IN Kansas City June 2020 by KC Media

Keeping KC Moving: Essential Workers Tell Their Stories

JUNE 2020 | INKANSASCITY.COM

The Men’s Issue

NICKY LOPEZ

THE ROYALS PLAYER

is eager to be back at bat

GREAT GIFTS SHOP LOCAL FOR FATHER’S DAY

Chris Cooper AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

TALKS ABOUT GROWING UP IN KC, HIS NEW PROJECTS, AND HOW HE’S COPING WITH COVID-19

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Contents JUNE 2020

80 66

76 72 Features 60

IN CONVERSATION WITH CHRIS COOPER The Academy Award-winning actor discusses growing up in Kansas City, how he got into acting, and starring in Jon Stewart’s new comedy, Irresistible.

KEEPING KANSAS CITY MOVING Many of us were able to social distance and observe the quarantine from the comfort of home. Essential workers didn’t have that luxury. We share some of their stories.

GAME DAY Shop local for all the best gifts for dad this Father’s Day.

Departments

IN CONVERSATION WITH NICKY LOPEZ The Royals second baseman and Chicago native describes the weirdness of a spring without baseball.

TAKEOUT, PLEASE Deciding to order food is easy. Picking a place to order from? Not so much. We asked ten Kansas Citians to share their go-to to-go spots around the metro.

A RANCH, REIMAGINED Interior designer Steve Nuss opens up a tired Prairie Village ranch to new possibilities.

On the cover Kansas City native and Academy Award-winning actor Chris Cooper. Photo by Mona Miri. JUNE 2020

| 10 | INKANSASCITY.COM

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

FLAVOR IN KC

104

MY ESSENTIALS IN KC

IN EVERY ISSUE 14

EDITOR’S NOTE

INKANSASCITY.COM

Let’s start healing.

We’re really looking forward to seeing you again. And we want you to know – whether you’re checking in for a check-up, needing a knee replacement, or making time for a mammogram, we’re taking every measure to keep you and your family safe when you’re here. • Social distancing in all our facilities • Temperature checks at every entrance • Masks worn by all team members and visitors • Frequent sanitizing of all spaces • Designated area for those suspected of having or those positive for COVID-19 • Limited visitation

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Editor’s Note

Let’s Hear It For The Boys Vol. 3 | No. 6 JUNE 2020

Editor In Chief Zim Loy

Zim

JUNE 2020

| 14 | INKANSASCITY.COM

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, Katy Schamberger, Katie Van Luchene photo by aaron leimkuhler

ven though our statistics show that about 40 percent of our regular readership is male, we still thought it would be fun to do a Men’s Issue dedicated to all things guy-centric. And what better time than June for Father’s Day? So dude, here you go. I can’t think of a more iconic man’s man for our cover than actor Chris Cooper. The Oscar-winning star is known for memorable roles in films that range from political thrillers to westerns. Our digital editor Michael Mackie had a spirited conversation with Cooper that ranged from his self-described “glorious childhood” growing up in Kansas City to the thrill of watching Jon Stewart and Steve Carell brainstorm while filming Stewart’s new movie, Irresistible, which stars Cooper and will be released later this month. If you’re jonesing for a sports fix, check out Cindy Hoedel’s interview with Royals second baseman Nicky Lopez. He’s been marooned in Surprise, Arizona, since the start of the quarantine, when all he wants to do is get back on the diamond at The K. And just in time for Father’s Day, our Game Day feature is filled with great ideas for gifts for Dad, ranging from the spectacularly extravagant to some brilliant budget buys. Merrily Jackson’s entertaining column tackles book clubs for guys, from what to serve the crew to what to name the group. Who knew that men’s book clubs required a moniker? Guys, put down the bar soap. Our Look column covers local skincare products specially made with men in mind. And don’t forget the SPF. But we do have much more in store. Our food critic, Kelsey Cipolla, polled ten of KC’s best-known influencers on their favorite take-out dishes. You’ll want to take notes. A renovated ranch in Prairie Village is an inspiration for anyone facing a remodel. Interior designer Steve Nuss blew out walls and raised ceilings to create an open, spacious home that flows from indoors out. No matter how much we’d like to move on, we can’t ignore the raging pandemic that we’re living through right now. Whether you think we’re opening up too quickly or not soon enough, you must appreciate the frontline employees dealing with exposure to it every day. For our feature Keeping Kansas City Moving, we asked contributors Katy Schamberger and Katie Van Luchene to interview a cross-section of the metro’s essential workers and recount their powerful stories. From those heroes to your personal hero. Do you know someone who has been a champion and an advocate for others during the pandemic? Please share their story with us at news@inkansascity.com We’ll publish them online and feature some of the best in our July print issue.

Contributing Photographers Aaron Leimkuehler, Nicole Bissey, Mona Miri, Jenny Wheat 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

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Timothy Finn Confesses

Pity our poor music critic Tim Finn! He hasn’t been able to attend any concerts lately, so we asked him to pick the five worst concerts he’s been forced to see. (And, believe us, he could barely keep it to five.) What concerts made his ears bleed? To read his best of the worst visit inkansascity.com/ arts-entertainment/contemporary-music.

One lucky winner will score two tickets to the Loch Lloyd Hidden Gems Home & Garden Tour on July 7! You’ll have the opportunity to visit four of Loch Lloyd’s spectacular estate homes and tour their exquisite gardens. (Tour proceeds benefit Cristo Rey of Kansas City.) You’ll also receive a $100 Gift Card to The Brass Onion—a beloved Prairiefire restaurant known for its delectable comfort food. Enter to win by June 30 at inkansascity.com/the-magazine/ enter-to-win

Reopened patio-friendly restaurants are just a hop, skip and jump away. From happy hours to the

local restaurant scene, we’ve got the city’s most comprehensive dining guide. So many patios have reopened to quench your thirst. Check them out at inkansascity.com/eat-drink/dining-guide

Onion is as onion does! The only day we find more sacred than National Garlic Day is National Onion Day, which falls on June 27. We hit up a couple of local chefs for their best onion-centric dishes. (You’re gonna need some breath mints after this one, kids.) Find it at inkansascity.com/eat-drink/recipes.

ng: Keeping KC Movi

Tell Essential Workers

More to the story. e The Men’s Issu

NICKY LOPEZ

PLAYER THE ROYALSBACK AT BAT IS EAGER TO BE

S GREAT GIFT FOR SHOP LOCAL FATHER’S DAY

Chris Cooper AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

NG UP IN KC, TALKS ABOUT GROWIAND HOW TS, HIS NEW PROJEC COVID-19 HE’S COPING WITH

Chris Cooper is June’s cover guy, but we also got the scoop—courtesy of his wife Marianne—about three things you don’t know about the Oscar-winning actor. Find it at inkansascity.com/innovatorsinﬂuencers/people.

JUNE 2020

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Their Stories

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A Recipe To Celebrate National Peanut Butter Cookie Day Baker extraordinaire JC Gregg is famous for his elaborately decorated cakes, but he’s even more renowned for his world-class gourmet peanut butter cookies. And we scored his recipe just for National Peanut Butter Cookie Day on June 12! Find it at inkansascity.com/eat-drink/recipes | 16 | INKANSASCITY.COM

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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.

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Dear Ashley – I just got a new puppy from Great Plains SPCA about a week ago and I was wondering how to potty train her. She keeps tinkling on the floor. Please help! – Christina, Prairie Village

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Dear Ashley – I have a 12-pound poodle mix who does not like to sit. How can I train her to sit on command? Do you think it might be hurting her and that is why she does not want to do a sit? – Patty, Belton, MO Hi Patty – I would first recommend you go to the vet to rule out anything medical with Ginger. If the vet does not find any issues, I recommend grabbing a treat and asking Ginger

to do the sit command. Use the treat as a lure and place it over her nose and above her head and move your hand with the treat slowly closer to her head from her nose. This will lure Ginger into a sit position. Once Ginger is in a sit position, reward, and repeat often. Hang in there, she will get it over time. – Ashley Flores, CPDT-KA

Dear Ashley – How do I get my puppy to stop chewing on my leather shoes? I’ve lost three pairs of shoes and I really need some help. – Jeff, KCMO Hi Jeff – Make sure to puppy proof your home and restrict your puppy from areas that are not puppy proofed. Ensure that your puppy has plenty of items to chew on around the house and that you’re providing your puppy with plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. If your puppy starts chewing on something he’s not supposed to have, then give him something he can chew on to replace what he was chewing on. Chewing is important for puppies, so we should reward them when chewing on the appropriate things. You can bring your shoes out again once your puppy is chew-trained. – 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.

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Lisa Garney by

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A SUCCESSFUL ENTREPRENEUR IN A MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY

rowing up, Lisa Garney wanted to be a back-up dancer for Tina Turner. And then an astronaut. Unfortunately those—as she quips—“weren’t available options.” So instead, she ended up studying at the London School of Economics, getting her law degree, working in politics, and even briefly selling products on QVC. “There’s always been some degree of entrepreneur in me,” she says. Keep in mind, this was long before Garney started her very successful stint running her own construction conglomerate in Kansas City, with its flagship, the well-respected LMG Construction. It shouldn’t come as a surprise since Garney has “family roots in construction” including a father and grandfather who were master plumbers. Garney says she learned her strong work ethic growing up with her strong-willed mother and business-savvy father. Along the way, she became fascinated with “how things are built. That’s always been very

JUNE 2020

photo by

Jenny Wheat

interesting to me.” Garney decided to go back to school for the umpteenth time to attain her master plumber’s license and then acquired a small plumbing company in—2008. “The country was in a deep recession, there was a housing crisis, a mortgage fallout,” she remembers. “I didn’t know any different. I didn’t know not to start a company then.” She built that two-person operation more slowly than surely. “I started from ground zero. I had to grass roots this whole thing,” she says. “Everything had to be learned and developed. I caught some lucky breaks and put myself around the right people to do federal contracting.” Several military contracts soon followed. Her company poured concrete for six years at Whiteman Air Force Base—everything from replacing taxiways to creating new runways. “I’m a lover of airplanes,” she says. “I was just amazed I got to stand out on that runway and watch B-2’s take off and to be responsible for the safety of the aircraft.” (And did we mention Garney also has her pilot’s license?) Garney’s company ultimately went from “smaller jobs to working on some of the largest downtown high rises,” she says. “We’ve done commercial plumbing and complete plumbing packages on some of the largest buildings downtown” (including Reverb and ARTERRA). Her team has grown from a crew of one to 35, and she’s proudly developed LMG University—“an in-house trade school to train our crew and provide leadership and plumbing education.” Being in a male-dominated business has occasionally been “trying,” but she maintains a tried-and-true philosophy. “There have been times I have felt very defeated because of it—and times I’ve felt very powerful,” Garney admits. “It’s about keeping yourself centered and taking the next logical step. You have to stay true to your purpose and end goal. You just try build the best company.” Given that only nine percent of the construction industry is comprised of women, Garney says she didn’t necessarily have many female role models to look up to. Now she’s become a mentor. “As women supporting future women—the best thing we can do now is run a good company, be successful at what we’re doing, be strong, have a voice and use our voice.” (It should be noted that Garney has five sisters—“all strong women, just like our mom.”) Always engaged in her community, Garvey says she’s never been afraid to ask questions and is adamant when she says, “you can’t take no for an answer.” Even during the recent pandemic, LMG Construction was running full-tilt. “What an interesting time to try and run a business,” she says. From Lee’s Summit to Johnson County to Spring Hill, Garvey’s handiwork is omnipresent. And she’s on the front lines every day (read that: city council meetings) helping her female and minority colleagues find success. Her advice? “If you’re tired of the same old story, turn some pages. For anyone starting a business and for women continuing on any path, remember—success is not final, failure is not final. It’s the courage to continue that counts. It’s about persistence.” she says. “We just have to keep taking a seat at the table. It’s so true.”

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Entertaining

IN KC

Boys Need Book Clubs, Too UNLIKE WOMEN, GROWN MEN NEED AN EXCUSE TO HANG OUT TOGETHER. A BOOK CLUB FOR GUYS IS JUST THE TICKET. WHO KNEW?

Merrily Jackson

hat’s a terrible idea, darling. It will never work. This is what I said to my husband one day in 2004 when he announced his plan to start a book club for guys. “It will last for one or two meetings, then fizzle out,” predicted I, ever the supportive wife. “Best not to start it at all.” Well, he started the club anyway, naming it “The Symposium.” The first meeting was at our house. The selected book was Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter by

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

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| 26 | INKANSASCITY.COM

Entertaining

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Thomas Cahill. The Symposium didn’t fizzle out. In fact, it turned out to be a brilliant idea. These many years later, Jim Jackson’s Folly is going like gangbusters. The boys convene the second Thursday of every month, and the membership has grown from six to around 14. BETTER THAN POKER NIGHT At the time JBJ started The Symposium, neither of us had ever heard of a book club for men. But I googled “men’s book clubs,” and up popped an article in the New York Times about how popular they are. In NYC, maybe. I know of only one other such club in Kansas City or surrounding environs. Which is a pity, because I would advise practically all grown, literate males to be in a book club. After witnessing the success of The Symposium, the undimmed enthusiasm its members show for gathering together month after month (they only lost one meeting during the height of the pandemic), I now am persuaded that men benefit from book clubs even more than women do. Perhaps it’s an estrogen thing, but most of us chicas develop strong social and support networks, almost without thinking. The majority of men seem to have a rougher go of it, especially if they don’t hang out at bars or play golf, tennis, or poker. STALE TRISCUITS, PEANUT M&MS AND SINGLE MALT The Symposium meetings begin at 6:30 p.m., so each member, when it’s his turn to host, is obligated to provide some sort of dinner (another idea I told Jim was madness). Many of the boys serve carry-out barbecue or Chinese food. A few like to cook and will make hearty stews, savory casseroles, pots of chili. Then there’s a guy—I believe he has a generous trust fund—who hires a caterer and a retinue of serving staff, including a bartender. One might expect to be feted with something really special at Jim Jackson’s house, on account of he’s married to a gal who writes a magazine column on entertaining. Such expectations would be sadly misguided. When it’s the hubster’s turn to host, he gets on the horn with Pizza Hut, orders a half-dozen meat-lovers pizza pies and calls it a day. One time recently, however, he called 648-8888 with his usual order and the delivery guy did not show up. Ever. I got home at 9:30 p.m. and they were eating stale Triscuits and Jim’s “dessert,” a large bowl of peanut M&Ms. Still having a great time, though. Like most of his Symposium brethren, Mssr. Jackson is far less concerned with the food than he is with laying in an abundant and varied supply of beer, whiskey and single-malts. This club ain’t about the food. It’s really not that much about the book. The American Heritage dictionary defines “symposium” as a convivial meeting for drinking, music and intellectual discussion among the ancient Greeks. Take away the music and the ancient Greeks, and you’ve got Jim’s book club. POLITICALLY INCORRECT The Symposium’s membership includes gentlemen from many

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Entertaining

IN KC

walks of life, although there is a preponderance of lawyers (like Jim), doctors and small-business owners. There are conservative republicans, liberal democrats, and everything in between. As with most book clubs, the selected volume becomes a launching point for discussion of myriad topics. In this group, the discussion can get contentious. At least I’ve heard it can get contentious. I’ve not actually listened in. When Jim hosts book club, I make it a point to exit the premises before the first Symposian arrives. I think all the wives do. I’m not sure I would want to hear what they say. “The book club allows us to get boorish about subjects,” says Jack Cashill, a charter Symposium member, who loves himself a controversial topic. “War, history, politics, and other adventures in which lots of people end up dead at the end of the story—without having to suffer the disapproving glances of our significant others, all women, as it happens. “Even more importantly,” he says, “the club indulges its members’ fondness for the kind of funny, frank, alcohol-fueled, un-PC conversation that could get us fired from any business, public or private, we did not actually own.” QUIEN ES MAS MACHO? The first thing to know about starting a book club for dudes is you

can’t actually call it a book club. Too girly, without question. You have to come up with something masculine-sounding. “The Symposium” is already taken, fellas. I was reading about a group of guys in West Virginia who call their book club Basketball Practice, particularly amusing since they all happen to be on the short side and decidedly unathletic. The muy-manly British writer Guy Walters belongs to an allmale book club in Wiltshire, England called The Dissectors, which has its own monogrammed tie (a quill pen with a blade on the end!), a charter and an elected chairman. When I mentioned that to Scott Ashcraft, a physician and a seasoned Symposian, he said “we’re doing good to get the book read.” I’ve read about clubs that focus on novels, and one that reads exclusively sports-related non-fiction. The Symposium tends to choose history and biography. Circa 2005, I remember seeing in Jim’s reading stack the latest book club selection, Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton. “Sounds like a snooze,” I thought. Huh, wrong again, Merrily. Now I drive around with that soundtrack in my car. There are so many great books in every genre, and so much enjoyment to be had from reading and discussing them. Without the discipline of a club, many of us men and women alike—might not otherwise read. A book club is never a bad idea. Do not throw away your shot!

