Kansas Citians Tackle Health & Wellness in 2021 eat the rainbow
&
Healthy Delicious Food for the New Year! JANUARY 2021 | INKANSASCITY.COM
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Contents JANUARY 2021
72 68
58
64 Features 54
IN CONVERSATION WITH ERIN SMITH The Lenexa native was named a Theil Fellow and made the Forbes’ 30 Under 30 List at the age of 18 for her development of FacePrint.
58
DOING DOUBLE DUTY Three laundry rooms show how versatile this hard-working space can become.
Departments
68
NEW YEAR, BETTER YOU What better time to discover a better you than the New Year?
72
MAKE IT HAPPY A vintage Fairway ranch lightens up in a fresh remodel.
64
VEGGING OUT In a city known for its barbecued meats, vegan food is forging a colorful, creative path into the restaurant scene.
16
WOMEN IN BUSINESS IN KC
20
ENTERTAINING IN KC
26
OUR MAN IN KC
30
ARTS & CULTURE IN KC
38
BEHIND THE MUSIC IN KC
44
LOOK IN KC
50
LIVING IN KC
82
FLAVOR IN KC
96
MY ESSENTIALS IN KC
IN EVERY ISSUE
On the cover
The Tuna Conserva Bowl from Billie’s Grocery. Check out page 12 for this month’s Enter to Win contest from Billie’s Grocery. Photo by Alice Govert Bryan. JANUARY 2021
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EDITOR’S NOTE
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More possibilities. One location.
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Editor’s Note
Cheers to the New Year
Vol. 4 | No. 1 JANUARY 2021 Editor In Chief Zim Loy Art Director Alice Govert Bryan Digital Editor Michael Mackie
Contributing Photographers Morten Fog, Aaron Leimkuehler Graphic Designer Eva Tucker Copy Editor Craig Magnus Publisher Michelle Jolles Media Director Brittany Coale Senior Media Consultants Katie Delzer, Nicole Kube, Shelayne Lawyer, Krista Markley Newsstand Consultant Joe J. Luca, JK Associates 816-213-4101, jkassoc.net
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Zim
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H
as anyone ever been as eager for the start of a new year as all of us, now? 2020 was definitely an annus horribilis for most of us, with the pandemic, resultant recession, and all that political hoo-ha. Well, here at the magazine we’re putting on a fresh face (under our mask), and looking forward to a healthier, happier 2021. From a comprehensive list that ranges from how to exercise safely to some of the best new spa treatments and skincare essentials (if anything can help my rough, red hands from so much washing, I’d appreciate it) to the latest CBD offerings, contributor Katy Schamberger puts it all together for you in New Year, Better You. Read the story beginning on page 68. Thinking of going vegan? Turn to page 64, where our food writer, Kelsey Cipolla, introduces us to some great new vegan restaurants and the impetus behind them. Honestly, the dishes look so good, I’m planning on frequenting them, even though I could never give up barbecue. Laundry rooms are not usually thought of as places of inspiration. But we feature three that are actually pretty and pretty hard-working. These rooms do double duty—more than just a place to wash and dry clothes, but versatile enough to serve as a prep kitchen or a locker room or an organization hub for the home. You’ll be inspired to make some changes yourself when you check out the story on page 58. When I assigned contributing writer Judith Fertig the feature on Morgan and Dan Georgie’s Fairway ranch renovation, the first thing she texted me after seeing their home was “their house is so happy!” A fitting description to be sure. The Georgies’ thoughtful renovation and calm, collected design is all there starting on page 72. You may have never heard of Lenexa native Erin Smith, our feature Q&A in this issue, but I’m quite sure you will soon. By the age of 19, Smith had won a $100,000 Theil fellowship, was the youngest honoree named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in 2019, and founded a company named the Top Health Startup of 2019 by Wired magazine. Now a student at Stanford University, Smith’s interview with contributor Cindy Hoedel is a marvel of intelligence and creative thinking. There’s plenty more inside these pages—from Cody Hogan’s breakdown on how to mix up the best winter soup to Merrily Jackson’s strategy for using January as a month of planning and reorganizing our homes for that future day when we all can entertain again. And that can’t come soon enough for me.
Contributing Writers Kelsey Cipolla, Stacy Downs, Judith Fertig, Timothy Finn, Cindy Hoedel, Cody Hogan, Merrily Jackson, Damian Lair, R. Murphy, Katy Schamberger
JANUARY 2021
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215 W. Pershing Road Kansas City § Missouri § 64108 816.363.5300
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kitchens | bathrooms | home
New Year, Fresh Look
EXPLORE OUR WEBSITE AT
INKANSASCITY.COM The Who/What/ When/Where of Nelson-Atkins CEO Julián Zugazagoitia.
ENTER TO WIN
We caught up with the museum buff and linguist (Zugazagoitia speaks six languages!) to gain his insight on where to see and be seen in the metro. Find it at inkansascity.com.
A room to remember. In our
Refresh and Renew In 2021. Fresh, healthy ingredients make up a majority of Billie’s Grocery’s culinary offerings. And this month you can enter to win a $100 gift card to try out their tasty entrées, fruit juices, smoothies, and gourmet coffee drinks. Plus, our friends at Associated Plastic Surgeons in Leawood are giving away a $200 gift card to use for any of their makeover-worthy med-spa procedures. Are you ready to look and feel your best in the new year? Enter by January 31 at inkansascity. com/the-magazine/enter-to-win. Good luck!
Stew on this. Chef Deepal Patel has whipped up a traditional Welsh Cawl recipe (with an Indian kick) that’s easy for you
newest monthly column, we chat up local interior designers to find out what unforgettable design is at the top of their respective lists. First up? Design Connection Inc.’s Arlene Ladegaard. Find the story at inkansascity.com.
FOLLOW US
Trying to decide where to eat (or get takeout)? We’ve got you
covered with the city’s most comprehensive dining guide. Check it out at inkansascity. com/eat-drink/dining-guide
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to duplicate at home. Find the recipe at
inkansascity.com/eat-drink-recipes. INSTAGRAM @INKANSASCITYMAG
Our Top 11 Most-Read Articles of 2020. From a $10 million mega-mansion to Brad Pitt’s baseball cap to Super Bowl LIV coverage, see what articles were the most clicked and most read last year.
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JANUARY 2021
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GREAT PLAINS SPCA ANIMAL EXPERT ANSWERS YOUR PET QUESTIONS Animal expert, Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA, is the Director of Animal Behavior & Training at Great Plains SPCA. Ashley has more than 16 years of experience in animal training and behavior.
Does your dog need help with the basics?
This December, please join us in support of our holiday donation match campaign to help all of our pets find homes this holiday season.
Dear Ashley – My dog does great following commands if we are doing a dedicated training session with treats, but outside of that time she ignores me (particularly with the “stay” command)! How can I fix this? – Katie Thurbon It is natural for dogs to have difficulty when following commands when there are higher stimuli factors present such as people, animals, and sounds. I recommend training commands in your home initially. Once your dog achieves at least a 90% success rate responding to the command, then practice in your backyard. Once you have achieved a 90% success rate in your backyard, go to the front yard, then down the street, then at a park, and so on. You will slowly increase stimuli to get your dog accustomed to following commands in places with little distractions to high distraction locations. Hang in there and you will get it! – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA
New classes are starting soon, please visit our website to sign up or learn more!
GREATPLAINSSPCA.ORG
5424 Antioch Dr. | Merriam, KS 66202
Dear Ashley – My dog jumps up on me every time he sees his leash and it is starting to get painful when he jumps on me. How can I decrease this behavior while keeping walks fun? – Maggie Harrison You should desensitize your dog to the action of leashing for walks. When you grab the leash and the dog reacts in any manner
that you find undesirable like barking, jumping, or being mouthy, say, “too bad” and put the leash back and pretend to do something in your house for a few minutes, then retry. Your dog will jump a lot in the beginning, but once your dog associates jumping with not getting to go for a walk, the jumping will stop. Even if you put the leash on and are about to walk out the door, if he jumps on you again, say, “too bad” then walk back and unleash the dog and go about your business. Be persistent and patient and you will get this – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA
Dear Ashley – When should you bring your dog inside when it is cold/snowing? When is it deemed unsafe? Any tips on how to keep a dog’s feet warm? – Gretta Scheperle Most dogs feel cold when it is 45 degrees Fahrenheit and below and will seek some type of shelter. There are some breeds that do better in cold weather than others, so I recommend learning about your pet’s breed and keeping elderly, small, sick, or thin-coated animals indoors when it is 32 degrees Fahrenheit and below. I encourage you to let your furry kiddos in the home when it is cold or at least have a basement or garage area for cold days. There are some booties that you can purchase, but be sure to let them dry out between walks so that your dog doesn’t have damp feet. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA
Email askashleyinkc@greatplainsspca.org for a chance to have your pet question answered here.
ADOPT. DONATE. VOLUNTEER. About Great Plains SPCA: Great Plains SPCA is an independent 501 (c)(3) no-kill shelter serving approximately 6,000 animals annually in the Johnson County community. As Kansas City’s premium family shelter, we continue to support the seven municipalities that we are contracted with including Overland Park, Leawood, Shawnee, Lake Quivira and Johnson County Parks and Recreation and unincorporated Johnson County.
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Michael Mackie
photo by
Aaron Leimkuehler
Rebecca Dove
THE FOUNDER OF PENNEZ, LLC, HAS DEVELOPED AN EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY COMPANY THAT FOCUSES ON IMPROVING THE LITERACY OF YOUNG READERS
A
s a former elementary educator and professor, Rebecca Dove started her educational technology company, Pennez, LLC, to address illiteracy and the lack of stories written by and about people of color. Since its inception in 2014, the website has gained traction and interest from parents and educators alike. “Our goal is to, of course, help all youth read, but our focus is to ensure that we’re intentional about curating content for youth of different black and brown communities,” says Dove. When she launched Pennez, it was strictly a grassroots effort funded by grants she hustled to secure. Her initial foray was during a start-up education weekend here in the metro. “It was one of my first exposures to business and pitching—and that’s where I pitched a concept around illiteracy,” she says. “I focused on the need for people of color and characters in books and comic books, as well as addressing the reading and literacy gap.” More grants followed and Dove took what she learned as she met with educators and programming leaders across the country to learn about the achievement gap and diversity in literature. “Literacy is really the full
JANUARY 2021
gamut of reading, writing, speaking, and listening,” she says. “Right now, we provide resources for educators and parents. We blog about different wordsmiths and provide book lists and topics on helping inform parents about different diversity issues and reading information.” From book fairs to literacy symposiums, Dove was determined to get the Pennez name out there. It’s served her well, as the organization is poised to launch their newest venture early this year, a pro-active web application called Read 2 Think, which will help parents inspire their kids’ love of reading. “The most rewarding thing is having the ability to be a platform that lays out why assessments and stories and authors of color need to be highlighted,” she says. “Additionally, as Pennez has grown, bringing more visibility to the individuals who are not being noticed— authors of colors—that’s another rewarding aspect.” Another pro? Being virtual has allowed Dove to make an impact from Coffeyville to China and beyond. Speaking of Pennez’s name, Dove says it’s inspired from the Spanish word “pensar” which means to think. She says the goal of the content produced or services provided is to inspire children to think as they read. Dove was quick to point out that along her journey, she’s been surrounded by plenty of champions, including award-winning local author Christine Taylor Butler. “She’s written over 75 children’s books,” says Dove. “She gave a lot of clarity, feedback, and mentorship.” And Dove mentions a slew of UMKC students who are working as savvy interns. “That’s been amazing to help us get a bigger foothold,” she says. Dove’s professional circle, meanwhile, is a who’s who of female founders who have attended networking events, shared resources, worked on pitch competitions and grant applications, and the list goes on. “Girl power helps in our conversations and our bond and hindsight with one another,” she says. For now, Dove is excited to see what 2021 brings. And she wants as many people to sign up to be a trial user for the organization’s ambitious new Read 2 Think program and give as much feedback as possible. “At the end of the day, I want people to know Pennez is a platform to educate parents, educators, and provide resources about reading and literacy tools and services,” she says. “Our goal is to ensure that children of different cultural backgrounds are understood and connect with those stories.” pennez.com
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DC inKC_May_vFA.indd 1
4/2/19 5:29 PM
Entertaining
IN KC
Merrily shopping for table linens at Terrasi Living & Scandia Home on the Plaza.
How to Spend Your January in Lockdown OUR DIVA OF ENTERTAINING SUGGESTS WE SPEND JANUARY GATHERING OUR STRENGTH AND RESOURCES FOR THE RESUMPTION OF NORMAL SOCIALIZING by
Merrily Jackson
photo by
Aaron Leimkuehler
H
ow were your holidays? Weird, right? The hubs and I have been hibernating from the virus; I hope you’ve been able to do that, too. I’m not sure I will know how to act around people once we can get back to having a social life, but I’m ever so keen to try it. In the meanwhile, let’s spend our January—always a month of planning, reorganizing, beginning anew—preparing ourselves and our homes for cozy gatherings, when the happy day comes that we are able to have people over again. EATING HEALTHIER—OR NOT. Normally in January we all try to cut way back on alcohol and carbs after the excesses of the holiday party season. Some of us even engage in draconian cleanse regimes. But we’ve been at our battle stations, haven’t we? Who knows what we’ve all been
Email me with your entertaining questions, dilemmas, or triumphs at mjackson@inkansascity.com
JANUARY 2021
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M A R K A L E X A N D E R FA B R I C S & WA L L C O V E R I N G S R AY B O O T H F O R H I C K O R Y C H A I R
Celebrate more time at home.
Interior sanctuaries created here.
8 510 M a r s h a l l D r i v e | L e n e x a , K S kdrshowrooms.com
Entertaining
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A Healthy Snack for a January Day
This is from Giada’s Feel Good Food: My Healthy Recipes and Secrets by the annoyingly thin and gorgeous Giada de Laurentiis. At 53 calories a serving, it’s a melt-in-your mouth snack, using apples available year-round. You’ll need a V-slicer or a mandoline.
SPICED APPLE CHIPS
Serves four
Vegetable oil cooking spray ¼ cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
2 (6-7 oz) tart apples, such as Granny Smith
Place one rack at the top and one at the bottom position and preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line 2 large heavy baking sheets with parchment paper. Lightly coat the parchment with nonstick spray. In a small bowl, stir the sugar, cinnamon and salt until blended. Stand each apple upright. Cut 1/4 inch vertically off the right and left sides of each apple. Set the mandoline or v-slicer for cutting 1/16-inch-thick slices. Place 1 apple, cut-side down, on the slicer. Cut slices until the apple core is exposed. Turn the apple over and cut slices off the remaining side until the core is exposed. Arrange the apple slices in a single layer on one of the baking sheets. Repeat with the second apple. Using your fingertips, sprinkle the apple slices generously with the topping. Bake until the edges curl and the chips are golden and feel crisp, 30 to 45 minutes. Reverse the sheets from top to bottom, and also rotate them front to back. Pull the parchment with the apples onto the work surface and cool completely, 20 to 30 minutes (the chips will crisp more as they cool).
