from the chef Linda Duerr. Her talent for creating crave-able dishes that have a sophisticated intercontinental edge is not discussed enough. Kansas City’s own Master of Wine and Master Sommelier, Doug Frost, serves as the beverage director here (so order wine), and general manager Keith Goldman ensures your experience will be exceptional. The chic dining room is located inside a 1967 modernist architecture building that was transformed by Karbank Real Estate Company into a world-class event space, concert hall, and restaurant. Why not make it dinner and a show, you two? therestaurantat1900.com

SUSHI KODAWARI

With only eight seats and two seatings a night, lawyer-turned-sushi chef Karson Thompson is wowing a few lucky guests each night with his own relentless pursuit of perfection, which is what the word “kodawari” means in Japanese. Sushi Kodawari opened last year on the first floor of The Creamery building in the Crossroads delivering a 15-course, fine-dining, two-hour, omakase experience. Serving as the head sushi chef, Thompson prepares a set menu that just 16 guests a night will have the option to enjoy with wine or sake. A night here might consist of ten raw fish courses—each course a single piece of nigiri or sashimi, including some dryaged fish—along with a few other cooked Japanese dishes, all served with the preparation history or story behind each bite. sushikodawari.com

Top, left: Enjoy genuine Italian handcrafted pasta at Osteria Bianchi. Top, right: Experience dining at Páros Estiatorio and you’ll think you’re in Greece. Bottom, left: Fine dining meets modernist architecture at The Restaurant at 1900. Bottom, right: Set aside an evening to experience omakase dining at Sushi Kodawari.

STORY

Since 2011, the chef Carl Thorne-Thomsen, and his wife, Susan, have been telling their own story with both their upscale seasonal food menu and award-winning wine list, attracting guests looking for a downtown dining experience right in their own backyard. If you want to stay close to home, but still want a memorable meal out, Story is conveniently located in the middle of the Prairie Village Shopping Center. The menu includes Alaskan halibut, beef tenderloin, salmon, chicken and more, all served with seasonal sides and delicious desserts. Make sure you order a bottle from their impressive wine list. Ask for help from the talented staff to perfectly pair the wine with your meal. storykc.com

Tender, crispy golden onion rings top the braised beef short rib served with gnocchi at Story.

URBAN RESTAURANT

On the corner of Armour Boulevard and Troost Avenue you can nd Urban, the newest iteration of the chef Justin Clark’s restaurant, Urban Café. With amazing views from the spacious dining room and outdoor patio, a private dining room in the back, and a bright, white-marble bar area with plenty of seating, Urban sports sophisticated sparkle and shine. e dinner menu features a variety of tasty starters and entrées, including strip steak, lamb shank, seared salmon, shrimp and grits, Urban cheddar burger, and a crab pasta, along with a host of sides to share. Couple a cocktail from the bar or a glass of wine or beer with the slow-groove soundtrack and you’re sure to have a great night out—together. urbanontroost.com

Warm brass lighting, dramatic walls, and black-upholstered banquettes exude a sophisticated vibe at Urban Restaurant.

PHOTO

TAILLEUR

After opening multiple establishments in Kansas City, restaurateur Heather White continues to impress with her own unique “old money meets urban downtown” design style that she cleverly pairs with impeccable food, drinks, and service. With her restaurant (Tailleur), bar (Cheval), and bakery (Enchante) open and located across the street from one another on the same block of Main Street near Westport Road, there is the unique opportunity to have dinner, drinks, and dessert at her three di erent spots just by crossing the street. e chef Je Workman is in the kitchen at Tailleur, successfully serving up traditional French favorites, such as steamed P.E.I. mussels, country paté, and steak tartare, alongside heartier fare, including rack of lamb, scallops, black peppered butter beans, and Ora King salmon. tailleuronmain.com

VERBENA

With views of the surrounding Meadowbrook Park, Verbena is tucked away from the hustle and bustle and is a great place to get lost together. Patrick and Joanne Quillec and their children own and operate the American restaurant, in addition to its French counterparts, Café Provence and French Market in the Prairie Village Shopping Center. Verbena is based on the food of New England and has East Coast oysters, New England clam chowder, and linguini and clams all on the menu. ere are also sh, beef, pork, and duck dishes on the menu to satisfy all cravings. Make a weekend of it. e Inn at Meadowbrook connects to Verbena and is located right next door to e Market at Meadowbrook, a great place for

breakfast in the morning. verbenakc.com

WANDERING VINE

If dining inside a 100-year-old castle is on your Valentine’s Day wish list, you need to book a table at Wandering Vine. After traveling to over 40 countries, dining and drinking great wine along the way, Dan and Carla Dyer returned home to Kansas City and purchased Caenen Castle in Shawnee to open Wandering Vine. e ne-dining menu is now in the experienced hands of the executive chef, Bryan Sparks, and team, including dry-aged steaks, thick chops, lobster tails, grilled tuna, con t duck, and handmade pastas. Pair that with a bottle from their award-winning wine list of almost 200 bottles from 20 di erent spots on the map. wanderingvine.com

