Charitable Chiefs Players Give Back To Kansas City FLIRTY FLORAL FASHION
THE POWER OF FOOD COLORFUL BROOKSIDE BUNGALOW MARCH 2020 | INKANSASCITY.COM
THE NEW FACES OF
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WE WE ARE WE ARE FINISHING ARE FINISHING FINISHING OUR OUR OUR 55TH 55TH 55TH SEASON SEASON SEASON STRONG STRONG STRONG JoinJoin usJoin this us this us spring this spring for spring for many many forgreat many great performances great performances performances stillstill to come still to come to come
Daniil Daniil Trifonov, Trifonov, Daniil Trifonov, Siberian Siberian State Siberian Symphony State Symphony State Symphony PianistPianist Mitsuko Pianist Mitsuko Uchida Mitsuko Uchida and Uchida and and Bill Frisell: Bill Frisell: HARMONY Bill Frisell: HARMONY HARMONY pianist pianist in recital pianist in recital in recital Orchestra, Orchestra, performing Orchestra, performing Prokofiev performing Prokofiev Prokofiev MahlerMahler Chamber Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra, Wed Mar Wed 4,Mar 2020; Wed 4, 2020; Mar 7:30pm 4,7:30pm 2020; 7:30pm Thu Mar Thu 12,Mar 2020; Thu 12, Mar 2020; 7:30pm 12,7:30pm 2020; 7:30pm and Rachmaninoff and Rachmaninoff concertos concertos concertos performing performing Mozart performing Mozart concertos Mozart concertos concertos AtkinsAtkins Auditorium, Auditorium, Atkins Auditorium, and Rachmaninoff Folly Theater Folly Theater Folly Theater Thu Mar 5,Mar 2020; Thu 5, 2020; 7:00pm Mar 5,7:00pm 2020; 7:00pm Sun Mar Sun 22, Mar 2020; Sun 22,Mar 2020; 7:00pm 22,7:00pm 2020; 7:00pm Nelson-Atkins Nelson-Atkins Nelson-Atkins Museum Museum of Art Museum of Art ofThu Art Kansas Kansas City, MO Kansas City, MO City, MO Helzberg Helzberg Hall,Helzberg Kauffman Hall, Kauffman Hall, Center Kauffman Center Center Folly Theater Folly Theater Folly Theater KansasKansas City, MO Kansas City, MO City, MO KansasKansas City, MO Kansas City, MO City, MO KansasKansas City, MO Kansas City, MO City, MO
Keith Lockhart Keith andLockhart the and theand Angela the Angela SooBeen SooBeen Lee,SooBeen violinist Lee, violinist Lee, in a violinist in aKeith in Lockhart a Gheorghiu, Angela Gheorghiu, Gheorghiu, Joyce DiDonato, Joyce DiDonato, Joyce mezzo-soprano, DiDonato, mezzo-soprano, mezzo-soprano, free collaborative free collaborative free collaborative concert concertconcert BostonBoston Pops On Pops Boston Tour, OnPops performing Tour,On performing Tour,soprano performing soprano in recital soprano in recital in recital with Il with Pomo Il Pomo d’Oro, with Ild’Oro, chamber Pomochamber d’Oro, chamber Lights,Lights, Camera...Music! Lights, Camera...Music! Camera...Music! Sat Mar Sat 28, Mar 2020; Sat 28,Mar 2020; 7:00pm 28,7:00pm 2020; 7:00pm Sun Apr Sun 26, Apr 2020; Sun 26,Apr 2020; 7:00pm 26,7:00pm 2020; 7:00pm orchestra, orchestra, performing orchestra, performing performing Helzberg Hall,Helzberg Kauffman Hall, Kauffman Hall, Center Kauffman Center Center Liberty Liberty NorthLiberty North High School High North School High Six School Decades Six Decades of SixJohn Decades of Williams JohnofWilliams JohnHelzberg Williams My Favorite My Favorite Things My Favorite Things Things KansasKansas City, MO Kansas City, MO City, MO Performing Performing Arts Performing Theater, Arts Theater, Arts Theater, Mon Apr Mon 6,Apr 2020; Mon 6, 2020; Apr 7:30pm 6,7:30pm 2020; 7:30pm Fri May Fri29, May 2020; Fri 29,May 2020; 7:30pm 29,7:30pm 2020; 7:30pm MurielMuriel Kauffman Kauffman Muriel Theatre, Kauffman Theatre, Theatre, Liberty, Liberty, MO Liberty, MO MO MurielMuriel Kauffman Kauffman Muriel Theatre, Kauffman Theatre, Theatre, Kauffman Kauffman Center Kauffman Center Center Kauffman Kauffman Center Kauffman Center Center KansasKansas City, MO Kansas City, MO City, MO KansasKansas City, MO Kansas City, MO City, MO
816.415.5025 816.415.5025 816.415.5025HJSERIES.ORG HJSERIES.ORG HJSERIES.ORG See See complete complete See complete details details for details season for season forperformances, season performances, performances, including including including our upcoming our upcoming our upcoming 56th56th Season, 56th Season, at Season, HJSERIES.ORG. at HJSERIES.ORG. at HJSERIES.ORG.
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BEYOND BOUNDS 20/20 ENVISION! Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of JCCC’s first Gallery of Art
Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art Johnson County Community College Save the date
April 25, 2020 • 7-10 p.m. Live and silent auctions • Gourmet buffet Tickets: jccc.edu/beyondbounds 913-469-3835 $50 • Museum members $75 • Non-members
76
Contents MARCH 2020
82 90
Departments
Features 70
IN CONVERSATION WITH WILLIAM LEAST HEAT-MOON The New York Times bestselling author talks about growing up in Kansas City, his travels to every county in America, and his new book.
74
THE NEW FACES OF PHILANTHROPY Local volunteer opportunities are as diverse as the people who commit to them. Meet a group of Kansas Citians who have made it their priority to give back.
76
FRESH FLEURS Kickoff spring with a season full of bright, beautiful, bold blooms.
82
SECOND TIME’S THE CHARM In his Brookside home, interior designer John Rufenacht emphasizes bold color and pattern.
90
THE POWER OF FOOD Four organizations tackling the food system in Kansas City.
92
PLAYING FOR KEEPS We high-five a handful of Chiefs players who are winners on and off the field as they find ways to give hope to kids and secure homes for canines.
94
FRESH PERSPECTIVE Creative collaboration between the homeowners and the architect leads to a striking, contemporary house.
On the cover A gathering of some of Kansas City’s new faces of philanthropy. Photo by Tom Styrkowicz.
MARCH 2020
92
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28
WOMEN IN BUSINESS IN KC
32
ENTERTAINING IN KC
38
OUR MAN IN KC
44
ARTS & CULTURE IN KC
52
BEHIND THE MUSIC IN KC
58
LOOK IN KC
64
LIVING IN KC
110
FLAVOR IN KC
136
MY ESSENTIALS IN KC
IN EVERY ISSUE 22
EDITOR’S NOTE
24
INKANSASCITY.COM
26
THIS MONTH IN KC
128
FACES IN KC
INSPIRED Designer Connie Fey brings her expertise to both residential and commercial design projects. Color, texture and technology are three elements of design that she finds particularly inspiring. Be inspired with a designer at Madden-McFarland.