JANUARY 2021
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doing to get by, and you’ll have no judgment from me if you’ve chosen to keep it up. Perhaps you’ve decided you need the renewed vigor you’ll get from eating healthier. Yay for you! It’s definitely easier to do this when we’re not socializing, a tiny bonus of the pandemic. I’ve been cooking from Gina Homolka’s Skinny Taste: One and Done, which offers no-fuss dinner recipes for your instant pot, slow cooker, air fryer, sheet pan, and skillet. A reader wrote to me a couple of years ago, singing the book’s praises, so I ordered it, a solid purchase. (Email me for a few of my favorite recipes.) When we do healthy takeout, I can’t get enough of The Mixx’s salads, especially the “Main Street Chop Chop”—it’s also a great keto diet option, if that is your thing. GET YOUR KITCHEN SQUARED AWAY An orderly kitchen begets easy entertaining. If your cabinets and drawers have become unruly, take some time in January to reorganize your kitchen so you can find things more easily and actually be proud to have a future dinner guest open your kitchen junk drawer. Professional organizers say you should empty a drawer completely, give it a scrub, then eliminate the tools and gadgets you haven’t used in a year, especially those that perform only one function. Back into the drawer go only the tools you actually use. Oxo makes an expandable utensil organizer with adjustable dividers that shift to accommodate all sizes of tools. I bought mine at Pryde’s Kitchen and Necessities. Shop local! Speaking of shopping local—and utensils—in January, I always have my knives sharpened at Ambrosi Brothers Cutlery, 3023 Main Street in Kansas City. They charge $6 a knife, $7 a knife to sharpen while you wait. They’ll do curbside service, but, as with all the shops I mention herein, they are very respectful of CDC guidelines, and I feel safe in the store. OUT WITH THE STALE Organization experts also say we should, once a year, pull all the foodstuffs out of our cabinet, toss everything old or stale, scrub-a-dub-dub the empty shelves, then restock. This will give you lots of added space, so you can actually see what you have. I recently moved my spices from a cabinet, where they were crammed together higgledy-piggledy, to two pull-out drawers. They are in alpha order (duh!), so I can look down—rather than reaching up—and quickly find exactly what I need. Looking for the spices I need for a recipe is actually a soothing, rather than vexing, exercise. I wish I had decided decades ago to commit this much space to my spices. WHIP THAT BAR INTO SHAPE There is something so hospitable-looking and genteel about
JANUARY 2021
Shop Our Locally Owned Store of 22 Years!
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Entertaining
IN KC
a well-stocked bar. Use January to stock up and replenish. If you don’t have room for a full bar, build a drinks tray. All you really need is: a sturdy, flat surface—an empty bookshelf or two, the top of a chest-of-drawers—practically anything will do; a wicker, wooden, or silver galley tray topped with shiny booze bottles in varying shapes, colors, and sizes; a handsome ice bucket and some gleaming glassware at the ready. In addition to the hooch, I like to see elegant, single-serving bottles of Coke, soda, and tonic water and a small cutting board for lemons and limes. A high-functioning drinks tray also has small bottles of bitters, Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco, and Rose’s lime juice. WHITE SALES ARE WONDERFUL! Take advantage of January white sales to refresh your table linens. Terrasi Living & Scandia Home on the Plaza has the most sumptuous table linens; you can order them in literally a hundred colors. They always have a sale in January; my friend Ursula Terrasi tells me 2021 is no exception. (They have chic-looking, well-constructed face masks, too!) Maybe you don’t have a budget this year for high-quality table linens, even marked-down ones. Fresh, new, inexpensive flat sheets are my favorite tablecloth hack. Go to Amazon and do a search for “flat sheets only.” The assortment is staggering, lots of cheap ones. Say what you
will about Amazon; it is all kinds of practical. AND FINALLY, SET YOURSELF UP FOR COMFORTABLE COOKING I love to spend hours cooking in the kitchen, the telly keeping me company. But when my “dogs are barkin’,” cooking is no fun at all. When your feet hurt, everything hurts. James Beard award-winning restaurateur Michael Smith is on his feet cooking, all day every day. I asked him once what footwear he uses. “Old man shoes,” he joked. He told me he gets his shoes at Comfort Plus, and he always wears custom-made orthotic inserts. “I couldn’t live without them,” he said. I have some ugly cooking shoes, too, in which I drop inserts made by a company called Pedag; they cost about 40 bucks and you can find them online. The first time I put them in my shoes and spent an afternoon cooking, I was pleased at how not only did my feet feel better, so did my back and neck. For added foot comfort, I bought some thick floor mats—again from wicked Amazon—to go in front of my sink and stove. They make me feel like I am standing on cushy little clouds. The mats are absolutely heinous-looking, though, and my plan is to whisk them into the basement before respectable company arrives. I hope I remember to do so—I’ll be so excited to have people over again, I just might forget.
RELAX.
Isn’t that what you want to do when you buy or sell a home? Relax and let the experts guide you.
Kevin Bryant Melinda Chalfant Katherine Meiners Gregg
Kathy Scaglia Green Becky Loboda Sandy Palmer
Heidi Peter Tom Suther Nancy Weeks
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R E A L E S T AT E . R E A L E X P E R T S .
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JANUARY 2021
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MCCROSKEYINTERIORS.COM 913-282-1161 • info@mccroskeyinteriors
Our Man BY
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Damian Lair
dlair@inkansascity.com
: @damianlair #OurManINKC
An Igloo for You. An Igloo for Me.
I
magine that you’re The Fontaine hotel on the Country Club Plaza. You’re wanting a creative way to utilize your gorgeous rooftop pool area during the colder months. You ring Josh Dampf Events for some guidance and a scintillating concept. Josh proposes private, clear igloo-like domes scattered across the patio. It’s late 2019. Bizarrely, the word “pandemic” exists primarily in history books and obscure government planning documents. Even Josh himself is modest about how eerily prescient this vision turned out to be, with similar structures now blanketing the streets of posh major cities. So, as bars and restaurants across the world scrambled to concoct plans for expanding their available real estate in safe but chic ways, The Fontaine already had a plan. And thus, as the 2020 winter crept in, the hotel unveiled Nine Zero One Igloo Bar, a rooftop popup experience, worthy of permanence. Josh, a master storyteller, deftly assembled a motley group of pandemic-displaced artists and creatives eager to create a magical winter escape. An escape from reality, from stress and situations, from the city, and even from the very ground. Artist Boi Boy was instrumental in transforming what was the hotel bar into an icy tundra. He used, among other materials, miles and miles of crumpled, reflective mylar and the scent of palo santo. He was inspired by the translucent, shifting Aurora Borealis lights near the Arctic. The patio outside, where I’ve often lounged poolside, was cleared of summertime cabanas and deck chairs and scattered with clear igloo pods. With their interior lights sparkling against the still pool water, each igloo comes with its own unique interior design, referencing HOT the ice lands of Scandinavia. Florals by Colleen GOSSIP: Monroe of Floraloom offer a distinct Alpine What local designer charm. Individual fireplaces, sheepskin throws, was recently ranked and piles of fresh blankets await to keep you #1 in views on a and your domed guests warm and toasty. And global dating app? of course, no personal fireplace is complete without a cocktail in hand, right? Fortunately,
JANUARY 2021
Damian Lair at Nine Zero One Igloo Bar.
they’ve got you covered. Whether it’s peppermint or smoky whisky, thanks to mixologist Adam Chase, your wintertime beverage fantasy is just a QR code away. Need a nosh? The tapas menu assembled by chef Michael Olson is sure to delight. After all, I insisted on our group orderOVERHEARD ing one of everything. My favorite was “By the time you the pork rinds topped with crème fraicget out of this he and salmon roe. Unexpected, crispy/ driveway, the bar salty, and high-low divine. There’s also will be closed.” a vegetarian “carpaccio” which will have you scratching your head as to how it’s meat-free. Unlike the plethora of Christmas-themed pop ups (which I’ve also enjoyed this season), Nine Zero One was devised with a bit more seasonal longevity in mind. Fortunately, that means that after reading this, you’ll still have ample time to enjoy. Final call at this icescape is February 15. P.S., I also hear that a special Valentine’s “silent disco” is in the works for the 14th. Book now as space is, of course, extremely distanced and limited.
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OVERHEARD “Is that a chandelier or a tree topper?”
Mercury Rising
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f you’re on Instagram (and somehow not busy following my dizzying adventures) you’ve surely noticed the photos, practically designed to induce jealousy if you’re not there. The there I’m referring to is The Mercury Room. Perched on the top floor of the new and distinctly recognizable REVERB apartment building in the Crossroads, the Mercury Room is truly its own spectacular little planet. How spectacular? Let me count the ways. First, there’s the view: the downtown skyline, front and center, from a nice aerial vantage. Next, there’s the constellation of lights, liberally strewn across the ceiling. All 9,000 or so of them, packed into roughly 800 square feet. It feels like you’re floating in outer space. And did I mention that the skyline/lights combination practically cries out for selfie-taking? Your friends will HOT also weep—at least mine did. My inbox GOSSIP: filled with KC and coastal friends alike, all dropping DM’s in unison: “Where are Who held an ambitious you?” And what little slivers of encloseries of holiday parties, sure that aren’t floor-to-ceiling expanses reserved only for Covidof glass are mirrored. All the better to recovered and immune friends? reflect the city, the lights, or both. It’s a weird Pandora’s box of other-worldly cool.
JANUARY 2021
Beyond the sumptuous ambience and the magnetic chic factor are the cocktails. You may have heard: the $30 cocktails. Yes, I know it seems extravagant. But, tax/gratuity is included, and you’re not here to drink until you forget your name. The objective is savoring quality, not sloshing quantities. Pace yourself, and your capped two-hour visit might very well cost less than a long night at your favorite, less refined, watering hole, and the experience will be far more memorable. On my preview visit, I opted for the Astarium (Swedish vodka, yuzu sake, nonino moscato grappa, quenepas and champagne acid) and the Impasto (scotch whisky, hay smoke, herbs de Provence-preserved lemon, and black-garlic yogurt). And as if the exotic ingredients weren’t enough, they had me at the ice. Yes, you may be unaware, but I am something of an ice connoisseur. There is just nothing better than beautiful, crystal clear, barely there ice. Shape and size are (almost) just as important as clarity. Typically, this sort of custom ice is produced in massive blocks and then hand cut into just-shy-of-mass-mechanical-perfection cubes. At Mercury, in many cases, the ice is further hand-carved at the bar to fit specific cocktail vessels, which I was able to witness and marvel at firsthand from my bar seat. It’s completely unnecessary, which is what makes it so decadently wonderful. While the cock-
| 28 | INKANSASCITY.COM
tail concoctions are the inspiration of OVERHEARD Brock Schulte and Dominic Petrucci, “You smell the space and concept are the primary like Macy’s.” brainchild of David Manica, who’s also graced our city with equally indulgent nightlife spots, The Monarch Bar and Verdigris. In addition to your cocktails and the overall experience—which is absolutely is a complete experience— you’ll get to enjoy the occasional non-alcoholic aperitif and tiny bites imagined by nearby (and personal favorite) Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room. Sound interesting? Well, book now. Before even opening to the public, the list to make a reservation was tipping near 2,000 when I visited. And with precious little space for 14 sublimely fortunate guests (will accommodate 28 when our universe returns to pre-pandemic social intimacy), it’s bound to stay the hot ticket for some time to come.
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LIGHT UP THE PARK LIGHTS, LIGHTS, EVERYWHERE LIGHTS! With more than half a million flashing, twinkling and beaming lights and 175 animated displays, the hard-working team at Jackson County Parks + Rec clearly outdid themselves this year on their annual Jackson County Christmas in the Park. While a great way to spend the holidays any year, this drive-through event seemed particularly well-considered during a season when relatively few holiday events could be enjoyed from the comfort and safety of one’s vehicle. Designed and constructed entirely in-house, the Parks team begins planning nearly a year in advance to contemplate new displays and layouts for the forthcoming season. Though my first time, it’s been a holiday family tradition for many (over three million have made the drive through!)—for a whopping 33 years. The experience begins with a 100-foot lighted tunnel programmed to a sequence of dazzling colors and effects. Along the route, little ones can download scavenger hunt pages to check off the various displays bingo style. You can also cue up the perfect holiday music playlist by texting SANTA to 40157. A few more pro tips: the event is quite popular, and lines can be long, so bring a few snacks. Better yet, opt for a weekday vs. weekend evening. And for bonus points, make plans to dine in or take out food at one of the numerous nearby restaurants. The event is free, but donations are welcomed and are spread among 39 local charitable organizations—with over $1.2 million distributed to date. The display is located near the Frank White, Jr. Softball Complex at Longview Lake in Lee’s Summit. If you didn’t make it for year #33, there’s always #34. Mark your calendar next year for Thanksgiving to New Year’s, and add it to your holiday tradition.
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JANUARY 2021
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Arts & Culture
IN KC
W
ith one foot in the academic music world as a composer and professor at UMKC Conservatory where he won the 2008 Kauffman Award for Artistic Excellence, another in the intuitive one of healing, Paul Rudy explores a full spectrum of music. He is a practitioner of sound medicine through retreats at his Harmony Farm in Perry, Kansas, and elsewhere. “Our world is not just acoustically noisy,” Rudy says. “It’s also metaphysically bombarding us internally and externally with chaotic signals of all kinds. That’s why spending time in nature and with sound healing can be so restorative. Sound, intentionally directed by a practitioner that is listening to your body, and responding to what it wants, can be so profound. It moves energy in so many ways: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.” What music, sound, and vibration have in common is oscillation. Sound healing gets everything oscillating again through balanced vibration. Says Rudy, “When energy starts flowing again, the body can do what it was designed to do: Heal!” Says Rudy, “At Harmony Farm, when it is so quiet and dark, I’m reminded that when I have the presence to truly listen to others and all that I encounter, only then can I stand fully in my own power for a short oscillation through the Universe.” And that’s just what we need for a new year. paulrudy.net
Paul Rudy THE COMPOSER AND SOUND HEALER ANSWERS FOUR QUESTIONS by
Judith Fertig
photo by
Aaron Leimkuehler
JANUARY 2021
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INKC: How did you get interested in music, and then the possibili-
world, rather than being subject to the vibration of others!
ties of pure sound frequencies? Rudy: When I was in junior high, I got to play the trumpet solo on In the Mood, and started improvising. That lit a fire in my soul, and improvisation has become a way of life even to this day. In graduate school, I discovered the electronic music studio and sound sculpting, much like an artist works with a block of marble or wood. The sounds within sounds reveal themselves magically as layers are electronically peeled away or added on top. In the mid-2000’s I was driving across Kansas with Alison Krause playing from a CD. I started noticing that the tips of my fingers were vibrating with the cymbal strikes. That was probably the first time I physically felt music and sound expand to vibration.
INKC: How can “hearing” sound through the human body help heal it? Rudy: The body is actually “hearing” sound all the time. With our ears it happens through movement of air molecules. With our bodies, it travels through all our layers from tissues to bone. Our bodies are 70 to 80 percent water, and sound travels eight times faster and more efficiently in water, so our body water becomes the fluid medium that connects it all together and transduces the sound vibration. So, the transfer of energy from sound travelling intentionally into the body has the power to transmute areas that are stuck and get energy flowing again.
INKC: How does the human body experience sound? Rudy: It is common to experience music emotionally. Yet, there are so
many more layers we can experience through listening more deeply and with intention. The short version is that the fifth chakra in our body’s energy system is called the “throat chakra,” which would be better named the “sound” chakra. This is the basis of my personal practice and working with clients. Sound healing can harmonize our chakras, and when the fifth chakra is tuned, we can more freely speak our truth and listen to what is happening around us. When we are tuned and in harmony with ourselves, we begin to put our own vibration, resonance, and balanced oscillation out into the
INKC: How has the Kansas City area nurtured your creativity? Rudy: I have been blessed with amazing colleagues at the UMKC Con-
servatory for over 20 years. I also get to work with young people, and love the fresh ideas they have just by being themselves. In addition to all the traditional music happenings in KC, I’ve also had a lot of unique opportunities as well, from commissions and sound mediations at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, to working with an architecture firm to tune a set of wind chimes for a sculpture. I’ve learned to get out of my head more and more, and into experiences with people and places through sound. A current research collaboration with Surgilab at the UMKC Medical School is taking me way beyond my musical origins and into the operating room to study and record the sound landscape in order to make it safer.