XO

A small building on Kansas City’s Westside delivers some seriously sexy vibes at night, which is why you should put this social hot spot with a soundtrack, cold drinks, and hot food on your list this year. Denver designer, builder, and developer Noah Manos and his business partners, Mitch Foster and Will Minter, opened XO HiFi last year. It’s a listening lounge serving cocktails, wine, and a fantastic Asian-inspired menu from the chef Johnny Leach that has introduced the metro to the best curry pork sando in the city. Come ready to settle in for a drink and some food as a wall of sound envelops you. XO is here to tempt all your senses. xohi .com

Top, Left: The charming interior of Tailleur evokes a Brooklyn bistro. Top, right: There’s a New England twist to the menu at Verbena, including the linguini and clams. Bottom, left: Wandering Vine’s Arctic Char pairs perfectly with a bottle of wine from their award-winning wine selection. Bottom, right: Enjoy music, food, and drinks with an Asian spin at XO.

In the living room, Schumacher’s malachite-patterned wallcovering wraps the fireplace wall, while a pair of mirrors flank the mantel, visually enlarging the space. A quartet of boucle-upholstered swivel chairs are arranged on the custom rug from The Rug Studio.

Home Away from Home

A SECOND HOME IN KANSAS CITY BRINGS A FAR-FLUNG FAMILY TOGETHER

Tricia and Mark Schlipman’s primary residence is not in Kansas City, but they decided to buy a home in town to spend more time with their adult children and to entertain friends and clients for Mark’s newly opened Kansas City branch office.

“We wanted to bring our family together throughout the year,” Mark Schlipman says. “Our daughter is in school in Lawrence, and our son lives in Omaha. Kansas City has been a great meeting place for us, and we wanted a home here to be able to bring everyone together.”

words by Patricia O’Dell

photos by Aaron Leimkuehler

They found the Plaza area particularly alluring.

“We wanted to be close to the Plaza because it’s a chic location that is known for its blend of culture, art, and upscale living,” Schlipman says.

While searching for the perfect home in the area, they were charmed by the Tudors at Plaza North and the home that ultimately became theirs.

“The look is completely different from our home and lake house,” Schlipman says. “During development the project manager lived in it. Once the project was complete, it was offered for sale. The entire home was painted white, which acted as a great blank canvas.”

With the talents of Connie Fey of Madden McFarland Interiors, who shared a vision of modern elegance merged with the rich charm of

Kansas City, the house did not stay white for long.

“The Schlipmans reached out to me after visiting the Madden McFarland website. In addition to the aesthetic, they were assured that we were the firm for the job as we have both residential and hospitality experience,” Fey says.

“During the design process we had to weigh the competing priorities of their need for function and sophisticated elegance,” she says. “We were able to accomplish that using special finishes, texture, lighting, and art.”

For their inspiration, the couple decided to lean into their appreciation of the Plaza’s architectural allure.

“We wanted to incorporate the sophisticated finishes and luxurious

Above: Four Uttermost stools line up under a painting by Gaston Carrio, providing extra seating when needed. Opposite: In the foyer, a white lacquer console from Century sports a chiseled, gold-patina interior to match the Thibaut gold-and-cream wallcovering.

Opposite: Fey designed the custom faux shimmering wall treatment in the bar to carry the hand-applied gold-leaf treatment on the ceiling to the walls. Michelle Kelly with Creative Faux Effects and Mike Urso of Mike Urso Painting & Design created the look. Green glass mosaic tile from International Materials of Design wraps the bar and back wall. Top left: The black-velvet upholstered tufted banquette makes a dramatic statement. Above: Tucked away at the rear of the home is a study with a Chaddock sectional upholstered in a performance fabric. The throw is from Happy Habitat. Left: The downstairs powder room.

THE IT LIST

Interior Design

Madden McFarland Interiors maddenmcfarland.com

Cabinets

Stanley Wood Products stanleywoodproductsinc.com

Tile

International Materials of Design imdtile.com

Wallcovering Installation

Sanders Wallcovering

Banquette Construction

Avis Furniture Company avisfurniture.com

Area Rugs

The Rug Studio rugskc.com

Custom Finishes

Creative Faux Effects

Mike Urso Painting & Design

materials that mirror the surroundings, as well as the spirit of the Plaza starting its revitalization plan,” Schlipman says.

The entry hall greets visitors with a vibrant pattern of gold and cream, which serves as a calling card for the rest of the home, announcing the home’s strong reliance on white, black, and gold to provide a bold backdrop. Accents of rich jewel tones of emerald, deep turquoise, and vibrant yellow provide warmth, energy, and interest. Textures of mosaic tile, lacquer, burnished brass, boucle, and grass cloth in the living spaces soften the modern edge.

