IN Kansas City July 2020 by KC Media

Kansas City’s Everyday Heroes

JULY 2020 | INKANSASCITY.COM

DIALLO JAVONNE

FRENCH Talks about his photography and films documenting KC’s music scene, growing up in Kansas City, and the Black Lives Matter movement

10 2

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Contents JULY 2020 72

76 64 Features 60

IN CONVERSATION WITH DIALLO JAVONNE FRENCH The filmmaker and photographer on his work, his life, and why he lives in Kansas City.

FRENCH TWIST Interior designer Leann Lynn of McCroskey Interiors puts a Gallic spin on a Plaza pied-a-terre.

Departments

10 FUN(SOCIAL-DISTANCING) THINGS TO DO IN KANSAS CITY Social distancing need not keep you away from fun. Celebrate the summer and stay safe with these ten ideas that support local businesses.

EASY BREEZY A Cedar Creek couple relies on interior designer Amy Thurston to create a home awash in a soft palette of neutrals.

EVERYDAY HEROES From tireless first responders to an entire brigade of essential workers, people came together like no other when the pandemic hit Kansas City. We scoured the metro to find heroic folks with stories that needed to be heard.

On the cover

74 20

WOMEN IN BUSINESS IN KC

ENTERTAINING IN KC

OUR MAN IN KC

ARTS & CULTURE IN KC

BEHIND THE MUSIC IN KC

LOOK IN KC

LIVING IN KC

108

FLAVOR IN KC

120

MY ESSENTIALS IN KC

IN EVERY ISSUE

Filmmaker and photographer Diallo French. Photo by Steven Green.

JULY 2020

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EDITORâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S NOTE

INKANSASCITY.COM

If it’s an emergency, don’t wait. When you need us, we’re ready. Now, more than ever, we’re taking extra precautions to keep you safe in our ER. If you’ve been injured or are experiencing symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, or severe stomach discomfort, seek help immediately. There’s no safer place be. To find the location nearest you, visit

TrustedERCare.com

AN ICONIC AMERICAN TRADITION MEETS KANSAS CITY‘S BEST CLASSICAL MUSICIANS

A VIRTUAL CONCERT BROADCAST FROM HELZBERG HALL BENEFITING PARK INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR MUSIC

September 17, 2020 | Boulevard Drive-In At this re-imagined event, videotaped on Helzberg Hall stage, you will have a front row seat to the best of classical music and get to enjoy it with your whole family at the DRIVE-IN! Load everyone in the van. Bring the neighbors, grandparents, tiny ones and the dog. The entire event is piped into your car, through the radio, across the world’s first 4K drive-in cinema experience! Rain or shine!

FEATURING: Behzod Abduraimov Kenny Broberg Laurel Gagnon Maria Ioudenitch

Stanislav Ioudenitch Tatiana Ioudenitch Igor Khukhua Dilshod Narzillaev

Ben Sayevich Lolita Lisovskaya-Sayevich Daniel Veis Anastasia Vorotnaya

With a fantastic eight-hand, four pianist, two piano finale! | Kay Barnes and Tom Van Dyke, Honorary Chairmen

I C M . PA R K . E D U

GETTING OUT NEVER FELT

SO GOOD

100+ Designer Outlets, Retail, Entertainment & Dining Options

Editor’s Note

Being the Change Vol. 3 | No. 7 JULY 2020 Editor In Chief Zim Loy Art Director Alice Govert Bryan Digital Editor Michael Mackie Contributing Writers Kelsey Cipolla, Stacy Downs, Judith Fertig, Timothy Finn, Cindy Hoedel, Cody Hogan, Merrily Jackson, Damian Lair, R. Murphy Contributing Photographers Steven M. Green, Aaron Leimkuehler photo by aaron leimkuhler

never face an empty page easily. Writing a note from the editor every month is the hardest thing I do in my job. These historic times don’t make it any easier. Right now, I’m thinking how can I, a middle-aged white woman, even begin to address the challenges our city faces? Like everyone, I’m horrified to watch the violence and injustice that’s always been so obvious to people of color. In the space of a couple of months, we scrolled on our phones and witnessed the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, the choking of George Floyd, the death of Rayshard Brooks. And I’m aware enough to know that this isn’t new, it’s just that now it’s all captured on camera and visible on our ubiquitous social media. In Kansas City, I saw a shared hug between a police officer and a protester, I saw the Mayor and the chief of police take a knee. But I also saw a police officer’s unwarranted pepper-spray attack on a peaceful protester. I saw another peaceful protester blinded in one eye by the use of rubber bullets. How do we as a nation address the pervasive racism that’s baked into our country’s heritage? How do we as a city fix this? What can I do, personally? The only tool I have at hand is this media company, both in print and online. Since our launch, we have strived to be inclusive, to feature diversity in these pages—with both our contributors and our stories. It hasn’t been enough. It’s imperative on us to be better. There are more stories out there than we can imagine. Not all are about the hatred and violence of racism. There are gentler stories we haven’t heard either. We can tell all those stories and share them. Tell us what you want to discover. We’re listening.

Graphic Designer Eva Tucker Copy Editor Craig Magnus Managing Director Michelle Jolles Publisher Chad Parkhurst Digital Director Brittany Coale Senior Media Consultants Daisy Chavez, Katie Delzer, Nicole Kube, Shelayne Lawyer, Krista Markley Newsstand Consultant Joe J. Luca, JK Associates 816-213-4101, jkassoc.net Editorial Questions: zloy@inkansascity.com

Advertising Questions:

cparkhurst@inkansascity.com

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JULY 2020

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The Power of Design

st y le | f u n cti on | organ i z at i o n

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Conversing with Judd Apatow.

He’s the genius writer/director behind many of your fave classic comedies. Our critic Lonita Cook dishes with the filmmaker on everything from being quarantined to his newest movie, The King of Staten Island, starring SNL’s Pete Davidson. Find it at inkansascity.com.

Eager for a kitchen or bathroom makeover? Enter to win a $1,000

Cool off with this Ultimate Gazpacho recipe! Culinarian Lauren

RockTops Granite & Stone Fabrication gift certificate to put towards any customized countertop. Even better? The lucky winner also receives a two-hour design consultation with TV host and KC interior designer Jennifer Bertrand. With a slew of unique and beautiful granite, marble, limestone and quartz at their incredible showroom, Rocktops is the place to jumpstart your stunning remodel project. Enter to win by July 31 at inkansascity.com/themagazine/enter-to-win.

Lane doesn’t mean to brag, but she says her take on this classic chilled soup is “old school, but perfected.” Find it at inkansascity.com/eatdrink/recipes.

Alfresco dining, anyone?

Like sour candy? Who doesn’t? For National Sour Candy Day on July 18, we’ve scored a pucker-rific cocktail recipe that is both tangy and tart—and refreshingly zingy! Find it at inkansascity.com/eat-drink/recipes

Restaurant patios are re-opening for you to enjoy! From happy hours to the local restaurant scene, we’ve got the city’s most comprehensive dining guide. Check it out at inkansascity.com/ eat-drink/diningguide

FACEBOOK @INKANSASCITYMAGAZINE

TWITTER @INKANSASCITYMAG

Dishing with Lidia. With countless cookbooks under her belt and several Emmy awards to her name, Lidia Bastianich puts the celeb in celebrity chef. We caught up with Lidia to find out five things you might not know about the famous chef/author/TV host. The only bad thing? It wasn’t over dinner at her restaurant. Maybe next time? Find it at inkansascity.com.

JULY 2020

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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER subscribe at INKANSASCITY.COM (under The Magazine tab)

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.

FEATURED PET

Dear Ashley – I adopted Bella a few months ago and she is such a fabulous dog. Everything is wonderful… except that she won’t stop jumping on visitors when they come to the house. Please help! – Amara, KCMO

Ashlyn is a gorgeous three-year-old girl! She greets everyone with wiggles and a big smile. She knows “sit” and “come” and loves treats, so she will easily learn new tricks and skills. She occasionally gets a burst of energy accompanied by the zoomies. She is ready to jump right in to life with her forever family! To adopt Ashlyn, visit greatplainsspca.org/adopt.

GREATPLAINSSPCA.ORG

5424 Antioch Dr. | Merriam, KS 66202

Hi Amara – Dogs jump on us to get our attention and are less likely to jump when we greet them in a calm and quiet manner. If your dog jumps on you, turn your back to her and ignore the behavior. If she runs around you and jumps again, turn your back to her again. Keep doing this until she gets bored of this little game. Once Bella sits, praise her for the behavior and repeat until she stops jumping. Give Bella hugs from us at the shelter!

ing. If he is barking for your attention, do not yell or get angry because that will just excite him even more. Tell the dog to be quiet. Once the dog becomes quiet even for a second, reward the behavior and repeat. Assuring your dog gets plenty of exercise and mental stimulation will also help him from becoming bored and barking for your attention. Good luck to you and Roscoe! – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Dear Ashley – We got our dog from a family member that couldn’t care for her any longer. Her name is Jasmine and she is full of energy, but she won’t stop pulling. Any tips? – Angela, Roeland Park

– Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Dear Ashley – I adopted Roscoe, a Jack Russell Terrier, and he just won’t stop barking at everything. I knew that terriers were vocal, but we sure need some help since it’s driving our neighbors crazy. – Hudson, Lee’s Summit, MO Hi Hudson – Dogs use barking as a way to communicate. If a dog is barking because he is afraid, respond in a calm way that will create a safe space for him instead of reprimand-

Hi Angela – I would recommend the 180-degree method. When Jasmine starts pulling, turn 180 degrees and walk in the opposite direction teaching her that whenever she pulls for something, she loses the privilege to check it out and must walk in the opposite direction. In the beginning you will go back and forth frequently on your street and your neighbors might look at you a little funny, but if you hang in there, it’s quite successful even with the most stubborn of dogs – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

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.

Women in Business

IN KC

Barbara Shatto by

Michael Mackie

THREE GENERATIONS OF WOMEN HAVE FARMED THIS HOMESTEAD IN CLINTON COUNTY. IT TOOK THE LATEST GENERATION TO TRANSFORM THE DAIRY FARM FROM BULK MILK TO THE FRESH, LOCAL MILK WE ALL RECOGNIZE

arbara Shatto has a couple of big claims to fame. For one, the Osborn, Missouri, native is one of an elite handful of women who own successful dairies in the United States. And two, former POTUS George W. Bush is such a fan of her famous Shatto chocolate milk, he actually sent her a picture of him enjoying a bottle of it along with a personalized letter. (More on that later.) Shatto likes to reminisce about growing up on her family’s 100-yearold farm, which has been handed down through three generations of daughters. Long before she became a milk maven, the now president/ CEO of Shatto Milk spent over 40 years working as a registered nurse. “My dad only had girls to take care of and he always told us, “Girls can do anything boys can do—and he was right,” she says with a laugh.

JULY 2020

“You’re not lazy. You get up early, you get going and that’s what I was always taught. Women and nurses can do everything—it’s in my blood.” In the late ’90s, when Shatto had the chance to take over the reins of the farm, she and her husband, Leroy Shatto, decided to, as she puts it, “do something different.” She says those first couple of years starting milk production from the ground up were challenging. It took a bit of financial finagling from wary bankers, but the savvy Shatto opened her eponymous dairy production in 2003 after a couple of years of ensuring everything— including her business acumen—was up to her high standards. The company’s products—in retro-tastic glass milk bottles, no less— were a hit from day one. “We didn’t have to do any marketing. Word of mouth and the fact we were opening a new dairy went viral,” she says. “On our opening day we had cars up and down our highway. It really caught on. We’re a family—so you know where your milk comes from—it’s only milk from our cows, no growth hormones.” Stellar customer service was also paramount from opening day and has proved invaluable, she says. A local marketing company helped brand Shatto’s unique products. (Root Beer Milk, anyone?) Before long, the community-driven farm started offering family-friendly tours where Shatto could entertain and educate guests with her homespun charm. “We’re simple farm folks wanting to do a really good job. We care about our employees, our cows—we call them our ‘girls,’” she says. “We have so much fun out here. It’s terrific—a dream come true actually.” In the midst of the recent pandemic, Shatto and her son found success with a startup home-delivery service of grocery staples. It’s become such an in-demand necessity for customers, there’s now a waitlist. “It’s a simple pleasure in life that you don’t have to lug groceries into your house. We deliver per your order, pick up those dirty bottles and bring you new ones,” she says. Cheese, ice cream and ice-cream sandwiches are also top sellers, of course. In 2006, the Shattos were runners-up to winning the Small Businesspersons of the Year Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Former President Bush jokingly asked if Shatto had brought him chocolate milk. Turns out she had and promptly handed it to his Secret Service brigade. “He was a delightful person,” she says. “He took it with him—said he was eating with Dick Cheney and he’d have it for lunch.” A few months later a congratulatory package arrived with the aforementioned picture and “the loveliest letter in the world thanking our family.” Shatto says she’s thrilled at how civic-minded the company has turned out to be—helping plenty of charities and philanthropic organizations over the years. “People like our milk and they realize we’re good people here. I love my cows. I get to see them a lot. They make me warm in my heart. And they’re good employees—what can I say,” she adds. “People are amazed that a woman would run this, but, you know, it’s turned out just so wonderfully. I’m probably the luckiest person I know.”

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Know Your Worth

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. POWER IS PERSONAL. Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a path to security, a gateway to your dreams or the road to being your own boss, we have the people and resources to empower you. Learn more at UMB.com/WXW

DRIVE-IN CONCERT SERIES THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 7 PM JUL 23

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THE BAKER LUXE COLLECTION

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Entertaining

IN KC

photo by aaron leimkuehler

Email me with your entertaining questions, dilemmas, or triumphs at mjackson@inkansascity.com

My Most Indispensable Kitchen Stuff TO COOK AND ENTERTAIN WELL, YOU DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T NEED A SHOWY KITCHEN. BUT YOU DO NEED GOOD TOOLS. MERRILY SHARES HER FAVORITE LOW-TECH ACCOUTREMENTS FOR COOKING AND SOCIALLY DISTANCED ENTERTAINING by

Merrily Jackson

JULY 2020

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he year 2020 will be remembered for many sorrowful reasons. But it has also been the year that brought us all back into our kitchens, no matter how grand or humble. My own kitchen fits more into the latter descriptor. While it is not large, it is cozy and handily equipped for cooking and entertaining. In fact, when I cook with friends and family in their sometimes bigger and fancier kitchens, I miss my stuff, the simple things I have in my drawers and cabinets that make cooking and entertaining easier. Here, then, is my highly personal list of low-tech kitchen utensils, small-scale

Entertaining

IN KC

Fresh Bread Made with Three Ingredients Fresh, homemade bread pulled straight from the oven makes everyone happy. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a recipe you can put together fast, with no kneading or yeast-proofing or gnashing of teeth. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll get best results if you use a high-quality ceramic loaf pan, such as Emile Henry or Le Crueset. This bread tastes delicious with honey butter, and it also makes great toast.

Beer Bread

3 scant cups self-rising flour

3 tablespoons sugar

12 ounces beer, room temperature (I use Boulevard Amber Ale)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine all ingredients and stir to mix. Place in greased 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan. Bake about 50 to 60 minutes or until nicely brown.