1903 W. 135th Street I 913.681.2821 maddenmcfarland.com 1903 W. 135th Street, Leawood, KS | 913.681.2821 maddenmcfarland.com
Sicily Von Overfelt Market Director
Editor’s Note
Vol. 3 | No. 3 March 2020
Making a Difference
Editor In Chief Zim Loy Art Director Alice Govert Bryan
T
he word philanthropy is rooted in the Greek for “love to mankind,” and I can’t think of a better way to show how it’s working in Kansas City than to highlight how charity and giving have evolved over the last decade or so. Much of the content in this issue focuses on the many ways giving back shapes our community. Millennials and Gen-Xers have stepped up on a whole ’nother level. As Katy Schamberger’s cover feature on The New Faces of Philanthropy (page 74) shows, their involvement is personal. They may not be writing the biggest checks, but they’re giving so much more in goods, such as food, clothing, and supplies, and they’re much more generous with their time, volunteering for the causes they believe in. Kelsey Cipolla’s feature, The Power of Food (page 90), focuses on the people and non-profits that are using access to good food to feed our community. From organizations as diverse as BoysGrow, which gives young men the opportunity to experience the connection between farming and what appears on their dinner plate, to Thelma’s Kitchen, which is providing a unique community dining experience whether you pay for the meal or contribute by helping out in the kitchen. And how about those Chiefs? Katie Van Luchene highlights how the players are giving back to their adopted hometown in Playing for Keeps (page 92). They’re going way beyond establishing their own foundations by volunteering for so many great charitable causes in Kansas City. It’s a scientific fact that giving makes you feel good. (It stimulates the brain by releasing endorphins, boosting your happiness.) A not-so-obvious benefit: The people you meet who share your interests will develop into lifelong friends. I speak from personal experience. Early in my career I became involved with DIFFA, Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids. Its signature event, Dining by Design, was entirely volunteer-driven. (Fun fact: It became a national DIFFA event but was originated here in Kansas City by interior designer John Rufenacht, whose home is featured starting on page 82.) So many of my dearest friends, including John, were made those late nights and weekends as we gave so much of our time and energy to make Dining by Design a success. Here’s hoping you’re inspired to make a difference too.
photo by aaron leimkuhler
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 Contributing Photographers Paul Andrews, Ron Berg, Aaron Leimkuehler, Brian Rice, Tom Styrkowicz 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, Krista Markley Newsstand Consultant Joe J. Luca, JK Associates 816-213-4101, jkassoc.net Editorial Questions: zloy@inkansascity.com
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MARCH 2020
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Visit HuntMidwestKC.com
EXPLORE OUR WEBSITE AT
INKANSASCITY.COM KANSASCITY.COM ENTER TO WIN
Contain yourself! As soon as winter turns to spring, you’ll be ready to spruce up your yard. Good thing our friends at The Greensman are giving you the chance to win a fab prize! They’ll plant two to three of your containers with fabulous seasonal colors. Front entrance, back patio, or pool containers. You decide! Enter to win by March 31 at inkansascity.com/the-magazine/ enter-to-win. Oh, and good luck!
Drink up, buttercup! In our business-feature spotlight, we showcase three unique local drinking establishments—including Brewery Emperial in the Crossroads, Parkville’s The Craic and the new Apogee Coffee & Draft. From craft beers to handcrafted coffee, we’ll help keep you properly hydrated. Find it at inkansascity.com.
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Celebrate National Meatball Day on March 9 Our friends at Anthony’s on Grand have graciously shared their famous, oldschool meatball recipe—one that’s both tasty and easy to duplicate at home. Just let us know what time to be over. Find the recipe at inkansascity.com.
Hungry? Of course you are.
Fortunately, we’ve got the city’s most comprehensive dining guide. So many restaurants to please your palate. Head to inkansascity.com/ eat-drink/dining-guide.
MARCH 2020
Never worry, never fear—our monthly calendar is here! Art
gallery openings! Concerts! Theater performances! Philanthropic events! If it needs to be on your social roster, we’ve got it on our comprehensive monthly calendar. Find it at inkansascity.com/events
| 24 | INKANSASCITY.COM
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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER subscribe at INKANSASCITY.COM (under The Magazine tab)
This Month IN KC
March
WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AND WHAT YOU NEED TO SEE by
Michael Mackie
Kansas City Fashion Week March 24 – 28 Union Station Frankenstein March 6 – April 5 KCRep’s Copaken Stage kcrep.org IT’S ALIVE! In its world premiere, white-hot writer (and former associate artistic director at KCRep) Kyle Hatley unravels Mary Shelley’s iconic 200-year-old science-fiction tale as a haunting and heartbreaking cautionary tale like none other. Accompanied by a live musician, Frankenstein is as important today as it was then—by speaking to the human condition. “We tell stories because they teach us we’re not alone in our misery, or our fear—or in our joy,” says Hatley. “And while this story is fictional, it comes from a place of real pain, real loneliness, and real confusion over what it means to be alive.” (Heads-up, the show is recommended for ages 12 and up.)
kcfashionweek.com ALWAYS IN FASHION For the 17th consecutive season, models will strut the runway at Union Station to feature the collections of 31 fashion and accessory designers and retail establishments from Kansas City, the Midwest and across the country. Don’t miss a second of this fashion-filled week! KCFW kicks off with the spring cocktail party, Bubbly & Bow Ties, on March 24, followed by four evenings of runway shows. Each evening’s show features different designers and retail partners—each with a unique collection that you’ll want to take home with you right off the runway. Check out our extensive contemporaneous coverage on inkansascity.com and get tickets for the show on the Kansas City Fashion Week website.
WHAT’S NEW IN KC Luciana Souza March 7, 8:00 p.m. The Folly Theater
Yardbird Opens March 15 6941 W. 119th St. yardbird.com
follytheater.org ALL THAT JAZZ Grammy winner Luciana Souza, one of jazz’s leading singers and interpreters, is coming to Kansas City to perform in Luciana Souza: The Book of Longing featuring Chico Pinheiro & Scott Colley. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, in the late sixties, she grew up in a family of Bossa Nova innovators—her father, a singer and songwriter, her mother, a poet and lyricist. Souza’s work as a performer transcends traditional boundaries around musical styles, offering solid roots in jazz, sophisticated lineage in world music, and an enlightened approach to new music. She has gone on to perform with great names such as Herbie Hancock, Bobby McFerrin, composer Osvaldo Golijov, and the New York Philharmonic.
OUTDOOR LIVING Just in time for spring, a new outdoor furniture brand is opening a showroom in Overland Park. The self-described “socially conscious and environmentally friendly” company, based in the Twin Cities, promises its goods are 100 percent recyclable and made with repurposed ocean plastic, and Yardbird offsets 100 percent of its carbon footprint. The company’s collections vary from classic to contemporary. In addition to the furniture, customers will be able to purchase accessories, such as pillows, fire tables, and custom all-weather covers. How fun to freshen your outdoor space and do good at the same time!
For Kansas City’s most comprehensive calendar of events, go to inkansascity.com MARCH 2020
| 26 | INKANSASCITY.COM
“We don’t design for what’s next, we design for what lasts.” Arlene Ladegaard ASID Allied Member, Certified Interior Designer, IIDA
Come meet us! Call 913.851.8776 | View more designs online at DesignConnectionInc.com.
DC inKC_Feb_vFA.indd 1
1/15/20 3:54 PM
Women in Business
IN KC
Jennifer Lapka A LOCAL NOT-FOR-PROFIT AIMS TO EDUCATE AND TRAIN SEAMSTRESSES AND DESIGNERS TO WORK IN THE FIELD OF FASHION by
I
Michael Mackie
n its heyday, Kansas City was nationally known for manufacturing high-end suits, coats, and dresses. “According to the pivotal Kansas City garment district account by Ann Brownfield and David W. Jackson, We Were Hanging by a Thread, one out of every seven women in America wore outerwear garments manufactured here,” says Jennifer Lapka, founder and president of Rightfully Sewn. By the 1970s, however, Kansas City’s manufacturing systems started unraveling— figuratively and literally. Decades later, Lapka’s dynamic organization, Rightfully Sewn, is doing its part in hopes the metro “can again be at the forefront of apparel manufacturing—all while taking care of the people doing the work
photo by
Aaron Leimkuehler
and the environment,” she says. Launched in 2015, this upstart charity created a number of innovative initiatives—including a seamstress-training program and fashion designer program that strive to attract, train, and retain fashion design entrepreneurs. “In doing so, we are cultivating their businesses so that someday, they too will employ skilled seamstresses and/or contract local factories to sew their products,” says Lapka. Lapka is nothing if not ambitious. Starting a charity from scratch is much harder than it looks, yet Lapka was undaunted. “Several great Kansas City entrepreneurs I know have said in different ways, ‘Had I known then what I know now,’ taken to mean if they could have understood the pressures and challenges of starting and running an
MARCH 2020
| 28 | INKANSASCITY.COM
enterprise, they may have made the choice to not start. But imagine if they hadn’t,” she says. “We are job makers, community-change catalysts, revenue generators, leaders. Leaders must lead despite fear and overcome endless challenges, and I have learned I can do all of these things simply because I believe I can.” Now the organization is poised to celebrate its 5th birthday and Lapka couldn’t be happier with the direction the non-profit is headed. In fact, she’s even got a favorite mantra for those who want to follow in her footsteps and—appropriately enough—it’s fashion-related: A stitch in time saves nine. “If you’re interested in starting an enterprise, do your research. Don’t duplicate something that already exists; instead join their effort as a volunteer,” she says. “If your idea does not exist in your market, benchmark research similar entities in other markets to collect best practice ideas while keeping in mind the needs of your own community.” While its unique fashion-forward programs serves all genders, Rightfully Sewn wouldn’t be where it is today without some insightful girl power. “Our board is currently 78 percent female; our staff is 91 percent female; and our social media followers are 81 percent female,” says Lapka. “These stats are clear evidence women are passionate about empowering other women.” Up next for Rightfully Sewn? Well, besides celebrating their five-year milestone, Lapka says the team will be focusing on internal precision and national reach. “We’ve built our brand, team, programs, and organizational systems; now we can perfect them and prepare ourselves for the next opportunity coming our way.” Just in the last year, the organization got buzzy press from The New York Times and Chicago Tribune and grants from New York-based designer Eileen Fisher and the U.S. Small Business Administration, among others. It’s all in a day’s work for the philanthropic Lapka. “We want to keep going, to keep bringing national attention to Kansas City through our work.”