“The design could not have been pulled together any better,” Schlipman says. “I researched several designers, and Connie’s past work was amazing. She made the process so easy. The key to a great experience is to place your faith in the designer and get out of the way. I hired Connie and got out of the way. I’m glad I did. It’s a place we enjoy calling home.”

Left: The enfilade of rooms—kitchen, bar, living room, and foyer—opens up the first floor to feel exceptionally spacious and light-filled. Kitchen walls are clad in an earthy, geometric wallcovering from Thibaut. Above: “The white cabinets provide a fresh, clean, open concept we found perfect for a home that has no side windows,” Mark Schlipman says of the kitchen.

A

Katherine Bernhardt x Jeremy Scott

The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art is proud to present the first exhibition to explore the shared references that unites contemporary artist Katherine Bernhardt’s paintings and fashion designer Jeremy Scott’s iconic fashion looks.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS EXHIBITION AT nermanmuseum.org

༦ February 6, 2025 | 6-8 p.m.

Artists talk and opening reception In person: No RSVP required to attend Livestreaming option: RSVP at nermanmuseum.org

༦ May 10, 2025 | 6-10 p.m.

A Match Made in Heaven Fundraising Gala with honorees Katherine Bernhardt and Jeremy Scott Proceeds support the Nerman Museum operations, art preservation, educational art programs, and the preservation of the JCCC Historical Fashion Collection.

Sponsor A Match Made in Heaven Fundraising Gala now at nermanmuseum.org/match

JEREMY SCOTT AND KATHERINE BERNHARDT. PHOTO: WIL DRISCOLL

Pop star Katy Perry’s Met Gala 2019 outfit, designed by Jeremy Scott. Photo: Shutterstock

Katherine Bernhardt, Hamburger + French Fries + Basketballs (detail), 2013, acrylic and spray paint on canvas, 92 x 120 in. Courtesy CANADA LLC

Whatever the event, whatever the size, our catering pros are ready to make your special day unforgettable. Our southern-inspired, chef-driven smokehouse barbecue at Char Bar Smoked Meats & Amusements and our award-winning, competition-style ‘cue at Meat Mitch Barbecue is the perfect cuisine for any occasion — engagement dinners, bridal parties, showers, wedding receptions... you name it. Let us focus on serving your guests. You can focus on ‘happily ever after’.

Weddings

CONTENTS

72 TOP WEDDING TRENDS 2025

74 REAL WEDDING: LILY STARR + DEAN SHATZER

78 REAL WEDDING: LAUREN WAMBOLD + LOGAN PIETROSKI

While the holidays are traditionally a time of engagements, the urry of them this year left some of us a bit breathless. It’s clear that the wedding season is just around the corner. Is there a wedding in your future?

We know that planning a wedding can be overwhelming, with countless decisions to make after saying “yes.”

We’re here to help.

Want to know what’s trending in weddings, from creative wedding attire to venues? Contributing writer Judith Fertig did the research and pulled together the top wedding trends lighting up the aisles in 2025, with insights from local and national experts. We hope to o er a balance of both whimsical inspiration and practical tips.

To keep you motivated, nothing is more inspiring than seeing what other couples have planned. You’ll nd two stunning, real Kansas City weddings with plenty of exciting ideas and a complete list of who did what and where with each of them.

We hope the photos, ideas, and local businesses featured within these pages will inspire you to create the perfect wedding experience.

Cheers to friends, family and gorgeous nuptials!

e Editors

Top Wedding Trends 2025

You’ve just said “yes.” Now it’s time to plan.

We’ve scoured Vogue, Hitched, Martha Stewart, and other wedding influencers for the Big Day’s Big Picture. How do these trends play out in Kansas City?

CREATIVE WEDDING ATTIRE

Brides in major metros might opt for a “wearable art” gown or indulge in Halloween cosplay. Bridesmaids may wear different dress styles, but in a selected palette. The same in KC. “Brides don’t feel constrained by tradition,” says Lisa Carson of Natalie M. Studio. “They may want a color, such as blue or black. Or they may want a shorter dress or even pants.” Carson

advises to wear whatever makes you feel beautiful and brings you joy.

“The groom should be the best-dressed guy in the room,” adds Chad Denham, owner of the fine menswear store Newton James. “It’s his day as well. And the groom’s tuxedo or suit should be complementary to the bride and bridesmaids’ dresses. Fit is key.”