JULY 2020

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equipment and dinnerware that I find most useful when I cook and serve food. DON’T SKIMP ON THE SHARPS “Buying cheap knives,” said James Beard, “is the worst sort of economy.” He was so right. Even if you cook only periodically, high-quality knives are a solid investment. If you have good cutlery, you might even find yourself cooking more often, because prepping food with a hefty, razor-sharp knife is pure joy. My Cutco eight-inch “Petite Chef ’s” knife is not at all cool-looking, but it is the knife I would keep if I could keep only one. It costs about a hundred and fifty bucks and lasts a lifetime. Don’t bother with knife sets if you’re on a tight budget; 95 percent of chopping, slicing and dicing can be done with this one implement. Just be sure you keep it sharp. I take my knives for professional sharpening once a year to Ambrosi Brothers on Main Street, and use a whetstone for touch-ups in between. I’m also fond of my Microplane grater, which can turn Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, chocolate, and citrus peels into piles of fine shavings with little effort on my part. It was fifteen bucks at Pryde’s Kitchen and Necessities and is worth its weight in saffron threads. THE VALUE OF THE REALLY, REALLY BIG BOWL A couple of times a year, I team up with other friends who cook and we donate a dinner for eight or ten to be auctioned at a fundraiser; we usually prepare the meal in the purchaser’s home. There is one thing I always make sure I have with me when I cook for these dinners: a wide, shallow, stainless-steel prep bowl, 16 inches in diameter. Otherwise well-equipped kitchens often lack this simple tool, and it makes me crazy not to have it, because I don’t like blending, mixing or tossing foods together in an undersized bowl; it takes longer to do the job since your arm movements are restricted, and it’s messy because things plop over the edge of the bowl. So my big metal bowl gets loaded in the trunk, just in case. Baker’s half-sheet pans (13-inch by 18-inch, with a one-inch rim) are equally useful, and, given their versatility, also surprisingly scarce in private kitchens. In addition to being great for making cookies, half-sheets are ideal for roasting vegetables (you can toss them in olive oil and sea salt right there in the pan and pop them in the oven at 400 degrees); baking potatoes, rolls and biscuits; and heating breads. When I have a dinner party, I usually plow through several half sheets. Likewise, I wouldn’t trade my Cuisinart food processor and my KitchenAid stand mixer. They are the John Deere tractors of the kitchen. SERVING DISHES, DISTANCED AND OTHERWISE If you like to entertain and you have the storage space, it’s great to have an assortment of interesting serving trays, platters and

JULY 2020

127th & Metcalf

Fabulous Selection & In Home Design AreaRugDimensions.com | 27 | INKANSASCITY.COM

Entertaining

IN KC

bowls in a variety of shapes and sizes. My friend Darcy Howe, an accomplished and creative hostess, has devised a way to serve cocktail food at small, socially distanced gatherings. She uses pretty ceramic ramekins to portion out cheese, spreads, crackers, nuts and veggies so everyone, or every couple, gets their own personal appetizer assortment. You sit six feet away from each other, sip your drinks, feast on your treats, and it feels like a normal cocktail gathering. THE ELEGANT WHITE PLATE It is my heartfelt hope that, by the time you read this, the pandemic has lifted and we feel comfortable having a few people over to dinner again, to eat indoors, from real plates and not takeout boxes. Whenever that happy day comes, know that to feed guests simply and stylishly, all you really need in the way of dinnerware is a set of classic, unadorned white porcelain 10-inch dinner plates. If you have a quantity two or three times the number you are feeding, you can use them for a salad course and a dessert course, in addition to the main course. To my eye, food looks most appetizing against white plates, which blend well with almost any table décor. Choose the best-quality porcelain you can afford; cheap dishes crack and chip easily.

LET’S BE CLEAR Unless you are a true wine enthusiast, you can get by with two sets of wine glasses: a tall round balloon glass for red wine (mine often double as a water goblet) and one with a narrower profile for white wine. Make sure you have plenty of wine glasses for a party. People appreciate getting a fresh glass at some point, especially when being served dinner. I’m not crazy about the stemless wine glasses, although I certainly understand their practical appeal. Stems just seem more genteel. Never serve wine in plastic cups, darling, if you can possibly avoid it. And wine glasses should always be clear. Colored glass is fine, however, for water goblets. I also highly recommend having a supply of Champagne flutes on hand, (and a bottle of Champagne in the fridge) because you never know when you are going to have something to celebrate. FLOWERS AND CANDLES: MORE IS MORE A final note from the Ambience Committee: have an assortment of small, simple vases for the flowers at your dinner table, which always should be low enough so your guests can see each other across the table. Don’t forget to keep your favorite candles in good supply. If you’re feeling lazy, an assemblage of unscented pillars at different heights can make a lovely non-floral centerpiece.

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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OVERHEARD “Calling yourself a ‘restaurateur’ because you have an idea for a restaurant is some big local inﬂuencer energy.”

Flower Guy

were permitted to re-open, Dan burst back s the stay-at-home order endures (and just eased as with a brand-new offering: Studio at Home. I’m writing this), I’ve been reflecting on the things Proof that genius extends well beyond his I’ve learned during my 60+ days (mostly) at home. dexterous hands, this new service will deliver beautifully beribboned A really striking one was the importance of creating a space that boxes of long stem, fresh florals ready for you to assemble into your own comforts and soothes. Anyone who knows me well can remember artful arrangement. And seriously, that for the better part of the back to the boxes—they were so previous year I was slogging my pretty that a woman I passed in way through an arduous, top-tomy lobby just gasped “Oh wow” bottom renovation of my condo. as I careened toward the elevators. Mattress on the floor, no funcLike—why don’t I ever get special tioning kitchen, few electrified deliveries like that? lights, everything covered in a Just select a color-palette opthick layer of volcanic ash—the tion (white or vibrant), the size works. The cliché saying goes ($85-300), and you’re off. The something like, “It’s hell, but boxes will arrive, contact-free, you’ll be so glad when it’s all to your doorstep (probably from done!” And it’s true. I felt the their loving delivery-dude exactual fires. But months later, traordinaire, Tony), along with while ensconced in my perch an arranging instruction video to above downtown, with nothing your email. Cue up the video on but views of abandoned streets an iPad or other device, and then and darkened office buildings, get to work. not a day went by that I didn’t As a result of the process, a feel elated to be “trapped” in my couple things surprised me. 1.) personal version of heaven that Just how many flowers are required I’d put so much thought and to make a good arrangement. I energy into. Moral of the stoopened the boxes to amazement, ry: Get your home right. Make thus digging out several large sure your living quarters are ever vases thinking I’d have so many pandemic ready. After all, you Damien Lair gets creative with ﬂowers from Studio Dan Meiners. leftovers. Wrong. Grab yourself never know just how long you one nice-sized vessel and make may be stuck there. one killer arrangement. 2.) After having been haphazardly assembling Also on the topic of cocooning oneself indoors—another thing my own “creations” for weeks, which turned out rather uninspiring, in that got me through, you may ask? Fresh flowers. retrospect, then watching Dan, I was wholly impressed with, not only With virtually all shops on hiatus, I initially had my ultimate design (you can find it on my Instagram), but also my to get somewhat creative with both sourcing and newfound competence and confidence. And, it should go without sayself-arranging. Namely (I’ll be honest): Whole HOT ing that having a variety of incredible, non-grocery store blooms really Foods, Costco, and Trader Joe’s. I’ll also adGOSSIP: helps. The uncommon, thoughtful floral selection you’ll receive is just mit that, while I’ve never really given the Who went on a perfect and the Studio DM team should know. grocery store florals so much as a glance, ﬁrst date the week One final note: you can order as a single delivery/gift, or as an like most things, when in a pinch, you before quarantine, decided ongoing weekly, bi-weekly or monthly subscription, which also encan often surprise yourself with newto hunker down together, titles you to a subscription discount. This was easily the most fun found scrappiness. and are still an item? thing I did all month, and I cannot wait for my next delivery. Send Enter Studio Dan Meiners (cue anme a pic of your creation! gels singing). Once nonessential businesses

JULY 2020

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IN KC

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t’s amazing to me how quickly one can lose track of time, while the world seems to have suddenly stopped. During Mike Lundgren’s intro to the virtual TEDxKC event—which this year I got to watch from the comfort of my sofa (with Minsky’s and Joe’s Kansas City limited edition BBQ pizza in hand/mouth)—I’d forgotten the reason for the initial postponement. No, not the coronavirus. It was, in fact, because the event was originally scheduled for a day that downtown KC was impassable: the Chiefs Super Bowl Championship Parade. Which seems like an eternity ago. How quaint—as Mike pointed out—the challenges of a parade present, in comparison to the dystopia we’re now enduring. But at the same time, reassuringly, the time warping suggests that we’ll all look back one day on this period with a similar distant lens, I hope. And in that spirit, I hunkered down for an evening of streaming inspiration, exploration and thought provocation—via my television. This year’s theme was Invisible: Embrace the Unseen. The three-hour program consisted of eight talks, buffered by two really incredible musical performances by Calvin Arsenia and Jessica Paige. While presenters ranged from an optical physicist to a curator of The World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World’s Largest Things, my favorite (if I must choose one) was Louie Schwartzberg, mega award-winning filmmaker and advocate for the natural world. Louie brought the wisdom and hidden world of nature, invisible to the human eye, by way of his unique time-lapse cinematography, which he has the sole distinction of having been doing continuously and uninterrupted for more than four decades. His recent documentary film Fantastic Fungi, and fodder for a portion of his talk, explores the secrets of the mycelial network—the single-cell root system for budding mushrooms. It is the largest organism on the planet. It is neither animal nor vegetable. It lives everywhere (including inside us). It can fight viruses—penicillin has saved more lives than any other medicine in human history. It can heal, clean, shift consciousness, feed, decompose, and even enable plants to recognize their own kin. Mother trees identify their baby seedlings in the ground and communicate with each other—a fungi-facilitated conversation that’s been ongoing for billions of years. The revealed TED message here: “Communities flourish when we all work together. Life is interdependent. We want and need OVERHEARD emotional connections and experiences. World-care equals self-care. “Those two Immersion in nature increases creativity, kindness, and compassion. could make Because we are nature.” drama out of a As I write, these videos are available for online streaming, with a turkey sandwich.” password provided to original TEDxKC ticket purchasers. Eventually, the videos will become public (likely by the time you’re reading this), so check them out, and create your own TEDxKC night at home. Pizza not included.

JULY 2020

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TILL WE MEET AGAIN

OVERHEARD “Family money?! You could go all the way down to the roots of my family tree, and we’re still poor.”

AS INVITES HAVE SLOWED to an almost nonexistent crawl, you couldn’t imagine how happy I was to receive—for the evening of my quarantine birthday—an invitation to a virtual happy hour celebrating World Cocktail Day. Is it any wonder this “holiday” coincides with my date of birth? Presented by TILL American Wheat Vodka and hosted by Brittany Cole and Katie Van Luchene for IN Kansas City magazine, a group of 30 or so lucky guests gathered in front of computer screens, in the Zoom Brady Bunch grid fashion, and gabbed with cocktails in hand. And not just any cocktails—a very special Rosemary Honey Spritzer, concocted with ingredients (in a tote bag filled with all sorts of other goodies) safely hand-delivered to each guest at home, earlier in the day. How chic! For those unfamiliar, TILL vodka is distilled just outside of Kansas City and is produced from pure Kansas wheat. While not a vodka connoisseur able to pick out a list of obscure top and bottom notes, I am able to say that I found the spirit to be completely smooth and refreshing, and noticeably missing any stinging bitterness you’d recognize in other vodka products. And because it’s made locally, with local grain, that’s honestly pretty cool. Tito’s who? I also gifted bottles to a few homebound friends, who each had similar experiences—so it’s not just me. Oh, and the bottle is attractive, which I’ll confess is just as important (to me) as the contents. A bad mark in either category is disqualifying. So there. I guess you should try it, right? Recipe below. Now, get to shakin’.

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ROSEMARY HONEY SPRITZER (Serving: 1) 1 oz. TILL Vodka ½ lemon, juiced ½ oz. honey 1 sprig rosemary, plus extra for garnish Club soda Lemon slices, for garnish To a shaker filled with ice, add vodka, lemon juice, honey, and rosemary sprig. Shake for 20-25 seconds until combined. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice and top with club soda. Garnish with a lemon slice and rosemary sprig. SPOTTED: Jennifer Janesko, Darcy Stewart, Lee Page, Garrett Toms, Patrick Madden, Cori Culp, Vanessa Zambo, Jenny Kincaid, Anna Petrow, Breeze Richardson, Jenny Wheat, Joni Johnson, Lonita Cook, Michael Tritt, Brecklyn Wright, Tam Singer, Tracie Thomas, JoMarie Bertoncin, Sharon Payne, Sharon Prothe, Laura Morrissey, Eva Tucker, Nicole Capolino

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WH Y H E A LT H Y S L E E P M AT T E R S Sleep disorders such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) create a dramatically increased risk for your child to develop significant health problems as they get older - including heart disease, hypertension, stunted growth, asthma and many behavioral and learning issues. Correcting the problem as soon as possible is key to your childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s optimum awake functioning.

E A S I LY A N D S I L E N T LY Ideally, your child should be able to breathe in this manner through their nose with their lips closed. This is crucial to not just restful sleep but for optimal craniofacial growth and development.

WH AT A B O UT SNORING?

Airway Orthodontics & Your Child Breathing Correctly is Critical to Your Childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Overall Development. It Matters Now More Than Ever.

OVID-19 HAS BROUGHT A LOT OF ATTENTION to something that you likely took for granted before: breathing. Between wearing masks and the stress of our uncertain times, it is important to ensure that our children are breathing properly - especially at night when they are sound asleep. Airway orthodontics helps to identify when your child is experiencing cessation of breathing while they sleep and provides solutions which are crucial for their overall health and well-being.

Occasional snoring is not a concern, however when it is frequent - aside from things such as colds or allergies it could be cause for alarm. Constant snoring or mouth-breathing in a child could mean that their airway is too small or restricted and this can critically affect their body and brain development as well as create health issues that will follow them into adulthood.

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S I G N S O F O B ST R U C T E D B R E AT H I N G M AY INCLUDE:

child’s airway. They will also ask the parent(s) questions about the child’s sleeping habits in order to get a complete picture of what the most effectiveHtreatment be. O RT H O D O N T I C S H E L P S OW A I Rwill WAY

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

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As tooth part oferuption, an orthodontic check-up, the and doctor evaluate your Things such as jaw development thewill structure child’s airway. They will also ask the parent(s) questions about the of your child’s smile are all directly affected by the way they child’s sleeping habits in order to get a complete picture of what the breathe, so based on this evaluation, the doctor can determine most effective treatment will be. what corrective measures are necessary to help your child breathe clearly and avoid health issues in the future. Things such as tooth eruption, jaw development and the structure of your child’s smile are all directly affected by the way they

IF YOU ANSWER “YES” TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS , AIRWAY O RT H O D O N T I C S M AY H E L P YO U R C H I L D :

The best time to see an orthodontist to address a breathing issue is as early as possible - whether they need braces or not.

Things such as tooth eruption, jaw development and the structure of your child’s smile are all directly affected by the way they breathe, so based on this evaluation, the doctor can determine what corrective measures are necessary to help your child breathe clearly and avoid health issues in the future.

As part of an orthodontic check-up, the doctor will evaluate your child’s airway. They will also ask the parent(s) questions about the child’s sleeping habits in order to get a complete picture of what the most effective treatment will be.

clearly and avoid health issues in the future.

YOU awaken ANSWER “YES” ANY OF THESE Does my childIFusually sleepy or tireTO easily? QUESTIONS , AIRWAY O RT H O D O N T I C S Does my child sound “nasally” when speaking? M AY H E L P YO U R C H I L D : Does my child snore frequently? Does my child usually awaken sleepy or tire easily? Does my child have problems focusing at school? Does my child sound “nasally” when speaking? Does my childDoes grind teeth? myhis/her child snore frequently? Does my childDoes get my headaches frequently? child have problems focusing at school? Does my child grind his/her teeth? Does my child get headaches frequently?

A H E A LT H Y, PA I N - F R E E L I F E

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Does my child usually awaken sleepy or tire easily? Does my child sound “nasally” when speaking? Does my child snore frequently? Does my child have problems focusing at school? Does my child grind his/her teeth? Does my child get headaches frequently?