Know Your Worth
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R E A L E ST AT E . R E A L E X P E R T S . 114 W GREGORY BLVD | KANSAS CITY, MO 64114 | 816.554.5000 | LOCATEKC.COM Kevin Bryant
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Entertaining
IN KC
Email me with your entertaining questions, dilemmas, or triumphs at mjackson@inkansascity.com
SETTING THE TABLE IS WORTH THE TROUBLE. NEVER THINK OTHERWISE. I’M TALKING TO YOU, MILLENNIALS
photo by aaron leimkuehler
I
had friends over for dinner on a Saturday night. My table was set for ten when one of the guests called and cancelled. She is dead to me now. Kidding. She is forgiven; she had the flu. Everyone arrived all at once; there was no time to reset the table before the doorbell rang. I pulled a guest aside and asked him to remove a chair and place setting and scoot everything around to fill in the space. You know, like ya do. He cheerfully obliged and it didn’t occur to me to check his work. When we sat down to dinner, I noted with alarm that, at all nine places my helper had, for some mystifying reason, moved the salad and dinner forks to the right and the knife to the left. I would love to tell you I had a quiet chuckle and let it go.
The Magic of a Set Table by
Merrily Jackson
MARCH 2020
| 32 | INKANSASCITY.COM
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Entertaining
IN KC
Hostess Haunts
MADISON FLITCH Furniture / Art
In addition to those I’ve already mentioned, here are some of my favorite local resources for entertaining accoutrements. • Halls Kansas City (Crown Center) The finest quality and unquestioned good taste in all things for your table. • The Little Flower Shop and The Little Shop Next Door (Westwood Hills) Leslie Brett and Chuck Matney’s taste in all things is exquisite. • Pryde’s Kitchen & Necessities (Westport) Great source for basic white dinnerware, kitchen tools, and everything else. • Studio Dan Meiners (Crossroads) Hip, contemporary flower stylings. • Cuorebella (Hawthorne Plaza) Beautiful linens and tableware. • Trapp & Company (Midtown) The flowers and candles, of course. But also creative tableware and accessories. 816.701.9564 | info@madisonflitch.com madisonflitch.com
MARCH 2020
• Sharyn Blond Linens (Crestwood Shops) It’s right there in the name.
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DON’T FIXATE ON FORK PLACEMENT But, no, I could not let it go. I confess I could not bear for anyone to think I didn’t know where the forks go. So what if my guests were already engaged in salad-eating and conversation? So what if we’d had an extra-animated cocktail hour and nobody would have cared about fork placement? I could not let it go. By the end of the first course I had made quiet sorties to every place setting, in some cases interrupting conversations mid-sentence, and switched knives and forks not-yet-used to their proper positions. Classy, huh? When we set our table for guests, we all want to put our best foot forward. Never think it’s not worth the trouble to set the table for a group you are feeding. Just don’t get lost in the fine points, like I did on the evening in question. Even if you are serving carry-out food, or chicken pot pie from Costco, there is magic in sitting down with friends to a set table. Here are some guidelines for doing so with grace and style. VIVE L’AMBIENCE Beautiful tableware and linens are wonderful, but far more important is the mood you create as a backdrop for those things. Everything is prettier by flickering candlelight, with some Charlie Parker playing in the background. For instant ambience, take unscented wax-filled glass votives and group them in threes here and there across your dining table (do dim those overheads, babe). I would love to find a local source for inexpensive plain votives. I order mine online; the brand is Hosley, and they sell them in lots of 48, individually packed in four boxes of 12, for about 36 bucks. These are also fabulous to have on hand during a power outage. THE BEST TABLE DECOR: YOUR FRIENDS You’re not creative, you say? Not good at whomping up a themed table a la Martha? Or, perhaps you feel you don’t have good stuff. No family sterling, linen damask, fine china or fancy crystal? That’s no reason not to have your friends over for a cozy dinner around your table. Because the most important element of a festive table is your peeps, the wind beneath your wings, who will be happy to be invited, Limoges notwithstanding. A properly set table, no matter how humble, is pretty in itself. My friend Ursula Terrasi was raised in Italy, where, even for everyday meals, one set one’s table with the best one had, regardless of how modest the food or surroundings. “It was very European, very generous, very civilized,” says Ursie, who owns Terrasi Living & Scandia Home (501 Nichols Road), a resource for gorgeous linens and tableware. MY FAVORITE STUFF “Elegance,” said Jean Cocteau, “is the art of not astonishing.” Don’t feel like you have to astound your friends with the ingenuity of your centerpieces or your attention to detail vis-à-vis executing a theme, unless you really can’t help yourself. That being said, a pretty table welcomes your guests, tell-
MARCH 2020
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ing them you think they are worth your time, effort, and creativity. Here are the pieces I use to make my table look festive. I keep them close at hand, so I use them often. Mind you, I am the opposite of minimalist. You don’t need any of this to set an elegant table. • Fresh flowers. More is more. Keep them low, so people can see across the table to talk! • Over-the-top napkin rings. A dear friend gave me eight L’Objet napkin rings, encrusted with Swarovski crystal, that he purchased at Webster House in the Crossroads. They give even the most casual dinner a festive air. • Place cards. People want to know where to sit, even at very informal meals. I use place cards if I have six or more at the table. Paper Source on the Plaza has a nice selection. • Individual salt and pepper shakers. It makes guests feel pampered to have their own little shakers, and they do embellish le table. I bought mine years ago, best money I ever spent. I also love the look of little vintage salt cellars at each place. • Colored glassware. A simple way to coordinate your table is to have pretty, colored water goblets and napkins or other accent pieces that match that color. Candlelight looks extra elegant dancing on colored glass. Your wine glasses should always be clear, though. • Oversized napkins. A proper napkin should cover one’s lap, but they
make them so chintzy these days. Whenever I see large napkins that will work at my table, I snap them up. There is nothing more sumptuous than oversized white linen damask napkins, but they are hard to come by. If you have them, use them! • Chargers. These add tone to the joint, but they are the first to go if I’m trying to squish more people at my table for a casual dinner. World Market in Westport has inexpensive chargers in all kinds of finishes and woven fibers. • Clean, fresh, bed sheets. These make fabulous, easy-to-launder tablecloths. Throw them over the table straight out of the dryer and there are no creases or wrinkles. • A round table. Ideal for conversation, but definitely not essential, darling. Any table will do. It’s also helpful to have a larcenous heart. Steal ideas from Pinterest, Instagram, magazines, books. A FINAL THOUGHT If you’ve never learned how to properly set a table (as, I learned later, was the case with my helper), we won’t think less of you. Go to emilypost.com and her people will teach you. Once you know the rules, you can break them (for example by leaving off the side plates if you don’t have room), but keep those dinner forks on the left!
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photo by dana anderson courtesy of the nelson atkins museum of art
We Party for the Arty
What downtown park is getting a (long overdue) complete makeover—just in time for the 2023 NFL Draft?
POTTED
Left to right: David Manica, Ash Parulekar, Nayelli Palazuelos-Bowers, Noelle Manica, and Damian Lair.