FUN FLORALS

Trend forecasters show bridesmaids carrying bouquets in handbags or holding minimalist parasols; fall tables strewn with fresh figs, artichokes, and pomegranates; a meadow of baby’s breath surrounding the wedding cake. Anything you envision, Kansas City florists can proba-

1) Break from tradition with an ethereal blue-and-white wedding dress By La Perle, available at Natalie M. Studio. 2) Woodland tablescape by Studio Dan Meiners. 3) The Marjorie Powell Allen chapel at Powell Gardens. 4) A tater-tot bar, perfect for cocktail hour. 5) A delightful dessert spread by Kate Smith Soirée.

words by Judith Fertig

Celebrate Love in Style

at The Hilton President

Photo by epagaFOTO

Real Weddings IN

more photos at inkansascity.com/ style-shopping/ weddings

The pandemic added a new twist to the “meet cute” story. Lily Starr and Dean Shatzer connected on Hinge, a dating site, but could only Facetime every night until they finally got together in person three months later. After a romantic proposal Thanksgiving weekend, the couple planned an October 2024 wedding. But then came a fire at Mission Hills Country Club, where they hoped to have their ceremony and reception; the Israeli war complicated the wedding

dress arrival from Tel Aviv. Lily, a supply chain specialist, and Dean, a financial investment professional, worked through every detail together.

A “Monet Waterlilies Wonderland” theme, with watery and silvery surfaces paired with Impressionistic greens and blues, shimmered throughout the ceremony and reception. An Argentinian dinner, complete with long-skewered meats and fish, was as delicious as it was entertaining.

But what made their day especially happy? “Everyone we loved the most together in one room,” says Lily.

LILY STARR + DEAN SHATZER

words by Judith Fertig photos by Jessica Roark at epagaFOTO

Ceremony & Reception

Mission Hills Country Club

Flowers

Trapp and Company

Music

Park University International

Center for Music String Quartet

Lost Wax

Wedding Dress

Galia Lahav

Bridesmaids’ Dresses

Bella Bridesmaids

Groom/Groomsmen Suits

Therese Wickey/Corinth Tailor & Tuxedo Rental

Hair

Dalton Morris

Makeup

Keely Fink

Catering

Mission Hills Country Club

Cake

Blue Thistle Cakery

Wedding Planner

Holly Davidson with Simple Elegance

Real Weddings IN KC

LAUREN WAMBOLD + LOGAN PIETROSKI

After Lauren Wambold and Logan Pietroski met at a bar on the KU campus, “We ended up being anti-social together,” Lauren says with a laugh. By December of 2022, the pair got engaged during a family beach trip to Coronado Island in California. For their November 2024 nuptials, sentimental Lauren envisioned an intimate wedding at the south Overland Park home she grew up in, followed by a “big party” reception elsewhere. With a theme of fall colors and romance, there were flowers every-

Real Weddings

View more photos at inkansascity.com/ style-shopping/ weddings

where. “Our wedding planner, Holly Davidson of Simple Elegance, was amazing,” says Lauren. The morning of the wedding, Lauren’s parents gifted her with a necklace made with a special family diamond. “I was so touched when Logan teared up as I walked down the aisle,” she says, “and he had written the most special vows.”

Great food and drink—and plenty of dancing—fueled the reception, which went on into the night. Now copywriter Lauren and business development logistics manager Logan are continuing their love story with a honeymoon to Santorini in Greece.

words by Judith Fertig photos by Rusty Wright at The Waldron Company

THE IT LIST

Ceremony

Parents’ Home

Reception

The Guild Flowers

Branches & Twigs

Music

DJ Alex Reed

Wedding Dress

Anne Barge from

Mimi’s Couture Bridal

Bridesmaids’ Dresses

Jenny Yoo

Groom/Groomsmen Suits

The Black Tux

Hair & Makeup

Brigid Shinn, Bronzed & Blushed

Catering

Olive Events

Cake

Nancy Stark, Chef Shop Stark

Wedding Planner

Holly Davidson, Simple Elegance

bly achieve. The florists at The Little Flower Shop, Trapp and Company, and Studio Dan Meiners, among many, bring their considerable expertise to your celebration.

CAPTIVATING TOWN AND COUNTRY VENUES

The destination wedding now moves closer to home but with that “somewhere else” vibe. Happily, the Kansas City area has many options. Powell Gardens is available for weddings 365 days a year, says the team of Emma Robertson, Destiny Valluzzi, and Kristen Blodgett. Their “thorncrown” chapel is one of only 13 in the country. The gardens provide a scenic background for wedding photos and strolling guests.

Unity Village in Lee’s Summit, with its serene chapel, “Offers the perfect blend of elegance and natural beauty with versatile indoor and outdoor venues, on-site lodging, and free parking surrounded by picturesque fountains and gardens,” says Unity’s Sandy Eastwood.

At the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, the new LongHouse Visitor Center showcases 21,000 square feet of event space, “a perfect blend of natural elements and indoor comfort for a picturesque and unforgettable wedding day,” says Desiree Pickert, the marketing specialist.

The new chapel in Shawnee Town 1929 Museum, with antique stained glass windows, is a lovely place for a wedding ceremony, says Tonya Lecuru of the City of Shawnee. “The museum itself is a jewel, but the chapel expands our offerings for a truly unique celebration,” she says.

If you’ve ever been to a Farm Table Dinner at Green Dirt in Weston, you know it’s a wonderful setting amidst rolling pastures of grazing sheep. Imagine being married in such a picturesque setting, a perfect blend of rustic charm and modern elegance. The new Green Dirt on Oak in down-

town Kansas City can also host smaller weddings indoors.