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Arts & Culture by
IN KC
Judith Fertig
KC PERFORMS! WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, Kansas City’s stages, orchestral halls, dance spaces, and jazz clubs went dark. Live performances were too risky. But Kansas City PBS has brought them back to virtual life with a new take on a “variety” show produced by Brad Austin in collaboration with Kansas City arts groups. Each 30-minute segment of KC Performs blends orchestra, jazz, dance, and stage performances. New shows will debut in January. You can also watch previous shows on KCPT Passport or YouTube. Each segment gives viewers a little taste of what they’ve been missing—and will want to see in person as soon as possible. In a recent show, violinist Orin Laursen displayed his virtuosity in Camille Saint-Saens’ Havanaise. When Park ICM closed in March, Laursen and his brother, also a musician, invited two friends to quarantine at the brothers’ family home, where they played a lot of string quartet music. “When you’re not performing, it’s really hard to feel useful and to feel needed—as a professional and as a person,” he says. kcpt.org
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ROBERT BLACKBURN AND MODERN AMERICAN PRINTMAKING ROBERT BLACKBURN, an heir to the creative outpouring of the Harlem Renaissance, gave printmaking a totally modern spin, partnering with beginners and luminaries alike. As a Black artist born to Jamaican immigrants, he had experienced his fair share of racism and bigotry, so when he opened his Printmaking Workshop in 1947 in a huge New York City loft, he vowed to be welcoming and inclusive. Blackburn’s most productive period from the late 1950s to the early 1970s showed his interest in abstract still lifes and color studies. During this time, he also served as a master printer for Universal Limited Art Editions, where he produced art editions for Helen Frankenthaler, Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, and other modern artists. This traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian is divided into two viewing areas at the Nelson-Atkins Museum. Blackburn’s early work is featured in Gallery 214. His later prints are in Gallery L8 in the new Bloch Building through February. nelson-atkins.org
JANUARY 2021
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Arts & Culture BY
IN KC
Judith Fertig
DIVERGENCES AT KEMPER MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART THE ATRIUM PROJECT at Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art provides a soaring and nontraditional exhibit space for emerging artists to create something entirely new. These projects take up the 25-foot-high wall at the entrance to the museum. In her exhibit Divergences, New York-based, Dominicanborn Latinx artist Joiri Minaya upsets the concept of colonialism in which white Europeans impose their culture on others, usually people of color. Her installation fuses jungle-like patterns from South America with the local landscape of the Quindaro Townsite, a Black settlement nearby. Camouflaged female figures float in and out. Minaya says her work is “an exercise of unlearning, decolonizing and exorcizing imposed histories, cultures, and ideas. It’s about reconciling the experience of having grown up in the Dominican Republic with living and navigating the U.S. / global North; using gaps, disconnections, and misinterpretations as fertile ground for creativity.” Her work reimagines history, and asks What if ? Through July 18, 2021. Visitors need to reserve timed tickets online. kemperart.org
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STANISLAUS IOUDENITCH AND THE MUSIC OF IGOR STRAVINSKY WHAT AN AMAZING WORLD we live in when a young pianist growing up in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, now performs Russian music in Mission Woods, Kansas. But this journey has been years in the making. When Stanislaus Ioudenitch won the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2001, he took his first steps westward. Now, he has performed and taught all over the world and is part of Park ICM’s group of outstanding musicians. On Saturday evening, January 30, at the 1900 Building, he will perform Three Movements from Petrushka, a piano solo arranged from the ballet by Igor Stravinsky for his friend, the classical pianist Arthur Rubinstein. All three movements— Danse Russe (Russian Dance), Chez Pétrouchka (Petrushka’s Room), and La Semaine Grasse (The Shrovetide Fair)—require masterful technical and artistic ability. All three movements include wild and rapid jumps over two octaves, complex polyrhythms, extremely fast scales, multiple glissandos, and tremolos. Not for the faint of heart or the un-nimble. Tickets required. As always during the pandemic, check ahead to make sure the concert will go on as scheduled. 1900bldg.com
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DREAMING OF A LUXURIOUSLY UPDATED HOME? HERE’S HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN PRESENTED BY
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there a better time than the start of a new year to make a significant change to your home? After all, there’s no better way to feel refreshed and renewed than to transform the place where you spend so much time. With a turbulent and challenging year in the rear view, now’s the time to truly embrace what’s possible. Do you want to cook meals in a kitchen that looks like it belongs in a Nancy Myer film? Or escape a hectic day in a sumptuous, spa-like bathroom? You know the saying—if you can dream it, you can do it. And when it comes to making the home of your dreams come true, there’s no better solution than the award-winning remodeling and design team at Karin Ross Designs. “This last year, we’ve seen the possibility of working from home, not commuting, having more time with our families,” says Karin Ross, owner, Karin Ross Designs. “Now, more people are dreaming of a luxurious home and how to create it.” For Ross, a European native, this focus on both living and working in the home is something that Europeans have embraced for years—a family business on the first level, for example, with living space upstairs.
Now that the pandemic has changed how many Americans view their own living and working spaces, Ross is excited for the opportunity to use her team’s talents to create a home that fulfills all of those needs—and looks effortlessly chic while doing it. As you turn a more critical eye to your own home, keep the following considerations in mind to ensure you get what you need.
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UNDERSTAND WHAT LUXURY ENTAILS. Luxury is one of those words that’s frequently used. But for Ross, creating a luxurious dream space extends beyond the visual aesthetic — the colors, the patterns, the fixtures and other finishes. “The luxury isn’t just to have an item, but to also know how to use it,” she says. After all, you don’t want a home that only looks beautiful and inviting; you want it to be functional, too, especially if you are spending more time at home with work or school. That’s where enlisting the help of a professional like Ross is so important. Far beyond simply swapping paint colors and cabinet pulls, Ross works with each client to create an artistic vision of the space—how it should look and how it should be used. Part of that artistic vision includes Ross’s ongoing commitment to not only stay up-to-date with trends, but instead to stay ahead of them. She frequently attends continuing learning courses with Europe-based remodelers and designers, then applies what she learns in Kansas City before these coveted trends even hit the U.S. coasts. A project of this scope does typically come with a higher price tag, but Ross is seeing more clients that are spending less elsewhere—traveling, for example—and instead opting to make a higher investment in their home, especially since they’re spending more time there.
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REPAIRS VS. RENOVATIONS. It’s common to confuse repairs with a more comprehensive home update, but understanding what you and your home needs helps ensure you enlist the appropriate professionals. If it helps, make a list of how you want to change your
home. Then, consider what you’ve written. If your goals are mostly repairs—fixing water damage, updating plumbing, electrical or HVAC systems, or foundation repairs, for example —you’ll want to enlist the help of either a specialized professional like a plumber or an electrician or a general handyman. Are you wanting more of a visual and functional transformation? That’s when you could reach out to an award-winning design team like the one at Karin Ross Designs. You may find yourself making some repair-like updates during the project— new windows, for example, or fixtures—yet the end result is focused on making the space more beautiful and more livable. You know those home interior magazine photos that you could stare at for hours? After a professionally guided update, that could be your reality.
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Visit www.KarinRossDesigns.com to explore Ross’s design and remodeling portfolio and book a consultation.
Behind the Music
IN KC
Aengus Finnan
A
by
Timothy Finn
engus Finnan was born in Ireland, raised in Canada, and has traveled extensively, primarily as a musician but also on the boards of a variety of organizations devoted to humanitarian issues and the arts and music. Since 2014, Finnan has been executive director of Folk Alliance International, the largest annual conference for the world’s folk-music industry. From 2014-18, the conference was held at the Westin Hotel Crown Center. The conference has moved to other cities—Montreal in 2019 and New Orleans in 2020—but the alliance has set up permanent headquarters in Kansas City. Finnan recently answered questions from IN Kansas City about how the alliance has navigated the pandemic, what the festival plans are for 2021, and why Kansas City is an ideal home for him and the alliance. He also revealed when the conference will return to Kansas City. What was 2020 like for you from all angles: as a loyal music fan and as the executive director of an international music festival?
JANUARY 2021
photo by
Morten Fog
Aengus Finnan: Live music requires an audience, and every artist and
their support teams—agents, managers, publicists—lost everything instantly. As an expensive entrepreneurial gig-economy there are few safety nets, no employee benefits, and rarely savings, so everyone was hit hard. Artists are creative and resilient, so they were quick to jump into action. When the industry stalled, things just got punk, and it was a bit of an online playground of people experimenting and expressing; some were able to monetize that or fund-raise, and the community globally was quick to support them. But for many, the pandemic has carried a more existential weight: “Who am I if I am not on stage, if there is no applause, if I have to stand still and look around at where I am?” That has been hard to navigate but has also led to reinvention for many about how they make a living and, in some cases, complete life and career shifts. Running a charity designed to support an already underdog genre, when we are trying to ensure our own survival this year, has been pretty stressful for our whole team. But this is what we do, and we’re excited by some of the new approaches we’re taking, and proud of the nimble shift.
| 38 | INKANSASCITY.COM
Personally, I listen to more music now than I used to because I’m working from home, so that is nice, and though I had kind of hit overload on live music over the past decade—mostly the politics and business of being at events—I finally miss just being in the audience again. You were able to get in the 2020 FAI in New Orleans in January, but in April you canceled the 2021 conference, which was supposed to be in Kansas City. What, if anything, in all your experiences prepared you for what unfolded in 2020? AF: Well, I didn’t study business or economics or management, and I certainly don’t know about global pandemics, but I know community; understanding how we could serve, support, and inspire was my primary interest. Spending all our time planning an in-person conference of 3,000 delegates would have been a colossal loss of resources and would have severely deflated our morale. Our staff and board are amazing and dedicated to our mission, not an event, so we just had to take a deep breath, study the facts, consider the risks, map out worst-case financial scenarios, and make some bold choices. Some folks thought we were crazy to cancel a February event in April, but it allowed us to immediately focus on learning what the community needed in real time and responding accordingly. What have you heard from the musicians/artists who are part of the folk music world? How did some of them adapt to 2020? AF: I don’t want to downplay the real pain, frustration, and isolation
of a community that has lost its livelihood and relies entirely on mass gatherings in close proximity. That’s a real and deep crisis on top of the health and financial concerns. But I do think folk artists have always had a grassroots, figure-it-out and get-it-done attitude of creative problem-solving. They didn’t go to school to learn how to be touring folk musicians; they just did it. They learned from their elders, they adapted, they took risks, and they leaned on each other. This was just the most extreme calling on their creativity, and some beautiful work, collaborations, and innovations have resulted. Can anything good or beneficial come out of this situation? Have there been silver linings? AF: Absolutely. Lots of people are taking time to re-evaluate many things in their lives and explore things that had been set aside on “one day” lists. Organizations have had to continue to function but have been able to move some back-burner items to the fore in the wake of canceled events. I don’t like the intensity of diminished teams having to hold it all together from home, so I worry about the low-level, long-term impact of that sustained adrenaline. But I think many teams have benefited from having to focus on how they communicate and convene to stay on course at a distance. The big silver lining to me is seeing art and music in the hands of the public again. It’s not just professionals showing up online with art. People who stopped drawing or dancing or acting or singing as early as high school because they didn’t think they were an “artist” are playing
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JANUARY 2021
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UlahKC
UlahKC
Behind the Music
IN KC
and creating for fun and sharing it publicly. That to me is where art belongs, not as a profession, but as universal human expression. Without an in-person conference, what will 2021 look like for Folk Alliance International? AF: We are as busy as always, and still holding a conference this year, but virtually from February 22-25 with all of the standard elements of the in-person event. It’s called Folk Unlocked (folk.org/unlocked) because we’re opening it up to anyone to attend, literally providing a $0 option for artists and industry who can’t afford anything else at this time. We’re also inviting the public and music fans to join us for the showcase festival portion by donating to our Village Fund to support artists and industry in need. Beyond that event we’ll continue to produce online content year-round (folk.org/resources) and we’re undertaking a yearlong staff and board training to inform our next strategic plan. Of course, we’ll start planning the 2022 conference as early as March 2021. Speaking of which: We are confirmed to mount the event here in KC in 2022-24. Let’s get into your background. You were raised in Grafton, Ontario, about 80 miles from Toronto. Talk about your childhood and how it shaped you. AF: I was born in Ireland, but I grew up in Canada on a cooperative organic vegetable farm made out of recycled telephone poles powered by wind and solar power. It was a wonderful childhood, but intense when I compare it to other stories of boyhood. We’d have retreats and
seminars at home for the public about composting, vegetarian cooking, meditation, past-life regression. You name it. I thought that was how everyone lived. It led to being a bit of an outspoken young activist touring to speak at schools and public events, organizing publications and demonstrations. Ultimately, I was on organized tours away from home and school by age 13 and left home permanently to attend an international peace and development school at age 16. My parents had a big view of life and the world, so it all seemed normal to me. But I suppose I missed out a bit on just being a kid. When did music become an important part of your life, and who was part of that process? AF: My mum would sing these really beautiful sad songs like The Little Boy that Santa Claus Forgot and Dona Dona and my dad would sing old Irish airs and songs like Scarlett Ribbons, and the earnestness and soft sorrow in each song really moved me. We didn’t have a TV, but we had a record player, and people who stayed with us would leave records. I’d pop on those big pilot headphones with the curly cord, and I’d disappear into all the music without knowing who was famous or not, just that the stories captivated me. Gordon Lightfoot was definitely at the center. There were only ten in my elementary class and only 127 at my high school, so there were no music classes, but my parents often hosted events with music, and eventually my dad ran a theater, folk club, and festival where I would set up chairs, work the follow spot, or document the shows. So, it was kind of omnipresent in my life as the main art form
Happy New Year from RE/MAX Premier Realty & Costello Real Estate
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JANUARY 2021
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I had access and exposure to. You are a songwriter, musician, and recording artist yourself. Describe your music and its influences. Which of your recordings are you proudest of and why? AF: I toured internationally as a singer-songwriter for a decade. I write in a pretty old-school narrative folk style and approach it through the lens of a camera, with verses acting like scenes with the Fourth Wall removed, allowing listeners to peek into others lives. Irish folk songs and their influence on North American traditional music were definitely a heavy influence, but I like to tell stories about the people I meet and the places I visit or the stories I uncover. I wrote a lot of epic drama that doesn’t end well: abandoned sons, separated lovers, sunken ships, aging farmers torching their farm before the auctioneer comes, futile efforts to save historic buildings as commercial progress buries the past, a broken ballerina turned stripper— you know, the stuff that make you want to drink or cry, but fills you with a sense of what is right, despite the outcome. Of my three recordings, while I love North Wind, I think the Fool’s Gold record was a real all-or-nothing statement and a nod to all the musical influences in my life. And if I had to point to a song it would be Fly Away, inspired by a young student of mine who hit me and called to apologize and explain he was missing his dad who he’d not seen in years. (Ed: Find Finnan’s music at soundcloud.com/aengus-finnan or on Spotify) What bands/artists did you listen to growing up? Who do you
JANUARY 2021
listen to now for recreation or to relax? AF: Growing up, I was drawn to storytelling legends like Gordon Lightfoot and Harry Chapin and the traditional music of Fairport Convention and the Dubliners. In my teens it was U2, Burton Cummings, the Smiths, New Order, A-ha, Everything But the Girl, and my intro to EDM (electronic dance music) through Jean-Michel Jarre. My university years in Montreal drew me to the intensity of Stan Rogers and the lyrical poetry of Francis Cabrel, and by my mid-20s I was deep into the contemporary Canadian folk scene—Stephen Fearing, Ferron, James Keelaghan, Laura Smith—and eventually their U.S. counterparts: John Gorka, Eliza Gilkyson, Martin Sexton. But to relax I actually like ambient rock bands like the Shins, Pernice Brothers, Midlake, and Mute Math. And when I cycle, I listen to a lot of Rosalía (a Spanish hiphop flamenco artist) and French songwriter Christophe Maé. What are some of your favorite live-music experiences? Who have you not seen (alive or dead) that you’d wish to see most? AF: Folk festivals are definitely my happy place, where it’s less about who is on the lineup and more about great music, workshop stages, local food, an artisan village, great people, and camping. Strangely I do less of that in my current role. In terms of favorite moments, this is a bizarre full-circle flip scenario, but I had a performance moment in Toronto where I sang my song Lightfoot at the release of his tribute album and [Gordon Lightfoot] came up from the audience to shake my hand. That was epic. I’d love to see Stromae in concert, and I dream of seeing a Smiths reunion I know will never
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Behind the Music
IN KC
happen, as I was too young to get to a show when they were together. In another interview, you said if you weren’t in the world of folk music, you’d be involved in human development and human rights. Elaborate on that. AF: What moves me most is bridge-building and figuring out how to rally people around common causes for greater good. I am very fortunate to have the education, experience, and freedom I have, and at some point I want to offer my full potential by putting my energy and vision to work in a way that changes lives. I love what I do, and it is culturally significant, but I’d also like to bring the creativity of this work and community into the humanitarian field, perhaps connecting the profile and network of artists to the social causes that impact the communities they live in or care about. Or maybe first I’ll just run a little surf shack and café somewhere for a while and decompress if I can figure out how to slow down and set ambition aside for a while. Who knows? You moved to Kansas City in mid-2014. You have elected to live in Kansas City and keep it as a base for Folk Alliance International as the conference itself changes locales. What about the city keeps you here and why is it a good place for a headquarters? AF: Folk Alliance is here to stay in Kansas City, and we couldn’t be prouder to call this city home. There is a great spirit here, a positive view of the future, and a healthy pride that is not about competing with other cities or being something we aren’t.