F
I WAS SUPER THRILLED to find an invitation in my inbox (reminder—you can shoot me your own, you know!) to Dr. Regina Nouhan & John Eck’s just-completed Coleman Highlands home (plus on-site ceramics studio—Rafter E Studio). It was a chance to check out their new abode (on a totally new cul-de-sac with incredible, unobstructed downtown views) and shop a selection of ceramics from Eck and Tara Dawley. For those in the know, Eck sold his former studio on Fairmont Ave. back in 2017 in anticipation of building this new space. As part of the Clay Guild sale and studio tour, I arrived on the later end. Nevertheless, I found just the vessel to take home—perfect for fresh flowers inside my front door. And as for the home, which Eck designed (also professor of architecture at UMKC), it was sophisticated simplicity—rigorously edited. Perfection.
or one night only, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art transformed itself into the Valley of Kings and Queens—a magical evening in ancient Egypt—for Party Arty: Night of the Shining Sun. Celebrating the museum’s monumental exhibit “Queen Nefertari: Eternal Egypt” (on display through March 29), the event was inspired by Nefertari’s moniker—The One for Whom the Sun Rises. Revelers arrived inside an unusually darkened, tomb-like Bloch Lobby for house beats courtesy of DJ Cole Knight, who was mystically ‘caged’ in a cube of projected hieroglyphic holograms. As we swayed, the music switched and dancers from the Kansas City Ballet gracefully descended the lobby ramp. As they danced, parting the crowd like the Red Sea, they approached the locked triptych of sky-high bronze doors leading to the main museum. And as ceremoniously as Howard Carter opening the lost tomb of King Tutankhamun, the massive doors were summoned open. “Can you see anything?” Carter was asked in 1922. “Yes, wonderful things.” En masse, the elegant crowd of hundreds entered, glided up the grand marble staircase, and were ushered through a long, blackened corridor—lit only by flaming pedestaled braziers. As if each guest was surreptitiously along for an Indiana Jones tomb-robbing adventure, we made our way into the new epicenter of the party—the soaring, columned Kirkwood Hall. The ballet dancers resumed their pirouetting on a center stage—soon to be replaced by a queen, carried via reclining throne, by sculpted servants in loin cloths and eye liner. More Quixotic performers joined, including one particularly talented in Arabic belly dancing. Her very flat belly reminded me that mine was now hungry, so OVERHEARD we slipped over to Rozelle Court for buffets of food provided by all of KC’s favorite restaurants “He just went and caterers. We posed for photos with more Quixotic performers, sipped on the Tom’s Town through a breakDistilling Co. signature cocktails of the evening, danced, danced some more, and then found up. Give him the ourselves in a line stretching as far as to the eternal life. Oh—it was for Shake Shack. The aux cord.” cheeseburgers and milkshakes were worth it and exalted me to an even more heavenly mood. All of this to ensure continued free admission for the half a million visitors who’ll enter and explore the grand museum this year. May the sun never set on unfettered access for all. SPOTTED: Councilman Eric Bunch & Kaitlynn Bunch, Heather Pluard, Kim Klein, Cori & Matt Culp, Stephanie Meyer, Laine Raitinger, Weston Owen, Alyssa Vargas, Janeane Thompson, Megan Spilker, Krystle Bertoncin, Rebecca Haddican, Annelene Caruso, Amy Guerich, Quint Hall, Derek & Jason Landrum-Vetter, Shannon Dougherty, Zach Wilson, Taylor Burke, Abi White, Josue Montes, Phillip Murphy, Kelstan Ellis, Isaac Bradshaw, Kerry Grant, Hugo Xlmello-Salido, Amber Botros, Jarrod Nicholson
MARCH 2020
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Tara Dawley ceramics.
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ike me, you’ve no doubt driven past one of the numerous, splattering fountains around town—barely blinking an eye, let alone giving much thought to what is required to keep that fountain (or all the others) splishing and splashing for seven-plus glorious months every year. Oblivious no more—I have a new appreciation for everything fountains-related. Thank you to the City of Fountains Foundation for inviting me to participate in their inaugural Fountain Summit. I won’t spill the beans but suffice it to say that the nonprofit foundation is rolling up its sleeves and planning exciting new education and programming to raise awareness about the fountains and their upkeep requirements. For instance, the City of KCMO bears responsibility for maintaining 48 impressive public fountains—not at modest cost. Water alone pumps in at a hefty half-a-million dollars each year, plus another $60k for chemicals, plus the repairs to lighting, pumps, and motors—not to mention utilities and staffing costs. You get the idea. Being the “City of Fountains” (which coincidentally serves as one of the city’s key branding assets) doesn’t come free. And speaking of maintenance, there are currently five fountains (several shut off completely) in very desperate need. Repair estimates for the shuttered fountain at 8th St. and Broadway Blvd. tops a million bucks alone. Creative fundraising efforts are being mulled about (part of what I expect to help with going forward), so send me your bright ideas! This year’s Fountain Day is scheduled for April 17 at the Henry Bloch Fountain in front of Union Station. After the switch gets flipped, try taking an extra-long gaze as you pass by and consider pitching in a few bucks to keep these treasures flowing for years to come. In the words of fountain doyenne Anita Gorman: “The fountains are a gift that can be enjoyed by everybody.” So enjoy.
CORBIN THEATRE STAGE October 16-25, 2020 Fridays & Saturdays - 7:30pm Sundays - 2pm
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latest season of The Crown and recuperating from the prior evening’s big AFC title win (and that would have been swell). I instead elected to join the good people at City Year, along with 250 other hard-working volunteers, at Faxon Elementary School for City Year’s annual MLK Day of Service. City Year (and its 3,000+ AmeriCorps members across the U.S.) commemorates the Civil Rights Movement and honors the life and work of Dr. King by celebrating his birthday as a “day on, not a day off.” On this special day, we gathered to dip brushes in bright cans of paint to essentially “paint-by-number,” completing the large-scale mural outlines sketched days in advance by City Year team members. It turned out to be mind- and soul-clearing work. There were also plants to be potted, as well as a kids’ zone for those too little to keep their color inside the lines. I only wish I could have been there the following day to see the looks on the students’ faces—witnessing their newly brightened and beautified hallways, now adorned with 33 inspiring murals. City Year, in partnership with Kansas City Public Schools, has created transformational service projects in schools where the needs are great, to reconnect, uplift, and inspire the students, staff, and community. To date, they’ve completed more than 30 similar projects. Dr. King suggested that “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others.’” Next year—or next holiday—maybe propose the same question and see where it takes you.
MARCH 2020
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WALKING THE WALK THE 13TH ANNUAL Challenge Your Fash-
OVERHEARD “I’ve been pulling trade with this hog body for months now. Back off.”
ion event, benefitting the YMCA of Greater Kansas City Challenger Program, was held in the packed ballroom at the Downtown Marriott Muehlebach Hotel. The evening kicked off with cocktails and a robust silent auction. After being seated for our steak dinners, emcees Steven St. John and Aly Trost of WHB 810AM got the show moving. Various Challenger kid athletes strutted, danced, or rolled themselves down the runway—each beaming with joy. They were interspersed with a few adult models as well, including Royals 2nd baseman Nicky Lopez and outfielder Brett Phillips, as well as Disabled but Not Really founder Wes Hamilton (who you may remember being moved to tears by in season four of Netflix’s Queer Eye). Following the runway show, Royals broadcaster Rex Hudler and the Wes Nigro Brothers officiated a live auction, Hamilton including items such as a Paul McCartney-signed bass guitar and a signed Patrick Mahomes (seat #15) retired Arrowhead seatback. And then we were all free to get loose with Lost Wax on the dance floor. All the raised funds will directly support the YMCA’s Challenger Program, which provides children with diverse abilities the opportunity to build confidence, learn new skills and make friends through sports programs, swim lessons, social events, before and after school programs and more. The proceeds will particularly help the Y build additional accessible sports fields at the Fred & Shirley Pryor YMCA Challenger Sports Complex. Hearing various parents speak about their children’s first-hand experience with this program (which I was previously unfamiliar with) really touched me. While I don’t have children of my own, listening to their stories helped me understand what it might be like to be in their position—trying everything and then gratefully finding a sports program for their special-needs HOT kids that is accommodating, radicalGOSSIP: ly inclusive, and truly accepting. A What sporting influencer major feel-good moment—with a lost a Super Bowl bet side of fashion. and had to fly to KC for bobbing—head-deep in ketchup—to retrieve his So, KC—where do you submerged phone?
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Arts & Culture
IN KC
by
Judith Fertig
Photo by Tom Strykowicz
Linda Lighton ARTIST AND ACTIVIST ANSWERS FOUR QUESTIONS
W
hen the newly refurbished Kansas City Museum reopens in 2021, your eye will be drawn up to the ceiling in the Milbank Waldrop salon—and Linda Lighton’s amazing ceramic chandelier. “My work is about transition, growth, and change,” the Kansas City artist says. “I want to celebrate the spirit of life and explore how we get to the next place, the opportunity to explore the light in each of us.” To achieve the luminous fuchsia blooms ready to drop, Lighton found wild burdock leaves in Gillham Park and raced them back to her studio before they wilted. Then, she rolled the leaves in wet translucent Frost porcelain slabs to get the print of the veins. “This porcelain is incredibly difficult to work with,” she admits, but it gives the translucent quality that she seeks. That aesthetic sense, attention to detail, and creative problem-solving propel her artistic vision.