And for those who prefer a more urban vibe, “Make your wedding day part of Kansas City history. Come celebrate with us at the iconic Hilton President Kansas City,” says Danica Tolen of the Hilton President KC.

BYE-BYE BUFFET, HELLO LATE-NIGHT NOSH AND CAKE VIGNETTES

As for food and drink, buffet style is on the wane everywhere. “The trend since the pandemic is more plated food,” says Brian Ingalls of Brancato’s Catering. “People still like special stations for more multi-faceted cuisine and more personalization in bar set-up.” Adds Andrea Burkhart, “I see a lot of extending services, such as the cocktail hour or after-hours food trucks, ice cream trucks, or a tater-tot bar.”

The wedding cake never goes out of style. Now the trend is to enhance it with colorful macaron towers and individual desserts of varying flavors, hues, and textures, arranged at different heights. Happily, these dessert vignettes are a specialty of Kate Smith Soirée.

RELAX. . .RELAX

The last trend is keeping the wedding as relaxed as possible. Spa days beforehand, an intimate wedding ceremony at home before the larger reception elsewhere, ditching traditions such as the “first look” if the bride and groom don’t want them. It’s all about making things meaningful yet no-fuss. Whether for fun or mobility, golf cart rentals are becoming more popular for weddings, says Bob Peel, owner of Outlaw Golf Carts. “Moving people around on golf carts is less expensive than a bus,” he says. “Anyone with a driver’s license can drive them.”

From “Marry me” to “I do,” Kansas City is a great place to celebrate.

Classic Charm in the Heart of Shawnee Town 1929

UNITY VILLAGE

STUNNING VENUES. EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE.

BRING YOUR INDOOR OR OUTDOOR WEDDING VISIONS TO LIFE.

UNITY VILLAGE OFFERS A SEAMLESS AND MEMORABLE EXPERIENCE IN A SETTING THAT BLENDS ELEGANCE WITH NATURAL BEAUTY.

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IBY Jenny Vergara

Reservation for One PRIMA FACIE BISTRO AND MARKET

PHOTOS BY Aaron Leimkuehler

f you take MO-9 north and follow the Missouri River, you will run straight into charming, historic, downtown Parkville, Missouri. e rst brick building you come to on First Street is where you’ll nd Prima Facie Bistro and Market, the newest restaurant in town.

e name Prima Facie is based on a Latin legal term that means “at rst sight” or “on rst appearance,” and it seems only tting given their newly remodeled building is the rst thing you see.

Opening last fall in the former Bank Liberty building, Prima Facie is owned by Leon and Heather Versfeld. He is an immigration attorney who was looking for a location for his legal o ce closer to home, and she is a former private-airline ight attendant who turned her own healthy boxed lunches into a full-time in- ight catering business.

Together they looked for a building in Parkville for both of their businesses when they discovered that the former Bank Liberty building,

complete with bank safe and drive-through window, was for sale. ey purchased the building and spent the last two years giving an old building new life by renovating it into his legal o ce on the top oor with three separate food businesses that Heather manages on the rst oor.

ere’s the ne-dining restaurant, e Bistro at Prima Facie, open for dinner from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. Monday through ursday and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. ere’s the grab-and-go market, e Market at Prima Facie, on the north side of the building, which operates Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. for breakfast, lunch, and snacks. On the menu are co ee, juices, smoothies, sandwiches, bowls and more, repurposing the bank’s drive-through window along with indoor and outdoor seating. Finally, there is Heather’s original in- ight catering business for private jets called Prima Facie In ight Catering, which can be ordered via her website.

e Versfelds can be seen most nights in the dining room at

Prima Facie, moving from table to table, chatting with guests. You wouldn’t guess this is their first restaurant; they’re so comfortable in the room.

They consulted with PB&J Restaurants Inc. to develop the menu, design the kitchen, and hire the staff. The executive chef, James McBride, came from Wichita, Kansas, to head up the Prima Facie kitchen. McBride is originally from Hutchinson, Kansas, and after spending time cooking in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he returned to Kansas and moved up the ranks at Newport Grill in Wichita, before heading up the Siena Tuscan Steakhouse inside the Ambassador Hotel in Wichita.

The Bistro at Prima Facie features soaring ceiling heights in the main dining that allows them to project vintage black-and-white movies on the wall of the restaurant—a charming touch. The dining room is awash in pleasing hues of gray and blue, with a large bar serving a list of crafted cocktails, beer, and wine. Along one wall, deep-blue channel-upholstered banquettes embrace the guests. An open kitchen can be viewed from the dining room, and a baby grand piano is tucked into a corner. There are two private dining rooms, one on the main floor and one on the mezzanine level with a full view of the bustling restaurant below. The old

Romantic Dining

Made with Kansas-raised beef, the steak tartare is topped with fried capers, minced shallots, a local egg, and is accompanied with crostini.