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• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Labored Breathing/Snoring Difficulty in School Bed Wetting S I G N S O F O B ST R U C T E D Ear/Sinus B R E ATInfections H I N G M AY INCLUDE: ADD/ADHD Restless Sleeping • Labored Breathing/Snoring Obesity • Difficulty in School Nightmares/Night Terrors • Bed Wetting • Ear/SinusBehavior Infections Aggressive • ADD/ADHD Mouth Breathing/Snoring • Restless Sleeping Difficulty with Social • Obesity Relationships • Nightmares/Night Terrors Moodiness • Aggressive Behavior Impulsivity • Mouth Breathing/Snoring Lethargy • Difficulty with Social Daytime Tiredness Relationships • Moodiness Short Attention Span • Impulsivity Overlapping Incisors • Lethargy Chronic Allergies • Daytime Tiredness Hyperactivity • Short Attention Span Stunted Growth • Overlapping Incisors Swollen Tonsils • Chronic Allergies Narrow Jaw • Hyperactivity • Stunted High PalateGrowth • Swollen Tonsils Enlarged Adenoids

Dealing with COVID-19 is going to be a part of our daily living for some time. Airway orthodontics is a great way to ensure you do all you can to help your child breathe easier.

Bed Wetting Ear/Sinus Infections ADD/ADHD Restless Sleeping Obesity Nightmares/Night Terrors Aggressive Behavior Mouth Breathing/Snoring Difficulty with Social Relationships Moodiness Impulsivity Lethargy Daytime Tiredness Short Attention Span Overlapping Incisors Chronic Allergies Hyperactivity Stunted Growth Swollen Tonsils Narrow Jaw High Palate Enlarged Adenoids

There are undoubtedly some pediatricians who can recognize when your child is having breathing issues. However, most are generally onD things H OW A I R WAYnot Oexperts RT H O O Nlike T I your C S child’s H E Lairway P S structure or the overall growth of their jaws. An orthodontist specializes in these areas and thus is best equipped to assess what treatment would best As part of an orthodontic check-up, the doctor will evaluate your suit your child’s individual needs.

• • • • • • • • • • •

While a great smile is important, there is much more that your child can gain from orthodontic treatment. An in-depth analysis of their breathing functions is a great way to improve their overall body wellness and brain function.

There are undoubtedly some pediatricians who can recognize when your child is having breathing issues. However, most are generally not experts on things like your child’s airway structure or the overall growth of their jaws. An orthodontist specializes in these areas and thus is best equipped to assess what treatment would best WH AT A B O UT M Y PE D I AT R I C I A N ? suit your child’s individual needs.

A H E A LT H Y, PA I N - F R E E L I F E

WH AT A B O UT M Y PE D I AT R I C I A N ?

Behind the Music

IN KC by

Timothy Finn

Erin McGrane

ew artists in our music community have a resume like Erin McGrane’s. An actress, singer, songwriter, and musician, she has been a member of several heralded live-music ensembles, including Alacartoona. Most notably, her acting history includes a very conspicuous supporting role in the 2009 Oscar-nominated film Up In the Air, starring George Clooney. These days, McGrane is steeped in several arts- and music-related projects, including Victor & Penny, which she started more than ten years ago with her now-husband, guitar virtuoso Jeff Freling. She recently answered questions from In Kansas City about her illustrious career in her adopted hometown and about what lies ahead for her and Victor and Penny.

Your history in the Kansas City music community goes back decades. What are your earliest memories of being a musician/performer in Kansas City? Erin McGrane: I came to Kansas City in the late 1980s to finish my un-

JULY 2020

dergraduate degree in theater-performance at UMKC. I spent my first years focused on theater, performing as an undergrad in academic work. My first professional role in Kansas City was in the chorus of Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Unicorn Theatre. A friend at UMKC introduced me to Eric George, a musician/artist who was in a band, the Psychowelders, and one of the three founders of the arthouse collective, The Human Observation Lab (H.O.L.). I joke that everyone I know today I met through Eric George. Near the end of my college days, I was cast as the lead in a new rock musical, Plan 9 From Outer Space, and Eric was the band leader. It was through my relationship with Eric and exposure to his circle that I moved from the theater to the rock club. I formed a band with some of my friends—Blue Museum—which featured Betse Ellis on electric violin and me on flute and vocals. Blue Museum played about 250 shows, recorded three albums, and made music together from 1990-98. My first appearance on a rock stage in Kansas City was sitting in with The Gin Bankers at Davey’s Uptown. The Bankers played Because I Do

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by X, and I sang Exene’s part. I was hopelessly hooked on rock and roll. How did those days shape and inform you as a performer? Who were some of the people who influenced you most? EM: Coming from a rural town in northwest Iowa, I thought these artists were bold and fearless; their ideas were different than anything I had been exposed to. I soaked up every word, every experience. I was thirsty for the chance to explore ideas and create generative work. I threw myself into it, watching and learning from them. Through these experiences I realized my artistic heart lay in generative, performative work centered around music, rather than the more formal interpretive work of theater. Eric George was undeniably the biggest influence on me artistically. Eric, Leo Wetherill, and Alex Shepherd, the founders of the H.O.L., broke my understanding of performance, music, and art wide open. Anne Winter inspired me to learn more and speak out about injustice through music. Rhonda Francis, the lead singer and lyricist for Psycholwelders, shaped my understanding of the role of women in music and how to use the pen to say more through your lyrics. The popular KC rock bands that were writing their own music and performing it at a high level changed what I thought was possible. Mongol Beach Party was my favorite, but I was inspired by Sin City Disciples, Season to Risk, B.C.R. There were so many great bands that were totally unique. Theresa from Pamper the Madman and the musicians of Frogpond broke barriers. And then there were the performance

artists that came from theater and used their art to raise awareness of injustice. I was a board member of the Coalition Against Censorship, along with Anne Winter and Mark Manning, both of whom had a huge influence on me and challenged me to get out of my comfort zone for the sake of others. Scott Cordes and Lisa Cordes of Eyes Wide Open used performance art to challenge us all to do more. Alacartoona was a genuine ground-breaking force in our music world: equally strong parts of song, musicianship, theater. What do you think of when you recall that troupe? EM: Alacartoona remains my favorite, most challenging, and most satisfying project. It was the perfect amalgam of art, theater, music, and daring. In Alacartoona, I was able to create a character within a world that we imagined. We wrote songs, one-act plays, poems, and performance art that explored facets of these characters and of their flawed human emotions. We were thrilled that so many fans walked through Alacartoona’s doors and into our world. I miss it, honestly. Our last show was December 2012, but even now, not a week goes by that someone doesn’t mention Ruby Falls or Alacartoona to me. In my streaming service Up In The Air is on pretty regularly. If you see it’s on, do you watch it? What is your perspective on that experience—being part of a popular and well-received movie? EM: I generally don’t like to watch myself perform. However, I have

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Behind the Music

IN KC

watched my scene in Up in the Air many times. It was such a great experience top to bottom and I’m proud of my work in the scene. The scene is short but contains a lot of emotional information to convey. I remember something I was taught as an undergraduate actor: there are no small parts. It was exciting. What can I say? It will be a highlight of my life. George Clooney was wonderful, and we stayed in contact for a time after the movie. It was thrilling to watch the Oscars on TV—it was nominated for six that year. I was nervous on set, but I was also ready. I’m proud of the movie and of my work. I remember talking with you and Jeff when you’d decided to make Victor & Penny a full-time pursuit. How does where you are now with this, a decade later, compare with what you hoped or expected it could be? EM: We’re in a really good place with Victor & Penny. We’ve accomplished a lot of the things we set out to do. The last ten years didn’t happen the way we thought it would, but isn’t that life? Some of the goals that we set ten years ago we have achieved, and some don’t seem important anymore. Our priorities have shifted now. We feel satisfied and proud of our work. We both feel ready to stretch again, to change, to reinvent and move toward the next adventure. We’ll always return to Victor & Penny; we love it, and it still brings so much joy. Playing music and creating art with Jeff is one of the best things in my life. But we don’t feel the need to perform 150-200 days on the road a year right now.

There are several couples in this town who are in music projects together. I’m thinking of you and Jeff, Betse and Clarke, Shapiro Brothers (and feel welcome to mention any others). Talk about what being involved in such an intensely creative project requires from two people who are also committed to the relationship outside the music. EM: Working together, creating art together, and making a life together can be overwhelming. I believe it works for us because we were older when we started. We knew who we were and what we needed. Now, we give each other lots and lots of space, and we’re each other’s greatest fans. We have separate rooms/studios/offices in which we work. We have enormous patience with each other, and we have been through so much, nothing fazes us. Supporting each other’s work, listening, giving honest critical feedback: All those things are necessary. How have things changed for women in the worlds of music, theater, and the arts in general? Do you still encounter people and moments where it feels like progress has been stunted or things have regressed? EM: I think entertainment is still a male-dominated field. It’s changing, but it will take more time. It’s better than it used to be, and the #metoo movement has helped us call out some of the wrongs inherent in the system. There is a feeling of solidarity rather than competition among the women artists. I know that I find it encouraging and exciting. The young women coming up today are bold and smart, and they have more resources and knowledge of the world than we did. I can’t

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wait to see the mark they make on the world. The ukulele: You have become a genuine, established player and a teacher, one who started her own academy. Express your love for the instrument. Do you still play your father’s ukulele? EM: I still play my father’s 1951 Hofner ukulele. I have searched for years for a replacement so that I don’t have to take it on the road, but nothing else sounds like it. Its unique tone is crucial to our V&P sound. And I still love it. It’s my most prized possession. When he gifted it to me, my life changed. In terms of the way I play, or my style, I followed what felt right and most natural to me. From the beginning, I knew I wasn’t interested in being a soloist—and Jeff is so gifted there was no need for me to be. What I felt drawn to was the challenge of playing rhythm. I love that rhythm role is often played by men on drums, bass, and piano. Could I do it on ukulele? I liked turning the whole thing on its head: the small instrument known for light strumming and singing holding down the bottom, and the big jazz guitar known for comping and chording, soaring over the top of the music. And how many rhythm ukulele players are there? I wanted to be different, energetic and exciting, like rock and roll for the uke, but rooted in the guitar-duo tradition. My style formed from all the influences in the years before: rock and roll, theater, performance. I’m largely selftaught on ukulele and it is my fourth instrument, so I went with my heart and I learned fast.

What’s in store for Victor & Penny? EM: I hope to play more live shows with our band. We’d like to do targeted touring as we have been for the last few years. More conferences where we present and teach for organizations such as Folk Alliance International and South by Southwest. The Wonderstruck Ukulele Academy we co-founded with our business partner and friend, Danielle Anderson, is a joy every year. It has ukulele in the title, but the immersive weekend we hold in Colorado is focused on creativity, songwriting, and performance, not just ukulele. We have been mentoring younger artists and we want to do more of that. Giving back to our creative community, especially here in Kansas City, is important to us now. We recently raised $20,000 via an online concert for the Midwest Music Foundation to provide cash grants to artists impacted by the pandemic. We see that we can use the V&P platform to raise awareness and bring people together. You are a director and board member of the Heartland Music Project. Explain your role and the role of the project. What will it provide that has been missing from our community? EM: Heartland Song Network was created by Danny Powell and Diana Ennis to provide resources and support for generative musicians in the Midwest region. Those resources encompass financial, networking, educational, structural, industry expertise and more. We had just begun work when the pandemic struck, and we decided to partner with Victor & Penny to raise money for the local musicians. Our ability to pivot quickly gave us a solid launch. Since then, we are full steam ahead,

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Behind the Music

IN KC

providing access to industry professionals we don’t have here, like music supervisors, large booking agencies, etc. through online webinars. What are you working on now? What excites you? EM: I’m interested in continuing my exploration of the intersection of music and theater. I’m working on a new performance, tentatively called Sounds Like A Feeling, which incorporates spoken word, movement, visuals, and musical sound-scaping. Jeff will be the composer and I am writing the text. We debuted several pieces from this work on a live stream for InterUrban Arthouse in April. I haven’t been this excited about a new work in a long time. I hope to see it produced live on stage this fall or winter, depending on the state of the world. I’m also working on a new body of material that is mainly poetry and essays, perhaps a memoir. I’ve been quietly writing for the last couple of years and am just now beginning to bring some of it out into the public. I’m writing a series of essays about growing up in rural Iowa, it’s funny and dark and (mostly) true. I’m editing a large body of poetry and prose about anxiety that I’m very excited about. It’s funny and dark and (mostly) true. I’m returning to work I started a couple of years ago that sprang from the #metoo movement and it’s dark and definitely true. I feel excited and called to write these stories and I’m working weekly with former Kansas poet laureate Caryn Mirran-Goldberg as my editor and writing coach. We’ll see where this all leads, but I’m very excited to bring this new work out into the light.

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Like many artists in our arts/music/entertainment community, you could live and work anywhere if you chose. Why Kansas City? EM: When I worked in Chicago for six years, people from Kansas CIty would ask what I was working on in Chicago—something artistic, they meant. I said that it was in Kansas City that I always did my best, most creative work. Chicago was for making money; Kansas City was for making art. Kansas City is home. Kansas City’s heart is huge. The breadth of talent and the willingness to work together is real. We’re survivors and dark horses. We’re the flyover come-from-behind-ers. We’re the getit-done-ers and the living hopers. We have each other’s back and we’re looking forward together.

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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IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOUR HOME RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

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IN KC

Fashion

TIE ONE ON

As the fashion world goes, so goes swimwear. Jones is seeing lots of tie-dye in vivid colors. Splash some neon tie-dye on this oneshouldered, high-waisted and cut bikini for the best of all worlds. Suit by Becca, one-shoulder top, $69, high-waist bottom, $59, available at Swimwear Solution (Overland Park).

Swim Chic

R. Murphy

ocal pools may be closed, but that won’t deter the sun worshipers in Kansas City. Whether you’re sunning on the patio or running through the kids’ sprinkler, there’s no reason to do it in last year’s suit. We spoke to two experts in all things swim, Nani Nalu founder Jennifer Cermack and Swimwear Solution’s Laurel Jones, about what to look for when you want to beat the heat.

THE NEW CLASSICS

Tie-dye a little too much for you? Cermack suggests earth tones are a stylish way to jog away from black while still flattering everyone. Bonus? Earth tones create a beautiful canvas for statement cover-ups or jewelry. Jets Radiance cutout suit, $235; Enchantment kimono, $187; at Nani Nalu (Country Club Plaza).

JEWEL TONES

Black will always work, but Cermack and Jones agree that the vivid colors of emerald, aqua, and topaz are everywhere this season. Go bold with a Robin Piccone suit in bright ruby to combine comfort and pop. Suit by Robin Piccone, Ava tee, $98; bottom, $78; at Nani Nalu (Country Club Plaza).

MIX IT UP

Jones says that the halter is out—necklines are taking different forms. Swim tops are getting more creative—from cropped bra tops and squared-off tank styles to off-the-shoulder ruffles. On the bottom, the high waist is in, either with a lower-cut, vintage-inspired leg, or with a higher, cheekier leg cut. Combine the two trends in this polka-dot number. Suit by Unique Vintage, rufﬂe top, $69; high-waist bottom, $56; available at Swimwear Solution (Overland Park). JULY 2020

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Look

IN KC Beauty

R. Murphy

The Eyes

Have It

’ll tell you: It’s a bad year to be a lipstick girl. With masks all around, the eyes have it, so it’s time to make the most of it! If you’re tired of the smoky eye and want to mix it up a bit, try one of these three eye trends to turn heads from at least six feet away.