MARCH 2020
INKC: What drew you to ceramics? Lighton: I really wanted to go to the Kansas City Art Institute when
I graduated from high school. Instead, my parents sent me to Centenary College for Young Women (now Centenary University). I only lasted a year. Later, after having my daughter, I signed up for art classes at the Factory of Visual Arts in Seattle. One day I decided to take a ceramics class. I thought I could make my own dishes. I am a very fidgety person, and in ceramics, there is something to do every minute for the maniac— glazing, throwing, hand-building, painting. I just felt like it answered all my wants. I was also still interested in making fine art. That has always been my goal. It wasn’t till 1987 that I went back to the KCAI to get a real degree! My daughter was going away to college so I did too! I already had a pretty healthy show record but thought a degree would mainstream me.
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LET’S GET REAL
I was doing artwork one way or another all that time. INKC: Your sculptural pieces invoke the siren call of the life force
that seduces, beckons, whispers, shouts. What organic forms speak to you? Lighton: My sculptures are defined by their sensuality, fertility, and empowered sexuality. Vegetative forms organically infused with human genitalia come alive and into motion through a playful application of color and light. Past work has covered social commentary, beauty, eroticism, sensuality, procreation and the transitions one makes in a lifetime, often through anthropomorphized flora and marine life. Everything I’ve ever made is about transitions. How can we get to the next place with grace and style? Change can be painful—shedding old skins like a locust, or a cotton boll opening to release the white fluff inside, revealing something new and delicate.
Lighton’s ceramic chandelier at the Kansas City Museum.
INKC: You’re the founder of Lighton International Artist Exchange Program. Tell us about it and other causes that call you to action. Lighton: What is activism? It’s activation. In the early 80s I was integral in helping make the One Percent for Art Program in Kansas City, which acquires art for our city. I also invested thousands of hours into the Kansas City Contemporary Art Center which is now called The Leedy-Voulkos Art Center. I have been called to action within the Kansas City community to strengthen and empower artists living and working here, which led me to start the Lighton International Artists Exchange Program. LIAEP provides support for visual artists and arts professionals to travel to international residencies and artist communities and for foreign visual artists to travel to and work in the United States.
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INKC: You grew up in Kansas City, now live and work here. What is it about our area that nurtures your creative spirit? Lighton: After you have committed to a city, you know the good and bad parts. I have worked in various ways on the arts here in this town and feel that Kansas City is a great place to work and live. Our art scene is vibrant and filled with resources and spaces for artists. lindalighton.com
MARCH 2020
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TAKE ME TO SIBERIA
DIRECT FROM Krasnoyarsk, Russia—surprisingly, a city of over 1 million, once the epicenter of Stalin-era gulags— comes The Siberian State Symphony Orchestra to the Kauffman Center on March 5 at 7 p.m. as part of an eight-week tour of the United States. In Krasnoyarsk, the River Yenesei never freezes. And their symphony orchestra never runs out of classic Russian composers to feature. Directed by Vladimir Lande, the concert, part of the lauded Harriman-Jewell series, includes Rimsky-Korsakov’s overture to the opera Tsar’s Bride, Prokofiev’s Violin Concerta No. 1 in D major, Op. 19, and Rachmaninoff ’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18. hjseries.org
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MARCH 2020
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LIKE A ROLLING STONE
1969 PHOTO BY ETHAN RUSSELL
FIFTY YEARS is a good luck charm for Kansas City. The Chiefs in the Super Bowl. And now the Kansas City Symphony and rock band Windborne join forces to groove to The Music of the Rolling Stones: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards 1969, the fiftieth anniversary of two major albums—Beggar’s Banquet and Let It Bleed. Okay, You Can’t Always Get What You Want: the band won’t be there in person. But there will be plenty of satisfaction with covers including Gimme Shelter, Brown Sugar, and I Can’t Get No Satisfaction. Go ahead, dance in place on March 13 and 14 at 8 p.m.. kcsymphony.org
Concerts are held in Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
(816) 471-0400 / kcsymphony.org
TIMELESS MUSIC + EXCITING PERFORMANCES TICKETS ARE SELLING FAST. ACT NOW!
THE MUSIC OF THE ROLLING STONES Saturday, March 14 at 8 p.m. Brent Havens, guest conductor Tony Vincent, vocalist
Your Kansas City Symphony and Windborne present a full rock band with the orchestra to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Rolling Stones iconic albums, “Beggar’s Banquet” and “Let It Bleed.” Hear classic hits “Gimme Shelter,” “Midnight Rambler” and “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” plus rock anthems “Brown Sugar,” “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” and many more! Please note: The Rolling Stones will not be performing at this event. ©2019 ABKCO Music & Records, Inc. www.abkco.com
Johannes Debus
Jason Seber
SCHUMANN’S “RHENISH”
BEETHOVEN’S FOURTH PIANO CONCERTO
CLASSICS UNCORKED: ONE-HIT WONDERS
Wednesday, March 25 at 7 p.m. Friday & Saturday, March 20-21 at 8 p.m. Jason Seber, David T. Beals III Sunday, March 22 at 2 p.m. Associate Conductor Johannes Debus, guest conductor Eric Lu, piano (Underwritten by the Almy Legacy Fund)
BARBER Essay No. 2 BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4 R. SCHUMANN Symphony No. 3, “Rhenish” Guest conductor Johannes Debus leads the Symphony and piano prodigy Eric Lu for the extraordinary Fourth Concerto — a blend of haunting lyricism, technical finesse and musical innovation. Tickets start at $25
MARCH 2020
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MIKHAIL GLINA Russlan and Ludmilla Overture JULIUS FUCIK Entrance of the Gladiators ARAM KHACHATURIAN Sabre Dance from Gayane PIETRO MASCAGNI Cavalleria Rusticana: Intermezzo EMMANUEL CHABRIER España PAUL DUKAS L’Apprenti Sorcier (The Sorcerer’s Apprentice) Most tickets $25. Sponsored by:
Arts & Culture by
IN KC
Judith Fertig
Dancers Elysa Hotchkiss, Amanda DeVenuta, and Liang Fu.
THE KANSAS CITY BALLET’S GOT NEW MOVES
photo by kenny johnson
TRADITIONALLY, ballet has meant 19th-century music, male choreographers, female dancers in tutus. But as with all the arts, ballet continues to evolve. For the past several years, the Kansas City Ballet has been offering New Moves, contemporary ballet performed in an intimate setting, the Todd Bolender Center for Dance and Creativity. In this very popular production on March 26-29, you’ll see fluid, athletic, tutu-less dancers performing the work of seven different and soon-to-be-sought-after choreographers, including several women. You’ll be seeing the future of this art form. nelson-atkins.org
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MARCH 2020
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Interior photo: © 2020 Jorge Duarte, Hauspics.com. All Rights Reserved
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IT’S A SHOE-IN
SHOE PEOPLE know that footwear can be an art form. Christian Louboutin. Manolo Blahnik. Jimmy Choo. Air Jordans. So, it’s no surprise that shoes in contemporary artist Summer Wheat’s current exhibit Blood, Sweat, and Tears at Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art have inspired a new event, Shoe Party. Wear/show off/vamp your most fabulous footwear and shuffle on down to the Kemper. Do good by bringing your gently worn or brand-new shoes to donate to Shoe Kansas City. At “Shoe Party,” you’ll meet and mingle with shoe-minded people, create shoe art, and take part in a shoe fashion show. There is no cost for this event held March 27 at 6 p.m., but reservations are required at kempermuseum-shoeparty. everbrite.com. kemperart.org
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MARCH 2020
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SPONSORED CONTENT
LOCAL LENDER OPENS THE DOOR FOR KC HOMEBUYERS A new study reveals Kansas City is one of the most affordable places to live and buy a home. The report by Numbeo found KC ranks second in the country for the lowest cost to finance a home. Those findings don’t surprise Nutter Home Loans, which has helped Kansas Citians achieve their dreams of homeownership for nearly 70-years. Nutter founded its business on a philosophy to help people from all walks of life afford a home, including women and minorities who qualified for loans but were often turned down by other lenders. “If a loan isn’t good for our customers, it isn’t good for us,” said CEO James B. Nutter Jr. “That’s an adage from our start and one we continue to follow today.” Nutter reinforced its honor to do right when Nutter publicly stated on a national news program, before the 2008 subprime mortgage collapse, that they wouldn’t make subprime loans that weren’t good for anyone and put the country in a recession.