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Cooking Virtually

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ithout a doubt, the thing I’ve missed most during this quarantine is visiting restaurants. It’s a cliché feeling, but until they were all shut down, I didn’t realize how integral restaurants are to my on-the-go life. Nearly every dinner for me is prepared in someone else’s kitchen. Eating out is the primary vehicle for my connecting with friends— and the community writ large. And the place I miss most has been Westport Damian Lair. Café and Bar. Summer or winter, day or night, it’s my go-to, fail-safe spot. With takeout proving to be improbable for this little eatery, I’ve had to do without entirely. This absence made me all the more elated when they began hosting Sunday afternoon virtual cooking classes. They’ve tackled breakfast crepe burritos, croque madame, and most recently chocolate soufflé. Which happens to be my all-time favorite dessert ever. Favorite—because it’s an airy pillow of chocolate perfection, but also because it is fairly rare on menus. Why? Because they’re finicky to make, and they last for all of a moment before they’re essentially worthless. So timing is imperative. Fortunately, chef Romain Monnoyeur and sidekick Nicolas Mermet offered up a (fairly) simple recipe and guided the many of us tuning in with panache and humor. Needless to say, this was my first time making soufflé, and candidly, the first time using many of my pots, pans, mixers, sifters, and an array of kitchen gadgets I so smartly knew I’d need some day. I documented the experience on Instagram, including the pretty awesome results. I’m a tough critic, and while I’ve certainly had better soufflé, mine was at least pretty and decently tasty for a first try. I already know where I can improve next time. And I’m looking forward to tackling risotto with them next week. Also cooking-related—and something completely different, silly, and well, smile-inducing—check out Leo’s Amazing Kitchen on YouTube. This local 8-yearold has been cooking his way through quarantine—everything from chicken tenders and blueberry muffins, to banana bread and mashed potatoes. He’ll have you inspired before you can say—dinner’s ready!

HOT GOSSIP: What Plaza condo-board president is moving out because the prison-metal balconies became too conﬁning in quarantine?

JUNE 2020

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OVERHEARD “His new house? Well… it exudes all the charm you’d expect from a 1950’s split level.”

PROBABLY the biggest losers for me on this quarantine roller coaster have been my fitness and social life. Supporting local restaurants by ordering takeout feels and tastes good. What doesn’t is when I occasionally put on a pair of non-elastic pants. It’s been brutal. Without my scheduled gym times and personal trainer appointments, my physical activity has taken a sudden nosedive. And socially, I miss my friends. So, in an attempt to kill two birds with one stone, I started scheduling “walking dates.” Every Monday, I run through a mental list of friends and schedule out the week with appointments to meet a different friend in their neighborhood every day at 6 p.m.— and then we walk. At six feet apart, we catch up in a way that no digital Zoom call could ever fulfill. Another plus: I’ve been getting to see a diverse cross-section of our city, up close and on foot, one evening at a time.

For more intense workouts, I’ve had to go digital. My trainer set me up with an alternating, tri-weekly routine. But left to my own devices, I’ve not been terribly accountable. I need someone “there” to push me. Or, at least on an iPad screen. Fortunately, Jacory Harold [@ jakkofit on Instagram] also periodically hosts some live “booty and bands” classes to at least try to dent the effects of a never-ending stream of food arriving at my door. The classes are free, but you’d be a fool not to tip. If you’re wobbly the next day, you did it right. Oh, and he also does Zumba. Another option; In lieu of going into The Body Lab for their Megaformer machine workouts that I’ve praised in these pages before—are their live video workouts on Facebook (past sessions are archived there for non-live viewing). These workouts are free as well—and also an efficient use of time. Just like with the machines at the studio, the pros there know how to bust your butt without any equipment. Check ‘em out, and then maybe buy a couple classes on their website, in paying-it-forward gratitude, to use when we can all ugly-sweat together in person.

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Our Man

IN KC GIVING BACK IT WILL SURPRISE no one that among my

OVERHEARD “If you were around for Myspace, you’re too old for TikTok. Resist the urge—you’re embarrassing yourself.”

out-on-the-town engagements, I spend quite a bit of time at charitable functions and fundraisers—of all stripes, sizes, and colors. I’ve had the incredible pleasure of documenting so many of them here— and look so forward to writing about them again soon. We live in a generous and engaged city where people are seemingly always willing to spare a dollar, and our robust social-events calendar reflects that. Lately though, with galas, dinners, parties, and festivals all canceled or postponed, I’ve noticed a groundswell of alternative solicitations creeping to fill this void. With every scroll on social media, there are virtual tip jars and T-shirt sales and solo concerts—all vying for generous Kansas Citians to Venmo or Cash-app money to an individual who’ll, in return, distribute the funds to any number of affected classes—from displaced personal trainers and country club workers to bartenders, servers, and trombone players. (I have actually seen each of these.) If your livelihood has been disrupted, chances are high that someone is selling a T-shirt with the promise of helping ‘you.’ And

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as this pandemic has endured, I’ve noticed these well-intentioned pleas gradually increase in persistence, creativity, and volume. Based on reception and comments, it seems that many have been successful in their quest to raise cash—which, on the surface, is great, right? But it’s made me wonder—when did it become en vogue to look past the trusted organizations who’ve served our community well—and god-willing, will be there for us when all this is over? When did an opaque T-shirt sale or virtual tip jar become the new United Way? I understand this may sound controversial. And there’s no right or wrong way to give or express generosity. But there are smart ways. For instance, our premiere local food bank, Harvesters Community Food Network, has the network and buying power to provide three meals for a $1 donation. Think about that. HOT The money you may have given GOSSIP: to someone on Facebook to buy grocery-store gift cards and disWhat local Italian tribute like a mystery Santa to restaurant is reportedly people they know who are in still full speed ahead on opening a sister wine bar need could have fed dozens or in the River Market? hundreds instead of a select few. Many of our city’s gold-standard charities have been around for de-

cades and are qualified experts in equitably and efficiently providing goods and services to those in need. It’s actually rather bold for anyone to assume one could match that experience—or do better. I choose to believe that every new fundraiser startup and ambitious money redistributor has genuinely good intentions and is merely finding ways to satisfy the nagging urge to help people in need. We all feel compelled to help. And to that end, I humbly suggest this. Pull up your calendar, and search for the events you’ve scratched off due to cancellation or indefinite postponement. The pandemic may have interrupted that organization’s ability to host you, but it didn’t interrupt their ongoing obligations or the long list of people who rely on their services. In fact, the obligations, costs, and quantity of people who need them have all likely grown—coupled with annual fundraiser revenue they desperately count on; now lost. So consider resisting the urge to spirit away your money toward something new, and redirect it to where it would have been headed all along. And if you’re able, bump it up a bit to meet the exponentially growing need. Because these organizations have been here for our community in good times and bad—and if not forgotten, they’ll be here in good times again.

So, KC—where do you want to go? XO

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Arts & Culture

IN KC

John Pryor THE FOUNDER OF MADISON FLITCH ANSWERS FOUR QUESTIONS by

Judith Fertig

ohn Pryor has come home to Kansas City after a stint in Boston’s corporate tech culture. He and his wife Megan met at Kansas State; Pryor has a graduate degree in history and another in theology. Today, he finds history and “soul” in a way he never expected. He founded Madison Flitch in 2016—“Madison” from his family and “Flitch” from the old English word for a wood slab. With traditional skills and master craftsmanship, he creates heirloom pieces with a modern design sense, using a locally sourced, tree-to-table approach. He also works in stone and metal to achieve “furniture as art.” Recently during the COVID-19 crisis, Pryor began making custom protective masks, donating one to first responders for every one sold. The same thoughtful process goes into this endeavor. Says Pryor, “We studied CDC-led research on how to maximize the effectiveness of fab-

JUNE 2020

photo by

Nicole Bissey

ric masks, NIH research on the effectiveness of non-woven fabric for filters, and university research on synthesizing materials to ensure the success of a fabric mask. We then connected with a research and innovation department at a hospital in Minnesota to help with the design; from there the filter pouch was developed. We made a few improvements to improve fit, and the first Madison Flitch face mask was born.” INKC: You give old, discarded, and diseased trees a new life. How do you find the “soul” of each tree? Pryor: At Madison Flitch we’re always looking for trees that have the most character, which we find through old-growth trees grown in urban areas. Ninety-nine percent of the wood available in stores comes from trees grown in managed forests by big businesses—and they want them to grow fast, straight, and without much character so as to maximize

| 36 | INKANSASCITY.COM

profit. By harvesting urban trees, we’re able to find the old-growth trees that distinguish themselves through their natural beauty, grain pattern, and color. INKC: How does working with wood feed your soul? Pryor: Working with wood is something of a meditative act, but it’s

not really about me. Much of the value in my work is by taking trees destined for the mulch pile and preserving their beauty in the community. My work celebrates Kansas City, its beauty, and the community through tangible, real goods that you can see and touch in a space. By using our original, creative designs to platform the beauty of the wood, we serve the community’s need for beautiful spaces— we also make Kansas City proud; there’s nothing more soul-giving than selling one of our pieces to an outsider in New York or Los Angeles who feels they’ve discovered a fresh take on wood in furniture. INKC: What stories do trees tell? Pryor: Much of a tree’s story comes from its place, history, or the

Every Option of Wood Flooring

grain character itself. One tree we harvested came from a 150-yearold black walnut tree harvested from the edge of the Missouri river. It was there when the first settlers to Kansas City arrived! More tangibly, the soil and water conditions in the Kansas City area and beyond in the Midwest give our trees unusual color and grain patterns. Wood is like wine in that way, in that the terroir of a region gives it unusual characteristics. Black walnut, for example, is nicknamed “Missouri black gold” due to its rich, dark color—it’s so prized that people in China pay an exceptional premium for it.

Every Type of Carpet

INKC: You came back to Kansas City after living in Boston. How

has this nurtured your dream? Pryor: I lived and worked in the Crossroads neighborhood and was

received with incredible hospitality from the Kansas City arts community. Their generosity encouraged me to keep Madison Flitch in the neighborhood permanently, despite the costs, in order to add another creative arts gallery to the neighborhood. madisonﬂitch.com

Open to the Public Free Financing Full Service Installation -or- Carry Out 127th & Metcalf KCWholesaleCarpet.com Madison Flitch Yin Yang martini tables.

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Arts & Culture by

IN KC

Judith Fertig

THE ASSASSINS NO, we’re not talking about the COVID-19 assassin, but one from long ago—Hitler. In Night of the Assassins, New York Times bestselling author Howard Blum, a contributing editor at Vanity Fair, tells the untold story of Hitler’s plot to kill FDR, Churchill, and Stalin. That’s quite a to-do list, even for a dictator. It’s 1943 and with the war almost lost, Hitler sends a team of Nazi commandos into Iran for a secret conference in Tehran where the Allied leaders will gather. Hitler hopes that if the three leaders are assassinated, he might get a better peace proposal from their replacements. FDR’s secret service agent Mike Reilly, from a Montana silver-mining town, gets wind of this development. He must overcome his suspicion of Stalin’s right-hand man to foil this plot and save the western world. Co-presented by Rainy Day Books and The Kansas City Public Library, Blum will speak in the Truman Forum at the Plaza Library on Wednesday evening, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. rainydaybooks.com

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L I G H T I N G

VIRTUAL ART STUDIO

WITH CLASSES POSTPONED at many art venues, including the Kansas City Art Institute, would-be art students must turn to virtual instruction. Luckily, we have a Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Summit artist teaching virtual drawing with a little help from a rediscovered 19th-century artist and lithographer, Charles Bargue, whose methods helped guide the first creative steps of Vincent Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso. Online students follow artist Cody Wheelock, founder and instructor of Fount Atelier of Fine Art, through drawing fundamentals, Bargue drawing, and color theory, by video, then Zoom conference to ask questions or show their work for critique. With a Master of Arts degree from Boston University and a love for plein air painting, Wheelock created the program based on classical, sequenced training that 19th-century artists would have received at the great academies of Europe. Students can sign up for one month or several months. Visit the virtual studio at fountatelier.com/virtual-studio.

JUNE 2020

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Arts & Culture BY

IN KC

Judith Fertig

THE MUSEUM COMES TO YOU ONE OF THE UNEXPECTED BENEFITS of social distancing and quarantine is learning to do things differently. We have balcony concerts, driveway visits, and meetings by video conferencing. Now we can visit the Nelson-Atkins through its own channel on YouTube. All we have to do is subscribe by clicking on the red Subscribe button on the screen, no charge. What opens up is a rich archive of virtual treasures. If you missed a lecture or an exhibit, if you wish you could see your favorite painting or sculpture again, or if you just wish you could walk those halls, then the Nelson-Atkins Youtube channel is the next best thing. Check under Playlists for lengthy Auditorium Talks such as When Women Ruled the World about women in power in ancient Egypt, short instructional drawing videos on Nelson-Atkins @Home, and interviews with artists in The Plains Indians: Artists of Sky and Earth as well as events highlighted in this section that you might have missed. youtube.com/user/nelsonatkinsmuseum

Collage artist Arthur Amiotte in The Plains Indians: Artists of Sky and Earth.