Flavor IN KC

bank safe has been turned into a private dining room seating eight.

The dinner menu at Prima Facie leans into perfectly executed crowd favorites that are grounded in approachable flavors offering comforting and familiar “feel good food.”

The small-plates menu reads like a list of American bistro classics across the ages, including dishes like crispy calamari frito and sweet and savory ahi tuna poke. The blue lump crab cakes were recommended, and if that didn’t tempt there were deviled eggs, steak tartare, a lobster roll, meatball Pomodoro, and a whipped feta dip with pistachio and olives accompanied with crostini. They all sounded delicious, but after seeing the size of the entrée plates whizzing by my table, I considered it best to save my appetite for a couple of entrées and dessert.

First to the table was the Girasoli Ravioli, or sunflower-shaped ravioli pasta, filled with creamy ricotta cheese served eight to a plate

and showered with cubes of sweet, tender butternut squash and fresh sage. Nutty brown-butter sauce, crunchy toasted pecans, and a generous sprinkle of Grana Padano cheese dressed the plate. The ravioli were as big as silver dollars with a ruffled edge but tender to the fork and perfectly cooked. This is a dish where for the best experience you should compose each bite on your fork, getting a little bit of everything, to really appreciate all the rich fall flavors coming together in the perfect bite.

Next came the Trout Almondine, a dish that originated in France and harks back to 1960s United States. At Prima Facie, it arrived as a silky pink piece of pan-roasted ruby trout cooked in beurre noisette (brown-butter sauce) and ornamented with toasted almonds and an intriguing brown-butter powder. It rested on top of plump, glistening pearl couscous and bright green haricot verts. This fish dish is a

Roasted salmon in a pool of citrus beurre blanc sauce.

classic for a reason.

The pork chop was the last savory dish of the evening, and what a note to end on. An enormous two-inch-thick, bone-in, grilled pork chop was planked on top of a generous pool of roasted sweet potatoes, with chunks of sautéed broccoli, kohlrabi, carrots, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale tucked underneath, all bathed in lightly spiced warm apple-butter demi sauce. The apple butter brought a touch of sweetness that mirrored the sweet potatoes in the dish and cut the fatty richness of the pork.

For dessert, the seasonal cobbler was a must, especially made with blueberries. What came to the table straight from the oven was a small castiron pan filled with sweetly fragrant deep-blue bubbling berries, scattered with a fine layer of crumble topping, a dollop of fresh whipped cream, and slivers of torn, fresh basil. I was genetically built to love this humble, seasonal dessert with the mingling of basil and blueberries. It was more than enough to share with friends.

It’s hard not to come away from a meal here feeling anything less than satisfied. I can see why it’s love “at first sight” for so many at Prima Facie. I am a fan. primaparkville.com

by

In Your Cocktail NOIR

In 2020, married couple and business partners Tim and Louise Wirick relocated to Kansas City from San Diego, California, with their three kids in tow. They had more than a decade of experience between them developing and managing luxury wedding and event spaces, which includes bar management for private events.

The following year, the couple established Skyline & Co., their own event space development and management company in Kansas City. The company is responsible for managing some of the most luxurious event spaces in the metro, including The Century Club, a two-story historic ballroom in the newly renovated 100-year old building that’s home to The Mark apartments in downtown Kansas City.

When The Century Club was completed, the couple inquired about

an unfinished space on the ground floor of the same building. They loved the size of the space and agreed to finish it as another event space, named Noir, that they would manage.

When it isn’t rented as an event location, Noir serves as a cocktail lounge that’s open to the public Thursday through Saturday evenings between 6 p.m. and midnight. Reservations are required and can be made via Tock. The bar also serves as an amenity for those living in the building, who have a separate entrance from the lobby.

As part of its mystique, the general public must enter Noir via the alley on the west side of the building. The alley is well-lit, and guests will notice a set of light gray double doors with a small black lion’s head sporting a gold doorbell in its mouth mounted on the brick wall next to the doors. Simply ring the bell when you arrive for your reservations,

Jenny Vergara photo by Louise Wirick

Fairy's Folly

and a manager will let you in and escort you down a hallway and though the door that leads to the stylish bar and lounge.

e name, Noir, was clearly the inspiration for the sophisticated deep, dark greenish-gray hue that saturates the ceiling, walls, trim, and built-in bookcases, giving the space the luxurious feel of an old-money library. ere are several types of superbly comfortable seating vignettes scattered throughout, perfect for small intimate groups or larger gatherings. e couple spared no expense on the décor and lighting, which is kept low and moody in the evenings.

“We wanted to create a beautiful space to host parties in, but also we set out to create the kind of adult cocktail bar that we would want to go to ourselves,” says Tim Wirick. “We aren’t serving food at Noir at this time but are considering adding some snacks guests can order in the future.”