NUTTER’S CASH BACK REFINANCE PROGRAM HELPS FAMILIES ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS
Nutter has quietly donated to scores of charities and civic causes that improve the lives of others. Some of those organizations include the Veterans Community Project, Children’s Mercy Hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital, Harvesters Food Network, the YMCA, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the revitalization of many neighborhoods and parks in the urban core. In addition to giving, Nutter employees have volunteered extensively with Habitat for Humanity to build homes for families in need of low-cost housing.
PEOPLE AND PETS – NUTTER HELPS CONNECT A lifelong animal lover, Nutter has long contributed to Wayside Waifs, a local no-kill shelter that helps find forever homes for pets that are up for adoption. Owning a pet while renting is often prohibited, so Nutter’s no-cost pre-approval letter can help renters become homeowners by helping them understand what they can afford and also show the seller that their offer is backed by confirmed financing. Often times, owning a home is more affordable than renting plus owning helps more people to take care of animals by adopting pets.
Outside Children’s Mercy Hospital, Nutter Home Loans worked with Variety Nutter is also an industry leader in reGIVING BACK TO EDUCATIONAL Children’s Charity to update the Sybil Silkwood Nutter Playground for chilCAUSES LIFTS CHILDREN AND financing home loans with their Nutter dren with disabilities. THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE Cash Back Refinance program which helps families pay for home renovation Education has been a cornerstone of projects and pay off other debts. giving for Nutter Home Loans. The company is a longtime benefactor to “With interest rates so low, our Nutter Cash Back Refinance program many local educational institutions, including the Harry S. Truman Presidenis ideal for families who’ve wanted to remodel a kitchen, bathrooms, and tial Library, the Kansas City and Mid-Continent Public Libraries, as well as add a deck or more,” Nutter said. “Now is the time to do those projects that the UMKC Bloch School of Management, Kansas City Art Institute, and many add home value. Our refinance program also puts money back into their other schools. Nutter’s offices sit on a campus of century-old buildings that pockets. And that’s money they can use to reduce their monthly expenses they’ve restored and saved, including the educational Nathan Scarritt House. by paying off credit card debts and the like.” The area, just outside of Westport, is appropriately called Nutterville. “While our company serves customers in all 50 states, Kansas City is COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY our hometown,” Nutter said. “At the end of the day, we want to make this Helping customers save money on their home loans has been the key to community a better place to live, raise a family, and enjoy the benefits of building Nutter’s business, but many have been drawn to Nutter’s efforts owning a home. That’s our commitment and we’re proud of our history of to help make Kansas City a better community. Since its founding in 1951, offering competitive rates and doing what is right.”
NUTTER HOME LOANS www.nutterhomeloans.com 816-531-2345
James B. Nutter & Company DBA Nutter Home Loans NMLS# 2067 4153 Broadway, KCMO, 64111 Not a commitment to lend. Loans available to qualified borrowers.
ai158154627013_IN KC Magazine March Issue FINAL .pdf
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Behind the Music
IN KC by
Timothy Finn
Brandon Phillips 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.
The Other Americans. Left to right: Michelle Bacon, Brandon Phillips, Julie Berndsen, Adam Phillips.
I
t’s no stretch to say that Brandon Phillips has spent his entire adult life and a significant part of his boyhood steeped in the Kansas City music community: as a musician, a band leader, a label owner and label manager, among other roles. In the early 1990s, he and his younger brothers, Zach and Adam, started The Gadjits, a ska-punk band that gained some national traction and signed with a big independent label, Hellcat Records. After The Gadjits broke up in 2003, the Phillips brothers reemerged as The Architects and turned toward a more raw and aggressive rock-based brand of punk. Since 2004, they have released sixfull lengths and two EPs, including the ambi-
tious Border War releases, a series of recordings with accompanying graphic novels. Phillips recently answered questions from IN Kansas City about The Gadjits, The Architects, his latest music projects, and the rewards and tribulations of 25-plus years spent toiling in the music industry. You grew up in a family where music and the arts were prevalent. What is your perspective now on how all that shaped you? Brandon Phillips: 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.
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What bands or albums first influenced and inspired you? BP: I was exactly the right age to catch metal, punk rock, and early hip-hop all at once, so there’s a lot there to unpack. AC/DC made me want to play guitar for certain, and there was a copy of Ramones’ Mania that was floating around our house that had a pretty big impact on both my brothers and me. All my friends who played guitar were trying to learn finger-tapping and sweep-picking and the lead part to Sweet Child ‘O Mine, and I felt really weird because I was struggling to make this simple power chord intro to Dead Kennedys’ Government Flu swing as hard as it did on the record. Then I got hold of the first Rancid album and Operation Ivy’s Energy and suddenly I was no longer adrift in music, I was focused. I found people who played like I wanted to play, and that was huge. The Gadjits were your breakthrough band, at least the band through which I was introduced to the Phillips brothers. They ended up signing with a legit label, Hellcat Records, and working with Tim Armstrong of Rancid, who produced the excellent At Ease album. What did you learn from that experience and what are you proudest of regarding The Gadjits? BP: Let’s start with the positive lessons.
We toured so much and through so many different situations, from sold-out theaters to clubs and literal chicken coops, that we learned how to be a professional band. We learned how to put the show and the music first, even on our worst days. Making the records we made for Hellcat and afterward, we learned that we preferred to sound a little bit messy and trashy. The cleaner a recording was, the less representative of us it felt. The negative lessons are pretty easy to sum up: The music industry is a cesspool. The silver lining there being that the good people tend to hang together, and we’ve been pretty lucky to have good people who’ve lasted quite a while with us. The bad people are pretty well-camouflaged—they buy your dinner and tell you you’re “family.” So, you know—word to the wise. At that time the attitudes of all the bosses and managers and music industry insiders were very non-interventionist. No one wanted to be seen as “meddling” in an artist’s career by steering them too far in one direction or another. Looking back, I’d say we definitely could have used some gentle meddling because we tended to make really dumb, reactive decisions, and no one was there saying, “Dudes, cool the (bleep) down and rethink that.” With The Gadjits, I’m probably proudest of a string of shows we did around the time we were being signed by RCA. I don’t remember all the cities or even all the venues, but I very clearly remember that we would step on stage every night, flip the switch, and be absolutely fierce until I could barely stand up. Regardless of any outside measure of success, there is nothing like knowing you’re crushing it. You are the eldest of three brothers, both of whom have been with you from the beginning. There are plenty of notorious stories of brothers/siblings not getting along in this business. What’s the Phillips brothers’ secret? BP: Some immeasurable mixture of dumb luck, genuine brotherly love, and mild-to-moderate co-dependence issues? Honestly, I think we’ve probably had as many nuclear scream-fests as any sibling band; we just keep it in the van. And fortunately, NME was never snooping around www.classickitchenskc.com to publish the awful shit we’d say to each other.