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ART AT HOME II: DO-IT-YOURSELF DURING THIS TIME of social distancing and confinement, people around the world have started imitating famous works of art, sharing their selfies on social media. Not surprisingly, Kansas Citian Jean Charles Foyer has joined in. A former research assistant at the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum in St. Louis, named after his grandmother, Foyer confesses to a love of historical costumes. With one foot in Kansas City and the other in Normandy—he was born and raised in France—it’s no wonder that Foyer’s artful Facebook photos have a Gallic twist. A little time on his hands plus “creativity and a lot of junk at my house” resulted in this series of fun frames, says Foyer. Take his rendition of the famous Bayeux Tapestry, for example. This long, long, long needlework from the 11th century on display at the Museum of Bayeux celebrates the triumph of hometown guy William, Duke of Normandy, aka William the Conqueror. Foyer dressed up like three of the nobles in one scene, photoshopping himself into one image. Or the equestrian portrait Napoleon Crossing the Alps, painted by Jacques-Louis David. To get the pose of victorious, sword-wielding Napoleon on a rearing stallion, Foyer used a bicycle and a toy pony with hilarious results. Check out Jean Charles Foyer’s work on Facebook. facebook.com/ jeancharles.foyer

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‘Tis But an Intermission SPONSORED CONTENT

PLAY A PART IN HELPING THE HEART OF AMERICA SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL CONTINUE By Katy Schamberger

ow that theatres across the globe are temporarily dark, one atre, and something that Garrett hopes will keep people connected in the comof William Shakespeare’s most celebrated lines resonates ing months, even when they’re not able to gather for events like the festival. more than ever: “That’s what theatre does—it touches elements of our own lives and “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players…” makes us laugh or cry or think or all of the above,” she says. “If you’re a person This year marks an unanticipated milestone for Kansas City’s beloved Heart who has experienced that and it’s part of your ongoing life, you miss it—feelof America Shakespeare Festival: the first postponement in the festival’s history. ing the energy of other people, sitting in the dark, engaged in a story together. Yet for Sidonie Garrett, Executive Artist Director, the show must go on. GarIt’s that visceral response, community laughter—don’t we all miss that?” rett says she and fellow theatre leaders are all grappling with the same questions. The silver lining of the current challenges is that there are still oppor“We’re talking more than we ever tunities for people to come togethhave to each other,” she says. “We’re er. In this case, it’s donating to the trying to work through various sceHeart of America Shakespeare Fesnarios: how are we going to move fortival, which will help ensure both ward? What do you do if your entire the continuity and accessibility of programmatic output centers on peothis hometown treasure. ple gathering?” “We’re different than anything Just as businesses in a variety of else in town,” Garrett says. “We’re industries have embraced video-cona professional theatre company that ferencing platforms like Zoom to performs for donations only. We’re stay connected, Garrett has shifted in a park and you get to sit on the some of the festival’s programming grass, share food with your neighto a virtual environment. bors—the whole experience is a One example? The festival’s ancommunity event. Our goal is that nual summer camps, a 24-year tradino one is left outside who wants to tion and an integral part of an overarcome in. We’ve eliminated the barching mission to make the arts—and rier of buying a ticket, so you can more specifically, theatre—as accessimply walk into the park, sit on the Actor John Rensenhouse, Prospero in The Tempest. Photo by: Brian Collins sible as possible. Camps kick off on ground and watch a play.” June 1 and include sessions for several That accessibility is the result of age groups: 5-7, 8-11, 12-14 and 15-18. Pivoting to virtual events has been an adanother community principle that the festival so thoroughly embodies: people justment, Garrett says, but the format does offer some advantages. giving what they can so that others can participate. “One of the exciting things about virtual camps is that if your kid has a “Every year, our community provides this for themselves and for other friend they don’t get to see, or a cousin in Nebraska, they could all sign up for people,” Garrett says. camp and spend time together in a virtual way,” she says. She hopes that this year won’t be any different. Donations will continue Camp enrollment is open now on the Heart of America Shakespeare Festo support the festival’s operations, which keep the organization running all tival’s website (kcshakes.org), and Garrett anticipates classes, presentations year long and fund other programming, like summer camps. Scholarships are and events in the fall. available for kids who want to attend camp but can’t afford it. Of course, there’s still a glaring omission: the festival’s signature summer With so many organizations and businesses in need right now, Garrett production, during which Kansas City’s Southmoreland Park is filled with theknows it can be a challenge to decide how to best allocate support. She proatregoers toting picnic meals and beverage coolers, ready for a performance poses this: for theatregoers planning to attend this year’s festival, donate what under the stars. you would have given at the gate and spent on tickets and refreshments. That Garrett purposefully selected Shakespeare’s The Tempest as this year’s way, you’ll help protect the continuity of the festival and know that you played performance. Now, the event will be rescheduled for summer 2021, and Garrett a role (no pun intended!) in sustaining a place where “people learn and grow says the play’s major themes will resonate just as much in the year to come. emotionally and collectively share,” Garrett says. “When I chose The Tempest for this year, I really felt like, given the feel of Don’t forget to save the date for The Tempest, coming to Southmoreland the general landscape, I wanted to do a play about magic, hope, love, human Park in summer 2021. And remember, this, too, shall pass. connection and redemption,” she says. “I wanted to do something that would “We will be able to come together again; it’s just a matter of when and bring people together, give us some escapism and hope. That will hold true how,” Garrett says. “For now, we’re simply taking an intermission.’ next summer, I think, after what we’ve been collectively experiencing.” That collective experience is already such a critical component of live theFor information and to donate, visit www.kcshakes.org.

Behind the Music

IN KC by

Timothy Finn

Beau Bledsoe

Beau Bledsoe with his son Aidan.

eau Bledsoe performs in two Kansas City groups that are about as socially distanced as you can get on the music spectrum: He plays guitar and oud in Ensemble Iberica, which plumbs and explores the music of Iberia, a region that includes parts of Spain and Portugal; and he plays guitar in Slim Hanson and the Poor Choices, a true-grit classic-country/honky-tonk orchestra. As disparate and distant as the bands are from one another, his inclusion makes sense when you consider his upbringing and how it shaped his pursuit of music. Bledsoe was raised in Arkansas, where his mother directed a church choir and where his grandmother drove a yellow Cadillac equipped with a CB radio and an eight-track player “that always had something good in it. Honky-tonk and hymnals made up much of my early childhood. His tastes would evolve dramatically: to British heavy metal, then to various flavors of world music. And he developed a fondness (fetish?) for all stringed instruments. These days, Bledsoe and his wife, Zhanna Saparova, are raising two children in northeast Kansas City, and music is an integral part of their upbringing. Bledsoe recently answered questions from In Kansas City about how his childhood led him into his many music worlds and how he is passing that along to his children. His son and latest music partner, Aidan, also pitched in his two cents on this passing of the torch.

JUNE 2020

When did music first become a significant part of your life? Beau Bledsoe: I’m certain that it had a huge role in making me who I am, but not in a “took up the family business” kind of way. I probably eavesdropped on 3,000 hours of my mom coaching private drama students, but I can’t act my way out of a paper bag. I probably wasted several hundred pounds of water-based clay at one end of my grandmother’s workbench while she sculpted glorious abstracts in oil base at the other end, but I couldn’t sculpt a credible-looking bunny rabbit if my life depended on it. One uncle was a hired-gun keyboard player, another was the art director for big-time film and TV projects. Everyone was passionately involved in the arts, but no one was leaving a set of footprints that I felt like I needed to follow. What was absolutely clear, though, was that art and music were home for me. Dark theaters, rehearsal rooms, studios, workshops that smell like turpentine: They’re not just a comfort zone; they’re blissful. What bands or albums first influenced and inspired you? BB: Music was a social thing performed in homes and at church, and those were my earliest memories. It wasn’t until my teenage years that I rejected all of that music, as any good teenager should, and found my own music.

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At around 14, I started playing in a local R&B act with a bunch of older players who exposed me to all kinds of music and lifestyles. In high school, the classical-guitar instructor from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Michael Carenbauer, visited me and I started taking classes after school with him at the university. My homeroom teacher was kind enough to drive me to my guitar lessons every day. There was also a Japanese eye doctor, Jesse Tan, who lived in Little Rock and was a wonderful classical guitarist and collector. Dr. Tan let me spend hours playing his high-end Spanish guitar collection. Those instruments actually taught me more than many of my instructors. What were the first guitars you owned? BB: My first guitar was one of those little Gene Autry painted-cowboy guitars. I later mowed enough lawns to buy a used Sears and Roebuck Les Paul copy that I played for years. In high school I worked at a music store called Stonehenge Music Company and started collecting all kinds of cool instruments and amplifiers. You name it, I had one at some point. Who were the first bands/artists that you listened to in earnest? BB: MTV came out in 1981 and reached our market a few years later. This was the peak of the “new wave of British heavy metal” movement, and that was my thing. I had super-long hair, Nike high tops, and the obligatory denim jacket. During that time I was influenced by everything from Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple to Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. When did your interest in world music and other music cultures start and what prompted it? BB: Our library in high school had a great record collection and that is where I discovered the flamenco guitarist Sabicas and the great classical guitarist Andres Segovia. I bought a second-hand Spanish guitar, and this started my interest in music from other places in the world. I would eventually travel and seek instruction from musicians in other genres. Who are your greatest inspirations in that music world? BB: The Roma. They were the first pollinators of so much of the music that exists now. I’ve had a few Romani teachers from large musical dynasties, and they’ve had a tremendous impact on me and how I teach my son to be a musician.

JUNE 2020

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Behind the Music

IN KC

Describe the lure of those genres/styles of music. BB: The guitar can be an express pass to truly intimate environments that often take years of trust to build. In my experience, if you know traditional or folkloric songs, you can get to the dinner table pretty fast and make lasting, life-long relationships. This is how I’ve been studying music for the last couple of decades. I never know what genre is going to be next. It all just seems to pop out of nowhere, and I’ve learned to just go with it. When and why did you move to Kansas City?

and it’s in a language I can understand and sing. Plus, half of the fun of performing country music is putting on the boots, shirts, and a nice Stetson. You and your wife are raising two children. How has your upbringing influenced how you raise them? BB: Music is mandatory. We believe it should be just like all of the other subjects in school, and we make them practice. We don’t expect them to be musicians when they grow up, but they will certainly be musical, and they’ll know how to make music with other people.

BB: I moved to KC in 1993 to attend grad school at the UMKC Con-

servatory of music. While visiting a friend at the Kansas City Art Institute, I went to a late-night jam at the Mutual Musicians Foundation one night and knew I had to move here. I made my decision on the steps of Nelson-Atkins Museum.

You teach your 14-year-old son, Aidan, and perform with him. What wisdom and advice are you passing along? BB: What I’m hoping to impart to him is a sense of competence, survival, and belonging. I’m teaching him songs from my childhood; my 6-year-old daughter, Maya, is learning them as well. When they sing The Poor Choices is so different from your otherOur projects. What Commitments to You.songs with me and other people, it gives him a sense of being part of something larger. does that band satisfy musically that other projects don’t? • Highest level of customer service and expert care • Doctors will always informed of the patient's status & progress Aidan had become quite good at improvising vocal harmony with BB: Slim Hanson is one of my oldest friends in Kansas City, andbe I’ve • Quick results and happy patients other singers as well as being a fine bass player. He is fortunate enough always been a fan of his music. He came to me for some flamenco guitar to be a bass student of Valerie Bell at the Harmony Project KC lolessons and I had just bought a Telecaster, so I roped him into starting cated in our neighborhood of northeast Kansas City. It’s a wonderful a country band with me. after-school orchestral program that remedies the deep cuts in the arts I often study and perform music from cultures that are far removed programs at our public schools. It looks a lot like what I had available to from my upbringing, so no matter how many years I work in those me when I was growing up. genres, I’m always a foreigner. My greatest satisfaction with performing Artists and musicians have special skill sets to deal with times country music is that I know exactly what it is. I get all the metaphors,

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like now, and I want him to have that adaptive attitude. Aidan also has his own checking account and has learned to deal with his own accounting. All of these skill sets will surely help him with whatever he chooses to do with his life. Let’s bring in Aidan for a bit here. Aidan, why did you choose the bass? Aidan Bledsoe: My dad brought home a large upright bass when I was very little that belonged to Gerald Spaits, and I was immediately drawn to it. We have many instruments in our house but the bass really stood out to me. I can play a few chords on the guitar, and I love to sing. I would like to learn to play the flute this year. What are your dad’s best qualities as a teacher? AB: He always corrects my notes if I play my scales out of tune and helps me to act like a professional. He also takes me everywhere. What are your long-term music plans? AB: I hope to keep learning more songs and play with more people in

my city. I’d like to someday work at an instrument shop and learn to make string instruments. Beau, back to you. You are one of the founders of the Heartland Song Network. Tell us about that project and its mission. BB: The idea for this network was born at the 2020 Folk Alliance International Conference in New Orleans. A group of like-minded people

from a variety of backgrounds began meeting informally in Kansas City to articulate a vision and create a structure for elevating the art of the song and songwriting. My personal interest is around the industry side of things. Co-founder Erin McGrane [Victor and Penny] and I have been organizing webinars with industry specialists to address some of the holes in our local music economy, such as publishing and talent representation. Finally, June is the month we celebrate Father’s Day. How has fatherhood changed you? BB: My first realization was that I was no longer the center. Parenthood does that to you instantly, and it’s a profound shift. I found myself moving into the role of mentoring other artists in the last few years, which I assume is just a natural process of aging and being a parent.

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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Lift Your Spirit DEMDACO’S NEW ARTISAN-BASED STORE COMES TO THE LEGENDS

By Michael Mackie

hen giftable product manufacturer DEMDACO announced they were opening a new concept at Legend’s Outlet Kansas City this spring, we had oh-so many questions. The obvious one was, “Wait, right now?” Turns out, the company’s burgeoning, inspirational product line is exactly what the metro needs—well, as soon as the stay-at-home measures are lifted. “For us, it is the perfect time because of what our brand is authentically about. Our mission statement simply says: ‘We strive to Lift the Spirit in consumers, in each other, and in our communities,’” says Nate Fraley, creative services director. “The store represents an opportunity to live that mission and be a source of inspiration and hope right now.” The expansive 2,460-square-foot DEMDACO store’s original opening was planned for last October, but building delays pushed that back to this spring. The new opening date? April 9th—right in the middle of a pandemic juggernaut that left the retailer scrambling. Undaunted and unfazed, they are now anticipating a mid-June soft opening where homebound consumers can finally get a first look at the company’s jaw-dropping new digs. With an artist-centric product line a milelong, the store will offer an exclusive range of gifts, including home décor products, holiday and seasonal gifts, baby gifts, self-care apparel and accessories, and more.

We want to help

After weeks and weeks of being hunkered down, Fraley says this shop will be the perfect outlet to do some much-needed shopping—or not. “Regardless of whether guests make a purchase, our products and store experience are really a tool, a vessel to meet people’s emotional needs— because we all need a little comfort, love, or joy,” he says. “Long before any of this happened, we were a brand about being there in times of comfort, and in a lot of ways—now more than ever—we can help. We want to help.” The creative collection of artisan items is just one component of the store. Another is the warm, inviting atmosphere the shop offers. For the DEMDACO team, the design is about guests getting out and about, but still feeling like an inviting, homey oasis. “Conceptually, it’s an open space built with the genuine intent that we want to grow together with our customers. We want people to come in to hang out and connect,” he says. “We’re going to have a coffee shop, proudly serving Messenger Coffee and Ibis baked goods, and feature plenty of local brands.” And before you ask—yes, there’s free WIFI and a fire-

Follow DEMDACO at:

place. (Count us in!) If you’re not familiar, DEMDACO is a well-known, seasoned wholesale brand who “has serviced thousands of other retailers for over 20 years,” says Fraley. Their new concept is still a work in progress, and the company hopes to glean insight from the customers themselves. Think of it as a unique, shopper-friendly testing lab. “This store is set up so we can learn as a retailer—so we can gather best practices from visitors. We want to use those insights to build a meaningful experience for all the customers we serve.”

An artisan-based company

Once the doors are open, Fraley anticipates people will visit the store as a respite from being cooped up—and for some long-overdue retail therapy. “Our range includes everything from baby products to comfort fashion to holiday décor to kitchenware. Yes, it’s broad. But it’s so broad because we meet the needs of varying emotions. Take our Giving Collection for example—a line that’s all about soothing the body and soul.” He mentions their company’s soft, fuzzy, high-quality Giving Bear, Giving Blanket, and Giving Shawl, which tactile consumers love. “DEMDACO is an artisan-based company,” he says. “Quality is a very important aspect to us—as is the hand-artisan touch, whether that’s local, regional, or global.” Speaking of, the store will carry several local designers, including Susan Lordi—“a sculptor and creator of Willow Tree, one of our most popular product lines,” says Fraley. “There are also some local jewelry designers, such as Janesko and 74 Harley Street.”

Our time to shine

Based in Leawood, this is the company’s first consumer-facing store ever. “Never has the consumer been able to experience our brand in this way. It’s going to be a fully-immersive brand experience,” says Fraley. “We’ll feature every aspect of what’s important to us—including our charitable activities, community involvement, how we celebrate artists, and how we build up the spirit of people through kindness and storytelling.” DEMDACO is putting the finishing touches on the store, so that its grand opening is, indeed, grand. The staff is excited to see guests walk into the store for the first time. “We’re moving forward because this is our time to shine,” says Fraley. “Timing could not be better. When people need us, we’ll be there—whenever they’re ready.”

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Look

IN KC

Fashion

R. Murphy

Dress for Success

HERE ARE JUST A FEW ACCESSORIES THAT WILL TAKE YOUR LOOK TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

ho else has a killer Zoom background game at this point in your life? If you raised your hand, then you know that how you look from the waist up has become much more important in today’s remote work climate. Styling for teleconferencing is just as important as it is when you go into the office. So we asked stylist Abby Wood for a few tips on making sure that your face time makes the right impression.

DRESS HEAD TO TOE. Just because you are working

from home, doesn’t mean you aren’t working. And just because people can only see you from the waist up, doesn’t mean we should only look polished from the waist up. Dressing “head to toe” in a look that feels “like you” will bring you confidence that will show in your face, posture, and general mood.

Wood loves jewelry designer Sierra Winter’s new collection. This chunky necklace makes a bold but polished statement against a solid color crew-neck tee. The Hank necklace, $259, sierrawinterjewelry.com

WEAR COLORS THAT COMPLEMENT YOUR SKIN TONE. If you are porcelain-skinned, video

conferencing is not the place to wear your favorite blush-colored top. Wearing colors that blend in with your skin tone will make your facial features fade. Wear colors that complement your skin tone. Usually, this means wearing more contrasting colors.