For me personally it’s the people that make a place, and everyone has been so welcoming. That, combined with all the great restaurants, a wonderful cultural scene, and our incredible sports teams make this a potential world-class city. The outstanding work we all still have to do to get there: addressing some serious truth and reconciliation about the red-lined roots of racism and inequity here; abolishing the wildly inappropriate chant and chop at football games; initiating land acknowledgments at all public events to recognize the Osage, Kansa, Kickapoo, and Očhéti Šakówin nations on whose traditional territory we all live; and recycling. We are decades behind on this, especially at bars, restaurants, and events. There is really no excuse. We can do better on all of this, and I think Kansas City has the heart and guts to get it done if leadership and business owners acknowledge these as significant social priorities.
WANT MORE TIMOTHY FINN? Check out his weekly online-only content at inkansascity.com. Every Wednesday the website publishes his list of Top 5 Notto-Miss Concerts in the metro. Every week you’ll find his revered, rollicking, reasoned reviews and commentary. Email Timothy Finn at tfinn@inkansascity.com
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Look
IN KC
Fashion
by
R. Murphy
Never Trash, Sometimes Treasure
I
f anyone else has experienced the perfect storm of quarantine and The Home Edit on Netflix, then you probably have a couple of trash bags full of donations by now. And if you’re trying to escape the monotony of yoga pants and tunics while not breaking the bank, you might be tempted to shop. Luckily, Kansas City is flush with thrift and consignment shops, some of which even simulate the new retail experience while benefiting local causes. At first glance, Do Good Co. could be any trendy boutique. But step inside and you’ll find previously owned clothing for men, women, and children—some vintage, some contemporary, and all merchandised to dazzle. Owner Ashley Pinkerton recently moved the shop from its first home on 39th Street to its permanent home at 413 E. 18th Street in Kansas City. Since its inception three years ago, Do Good Co. has focused its efforts on benefiting kids and animals—a portion of the proceeds from their curated collections are donated to Wayside Waifs and Kids TLC. While they accept any donations, they focus their retail sales floor on vintage couture and designer pieces. What they can’t use, they donate to other nonprofits such as the UMKC School of Law for business clothing. For children’s clothing, they create special experiences like a pizza party/runway show for the young girls at Kids TLC. dogoodkc.org Do Good Co. isn’t the only place elevating the resale business. The ReSale Shop located at 6601 N. Oak Trafficway may not have as many couture items, but their army of volunteers bring years of experience as merchandisers at Halls and other high-end retail stores to the floor. The ReSale Shop benefits The Assistance League of Kansas City, which provides a variety of programs from Operation School Bell, Operation Child In Need, and Assault Survivor Kits. Stock refreshes continually, keeping with the seasons. assistanceleague.org/kansas-city/thrift-shop Story B may have closed their doors while we battle Covid-19, but this thrift store that benefits Kansas City Palliative Care has pivoted to online sales. Their eBay page is rife with designer fashions at a fraction of the cost, with all proceeds going to KC Palliative Care. kchospice.org/story If you’re cleaning out your closets or hoping to stock them, there are myriad choices for people living consciously and reducing, reusing and recycling, all while looking fresh. Do Good Co..
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“You know it's going to be a great year... when it starts out Knotty” Sell Trade Washing Restoration Again “THE KNOTTIER THE BETTER” Knotty Rug Co. Kansas City’s Largest and Most Reputable Showroom 4510 STATE LINE RD.
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Look
IN KC Beauty
Get Thirsty BY
R. Murphy
HERE WE ARE IN THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT, OR AT THE VERY LEAST, THE WINTER OF OUR HAIRS’ DISCONTENT. AS JANUARY SETS IN AND OUR FOLLICLES FULLY REALIZE THAT THERE’S NO BALMY WEATHER ON THE HORIZON, IT MAY BE TIME TO PRACTICE SOME SELFCARE AND SETTLE IN WITH A MOISTURIZING HAIR MASK, THE LATEST COPY OF IN KANSAS CITY, AND MARK LOWREY’S JAZZ AND PLANTS ON THE STEREO. HERE ARE THREE LOCAL FAVORITES.
THINK TROPICAL If even a whiff of the beach will elevate your mood, then you need this rich hair mask. Infused with shea butter, coconut oil, hibiscus flower, silk proteins, and neem oil, this curl-managing hair system is a best seller at Star Beauty Supply. Shea Moisture Coconut Hibiscus Curl and Shine, $13.99, available at Star Beauty Supply (Kansas City and Lenexa) or online at shopstarbeauty.com.
GET BOTANICAL For an earthy but luxurious treat, drench your locks in this potent cocktail of botanical oils. With black cumin-seed oil, marula oil, and mafura seed butter, among other things, this rich cream is perfect for color-treated or distressed hair. La Tierra Sagrada Repair Masque, $54, available at Welwythn (Prairie Village) or online at welwythn.com.
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MOISTURE ON THE GO So you don’t have time for a soak and spa? No worries. With Rahua Leave-In Treatment, you can treat and dash. Rahua oil is rich in Omega-3 and protects against heat styling and blow drying. If air drying is more your thing (does anyone really blow dry for a Zoom meeting?), it still works, adding definition and protecting against frizz. Rahua Leave-In Conditioning Treatment, $46, available at Hand and Land (Midtown) or online at handandland.com.
New Year.
Fresh Look.
Leawood, KS | maddenmcfarland.com
Visit our showroom to see what’s new. Now offering Furniture.
Look
IN KC
Wellness
BY
R. Murphy
Eat Your Rainbow
D
IT’S EASY BEING GREEN So you didn’t get a pricey Vitamix for Christmas. Should that stop you from drinking your greens? Absolutely not. Ruby Jean’s Juicery has a slew of smoothies, performance shakes, and wellness sips but if you really want to be blown away (nutritionally speaking), order the CTRL+ALT+DELETE. With romaine, spinach, kale, cucumber, celery, lemon, ginger, and jalapeño, this handcrafted juice packs a whopping 840 percent of your daily intake of Vitamin A, 410 percent of Vitamin C, and 60 percent of your fiber (you know, the stuff that keeps you full and stops you from raiding your stocking for chocolate). $7.50 for 16 oz., available at Ruby Jean’s Juicery (3000 Troost Ave. ) or order a half gallon, $30, online for pickup at rubyjeansjuicery.com. rubyjeansjuicery.com
iving into the world of nutritional supplements is a heady proposition, even for the most gung-ho and resolute New Year’s optimist. As sunlight wanes early and outdoor exercise seems daunting, focusing on your diet may be a worthy enough goal for January. As Hippocrates said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Okay, Hipp, but are you cooking dinner? If you want to add a boost of vitamins without becoming a registered dietician, try one of these local concoctions.
HULK SMASH Maybe you want some green but you’re not ready to go for the drinkable celery just yet. Grab a sweet but protein-packed shake like the Hulk at Protein House. It’s made with coconut water, vanilla whey protein, almond butter, cinnamon, banana, dates, and a touch of spinach for that Marvel superhero punch. Sound delicious? It is. Even better? It packs 31 grams of protein into its 430 calories. Smash indeed. $8, at Protein House (Power and Light District).
KNIFE AND FORK Sometimes, even when you’re trying to vitamin load, you want to, well, chew. If you want to chew really great but still healthy food created by none other than chef Michael Smith himself, then enjoy at Enjoy Pure Food and Drink. Load up on fiber and flavor with stuffed acorn squash filled with zucchini (folate), mushrooms (protein), tomato (lycopene), red pepper (vitamin C), spinach (vitamin K), onion and garlic (vitamin B6), served with mushroom risotto. $14, at Enjoy Pure Food + Drink (Leawood).
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Living
IN KC by
Stacy Downs
Trending for 2021 NEW FURNITURE, COLORS, AND DETAILS SPOTTED AT MARKET
OVERALL STYLE Madden: “There was a slight push to more traditional and classic design. In upholstery, there was a nod to tufting, curves, and romance. Traditional, classic frames with rich fabrics and warm caramel leather will always be welcomed. There were traditional wallcoverings—wallpaper, for sure, is back. I saw traditional and classic not only in the upholstery, but in the case goods and even the accessories that were used in staging. We’re seeing traditional case goods coming back with warm wood tones. From accent tables to bar carts and cabinets, they appeared to be clean, well designed, and appointed.” Noble: “The look was granny chic. For example, throw pillows matching the draperies. It was a fun nod to Southern style. I also saw more traditional looks. For example, monogrammed chairs.” FURNITURE Madden: “I found myself noticing—and liking—the idea of stacking. End tables with multiple shelves, cocktail tables, even door fronts of cabinets and buffets. It really gave an interest visually to the pieces. Now that more of the manufacturers are giving us the option for multiple finishes, you can get creative and greatly change the look of the pieces. Nesting tables are always popular and there were several new introductions.”
T Patrick Madden
Sara Noble
he annual fall High Point Market in North Carolina is where interior designers see what’s ahead for the next year in home furnishings. While the typical party atmosphere was gone because of physical distancing, trends emerged loud and clear. We talked to Patrick Madden of Madden McFarland Interiors and Sara Noble of Noble Design, who each attended the market in October. The words they said most often to describe the home furnishings on the horizon: comforting, refreshing, and happy.
JANUARY 2021
COLOR Noble: “I saw lots of bright yellow. It was often paired with French blue. I also saw a lot of lilac. Really cheerful, happy colors.” Madden: “I felt that they are moving away from the grays and pivoting a bit more towards the warmer tones again. Deeper colors. Olive greens, chocolate, ochre. It was nice to see the rich palette back in the swing. I love mixing the saturated tones with mahogany, walnut, and ebony woods. It has such an inviting, warm appeal.” THE BIG THING Noble: “Cane. You’re seeing cane barstools and
chairs, cane everything, indoors and outdoors.” Madden: “Caning and woven rattan was strong. From dining chairs, occasional seating, mirrors and cabinets, woven rattan and caning made itself known. The mix of the natural material with rich tones of the solid wood really gave the pieces an inviting, relaxed elegance. Painted rattan on mirrors and cabinets was also popular. That natural element was also found on light fixtures.” DETAILS Noble: “Lots of acrylic. Acrylic drapery hardware, side tables, coffee
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Homes For All Abilities
tables and legs on upholstery. Plus, a lot of brass light fixtures, hardware and accessories.” Madden: “The use of brass accents on hardware, door pulls, and accent trim was solid. The touch of brass gave some of these pieces the perfect balance of traditional and transitional design. Upholstered chairs with exposed wood accents and detail were very sharp. Club chairs featuring a simple wood trim for interest to others with more intricate wood frames were wonderful ways to introduce more interest and pizazz into your aesthetic.” ACCESSORIES Madden: “With accessories, I found a push between the classic, traditional, and large organic shapes and natural influence. The organic shapes and sizes are a fun way to add style and interest. Marble, carved bowls, plaster-of-Paris shapes and vases—I definitely saw the natural element still being very strong in this category.”
L
ongtime home remodeler John Wolfe is passionate about universal design—design for people of all abilities that allow people to age in place. Wolfe received certification in universal design from the National Association for the Remodeling Industry. “As my parents get older, and as I age, my interest keeps growing,” Wolfe says. In 2018, he and business partner, Rick Stanley, founded Wolfe Homes For Life. The team guts and remodels ranch houses in the Kansas City area and creates modern, open floor plans. The universal-design features incorporated include:
LIGHTING Noble: “While many of the furnishings were a little more traditional,
more modern light fixtures stood out. I noticed screen-like LED hanging fixtures from Tech Lighting.”
• Zero-depth entryways from the front and back of the house. • Wide hallways and passageways that can accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. • No or low thresholds to showers. • Contrasting colors in flooring, cabinetry and countertops to help visually delineate surfaces. • Walls, especially in bathrooms, reinforced with plywood behind drywall for hanging grab bars. • Levers instead of knobs on doors for easier opening and closing. “We’ve started off slow, but plan to add more houses because of the demand,” Wolfe says. “Our goal is to offer sophisticated but accessible design so people can age in place.”
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Living
IN KC by
Stacy Downs
21 Organizing Strategies for 2021
J
anuary is Get Organized Month. Minimizing the clutter and visual chaos at home relieves stress and gives us more headspace to be productive. We talked to Karen Swart, a professional organizer in Kansas City and owner of Organizing-Etc., about ways to get started and be successful in the new year.
IN GENERAL
1 Start small. Do projects in small pieces so you don’t get overwhelmed and give up in frustration. “Instead of tackling your whole closet at once, consider editing just one area, such as jeans or sweaters.” 2 Give yourself a deadline on donating. “When you don’t, you’ll end up having donator’s remorse and keep more than you originally planned.” 3 Don’t buy bins until you’ve sorted things. “You might end up getting too
many or not the right type.”
4 Organize according to the personalities in your household. “Creative people tend to want to see their options, so open bins are best. Type A people like things closed up, stacked neatly and labeled.” 5 Label with specificity. “Writing ‘Extra Kitchen Utensils’ will help so much more than writing ‘Kitchen Stuff.’ You don’t need an expensive label maker, especially in a closed storage space. A strip of masking tape and Sharpie will do.” HOME OFFICE/STUDY
6 Recycle mail right away. “Ninety percent of the paper we get, we don’t need. Go through mail as it comes to the house and sort by ‘Recycle,’ ‘File’ or ‘Action Required.’” 7 File in finite categories. “Start with these five: banking, insurance, medical, legal, and taxes. Those are the most common.” 8 Group like things together. “Keep
JANUARY 2021
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the space streamlined by grouping office supplies and electronic accessories separately, and archive tax files away from main office space if possible.” 9 Consider donating books. “We generally have more books than we plan to read. If you use books in your décor, donate the paperbacks for others to enjoy.”.” CLOSET AND DRAWERS
10 Edit ruthlessly. “We usually wear 25 percent of what’s in our closets. And that may be generous! If you haven’t worn it in a year, you’re probably not going to wear it again.” 11 Hang as many items as possible. “I even hang T-shirts if there is room. It allows you to see everything at once.” 12 Group clothes. “Start by organizing by sleeve length, then type of fabric, then color of the rainbow.” 13 Store clothes in drawers so you can see each piece at a glance. “For
T-shirts either roll them with the decal showing or search YouTube ‘how to envelope fold.’” KITCHEN
14 Edit gadgets. “Lose the single-use, once-a-year items. Do you really need a melon baller?” 15 Limit food storage containers. “Get rid of the ones that have lost lids.” 16 Reduce the number of coffee mugs. “Most of us have way too many because we get them as gifts. Keep the ones you use the most and only enough for a few days of use.” 17 Trim the number of sports bottles. “Ask any organizer, and along with food-storage containers and coffee mugs, this is one of the kitchen clutter culprits.” BATHROOM
18 Pare down the cosmetics to what you use regularly. “Makeup you don’t use will go bad.” 19 Maximize the space under the sink. “Try using stand-alone drawers to store more items for easy access in the bathroom.” GARAGE
20 Think vertically “Get items off the floor and store tools and items you only use once in a while up high.” PHOTOS
21 Scan prized pics. “The thing I’d want to save from my house if it caught on fire are all of the family photos. There are services that will scan, organize, and categorize them on cloud-based storage if you don’t want to do it yourself.” BONUS TIP: If any project is beyond your ability or you just need a helping hand, consider hiring a professional organizer. Their experience and expertise might benefit you.