Behind the beautiful bar that runs along the back wall is a team of bartenders responsible for creating the seasonal list of craft cocktails and NA drinks and assembling the wine and beer lists.

Ryan Alexander is a bartender who has been working with the Wiricks for years, tending bar for private parties and working events at their other locations, and he is responsible for creating their popular drink, Fairy’s Folly.

“My inspiration for the drink came from a trip to Bourbon Street in New Orleans, where I had absinthe. I learned about all of the myths surrounding absinthe, including the imaginary mind-altering hallucinogenic qualities represented in absinthe ads of the early 19th century as the “Little Green Fairy,” says Alexander. e cocktail is both sweet and tart with a creaminess from the egg white and a pretty green sparkle from the edible glitter. skylineandco.com/noir

Fairy’s Folly

1 ounce Green Chartreuse

1.25 ounces Planteray Rum

75 ounce Falernum

.75 ounce lime juice

.25 ounce simple syrup

.75 ounce egg white

Splash of absinthe

Edible green glitter

Pour the absinthe in a coupe glass, twirl to coat it, and discard any remaining absinthe in the glass. Add all remaining ingredients except glitter into a cocktail shaker. Dry shake without ice to combine all of the ingredients, then drain into a second cocktail shaker and shake with ice to chill it. Double strain the cocktail from the second cocktail shaker though a small sieve into coupe glass. Garnish with a dusting of edible green glitter.

A spectacular, contemporary venue with transformable reception spaces and a magnificent courtyard. 1900bldg.com (913) 730–1905

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. therestaurantat1900.com (913) 730–1900

1900 Building

1900 Shawnee Mission Parkway Mission Woods, Kansas

Flavor IN KC

by Jenny Vergara

OUTDOOR DINING ENHANCEMENT GRANTS

IN 2024, Kansas City created a $200,000 Outdoor Dining Enhancement Grant to allow restaurants and bars to build and maintain outdoor dining areas in preparation for the World Cup in 2026. Of the 120 applications, 20 bars and restaurants were selected to receive between $8,000 and $15,000 to build outdoor patios. The proposed patios must be submitted to and approved by the city’s Public Works department to ensure they met the proper permitting and safety compliance regulations. The grant was funded through the city’s tourism budget for 2024-2025. Recipients of the grant were Blip Roasters, The Brick, Browne’s Irish Marketplace, Buffalo State Pizza Co., Cafe Ollama, The Combine, Cupini’s, Double Tap KC, Grand Street Café, Grinders, Kobi Q, Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop, Nick and Nino’s Pub, Novel Restaurant, Oddly Correct, Our House KC, PH Coffee, Tacos El Gallo, Urban, and Vye Cocktail Lounge. The city hopes to extend the program in the future so that it is available to bars and restaurants year-round.

Flavor IN KC

by Jenny Vergara

MUD PIE VEGAN BAKERY

THE MUCH-LOVED vegan bakery, Mud Pie Bakery, has moved again, this time reopening in a shiny new location in Mission where Nothing Bundt Cakes formerly operated. The owners, husband-and-wife duo Ashley and Michael Valverde, simply needed more room to grow their thriving business, where they make all their signature vegan sweet treats—muffins, cupcakes, scones, kolaches, donuts, and breakfast sandwiches, and soon they will add cakes, pastries, lunch wraps, and take-home baking mixes—all 100-percent plant-based. They closed their cozy original location on 39th Street after the pandemic in 2022. That made their second location in Overland Park, which opened in 2017, their only location for two years, until they closed it in early 2024, to start the hunt for a brand-new home for their 14-year-old bakery. With Ashley serving as the head baker, and Michael as the barista, they have made the move from serving madeto-order espresso bar coffee drinks to grab-and-go drinks, including cold-brew coffee and tea drinks made with oat, soy, or almond milk in environmentally friendly reusable glass jars. mudpiebakery.com

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HONORARY CHAIRS

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EVENT CO-CHAIRS

POLLY AND JEFFREY KRAMER, M.D.

BRIDGET MCCANDLESS, M.D. AND DENNIS TAYLOR

HONOREE

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KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

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Cast members and co-authors of What’s Next: A Backstage Pass to The West Wing

THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2025 SPONSOR AND TABLE HOST PACKAGES ON SALE NOW!