What’s natural but also feminine? Rattan. Snag one of these rattan headbands to keep your flya-ways tamed and add a summery feel to any outfit. Rattan headband, $14, ebandcompany.com

THROW ON SOME JEWELRY. Is your WFH style

casual with a side of loungewear? Add some flair to that basic T-shirt with some of your favorite pieces of jewelry. With so many styles out there, jewelry is an easy, yet effective way of expressing your personal style. Don’t underestimate the power of a great statement earring.

Stylist Abby Wood. Photo by

Hats are a huge trend right now so put a lid on it. Wood loves this creamy ivory fedora with a jacquard band. Bonus? Bad hair days, be gone. Emerson Jacquard band hat, $88, modernsocietyapparel.com

Heather Morrow.

JUNE 2020

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Look

IN KC Beauty

R. Murphy

Man Up

omewhere between metrosexuals and lumbersexuals, we all learned a lesson— men’s skincare matters. Whether you’re bearded or clean-shaven, taking care of your skin and/ or beard should be priority number one. Sure, you may not have a 17-step skincare regimen, but you can definitely treat your skin right using natural, locally made products. Cleanse and moisturize, fellas, and don’t forget the sunscreen. Skin cancer is no man’s friend.

BREATHE DEEP

Not a bath guy? No need to skip the pampering just because you want to stand up to bathe. Try a shower steamer, which releases aromas similar to a bath bomb but doesn’t require you to soak in your own dirt. Place one of the three fragrance blends—Be Happy, Breathe, or Wake Up just outside the spray of the water and activate with a splash or two. Bear Soap Co. Shower Steamer, $5, bearsoapcompany.com, or at the Soap Bar (Westport). BEST FACE FORWARD

Start with a clean slate. No, not every facial cleanser comes in a bottle. Kalin Callewaert’s Stone and Spruce Supply company line has many great options for cleansing. We like the Aloe and Oatmeal Exfoliating bar. With a bit of grit from the ground oatmeal, and moisture from aloe, coconut oil, and olive oil, it strikes the balance between scrub and soothing, all with the scent of peppermint, rosemary, and bergamot. Stone and Spruce Aloe+Oatmeal Exfoliating Bar, $6.50, stoneandspruce.com

TEND YOUR WHISKERS

If your beard tends to get a bit dry, give it the TLC it deserves. Messner Bee Farm uses the magic of beeswax, propolis (another bee byproduct), and lanolin to make a beard oil with a bit more viscosity so it clings to beard hair to give long-lasting moisture and soften both hair and skin. Messner Bee Farm Beard Oil, $12, messnerbeefarm.com

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2020 idealists of the year City Yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission is grounded in the unshakeable belief that we can all help make the world a better place. We are proud to recognize 10 individuals who embody the spirit of idealism. They show a commitment to improving Kansas City by making a difference in the life of one person, an organization, or an entire community. Idealists of the Year were nominated by sponsors of City Year Kansas Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day of Idealism on April 29, 2020.

Traci Bryan Nominated by GEHA

Katie Fitzgerald Nominated by Mariner Wealth Advisors

Jared Kastelein

Jackson Delay Nominated by The Kansas City Chiefs

Larry Flanagan Nominated by Great Range Capital

Lisa Phillips

Amy & Bob Dunn Nominated by JE Dunn

Michael Kanaley Nominated by Global Prairie

Britt Pumphrey

Janet Erwin Nominated by Polsinelli

City Year is an education-focused nonprofit that places tutors and mentors in schools to ensure more students are on track to graduate. Learn more at cityyear.org/kansascity

Central High School Nominated by City Year Kansas City

Nominated by CommunityAmerica Credit Union

Apache Innovative School Nominated by Terry & John Petersen

Look

IN KC

Wellness

Just Breathe by

ommmmmmmmm. That’s meditation, right? As anxieties rise, so does the demand for ways to de-stress and center. We spoke with Amy Zoe Schonhoff, the founder and guiding teacher of Mindfulness in the Heartland about tools for meditation newbies to get started. If you struggle to keep your mind on your meditation, Schonhoff says not to despair. “Meditation is a practice. There are a variety of forms of mediation and they help us practice mindfulness. I believe that most people can meditate but sometimes you need to find a way into it. A lot of people struggle with being still, so trying mindful movement can help. Slow hatha yoga, tai chi, or qi gong can help people become comfortable enough to settle into a more formal meditation practice,” she says. Schonhoff says that even on days when focusing seems hard, acknowledging that struggle is part of the process. “It’s really about being present. I’ve been practicing for years, and some days, I just have a busy mind. That’s okay. A big part of mindfulness is being kind to yourself too,” she says. To help you focus your efforts, here are some tools that Schonhoff recommends for the journey.

JUNE 2020

R. Murphy

ONLINE CLASSES

Schonhoff is leading classes in mindful communication, mindfulnessbased stress reduction and mindful family life for parents and teens. These classes normally meet weekly in person but Schonhoff also offers online options. mindfulheartland.com APPS

The Insight Timer is Schonhoff ’s favorite of the many meditation apps out there. Insight Timer offers more than 40,000 guided meditations in varying lengths, all for free. Set the timer for how long you have available and let the app be your guide. Schonhoff recommends starting with ten minutes and exploring from there. insighttimer.com BOOKS

Schonhoff bases much of her guidance on the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of the classic, Wherever You Go There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life. Another good entry-level option is A Path with Heart: a Guide Through the Perils and Promise of Spiritual Life by Jack Kornfield.

| 54 | INKANSASCITY.COM

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Living BY

IN KC

Stacy Downs

Hello, Sunshine! BRINGING BACKYARD FUN FRONT AND CENTER

ne of the positive things about the stay-at-home order in the spring is that people are hanging out in their front yards, waving and talking to passers-by. Yes, we all need each other—even from a distance! On my daily walks, I’ve observed neighbors sitting on their porch swings and drinking their coffee. Those with barely a stoop have turned their driveways into patios, wheeling their grills and backyard furniture up front. The winner in my neighborhood is a home that has four turquoise Adirondack chairs arranged in a cozy conversation area with a firepit in the middle—in their front yard! With summer on the horizon, here are some ways to soak up this season at home—no matter where you place your furniture.

RELAX There’s never been a better time to invest in one for reading and relaxing. With hammock stands, no perfect-tree scenario is required. Summer Day hammock, Ten Thousand Villages (Downtown Overland Park).

CHILL Keep a cooler stocked with water, La Croix, what have you. I love the new, fresh Yeti cooler colors, including chartreuse and coral. Yeti cooler, The Kansas City BBQ Store (Olathe).

GRILL Challenge yourself to up your grill game—try vegetables, fruit, pizza, and even dessert! We were gifted a new grill last year, and this year, I’m putting it to even more use. Hestan outdoor grill, Factory Direct Appliance (Lenexa).

SIP Master a signature cocktail or mocktail. There’s nothing like freshly made margaritas. I’ve been binge-watching MasterClass— — including the cocktail class—so I’m ready to try classics and new takes. Mezcaleras in lime, set of two, Upper Crust Pie Bakery (Downtown Overland Park).

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Stepping Up the Stairs THERE’S NO NEED to tread so lightly when it comes to the runner for your staircase. Designers such as Sara Noble recommend going bold, and summer is the right time to go fresh and bright. “Often, the staircase is the first thing you see when you walk into your home, so it’s good to make an impact,” says the owner of Noble Designs. “The carpet is the only soft space on the stairs—and it’s not like you can dress it up with throw pillows. Pattern and color from the carpet give the staircase importance.” Noble says there are more fashion-forward choices than ever before and at every price point. Colors include blues and pinks, and patterns include geometrics, abstracts, stripes, and animal prints. “I consider cheetah and antelope prints neutrals,” she says. Recent projects have swapped out the tired tan carpet of yesteryear with crisp, confident choices including a navy-and-white geometric by Stark on a curved grand staircase. A few of Noble’s other favorite carpet vendors for stairs include Stanton, Dash & Albert, and PFM Patterson Flynn Martin. In another home, Noble is custom-fitting a staircase runner with the pattern from a nearby area rug. “I like to show off the wood treads,” she says. “That solid footing combined with the soft anchor of the carpet makes a statement.”

JUNE 2020

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Living

IN KC BY

Stacy Downs

A New Store for All Seasons

or years, Jenny Steffens Hobick has run a successful online marketplace of home goods. Then earlier this year she realized a longtime dream—creating her own brick-and-mortar store. Just before spring, she opened JSH Home Essentials, one of five shops on a block in Westwood Hills, which also includes Hi Hat Coffee, Annedore’s Fine Chocolates, the Little Flower Shop, and the Little Shop Next Door. The shop showcases Hobick’s signature classic style of cream-colored walls and dark wood floors. Among her spring collections are Pickwick & Co. candles in JSH custom fragrances, table linens, throw pillows, baskets, botanical prints, and robin’s-egg blue enamelware. The products and recipes she develops signify each season. But then the stay-at-home order happened soon after opening, and she—temporarily—became an online-store only again. The positivity she showed on Instagram was inspired: “I thought that by setting up some pretty windows, I might be able to provide some window-shopping retail therapy to our neighborhood,” Hobick wrote. “I plan to update the window with new inspiration, recipes, and products each week. It will be something fun to get out of the house to look forward to. If you are local, swing by!” We’re looking forward to seeing it soon—and looking forward to the summer collection. jshhomeessentials.com

JUNE 2020

Clockwise from top left: The exterior of JSH Home Essentials. Willow basket planters. Blue enamal tart pan (ﬁnd the tart recipe on the website). Custom Pickwick & Co. candle.

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DON’T KNOW HOW TO CONTAIN YOURSELF? WE’RE HERE TO HELP

IF YOU DIDN’T get your containers planted in May, you still have a little time. We caught up with Kristopher Dabner, owner of the Greensman, on curb-appeal considerations for your potted plants. Here are three options: 1. Something Different. “The standard thing that people think about is using a flowering tropical like a hibiscus or an oleander,” Dabner says. “Instead of that, try an interesting shrub that you can later plant in your yard.” His suggestions: Try Ninebark such as Coppertina, which has a dark purple leaf, or Amber Jubilee, which features golden orange leaves.

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2. Anchored by A Trellis. Dabner suggests using a decorative obelisk trellis in containers. You can grow climbing vines such as Mandevilla, Morning Glory, or Moon Flowers. 3. An Easy Classic. Plant an interesting dwarf conifer in a pot like a globe spruce or pine on standard. “It will last for years,” Dabner says. Surround it with side plants such as geraniums, or trailing plants like Dichondra Silver Falls. A few other container tips from Dabner: • Get containers as big as you can get with as much planting room as possible. • You can make containers from things like galvanized metal tubs from the hardware store—just make sure to drill a drainage hole in the bottom. • If you have three or four containers you’re grouping together, make sure they flow together as one, harmonious arrangement.

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words by

Michael Mackie

photo by

Mona Miri

IN CONVERSATION WITH

Chris Cooper

hris Cooper is a classically trained actor—and seemingly serious to a fault given the sort of intense, dramatic roles for which he’s known. So when the Kansas City native—and Academy Award winner—was anything but stern during a 40-minute conversation from his home near Plymouth, Massachusetts, it was pause-worthy. The actor happily kibitzed on everything from his early start in local metro theater troupes to his stint at Mizzou to his first big break to being quarantined. Normally, celebrity interviews are polite verbal volley. This was an Olympic ping-pong match of Q&A, and Cooper was far more candid, chatty, and clever than the authoritative personas he readily portrays. Cooper has two new projects out, including Amazon Prime’s second season of the psychological thriller Homecoming and the upcoming political satire Irresistible, written and directed by Jon Stewart. (Yes, you read that right. Cooper is starring in a comedy.) Homecoming is available now, and Irresistible is being released in theaters and streaming on June 26. He says after an insane acting schedule last year, the recent pandemic downtime has done him good. Plus, he’s way, way ahead of all the projects he likes to do around the house. First of all, how are you? Really good. My wife and I have been hunkering down and taking things seriously. I have such a jump on spring cleaning. I am way ahead of the game. I have a list as long as my arm of things to do and I’m working through them while I’m home. There’s some good to it. Did your wife Marianne give you a honey-do list or are you keeping yourself busy? No, I really enjoy this stuff. I’m actually the guy who cleans up the house anyway. There’s so much outdoor work and getting the yard ready. I just opened the pool. Just getting things really in shape and enjoying it. I love to do it. I’m learning to garden and really enjoying it. When I lived in Kansas City, my dad and I raised cattle so that was a real big part—outdoor life. I just loved it. Working the ranch was very, very physical, and I loved it.

JUNE 2020

I want to know more about your days growing up in Kansas City. What were your stomping grounds? My stomping grounds were primarily in Brookside and Waldo and Westport. [pause] Well, and the Plaza. We did a big circle. I was born in Kansas City—and everybody for generations on both sides of the family were from Texas—so we went back down to Texas where Dad was going to continue his medical practice. He had just done his internship and residency in Kansas City. We stayed there about a year, but a doctor who was wanting to retire in Kansas City approached Dad for a partnership. It scared Dad to death to take on this other doctor’s practice, he didn’t know if he was ready. Mom adored her mom and dad who were in Houston and was afraid to leave them, but she knew if Dad took on this practice, he’d be ten years ahead in his career, because he’d already have all these patients in place. So we moved back to Kansas City—and at that time, I was about five and about to go into kindergarten at Border Star. Do you still have family in town? I lost my mother four or five years ago, but I do have a nephew who lives in Lee’s Summit.

‘‘

Kansas City was the perfect place to grow up. I had a glorious childhood. It couldn’t have been better.”

What is your fondest memory of KC? Because we just had a 50th high school reunion, it brought to mind that I’ve grown up with all these kids since kindergarten all the way through high school. I had some wonderful, wonderful friends and girlfriends. Kansas City was the perfect place to grow up. I had a glorious childhood. It couldn’t have been better. You got bitten by the theater bug when you were in high school— but it was all behind-the-scenes. Tell us about that. I was probably 16, 17, 18, and my friends were getting into a bit of

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What was your degree in? It was a general studies degree. It was pri-

marily for Vietnam vets who—if you could convince the powers that be that you knew what line of work you wanted to go into—you could more or less create your own curriculum. I knew where I was headed and I just loaded up on everything—history, English and everything I could connect to theater. There was a woman’s college right next door to MU, Stephens College. MU had no dance to offer and Stephen’s had jazz, ballet, East Indian dancing—so I got classes over there, which was pretty wonderful because in one respect I was a pretty shy guy and all this theater brought me out. What I’m getting at is one of the greatest things that ever happened to me in terms of busting loose was to take a class over at Stephens and be one of only three men in a class of 40 beautiful, young women and making a fool of myself in every dance class in front of these women. It was just the best thing that could ever happen to me. So, you’re a double threat. But can you sing? Oh, I originally wanted to be a lounge lizard. My folks took me on a trip to Las Vegas when I was about 14 or 15, and we stayed at the Desert Inn Hotel. I thought it was so cool—so mature and hip. I saw a lot of lounge shows. I loved to sing anyway—I was in the choir. I would sing every opportunity I could—church choir, the high school choir, state competitions. In that choir there was a male octet and I was one of the baritones. And I sang in a band.

Cooper stars with Joan Cusack and Hong Chau in season two of Amazon Prime’s Homecoming.