COLOR FLASH

Yes, I know how long it took you to master the subtle cat-eye flick, but now, it’s time to address the lower lash line. Instead of basic black, go for a bold hue like Hot Dang, a chartreuse shimmer, or Shine B!tch, a purple shimmer, both from the new NYX Professional Makeup Vivid Bright Eyeliner line. Pair with black on top or use a complementary bright shade on top. Pride Edition Vivid Bright eyeliner, $7, available at ulta.com. HIT THE CORNERS

Yes, bright everything is in, but how many of us commoners can pull off bright shadow without looking cartoonish? Instead of going over the top, pick a high impact color, and use it only in the inner corners of your eyes. Use a small brush or your pinky to smudge a neon shade in for a pop of unexpected color. Leave the rest of the lid neutral to let the color shine. Any color will work in the Melt Cosmetics Radioactive pressed pigment palette, $48, at sephora.com.

ARCHITECTURAL BROWS?

No protractor required, but structured brows are back. We’ve reined in the bushy eyebrow and finally hit the middle ground between Joan Crawford arch and Frida Kahlo, ahem, expressionism. Check out the new line of brow products from Target—Arches & Halos—to tame your brows. Get everything you need in the brow kit. Arches & Halos Jetsetter brow kit, $29.99, at target.com. JULY 2020

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Wellness

R. Murphy

Night, Night

oes bedtime seem meaningless these days to anyone else? With all that’s going on in the world, insomnia seems commonplace. According to Abid Bhat, a physician at the Sweet Sleep Studio, this acute insomnia is likely tied to current events. Insomnia, whether acute or chronic, means more than just trouble getting to sleep. Other symptoms can include frequent waking, tossing and turning, or waking up before your alarm. These symptoms could be indicative of several different sleep issues, from sleep apnea to tooth grinding. Bhat says while many go straight to medications to solve sleep issues, often drugs mask the symptoms enough that patients won’t find the real source of their problems. Instead, he recommends a few things first. According to his blog, there are a few simple things that everyone can do at home to identify their issues.

with. Include information about your diet, exercise habits, and any other stressors, especially new ones, that might have an impact. PRACTICE MEDITATION

One of the causes of acute or short-term insomnia is stress. Utilizing deep breathing techniques or guided meditation can help to relieve some of the stress so that you can rest. Acupuncture or yoga are other options for stress relief. CALL THE PROFESSIONALS

If your insomnia becomes regular, also known as chronic, then it may be time to see a pro. With the info from your sleep journal, your doctor can discern whether a further sleep study is needed. With a full exam and potential observation, a sleep specialist can find the underlying issues, whether they are physical or psychological.

KEEP A SLEEP JOURNAL

Taking notes about how often you wake, what time you go to sleep, and when you wake up can help a specialist know what you might be dealing

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Good sleep is essential for a healthy lifestyle. So don’t toss and turn; write it down and get back to sleep.

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Shop from the comfort of home

Featured Designer: Richard Lippincott

Come shop with us at maddenmcfarland.com/shop

Living

IN KC

New Source for Outdoor Furniture BY

Stacy Downs

The Addie Adirondack chair is made from recycled plastic bottles and milk jugs.

Yardbird’s Eden Collection has a faux weathered teak ﬁnish on an aluminum frame.

hen it came time to open a new showroom for Yardbird, a Minneapolis-based outdoor furniture company, owner Jay Dillon looked where his customers were coming from. “Kansas City topped the list,” he says. So he opened a showroom in Overland Park. Customers finally got to see the furniture for themselves after stores reopened following COVID-19 orders. Sectionals, dining sets, and fire tables are available in a number of collections, made from wicker sourced from recycled ocean plastic, aluminum and teak. Dillon founded Yardbird on the premise of cutting out the middleperson, dealing directly with material suppliers to keep costs down. So far, the top seller among Kansas City-area customers has surprised him. “Teak,” he says. “Usually that’s more East Coast than Midwest.” yardbird.com

JULY 2020

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Pillows and cushions are covered in Sunbrella performance fabric to prevent fade and wear and tear from the elements.

Right: The Tyler desk chair is covered in an olive velvet fabric.

WFH Wishlist ONE OF THE BENEFITS of working from home is that

Below: The Felix bar cart features three tiers of white marble shelving in an antique brass frame.

some of the creature comforts of domestic life can be blended into the work day. For example, you can light a candle at home while you work! Definitely not something you can do in your cube. So, on the hunt for locally made candles, I stumbled upon Ulah Interior + Design and its new e-commerce store, dressyourhabitat.com. There, I found the brand’s line of cocktail candles including grapefruit radler, mojito, and old-fashioned. And this took me down another rabbit hole: cocktails! Did Ulah also happen to have a bar/coffee cart? I’ve been having so many virtual coffee breaks and happy hours that this seems like an obvious addition to my WFH office. Again, not something most of us can have in a cube. And yes, score! The site has a few different ones to choose from. And then I thought about how it would be nice to have a stylish WFH office chair on wheels to scoot myself over to the cart. Yep, they have lots of options there, too. While purchasing the candle is a no brainer, I’m having a hard time prioritizing bar cart or new chair. Decisions, decisions…

JULY 2020

Inspired by a few classic drinks, ULAH’s Cocktail Collection candles have delectable scents with a twist.

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Living

IN KC by

Stacy Downs

Breezy Summer Bedding

Aubriet Fuchsia linen bedding.

ith our new normal, people are truly turning to their bedroom as retreat space and sanctuary for transformative rest and sleep. We caught up with Ursula Terrasi, owner of Terrasi Living & Scandia Home, to talk about how to make bedding lighter and airier during the hot months of summer. “People are yearning to freshen things up,” she says. “To upgrade, you don’t need to replace everything. Work with you already have and treasure. Add little things you love, like a new color, pattern, or texture in a new set of pillowcases or sheets in the best quality you can afford.” terrasi.com

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Color. “People are loving bold color more,” she says. “It’s uplifting.” Neutral, calming, and simple white or gray sheets are still prevalent, but customers are adding pops of color. Pattern. Abstract, painterly looks—think muted Monet—are popular. Customers are mixing patterns—stripes with florals—in an eclectic style. Fabrics. It’s important to have washable fabrics for your bedding, especially in summer. Cotton, satin, crisp percale, linen. “The cool thing about linen is that it’s supposed to be wrinkled, and it’s casual,” Terrasi says. For summer, she also recommends sheets made from wood fibers because they’re light, airy, and restful. Comforter. Typically, we set our thermostats to 70 degrees all year long so Terrasi recommends all-season down comforters. But sometimes it’s nice to have a lighter comforter in summer, she says, to enhance your sleep.

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TAKING THE PLUNGE THREE TYPES OF IN-GROUND POOLS TO CONSIDER

Interior Design Unique Antiques Accessories

A custom concrete pool by Swim Things.

BACKYARD POOLS are on the rise across the country this year because of the widespread closings of public pools due to the pandemic. The gamut ranges from plastic kiddie pools to in-ground pools that are the centerpiece of the entire backyard. If you’re thinking about making the investment in the latter—typically starting at $25,000 and past $50,000 depending on the type and surrounding landscaping—here are the three types of in-ground pools and their pros and cons. Vinyl. This is the least expensive in-ground option, but there will be more maintenance costs with replacing the liner every five to seven years and cleaning algae from the surfaces. However, there are lots of design options. Fiberglass. Prebuilt by manufacturers, this is the middle cost option. While they don’t have as many customization options, they are available in lots of shapes and sizes. They’re durable and require less maintenance since they’re nonporous. And the installation process can take days as opposed to weeks. Concrete. These are the most expensive pools, but they can be constructed in any shape for a truly custom pool. Considered the most durable, concrete pools can be replastered for extra longevity.

JULY 2020

4759 Rainbow Boulevard, Westwood, Kansas 66205 Phone (913) 362-2912 | Fax (913) 217-7532 Hours: Monday ~ Friday: 11 to 4 - Saturday: By appointment

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www.stevenussltd.com

words by

Cindy Hoedel

photo by

Steven Green

IN CONVERSATION WITH

Diallo Javonne French

ou can hear his smile over the phone. Photographer and filmmaker Diallo Javonne French, 48, captures musicians lost in the pleasure of performing, and when you talk to him, it is clear he’s drawn to joy. Positivity flows from him like a spring. So when the conversation turns to this summer’s painful clashes over racism, his clear-eyed observations, often tempered with gentle laughter, shock like a cold splash of water. He would rather talk about art. French’s intimate black-and-white portraits have been exhibited at the Box Gallery, and one of his short films, Let This Be Love, which was shot in Kansas City, aired on national television. He co-founded the African American Artists Collective, which helps connect painters, textile artists, musicians, filmmakers, photographers, actors, and writers to projects and funding. Four years ago, French produced Kansas City Dreamin’, a 45-minute film about the roots of Kansas City’s music scene. Now he’s dreaming bigger, raising funds to expand that film into a full-length documentary for a national audience about Kansas City’s essential role in the evolution of American music from jazz to soul to hip-hop. (You can help fund the project at gofundme.com/f/kansas-city-dreamin039). You avoid political commentary on your Facebook page. But on June 2nd, you posted “#blacklivesmatter” and made your profile pic a photo of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X shaking hands. Why? I wanted to show their different sides of being an activist. Obviously, Martin Luther King was very non-violent, and he believed in praying for our oppressors and so forth. Malcolm X was actually non-violent as well, but his attitude was more: If you bring violence to me, I’m going to bring violence back at you. I’m kind of in the middle on that. I definitely believe in non-violence and peaceful protesting, but if you smack me in the face, I’m probably going to smack you back. Have you been to the Black Lives Matter protests in Kansas City? I’m almost 50, and I feel like this is a thing of the younger generation, and that’s good. It’s also very encouraging to me that it’s not just African Americans out there protesting. Since I live near the Plaza, my dad called to ask if I was OK, if I was protesting, and I asked him, jokingly,

JULY 2020

“Are you going to go protest?” He said, “No, I’m 70, I’ll let the younger people handle that. I did that already in the ’60s.” But (a few days later) when Trump started talking about “law and order” on TV, my dad called me up and said, “That made me so mad, I almost put on my dashiki and went out there to start protesting.” [Laughs] When you were growing up in the ’70s and ’80s, did your parents warn you about the police? When I was a teenager, about to start driving, my mother sat me down and said, “When the cops pull you over, this is what you do: You keep your hands on the steering wheel, you’re always polite, don’t be a smart ass.” What changed is, there are video cameras now. But it’s been going on forever and ever and ever. I dated a young lady who lived in Overland Park, way out by 170-something street. She was black like me and her dad was a surgeon. They had the biggest house in the neighborhood. She had a bunch of brothers, and she told me how when her brothers were in high school, they were constantly getting pulled over and asked by cops, “What are you doing in this neighborhood?” And for me, in my lifetime, I don’t know the exact stats, but I would say I’ve been pulled over maybe a dozen times and at least ten of those times I was in Johnson County. I rarely get pulled over when I’m in the city. When was the last time you were pulled over? It was either two or three summers ago. I got a ticket for an “unsafe lane change.” [Laughs] I didn’t even know that that was a ticket you could get. I have to tell this story—I have to tell this story. Tell the story. So, he pulls me over. I’m on Shawnee Mission Parkway. I’m thinking, “OK, I wasn’t speeding, my tags are up to date. What is it this time?” He comes up and says, “You made an unsafe lane change.” Then, the first thing he asks me is if I have any weapons in the vehicle. And I said no. And he asks me if my license is suspended. And I’m thinking, “Wouldn’t he look that up?” He gives me the ticket, and I thought, “You know what? I’m fighting this.” So I went to the first court date, where you either pay the ticket or

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plead not guilty. And this is in Mission, Kansas, so when I go to the courthouse, I swear to God everyone that’s in there for a ticket is black. Every single person. And I’m thinking to myself, I’m familiar with the landscape of the city, and I know there’s not a ton of black people that live in Mission, Kansas, and you want to tell me that black people are committing all the traffic violations here? When the judge asked me, “How do you plead?” I said, “Not guilty.” Then the judge basically tried to talk me out of pleading not guilty. He said, “I must warn you, all our cars are equipped with video cameras,” blah blah blah. I said, “That’s fine, let’s do it.” So I come back on my court date, and once again, all the defendants except one white guy, were black. When it’s my turn they show the video, and I’m watching it, shaking my head, thinking, “I don’t know why I’m here.” The prosecuting attorneys were these two younger ladies, looked like they were fresh out of law school. They said, “We have nothing, Your Honor.” They didn’t even try to prosecute the case. Because I was representing myself, I got to cross-examine the cop. I said, “Is it mandatory that the first question you ask is, ‘Do you have weapons in your vehicle?’” He said, “Yes. We do it for our safety. We ask everyone that.” I have never been asked that, and I’ve been pulled over in Mission. [Laughs] It’s bogus. I asked [white] friends I work with that live in the area, and they said they’ve never been asked that when they were pulled over. But when the cop said that in court, the judge backed him up and said to me, “You’re within your rights to ask that question, and the officers are supposed to ask that whether you’re black, white, or green.” He actually said that, the judge. Then he pulls out a driver’s manual and starts telling me how many feet are supposed to be between the cars when you make a lane change and how many seconds your turn signal is supposed to be on. Now, I’ve got my arms folded across my chest and I’m just staring at him while he’s reading this stuff. Then he asks the cop, “What was Mr. French’s demeanor when you pulled him over?” The cop goes, “He was cordial.” Then the judge says, “OK, Mr. French, here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to dismiss this ticket. Just don’t get any similar kind of ticket in the next few months.” [Laughs] And I’m thinking, “What’s my demeanor got to do with it? If I was a jerk, would you make me pay the ticket?” This is my opinion of what happened, and I’ll probably take it to my grave: He was a young white cop. He saw a car with a Missouri tag, and he saw what he thought was a young black man—I look fairly young for my age—and he needs a reason to pull me over. The best thing he could come up with was “unsafe lane change.” To me, it’s pretty clear cut. When cops in Mission, Kansas, see Missouri tags or Wyandotte County tags and a young black face, they’re profiling people. My regret is that I didn’t say that in the courtroom. Do you remember as a child when you became aware that your skin color meant that you were not part of the group that is in charge? As a black person, you always know that. You’re aware of that at a very early age. You’re aware of it almost instantly. I grew up in Wyandotte County, in Kansas City, Kansas. The elementary school I went to was pretty diverse, I had white friends,

JULY 2020

Mexican friends, black friends, and everybody gets along. Because racism isn’t natural, it’s learned. Exactly. And then as you move along through middle school you start hanging out with your black friends more than your white friends, and by the time you get to high school, depending on the school, everything is totally segregated. As a kid, did you experience hatred based on skin color? It happened to me a couple of times when I would be walking home from Coronado Middle School by myself, down Parallel [Parkway]. I was about 12 years old, and a car full of what looked like white, male teenagers would drive by and they would yell out the car, “N*gger!” and “Spook!” I remember thinking how cowardly it was that I’m on foot and they’re in a car and yelling that stuff as they drive by. Over the course of your life, has your conception of how you as a black man should move around in this racially biased society changed? Yes. I was blessed to be able to go to college in Atlanta in the mid-’90s. I only lived there for three years, but it changed my life drastically. The two cities in America where African Americans do the best economically are Atlanta and Washington, DC. There are more black millionaires in Atlanta than in any other city. Living there was very inspiring. I majored in communications, radio, TV and film. My goal was to direct music videos. I never directed a video for a major artist, but I got to work in and learn the industry. A big producer, Kim Moye, hired me as an intern and then started paying me to make music videos with groups like TLC and OutKast and Goodie Mob. At the time, my mother was ill, and I’m her only child, so I came back here to help with her. She had scleroderma and died at age 54. That was in the late ’90s, around the time of Kansas City’s kind of rebirth, when they rebuilt the Jazz District and the Jazz Museum and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. I got a job as the events coordinator at the Jazz Museum, which is how I got into jazz photography. I was around all these guys and as a hobby I started photographing them, and then musicians started using the pictures I took. Bobby Watson told me, “You’re documenting our current music scene,” and I started to take it more seriously. Then I did a short film, May This Be Love, that aired on BET. How did your time in Atlanta change how you experience Kansas City? There’s a sort of cultural belief in Kansas City, not among black people, but among white people, that the city is not that racist because we don’t have as many incidents as you hear about in other places. But that’s not the case. I think Kansas City is more racist than many places. How so? It’s not like in the South where it’s in your face. It’s really subtle. Because the city is so segregated. Exactly. It’s terrible. There are probably [white] people that have lived here most of their life that have never or only very rarely been east of Troost. I believe that every job you have teaches you something. From