www.classickitchenskc.com
now featuring
Talk about the transition from The Gadjits to The Architects, which precipitated a significant change in sound. BP: After The Gadjits was dropped by RCA, we went ahead and finished the album we
now featuring
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Behind the Music
IN KC
would have made for them but before we could finish all the mixes, Ehren (Starks) decided that he’d had enough and needed to quit the band. That was the last straw for The Gadjits. Once we’d stopped hurling curses at the sky, we decided that this was a pretty good opportunity to start over, and to start over with a really good album and a different sense of what we wanted. The Architects was our slightly cleaner slate. Over several albums and a gillion tours, I really love what The Architects became. The harder we pushed, the more we found this raw, core sound of punk rock and roll. Since 2004, the Architects have released eight recordings, fulllengths and EPs. You’ve toured with some big bands. What are some of your proudest moments with the Architects? BP: Maybe this is going to make me sound like a total rube, but I don’t think we’re ever going to top the My Chemical Romance tour. We’ve done some big shows since then, and it’s not as though those weren’t a blast, but I never felt like I fit in anywhere more in my life than stepping on and off those My Chem stages every night. I mean, my heart and mind are open to being proven wrong on this, but if having Ray Toro come out and take the solo on a cover of Sin City by AC/DC and watching a sold out Palladium’s worth of kids lose their (bleeping) minds turns out to have been the best four minutes of my life, then fine. I got what I came for. You have several other projects going on. What’s the status of the
Architects? BP: The Architects are on pause right now while we do some other
things. Truth be told, we kind of invented the other projects so that we’d have an outlet outside The Architects, and The Architects’ style could stay kind of pure. Let’s talk about those other projects, starting with Brandon Phillips and The Condition. What influences do you plumb when writing music for this group? BP: Mainly, I think about Elvis Costello and The Supremes and a handful of random bubble-gum singles from the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. BP+C should, ideally, be about shamelessly sticky bops that veer a bit soulful. I wouldn’t want anything to be too heavy, sleepy or weepy. I want to awaken the inner-teenager in whomever hears it so the smashy-crashiness of The Kinks and the overblown romanticism of The Ronettes are both totally fair game. Where does Elvis Costello fit into this? He’s my favorite songwriter ever, and when he does anything in an R&B/Soul style he invariably decimates it. Other Americans. Significantly different from the Condition. Where does their sound come from? BP: We wanted to try and do something that was as far outside the Architects’ sphere of influence as we could go. Initially, we were thinking
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of Morcheeba and Massive Attack and all these really lush trip-hop records we’d been obsessing over for decades. Clearly, we ended up someplace else, but I don’t think anyone is mad about it. Julie (Behrens) and I are both interested in EDM (electronic dance music), and the more I messed around with synths, the more we seemed to veer in the direction of electro-rock. More than a few times in my life, the best thing I heard that month/ year was a good song remixed by a talented producer in a creative way. In a perfect world, Other Americans would always have that imaginative energy baked into our sound. On the session that we just recorded back in November, we referenced (if I’m not mistaken) Elastica, Gang of Four, Carmine Coppola, Run DMC, Amy Winehouse, and a Bond theme.
However, the rote-ness of the festival EDM formula bores me. Also, the lack of any kind of song or story kills my high every time. So I knew I wasn’t that, but that I was going to draw some water—the stuff I liked—from that well. So I started with tempos and bass lines and just started building on it in whatever way felt good, and then I realized how totally over my head I was because there were no band members, no one else in the room to play off of or argue with or high five. Yeeesh. It had been quite a while since I’d felt even slightly intimidated by music composition or production. So, I played it for some close friends, they liked it, and I got over it. When I felt tired enough, I decided I was done and what was finished was going to be an album.
Mensa Deathsquad. On its Facebook page you describe it as “dark, electro-alternative.” BP: Truly, I think I rolled with that description because no one else had a better idea. I’m accepting submissions. I blasted out four Other Americans remixes in like two weeks last summer and I’d toyed with the idea of doing something really, really electronic, but this was the sign that it was time to make a serious effort at it. Now, I have a small problem with EDM per se. I love synthesizers and I love throbbing kick drums and squeaky, trippy glitches, white-noise risers and tape-stop downers and a heavy-ass drop that suddenly pulls a ferocious twist on you is as gorgeous to my ear as any symphonic work ever produced.
BP: At the moment, the thing I’m most engaged with is trying to get over
Any other endeavors you’d like to mention? some nasty post-surgical complications. Will return to music directly. Who would you most like to collaborate with (the person can be dead or alive) and why? BP: I would love to just be a studio assistant on a Trent Reznor film score. I can’t imagine a cooler place to be a fly on the wall. You have been a part of the music business for more than a quarter century, as a musician, a band manager, a label owner/administrator. The business has changed radically over that time. What
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Behind the Music
IN KC
inspires you to stay so immersed in it? What gives you hope? BP: People show up and see artists perform music. That is really the only hopeful glimmer. That is the only reason to remain involved after you’ve seen the sausage being made. You can and should surround yourself with good people, but it will never be enough. The rot of incompetence and indifference in this industry is like an epidemic, and even if your lawyer and manager are pure-hearted crusaders for you, it will amount to little more than a paper mask and a tube of hand sanitizer. You’re gonna catch it and if anything motivates you to survive, it’s going to be that people still come out to see artists perform. That’s the main thing. The other thing is that I’ve just never hit that point where I’m thinking, “Well, I guess it’s time to get into roofing supplies.” What’s your perspective on the Kansas City music community? What are its strengths and what could it use more of? BP: First off, there are stalwarts here who would carry the whole thing on their backs if we needed them to. They are lovely, sweet people who are in this for all the right reasons, and they have my utmost respect for the metric tons of thankless shit they do for local music and local musicians. What we are strong on, I think, has been the same for 60 years: local singers and players who come correct; local clubs and halls where they can test themselves in front of an audience; local labels cutting records; and a handful of local music mavens trying to spread the gospel about it all. Where K.C. is weak, it’s been weak for the same 60 years: No one
MARCH 2020
outside the scene seems to think any of this is worth a damn until it’s been approved by some other cities or outside forces. K.C. is a puzzle: We love local beer and local barbecue and imported entertainment. Go figure. If a 19-year-old artist asked me how to build more support in K.C., I’d tell them the melancholy truth: Move to Atlanta, New York, Nashville, or L.A. When you’re bubbling everywhere else, come back, and there will be asses in all the seats. And the local TV morning show will have you come on, and they’ll ask which high school you went to and what day does the album drop and then they’ll stand you up at a kitchen island next to Jasper Mirabile so he can teach everyone how to flip a perfect omelet on TV. And then you’ll go back to L.A. Call me, though, if you need a band leader for the tour.
WANT MORE TIMOTHY FINN? Check out his weekly online-only content at inkansascity.com. Every Wednesday the website publishes his list of Top 5 Notto-Miss Concerts in the metro. Every week you’ll find his revered, rollicking, reasoned reviews and commentary. Email Timothy Finn at tfinn@inkansascity.com
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Look
BY
IN KC
Fashion
R. Murphy
Spring Forward
W
hat’s that light? Is it the sun? Whoa, nelly. Not so fast. Sure, that spring equinox is approaching at the end of the month but before then, we have a new take on neon to brighten our days. Channel your inner highlighter and weave these brilliant hues into your wardrobe for a quick spring glow up.
MINI SKIRT, MAXI COLOR
Pull focus in this shockingly pink mini dress. With ruffled straps on this sweet shift, you can mix a little flirty with a universally flattering cut. The Sitting Pretty rufe-sleeve shift dress in hot pink, $38, available at TeaElla Boutique (Leawood and Olathe).
HOT PANTS
GRAB BAG
Men can definitely get in on the neon trend too. Golden Denim is bringing the brights in its Union cut jean in Leon, a bright yellow green with black embroidering down the legs. With a little distressing and a slim tapered cut, these will look chic on date night or brunch the next morning. Golden Denim Union jeans in Leon, $110, at Halls Kansas City (Crown Center).
Your handbag is the perfect place to add a punch of color. Enjoy clean lines with the Neely and Chloe mini lady bag in a vivid buttercup hue. Mixed with neutrals, this bag will be the star. Add it to a floral ensemble, and it will be another bloom in the arrangement. Neely and Chloe mini lady bag in buttercup, $370, at Halls Kansas City (Crown Center).
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WHAT DO I LOVE MOST ABOUT MY SMILE? EVERYTHING! “I love my smile. It is an asset and confidence builder. Dr. Headley designed the perfect look for me. I can always count on my smile to give me a winning edge.” – Alyssa Klinzing
Miss Kansas USA 2019 Top 10 – Miss USA 2019
LaShay Photography. Ashley Renee Makeup.
Look
IN KC Beauty
Look Good, Feel Better BY
R. Murphy
B
eauty comes from within, right? Of course it does. And with these beauty products, your inner beauty will shine through as well with beauty that gives back. Each of these products donates a portion of their proceeds or products to worthy causes. So stock up—it’s good for everyone.
THRIVE CAUSEMETICS
Kitschy spelling of their name aside, Thrive Causemetics delivers on their promises. With each purchase, they donate either products or cash to an organization that helps women thrive, listening to the needs of the organizations so that they can donate what they need most. Dab on some of their Eye Brightener in one of four colors and look woke in more ways than one. Thrive Brilliant Eye Brightener, $24, available at thrivecausmetics.com.
MAC COSMETICS
MAC has always been there for the serious beauty addict, so much so that 2019 saw 25 years of giving back through its three signature lipsticks, Viva Glam I, II, and III. MAC donates 100 percent of the proceeds to the MAC Aids Fund to battle HIV. Choose from the original vivid blue red, a pinkish-beige mauve, or the newest hue, a muted brownish plum. Viva Glam lipstick, $19, available at Nordstrom or the MAC Cosmetics store on the Country Club Plaza.