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This is new material. You are, indeed, a triple threat. Actor, dancer, and singer! What do you consider to be your first “big break” in the biz? It’s gotta be a play. I tell you what, when I moved to New York, I took classes with one of the great acting coaches, Wynn Handman, a disciple of The Neighborhood Playhouse. Within class, there was a big grapevine of information that I was totally unaware of. I found out that during springtime all the regional artistic directors would come to New York and audition actors for their following season. And, man, I just hit it right. Jon Jory, of Actor’s Theatre Louisville—in ’79 or ’80—set up an audition for me to read with him. I got several seasons of work there. The Actor’s Theater Louisville had a great literary department and lots of productions. While we were there, we would do one-act festivals where all of New York’s agents and managers would come down to look at the new meat to see if they wanted to hire them. Let’s talk about your two new projects— the Amazon Prime series, Homecoming and the Jon Stewart film, Irresistible. I have so many questions because they are both so wildly different roles. First of all—without giving too much away for folks who haven’t seen it—in Homecoming you play Leonard Geist, who sort of reluctantly created a biomedical product that takes on a life of its own. Tell me about your character. Was it based on anyone? No, no—it was totally, totally fiction. But we hoped the introduction of Leonard Geist would be interesting to the viewer. You’re led to believe that he’s a heavy corporate type who runs this institution that started out selling cleansers, detergents, and soaps. When he went back to Vietnam—he was a Vietnam vet—he found this certain berry which had great potential. He’s part scientist, part farmer, and part herbalist. He’s developed this berry to be used in many ways and in different quantities for said purposes. But he’s kind of an old hippie and he’d rather be out in the field developing these berries than be in the office. And from the first season, he has not kept his eye on the office, so some higher-up underlings have taken over and used this product in a pretty wicked way.

photo courtesy of amazon prime

petty crime here and there, and it was kind of freaking me out. I began to separate myself from some of the kids I hung out with. Along with that, fortunately I knew where my love of theater was. In the summer, I went over to Prairie Village—back then in the ’60s, there was a community theater called Barn Players Theater—I walked into that theater and talked to the artistic director and I said I will do anything, anything. I’ll work for free—if you need anything theater-wise that I can do. So it was a great foundation. From sweeping the aisles to standing in the wings watching productions as a scene shifter and then working my way back to the workshop and building and designing sets. The artistic director was kind enough to let me know the Jewish Community Center had another theater that some grad students were going to take over for the summer and asked if I would like to be the shop foreman to build the set. The production was Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. Remember Tom Berenger? He’s done lots of military movies. Anyway, he was cast as the newsboy that comes in in the second act. And Tom missed one of the matinees. So I had to step in real quick and learn the lines within an hour and go on stage. That was my first step onto the stage. And then I got serious about it—went to the University of Missouri in Columbia where I had some wonderful teachers and productions.

Your co-star is Janelle Monae, who hails from KCK. Even though you are in maybe one brief scene together, please tell me that off-camera you two kibitzed about growing up in Cowtown. We didn’t, we didn’t. It’s weird. You imagine folks hang out and have a lot of free time. We were under the gun and working easily 12- to 14-hour days and I have to say—in the best way—Janelle is kind of new to the business, so she was super serious about her portrayal and her character and she had a lot on her shoulders. I’m very aware of what actors go through. It was my point not to bug her and stay out of her way. I let her do her work because I could see she had a lot of responsibility headlining this second season. So we didn’t spend a lot of time together at all—other than ‘Good morning, how you doin’?’ That was it.

photo by daniel mcfadden\ focus features

photo courtesy of amazon prime

Duly noted. Now in Irresistible, you shift gears—substantially. I think I saw you smile and laugh more in this movie than your last dozen movies combined. It’s true. [laughs] I shocked myself when I saw it the first time. And now people know, ‘Oh, he does have teeth.’ Is it a comedy? A drama-dy? It’s a light, smart little comedy. Not heavily political. Jon [Stewart] had some points that he wanted to put out there for the viewing audience. If folks are familiar with Jon’s signature brand of comedy, then it’s certainly in this [movie]. It was wonderful to act with Steve Carell, and it was really interesting to see how those two guys worked together. It was good to be a little distance away from them as they were setting up lights and cameras. As we were going to shoot a scene, Jon and Steve would still be working on the script. They would trim and get to the nut of the comedy. It was a light, but serious conversation. That was unusual to the usual way of working. They’d be trimming just before we’d shoot. They’d shoot the scene as scripted and then let Steve Carell loose to improv or add any bits of comedy he wanted. My hat is off to him. That’s a whole talent I know nothing about. It was terrific to watch it happen. It’s a sharp satire of the political scene where you play a former marine colonel

Chris Cooper stars as Jack Hastings and Steve Carell as Gary Zimmer in Irresistible, a Focus Features release.

and now farmer who’s thrust into the political spotlight. Did you go after this role or did Jon Stewart come after you? Let’s see, as I remember—I was told about it. I got a look at the script and thought it was a no-brainer. I thought it was a great, fun piece to do. And then Jon and I talked over the phone. We had a 25-minute conversation. We talked over the script and he said, ‘Well, we’ll see what happens.’ And then three to four days down the road, I found out he wanted to cast me. Wait, wait, wait! Does this mean we’re going to see you in more comedies? Maybe? My wife and I have always brought up the fact that the one film I got the most recognition for—Adaptation, I won the Academy Award and all that business—was the closest I had come to a dry kind of humor. It’s funny, I rarely get approached for stuff like that, but would love that if something came along, I’d love to try and play more comedy.

Little Women is recently out on digital. How was shooting a pitch-perfect period piece? It was pretty remarkable. I was also working with Tom Hanks on A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Both were Sony productions and the production offices worked it out so that I finished in Pittsburgh with A Beautiful

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Day at midnight. They then drove me to the airport and Sony sent a Learjet to pick me up and six hours later, I’m in period costume and mutton chops shooting the biggest scene I had in Little Women. It was a tight fit but worked really well. It was like those actors who live in LA and just drive to work. I loved it being shot here in Massachusetts. You are truly the hardest working man in show business. I’m busy. It was a great, busy year. But with this quarantine, I’m recuperating from it all. I’ve been dying to ask … Don’t do that. [laughs] I’ve been dying to ask; do you enjoy going to award shows and events? And do you get starstruck? Well, you can, sure. It’s a mix of things. The Golden Globes and the Oscars, back then that was a really exciting time, but it gets a little old after a while. I appreciate the recognition and you do get starstruck and there are people I feel so lucky I had the opportunity to walk up to them and tell them how much I appreciate their work. Half of its business— and half of it is a lot of fun. Interview condensed and minimally edited for clarity.

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Kristen Griffen

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Mark Trujillo

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KEEPING KANSAS CITY MOVING words by

Katy Schamberger & Katie Van Luchene

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McGee Monica Howard and

MANY OF US WERE ABLE TO SOCIAL DISTANCE AND OBSERVE THE QUARANTINE FROM THE COMFORT OF HOME. ESSENTIAL WORKERS DIDN’T HAVE THAT LUXURY. HERE ARE SOME OF THEIR STORIES

Scott Lesch US Postal mail carrier

s a postman for more than 20 years, Scott Lesch has witnessed the way 9/11 and the financial disaster of 2008 and 2009 affected people on his South Kansas City route. Back then, he says, people wanted to talk about their fears, even share a hug. But COVID-19 is “completely different,” he says. “They’re even afraid to open their doors. I get a wave or thumbs up from behind windows.” It’s lonely, he admits. For the homeowners and for himself. “I’m a social animal; it’s why I love my job. Families move in, raise kids, get puppies they want to introduce me to. Show off their lawns, brag about their kids, talk about the loss of a loved one. I know it’s someone’s birthday when they get big, colorful envelopes. “But for the last several weeks I can go my entire day without seeing or talking to anyone until I get home to [his wife] Christina and the kids.” One recent Wednesday was different. Twila, an 80-year-old homeowner in Red Bridge, had gone to live with her son during the shelterat-home mandate. Five weeks later as he walked the neighborhood, he noticed her door was open. He stepped onto the porch and called out to see if everything was okay. Twila came out from the back room where she was gathering items and was nearly in tears at the sight of her friend. In years past, after such an absence, he would put his arm around her shoulder. But on this day, she said, “Thanks for caring about me,” from several feet away. “That’s what I do,” Lesch replied as he made his way to the next house on the street. —KVL

Mindy Earle Kansas City Police Department ofﬁcer

CPD Officer Mindy Earle is having the last laugh when it comes to her hygiene habits. “Before the pandemic, everyone made fun of me because I always carry hand sanitizer,” she says. “I feel very strongly about cleanliness!” In addition to hand sanitizer and 20 pounds of equipment and uniform, Earle wears personal protective equipment including a mask and gloves. She says it’s been a challenge to adapt to PPE guidelines, especially when she’s making split-second decisions when responding to a call. “Our jobs are so fast-paced,” she says. “One minute, you can be having a conversation, and the next, something bad happens and you go into help mode. We had a call where someone was holding a woman hostage. My only thought was, ‘Get out of the car, go get her.’ I realized later I wasn’t wearing a mask.” Police officers are no strangers to taking risks and working within dangerous conditions. The increased health and safety risks of the pandemic are, to Earle, just another facet of what she and her colleagues face. “In Shoal Creek, we have more tenured officers and some of them

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have acknowledged that they’re at risk but that won’t stop them from doing their jobs,” she says. “I admire that. It reminds me of the quality of people that I work with.” Earle noticed other changes in the types of calls, for example—less property crime and, unfortunately, an increase in domestic violence incidents. She’s also adjusted to a shift in the perception of police officers and their role in the community. “A lot of people are outside, doing what they’re supposed to be doing,” she says. “If we don’t have a call, we’ll go to the parks and talk with people, say hello. At first, it was sad—people thought we were there to tell them to go home. Now, they’ve seen that we’re here to be supportive, and as long as they do what they’re supposed to, everyone’s happy.” —KS

Monica Howard ICU nurse

n early April, Monica Howard wore a smile and a Chiefs sweatshirt when she and dozens of other nurses from HCA Midwest Health arrived at the New Orleans airport. They’d volunteered to serve at one of the country’s early COVID-19 hot spots. Howard would find little to smile about during two intense weeks of taking care of “the sickest people I’ve ever cared for,” she says. The long days and nights seemed to run together as she worked with ventilators, comforted scared patients and learned front-line experience she could take back to her role as an ICU nurse at Menorah Medical Center in Kansas City. Her mom met her at KCI at 7 p.m. on a Monday along with Monica’s dog McGee, named for the downtown garage where she’d found him. By 6:30 the next morning, she was back on duty at Menorah. Along with caring for patients’ physical needs, Howard and the medical staff members find ways to provide the family connections everyone craves at times like this. “We help them FaceTime with family members, and we’ll turn beds around to face the windows. The intensive-care unit is on the ground floor, and friends will gather outside a patient’s window to wave and blow kisses,” she says. “It gives the patients a spark of energy, and we feel it too.” Menorah’s groundskeepers have erected tents, so visitors have a place to stand when it rains. Whenever possible, Howard takes her lunch breaks sitting on a bench along the landscaped paths, daydreaming of the time when she can hang out with friends again and take McGee to a dog park. But until then, she checks her watch and goes back inside where she’s needed. —KVL

Mark Trujillo UPS package driver

n more than 30 years with UPS, Mark Trujillo has never seen the sustained volume of packages that’s resulted from the pandemic. “It’s different than Christmas,” he says. “At Christmas, you expect that, but we weren’t really prepared for such a big boost in volume.” Trujillo routinely clocks 12-hour days, working into the late evening hours to make deliveries that are now primarily residential—about 70 percent, he estimates. That’s a stark reversal from UPS’s typical customer

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CONTINUED ON PAGE

Game Day SHOP LOCAL FOR ALL THE BEST GIFTS FOR DAD THIS FATHER’S DAY PHOTOS BY

Aaron Leimkuehler

ON THE BOARD Clockwise from top: Deakin and Francis sterling race-car cufflinks, $460; Sterling and enamel roulette wheel cufflinks, $540; both from Mazzarese Jewelry (Parkway Plaza). Sterling marcasite gunmetal cufflinks, $595; Sterling and malachite cufflinks, $795; both from TIVOL, (Country Club Plaza and Hawthorne Plaza).

DOMINO EFFECT Clockwise from top: Peter Blair bow tie, $95; Hudson & Jane (Crestwood Shops). Omega Seamaster watch, $4,900; Mazzarese Jewelry. Zambeze Grace wallet, $375; Catâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s-eye cufflinks, $135; both from Hudson & Jane. John Hardy lapis lazuli bead bracelet, $595; John Hardy silver chain bracelet, $750; both from Meierotto Jewelers (North Kansas City).

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ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S IN THE CARDS Clockwise from top: Randolph Engineering sunglasses, $299; Hudson & Jane. Leather door hang, $32; Foxtrot Supply (Crossroads). David Yurman tigerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s-eye and sterling pocket knife, $495; Meierotto Jewelers. Shinola watch, $750; TIVOL. Orbitkey key organizer, $40; Ulah (Westwood). Deakin and Francis moneyclip, $180; Mazzarese Jewelry. Italo Ferriti pocket square, $50; Peters Clothiers (123rd & State Line). Pocket Square Clothing tie clip, $30; Houndtooth. Mark Shelton leather cuff, $90; Ulah.

WORD PLAY Clockwise from top: Leather long wallet, $108; Foxtrot Supply. Seaward & Stern pocket square, $95; Hudson & Jane. David Yurman 18k-gold charm necklace, $2,750; with DY agate tusk amulet, $725; DY compass amulet, $1,950; all from Meierotto Jewelers. David Yurman forged carbon ring, $3,400; David Yurman pietersite dog tag, $590; with DY box chain necklace, $295; all from TIVOL.

HIT THE MARK Clockwise from top: Houndtooth private label tie, $79; Houndstooth (River Market). Omega Seamaster chronometer, $5,200; Meierotto Jewelers. Secrid wallet, $110; Ulah. Byron pocket square, $50; Peters Clothiers.

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YOUR MOVE Clockwise from top: David Yurman tiger-eye bracelet, $495; TIVOL. Alpina watch, $1,395; Mazzarese Jewelry. Shinola card case, $125; TIVOL. Montblanc limited-edition rollerball pen, $975; Meierotto Jewelers. Tudor watch, $4,200; TIVOL. Italo Ferriti tie, $169; Peters Clothiers. Shelley Shrock cufďŹ&#x201A;inks, $60; Houndstooth. Dibi walnut veneer tie clip, $38; Ulah.

words by

Cindy Hoedel

IN CONVERSATION WITH

Nicky Lopez

f all the things nobody expected in this spring of coronavirus, getting cheated out of your first-ever Major League Baseball season opener as a young player ranks right up there. Second baseman Nicky Lopez, 25, got called up from Omaha last year by the Royals a month and a half into the season. Lopez was extra psyched because the opener was supposed to be in Chicago, his hometown, in front of all his friends and family. Instead, he’s living a warm-weather version of Groundhog’s Day, waking up in Surprise, AZ every day since Sept. 30. Lopez chose to spend the off-sea-

‘‘

What do you hear from Chicago? Is your family OK so far? My family’s OK. I have two older brothers, they’re still working, and my parents are still working. They go in periodically throughout the week. They’re healthy, so I thank God for that. But I know that COVID is kind of crazy there, and the hospitals are slammed. I’m so appreciative of the health care workers, and I hope everyone is. Hopefully we can get everything under control soon. It’s got to be tough. This is probably the longest you’ve been physically separated from your family.

son there working out and adding muscle weight, never imagining he’d be trapped there by a pandemic. Between workouts at the outdoor practice facilities, he hangs out with pitcher Brad Keller, his roommate. The weather’s nice, their rented house has a pool and hot tub out back, but he misses his family and his teammates. In his partial season last year, Lopez quickly fit into the Royals clubhouse. Teammates say he’s always smiling and has a fierce work ethic. In a phone call with IN Kansas City between workout sessions, Lopez reflected on his fairytale rise to the majors and the strangeness of the current suspended-dream situation.

It is tough. I would love to be able to go home. I was looking forward to the beginning of the season because we [would have] opened in Chicago. This is kind of putting a little damper on that. I know that once we’ve got this figured out, in the off season, I’ll go home and spend some time with them for sure. You’re rooming with pitcher Brad Keller. What have you learned about Brad Keller that you didn’t know before? [laughs] Yeah, me and Brad are getting to know each other very well. The guy is from Georgia, loves water, loves Georgia, loves the Georgia

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photo courtesy of the kansas city royals

This year I was looking forward to taking time to explore Kansas City, get to know more of it. I hope I’ll be able to do that soon.”