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2012-2015, I was a full-time limousine driver for Overland Limousine Service. It’s a pretty good company, family owned and one of the biggest in the city. They deal in corporate accounts. They drive the Royals, the Chiefs, and Hallmark and Cerner and so forth. They drive the majority of the celebrities when they’re in town. I got to drive Paul McCartney and other celebrities around. But 85 percent of the time, you’re just picking up people from the airport and taking them to their house. Most of the clients we had lived in Johnson County. And it’s interesting to see how they think. I remember one guy straight up said he was moving here from another city, and his coworkers at the office told him he should look for a place to live in Mission Hills, Prairie Village, and Leawood, in that order. He asked me my opinion, and I said, “Those are nice areas but there’s not much diversity.” Then he said a co-worker told him that they have a saying here that “If you’re on Prospect, you’re a suspect.” He said this to me! I was like, “I wouldn’t necessarily say that. My grandmother lives a few blocks from Prospect, and I survived. I’m pretty sure you could drive down Prospect right now and you wouldn’t die.” [Laughs] But this is the mindset, you know, of the people I was driving around every day. And they weren’t necessarily bad people, but they’re in their own little bubble. What makes you not move immediately back to Atlanta? It’s funny that you ask me that, because my dad asks me that at least weekly. [Laughs] So here’s the thing: Every black person can’t live in Atlanta. A lot of people that are from Kansas City or St. Louis or Cleveland who think outside the box and have a broader mind end up leaving and moving to Atlanta or New York or LA or Chicago, and our cities get left behind. My attitude is, how can I make Kansas City better by staying here? Atlanta doesn’t need me. I want to make a documentary film on a national scale to show that Kansas City isn’t just flyover country. People on the coasts think we all live on farms and have cattle and that it’s like Mayberry. When I lived in Atlanta, I’d tell people I’m from Kansas City, and they’d say, “There are black people in Kansas City?” That’s the mentality other people have about our city. But without Kansas City, jazz would not have evolved. Kansas City is important to the evolution of rock and roll through Big Joe Turner, people don’t know that. We’re an important piece of this American pie. Do you have a dream for Kansas City? Yeah. We’ll never be like Atlanta, because we don’t have the number of African Americans here, and also Atlanta at one point had four historically black colleges—one closed, so they still have three. I always think of Kansas City, in my mind, as being like this tiny version of Chicago that the rest of the country doesn’t seem to know about. I think that the powers-that-be want to keep it that way. What do you mean? We all know that this city is run by a handful of wealthy families. I think it’s very intentional that the image of the city is cows and farms and wheat. Once when I was driving one of “the ladies,” I won’t say her name, to her huge home in Mission Hills, I was talking about how peo-

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Musicians Bobby Watson, Gerald Dunn, Matt Hopper. Photograph by Diallo Javonne French.

ple don’t know what a jewel we have here in Kansas City and she said, “Good, stay away. We don’t want them to come here.” That’s the mentality—if Kansas City becomes like an Atlanta, they won’t really have the power over this city that they’ve had for a hundred years or so. You are friends with Academy Award-winning screenwriter Kevin Willmott of Lawrence, whose work is highly political, but your films are not political. What is your thematic interest? This is going to sound really sappy, but my films are love stories at their core. Not just romantic love but love of being an artist and of music. I have a lot of respect for guys like Kevin and Spike Lee, because they make more socially conscious films, and we need those types of films. [Pause] I don’t know where this love thing came from for me, but everything that I do centers around that. And I’m a person that’s never been married, doesn’t have any kids. So, I don’t know, maybe I’m not jaded on love like the average person is. Maybe that’s my contribution.

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Interview condensed and minimally edited for clarity.

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Left: The Carvers’ Guild “Chantilly” mirror reﬂects Plaza views. Below: Interior designer Leann Lynn. Opposite: In the living room, a Century chenille-upholstered sofa, a cotton velvet-upholstered lounge chair, and two diminutive club chairs (left) frame a marble-topped coffee table to create a cozy seating area.

French Twist

eidra and Randy Parman have been drawn to the Country Club Plaza since their first date. “We grew up in northwestern Missouri but met after college,” says Deidra Parman. “Our first date was at an Italian restaurant on the Plaza, but we later lived in Omaha and Des Moines. Our daughter lives in Kansas City, and we had been thinking about turning our investment condo, which we had rented, into a home here.” Randy is vice president of an agricultural chemical and fertilizer business. Deidra is a former employee-benefits professional. The couple also has a

INTERIOR DESIGNER LEANN LYNN OF MCCROSKEY INTERIORS PUTS A GALLIC SPIN ON A PLAZA PIED-A-TERRE Judith Fertig PHOTOS BY Aaron Leimkuehler WORDS BY

JULY 2020

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Left: A gilded high-backed settee is the focal point of the entry. Opposite: The marble foyer floor and the white-oak herringbone parquet throughout the rest of the home are original to the condo. Lynn had the parquet, which had been stained a deep brown, sanded and white-washed.

second home at Lake of the Ozarks. When they wanted to revamp their condo in The Hemingway on the Plaza, built in 1929, they drew on European inspiration. They asked Leann Lynn of McCroskey Interiors to design a home “with a little Paris,” Parman says. But McCroskey didn’t go French country or French chateau. She married the couple’s love of casual elegance and classic design to Directoire with modern panache. The Directoire style, evoking Neoclassical design in everything from clothing to the decorative arts, celebrated the redesign of French life in the late 1700s. The hallmarks of Directoire—simple

lines, antiqued metals, luxury materials, and classical motifs—still work brilliantly today. The palette begins with a soft French gray—Benjamin Moore’s Grant Beige—on the kitchen cabinets, while a creamy white was specified for the paneled walls. “I love how this color changes throughout the day,” Lynn says. A round marble-topped table with slender, curvy legs greets guests in the entry hall. At the end of the hallway, a sleek white settee with gilded trim sits below a moody canvas of blues and grays. Above the foyer table hangs a large-scale lantern. The open plan design allows all the public areas to flow together.

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“I like to design my own kitchens,” says Lynn. This one accommodates the couple’s love of entertaining with two islands, one for a bar with a wine fridge, the other for prep, each topped with Calacatta Vagli marble. “I saw the slabs and fell immediately in love,” says Lynn. A gold-framed mirror with antiqued glass, which the couple already owned, fit perfectly at the end of one island. Walker-Zanger lozenge-shaped tile forms the backsplash behind an elegant black range hood. The dining room space holds a large Hickory Chair armoire, with burnished metal trim, to store china and table linens. The modern chandelier takes traditional crystal elements to a new place, while the hobnailed dining chairs hark back to ancient Greek klismos style. “We were just happy it all fit,” says Lynn. “It was important that my husband could put his feet up on the coffee table, even wearing cowboy boots,” Parman says with a laugh. And so Lynn found one with an antique-looking brown and ivory marble top. Cut-velvet ottomans can move wherever they’re needed. Binoculars on the living room windowsill are for people watching and taking in the panorama of the Plaza. “My husband loves it,” Parman says. “A glass of wine, the lights of the city, the view. We never get tired of it.” A guest bedroom with pocket doors is swathed in brown and cream “Acanthus” wallpaper by Schumacher. An antiqued metal chandelier from Visual Comfort channels the French love of hot air balloons. In the master bedroom suite, Lynn carved out space for a large closet and an office area. A textured Phillip Jeffries square-patterned grasscloth on the walls adds depth to the ivory and gilt surfaces. Nubby silk draperies grace the windows. A chest of drawers is wrapped in linen for a nubby finish. A sunburst mirror hangs over the bed. Overhead hangs a spec-

A gilded and beaded Niermann Weeks chandelier accented with a rock crystal drop pendant hangs above the dining table.

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Two capacious islands topped with Calacatta Vagli marble mean plenty of counter space in the open kitchen. Brass pendants are from Visual Comfort.

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Texture and subtle neutrals define the master bedroom. Linens from Terrasi Home grace the HIckory Chair bed.

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Left, top: Calacatta Vagli marble tops the custom double vanity in the master bedroom. Fixtures are by Kohler. Left, below: The brass bed in the guest bedroom is a family piece. Above: Lynn was able to tuck a home office between the living room and the master bedroom. Silk-velvet upholstered stools provide extra seating.

tacular chandelier beaded with crystal. “Everything was about texture here,” Lynn says. In the master bath, Lynn designed the sconce to attach to the center of the mirror for an unexpected touch that reflects double the light. “I sleep better here than anywhere else,” claims Parman. “It’s so quiet. And I know everything has been designed for our comfort.” A deep bench at the foot of the bed is the perfect spot for watching the morning news. And right there is the tiny bedroom table for her coffee cup. That’s the power of good design.

THE IT LIST Interior Design Leann Lynn mccroskeyinteriors.com Contractor Ostby Construction 816-217-6017

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Rugs Rug Studio rugstudio.com

EVERYDAY HEROES Kristy Leahy and her parents Jim & Karen Whitehead

ou know what they say—the family that essentials together, stays together. Such was the case for the Whitehead family whose daughter Kristy was on the frontlines of the pandemic as an ICU nurse at Advent Health Shawnee Mission. “She would talk to me frequently on the phone and I could tell at times she was exhausted and at times rather down and heartbroken due to the increase in deaths on her ICU unit,” says her mom Karen. “[Kristy] found herself being stretched from being the great nurse she is to taking the place of family who were not allowed visitation at such an extreme time.” Karen, meanwhile, was a physical therapist working mainly in senior facilities under strict lockdown. With so many people depending on her, she was determined to be of service—despite an ever-evolving healthcare landscape. “Things at work were confusing. Some days my temperature was taken up to five times a day. It seemed like each and every day would bring different information and guidelines that changed how and what we needed to do,” she says. “Unfortunately, in attempts to keep them safe

FROM TIRELESS FIRST RESPONDERS TO AN ENTIRE BRIGADE OF ESSENTIAL WORKERS, PEOPLE CAME TOGETHER LIKE NO OTHER WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT KANSAS CITY IN LATE MARCH. WE SCOURED THE METRO TO FIND HEROIC FOLKS WITH STORIES YOU MAY NOT OF HEARD. WE’RE SHARING JUST A FEW OF THEIR STORIES WORDS BY

Michael Mackie

Roy Anderson Ryan Maybee Kristy Leahy

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and follow guidelines, they had to become detached from some of their families and safety nets they heavily relied on.” Whitehead patriarch Jim, meanwhile, was busy holding down the fort as a plant manager for a facility that manufactures plastic packaging. His 90+ employees depended on him to help keep them safe. “His facility has been going strong due to the high increase in demand for cleaning and sanitizer products,” Karen says. “Employee safety was the overriding concern and many new practices were implemented in order to keep the staff safe and comfortable coming to work on a daily basis.”

Roy Anderson

or weeks on end, Roy Anderson was a veritable touchstone for many people in the community as the main driver for Truman Medical Center’s Healthy Harvest Mobile Market. His job was multifaceted. First and foremost, as a driver he ensured fresh produce was delivered to people in need, but he was also a cashier, support ops, and played a large role in assisting with mobile COVID-19 testing sites with Truman’s wellness van. “I was hesitant at first, but if we’ve got all the tools to be safe—I thought let’s do it,” he says. “The community needs us and Truman likes to be in the community. My team is wonderful. Me going to work is like a pastime—it’s not even work.” His team is just as complimentary of him. “People have been so excited to see him,” says Niki Lee Donawa, TMC’s chief community relations officer. “Who wouldn’t want to have someone bearing nutritious gifts when there isn’t a grocery store within five miles of their home? He’s become a lifeline for so many in this community during this pandemic and TMC couldn’t

have done it without him.” Anderson doesn’t take his job for granted either. He knows what he’s doing is making a difference by reaching a broad swath of food insecure folks in the community. “I just love helping people—and people realize that,” says Anderson who then reminded everyone reading this the importance of still wearing masks, gloves, and adhering to all important safety tips. Once a caregiver, always a caregiver, it would appear.

Ryan Maybee

he pandemic was Defcon One for J.Rieger and Co. That may have something to do with the fact that 80 to 90 percent of the company’s business is done through bars and restaurants, says Ryan Maybee, the vice president of sales and hospitality at the well-known distillery/drinkery. “So our revenue essentially went to zero overnight with everything closing,” he says. Their world-class new distillery—which had just opened a mere nine months earlier—also promptly closed up shop putting “the jobs of 60 to 70 people at immediate risk.” For the team at Rieger and Co., it was a terrifying time. “We all had to frantically come up with a plan to stop the bleeding. The possibility of furloughing the majority of our company was real, but it was the last thing that we wanted to do,” says Maybee. “We had to act fast to come up with a plan.” The plan? Pivoting on a dime to start producing and bottling hand sanitizer. “Real talk, it was a blur,” says Maybee. “We weren’t the first to do it, but we were definitely early, and how quickly we ramped up our production capacity still blows my mind today. The formula is relatively CONTINUED ON PAGE

CONTINUED ON PAGE

Natasha Kirsch

Maxﬁeld Kaniger Michael Foust

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Learn to Play an Instrument With Remote Music Lessons If YouTube tutorials aren’t quite enough to advance your musical talents, may we suggest you head back to school? The School of Rock, that is. Students of all ages (yes, even adults), can learn the ins and outs of the guitar, piano, drums, bass, or their own vocal talents remotely during one-on-one lessons with local instructors from the music school, which has locations in Overland Park, Parkville, and Lee’s Summit. For those more interested in listening to live music than playing it, the Kansas City Symphony has been hosting regular weekend streaming concerts. Many local artists are also taking to their feeds to perform, so make sure you’re following your faves. schoolofrock.com

Plan a Driving Tour of KC Sites All those colorful murals you see on Instagram? Now is the perfect time to check them out IRL, along with other Kansas City landmarks, whether it’s the iconic fountains or historic architecture. Do a little research, craft your itinerary and hit the road. Our suggestions: The “Kansas City I’m So in Love” mural at 20th and McGee Streets in the Crossroads, the majestic Henry Wollman Bloch Fountain between Union and Station and Liberty Memorial choreographed with an ever-changing pattern of displays, and Kansas City’s first skyscraper, the neoclassic-style New York Life Building on West 9th Street.

Visit a Local Farm (virtually) Everything you’ve ever wanted to know about life on the farm is just a Zoom call away, courtesy of Storm Dancer Farm’s virtual visits. The Smithville-based operation is home to poultry, sheep, and cattle, plus lots of adorable goats you can get up close and personal with—from a safe and smell-free distance. Options for video visits include a full farm tour, a custom lesson on the topics of your choice, or an in-depth look at how the farm uses goats to help control weeds and brush in a low-emission, highly entertaining way, but the crew is also happy to accommodate other ideas. stormdancer.com/virtual-visits

Fun (Social-Distancing) Things To Do IN Kansas City

THIS SUMMER LOOKS A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE ENVISIONED WHEN WE WERE SHIVERING AND DREAMING OF SUN BACK IN JANUARY. BUT SOCIAL DISTANCING NEED NOT KEEP YOU AWAY FROM FUN. CELEBRATE THE SUMMER AND STAY SAFE WITH THESE TEN IDEAS THAT SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES AND GIVE YOUR STREAMING SERVICES A MUCH-NEEDED BREAK..