TRUMANLIBRARYINSTITUTE.ORG/WILD

by Jenny Vergara

CHETTINAD’S

THE CHEF Vijay Kumar Poennusamy started his culinary career in southern India 15 years ago. After immigrating to the United States in 2011, he established himself in Kansas City, working as a caterer for ten years, preparing delicious South Indian dishes for family events, private parties, and weddings under the name Chettinad’s. It’s same name he and his partners—his wife, Kalpana Vijay Kumar, and two friends, Anusudha Senthilkumar and Senthilkumar Jayapalan—gave their new restaurant that opened late last year in the Stanley Square shopping center, just off West 151st Street and U.S. Highway 69. Chettinad’s Indian Restaurant specializes in dishes from Tamil Nadu, India’s southernmost state. With a cuisine that is influenced by traditional Ayurvedic principles, regional variations, and a strong emphasis on locally sourced ingredients, the food from Tamil Nadu has a slightly spicier profile with both vegetarian and meat dishes on the menu, such as Gobi 65 (battered and fried cauliflower florets) Karaikudi Eral Masala (shrimp masala) Chettinadu chicken gravy (a chicken curry served over rice and specific to this region of India), several dishes feature goat, and there are several iterations of biryani. Lentils play an important role in the cuisine. Dosai, a savory lentil crepe is on the menu, along with Masala vada, a fried patty made from lentils and spices that’s a Southern Indian teatime snack. chettinads.com

Spotlight KC ATTRACTIONS NOT TO MISS IN FEBRUARY

The Midland Theatre —Price is Right LIVE A second show just added! Tickets on sale now for the 4:00 PM show. Get tickets at AXS.com.

FEB 8, 2025 - JAN 2026

FEB 8, 2025 - JAN 2026

Explore the history of water in our region at the Johnson County Museum

Explore the history of water in our region at the Johnson County Museum

Johnson County Museum —Ripples Reflect on the ripples of the past and consider the ripples we create today in this immersive new museum experience.

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Crown Center — Snoopy and the Red Baron

This gallery exhibition will delight fans who grew up with the Ace and introduce new audiences to Snoopy’s adventures.

Midwest Genealogy Center —Unlock Family History O ering thousands of on-site and online resources for researchers of all backgrounds and experience levels.

Curated by the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center, Santa Rosa, California, U.S.A. © 2025 Peanuts Worldwide LLC.

My Essentials IN KC

Elon’s essentials...

SHOP SMALL:

My favorite local boutique is Legacy Fabrics. My favorite item I’ve purchased from them was about two yards of stunning lavender charmeuse fabric.

ELON KEBEDE

DESIGNER. DIRECTOR. DREAMER.

Eby Evan Pagano

lon Kebede is a fashion designer and executive, but she’s always aimed at something greater: acquiring knowledge and helping others do the same.

Kebede started learning early. She spent her earliest years in Los Banos, California, learning Spanish from her babysitter and sewing from her Ethiopian-born mother. When she was in third grade, she moved to Gardner and learned small-town culture. As a college student, she studied fashion design at the University of North Texas and found internships in Dallas, New York, and Ethiopia.

“At the time, I was like, why not? What can stop me? at mentality got me really cool internships, and I got to meet a lot of cool folks in the industry,” says Kebede.

Fearlessness fostered success. In late 2022, Kebede launched ÈLU by Èlon, an evening-wear and bridal-wear brand featured at New York Fashion Week. In 2023, she landed a mentorship with the Fashion Arts Fund, which helps budding Kansas City designers. And in 2024, she became the executive director of the Fashion Arts Fund. She’s still learning under industry veteran Jennifer Lapka.

“Fashion Arts Fund has helped me tremendously,” she says. “Being the executive director puts a re underneath my seat. I want these students to experience the fashion industry to the fullest degree, so they’re equipped for their own brand.”

As Kebede’s fashion footprint grows, so will her ability to spread knowledge.

“When I get the right clientele and recurring clientele, then I’m going to start building some schools in Ethiopia,” she says. “ at’s always been a part of my goals—I would even say that is the only reason why I’m doing fashion design.” elubyelon.com

HIDDEN GEM:

BEST BITE:

Mmm! I’ve really been into mac and cheese, and there’s a place in Parlor KC called Muncheez. eir honey serrano mac and cheese is insane.

I feel like Saint Maur has been slept on. I absolutely love their shoes, especially their Homecoming Collection. Fun fact: Its designer, Cynthia SeymourSacco, is a KC native, and she makes her shoes with kente fabric, woven and made in Ghana.

PLANT PLACE:

LOCAL MAKER:

Recently, I’ve been really into sneakers (Air Forces, duh), and I wanted mine to be customized. So I hit up Sean Tiller, a local artist, and loved the custom shoes he painted for me!

CRAFTED COCKTAIL:

As a plant mother to 20-ish plants (no judgement), my favorite place to shop or just hang out is the Shawnee location of Family Tree Nursery at

Once upon a time I worked Green Lady Lounge, and call me biased, but literally any drink they make is so delicious. My favorite is a tie between their espresso martini and their Lady Loves Chai.

CAFFEINE FIX: Groundhouse Co ee. Medium Euphoria, almond milk, no whipped cream. You. Are. Absolutely. Welcome.

photo

Sid Mashburn | Greyson Clothiers | Saint James | Drake’s | Seaward & Stearn | Ralph Lauren | Jack Donnelly | Sunspel

Edwin | Chrysalis | Original Madras Trading Co. | Bennett Winch | Joseph Cheaney & Sons | Sanders Shoes | Pastori

SCULPTED CABLE COLLECTION