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Bulldogs. We were making a little plan. I might go visit him this offseason and maybe catch a Georgia Bulldogs football game, which would be cool. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a college football game, other than one Northwestern game. He’s a good roommate, a very clean guy. But we just really, really want to play baseball again. Korea started playing baseball games May 5th with masks and no fans. ESPN is televising the games. Have you watched any? I did watch one. One night I stayed up kind of late and I turned on ESPN—that was before I had seen that they were televising them— and I was like, “Wow!” and I started watching it. It’s a little different not having the fans, but it’s baseball and I know that a lot of people were tuning in. Just seeing live action is something a lot of people have missed. When did you start playing baseball as a kid? I was 3 or 4 years old. I was super young. I was always the smallest guy growing up. Still am. I skipped coach pitch and went right into kid pitch. I had two older brothers that played, and I was always playing with them, always playing up.

Did you play a lot of sports? I played football all the way up until high school and also basketball all the way through high school. Senior year I had to decide if I wanted to put all my focus on baseball, because I wanted to do that in college. But I wanted to do one more year of basketball, so I played basketball senior year. Creighton really liked that I was a two-sport athlete, because having another sport in the off-season, I was able to keep that level of competition up. And a lot of baseball scouts I talked to liked that as well. But I knew baseball was going to be my longer lasting sport. Every guy that plays minor league ball wants to make it to the Big Show, but a lot don’t. What makes you different? Why did you make it? Kids always have those dream jobs of being a firefighter, policeman, astronaut, whatever. Mine was always baseball player. I wanted to be a baseball player since I was 3 years old. I’d watch baseball on TV then go in the backyard at 3, 4, 5 years old and imitate players’ batting stances, the greats like Derek Jeter, Barry Bonds. I would run, I would slide, I would argue with fake umpires. Ever since I was very young, I was all in on baseball. There was also the motivation of always being the smallest kid, always being written off, people saying I didn’t have a good enough arm, or I wasn’t strong enough. So I had that chip on my shoulder. I learned from my dad because he played 16-inch softball, so I grew up on a baseball field. He had a little chip on his shoulder when he played, and I instilled that into my game. When I got into professional baseball, I kind of smelled it, and I was like, it’s not that far away, and I’m not going to stop until I achieve my dream.

Let’s go back in a time machine. A little over a year ago, in May of 2019, you were playing minor league ball in Omaha when you found out you were being called up to the Royals. How did that go down? We were in Des Moines, Iowa, when I got the call. It was Mother’s Day weekend. I had an off day and then I played on Mother’s Day and then I had another off day. That was unusual because I usually played three or four or five straight games. Me and the skipper down there, Brian Poldberg, had a pretty good relationship. I went into his office when I had that next off day, and he made up an excuse that I didn’t get a hit with the pink bat or I didn’t hustle in the pink shoes—some other guys also wore pink for Mother’s Day, but I was wearing majority pink. I didn’t really believe it, but I had to, because I was getting benched. I had to sit through the whole game watching my team, not understanding why I wasn’t playing. Then after the game, [Poldberg] told me to grab my phone and come into the office. When I did, he grabbed my phone and put it on speaker phone and called my mom and told her the story of how I wasn’t playing because I didn’t get a hit with the pink bat.

Lopez covering second base.

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photos courtesy of the kansas city royals

What is 16-inch softball? The ball is 16-inches around. They come out of the box hard and get softer and softer as they are played. It’s really impressive and my dad [Bob Lopez] is in the Hall of Fame in Chicago. It’s a really big deal in Chicago. He played second base. He was number one. He was also a big semi-pro football player. He got a letter from Mike Ditka to be on the ’85 Bears.

Then he said, “But, your son is going to Kansas City.” That’s when she started bawling, and that was the beginning of my dream coming true. Now fast forward two days to May 14th. What was it like waking up knowing you were going to be taking the field at The K? There was a ton of emotions. I was very anxious to play. I wanted that first ground ball to come to me. I wanted to get my first at-bat out of the way so I could just start playing baseball. There was a lot of stuff I had to do before the game. Once I got on the field, there were fans cheering my name. There were posters made. It was pretty crazy. The Royals are so great. They were great to my family, too. They got them a suite in the upper deck. That was unbelievable. When I got my first hit, I just remember standing on first base, scanning the whole stadium. Everyone was giving me a standing ovation. I was kind of taking mental pictures. It was like it was all in slow motion. I looked up and my girlfriend and my parents and my agent and my brother were up there jumping up and cheering. It was awesome just to see their excitement, as well as feeling mine. That is a day I will never forget. It was a remarkable first game: You had a hit, a walk and an RBI. Did you celebrate afterwards? Yeah. We got some food around there. It was just so cool to be able to spend time with my agent, my girlfriend, my parents, my brothers and just kind of chill and relax after that first game.

photos courtesy of the kansas city royals

What veterans on the Royals do you look up to and learn from? Whit [Merrifield] has only been here for three or four years, but Whit’s been really good to me. And Gordo [Alex Gordon] has been really good. [Danny] Duffy, Salvy [Salvador Perez], [Ian] Kennedy. They’ve been really good to me. I remember once we were in Seattle, when I was hitting kind of a down streak, Gordo pulled me aside in the outfield—we were shagging during BP. He told me he struggled, and that people struggle, and that it takes time to get used to the big leagues. And that everything was going to be OK and I was going to have a bright future. He told me Moustakas and Hosmer actually had to be sent down and then got called back up. As a new guy, talking to somebody that’s had ten-plus years in the big leagues just eased my nerves and really helped me out. It was really cool, and it’s something I really look up to him for. You weren’t in Kansas City for very long. Did you get to know the city at all? Do you like it? I love the city. I love the people. They are so nice, and they were so welcoming. I’m fortunate enough to live near the Power & Light District, and I loved being able to just walk there and enjoy some food. I also really enjoy the Plaza. Last year, I was the rookie, so all I wanted to do was go to the field, go get some food and go home. This year I was looking forward to taking time to explore Kansas City, get to know more of it. I hope I’ll be able to do that soon. You’re obviously very single-mindedly focused on baseball. Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of baseball, stuff you geek out on?

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Last season, fans lined up to greet Lopez at The K.

Definitely. I like to golf. I like playing video games—that takes my mind off baseball, that’s my me-time and allows me to catch up with friends. Right now, my favorites are Call of Duty and MLB The Show. How do you handle the uncertainty of not knowing how the season will unfold? Skipper Mike Matheny is doing a good job of keeping us mentally focused; we’re just assuming we’ll be playing soon. Whenever it is, we’ll be ready. It’s not hard to stay focused on wanting to play ball. We all want to play really bad, and we’re prepared. Has this strange experience of coronavirus revealed anything to you about life in general? My biggest takeaway is how important it is to truly sit back now and appreciate life, appreciate the people around me, appreciate what I have, and appreciate how fast something can be taken away. We never thought that baseball would be taken away from us. We do it for a living, we do it at the highest level, and baseball was taken away from us. We just have to sit back and wait till we’re called. And I hope that when we can play again, everyone will appreciate it that much more.

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Interview condensed and minimally edited for clarity.

TAKEOUT, PLEASE DECIDING TO ORDER FOOD IS EASY. PICKING A PLACE TO ORDER FROM? NOT SO MUCH. WE ASKED TEN KANSAS CITIANS TO SHARE THEIR GO-TO TO-GO SPOTS AROUND THE METRO WORDS BY

JUNE 2020

Kelsey Cipolla

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Lonnie McFadden Musician

Local jazz legend McFadden is the first to admit he has traditional tastes. Those translate to takeout from some triedand-true Kansas City favorites, starting with Gates BBQ. “I’m a Kansas City boy,” he says. “It’s a very obvious choice, but it’s a real choice.” His order is always the same: the fourbone entrée with baked beans and French fries. “And I get extra sauce and extra pickles, always.” McFadden is also partial to the traditional Italian fare from Cascone’s. “I’m very generic when it comes to pasta,” he laughs. “I just like spaghetti and meatballs or spaghetti and Italian sausage.” McFadden and his wife also order the Sicilian dipping oil with garlic and fresh bread. Why mess with the classics? Gates BBQ

Adam Schaumburg Yelp KC Community Director

As Kansas City’s Yelp czar, Schaumburg is well acquainted with the plethora of local offerings, but his family returns time and time again to two main spots: Bangkok Pavilion and Bay Boy Sandwiches. At Bangkok Pavilion, their go-to is the red or green curry with extra vegetables. The restaurant also makes some practical considerations that help up its takeout status in his eyes. “They label the spice level by stars: one being not spicy, five being a quick journey through all of time and space,” Schaumburg says. “Bangkok Pavilion also scores takeout points for having well-designed containers that keeps the food perfectly hot and fresh. It’s a 45-minute round trip drive for us, but it’s worth it every time.” He turns to his other favorite, Bay Boy, for what he considers the best sandwiches in KC. “Their San Francisco style ‘Dutch Crunch’ bread makes anything they have on the menu five-star,” Schaumburg says.

Bay Boy Sandwiches

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The Russell

Tori Fugate

Chief Communications Officer of KC Pet Project

Helping Kansas City’s cutest residents find forever homes is hungry work, but Fugate knows just where to go to refuel. “I’m a Northlander, and there is this small, hidden gem on Waukomis Drive that the neighborhood calls The Little Store,” she says. “They have tons of fresh produce, food items, and wine and spirits you can buy, but their take-home items and fresh food are just so good. Whether you get the special of the day, pizza, sandwiches, or pastas, you really can’t go wrong with anything you order.” The Russell on Main also ranks among her favorites for their salads, bowls, and pastries. “And I don’t know what it is about their side of grilled veggies, but they’re magical,” Fugate adds.

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Daisy Bücket Drag entertainer

Sayachi

Anna Petrow Photographer

Anna Petrow gets up close and personal with the city’s food and drinks as a culinary photographer, but Waldo Thai keeps her coming back for more. “They change their menu really often, so there’s always something new and exciting to try, but their brisket massaman curry is one of the best things I’ve ever had,” she says. “It’s in a really rich, peanut-y, thick sauce that’s amazing.” As a Brookside resident, Petrow also frequents Sayachi. “They have great lunch deals all week, and they also have an amazing kind of Japanese-style fried chicken that’s really good,” Petrow says, adding that the bento boxes are at the top of her lunch list.

When Blue Sushi reopened in her neighborhood, Bücket says she couldn’t place her order fast enough. Among her go-tos: The Tuna Tower, although “you can’t go wrong with the Rainbow Roll or, if you want a little kick, the Godzilla Bomb,” the performer adds. She’s also a big fan of the pasta dishes at Ragazza: “The lasagna nearly lasted me a week!” Narrowing down a spot for Mexican food is tough, Bücket adds, “but if I had to put one to the top, I’m going with Mission Taco Joint because their margaritas to-go are fresh, strong, and a great companion as you spend your evening on your patio, balcony, or binge-watching The Great British BakeOff. I like slicing up some fresh jalapeños and throwing those in for a little heat.” We’ll drink to that.

Blue Sushi

Leo’s Pizza Jarochos

Kasim Hardaway

Social inﬂuencer and marketing guru

Adib Khorram Author

If you’ve ever scrolled through Hardaway’s delectable Instagram feed, you know he’s a man with plenty of ideas where to find Kansas City’s best offerings. “If I want good food but find myself being indecisive, I order take-out from Strang Hall,” he says. “With so many options under its roof, I’m able to get a little bit of everything: Italian from Noricini, Laos from Anousone, and comfort-food from Fond. The one thing that is always a part of my order is Fond’s tuxedo cake—it’s like an oreo but with a major face-lift.” Other Hardaway favorites include Jarochos for fresh seafood, and Thai Orchid for—what else?—Thai food. “While there are a ton of great Thai restaurants in Kansas City, the Orchid (as I call it), is always super consistent and makes the most incredible spicy basil wings,” he says. “That, as well as shrimp rolls, Thai iced coffee, and basil fried rice, are always on my order.”

Khorram is many things: Kansas Citian, award-winning author of the young adult novel Darius the Great is Not Okay and its upcoming sequel, and, perhaps controversially, a lover of St. Louis-style pizza. “I spent my college years in the St. Louis area, and I have a soft spot for thin, crunchy crust and Provel cheese,” Khorram explains. He turns to Leo’s Pizza to get his fix. The writer is also a fan of Thai food, especially when $5 fried rice Wednesdays roll around at Tasty Thai. “I usually get the Hawaiian fried rice because I love the combination of sweet, sour, spice, and salt, but if I’m feeling bold, I’ll get their spicy Thai basil fried rice instead,” Khorram says. “The sweat is worth it.”

JUNE 2020

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Tyler Enders

Co-owner of Made in KC

“Anytime I’m allowed to pick lunch, we go to the Russell on Main,” says Enders, the entrepreneur behind concepts like Made in KC and Front Range Coffeehouse & Provisions. “It’s kind of the running joke in the office and amongst my lunch-date peers. Luckily, their carry-out includes all my favorites, so the chicken brioche sandwich is there for me any time I need that comforting escape. Downsides: you don’t get that wonderful woodfire smell and you don’t get to see [chef ] Amante.” Closer to home, he opts for Waldo Thai, which he’s been frequenting more than usual in the last few months. “It’s been my go-to fix anytime I need a big punch of flavor,” Enders says. “I always have a hard time ordering, one, because I can’t pronounce the dishes, and two, because I really hate having to choose between a rice dish or a noodle dish.” One bonus of whatever he gets? The leftovers.

Aladdin Cafe

Kathryne Taylor Cookie and Kate blogger

Fans flock to Taylor’s popular blog, Cookie and Kate, in droves. There, and in her debut cookbook Love Real Food, the self-taught cook and photographer shares her favorite fresh, vegetarian recipes from her Kansas City kitchen. When she’s not doing the cooking, you can find Taylor grabbing snacks or salads from French Market (the carrot salad is a particular favorite) or placing a pizza order at Artego’s. “Aladdin Cafe is my go-to when I’ve had a long day—best hummus in town!,” Taylor says, adding, “I’m always excited about the rotating seasonal options at The Restaurant at 1900, and The Campground has really fun and delicious vegetable options, plus killer pre-mixed cocktails.” For a sweet treat, Taylor’s a fan of Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room’s vanilla malted ice cream, a dessert so good the blogger says she’s still dreaming about it.

Waldo Thai

Jennifer Janesko Artist and designer

Barbecue, sushi, and salads all earn spots on Jennifer Janesko’s carryout shortlist, which includes barbecue ribs from the Antler Room, served as part of a collaboration with Harp Barbecue, and the catch of the day at Sayachi. “I had never done to-go sushi until the pandemic, and now I’m hooked,” she says. “Their fresh fish changes daily, so keep an eye on their Instagram for the latest catch and order your sashimi accordingly.” For lunch, the artist usually picks up a salad from The Mixx or Caffetteria, and Waldo Thai is her weekend favorite. But what about dessert? “When I feel like indulging, I make a stop at Dolce Bakery for a slice of lemon cake or a chocolate chip cookie.”

JUNE 2020

Dolce Bakery

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This page and above, opposite: Two views of the main living space, which features vaulted ceilings and dormer windows that allow natural light to flood the room. Flowers from Bergamot & Ivy Design.

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A Ranch, Reimagined INTERIOR DESIGNER STEVE NUSS OPENS UP A TIRED PRAIRIE VILLAGE RANCH TO NEW POSSIBILITIES Judith Fertig Aaron Leimkuehler

WORDS BY PHOTOS BY

uilt in 1962, the home’s potential convinced Nuss and his partner John Matthews, a translator of Japanese, to leave their Mission Hills home almost two years ago. With the help of architect Chris Castrop and contractor Joe Elder, the low-slung ranch now lives bigger and brighter, but with a palpable sense of the past. “We wanted an open plan, lots of light, high ceilings, and spacious enough for entertaining yet comfortable for just the two of us,” explains Nuss. He wanted oak floors in a pale finish, the better to contrast with all the “brown furniture” and plenty of other treasures. “Plus, we had collected these zinc dormers from a trip to France that we wanted to include in the design.” To get just the right pale, chalky finish on the beams, he hand-sanded them himself until they were just right. Nuss knows the color palette he prefers, a triumvirate of gold/yellow/caramel, blue, and scarlet. “The house is more my style,” he confesses. “John doesn’t really care.” But mementos of their life together flow through the space, as well as pieces from clients, family, and friends. “My parents and grandparents were collectors,” says Nuss, “and we have a lot of their antiques. I like things that have a story. They draw me in.” What draws you into the entry is the allure of a high-backed antique settee in a gorgeous yellow silk. Against the other wall is an English antique chest of drawers. On the wall are some of the paintings by John Douglas Patrick, a 19th- and early 20th-century artist who taught at the Kansas City Art Institute. Nestled in a corner is a “baseball glove” chair that Nuss had reupholstered in blue chenille. A leather-topped gaming table for playing their favorite dominoes, rimmed by mismatched chairs, leads the way into the soaring living Left: John Matthews (sitting) and Steve Nuss.