JANUARY 2021
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JANUARY 2021
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words by
Cindy Hoedel
IN CONVERSATION WITH
Erin Smith
B photo courtesy of erin smith
efore her 21st birthday, Lenexa native Erin Smith founded a company that was named the Top Health Startup of 2019 by Wired magazine, won a $100,000 Thiel fellowship from the billionaire founder of PayPal, and was the youngest honoree named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list of health care innovators in 2019. Smith invented FacePrint, an artificial intelligence tool for diagnosing and monitoring Parkinson’s Disease, during her sophomore year at Shawnee Mission West High School. Over spring break she visited Parkinson’s patients and healthy control subjects, capturing video of their spontaneous responses to video clips and their attempts to mirror expressions they were shown. She used the data collected to develop software that could evaluate the facial expressions. The idea for the technology came from watching the TV detective series Lie to Me, about a scientist who could read quick, tiny facial muscle movements that most people miss, and also from noticing that actor Michael J. Fox, who has Parkinson’s, appeared emotionally distant when he smiled or laughed. IN Kansas City caught up with Smith by phone from Palo Alto, where she currently lives while studying Symbolic Systems (a program that combines Computer Science and Neuroscience) at Stanford University. How do you like living in Palo Alto? I love living in California. It’s super fun to have beaches and mountains. I love
JANUARY 2021
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building a life here for now. What do you miss about Kansas City? I definitely miss barbecue. I’ve been looking all over the Bay Area and I’ve not found barbecue that can compare, so every time I come home, I try to fill up. I also miss the people. There’s also a very distinctive quality of life, a certain mentality that is really engraved in me that I attribute to being raised in Kansas. How would you describe that mentality? I think there is a work ethic, a level of diligence that Kansans exemplify really well, of putting your head down and focusing on what needs to be done and not being distracted by the noise in the world. Separately, I think there’s a very distinctive warm and welcoming, neighborly quality. In Kansas I knew all of my neighbors. When you are at a grocery store, you smile and talk with strangers. That is a different mentality than in California, a cultural difference. I do love, love, love the people I’ve met in California, but there is a distinctive way people interact with neighbors and with strangers that I miss. What were your parents like? What do you think you got from them that put you on this very successful path at such a young age? I was raised by my mom. She doesn’t have a formal scientific background. She always took the time to find hands-on ways to answer my questions about the world by doing experiments. We went to the library every week to find books that could answer my questions. She embraced creativity as a form of education. When I was little, my mom and I turned one corner of our kitchen into a little makeshift laboratory. I would spend hours there tucked away doing experiments. What kind of experiments? Some that I remember the most were exploring the chemical reactions of common kitchen ingredients, like making rock candy by crystallizing sugar. You could observe every day how the shapes changed, and you could do different things to make different shapes. I also really loved rocks, and I had a large rock collection and I learned about geology and properties of rocks by reading about them and classifying them. It was any and everything I was interested in. I felt like I had complete intellectual freedom and complete creative freedom as well. What does your mom do for a living? She is an accountant and financial advisor. I also got a really good financial literacy education as well. When I was really, really young, we would all help my mom come up with a real family budget using Monopoly money. How many siblings do you have? I’m one of five. I have two older sisters and two younger brothers. In developing FacePrint, you’ve been immersed in three fields:
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science, entrepreneurship, and computer technology. Is there one of those fields where you are working more at the cutting edge than the others? I feel like the cutting edge comes at the confluence of all these fields. I think FacePrint has been able to have this rapid acceleration because it is working with some of the latest advances and problems in neuroscience and clinical sciences and combining that with robust computer technology involving machine learning and computer vision algorithms. And commercialization and entrepreneurship play an important role in this health ecosystem, so I’m trying to integrate that. In one interview you said you’ve gained a lot of insights into medical delivery systems. What are some of your observations? We are seeing a shift in how healthcare is delivered. You can characterize the shift by two overarching changes. The first is that it is becoming extremely consumer-centered. I’m really optimistic about this change. I think it’s going to enable people to become much more equipped with the education and tools they need to become better self-advocates. I hope that leads to a more proactive and less reactive form of health care. The second large observation I’ve been thinking about is the shift towards telemedicine. I think Covid has accelerated these changes that were already unfolding. It has forced us to radically reimagine how care is going to be delivered.
‘‘
I think the doctor-patient relationship is really, really important, and I don’t think technology will ever replace that. I think technology can provide support tools for clinicians and enable them to prioritize things that they are uniquely equipped to do.”
Do you worry that telemedicine could weaken the doctorpatient relationship? I think the doctor-patient relationship is really, really important, and I don’t think technology will ever replace that. I think technology can provide support tools for clinicians and enable them to prioritize things that they are uniquely equipped to do. I think telemedicine has opened a window of opportunity for doctors to capture what people’s real everyday health looks like, bridging the intervals between visits. That’s something I’m really excited about. Do you spend time thinking about ethical frontiers and controls that can be put in place to prevent FacePrint from being used nefariously, or do you feel that is outside your control?
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Since the infancy stages of FacePrint, that is something I think a lot about and am concerned about. As the months and years go on, and I see examples at the global level, these ethical and social questions become more important to me. While there is so much potential for these technologies to be used for good, I think for their potential to be fully realized we have to be continuously grounding ourselves in the reality of potential unethical applications and also side effects, such as algorithmic bias. There’s been a ton of interesting work in the past five to seven years that has exposed that the way we are teaching computers how to learn is perpetuating some systemic biases. I think it is critical that technologists have a very strong ethics background, so since I started at Stanford, I’ve been taking a ton of philosophy and ethics classes to give me the mental framework that I need.
Smith explains the concept behind FacePrint to the judges of the #BUILTBYGIRLS challenge.
photo courtesy of erin smith
As you gain insights into Parkinson’s disease by analyzing facial reactions, have you discovered other uses for that technology? There have been a lot of exciting applications emerging. I’m in close contact with researchers who are looking at stroke and autism using facial expression differences. Another exciting area is the development of artificial emotional intelligence, or creating computers that are able to understand human emotion, largely through facial expression, body language, and voice. The voice communicates a lot of emotional information. Has it been hard adjusting to your growing celebrity within your field? It has been a challenge to navigate because it was very, very unexpected. It was pretty crazy. Every year in school, I did a research project. It was sophomore year that I got the idea for FacePrint, and everything just clicked into place. I’m so grateful and I’ve learned so much on this journey. Besides the direct things I learned working on FacePrint in high school, it opened up opportunities to travel. I learned so much by visiting countries with rich, vibrant cultures and history, and beautiful scenery. I got to go to China to attend their national science fair, and I was invited to Switzerland to meet with students from around the world to imagine the future of cities. At age 16, FacePrint thrust you into sudden adulthood. Do you ever feel like you missed out on unstructured, carefree goofing-off time? I do think about finding a work-life balance and finding ways to re-
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charge and prioritize health and well-being. Friends and family are important because they give me confidence, but they also help me not take myself too seriously in terms of not tying too much of my personal identity to outcomes like whether or not FacePrint reaches certain milestones. What do you do to relax? I love going on long runs and doing yoga. I also love making bread, that’s something I started doing when I was young that has stayed with me. I also love sitting down with friends and having long catchup conversations. How does it feel knowing there is a good chance you could become very, very rich before you are 30? How would you like to live if that happens? I decided from a young age that I will optimize my time in life around learning. Working on meaningful global problems is where I derive the most value and fulfillment. Maybe this will bring lots of wealth and maybe it will not. If it does, I hope to maintain my frugality—my splurging comes from occasionally buying really high-quality dark chocolate. A mentor once told me that people always ask successful women if they want to donate, but not if they want to invest. This is problematic to society and women. Instead, I hope to do both. I hope to use whatever wealth I accumulate to make meaningful business investments and philanthropic donations.
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Interview condensed and minimally edited for clarity.
Doing Double Duty
THREE LAUNDRY ROOMS SHOW HOW VERSATILE THIS HARD-WORKING SPACE CAN BECOME WORDS BY
Judith Fertig
PHOTOS BY
Aaron Leimkuehler
Laundry Room/ Organization Hub
W
hen Laura Flanigan had infant triplets and a 2½-year-old, she learned the importance of organization—fast. She and her husband, Dick, now an executive at Cerner, tidied everything up before they went to bed. “It made facing the day so much easier,” she recalls. With her children now grown, she still carries those lessons to her Leawood laundry room that also serves as a space for Zoom meetings, bill paying, wine drinking, and bird-watching. “You spend so much time in your laundry room, you want it to be a peaceful, quiet, hard-working space you can enjoy,” she says. Laura worked with designer Kurt Knapstein, who rendered “an exceptionally customized space” that suits her to a tee. “There are no redos with Kurt,” says Laura. “He gets it right the first time.” Even down to the whimsical wallpaper and a mirror to check her appearance before this art museum docent walks out the door.
Knapstein Design | knapsteindesign.com
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These two pages: Clever storage is tucked away behind every drawer and door of the custom cabinetry in the Flanigan’s laundry room, including the washer and dryer. Fish wallcovering is from Cole & Son and the floor is a striated-pattern porcelain tile.
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Laundry Room/ Locker Room
W
ith three sport-playing sons ages 9 to 16, Chrissy Wichman does laundry every day. School clothes, play clothes, practice clothes, team uniforms. And socks. Lots of socks. Says Wichman, “I spend a lot of time in this room.” So when it was time to redo their Leawood kitchen, Wichman and her husband Jason, a pediatrician, tackled their laundry room as well. They enlisted the help of Jessica Gordon of Sara Noble Designs for a modern classic look. “The boys cannot seem to put things away,” says Chrissy, so this room does it for them. Big, ventilated drawers hold shoes and socks.
Two drawers hold uniforms. “Everybody knows exactly where everything is.” The GE front-loading washer and dryer is specially vented. “You can fill up the soap dispenser to do enough for 50 wash loads,” says Chrissy. With everything in its place and sports chaos at bay, there is room for a little whimsy—a wallpaper for dog-lover Chrissy. “Every time I go in this room, I am happy,” she says. Adds designer Gordon, “Many laundry rooms are now doubling as a place to kennel and bathe pets, too. We have designed custom kennels, as well as tiled showers with easy-touse hand-held sprayers.”
Noble Designs | saranobledesigns.com
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Opposite, top left: Bottom drawers in the Wichman’s laundry room are ventilated for sports shoes. Opposite, top right: The custom cabinetry was built around an existing window. Upper doors open to reveal backpacks and sports balls. This page: Plenty of storage space means counters stay clear for laundry duty.
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P
Laundry Room /Prep Kitchen
erched high up in the Alameda Towers, this condo is home to two Kansas City business executives who love to entertain. “Everybody gravitates to the kitchen,” says the homeowner, who also loves to cook. “And for a small gathering, that is great. But when we have a big party, we wanted a space for the caterers to prep.” They turned to Geri Higgins of Portfolio Kitchen & Home for the perfect solution: A laundry/utility/catering kitchen space. “Laundry rooms can be so much more,” says designer Higgins. “They can also be gardening zones, gift-wrapping or craft spaces, kitch-
en support, or charging centers. A custom laundry room answers the client’s question: What do I want?” “Now, there’s a washing side and a cooking side,” says the homeowner. Two different counter heights handle the two different tasks, all blended together with fine finishes of dark wood cabinetry and deepveined Calacatta marble on walls and floor. An induction cooktop, under-counter refrigerator, and storage for serving pieces make a catered event a snap. And cleanup is right across the aisle.
Portfolio Kitchen & Home | portfolio-home.com
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The room is wrapped in floor-to-ceiling marble tile making it super easy to clean. Opposite, top left: The induction cooktop and oven are a boon for caterers. Opposite, top right: Appliances are cleverly hid behind custom cabinetry to create a streamlined effect.
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words by
Kelsey Cipolla
Vegging Out I
n a city known for its barbecued meats, vegan food is forging a colorful, creative path into the restaurant scene. We talked to the owners behind three local, plant-based spots to learn about their experiences breaking into the industry, how they’ve seen Kansas City’s offerings evolve and how vegan food has the power to create change for individuals and communities.