Get Creative With Crane Yard Clay Chalk drawings are cool and all, but Crane Yard Clay can help your family up its art game. The store is selling paint-at-home kits that come with pottery pieces to decorate, brushes, glaze colors and instructional ideas. Once you’re done painting, bring them back to Crane Yard Clay to have them fired. Within a week, the food- and microwavesafe pieces are ready for pick up and use. Crane also makes kits for kids, complete with low-fire clay so they can get their hands dirty and let their imaginations run wild. For a more in-depth pottery education, check out a variety of classes taught via zoom for just $15. kcclay.com JULY 2020

WORDS BY

Kelsey Cipolla

Get Cooking With the Culinary Center of Kansas City Staying inside is a whole lot more fun when you’ve got delicious food to eat. The Culinary Center of Kansas City is here to help, offering live classes online so you can perfect your skills without leaving the house. Once you’ve registered for a class, expect a link to a private Facebook group and a list of the ingredients you’ll need to get cooking. Online classes scheduled for this summer include Cajun favorites and an intriguing cheese-making workshop but check the website for the latest and greatest offerings. kcculinary.com

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Pull up to the Boulevard Drive-In You don’t even have to leave the comfort of your car to take in a show at the Boulevard Drive-In Theatre. The iconic local cinema reopened for the season with new policies to keep guests safe—the concession stand is closed, so pack your own treats accordingly. The pause on big screen releases means the lineup includes classic films like The Big Lebowski and Monty Python and the Holy Grail along with more recent hits. But regardless of what’s showing, the drive-in experience is a joyful throwback to simpler times. Bonus: Kids 11 and under always get free admission. boulevarddrivein.com/wordpress

Picnic Like a Pro Pack a basket filled with local goodies and switch up your dining scenery with a good oldfashioned picnic. The French Market, Better Cheddar, and Ibis Bakery are among our gotos when it comes to food, but what about the booze? Loads of local bars and restaurants are now offering bottled cocktails, and you also can’t go wrong with a bottle of wine. Westonbased Vox Vineyards offers curbside pickup of their vino made with Midwest heritage grapes, and during select events, guests are encouraged to bring a picnic with them to enjoy at the vineyard. Beyond providing a scenic setting, the vineyard is set up with interactive tasting stations positioned throughout which allow guests to learn about grape details, tasting notes, and more. voxvineyards.com

Hire an Ice Cream Truck For Your Neighborhood Few things conjure up the feeling of summer like the tune of an ice cream truck and the glee that follows. Recreate the experience on your terms by bringing Melt Box KC to your neighborhood and marvel at the upgraded treats. No half-melted drumsticks or slightly deformed popsicles here. Instead, the ice cream food truck serves up flavors like loaded French toast, chocolate cherry bomb, and matcha green tea in addition to the classics with an array of toppings and sauces. The sweet treats are available in a cup or the truck’s special “Melt Monster.” The signature item is a sweet bun stuffed with ice cream, sealed, and topped with your sauce of choice. meltboxkc.com

Take It Outside Make a KC Bingo Card to Celebrate All Things Local From owning a piece of swag celebrating every Kansas City pro sports team to finally trying that one barbecue spot you’ve never made it to, KC is full of opportunities that might blend into the background during daily life. But not this summer. Craft a bingo card filled with local activities you’ve always wanted to do and make exploring the city and supporting local businesses into a game of discovery. If that sounds like too much work, Visit KC has crafted its own downloadable card, which includes DIY crafts with help from Hallmark and tuning into the Kansas City Zoo’s 24/7 animal cams. (Staying at home and washing your hands is the free space, naturally). visitkc.com JULY 2020

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When all else fails, take a hike. Powell Gardens is open to the public with advanced timed tickets to ensure appropriate safety measures are implemented. While you’re there, check out the seven spectacularly themed gardens, a summer exhibition highlighting the transformative power of play, and snacks and beverages by chef Michael Foust. Looking for something on the other side of the state line? The Overland Park Arboretum boasts almost six miles of paved and wood-chipped trails in addition to peaceful gardens. Wherever you are, city parks and trails are open across the metro to offer a break from familiar surroundings and a breath of fresh air. opkansas.org/recreation-fun/arboretum-botanicalgardens and powellgardens.org

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Easy Breezy A CEDAR CREEK COUPLE RELIES ON INTERIOR DESIGNER AMY THURSTON TO CREATE A HOME AWASH IN A SOFT PALETTE OF NEUTRALS

Judith Fertig Aaron Leimkuehler

WORDS BY PHOTOS BY

Left: Taj Mahal quartzite wraps the living room fireplace. “Keeping the scale of the room in mind, we supersized the panel tongue and groove on the fireplace wall,” says Thurston. Flowers from Randy Neal Floral Design. Above: A Sonneman contemporary light fixture hangs over the Jennifer Janesko quartet of paintings in the staircase.

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he grass really was greener on the other side. After happily living in a 1996 Frank Lloyd Wright-style home on the south side of Cedar Creek, Miles and Paula Schnaer were ready to simplify. They found property they liked and decided to build a new home on the north side, right on the golf course. With two grown daughters and a 14-year-old grandson, they imagined a family-friendly space to entertain. The couple, who own Toyota and Volkwagen dealerships in Lawrence as well as Schnaer Family Wines in St. Paul, Oregon, called in designer Amy Thurston to help stage their Prairie-style home to sell. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Amy understood my vibe right away,â&#x20AC;? says Paula Schnaer. When the old house sold, Thurston helped design the

Above: In the kitchen, the hood is clad in a subtle, three-dimensional diamond panel treatment. Cabinetry by K.C. Custom Cabinets. Right: Interior designer Amy Thurston. Opposite: Hanging over the dining table is a blackened extruded-brass pendant from Mr. Brown London. Flowers from Randy Neal Floral Design.

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Above: The lower level of the home mimics the layout of the main level. Furnishings from Seville Home. Opposite: Behind the bar, the glass door to the wine cellar displays the logo for the family’s Schnaer Winery.

new house, with ideas and input from Sean Oberg and Angela Arnone-Orel of Starr Homes. “It was wonderful,” says Schnaer. “Miles and I went to Florida for four months and when we came back in May—after lots of FaceTiming and back-and-forth with Amy—our new house looked perfect.” When you live on the fifth hole of Shadow Glen, that’s just how you like it. “I go out on the lanai with coffee in the morning and watch the sun come up—it’s my favorite time of day,” she says. “By late afternoon, it’s time for a glass of wine from our wine cellar.” To create the calm and laid-back retreat the couple wanted, Thurston introduced neutrals, unlike their previous home which was full

JULY 2020

of color. “We kept everything neutral and put pattern in fixed areas,” Thurston says. “We limited materials so the look is more soothing. We started with Taj Mahal quartzite counters for the open-plan kitchen and that drove the color palette.” The low maintenance, caramel and cream quartzite also functions as a backsplash. Thurston used black to accent and punctuate, so the house didn’t float in a sea of cream. In the living room, Schnaer’s collection of African baskets flanks the fireplace dressed with horizontal planks. Textured armchairs swivel and the cocktail table hides extra pull-out seating. On the staircase wall, a grouping of paintings by Kansas City artist

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Far left: A pair of hanging pendants from Visual Comfort flank the RH bed upholstered in shagreen-embossed leather. Flowers from Randy Neal Floral Design. Left: Custom cabinetry in the master bathroom echoes the subtle three-dimensional diamond detail of the kitchen cabinets. Bottom left: In the first-floor powder room, Sherwin Williams paint in Software picks up the cool hues of the Blue Azure quartzite countertop. Bottom right: A wall of 12-inch by 24inch three-dimensional porcelain tile accented with brass rivets is backdrop to the circular motif of the lower-level powder room.

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Jennifer Janesko draws the eye. In the master bedroom, a soft palette emphasizes texture and tone; Thurston used velvet, linen, shagreen, and silk. The master bath, walk-in-closet, and laundry room combination make Schnaer’s heart beat a little faster. “I’m a neatnik, and the open concept is still growing on me. But I love that within five feet, I can take off, wash, dry, and hang up our clothes.” The powder bath shows off a vessel sink surrounded by Azul quartzite from Brazil. On the lower level, a wine cellar with a window wrapped in walnut allows wine tastings within its cool confines or out at the bar. Instead of showing rows of bottles against traditional stone or wood, Thurston chose antiqued mirrors, which add a rich gleam. Nearby, with a view of the fifth hole, a game table under a pendant like a jester’s hat is all about fun. “Every time I walk in the house, I just sigh. It’s so soothing,” says Schnaer. That’s how it was designed to be.

The main floor lanai overlooks the fifth hole of the Shadow Glen golf course.

THE IT LIST Construction Starr Homes starrhomes.net Flowers Randy Neal Floral Design randynealfloral.com

www.classickitchenskc.com

Interior Design www.classickitchenskc.com

now featuring

Amy Thurston Interiors + Creative amy-thurston.com

now featuring

Lighting Wilson Lighting wilsonlighting.com

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everyday heroes continued from page

simple, but it was new territory for us, and I don’t think any of us really had any idea just how big the demand would become.” The result? On the first day the company announced via social media about their new product line, they had a line of cars stretching more than two miles. “It was madness. But by the third day—while that demand did not subside—the word had spread to the point of us receiving requests from all over the metro for massive quantities for hospitals, essential services, labs, and first responders. It was all we could do to keep up with that demand.” The hand sanitizer was a bona fide hit and best of all, “We were able to keep everyone employed and get through the worst part of it,” he says. Maybee is hopeful that by July, the distillery’s public spaces might be back open. Just maybe, says Maybee. “We have to rethink the guest experience at our distillery and ensure that we’re taking all the necessary precautions while also continuing to provide the highest levels of hospitality,” he says. “This experience has changed our company and the people involved with it forever.”

Michael Foust

long with other notable chefs in the metro, Foust was one of the first to jump on the communal kitchen, pay-what-you-can approach to dining. His restaurant Black Sheep + Market shifted gears early on in response to the pandemic to ensure no one went hungry. “Our restaurant has always tried to build strong ties to the community,” says Foust. “Our signature meal became a grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup, a fresh salad and a cookie.” For more than a decade, Foust has strived to create a more equitable, sustainable food system, and this was just another proverbial notch in his culinary belt. But knowing that the restaurant industry won’t be resuming to “normal” anytime soon, Foust has started a new initiative. “While the staff and I may be opening the Black Sheep dining room back up, we realize the pandemic is not over and there are people who are still going to be hungry,” he says. “Going forward, I’m really excited to continue working with Chef Collective KC, a partnership formed during the past few months with an amazing team of players who have been working on community kitchen projects of their own.” (The group includes Howard Hanna of The Rieger, who created Crossroads Community Kitchen, and Brandon Winn, formerly of Webster House.) The Chef Collective KC’s commissary kitchen (headed up by Winn) has been making more than 2,000 meals a week from inside Foust’s food truck—quirkily named Ethel. “The goal is to ramp up to 10,000 a week by the end of June, then 50,000 and eventually 100,000.” Foust and team hope to roll out their philanthropic approach to a regional, then national audience. “Right now, we’re continuing to beta test a model that we’re hopeful can create a new distribution system that reduces waste while feeding more people,” he says. By the time you read this, Foust hopes to have returned Black Sheep back to dining room service, “but now we’ll require reservations and a mask,” he says. “We’re also branching out, adding food service at Powell Gardens. And we’re really excited to welcome Rachel Rinas of Karbón to be our sous chef at the restaurant for a few months.”

JULY 2020

Natasha Kirsch

alk about a pet project! Natasha Kirsch’s The Grooming Project—which is now in its fourth year—found success as a not-forprofit school that taught poor and homeless moms and women the trade of dog grooming. Moreover, it also helped participants navigate life skills— everything from parenting to job readiness to finances. But then when the pandemic hit, everything changed. Kirsch was understandably worried. She says, “We had just helped our graduates get off welfare and now their jobs were on hold with no pay,” she says. Thanks to a rally of financial support, students were able to receive emergency funding—including “$500 of emergency funding to each family in our graduate program as well as current students.” Chrome books were also provided for each student to switch to online classes. But the support didn’t stop there. Kirsch mentions a local student home from college who “made care packages for all of our students that included gift cards, lotion, socks, female products, and even cash!” They’re getting back to business at The Grooming Project, but now see their furry clientele curbside. Kirsch is breathing a sigh of relief. “All of our graduates have gone back to their jobs, and the demand for pet grooming has skyrocketed,” she says. “We are booked out over two months at the school. We are still hoping our students, graduates, and staff stay healthy.”

Maxfield Kaniger

hen the pandemic hit in March, it was all hands on deck for the team at Kandbe’s Market, an organization that focuses on getting fresh fruits and veggies to the metro’s food deserts. Just a couple months prior, the organization had moved into a gorgeous new warehouse which turned out to be a wonderful resource, says Max Kaniger. The organization swiftly found themselves with almost more donations from wholesalers than they could handle. To say they’ve increased their output would be an understatement. Before the pandemic they were distributing 6,000 to 8,000 pounds of produce. “In the past couple of weeks, we’ve increased to over 100,000 pounds—and we’ve added a few new drivers,” he says. Even though the coronavirus left Kaniger’s head “spinning,” feedback they’ve received over the last couple of months has been gratifying. They’re now distributing to nearly 60 different worthwhile organizations. “People are happy that we’re able to jump in, support and help,” he says. Thanks to the USDA’s Farmers to Family Food Box program, which was launched in April, Kaniger was able to get even more food in the hands of folks who need it. The 25-pound boxes are filled to the brim with a variety of fresh fruits and veggies—and occasionally a smattering of dairy products. The ingenious, successful (and ever-evolving) program was extended past its initial six-week run, which gave Kaniger’s team an opportunity to “get a lot of food out into the community—three or four semi-trucks a week.” Given the popularity of the Food Box program, it’s been a lot of work for Kaniger and crew, but the results have been amply rewarding. “That’s what we do. It was time to step up,” he says. “The gap has been there for a while, but we would not be able to feed people the way we are without that program.”

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We Are Kansas City SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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LORAX DESIGN GROUP

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PORTFOLIO KITCHEN & HOME

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From Rome to Kansas City: Four generations of fine jewelry

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Now, more than ever, the importance of shopping local can’t be overstated. As the city begins to reopen, we wanted to find a creative, thoughtful way to spotlight local companies for you. To support our community and the amazing people and businesses that make it #KCStrong, we’ve included this special section to showcase some homegrown Kansas City businesses. Please support local, shop local, and dine local.

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Your success with rehabilitation is our top priority!

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DR. C. LAN FOTOPOULOS

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KARIN ROSS DESIGNS Bringing European tradition & design to your home

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We Are Kansas City

MAZZARESE JEWELRY

From Rome to Kansas City: Four Generations of Fine Jewelry Ever since Antonio Mazzarese and his family established a workshop on the fashionable Via Condotti, just above the original Gucci store, the Mazzarese tradition has combined the highest level of personal customer service with jewelry collections of superior quality and value. We travel the world to select pieces and collections unavailable elsewhere. A respectful attitude towards the client, the raw materials, and the art of fine jewelry is at the core of Mazzarese. From imported collections to in-house custom designs, Mazzarese pays particular attention to detail, craftsmanship, and quality. Aside from the exquisite jewelry, our customer service and giving back to the community is of the utmost importance to us. Mazzarese has a proud and long history with over 40 years in the Kansas City community. As a family-owned business, we strive for customer loyalty and satisfaction. Stop by the store, call ahead to arrange for a private appointment, or arrange for curbside pickup or personal delivery to your home or office.

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LORAX DESIGN GROUP

Let Us Transform Your Dreams Into Reality Kansas City Missouri Infinity Edge is a classic composition with a contemporary spin. Our design challenge was to blend a clean, contemporary pool design into a historically correct home. The rectilinear pool and the selection of natural stone melds the design together. Thermally-flamed Pennsylvania Bluestone and warm Kansas limestone (as seen in the eased edge coping and the honed, linear veneer and cladding) provide a simple but striking color palette that is in line with the classic Colonial style of home. The available backyard area is fairly large but we placed the pool near the house as an extension of the master suite. A vanishing edge on the short end of the pool adds interest to the design and the second infinity edge acts as a water feature that engages the patio seating area. An outdoor kitchen that includes grill, smoker and bar complete the functional design.