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Before & After If you love the after, don’t miss the before photos at inkansascity.com

space. “It’s all for sale, you know,” says Nuss with a laugh. The Jamestown Blue (Benjamin Moore) bookshelves on either side of the fireplace give way to a bar at the end. Two French antique armchairs in a scarlet suzani from Brunschwig & Fils anchor the fireplace. Nuss had the new sofa banded in scarlet braid and commissioned a new Oushak rug in tan and caramel—“My splurge,” he admits. Draperies on either end of the open space in a Schumacher pattern pick up the blue and red. “I always

JUNE 2020

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Top left: Bold blue-and-white stripes define the hallway to the guest rooms. Top right: In the foyer, the yellow-silk upholstered settee sets the stage. Above: Two antique French zinc dormers were added in the renovation. Opposite page: Walls in the kitchen are clad in hand-crafted English subway tiles, while Spanish-inspired cement tiles form the backsplash behind the range.

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In the master bedroom, the Brunschwig & Fils upholstered headboard is banded in a nail-studded red denim. Flowers from Bergamot & Ivy Design.

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Above: Cabinetry and doors in the master bath are outfitted with polished nickel hardware from Locks and Pulls. Left: In the powder room, the distressed-oak vanity is topped with dark green marble.

wanted draperies on bamboo rods, so I did them here,” Nuss says, faux painting the rings and finials to match. A floral armchair with deep bullion fringe is one the couple has had for twenty years. “If you like it, buy it,” Nuss says. “It will work no matter what.” Nuss worked with Randy Sisk at Kitchens by Kleweno to design the kitchen, which features ivory cabinetry, zinc lighting, a faux-zinc oven hood that Nuss designed, and dramatically veined quartz countertops. “We both cook,” Nuss says of himself and Matthews, “and I’m in charge of aesthetics.” To that end, pull-out drawers hold china and silverware for easy access to set the table. A wood carving over the French doors leading to the courtyard and garden came from a carousel. In the guest wing, a hallway in horizontal stripes of blue takes a happy turn into Steve’s office, a guest bedroom, and a guest bathroom with marble tiles and Moroccan-inspired wallpaper. The hallway on the other side of the house pauses at a dramatic powder bath in gray-green, with scarlet on the ceiling, and panels of a Venetian scene. “I picked up a sample of this Zoffany wallpaper and kept thinking

JUNE 2020

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Opposite page: The outdoor loggia is furnished with antique cast-iron furniture that Nuss discovered on a trip to France. This page, top: Surrounding the reproduction copper-spout cast-stone fountain is a parterre of boxwood and annuals that Nuss designed. This page, bottom: Kitchen windows open to the outdoor kitchen for ease of use. The Coyote grill is from Factory Direct Appliance.

about it,” says Nuss. “It’s expensive, so I just used a roll and cut it up to create panels.” The new master suite features a corner fireplace and glass doors that open onto the courtyard. “I have always been fascinated by courtyards and the mystery of what they hold—an inspiration from our travels and homes we have visited, especially in Mexico as well as Europe,” says Nuss. The headboard, upholstered in a vintage Brunschwig & Fils pattern, is one the couple had in their previous home. Nuss framed charcoal sketches by John Douglas Patrick on one wall. The master bath looks straight out of an English gentleman’s club with genteel hexagon marble floors, a deep soaking tub, gray cabinetry by Shamrock, and a generous shower. Backlit and dimmable mirrors from Rensen House of Lights cast a flattering glow. “Everything is designed for how we want to live,” says Nuss. “We like our drinks served in antique crystal at the bar. We play dominoes where the light is best. We wake up to a view of the courtyard.” When design works well, life follows.

THE IT LIST Construction Elder Custom Home and Design 816-820-1250 Flowers Bergamot & Ivy Design bergamotandivy.com Interior Design Steve Nuss Ltd. stevenussltd.com Kitchen Design Kitchens by Kleweno kleweno.com

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volume: 70 percent business, 30 percent residential. He’s used to the hustle and bustle of the River Market, part of his daily downtown Kansas City route that spans 11th Street to the south, Main Street to the east and Summit to the west. In recent weeks, the city’s stay-at-home orders have temporarily shuttered many Kansas City businesses. Trujillo says the neighborhood feels desolate without the heavy pedestrian and automotive traffic, and he’s hopeful that the pandemic doesn’t permanently stifle the area’s economic development momentum. On the upside? He’s heard feel-good stories, including accounts of more families spending time together. Trujillo misses his own college-aged kids, all home from school. Still, he’s grateful to be busy as he’s in the home stretch of his UPS tenure. “I have about two to three years left with UPS,” he says. “It’s a blessing to work for a good company.” —KS

Hazel Hernandez Hen House bakery manager

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here are no cash registers near the bakery department at the back of Leawood’s Hen House grocery store. The only payment Hazel Hernandez needs is the smile when she hands a customer a cake she’s decorated for a child’s birthday or an anniversary party. But for the last two months, masks have hidden smiles and muffled exclamations of thanks. The number of special orders has diminished, too, as graduation parties were canceled and weddings postponed. Mother’s Day, usually a busy time for Hernandez and her team of ten bakers (including daughters Aubry and Shelby), was quieter this year. But people still crave desserts, perhaps more than ever. Tippins Pies are as popular as ever. “We’ve been doing smaller cakes rather than large, decorated sheet cakes,” Hernandez says, showing off a pink, two-layered beauty with sprinkles. And customers have ordered fanciful cupcakes to deliver to friends for a virtual birthday party over Zoom, or neighbors sitting on lawn chairs in driveways on a Sunday evening. During her 20 years as a baker, Hernandez has developed friendships with families who turn to her to recreate cakes for weddings and birthdays from those they’ve seen on Pinterest or in a magazine. She loves the challenge. For his birthday this year, the son of a long-time customer wanted a PAW Patrol-themed cake. Who knows what Mason will want for his fourth birthday, but Hernandez says she’ll be ready. —KVL

Gary Snow Firefighter and paramedic

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JUNE 2020

n any morning of any year, Angie Snow feels a whisper of worry as she kisses her husband goodbye at the door. As she has during their ten years of marriage, she’s learned to push the fears aside as Gary heads to the fire station in Kansas City, Kansas for his 12-hour shift as firefighter and paramedic. But during the pandemic, they’re aware of extra safety measures, not just for Gary but also for their family, which includes Tula, soon to be 5, and nearly 2-year-old Levi. Before coming home, Gary showers and changes clothes at the

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station and while Angie distracts the kids with breakfast in the kitchen, their dad washes up again before it’s time for hugs and kisses. Like most front-line workers, Gary brushes off the title of “hero.” But he and his fellow firefighters appreciate the increased expressions of gratitude like doughnuts and cookies showing up at the station and cars honking as they drive by. After a span of medical scares for the kids, Angie posted a sweet family photo with #lookingforwardto2020 on her Instagram feed. She couldn’t have anticipated that the new year would bring other challenges. While she misses her job at Hallmark where she’s a leader in the kids and babies retail category, she’s treasured extra hours at home with what she laughingly calls her own personal focus group. As for Gary, weeks of sheltering-in-place has meant more time for what Tula calls the “dog pile” with Daddy on the floor covered with a mash-up of little arms and legs as giggles fill the house. If that makes him a hero in Angie’s eyes, he’s fine with that. —KVL

#KCStrong #StrongerTogetherKC

Shout out to the amazing restaurants, shops, shopping centers and people taking care of KC!

Heather Peacock Lead Teacher, UICS-Metro Center

ow do you keep 3-year-olds learning and engaged when they’re separated from each other and at home? In her first year of teaching, that’s a question that Heather Peacock had to answer. One of two co-teachers in United Inner City Services’ Metro Center (alongside Nicole Gunnels), Peacock found her daily routine thrown into a tailspin when the center closed for the city’s stay-at-home orders. “Distance learning makes sense for elementary, middle school, and high school students,” she says. “They can pay attention to things for more than five minutes. Preschoolers are totally different—they like to be crazy in the best way possible!” As a multi-service community-based agency that’s served Kansas City since 1967, UICS is much more than a collection of resources. It’s a “neighborhood anchor, providing a safe, warm and inviting site” for children and their families. It’s no wonder then that, despite the closure, Peacock and her colleagues were focused on how to help students, providing that same sense of security and connection that are fundamental tenets of the classroom experience. One initiative? Launching food distribution on Thursdays. Each week, families come to UICS for food, art supplies, and other items that “would encourage learning and that they might not have at home,” Peacock says. Center staff makes home deliveries to those unable to make it to the center. Peacock and Gunnels also kicked off Zoom calls on weekdays except for Thursdays—they didn’t want to conflict with food distribution day. At 10:30 a.m., students and their families gather around the computer to check in, chat and connect. “I thought there would be no way our students would hang out for 30 minutes,” Peacock says. “We got into a groove and found some things that worked for us and our class.” Peacock never anticipated her first year of teaching to include such daunting challenges, but with a bachelor’s degree in public health, she’s found much of her college education instantly rele-

JUNE 2020

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KC MOVING CONTINUED

vant. Amid days that are anything but routine, she takes comfort in the connections she’s created. “I’m so glad that my students and I have such a strong connection,” she says. “We’re a school family and I’m so glad that I can be there for them. I can’t imagine not hearing from them, not talking to them. This is the most rewarding job I’ve ever had.” —KS

Kristin Griffin Membership services, Costco

ith her effervescent personality, Kristin Griffin is used to hearing “thanks” as she caters to the needs of Costco members on a daily basis. But after the world changed in mid-March, she often gets a much more sincere exchange of “Thank you for being here.” Days after the mandatory shut down except for retailers providing essential items, Kristin was asked to join what she calls the SASS (for Safety and Sanitization) Crew. “I’m proud that ours (in south Overland Park) was the first Costco in the Kansas City area to develop specific programs that other locations can follow.” While Costco has always adhered to safety measures, every department was now tasked with aboveand-beyond cleanliness. Floors were marked for social distancing; shopping carts and hard surfaces were disinfected throughout the day. Another change was to offer senior shopping hours so that the

most vulnerable members could be there for essentials before the rest of the crowd seeking toilet paper and Lysol wipes. “Believe me, they were so grateful to be here early when the shelves were freshly stocked.” If that meant earlier hours than usual, it was no problem for the woman colleagues call “Susie Costco” due to her loyalty to the company mission. Kristin is grateful that Costco now requires all members to wear masks while shopping. “We have families to go home to, too,” she says. “And if I’m willing to wear a mask all day, the least they can do is wear one for 20 minutes.” She’s known for being a huge hugger. It may be awhile before that habit can return, but she’s looking forward to the day when the masks are off and she can exchange smiles and laughs with her teammates and Costco members. That, and meeting a friend at Westside Local. “There will be bubbles,” she promises. “Lots of bubbles and hugs.” —KVL

Brian Aaron Executive chef, Tannin Wine Bar

n a regular Saturday, Brian Aaron would be scanning the list of dinner reservations, making a mental note of where the regulars would be seated so he could stop by later to chat. But for the last several weeks, his only public face time was when he’d personally deliver take-

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JUNE 2020

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out food to cars parked in front of the restaurant. It’s been a challenging spring; Aaron returned to Tannin in February after time at other eateries and a month later had to furlough most of his staff. “We’d just celebrated our ninth anniversary, then boom,” he says. But chefs are creative by nature, so he and Barry Tunnel, Tannin’s wine director, crafted a Tannin to Go that would lend itself to take-out dining. “One of our most popular options was the Wagu Burger Pop-Up. The first Saturday we sold out of 80 orders immediately. The next week I ordered enough for 150 orders and sold out the day before.” The Zoom wine dinners have been successful as well. Instead of bringing a winemaker to the restaurant, Barry and Brian host a virtual gathering while patrons pick up the dinner and paired wines beforehand to reheat in time for the online discussion. “What’s cool is that the winemaker can take us on a tour of the vineyards and cellars, whether they’re in Walla Walla or Italy. We may continue these even after we re-open.” Take that, COVID-19. —KVL

Rod Jackson KC Streetcar Operational Supervisor

ven amid a pandemic, Rod Jackson’s got his eyes peeled for problems. “I ride up and down Main Street, making sure no one is parking over the line so the streetcar can continue to move,” he says.

JUNE 2020

“When that happens, we call it a foul.” Jackson’s current streak is three to four weeks without a foul. Sometimes he even proactively catches people parking where they’re not supposed to, and he can ask them to move before an issue arises. Streetcar ridership is starting to rebound after plummeting during the stay-at-home orders. The line operates reduced hours, so Jackson is currently working shorter shifts and doesn’t typically see as many riders in an evening. Regardless of ridership numbers, streetcar operators are required to wear PPE. That helps Jackson feel secure, even if riders choose not to mask (they’re encouraged to but not required). “It doesn’t make me nervous since I’m wearing a mask,” he says. “Plus, we’re always cleaning. The operators are good at wiping everything down.” As a supervisor, Jackson is already acclimated to on-the-job risks. If operators have a security issue on-board, for example, Jackson will respond and try to resolve the problem before reaching out to authorities. If anything, the pandemic has made Jackson appreciate the pre-closure pace. “I hope all of the downtown businesses can fully reopen,” he says. “I’m just ready for everything to get back to normal. “When we go back to full schedules, it’s going to be a change,” he says. “We’re slowly moving back to our regular hours. And we’ve had more people on board since May 15. Parents want to find something to do with their kids, and kids love the streetcar.” —KS

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Flavor

IN KC

In the Kitchen PEA TENDRILS

Cody Hogan

PHOTOS BY

f you’ve ever grown your own peas, you might on occasion feel that the amount of food produced seems a bit underwhelming considering the amount of work that went into planting, growing, harvesting, possibly preserving, and preparing a little bowl of peas. Well, it’s quite possible that you’ve been overlooking a delicious part of the plant and the harvest—the tendrils. Before we go any further, we need to make sure we’re talking about the same peas—pea nomenclature can be a bit confusing, and meanings can vary regionally and culturally. First, there are garden peas (AKA English peas, the little round pebble-shaped ones you usually see used as a fresh or frozen vegetable) that have to be removed from the shell/ pod to be eaten. Second there are the edible podded peas (AKA sugar snap and snow peas—snap/sugar snap have thick-rounded pods, snow peas have thin, flat pods). Edible pod peas are eaten when very young, and are also referred to as Mangetout peas, French for “you eat the whole thing.” Lastly we have field peas (think split pea) grown for drying, treated as a grain. The thing they all have in common is their tasty little tendrils. When it comes to pea tendrils, culinarily speaking, we’re not talking about the botanically designated clinging tendrils (the little string-like part of a plant that attaches to other things to support the plant). What we’re referring to is the tender, leafy tips of the pea vines—which include the little threads that support the plants—approximately the four to eight inches at the growing end of the vine. For human consumption, you are looking for the part of the stem that is still tender, meaning the part that has not yet become too sturdy and woody. You can actually feel between your fingers when the stems are no longer tendrils and instead are just tough “vine.” If you’re picking your own, avoid the stems that feel almost like straw or a twig—it will be too tough to chew. Avoid those with flowers because the flowers will eventually produce the delicious pods and peas. The flavor of tendrils is fresh and light, milder than spinach, a bit nutty, grassy, and “green.” If you don’t grow your own, they are often available in Asian markets in the produce section, or in early spring at the farmer’s market. Tendrils aren’t limited to peas. The tender ends of the vines

JUNE 2020

Aaron Leimkuehler

of zucchini, sweet potatoes, and cucumber are all tasty and edible in the same way. If the vines seem “hairy,” don’t worry.The tiny spines soften when cooked. The earliest (and spine-free) tendrils can be eaten raw in salads, dressed simply with a vinaigrette, perhaps mixed with other tender spring salad greens. They can also be treated like spinach, steamed or wilted, sautéed, or simmered in soup. I love them briefly sautéed to accompany just about anything. For the thrifty cook—and what good cook isn’t thrifty, especially in the time of our pandemic—it also means using parts of the plant that might otherwise go to waste. This spring, expand your repertoire. Explore cooking with tendrils and try my simple technique with garlic and crushed red pepper.