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Arvelisha Woods and India Pernell
arvelisha woods and india pernell photo by aaron leimkuhler
MATTIE’S FOODS After jumping into a vegan diet, sisters Arvelisha Woods and India Pernell fell in love with the health benefits they say they experienced. However, they were less enamored with the food options. “We did not try to launch a food business,” Woods explains. “We were hungry. We were vegan in a city where they had nothing geared toward that diet. You were left to really fend for yourself, and we were only eating salads and French fries. And my sister and I, we love to eat.” So they started doing research, looking for substitutions to make plant-based versions of dishes they loved, starting with nachos—giving up cheese was proving the greatest struggle of their new lifestyle. After trial and error, they arrived at a version they loved, which evolved into a retail product, Mattie’s Vegan Queso Sauce. The sauce took them to vegan food events and festivals, and seeing what other people were cooking encouraged them to share what they were making beyond vegan queso. At their first festival serving food, they had a line out the door. “To see people getting to taste things that they had missed, that they thought they would never eat again just because they wanted to
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change their lifestyle, change their diet by going vegan, to see them actually excited about food again, that for us was everything,” Woods says. A food truck followed, and in September 2020, the sisters opened Mattie’s Foods, a Brookside restaurant where they serve up what they describe as comfort food made smart: iced cinnamon rolls, breakfast burritos and sandwiches, buffalo mac, and even barbecue. Customers have been the driving force behind their growth and success—people craving more eclectic vegan options in a city where plant-based offerings are on the rise, but still limited, Woods explains. Still, the progress she sees is encouraging, from national franchises like Burger King offering the Impossible Burger to grocery stores stocking more plant-based products. “Every single week, I feel like things are evolving in this community,” Woods says. “More people are catching on, more people are getting serious, which is making bigger companies take that leap, take that chance, say ‘I’m going to get something vegan on my menu.’ You’re going to have to because you don’t want to lose those customers. I am your customer.” mattiesfoods.com
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Ashley Valverde
When Ashley and Michael Valverde opened Mud Pie Vegan Bakery & Coffeehouse in a little yellow house on West 39th Street in February 2011, there were virtually no dedicated vegan eateries in Kansas City. Ashley, who transitioned from a vegetarian to vegan diet a few years earlier, just wanted someplace they could go to eat. “We really had no idea if we would be supported as a vegan restaurant, the idea being that anything that was vegan was dry and gross,” Ashley says. “We really wanted to change that perception, but we also had no idea if we would have people come in our door and give us a shot.” Turns out, Kansas Citians were happy to frequent Mud Pie, which opened a second location in Overland Park several years ago. Both serve up coffee and tea drinks with plant-based milks, including house-made cashew, almond, and coconut varieties, as well as sweet and savory treats such as bagels, muffins, scones, breakfast sandwiches, and more. All of those baked goods were the result of experimentation from Ashely and her mother, who experienced a steep learning curve when they took on the baking duties for Mud Pie with no previous profes-
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sional restaurant experience. “I don’t think we realized how much we would need to bake to keep things going,” Ashley remembers. “It was me and my mom here for 15 hours a day at the beginning, just working and working and working until we could afford our first baker.” These days, Ashely doesn’t have to be quite so hands-on with the baking, and the family has a lot more options to choose from when they want to enjoy a meal out of the house. “The vegan restaurants and shops that have popped up just in the last year, it’s been pretty wild and cool to see,” Ashley says, naming The Fix and Dead Beet Eats as a few of her favorite dining destinations. She’s also witnessed a major shift in people understanding what it means to be vegan and what they can expect from plant-based food and drinks. “We barely get anyone coming in and being like, ‘Ugh, vegan, disgusting,’” she says. “That was kind of a big thing ten years ago.” mudpiebakery.com
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ashley valverde photo by aaron leimkuhler
MUD PIE VEGAN BAKERY & COFFEEHOUSE
Zaid Consuegra
photos by aaron leimkuhler
ashley valverde photo by aaron leimkuhler
PIRATE’S BONE BURGERS
You won’t see the word vegan pop up at Pirate’s Bone Burgers, the plantbased Crossroads restaurant co-owned and operated by Zaid Consuegra. “Veganism is straight up white, pretty much,” he explains. “That’s what it’s projected as, and that’s what people see veganism as, and that’s one of the reasons we don’t use the word vegan in the restaurant.” Consuegra grew up in Mexico City before his family immigrated to Kansas. He’s an outspoken advocate for undocumented immigrants like himself, as well as animal welfare, the environmental impact of animal products and the exploitation of immigrant workers in the meat industry, all of which are factors in his plant-based diet His background and beliefs heavily influence the direction of Pirate’s Bone. He wanted the restaurant to not only serve plant-based food but do it in a way that feels accessible no matter who you are or how much you can afford to spend. He found his answer in the humble hamburger. “It’s very inviting,” Consuegra explains. “It’s not exclusive, it’s inclusive.” The restaurant serves up a signature beet burger with pickled cabbage and avocado spread, a classic Impossible meat-patty burger, and a rotation of specials, as well as some of the tastiest fries you’ll find in Kansas City. But building a plant-based business around burgers was
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also a strategic move to appeal to guests who may otherwise shrink away from vegan food. It’s working—Consuegra estimates 80 percent of the restaurant’s guests aren’t vegan. Pirate’s Bone may be garnering a lot of love across diets these days, but that wasn’t the case four years ago when Consuegra first switched to a plant-based diet. The business was then in a different location and operated as a coffee shop, which he also shifted to be vegan. “There was a lot of controversy,” he says. “A lot of people weren’t happy with us, people yelled at us. People had fits, wrote bad reviews … People were cold. People were very, very aggressive in how they took the news.” Fortunately, the pivot also brought a lot of new fans, and Consuegra began experimenting with food items, eventually shifting to operating Pirate’s Bone as a test kitchen before closing the original location and reopening as the city’s most inclusive burger joint. He hopes more of the vegan community in Kansas City can adopt that same attitude of inclusion. “Food breaks barriers—we know that for sure,” he says. “Most often, we just don’t talk about why and which types of food breaks the barrier.” piratesboneburgers.com
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New Year, Better You WHAT BETTER TIME TO DISCOVER A BETTER YOU THAN THE NEW YEAR? words by
Katy Schamberger
T
here’s nothing like the blank slate feeling of a new year to feel refreshed and energized—especially with the dumpster fire of 2020 in the rear view. Yet with the dual combination of dreary winter weather and the continued pandemic hovering, there’s no better time to reprioritize your health and wellness. From safety-focused workouts to essential skincare and CBD products, consider this
SWEAT SAFELY City Gym Owner Hailee Walsh uses the same take-charge mindset with Covid-19 safety as she does with running her nearly nine-year-old business. Clients are required to wear face coverings and observe physical distancing. The gym doesn’t exceed 50 percent capacity, and day or class passes aren’t currently available. Classes are available in several formats, including as small indoor groups, outdoors (weather permitting) and virtual. City Gym is welcoming new members, and tours are available. Visit citygymkc.com for complete Covid-19 safety procedures, gym info, class schedules, and more. Inspired by an urban hikes business in San Francisco, Lisa Pena
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your guide to the local businesses that will help you take care of your mind and body. Remember this: however you choose to take care of and pamper yourself, self-care isn’t selfish. If the last year showed us anything, it’s the importance of prioritizing your health and wellness wherever possible. Feel free to share your product recommendations and tips with us on social media at @inkansascitymag.
brought the idea to Kansas City. As founder of Urban Hikes Kansas City, Pena leads guided five- to six-mile hikes throughout downtown Kansas City, Missouri, and downtown Kansas City, Kansas. The brisk walks are an active and engaging way to explore downtown neighborhoods, as well as local history, art, and landmarks. Pena will also work with clients to create customized hikes that may include shorter or different routes or be tailored to a specific group of attendees. Masks are required during hikes, and participants are encouraged to maintain distance throughout the hike. Visit urbanhikeskc.com to book. Amid the uncertain and challenging circumstances of the continuing pandemic, Yoga Soul KC founder Melissa Robbins finds stillness, peace, and purpose in her studio. As a result of the pandemic, she’s reduced her class schedule and number of instructors, but continues to offer multiple classes each week including HOT Rebel Flow Yoga, Soul Fire Vinyasa, and Up and At OM Yoga. Masks are required during classes and attendees are asked to stay on their mats as they practice. A full schedule is available at yogasoulkc.com. We know—Kansas City winters aren’t always conducive to outdoor workouts! If you want to break a sweat but aren’t yet ready to return to a gym or similar facility, consider scheduling a virtual in-home program with Flexy. You’ll get access to a training app to track your progress, video demonstrations, six workouts per week, and personalized guidance throughout the program. Flexy also offers additional services ranging from personal training and private yoga practice to classes at area apartment and office buildings and online challenges. Visit itsflexy.com for details. Although running boutique Run 816 closed its doors in early 2020, the 816 Run Club continues. Bundle up and explore weekly routes, some of which are submitted by members so you get to see different parts of the city. Runs begin at 8 a.m. on Saturdays and routes are open until noon; all paces and distances are welcome. As part of Covid-19 precautions, no post-run socializing or facilities (including bathrooms) are available. Some additional weekly routes, including the Tuesday Night Run Club at the Crossroads Hotel, have been temporarily suspended. Stay up-to-date with the 816 Run Club on Facebook for announcements and other news.
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ing Serum, a hyaluronic acid-based gel enhanced with B vitamins and peptides. The light formula is suitable for a variety of skin types and can be worn under makeup, sunscreen and moisturizers. Speaking of sunscreen—don’t forget to apply it, even in the winter (and even if you’re staying in), especially if you prefer to sit in front of windows to enjoy natural light. Buy at rsvpmedspa.com. It’s common to feel sluggish and run-down in the winter. Throw in a pandemic and those feelings can easily multiply. When you need an invigorating burst, mist a few spritzes of laid|bare Rosy Rosewater Hydration Mist on your skin to restore hydration and balance your skin’s pH. Another TLC tip: pair your favorite facial cleanser with laid|bare’s soft facial cloth, an organic cotton cloth that gently exfoliates the skin. Simply toss in the laundry with a gentle detergent to clean. Shop the full laid|bare line at Etiquette Beauty, 115 W. 18th St., Kansas City, or etiquettebeauty.com. Is there anything better or more relaxing than a hot bath on a cold winter day? Make the experience even more indulgent with MerSea & Co. bath products, which instantly transport you to the seaside. Try the Saltaire Bubble Bath + Salt Tube set, which fills the room with an intoxicating combination of citrus, jasmine, sweet wood, and bamboo. After the bath, slather your skin with Saltaire Shea Lotion, which is packed with moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, almond oil, avocado oil, and artemia extract. Find exclusive MerSea & Co. collections at Anthropologie stores on the Plaza or at Town Center or shop at mersea.com.
CBD & CHILL SKINCARE ESSENTIALS Cold, dry winter weather and Covid-19 facial coverings can wreak havoc on the skin. If you’re noticing unexpected breakouts, try Wildcraft Co.’s Fearless Facial Oil. Company founder Sarah Preu describes it as “the facial oil for people who think they can’t wear face oil.” Pair it with Wildcraft’s Detox Face bar, available free in January with a $30 minimum Wildcraft Co. purchase at Beauty Brands. Online shopping available at wildcraftco.com. Slip into your comfiest pajamas and apply a layer of Native Atlas’s Zahara Re-Set Enzyme Mask after cleansing your face. An ingenious combination of ingredients—including panax ginseng, passionfruit, pineapple, and botanical hyaluronic acid—helps restore the skin’s hydration, both on the surface and below. Find locations at nativeatlas.com. Talk about multitasking! SkinKC’s Naked Foaming Face Wash uses only essential ingredients, including olive oil, jojoba oil, aloe vera, apricot kernel oil, and rosemary, to gently cleanse your face and reveal healthy, fresh skin. Bonus: you can also use it as a shaving foam. Visit SkinKC’s Brookside boutique, 6247 Brookside Plaza, or shop at skinkc.com. Pick up a jar of Mirabile M.D.’s Microderm Mineral Polish and bring the med spa experience into your home. The microdermabrasion resurfacing treatment removes dead skin cells and other skin debris while improving your skin’s tone, texture, and radiance. Find it at Mirabile M.D. Beauty, Health & Wellness in Overland Park or online at mirabilemd.com. Quench dry winter skin with RSVP Med Spa’s Intensive Hydrat-
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CBD, long past a fad, has proved its staying power, now appearing in products ranging from food and drink to supplements and topical oils. First, a quick primer. CBD—or cannabidiol—comes from the
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hemp plant and, according to Harvard Medical School, is “the second most prevalent of the active ingredients of cannabis (marijuana).” That said, CBD doesn’t cause a high, and instead has been shown to help medical conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, and epilepsy. American Shaman has become a goto source for CBD products in Kansas City, even opening a CBD dispensary inside a Ball’s Price Chopper. You might automatically associate CBD with calmness or even sleepiness, but the company’s CBGo water soluble oil is a hit with those wanting to improve energy, alertness, and focus. On the flip side, CBNight is a water soluble CBN oil that helps with better sleep. Shop online at cbdamericanshaman.com. Boost and balance your chakras with Hari OM CBD Bath Bombs, available at KC Hemp Co. Each bath bomb contains 25 mg of CBD, providing therapeutic benefits that are enhanced by ingredients like soothing Epsom salt. For additional pain relief, try KC Hemp Co.’s CBD topical pain cream with essential oils, including peppermint, eucalyptus, and camphor. Menthol cools and beeswax helps to naturally reduce swelling and inflammation. Buy online at kchempco.com. The Roasterie helped lead the way in locally available CBD-enhanced beverages with CBD-infused cold brew, which includes 10 mg of natural CBD to enhance mental alertness while reducing caffeine-induced side effects like anxiety and jitters. Visit theroasterie.com/cold-brew for a complete list of retailers. Pair your CBD-infused cold brew with a CBD honey stick, available at Billie’s Grocery (3216 Gillham Plaza, Suite 100). The sweetness of the honey is a delicious, all-natural treat, enhanced by the calming and focusing properties of CBD. Struggling with pain management? Schedule a therapeutic hemp extract massage at True Balance KC. Choose from several massage techniques, including deep tissue, acupressure, and myofascial release, which are then paired with hemp extract oil to soothe pain and ease inflammation. Clients are required to wear masks until inside the treatment room, and only one guest is permitted in the lobby at a time. Visit truebalancekc.com for a full list of services and Covid-19 protocols. Relax, revive, or boost immunity with Green Grove’s 3-in-1 CBD candles. Simply light and enjoy the natural fragrance of the candle. Or, as the wax melts, use it as a CBD oil concentrate for an at-home massage or to moisturize your skin. Green Grove also sells corresponding bath bombs for the ultimate CBD self-care experience. Shop online at greengrovecbd.com.
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TREAT YOURSELF, SPA-STYLE They say good things come in threes, and that’s certainly the case with Hollyday Med Spa + Aesthetics’ Trilogy treatment package. Three treatments—a photofacial to dissipate unwanted pigments; a corrective facial to improve skin tone and texture; and an oxygen facial to nourish the skin and complete brightening, lightening and tightening—are completed in a three-week succession. Plus, you’ll save when bundling them together instead of purchasing individually. hollydayspa.com Surface contouring helps with wrinkles, discoloration, stretch marks, and acne scarring. One of the latest technological devices, Morpheus8, available at Associated Plastic Surgeons, combines radiofrequency energy and microneedling, which triggers collagen and elastin production while also tightening skin fibers and contouring fat. Treatments are most commonly applied to the lower face and neck, but are also available for the arms, abdomen, knees, and more. apskc.com Enjoy a facial experience that’s specifically formulated to your skincare needs with the Gorgeous Georgous Facial at Georgous Aesthetic Bar. Start with a basic facial, then add unlimited additional treatments including dermaplaning, microdermabrasion and O2 for a 75-minute session. Add a brow waxing or a lash lift and tint and you’ll be ready to conquer the new year. georgouskc.com Aging, fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, discoloration, en-
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larged pores, poor texture and uneven skin tone—AesthetiCare Medspa’s Halo Laser can improve all of these. The world’s first and only hybrid fractional laser also increases skin reflectivity and glow with minimal downtime. To help protect patients and staff during the pandemic, Aestheticare uses UV sterilization devices that can quickly provide 99.99 percent disinfection. greatskinkc.com Exfoliate your skin and remove pesky peach fuzz with a dermaplaning treatment at Rajeunir Medical Spa. These quick procedures are especially ideal for patients who are pregnant or nursing and want deep exfoliation but aren’t advised to use peeling agents. Dirt and oil can build up in the hair follicles, which means you’ll see smoother, glowing skin once the treatment is finished. And no—the saying that your hair will grow back heavier and darker after dermaplaning is simply an old wives’ tale! rmedspa.com If you’ve avoided getting a facelift because you’re wary of surgery, Premier Vein and Body has a non-surgical option: the Venus Freeze face lift. Multi-polar radio frequency energy and magnetic pulsed fields are combined into one device, helping to tighten and contour the skin. Clients typically see optimal results with six to eight treatment sessions. And there’s no downtime after; just the possibility of redness. premierveinandbody.com Treat dry, pandemic mask-fatigued skin with a HydraFacial at KC Skin & Cancer Center. The non-surgical, virtually painless procedure cleans, exfoliates, extracts, and hydrates your skin. And yes—you get to see what’s removed from your skin when you’re finished! KC Skin & Cancer Center is committed to patient safety and will check your temperature and blood oxygen levels upon arrival for your appointment. kcskincenter.com Winter months can be an ideal time to refresh and rejuvenate your skin. Although time travel hasn’t yet been invented, the TCA peel at aNu Aesthetics & Optimal Wellness might just be the closest thing. Seven days after this in-office chemical peel, you’ll see smoother, brighter, younger-looking skin. According to the pros at aNu, chemical peels can help with a variety of skin concerns ranging from dull skin and fine lines and wrinkles to acne scars and uneven tone and texture. anuaesthetics.com Infrared light is part of the sun’s invisible spectrum of light—and it doesn’t burn the skin. Instead, it’s necessary for all living things to grow and thrive, which is why Hand & Land has channeled the power of infrared light into sauna sessions. During the session, far-infrared light will stimulate your sweat glands at the cellular level, flushing toxins out of your skin. Try a single session or opt for a multiple session bundle or monthly membership. handandland.com
JANUARY 2021
NEED A MOOD BOOST? TRY THESE TIPS Little actions can make a big difference when it comes to boosting your general health and wellness. Feeling blue? Anxious? Lethargic? Try any of these tips to relax your mind and help stay focused in the moment.
• Pick up an illustrated letterpress card at Verdant (128 W. 18th St., Kansas City) and send a friend or family member a handwritten letter. No stop at the post office needed; the staff at Verdant will post and mail your card.
• Plant sales have spiked during the pandemic, and for good reason. Tending to a plant, whether outside or inside, can be relaxing—even meditative. And lush greenery near your desk, couch, or bed can boost your mood. Stop into Paradise Garden Club (1621 Locust St., Kansas City) to choose your own plant baby. They offer workshops, too, if you’re wary of caring for a growing thing.
• Shut out the world at Floating KC (7235 Central St., Kansas City), one of the city’s first float spas. Inside a cleaned and sanitized float chamber, outside stimuli are eliminated and gravity is lessened. You’ll feel muscle tension, heart rate, blood pressure, cortisol production, and your respiratory rate slow as you truly relax in a state of deep, focused meditation while supported by water.