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loraxdesigngroup.com • 913.972.7244 • info@loraxdesigngroup.com 8021 Santa Fe Dr #200, Overland Park, KS 66204 100 West Kansas Street, Liberty, MO 64068

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We Are Kansas City

RAJEUNIR MEDICAL SPA

Award Winning Medical Spa Since 2003, Rajeunir Medical Spa has been Kansas City’s award winning medical spa. Delivering over one million non-invasive cosmetic treatments to rejuvenate your appearance. Overseen by board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Levi Young, Rajeunir Medical Spa provides the most advanced, minimally invasive, results oriented medical aesthetic treatments in a safe and luxurious environment, with exceptional affordability and customer service. Rajeunir Medical Spa provides free consultations on face and body conditions including aging skin, uneven skin tone, acne, laser hair removal, tattoo removal, PRP hair restoration, cellulite treatments, FemiLift, leg vein treatments, dermaplaning, hydro-facial, infrared skin tightening, skin resurfacing, advanced stem cell treatments, skin rejuvenation and more. We specialize in therapies such as Coolsculpting, Botox, Juvederm. With 4 convenient locations, we are the largest locally owned medical spa in the Midwest. Our professional medical spa staff would love the opportunity to discuss your cosmetic needs. We encourage you to contact us today for your free consultation.

rmedspa.com Overland Park, KS • 913.906.0660 The Village at Briarcliff • 816.505.5551 Lee’s Summit • 816.282.7888 Springfield, MO • 417.631.4745

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We Are Kansas City

PORTFOLIO KITCHEN & HOME

Kansas City’s Design Destination Portfolio Kitchen & Home is Kansas City’s Premier Kitchen, Bath & Home Design Firm. Their beautiful boutique showroom is located across from Union Station. This landmark showroom is a celebration of Kansas City’s style and sophistication. Portfolio’s ultimate goal is to provide their clients with an experience that is truly exceptional. They have dedicated themselves to providing their clients and their projects with award-winning design and unique, high quality products, while having the utmost attention to detail. Recipients of numerous awards and accolades for their work, Portfolio’s Design Team shares in a unique collaboration of specialized skillsets and talent that is unmatched. Portfolio is very grateful for the support of their Kansas City clients throughout the last 15 years, and the opportunity to work on so many special projects, both big and small. They look forward to continuing to serve Kansas City and its design needs. Portfolio invites you to experience Kansas City’s ultimate design destination by calling and scheduling a private showroom tour!

portfolio-home.com 215 W. Pershing Road, Kansas City, MO 64108 • 816.363.5300

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We Are Kansas City

MUSEO

Kansas City’s Premier Provider of Classic Modern Furniture and Lighting Since 1992, Museo has always endeavored to seek out and bring the very best in original and classic modern design to Kansas City Our goal is to feature high-quality, well-designed furniture, lighting, and accessories. We painstakingly research the furniture and lighting industries to select the best in design from established design leaders, as well as new and up-and-coming designers who are making their mark on classic modern design. Our Kansas City showroom offers a rare opportunity to see the best of modern classic design. You can experience firsthand things that matter—the quality, the comfort, and the beauty. We are committed to making your visit to our showroom enjoyable, and we pride ourselves on exceptional customer service. Our white glove delivery service is exceptional. We strive to make sure that you’re happy with your selection as you integrate it into your home. We invite you to be a part of the Museo family and look forward to your visit.

museousa.com 3021 Main Street, Kansas City, MO • 816.531.3537

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We Are Kansas City

GAIL’S HARLEYDAVIDSON

Proud Owner of Your Local Harley Paradise Visit Kansas City’s one and only Gail’s Harley Davidson. The leading motorcycle dealer in the Kansas City metro area. Providing unprecedented products and customer service. Gail’s offers riding classes, and whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned rider, they’re here to help you refine your riding skills!

gailsharleydavidson.com

816.966.2222 • 5900 MO-150, Grandview, MO

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We Are Kansas City

ROCKTOPS GRANITE + STONE FABRICATION

Rock Your Home Making homes look incredible is kind of our thing. Being nice just comes naturally. We’ll rock your home with our huge selection of granite, quartz, marble, quartzite & ultra-compact. We design, sell, fabricate, and install stone in Kansas City. Our core focus is to create a great experience. We do that with communication through a single point of contact at Rocktops. We take pride in our customer service and making sure you have a good experience from start to finish. Visit our showroom and get inspired.

RocktopsKC.com

1140 S. Enterprise Street, Olathe, KS 66061 • 913.782.0802 • info@rocktopskc.com

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We Are Kansas City

BLUE VALLEY PHYSICAL THERAPY & SPORTS MEDICINE

Your Success With Rehabilitation is Our Top Priority! Where you go to therapy is your choice and your outcomes with therapy are dependent upon that choice. Come see why Blue Valley Physical Therapy is the Top-Rated rehabilitation clinic in the KC metro area—with over 480 Five-Star Google reviews and was recently voted 2020 Small Business of the Year. Thank you KC for your support! Our services are available to you without a referral, our costs are covered by insurance and we have four convenient locations from the Plaza area to South Johnson County. Don’t let pain, injury or disability keep you from living your life to the fullest!

bluevalleypt.com • info@bluevalleypt.com 6885 West 151st St., Overland Park • 913.897.1100 10396 S Ridgeview Rd., Olathe • 913.599.4600 1940 West 119th St., Overland Park • 913.563.5500 4713 Rainbow Blvd., Westwood • 913.789.0888

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We Are Kansas City

ROMANELLI OPTIX

The Most Exclusive Collections of European Luxury Eyewear Roman Beznovsky and his business partner, Felix Milman, have both worked in the fashion/optical business for over 20 years. They opened Romanelli Optix in 2004 and have turned it into an eyewear empire—cultivating clientele from across the nation. “We both just decided after working for others that we have our own dream and our own way of running our optical business,” says Beznovsky. “For us, it’s inventory. We’re the only optical store from coast to coast that has over 80 eyewear collections along with 80 to 100 pieces per collection. There’s no other place that off ers this level of service, high-end name brands, and sheer inventory.” If you’re looking for unique, distinctive eyewear, Romanelli Optix will ensure you turn heads—and for all the right reasons.

romanellioptix.com

Kansas City • Leawood • Overland Park

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We Are Kansas City

PHOENIX NATURAL WELLNESS

Locally Owned and Trusted Phoenix CBD, one of the first CBD stores in the KC area, was founded in 2017 after the owners, Brian and Susan Pitts, experienced first hand the amazing benefits of CBD. From there, Phoenix has been built on the cornerstones of integrity, quality, education and compassion. The prices are below industry standards, however the quality is above and beyond with lab results and products made from organically grown hemp. Stop in and speak to one of the CBD certified specialists at any of the three locations with the largest selection of CBD products in KC, or visit them online.

phoenixnaturalwellness.com 7932 W. 151st St., Overland Park, KS • 913-257-5717 9627 W. 87th St., Overland Park, KS • 913-730-8520 817 E. North Avenue, Belton, MO • 816-425-5875

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We Are Kansas City

DR. C. LAN FOTOPOULOS

Honor. Courage. Commitment. Dr. Fotopoulos is an interventional physiatrist who specializes in minimally invasive and interventional procedures including Intracept, SpineJack, Vertiflex Superion, epidural injections, radiofrequency ablation, vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty and spinal cord stimulation. He is board certified in physical medicine, pain medicine and sports medicine and, with a background as a diver in the U.S. Navy, he also has expertise and certification in hyperbaric and diving medicine. Dr. Fotopoulos’ experience includes: Team Physician for the Kansas City Explorers Tennis Team, Team Physician for the Kansas City Royals and Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Physician for the state of Missouri.

Dickson-Diveley Midwest Orthopaedic Clinics • dd-clinic.com •913.319.7600 Kansas City Orthopaedic Institute • 3651 College Boulevard, Leawood, KS 66211 • 913.319.7678 ext. 3109 Saint Luke’s Medical Plaza Building 1 • 4320 Wornall Road, Suite 610, Kansas City, MO 64111

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We Are Kansas City

MIRABILE M.D. BEAUTY, HEALTH & WELLNESS

Where the Doctor is Always IN For nearly three decades, James Mirabile, M.D., FACOG has been one of Kansas City’s most admired physicians. As an obstetrician he delivered more than 7,500 babies before focusing his practice on the overall health and wellness of men and women. He founded Mirabile M.D. Beauty, Health & Wellness on the realization that patients’ issues are often interrelated. By combining gynecological services, bio-identical hormone replacement for men and women and Medi-Weightloss®—along with MedCosmetic, a state-of-the-art, medical spa he added in 1999—Dr. Mirabile created a convenient, synergistic approach to optimum health. The Mirabile M.D. team of registered nurses, nurse practitioners, nutritionists and licensed estheticians are dedicated to providing patients with compassionate care, leading-edge technology and personalized treatment. Dr. Mirabile is proud that his peers named him a KC “Super Doc” for more than 10 years; an achievement that placed him in the “Super Doc” Hall of Fame. But his true honor comes from the hundreds of letters and social media comments he receives every year from patients. Mirabile M.D. is proud to be a one-stop shop for total wellness.

MirabileMD.com 4550 W 109th Street, Overland Park, KS 66211 • 913.270.5917

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We Are Kansas City

KARIN ROSS DESIGNS

Bringing European Tradition & Design To Your Home Our design-build team is composed of an award winning husband-wife team that combined have over 30 years of experience working together in solving client’s needs when creating new spaces by remodeling bathrooms, remodeling kitchens and remodeling basements. We are so grateful for all of the Kansas City customers who have trusted Karin Ross Designs to create their dream kitchen, bath and other projects. Karin Ross Designs also offers cabinets and flooring for your Kansas City home.

KarinRossDesigns.com 1260 NW Sloan, Lee’s Summit, MO • 816-425-2815

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We Are Kansas City

WEINBERGER FINE ART & BRADY LEGLER

Working Together Again After 10 Years! Since 2010, Weinberger Fine Art has been dedicated to showcasing high standard contemporary artwork from emerging, mid-career, and established international artists. This is why we are thrilled to announce our reunion in partnership with Kansas City’s own Brady Legler. Ten years ago, Kim Weinberger debuted her first gallery opening by showcasing Brady’s work before he moved to New York to attend Parsons The New School of Design. In the last decade, he has built a successful career as an artist and jewelry designer both in Kansas City and New York City, where he’s been living for the last 10 years. His paintings have sold worldwide. We are thrilled to reunite by showcasing this dynamic and vibrant work. Call to schedule a viewing of Brady’s work.

weinbergerfineart.com • 816.301.4428 114 Southwest Boulevard • Tuesday - Saturday 11am-5pm bradylegler.com

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We Are Kansas City

HUNT MIDWEST

Quality Neighborhoods With Exceptional Amenities Hunt Midwest Residential Development has more than 3,000 acres of land currently under development within the Kansas City metropolitan area. With award-winning communities in Kansas City’s Northland, Lee’s Summit and Raymore Missouri, this residential team has become one of the metropolitan area’s most active developers. All of our master planned residential communities are marketed exclusively by ReeceNichols. From thoroughly crafted homesites and amenities, to exceptional metro locations, every Hunt Midwest community is master planned to be the ideal place for you and your family to call home. Enjoy recreational amenities such as pristine swimming pools, children’s play areas and scenic walking trails, and participate in year-round family-friendly community activities. Model homes are open daily.

HuntMidwestKC.com | 816.455.2500 | connect@huntmidwest.com

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Pros Know Best

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MADE IN KANSAS CITY

THE QUEER EYE GUYS’ COOL CROSSROADS LOFT FASHIONABLE FOOD

KC’S BEST ARTISANAL FOOD FARE KC START-UPS TO WATCH

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IN FASHION IN HOME DESIGN

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DOG-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT PATIOS PET-FRIENDLY AND PRETTY COUNTRY AND CITY HOMES

IN FOOD

MULTI-PURPOSE MUDROOMS

AN EXCLUSIVE Q&A WITH KAY BARNES

PAWSITIVELY FUN FASHION

(and the pets are available for adoption)

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WHAT TO DO ON A SUMMER WEEKEND

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KC’s Top Caterers A STUNNING PRAIRIE VILLAGE MAKEOVER

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Entertaining for Introverts, Summer Fashion & so much more!

MEN’S WATCHES

Just in time for Father’s Day

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4 COOL POOLS + 1 LOVELY LAKE HOME

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Day Trips Destination Dining Staycations

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Restaurant Reviews, Recipes, Entertaining and more

A GARDEN IN TIME

Fall Fashion

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Exclusive Q&A with SNL’s HEIDI GARDNER

Paul Rudd AN EXCLUSIVE Q+A

Conquering KC’s Food Deserts

FOLLOW THESE FOODIE INSTAS

Talks about his movies, his hometown, his favorite charity (Big Slick, obvs.)

Fall Arts Preview

What To Wear Now —And This Fall

LOCALLY GROWN

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Revisiting the Downtown Ballpark

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THE QUEER EYE “HEROES”

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Flavor

IN KC

In the Kitchen CORN BY

Cody Hogan

PHOTOS BY

Aaron Leimkuehler

rowing up in Arkansas, I was familiar with only a few preparations of corn: on the cob with butter, ground into cornmeal and used for cornbread or a coating for frying catfish, and from a can (the creamed kind, which my father loved but I intensely disliked—whole-kernel canned corn was moderately acceptable but not something I would cross the street for). Hush puppies, grits, and corndogs were on the periphery— marginal foods—and I was a very picky eater. Moving to Kansas City almost 30 years ago, I discovered a whole new world of corn, grilled whole, sometimes still in the husk, in succotash, then—polenta. I remember excitedly taking it back to prepare for my family. “This is cornmeal mush—grits?” my father stated. No, it was definitely not (it was actually, after a fashion). Besides, the grits at IHOP were white. I had so much more to learn. To keep it brief, corn (maize) comes in two broad varieties, flint and dent, although some scientists like to divide it into even more categories. Flint corn has a hard starch center with rounded kernels (like popcorn), is difficult to mill, and is typically used for making polenta. Dent corn kernels have a softer starch center with a dent in the top. They are easy to mill and are mostly used (in the South) for cornmeal and grits, but there are all manner of variations and exceptions to the rule. For more information than you will probably ever need, visit the corn section of the website for Anson Mills, some really enthusiastic growers and millers of heirloom and artisan grains in South Carolina (ansonmills.com). ansonmills.com). Whether using corn in its fresh, sweet state, or dried and ground, most people are just happy knowing what tastes good. For me, simple boiled or steamed corn on the cob with butter and salt is still a favorite. I always wait a week or two after corn appears at the market, then buy two dozen ears, and shuck and freeze them as soon as I get home, no processing necessary. That takes care of my requirements for the next nine months or so. Multiple attempts at growing corn at my home in woodsy Waldo have failed miserably—can’t compete with the squirrels (I once built a chicken-wire cage around a stand of corn—not easy—secured and sewn up with wire so nothing could get in. I woke up one morning to find a cage filled with fat squirrels who were desperate to get out). Small corn pancakes are lovely as well—use the cobs to infuse

JULY 2020

corn flavor into the liquid component of the batter for more intense corn flavor. Thanks to my Southern heritage and love of all things Italian, dried corn in the form of flour and meal is a staple in our household for polenta, cornbread, cakes, and fritters, and I continue to discover new techniques and recipes to use this gratifying grain. Learning, it turns out, is one of the most pleasurable aspects of cooking and being a gardener. For good curious cooks and gardeners, it never stops. I hope you enjoy these fritters, which make use of corn in both fresh and dried form. Corn Fritters Corn fritters are a tasty way to use up leftover cooked corn, either cut off the cob from boiled corn or corn grilled or roasted in the husk. Frozen kernels could work as well. This fritter is light and puffy—not crunchy or crispy— delicious on its own or as an accompaniment to a meal. For about 2 cups of cooked corn kernels (the leftovers from three or four ears of corn), separate 2 whole eggs, reserving the whites, and combine the yolks with about 3 tablespoons milk in a medium-sized bowl. In another bowl, combine ¼ cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, powder 2 tablespoons sugar, a good dash of salt and about ½ cup flavorful corn flour or very fine cornmeal (like corn flour from Bob’s Red Mill or Antebellum Fine Yellow Cornmeal from ansonmills.com). Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. The batter can be made to this point up to a day in advance. When ready to serve, in yet another bowl, whisk the 2 reserved egg whites to soft peaks, then fold them into the corn mixture. If you make these every day and would like to add a little variation, try adding a small handful of a chopped herb, such as fresh basil, chives, or thyme leaves. If the batter seems impossibly loose—thinner than pancake batter—you have made it correctly. Carefully fry heaping tablespoons of the batter in either a skillet with a generous amount of oil or in a deep fryer set at 350F. Don’t make the dollops of batter too big or they will not cook all the way through before they are done on the outside. If cooking in a skillet, turn the fritters after they have set on the bottom and continue to cook until they are a beautiful golden brown all over. If you like to dip, aioli or a little mayo with basil mixed in is a nice accompaniment. Serve warm, with a generous helping of summer.