Sautéed Pea Tendrils Collect a big bunch of tender tendrils from the garden or market. In either case, they will need to be thoroughly rinsed. Remember, they collapse like spinach when cooked, so start with more than you think you will possibly need. Drain but don’t dry the greens. Heat a large skillet and add a generous glug of extra-virgin olive oil or other cooking fat. Have a cover ready for the skillet. Crush or slice a clove or two of fresh garlic and add to the oil, followed by a sprinkling of red pepper ﬂakes, amounts of both related to your preferences for garlic and spicy heat. Just remember that the flavor of tendrils can be delicate. When the garlic begins to color golden around the edges, add the greens all at once, and cover. There will be considerable popping and splattering of oil, so be prepared. Shake the skillet a little, and after a minute or two when the sputtering subsides, uncover the tendrils and stir. Season with salt (or maybe soy sauce or coconut aminos), and cover again for another minute or three until the greens are just barely wilted. Uncover and taste for seasoning and correct as needed. For a more filling variation, you could toss the greens with cooked potato, sweet potato, spiralized zucchini, or rice. Or, since we’re being thrifty, a little crunchy toasted stale bread added right at the finish adds texture and substance. Serve tendrils as a brilliant and fresh green side dish—they’re especially lovely with seared, grilled, or poached shrimp or chicken. Enjoy.

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In Your Pantry BREAD CRUMBS Bread crumbs are incredibly versatile and they come in a number of shapes, sizes, and flavors. Choose the “plain” or unseasoned ones when purchasing. That will give you more leeway when cooking.

Fine Plain fine bread crumbs are for more than just coating a pork chop to fry or binding a loose meatball. They are an excellent thickener for sauces—bread crumbs are already cooked, so they don’t taste like raw flour or starch. They don’t form lumps and with just a few minutes of cooking will lend a velvety quality to a watery sauce. Lightly toasted in butter with a little cinnamon and sugar, they can add crunch to the layers in a strudel or provide an impromptu crust for a cheesecake.

Panko The French word for bread (pan) plus the diminutive in Japanese (ko) equals a great ingredient for topping baked fish or mac and cheese, and for breading just about anything you can dream of deep frying. Their larger size lends more crunch than fine bread crumbs. Take them up a notch by tossing them with dried oregano, parsley, pepper flakes or lemon zest and a drizzle of oil. The seasoning depends on you.

Hand Made All of that bread you’re baking in quarantine—don’t let even a slice of it go to waste. Stale bread gets a second life when turned into bread crumbs, and hand-torn bread crumbs are the luxe of luxe crumbs. To make your own fine bread crumbs, toast chunks or slices, then pulverize in a food processor.Your artisan bread torn into panko size or even larger bits, then lightly toasted yields optimum crunch. As a bonus, you can tear them while binging on Netflix and still feel like you’re accomplishing something. Some find it therapeutic.

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IN KC

he French call it eau de vie. In Scotland, it’s better known as whisky. “Every culture has a word for what comes off the still,” says Of The Earth Farm + Distillery co-owner Jim Pearce. “Whatever you distill has historically been referred to as an eau de vie.” Jim and wife Sarah Burnett Pierce brought their own version of the spirit to Missouri: Apple brandy, made from fruit grown on their farm and others in the area and aged in Missouri white-oak barrels. It’s one of many offerings introduced by Richmond, Missouri-based Of The Earth Farm + Distillery since its distilling operation started in 2012. The Pierces were looking for ways to increase income at their small, family-owned farm when Jim attended a conference and learned about the possibility of turning their fruit into spirits. He still vividly remembers trying a cherry eau de vie during that trip: “It was like standing in a cherry orchard,” he recalls. “I could smell the blossoms and I could see the trees. It was a really moving kind of experience.” After receiving grant funding from the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the Pierces were able to begin production in a one-car garage using a small 50-gallon still from Portugal. Jim admits he

‘‘

I’m consistently playing with different cocktail recipes and trying to find things that

In Your Cocktail OF THE EARTH FARM + DISTILLERY by

Kelsey Cipolla

JUNE 2020

pair well with our spirits” – Sarah Burnett Pierce didn’t know much about the process or the industry, but perhaps the biggest unknown was how their spirits would be received. He started selling their apple brandy at City Market and found it connected with customers. Their demand has driven Of The Earth’s growth over the years. The company now makes a long list of spirits, including rum, rye, and gin; raspberry, blackberry, and coffee liqueurs; and grappa. The pommeau, a blend of apple brandy and fresh apple cider aged in the used white-oak barrels, is a particular favorite of Sarah’s. “You still have some of the oakiness from the barrel, but a lot of it is offset by the sweetness and the apple flavors from the fruit juice,” she explains. All of the spirits can be sampled at Of The Earth’s tasting | 94 | INKANSASCITY.COM

room, an upscale country-style space which offers views of the farm and seasonal cocktails showcasing their products (including pepperoni and salami made from their own hogs). In light of COVID-19 precautions, the tasting room also now features sidewalk café-style seating from 2 until 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays so people can get out of the house while still respecting safety recommendations. On the menu, you’ll find libations like the blackberry mimosa, made with Of The Earth’s blackberry liqueur and semi-sweet white wine, and the kickstarter, coffee liqueur with Boozy Botanicals Vanilla Allspice. The current cocktail list also features The True Norman, a drink that has its roots in the Norman Conqueror, which typically features calvados, a type of apple or pear brandy from Normandy, France. “I’m consistently playing with different cocktail recipes and trying to find things that pair well with our spirits,” Sarah says. “In the beginning particularly, but still to some extent, I look at a lot of traditional cocktail recipes and kind of tweak them to fit our spirits.” Here, Of The Earth’s apple brandy steps in for calvados with pommeau and apple juice bolstering the fruit flavor.

Sales, Consignment,Wash, Sanitization & Restoration

oftheearthfarm.com

The True Norman

1 ounce Of The Earth Farm + Distillery Apple Brandy 1 ounce Of The Earth Farm + Distillery Pommeau 2 ounces apple juice

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Fill a rocks glass with ice. Pour brandy, pommeau, and apple juice over rocks and stir. Add grenadine and garnish with an apple slice dipped in lemon juice, pansy blossom, violet blossom, or even a sweet William blossom— they’re blooming right now.

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IN KC

Kelsey Cipolla

SAY CHEESE

In Culinary News

ANYBODY can put some meat and cheese on a plate but creating a charcuterie board with flair takes some skill. Jenna Warmund of More Cheese Please grew up arranging boards for family and friends before turning her talent into a business—clients can choose their size, the type of board it comes on and type of food, including vegan offerings, arranged artfully for parties and events. morecheesepleasekc.com For Sarah Juenemann of Grazing KC, creating a collection of snacks starts with learning more about her client and their occasion. “From there, I get to have all the fun: shopping at farmer’s markets, local shops, and picking out the perfect finishing touches such as florals and chocolates,” Juenemann says, adding that it’s not uncommon to shop at anywhere from three to ten stores for ingredients. The result: Colorful, personalized boards that will dress up your Instagram feed and buffet. facebook.com/grazingkc

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Kelsey Cipolla

BLACKHOLE BAKERY

In Culinary News

OPENING A NEW BUSINESS in the middle of a pandemic isn’t ideal, but that’s exactly what Blackhole Bakery owner Jason Provo did this spring. “Bakeries are already perfect grab-n-go businesses,” he explains. Alongside friend and fellow pastry chef Alyssa Bailey, Provo serves up madefrom-scratch pastries, bagels, donuts, and other delicious treats at the new shop on 55th and Troost (5531 Troost Ave.). So far, cinnamon rolls have been the breakout star—“We sell almost twice as many cinnamon rolls as anything in the case,” he divulges—but croissants stuffed with filling after they’ve been cooked are also fan favorites. And Blackhole is introducing some Kansas Citians to palmiers, puff pastry dough folded up with butter, sugar and a touch of cinnamon. “I’ve made converts out of many,” Provo says. blackholebakery.com

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Save up to 20% through June 30 with the Friends and Family Event Locally owned with locations in Overland Park and Briarcliff Village

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All-natural and locally crafted, The Roasterie's line of Cold Brew is slow steeped cold and carefully crafted to perfection. From nitrogen-infused to naturally flavored, explore our variety and find your favorite. Available at any Roasterie Café location and at grocery stores across Kansas City. Learn more at theroasterie.com/cold-brew

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ies ll Their Stor Workers Te

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IN KC

Kelsey Cipolla

NIMBLE BREWING FLEXIBILITY IS KEY for Nimble Brewing owner

In Culinary News

Kevin Gittemeier. “The concept for Nimble is to brew a wide variety of small-batch beers several times a week so there will always be a large selection of fresh, interesting beers to satisfy the tastes of all kinds of beer enthusiasts,” he explains. Gittemeier had to be extra nimble with his business when plans to launch earlier this spring were derailed by COVID-19. The Crossroads brewery (1735 Oak St.) opened for curbside pickup serving wine, rotating cocktails and its unique beers, many of which are sour- and hop-forward styles. Just don’t get too attached. “We don’t get wrapped up in marketing or promoting the batch we just brewed on Tuesday because on Thursday we are already on to dreaming up our next batch,” Gittemeier says. nimblebrewing.com

CAR WON'T WON'T GO? GO? CAR CAR WON'T GO?

SAVE THE DATES Kansas City Museum’s Free Summer Concerts… Live Online via Facebook!

Fridays June 19, July 10, and August 14 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Experience local live music from the comfort of your home or patio. Grab a drink and join us! We can’t wait to welcome you back in 2021.

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Reservation for One THE MARKET AT MEADOWBROOK by

Kelsey Cipolla

photos by

he ability of restaurants to bring us together has never been more apparent than when we suddenly found ourselves unable to dine out this spring. The Market at Meadowbrook opened at just the right time, both to serve as a reminder of this fact while also offering a clever way to cope: A menu designed for patrons to grab-and-go and a location surrounded by the verdant fields of Meadowbrook Park. It practically demands you bring your items out for a picturesque picnic. The Market at Meadowbrook opened in mid-April exclusively of-

JUNE 2020

Aaron Leimkuehler

fering carry-out and curbside ordering. Although it’s since opened for traditional dine-in service, that first impression may be hard to forget for Kansas Citians, especially during the summer months when there’s no better dining room than the park the Market calls home, although the eatery does offer a small patio where guests can enjoy the best of both worlds. Just within the doors, you’ll find a refrigerated area stocked with prepared items: Heat-and-eat entrees like spaghetti and lamb meatballs and bacon-wrapped meatloaf; sides including house-made soups and

| 102 | INKANSASCITY.COM

veggies; and a plethora of sandwiches and salads. If the setup seems reminiscent of another Prairie Village-based eatery, French Market, that’s probably because the concepts have the same DNA. Patrick and Joanne Quillec, who own French Market as well as Café Provence, partnered with the Inn at Meadowbrook. The boutique hotel shares real estate with The Market at Meadowbrook for this concept as well as its higher-end neighbor, Verbena, which opened on May 11. A few steps further sits the dining room, a bright and airy space with a palette of vivid white and cerulean blue filled with bistro-style tables and chairs. Guests place their orders at a handsome counter where the pastry case is sure to catch plenty of attention, filled with flaky pastries in the morning and indulgent desserts during lunch and dinner. The Market at Meadowbrook’s pastry program is among the highlights, so it’s no surprise that breakfast appeals with beignets and a corn biscuit served with a poached egg, avocado, bacon, arugula, and a scallion verde. Other fare includes house-made yogurt with fruit or granola, and a pastrami hash. Lunch and dinner are similarly approachable. The menu The Market opened with consists of sandwiches, wraps, and salads. In the chilled salmon salad, the fish’s texture is spot on and served over a bed of arugula and spinach. Discs of radish, asparagus spears, and a sprinkling of pine nuts round out the dish, which is lifted by a punchy, bright, grilled lemon vinaigrette. The sandwiches aren’t as well executed: The pulled pork New En-

glander’s most interesting billed elements—apple chutney, pickled apple and caramelized onion aioli—are hard to find when you bite in, leaving it dry and underwhelming. The roasted mushroom sandwich is also a disappointment, with the star ingredient under-seasoned and little else going on. Still, the concepts are solid, and the fixes are easy enough to make that diners should have hope. Fortunately, no improvements are needed to the sides offered: The potato salad would be the hit of any barbecue with its tender potatoes and herbaceous, creamy dressing. The ribboned carrot and cucumber pickles are crunchy, tangy delights. But The Market saves the best for last—yes, we’re talking about dessert. There are scoops available from Foo’s Frozen Custard, but it’s the pastry case that will stick with us, offering a beautiful assortment of treats. There’s a dense, tart lemon bar, and a temptingly presented New York-style cheesecake bar, a rectangular slice topped with fresh whipped cream and coated puffed rice, providing unexpected crunch. So many versions of the dessert fall into the trap of cloying sweetness, but not this one—the sugar is balanced out with acid and a salted crust. The Gooey Butter Cake cookie does a remarkably good job of capturing the rich flavor of its inspiration, packing deep butter flavor into a cakey cookie sprinkled with powdered sugar. With its location and menu, The Market seems destined to become a popular snack stop. With a little added time and attention, it could also be much more. themarketkc.com

O N E PA R K P L A C E | G L A M O R O U S S P A C E D E S I G N E D F O R E N T E R TA I N I N G | U N P A R A L L E L E D V I E W S O F T H E C I T Y

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Sanctuary in the Sky JUNE 2020

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NATALIE L. FREEMAN REAL ESTATE BROKER

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My Essentials

IN KC

SHAWN EDWARDS CRITIC, PRODUCER, BON VIVANT BY

Michael Mackie

L PHOTO BY AARON LEIMKUEHLER

ongtime Fox 4 News film critic Shawn Edwards has been reviewing movies for more than 20 years. Now, the award-winning journalist is pursuing a career in actually making movies. Edwards also currently works for Hidden Empire Film Group based in Los Angeles. Right now, he’s on the marketing team, but Edwards has plans to produce feature films, TV series, and documentaries, all while hoping to put Kansas City on the filmmaking map as he splits time between Cowtown and the West Coast. He may be spending more time in LA, but Kansas City is dear to his heart. “I love living in Kansas City because the city has the best positive energy on the planet. I also really appreciate all of the historic neighborhoods like Beacon Hill that are making a comeback as urban living thrives and becomes a real thing in KC.”

Shawn’s essentials... KC HISTORY: So

much black history has taken place in this city. American culture has definitely been enhanced by a slew of KC icons. Barbecue pioneers (Ollie Gates and Arthur Bryant), jazz legends (Charlie Parker and Count Basie), baseball greats (Satchel Paige and Buck O’Neil), and a maverick filmmaker (Tressie Souders—the first black woman to produce and direct a feature film way back in 1922) have all helped to forge KC’s international identity with their accomplishments.

SHOP LOCAL: I love Peters

Clothiers. It’s a family-owned shop and the brothers make you feel like family while helping you look sharp. At some point in life every guy has to start dressing like an adult, and they always have me looking grown up and sexy. HIDDEN GEM: The Stanley

H. Durwood Film Vault in the Central Library in downtown Kansas City is incredibly dope. Dude created AMC Theaters and invented the multiplex. The vault shows movies and often hosts film series in its intimate setting that actually used to be a bank vault. Now that’s money!

SHADE FAVES

I own a ton of designer frames. However, a simple pair of black Warby Parker Wayfarers is my favorite. I wore them at my father’s funeral. Yes, they represent basic style but also function as a reminder to me of my family legacy.

HAT TIP: When it’s time to drip, I hit The Missing Piece in Crown Center. Hats are so in right now, and they have the best selection in the city. My lid game is so fire now.

SWEET TREAT:

McClain’s oatmeal raisin cookies stand out. I will run ten miles just so I can treat myself to a few. JUNE 2020

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FAVE MOVIE HOUSE Screenland Armour is my haven. The staff knows cinema, so the pre- and postconversations about films with them are always engaging and the service is always High Fidelity charming.