• The new year is an ideal time to try a new hobby, such as knitting, crocheting, or needlepoint. Yarn Social (1707 W. 45th St., Kansas City) stocks a delightful and luxurious assortment of yarns, needles, supplies, cross-stitch kits, and more. Covid-19 protocols are strictly enforced in the shop, and online shopping is also available at yarnsocialkc.com.
• Getting some exercise in the cold winter air can be invigorating. Use BikeWalkKC’s bike share to rent a bike from one of 42 kiosks throughout Kansas City, from North Kansas City to Longview Lake. Visit bikewalkkc.org for a complete list of locations.
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Make It
H A P P Y
JANUARY 2021
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Morgan and Dan Georgie’s living room is based on neutrals, “and we infuse color with our accessories,” Morgan says, including the “Come Together” print that’s from Ampersand Design Studio. Both the teal velvet chair and the coffee table are from Anthropologie. Flowers are by Bergamot & Ivy.
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Left, top: From left: Shaw, Dan, Lennon, and Morgan Georgie. Left, below: Dan’s one request was to include wood storage near the fireplace. “We are both ‘real fire’ people,” Morgan says.
A VINTAGE FAIRWAY RANCH LIGHTENS UP IN A FRESH REMODEL
WORDS BY
Judith Fertig
A
PHOTOS BY
Aaron Leimkuehler
s soon as you walk into the Georgie household, you can sense it. This house feels happy. “I believe that creating a home that is peaceful and relaxing is truly a form of self-care,” says Morgan Georgie, co-owner with Carrie Kiefer of Ampersand Design Studio. “We can’t control the world around us but we can control the way our homes make us feel.” Morgan and her husband, Dan, who is in medical sales, live in this renovated Fairway ranch with their two young sons Lennon and Shaw, and Greta, part German shepherd, part Great Pyrenees. They waited eight years before deciding on a remodel that would “build the life that we want,” Morgan says. To do that, they gathered a group of special people. Morgan’s architect father, Craig Shaw, devised a plan that took space from an unused front porch to make the kitchen area larger and allow for a central island. Dan’s friend Brian Hartis handled the construction. And Morgan’s friend Molly Jarvis of Brasstacks Design + Build helped reimagine the main living space. “Morgan and I met when we did a workshop with Anthropologie,” says Jarvis. “We wanted the living space to be thoughtful but neutral to let her art tell the story.” The story begins with a pale palette of warm white walls
JANUARY 2021
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Above: On the left, a wall tapestry from Ampersand hangs above the cane bench—a sample of what’s to come in their new spring line up. Right: “We can do a crazy little pattern here and it won’t be too much,” Morgan says of the graphic black-and-white cement tile in the mudroom.
and rift-sawn white oak cabinetry with a linear grain. “We tried five different whites on the wall to get a shade that was light, but not cold,” says Morgan. Benjamin Moore’s “Chantilly Lace” won out. The open-plan main living space allows the boys to run around and their parents to keep an eye on them. Light pours in. “Letting the sunlight in has so many health benefits, but it’s also the only way to keep our growing collection of indoor plants alive and happy,” says Morgan. And there is a marked absence of stuff. “One major goal for the kitchen and living room was to reduce clutter,” Morgan explains. “I wanted the choice to keep the countertops as clear as possible. Opening up walls and vaulting the ceilings
helped the space feel more open, but adding additional spaces for storage was the real key. Our kitchen countertops tend to be where our daily clutter lands. So, as we opened up the kitchen and gained drawer space, our family sort of assigned not one, but four ‘junk drawers.’ We have one that holds the kids’ arts and crafts supplies that we use almost daily, another for mail and schoolwork, then two for the usual pens, keys, small tools, wallets, you name it.” The family also had small appliances—coffee maker, milk frother, electric tea kettle, a blender for smoothies—they wanted hidden when not in use. A tall cabinet with sliding doors now conceals them all. The breakfast nook with a banquette covered in a child-friendly fabric “is where we live,” says Morgan. It’s where the boys come in words continued on page
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A custom-made banquette, upholstered in white vinyl, defines the breakfast area. Split-cane basket pendant is from CB2. White ceramic tile backsplash is from International Materials of Design.
JANUARY 2021
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Custom cabinetry of rift-sawn white oak is topped by a quartzite waterfall slab on the island and the perimeter cabinetry topped with white quartz.
In the dining room, the CB2 dining table is surrounded by Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs. Flowers are from Bergamot & Ivy Design.
JANUARY 2021
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JANUARY 2021
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Left: A large-scale photograph from Minted and a small print from Moglea hang above the Ikea bed in the principal bedroom. The lumbar pillow is from Anthropolgie and the knit blanket is from Target. Flowers are from Bergamot & Ivy. Above, top: In the boys room, Crate & Kids bunkbeds are dressed in Ampersand-designed linens. The rug is also an Ampersand design for Crate & Kids. Above: It’s a “corona virus virtual school room,” Morgan says of the lower-level room set aside for the boys’ studies. Ikea chairs and a shared desk that Dan built with sawhorses and a slab of wood give the boys a dedicated space.
JANUARY 2021
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make it happy continued from page
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LOOKING AHEAD IN KC
Design at Home...
coming in our February issue
with their blankets for an early morning snuggle, where meals are eaten, where birthdays are celebrated. In the living room, a fireplace provides a cozy spot on cold days, but the wide view to the treehouse and zipline in the backyard promises fun. A tall cabinet on a far wall hides games and toys. Morgan’s “Come Together” graphic print adds a pop of color. The master bedroom is pale, neutral, organic. “I work with color all day, so at night it’s relaxing not to think about it,” she says. In the boys’ room, a rug Ampersand designed for Land of Nod (now Crate & Kids) and Ampersand bedding make it fun. In the hallway, a gallery of the kids’ art brings a smile. On the lower level, the pandemic schoolroom offers a desk for kindergartener Lennon and fourth-grader Shaw, a colorful environment for remote learning. “We hoped to create a bright, happy space that’s calming and inviting,” says Morgan. And they definitely did.
inkansascity.com
JANUARY 2021
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LOOKING AHEAD IN KC
Tucked under the staircase is a reading nook for the boys, which is outfitted with floor pillows from World Market, and toy bins and a pendant light from Crate & Kids.
Making a Difference... coming in our March issue
THE IT LIST Architect Shaw Hofstra + Associates | shawhofstra.com Art Ampersand Design Studio | ampersanddesignstudio.com Construction Hartis Construction LLC | hartisconstruction.com Flowers Bergamot & Ivy | bergamotandivy.com Interior Design Brasstacks Design + Build | brasstackskc.com
to advertise, contact Brittany Coale at 913.768.8308
JANUARY 2021
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Flavor
IN KC
In the Kitchen VELVETY SOUPS BY
Cody Hogan
PHOTOS BY
A
s the pandemic of 2020 blurs into the pandemic of 2021, we could all use some hugs. It has been a year where we cook more at home, avoid going to the store as frequently, and try to make the most of what we have in our pantries and refrigerators. There may be a light at the end of the tunnel, but with the cold, dreary winter weather upon us, a warm bowl of comforting, velvety soup—made with ingredients and leftovers we have at hand—can be the little hug from the inside that we all need to help us embrace the new year. Cooking in a pandemic is an opportunity to learn appreciation for creativity with what is available. I despise food waste and finding tasty ways to use up remnants of meals gives me a tremendous sense of satisfaction. In fact, I frequently make soups out of leftovers just to avoid waste. Soups are an ideal use because they freeze beautifully and are always welcome on days when you don’t have time or desire to cook. And when it’s cold outside, nothing comforts quite like a steaming silken stew. Leftover Roast Chicken (or Whatever) Soup One of the qualities I look for in a great soup is a velvety texture, rich and enveloping like a favorite, well-worn overstuffed armchair. There are a number of ways to achieve this texture, most of them involving starch. If you have leftover potatoes of some sort (roasted, mashed, boiled, etc.), you’re on your way to great texture.* Begin your soup by heating a pot with a bit of oil (or perhaps—if you have that leftover roast chicken or whatever—the congealed fat in the roasting pan). Add the potatoes, crushing them so they have lots of surface area to come in contact with the bottom of the pot. Allow the sizzling potatoes to become golden brown and stick to the bottom of the pan. Scrape up all of the brown bits and stir the potatoes around again to allow them to stick and brown some more. Cooking the potato this way will deepen the flavor and give that velvety texture to the finished soup. If you don’t have potato, you could use another starch like split pea or leftover cooked rice (see Pantry), or the delicious roasted sweet potatoes you just couldn’t bear to toss out even though you’ve eaten them at two different meals already this week. Just cook them in the same fashion, browning them a little which will add complexity to the finished soup and help break them down to release their starchy elements.
JANUARY 2021
Aaron Leimkuehler
Next, add any vegetables you have, like the carrots and celery left from the roast, the half of an onion and the radishes you didn’t use from the salad you made at lunch, or the green beans you brought home from that restaurant where you couldn’t eat another bite. One advantage of using previously cooked ingredients (leftovers) is that they save time—they’re already cooked. This is also a good place to add neglected and wilt-y (but not discolored) bagged salad greens, beet tops, or that half a cabbage head you don’t know what to do with. Just make sure everything you add is still good enough to eat. Any leftover cooked (maybe canned) beans? They’re a magical and filling addition. Your soup will need liquid, so if you have a little leftover broth of some kind, use that. If it is exceptionally flavorful, I save the water from cooking potatoes, beans, rice, or blanching vegetables to use when making my next batch of soup. If all else fails, a can or two of broth or even water will suffice. Continue cooking for a bit, bringing everything to a boil. As you approach the finish line, add any cooked proteins, like the leftover roast chicken, shredded, or sausages cut into bite sized pieces. Uncooked ground meats can be seasoned, or sausages can be taken out of their casings and shaped into small meatballs and added to cook in and flavor the broth. If you’re lucky enough to have it, don’t forget the jelly in the bottom of the roasting pan—it’s pure flavor and unctuous texture. Now, taste the soup. What does it need? Salt, most likely. Maybe, it needs a little piquant heat from black pepper. If it seems a little unfocused, I like to unify the parts under a common theme, like a little cumin and dried oregano for a little south-of-the-border flavor, or with fennel and crushed red pepper—don’t forget the splash of olive oil and freshly grated cheese—for an Italian feel. A dash of fish sauce, chili oil, and some cilantro, scallions, and mint could transport you to Asia. Is it the best soup you’ve ever tasted? Maybe yes, maybe no. But hopefully, it will help you face the day and embrace the new year. *If you would like to begin with raw potato, just dice it up and cook as instructed for the precooked potato—it will just take more time.
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In Your Pantry SHORTCUTS TO COMFORT The texture of a soup can have an enormous effect on its perceived flavor. Watery soups can be magically (and quite easily and quickly) transformed into something robust, fortifying, and comforting with the use of one or more of these elements: Stale Bread / Breadcrumbs Just because bread is stale doesn’t mean it is useless. Actually, for many applications, stale bread works better than fresh (think croutons and crostini). Old bread can find new life in soups by being added towards the end of cooking. Adding cubes of bread for the last 15-20 minutes will allow the bread to begin to melt into and fortify the broth (like Italian ribollita) or topping a soup with slices of stale bread and cheese and baking for the last minutes (as in classic French Onion soup) will create a crunchy cheesy crust. Bread crumbs are great thickeners for thin broths because they take very little cooking time to achieve wondrous results—the flour in bread and bread crumbs is already cooked, so it doesn’t have the “raw” taste additives like cornstarch and flour have without extended cooking times.
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Rice Leftover rice can be a tasty addition to soups—but you need to know the lowdown on that rice. Cooked rice at room temperature is a perfect petri dish for Bacillus cereus, a spore that can survive cooking and given enough time and the proper environment, cause food poisoning. That leftover rice from your carry-out meal that sat on the coffee table for five hours isn’t a good candidate for recycling, except maybe for compost. Always refrigerate leftover rice as soon as possible after serving, and when reusing, make sure it is quickly reheated and cooked again. To use, briefly boil the rice in the soup and serve immediately for a soup with a little bite or reheat the rice in some of the liquid and purée it before adding back to the soup for a smooth and creamy texture—without the use of cream.
Split Peas and Red Lentils These quick cooking legumes lend both body and flavor to soups. Just a small handful—after 20 to 30 minutes cooking—will completely dissolve, fortifying and thickening the soup. For a more meaty and savory quality, sauté split peas to toast them briefly before combining with liquid. They acquire an umami-like quality that will make you swear there is a meat broth in use.
Immersion Blender and Food Mill Immersion blenders and food mills (and food processors and blenders) are perfect tools for physically adjusting the texture of a soup. An immersion blender (blender on a stick) can simply be inserted into a pot of soup and pulsed a few times to break down some of the ingredients into finer particles that thicken. If there are ingredients (like meatballs) that you don’t want to damage, some of the vegetables and liquid in a soup can be selectively ladled into a food mill and processed right back into the soup pot. Food processors and blenders can be used in the same manner—but generally result in more dirty dishes.
JANUARY 2021
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
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Flavor
IN KC
In Your Cocktail VERDIGRIS by
T
Kelsey Cipolla
photo by
Sunset Gun
here’s alchemy at work at Verdigris, and we’re not just talking about how the bar has transformed Leawood into a destination for swanky cocktails. The symbolic language of the science marks the menus, and the bar’s name is a nod to the green pigment that develops when certain metals are weathered and exposed to air or seawater over time. The drinks served up at the Park Place establishment certainly have an element of precision that feels scientific, but there’s also plenty of artistic spirit to admire, starting with the décor. It draws inspiration from the bar’s name, so you’ll find plenty of deep blue green alongside golden copper tones throughout the sophisticated Hollywood Regency-style space. Verdigris stocks a long list of spirits in addition to a curated collection of wines and beers. Guests can also enjoy a small food menu, with dishes ranging from smoked popcorn with cumin and brown sugar to chimichurri ribeye, a tasty complement to the main attraction: the cocktails. Drinks are elegantly presented, striking without feeling overly festooned. The cocktail menu is broken out into several different sections including classics, light, and rich. There are gems to be discovered among each group. Among the light cocktails, there’s the tropical and sweet Polynesian Punch, served with a spectacular lemongrass smoke bubble that never fails to turn heads. The Oaxaca old fashioned is a more recent addition to the classic canon, combining reposado tequila, mezcal, bitters,
JANUARY 2021
Aaron Leimkuehler
and agave nectar for a bold drinking experience. More traditional standards include thoughtful takes on the sidecar, Sazerac, and Manhattan. In the mood for something rich? Look no further than the Sunset Gun, an updated version of the Algonquin, a classic cocktail made with rye whiskey, dry vermouth, and pineapple juice. “I wanted to reimagine how this cocktail could be drunk, and what we could do to amplify the flavors,” explains Verdigris bartender Curtis Hayes. “To add complexity and depth, we start by using a split base of demerara rum and rye whiskey. Building on that complexity, the addition of sweet vermouth—Punt e Mes is my favorite—to the dry vermouth adds a fruitier and heavier aspect to the cocktail. The highlight to me is the charred pineapple gomme syrup. It screams pineapple definitively, and it lets us depart from the cliche of most drinks involving pineapple having to be shaken.” The original drink was created in New York City’s Algonquin Hotel. Hayes’s version takes its name from a collection of poems by Dorothy Parker, a founding member of the Algonquin Roundtable. “This was a group of like-minded actors, writers, critics, and artists that met daily for lunch at the Algonquin Hotel to find inspiration, discuss ideas, and more importantly, drink their 1920s asses off,” Hayes says. Prepare to follow their lead. verdigrisbar.com
Sunset Gun .75 ounce Rittenhouse Rye .75 ounce Hamilton Demerara Rum .375 ounce Berto Dry Vermouth .375 ounce Punt e Mes .25 ounce Charred Pineapple Gomme (see below) 3 dashes Salted Peychaud Bitters Combine all ingredients in a tin and stir. Pour over ice and enjoy. For the Charred Pineapple Gomme 1000 milliliters of 2:1 (sugar to water) syrup 500 grams of fresh pineapple chunks 1 teaspoon of gum Arabic powder Char the pineapple chunks using a blowtorch. The type of char you are trying to achieve is just after the pineapple stops caramelizing. Liquify the syrup and pineapple in a blender and strain. Add the gum Arabic powder and blend again so that it is fully incorporated.