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In Your Pantry MORE CORN

Dine often and dine well.

Corn/Maize is an incredibly versatile crop. Over the centuries, different varieties of this starchy wonder have been bred for different purposes, and different techniques for grinding and using corn are what separate one from the other.

Popcorn Not the kind in the packet that gets thrown in the microwave with its own unnatural ﬂavorings. Rediscovered (in the back of the pantry) by many desperate cooks during the pandemic quarantine, popcorn is an extremely versatile vehicle for ﬂavor both savory and sweet. Cacio e Pepe (cheese and pepper), sage brown butter, ranch, sriracha-lime, barbecue, maple-pecan, caramel and sea salt—the sky’s the limit!

Coarse Polenta For the most robust ﬂavor and texture in polenta, use coarsely ground yellow corn polenta from either Italian or artisan American producers like Anson Mills and Bob’s Red Mill. Coarse polenta takes a minimum of 40 minutes and up to an hour to cook, but the time invested is returned in volumes of ﬂavor. Some call this grits as well—it’s a long discussion.

White Polenta Just like there are different colors of and grinds of corn, there are also different colors of polenta. Popular especially around Venice, white polenta typically is more subtly ﬂavored and has more ﬂoral, dairy-like notes. Try it for your next round of shrimp and grits.

Cornmeal The American standard for everyday cornbread and mufﬁns. The texture is good for baking but makes sorry polenta. Grocery store varieties are reliable, but there is a whole world of diversity to explore. Check the internet.

Masa AKA masa harina (common name brand Maseca), is the product of soaking and cooking corn kernels in an alkaline solution (usually water and lime or wood ash), a process called nixtamalization. The kernels (now known as hominy) can then be hulled and ground to make ﬂour. Flour that has undergone this process can be made into a dough—tortillas would be impossible without it. The process also makes more nutrients available to humans.

JULY 2020

250

OF THE BEST KC RESTAURANTS

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Dining Guide

For the city’s most extensive restaurant guide, head to inkansascity.com/ eat-drink/dining-guide

Flavor

IN KC

In Your Cocktail EXTRA VIRGIN by

Kelsey Cipolla

photo by

Aaron Leimkuehler

vorite citruses to work with: It carries a great tart note while giving an almost raspberry-like quality, which creates the perfect balance of sweet and sour,” Lichtenberger says. “When combined with fresh ginger, it creates the illusion of a tropical vacation in a glass.” He builds on the flavors by garnishing the cocktail with two different types of basil: Italian and Thai, for both flavor and aromatic purposes. “I source both types of basil locally from City Bitty Farms, a wonderful two-acre urban farm producing some really incredible ingredients here in KC,” he adds. extravirginkc.com

Half Blood Prince & The Revolution Blood Orange Ginger Purèe

o matter when you walk into Extra Virgin, it feels like you’re arriving at just the right moment of a party: People are laughing and toasting, the drinks and snacks are abundant, and nobody is sulking in a corner. You’re surrounded by color and energy, both from other guests and the cast of characters behind the bar, headed up by bar manager Jeff Lichtenberger. Extra Virgin cements itself as a great drinking spot with the help of specials: Half-priced bottles of wine on Mondays, half-off tabs for service industry professionals on Wednesdays and 50 percent off rosé Thursdays, all offered in addition to regular happy-hour specials weekdays from 4 to 6:00 p.m. Then there’s the bustling patio that puts guests right in the heart of the Crossroads, a particularly popular drinking destination on First Fridays (and pretty much any other time you can sit outside in Kansas City without fear of melting, freezing, or being struck by lightning.) It’s a testament to how much the Crossroads favorite has going on that it’s taken this long to mention the food by James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Smith, who

8 ounces fresh blood-orange juice 1 cup sugar ½ inch piece of ginger (or to taste) owns the restaurant with his wife, Nancy, and turns out everything from crackling chicharrones and poblano pepper mac and cheese to whole-roasted branzino and churros with chocolate sauce. With such pedigree in the kitchen, the drinks have a lot to live up to. Extra Virgin currently offers wine bottles and bottled cocktails to go in light of COVID-19 precautions, including the summer-ready Bootsy Collins, made with vodka, strawberries, citrus, basil, and soda, by the quart and half quart. Nancy oversees the wine program, while Lichtenberger creates magic at the large central bar. Inside, the menu ranges from classic cocktails, including one of the city’s best sangrias, to more inventive drinks. Pay special attention to the positively punny names—Lichtenberger admits his thought process often begins with a play on words, and the drink takes off from that launchpad. Take the Half Blood Prince & The Revolution, a name that manages to reference both Harry Potter and pop icon Prince’s onetime band. The potion is a blended rum cocktail balanced with herbs, citrus and fruit. “Blood orange is one of my all-time fa-

JULY 2020

| 110 | INKANSASCITY.COM

Incorporate sugar into blood-orange juice in a saucepan on low heat until sugar dissolves, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Put syrup and ginger into a Vitamix or blender. Blend on high for 30 seconds. Strain to remove ginger fibers and place in a covered container. Cocktail .75 ounces Plantation 3 Star rum .75 ounces Plantation Original dark rum .5 ounces Dry Curaçao .5 ounces Giffard Apricot 1 ounce blood-orange ginger purée .5 ounce lime juice Dash of absinthe Sprigs of Italian and Thai basil Combine all ingredients. Gently shake and strain over a large clear cube and garnish with basil.

EXECUTION SHOULD ALWAYS EXCEED EXPECTATIONS Grilling is a serious culinary endeavor. Hestan delivers the consistent control vital to perfecting everything from shrimp skewers to leg of lamb. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s American-made durability that weathers year-round use.

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Flavor BY

IN KC

Kelsey Cipolla

DRASTIC MEASURES BAR MAESTRO Jay Sanders and Swordfish Tom’s

In Culinary News

owner Jill Cockson talked about collaborating for years. When Cockson was approached about a space in Shawnee (5817 Nieman Rd.), they were finally presented with a perfect opportunity, with Sanders heading up the bar program. “What I really wanted to do was create a space and create products and drinks that might be a little further out there but done with a very tempered approach—big leaps in very calculated ways is kind of the whole model of what we’re doing,” Sanders explains. At Drastic Measures, the menu features a wide variety of spirits, and almost every cocktail has a touch of citrus and spice, he says. There’s also an emphasis on responsible business practices: Drastic Measures is cash only to reduce operation costs, allowing them to pay staff a livable wage. drasticbar.com

Support Local Buy Local IN Kansas City thrives because of our local content and most importantly, our local advertisers, both online and in the magazine. In this time of uncertainty, please shop local, eat local, and do whatever you can to support local Kansas City businesses. Keep calm, observe all preparedness advice, and carry on!

JULY 2020

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CREATIVE CULTURE

In Culinary News

CREATIVITY RUNS WILD at Creative Culture, Westport’s new DIY studio and milkshake bar (207 Westport Rd.). In the makers space portion, visitors can drop in to get their hands dirty at the plant bar, paint pottery or tackle other craft projects while enjoying their own wine or beer. But opportunities for imagination don’t end there. At Creative Culture’s milkshake bar, ice cream is blended with sweets, chocolates, cakes and candies for sweet sips in flavors like fire-roasted s’mores and unicorn, along with seasonal offerings. The toppings are even more deluxe, including sprinkle rims, marshmallows, cupcakes, and donuts. Served in Mason jars, the shakes look so good, they just might inspire your next masterpiece—or at least a lovingly crafted gift your mom will love. creativeculturekc.com

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Heroes ’s Everyday Kansas City

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IN Kansas City magazine is available at The Roasterie Cafe.

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Purchase a copy at any of our eight area locations and The Roasterie will donate a portion of the sales to Variety Children’s Charity of Greater Kansas City.

Flavor BY

IN KC

Kelsey Cipolla

ROCKCREEK BREWING CO.

In Culinary News

DURING HOMEBREWING SESSIONS, Sara Charlson and her friends from Cerner Corp. frequently discussed starting their own brewery—a dream that became a reality when Rockcreek Brewing opened in Mission (5880 Beverly Ave.) earlier this summer. In the airy taproom—an old auto-mechanic garage the crew renovated over 18 months—and adjacent patio, Rockcreek offers a wide variety of beer styles on tap and in cans, plus wine and cider. “Our goal is to be a neighborhood taproom that serves really great beer,” Charlson says. “We love the Mission community and are excited to be a part of it.” Independence, Missouri-native Trent Wiegers serves as Rockcreek’s brewer, and though he’s personally obsessed with lagers, expect to see a wide range of styles, plus food trucks serving on the weekends. rockcreekbrewing.square.site

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Flavor

IN KC

Reservation for One DUCK & ROLL by

Kelsey Cipolla

photos by

hen Aussies Rob and Kate Joseph and Erika Viktor made the move from Sydney to Kansas City, they found themselves missing the Hong Kongstyle Cantonese food that was available in their hometown. So they created a place where they—and everyone else in the metro—could find it. You can see signs of their global influences at Duck & Roll in the South Plaza neighborhood. The restaurant is right next door to the new

JULY 2020

Aaron Leimkuehler

location of their Australian bakery Banksia, and a pumping soundtrack of ’80s greats—from Bruce Springsteen to Prince to Hall & Oates—is accompanied by the persistent click of a gold lucky cat figure’s arm waving back and forth. But there’s also a clear love and respect for Cantonese food that you can taste in the dishes. As the restaurant’s name implies, duck is a focal point, as it should be: It’s juicy and just the right kind of fatty, cut by smoky, crisp skin. In addition to a Peking duck entrée, it’s the star ingredient in three appe-

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tizers: shredded Peking duck spring rolls, sang choi bao (also known as lettuce cups), and Peking duck pancakes. The latter two are a pitch perfect way to start your feast. In the sang choi bao, crisp lettuce cups are filled with juicy duck, carrots, red pepper, green onion and carrots for satisfying crunch in every bite. The pancake almost has the texture of a tortilla and serves as the wrap for thick chunks of duck, cucumber and hot pepper with a rich hoisin sauce that remarkably manages not to overpower the appetizer’s more subtle nuances. Duck & Roll also serves up a plethora of dumplings, broken up into seafood, pork, chicken, and vegetable offerings, some of which are also available in soups. The pork, shrimp, chive, and mushroom dumpling filling is tasty, but the texture veers toward overcooked. Entrées include Chinese barbecue and hot pots, plus noodle dishes and fried rice from the wok bar. In addition to the delectable duck, served with both Chinese pancakes and lettuce cups, there’s cumin lamb, char sui pork shoulder and crispy pork belly. For being such a trendy way to serve the cut, few restaurants successfully pull off crispy pork belly, but Duck & Roll can happily be added to the list: The edges are crisped enough to click against your plate, lacquered with a potent, potentially boozy glaze, but the interior is still succulent. The dish is simple, just the meat and white rice with green onion, but it’s satisfying, nonetheless.

JULY 2020

The wok bar pulls off another impressive feat with its treatment of veggies, which are lightly cooked and as bright as jewels, maintaining their crisp texture and distinctive flavors. Take the calamari and lap chong mai fun rice noodles, a dish where peas, red peppers, and green onions manage to feel like they contribute as much to the dish as beautifully tender calamari and mild, sweet Chinese sausage (lap chong). They’re all tossed with a mass of noodles in a sauce that’s a little sweet, a touch smoky and unexpectedly complementary to all the other ingredients—if Chinese-American dishes like orange chicken are usually too sweet for your palate, Duck & Roll’s balance and restraint are a welcome change. The restaurant’s smarts go beyond the meals. For the quality of the food, Duck & Roll’s portions and prices are a pleasant surprise. A wide array of Asian beers feels right at home with the traditional steamer baskets, tea canisters, and soup spoons are strung up to form a decorative separation between the entryway and the main dining area. A gallery wall of photos featuring eastern cityscapes also help set the scene. Although diners can take a seat and place an order, there’s also a counter for carryout, and it’s easy to envision the spot becoming a popular takeaway destination: You don’t need to pull up a chair to get the experience Duck & Roll offers. The food speaks for itself. duckandrollkc.com

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My Essentials

IN KC

WILL BROWN INTERIOR DESIGNER BY

Michael Mackie

W PHOTO BY AARON LEIMKUEHLER

ill Brown grew up on military bases in Asia and Europe before settling in the United States. “These distinctions have shaped my outlook and experiences in life and have had a major influence on my design aesthetic because I learned to appreciate the uniqueness of diverse cultures and regions where I’ve lived,” he says. When launching Will Brown Interiors, the designer defined his main goal as creating harmonious spaces that blend styles rather than from a purist’s point of view. No mistake, he likes a bold stroke of color and pattern as much as the next person, but he also wants you to feel his design deep in your soul—so he couples positive energy with elevated design. To do that, Brown is on his way to becoming a certified feng shui consultant. “I’ve always had an intuitive approach to interior design and now that’s backed up with knowledge and understanding that works well for modern living in our Western culture,” he says.

Will’s essentials... SHOPPING DESTINATION: Ooh, that’s too

GUILTY PLEASURE: When you’ve

difficult to limit to just one place. I like variety in my wardrobe—so it’s Ulah for casual travel wear, Houndstooth for a more professional profile, and Halls for gala and special events.

reached a certain age, you find cultivated ways of spending your weekends. However, there’s a club in the West Bottoms known as The Ship that spins R&B and house. Every so often, if the mood strikes, I’ll tip down and dance my ass off.

SPLURGING ON: Eyeglasses. I have at least 20 pairs. I’m currently donning Tom Ford frames, which were a nice splurge on my birthday.

FRAGRANCE: I’m seduced by a scent by Aesop fragrances called Tacit— which knows no gender boundaries. I wear it every day. If you smell sexy, then you are sexy, babe.

HIDDEN GEM: I was treated to an authentic tea

ceremony at The Japanese Tea House tucked into Loose Park. Wear your good socks because you’ll be asked to remove your shoes upon entering. ON HIS IPOD: I‘m all over the musical spectrum

but I always come back to soul music. I’m revisiting a favorite album from 1999 called Black Diamond by Angie Stone.

ACCESSORIZING WITH: I have a closet brimming

over with a growing collection of décor pillows. JULY 2020

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SWEET TREAT:

Yogurtini on the Plaza. I’m also proud to support Yogurtini as a black-owned business in our local community.

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IN Kansas City July 2020

Articles inside

EVERYDAY HEROES

IN CONVERSATION WITH Diallo Javonne French