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Flavor by
IN KC
Kelsey Cipolla
BIG MOOD NATURAL WINES
In Culinary News
DRINKING RESPONSIBLY takes on a whole new meaning at Big Mood Natural Wines, 2020 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 102. All the vino at the shop is free of additives and made from grapes grown sustainably, without irrigation or exposure to petrochemicals, explains Richard Garcia, who co-owns Big Mood with Jamie and Liz Zoeller. Veterans of the restaurant industry, Garcia and Jamie opened the shop in September after losing their jobs due to Covid in the spring. Although they had to scale down their vision in light of the pandemic, the owners hope to someday host events and add a wine bar to allow patrons to more fully explore the world of natural wines. Regardless of your familiarity, Jamie encourages people to come in, ask questions, and find something new to enjoy. bigmoodnaturalwines.com
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This no downtime, lunch-time treatment addresses fine lines, wrinkles, acne scarring, hyperpigmentation issues and sun damage without the discomfort and downtime associated with other ablative and non-ablative lasers. Because the PicoSure’s pressure energy doesn’t damage the surrounding skin, there is no downtime with only minimal redness and peeling, leaving you with a fresh “PicoSure Glow” after one treatment; a series of three is required for optimal rejuvenation results.
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This completely non-invasive treatment, which is an advanced version of IPL (intense pulsed light), addresses sun damage to the face, including freckles, hyperpigmentation and large pores. A series of treatments to the face, neck or chest will leave patients with healthier, even-toned skin.
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Flavor by
IN KC
Kelsey Cipolla
LONNIE’S RENO CLUB
In Culinary News
MUSICIAN LONNIE MCFADDEN has long been a fixture of Kansas City’s local jazz scene. Now, he takes center stage at Lonnie’s Reno Club, a jazz joint underneath the Ambassador Hotel Kansas City, 1111 Grand Boulevard. The 1930s-inspired supper club is a nod to the original Kansas City Reno Club, the historic 12th and Cherry Streets venue where Count Basie made a name for himself. In addition to hearing McFadden and his jazz quartet, guests can enjoy a pre-fixe, three-course menu featuring timeless dishes like shrimp cocktail, beef Wellington and chocolate mousse, as well as classic and 30s-era cocktails, as part of a dinner and a show package. The club is open 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with walk-in seating available after 9 p.m. lonniesrenoclub.com
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AT HOME WITH A STUNNING COLLECTION OF CONTEMPORARY BLACK ARTISTS
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TALKS ABOUT GROWING UP IN KC, HIS NEW PROJECTS, AND HOW HE’S COPING WITH COVID-19
DECEMBER 2019 | INKANSASCITY.COM
Chiefs’ Defensive Tackle
Living with Art
Chris Cooper
RESTAURANTS GET CREATIVE a colorful midcentury home, the kc arts scene, entertaining advice, recipes, and so much more
NOVEMBER 2020 | INKANSASCITY.COM
OCTOBER 2020 | INKANSASCITY.COM
RENOWNED OPERA STAR
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A PLAZA CONDO RENO A CEDAR CREEK NEW BUILD
SHOP LOCAL FOR FATHER’S DAY
Kansas City’s Ultimate Sandwich Guide
The KC Arts Community’s Pandemic Response
THINGS TO DO IN KC
STUNNING SPACES
GREAT GIFTS
entertaining advice, recipes, and so much more
AN EXCLUSIVE Q&A WITH
DIALLO
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Cocktails & Cuisine
THE NEW FACES OF
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Keeping KC Moving: Essential Workers Tell Their Stories
OUR NEW NORMAL
COLORFUL BROOKSIDE BUNGALOW
BARGAIN SHOPPING 101
FEBRUARY 2020 | INKANSASCITY.COM
A Deep Dive Into KC’s Favorite Dishes and Drinks
FLIRTY FLORAL FASHION
THE POWER OF FOOD
Holiday Entertaining
A HISTORIC MANSION’S REVIVAL
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BORU ASIAN EATERY WALDO’S Bōru Ramen Bar was reborn this fall as
In Culinary News
Bōru Asian Eatery, 500 West 75th Street, which melds some favorites from the former restaurant with a selection of new dishes inspired by a mix of Asian influences. Fans of the first iteration will recognize the bao buns, crispy Brussels sprouts salad, and three ramen bowls, joined by new additions, including Bōru kimchi fries, loaded with pork belly, sweet potato fries, fried egg, curry-lime aioli, and honey-hoisin sticky ribs. Bōru also now features a selection of rice and noodle dishes, such as the General oh Tso Good Chicken—crispy chicken thighs in a spicy garlic sauce. Add new desserts, frozen cocktails, and an interior refresh and you get a blend of the familiar and fresh worth giving a second look. borukc.com
Kansas Citians Tackle Health & Wellness in 2021 eat the rainbow
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A MILLENNIAL MIDCENTURY MODERN HOME DO-IT-ALL LAUNDRY ROOMS
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JANUARY 2021
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Celebrate and support KC’s restaurants Savor and save with hundreds of local restaurants during the region’s premier dining event, Jan. 8-17. Dine your way with exclusive carryout, delivery and dine-in specials—all with a portion of proceeds benefitting The Don Bosco Centers. For menus, reservations and more, visit KCRestaurantWeek.com.
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IN KC
Reservation for One THE TOWN COMPANY by
Kelsey Cipolla
T
photos by
he Town Company draws a crowd, even on a ho-hum Wednesday night in the middle of a pandemic. Call it the Patrick Ryan effect—the chef-owner behind Port Fonda is a partner in the restaurant, although he’s turned executive chef duties over to husband-and-wife team Johnny and Helen Leach. The Town. Co is billed as a midwestern eatery. The ingredients are sourced from the Midwestern corridor, with many coming from local producers, but that’s about as far as the theme goes. Luckily, it doesn’t
JANUARY 2021
Aaron Leimkuehler
need to hook diners with a story to make the experience memorable. The meticulously plated dishes do all the heavy lifting. The restaurant is inside the gothic revival-style Hotel Kansas City, but you really only think about it during the minute it takes to walk from the front door, through the lobby and into the dining room. The Town Co. space feels a world apart, with an open kitchen and roomy dining room of steel blue and caramel leather. Minimalist light fixtures and a smattering of plants, paired with wood tables and flooring and
| 92 | INKANSASCITY.COM
cut-glass water tumblers, give the restaurant a vibe somewhere between vintage law office and Southern-chic dining room. Once seated, guests are given the lay of the land: The menu is tapas style, with lighter items giving way to heartier fare as you work your way down the list. Most items touch the restaurant’s hearth, and two to three plates are recommended per person. Last but not least, the chef prefers everything to be ordered at once. If you are trying to order for a partier larger than one, this necessitates a bit of mental gymnastics and perhaps a sheet of scratch paper, should you have one handy. A cocktail may be needed at this point, and The Town Co.’s offerings are minimal but inventive. The belo momento is a particular standout thanks to roasted pineapple and ancho verde, which give it sweetness, spice and balance—and it’s sure to pique interest for El Gold, a cellar saloon concept from Ryan set to open at Hotel Kansas City this spring. When it comes time for dinner, items are coursed out courtesy of the kitchen, so you at least aren’t tasked with keeping everything straight when it arrives to the table. Trout croquettes, recommended by the server, make for a sublime start, arriving with a weirdly appealing scent that smacks of both a donut shop and a fish fry. Their crust is so thin and crispy it cracks almost like the caramelized sugar atop a crème brûlée, giving way to the bold flavor of the fish. The smoked sturgeon toast is more mild and more colorful, thanks to a silky, vibrantly magen-
THIS WEEK
ta spread of whipped beets. An apple and kohlrabi salad with smoked pecans and blue cheese is solid, but less interesting than so many of the other options. Then again, one of the more noteworthy dishes on paper fails to translate on the plate: a squid salad with carrots and greens in a carrot jus and olive oil looks a treat but tastes muddied, although the squid is cooked with skill. Sweet potato dumplings are exceptional, the supple dough’s mellow sweetness playing well with oyster mushrooms in a light cream sauce. But perhaps the single best bite is to be found in the fried potato cake served as a side with the lobster butter-topped steak. The striploin itself is a beautiful medium rare, but it’s a bit salty, especially when eaten with the brûléed lobster butter. The golden-brown potato cake steals the show, the outside a little crispy and the interior light, fluffy, and full of flavor. The Town Co.’s dessert offerings are as exciting as everything else that comes out of the kitchen. The angel food cheesecake features a hybrid texture of the two desserts, topped with a sweet and tart pear sorbet encased in a pyramid of lemon crisps, all served on a black sesame ganache. Yes, there’s a lot going on, but that’s not a bad thing when disparate ingredients are in such deft hands. Therein lies the magic of The Town Co.—the food is so deliciously compelling that even when it doesn’t quite work, you can’t wait to see, smell, and taste what comes out of the kitchen next.
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Gail says her new toy store is an ideal fit, and she can’t wait to show it off. “Our customers like big bikes with big motors,” she says. “I’m excited that we’re not changing, we’re evolving. It’s the same thing I’ve been doing. My main focus remains the Harley brand—always has been, always will be.” So Many Cool Bikes, All In One Place In this market, Gail’s name is almost synonymous with Harley. “That’s the only con. I’ve been engrained with Harley since I was 14, and I’m turning 56 this year,” she says. “Rebranding is hard, but I’m excited. It’s the right thing to do. My team and my dealership are strong. Ninety percent of what we feature will be Harley. And because the quality of Harley Davidson has not changed, there’s a synergy selling pre-owned Harleys.” For the past few months, Gail’s team has been scouring the country for bikes to add to their collection. “We’re determined to have a floor full of brand-name bikes, the best of the best,” she says. “Hundreds upon hundreds of motorcycles to choose from—sleek street bikes to cruisers.” A quick scan of her new and improved showroom proves she wasn’t kidding. “From a $4,000 Honda Shadow to a $30,000 Harley Davidson Tri-Glide, there’s something for everyone.”
GAIL HITS THE RESET BUTTON ON GAIL’S HARLEY DAVIDSON
W
hen the pandemic hit this spring, Gail Harleychick’s faithful biker clientele still wanted to hit the open road. “They all know there’s no better way to social distance than being on a bike,” she says. But as the virus lingered, Gail’s Harley inventory dwindled and getting new bikes on her shiny showroom floor became increasingly difficult. “We were looking at our inventory being cut in half, maybe more,” she says. “Harley’s long term plan is to only produce half the number of bikes as they have in the past. When they reached out and asked me my thoughts—that’s how Gail’s Powersports was born.” Natural Progression Starting today, Gail’s Powersports will become the metro’s premier motorcycle hotspot. Gail has created the perfect playground for riders to check out. “Gail’s Powersports is open for business—a big boy’s (and girl’s) toy store!” she declares. “I want to carry everything with power—motorcycles of all brands—street bikes, dirt bikes, cruiser bikes. Heck, we’ll have ATVs, UTVs, and snowmobiles. If it goes vroom, we’ll carry it.” For Gail and her team, the rebranding makes perfect sense. A quick check of recent sales was telling; customers were snapping up her used Harleys in droves because new ones were hard to come by and much more expensive than the same pre-owned model with low mileage. “I’ve been selling more used Harleys in the last six months than new bikes by a long shot. Almost three to one,” she says. With decades of experience and her ravenously loyal clientele in tow,
New Name, New Attitude, Same Great Customer Service When Gail decided to switch things up, it gave her a chance to breathe and get back to the basics. She’s kept her same sales and management team and dedicated master service technicians. She recently promoted Kenny Stallman to general manager. “Been there, done that. This year I’ve had to jump through plenty of Harley hoops. Because I had to just sell what Harley sends me—and if, say, Harley has a hiccup, well, it’s an earthquake for me. It’s been hugely stressful,” she admits. “Now I can go ride with people and bring them into my dealership. I like mingling and marketing. That’s what I’m good at.” The rebrand has kickstarted Gail into overdrive. She says it’s a win-win for her and customers. “I love being able to say what I want, do what I want with no constraints,” she says. “If I can’t get cycles or parts or accessories, it’s a hinderance. I was a bit handcuffed. This way, I can sell whatever I want—and Harley will still be a huge part of that Think of it Gail’s Powersports as the freedom of choice.” Another pro? Gail says she now has the ability to finance anyone and everyone. Recharged and Rebooted Gail is rebooting her popular riding club too. “We’ve renamed our Hog Club,” she says. “We’re now the Heartland Riders. People who ride all brands are welcome.” For now, Gail is excited to see what the future holds—especially given that Harley-Davidson is expected to produce substantially fewer motorcycles than they did in 2019. Her years of experience are about to pay off—just like when she opened her well-received sister store, Shawnee Mission Cycle. “Will it work? It will,” she says. “Change is still change. But everything that’s worth doing brings an element of fear. It might seem scary, but, fortunately, I know what I’m doing.”
www.gailspowersports.com
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My Essentials
IN KC
MIKALA PETILLO VOCALIST, INSTRUMENTALIST, COMPOSER BY
Michael Mackie
S PHOTO BY AARON LEIMKUEHLER
ongbird Mikala Petillo, aka Miki P, is a native of Kansas City. She says her love of music has been driven from a young age. With boundless imagination and creative energy, she continues to harness music from—as she points out on her website—her soul. Besides touring the Midwest with her band, Miki P and the Swallowtails, the performer has also played many local music festivals—Boulevardia and the Middle of the Map fest included. The band manages to fuse rock, classical, folk, and jazz sounds to create a melting pot of original music—all led by Miki P’s songwriting. (The singer’s latest music-release Right Where We Are came out in August of 2020.) She’ll also be the first to tell you she’s a big proponent of living in Kansas City. “Being able to spend time with my dearest loved ones is what makes my life full every day,” she says. “I love living near my friends and family.”
Miki P’s essentials... MUSIC MAKES THE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER:
I like Big Dudes Music City on Broadway for any quick addition to my music-getup. I got my beautiful Ibanez ArtCore guitar at Bentley Guitar Studio in Parkville—so if you’re looking for an instrument to bond with, Bentley is the place.
STARTERS: I dream
DRESS TO IMPRESS:
about Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop’s spring rolls.
Record Bar. You’ve got to look good when jumping into the networking pool. Also, dressing up to feel confident is highly underrated.
SUGAR RUSH: Mmmmm. For pastries, there is an incredible place called Blackhole Bakery on Troost. I’d also argue that Crows Coffee has great blueberry muffins, coated with sugar on top. So yummy!
SCENTS-ITIVE: It’s a Beautiful Day on
Broadway. Their incense wall is amazing and I always have a hard time choosing what smells to take home.
JANUARY 2021
RAISE A GLASS:
The Rino all the way! Not only do they have the best drink menu, but they are kind and inclusive and put on the most amazing shows. You could experience a new musician or comedian every night at the Rino.
| 96 | INKANSASCITY.COM
SHOE-LA-LA: Arizona Trading Company in Westport. They are always affordable. And I have to buy one of each of course—casual and classic. Life is complex and we need options!
FLOWER POWER:
I love plants, they add so much life into any room! I have definitely spent a good amount of money at Soil Service on Troost!
The Hills of Leawood is the newest luxury community from Saul Ellis and Mark Simpson, developers of Hallbrook and Lion’s Gate. Their new development is ideally positioned at 151st & Mission Rd. and is the last new residential community in the City of Leawood! The community features walkout luxury homesites and large estate lots in a neighborhood that is in the heart of everything, yet private and serene in its innovative rolling hills landplan design.