TATCHA
In Japanese culture, geishas are held as ideals of grace and beauty. The skincare line Tatcha harnesses the ingredients that keep geishas glowing, while also giving back to girls around the world. A portion of the proceeds from every skincare product benefits the Room to Read Girls’ Education program, which provides schooling for girls in Asia and Africa. Tatcha the Water Cream for clear, smooth skin, $68, available at Sephora (Country Club Plaza, Oak Park Mall, and Zona Rosa.)
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Look
IN KC
Wellness
Different Strokes
S
ummer bodies are made in the winter, or so they say. Well, if you’re already hankering for the beach and don’t have a spring break lined up, make a splash in your own backyard. Sure, you can swim laps at most pools but why not mix it up a bit? And no, water aerobics are not just for the octogenarian set. Feel the cool burn with these fun alternatives to the treadmill.
U.S. MASTERS SWIMMING
If you hear the word ‘masters’ and automatically think you have to be a former Ryan Lochte wannabe, think again. USMS clubs welcome anyone over the age of 18 who wants to connect with other swimmers, have access to coaching, and improve their swimming. There are four USMS clubs in the greater Kansas City area: The KC Wave at Swinney Recreation Center, the Gladstone Masters at the Gladstone Community Center, Life Time Swim Lenexa at Life Time Fitness Lenexa, and Life Time Swim Overland Park at Life Time Fitness Overland Park. To find out more, visit usms.org. AQUA YOGA
No, you won’t drown doing downward dog, but you will focus on your breath while being fully supported by a pool of water in this twist on water fitness. Aqua yoga translates many standing postures into opportunities to focus on the form in a gentle way. Try it out at the North Kansas City YMCA. AQUA ZUMBA
by
R. Murphy
If you yearn to shake it with the WERQ folks but your joints just aren’t there yet, try Aqua Zumba. Yep, the hip hop and Latin dance workout translates to a fun water workout with the added benefit of resistance from the water. Try it out at area YMCAs, Element Fitness, the Liberty Community Center, and the Matt Ross Community Center.
MARCH 2020
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Living
IN KC BY
Stacy Downs
5 Ways to Color Your Front Door Spring
W
hoever is over winter, raise your hand! Good news: We’re—finally— springing into action this month. Besides blooming flowers, one of the surest signs of the season is color. Consider giving your front door a little lift by painting it a fresh, new hue. We have a few suggestions to kick up your curb appeal:
Benjamin Moore Caliente: Red can go with any shade of siding.
Farrow & Ball Charlotte’s Locks: Orange is the color of happiness, and pairs well with a white, gray, or blue house.
Behr Solar Energy: Buttery yellow dazzles, especially with a dark-blue house.
Sherwin-Williams Overt Green: Bright lime plays well with a gray or white house.
Valspar Photogenic: Ocean blue is a bright and welcoming hue with any color of house.
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WOOD FOR THE LOCAL GOOD URBAN LUMBER COMPANY takes discarded trees and turns them into lumber that can be used for tables, cabinets, and other furniture. Besides salvaging lumber and keeping it out of landfills, the company sells wood so you can create your one-of-a-kind piece. And they sell steel table bases named for local cities and districts—the Fairway, the Grandview, the West Bottoms and so on. Or, maybe a storm knocked down your favorite tree. You can bring wood from your yard, and Urban Lumber can saw it to your specifications. The company started 15 years ago, and up through April 2019, it had recycled more than 1.5 million pounds of tree wood through its services.
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Living
IN KC BY
Ferm Living Ripple carafe and drinking glasses, available in clear and smoked gray.
Stacy Downs
Scandinavian Design Lovers: Rejoice! The Ferm Living Turn sofa and Insert side table.
T
here’s more Danish design headed west to KC. The local home boutique, Kanso (Crossroads), is carrying the Ferm Living collection. Ferm Living, based in Copenhagen, is a favorite among those who like clean, modern design. The company partners with artisans around the world to make furniture and accessories for each room in the home, everything from sofas to kitchenware to planters. The entire Ferm Living collection is available through Kanso’s online store and accessories will be available in the brick-andmortar shop in the Crossroads Arts District, says owner Jason Duke. shopkanso.com
Ferm Living plant box is available in five colors; shown in dark green.
Ferm Living Herman magazine stand.
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New Places to Seek Old Treasures
NOBLE DESIGNS photo by Aaron Leimkuehler
AFTER LOSING THE BELOVED-BY-MANY MISSION ROAD ANTIQUES, NORTH JOHNSON COUNTY HAS GAINED TWO PROMISING SPOTS TO EXPLORE DÉCOR GEMS FROM GENERATIONS PAST.
SLATER HOUSE ANTIQUES Just east of Ikea and named for the street on which it’s located is a source for fine and unusual art and furnishings. The building is a cottage-style house, formerly occupied by Mundy & Yazdi Rugs. Check out this deep bench of heavy hitters from Kansas City’s antiques community—you probably recognize these names from 45th and State Line: Rich Hoffman, Christopher Filley (who still has his original location, too ) as well as Pat Postans and Linda Hancock.
MODERN CLASSIC
instagram.com/slaterhouseantiques
At Noble Designs, our passion is designing homes and spaces for our clients that reflect their needs in a style that lasts. GLENWOOD ANTIQUE MALL This new 35,000-square-foot mall is in a former TJ Maxx, just north of where the original Glenwood Theater once stood on Metcalf Avenue. The large space will eventually have more than 350 vendors and dealers, and is owned by Kirsen and Andrew Rowland, who also own Lily’s Estate Sales. Inside are vintage collectibles, including metal signs, Pyrex kitchenware, and Coca-Cola memorabilia, as well as antiques. facebook.com/mallglenwood
saranobledesigns.com | 913-218-0001 @nobledesigns
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38 New Lots — Available Now! exceptional homesites near the new north Welcome Center in the Village of Loch Lloyd. r e a l e s t a t e @ l o c h l l o y d. c o m | ( 8 1 6 ) 3 3 1 - 9 5 0 0 | Lo c h L l o y d. c o m
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words by
Cindy Hoedel
photo by
Paul Andrews
IN CONVERSATION WITH
William Least Heat-Moon
H
e has visited every county in the United States (there are 3,007). A lifetime spent taking the road less traveled and chatting up strangers has bestowed upon author William Least Heat-Moon, 80, a deep, direct knowledge of the American landscape and psyche. Heat-Moon’s first three books, all New York Times bestsellers, are American travel masterpieces: Blue Highways chronicles a solo 13,000-mile backroads journey in a van called “Ghost Dancing.” PrairyErth is a meditative “deep map” of the geology, history and humans that shaped a single county in the Kansas Flint Hills. River Horse is an epic account of a four-month voyage across the United States from the Atlantic to the Pacific by boat. Other books by Heat-Moon include the travel accounts Roads to Quoz: An American Mosey and Here, There, Elsewhere: Stories from the Road and his first work of fiction, Celestial Mechanics, which has been described as a “Blue High-
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ways of the mind.” Heat-Moon’s writings enjoy a wide following in Europe, where he may be the second most famous Missouri author after Mark Twain. His latest book, O America (University of Missouri Press), released on Valentine’s Day, is at once a love letter and a warning to a nation locked in an eternal tussle between its noblest and basest instincts. The novel, set in 1848, follows a British physician and an escaped slave making their way from Baltimore to the wild backcoun-
What was your childhood like in Kansas City? I was born in 1939, and three days after I was born, World War II started. I remember going to the movie theaters in Brookside and Waldo and seeing newsreel footage from the war. They would play them before the cartoons. That was a lot for a kid 4 or 5 years old to take in. For a while I thought somehow my birth had caused the war, but when I got a little older I realized, of course, that was not the case. We lived about ten miles from downtown, on 74th Street between Paseo and Troost, and we could get to town in less than half an hour on the streetcars, so I felt very much connected to not only the city but to my neighborhood and the adjoining neighborhoods. Kansas City was a great place for a boy to grow up. Everything you needed was within walking distance. There was a drugstore on Troost Avenue with a soda fountain, so it became a place of major socializing. I remember looking out the big glass windows at Troost, which was also Highway 71, and I knew from my family’s vacations that Highway 71 ran all the way to the Canadian border and almost to the Gulf of Mexico in the South. And I would sit there and think, ‘I want to follow that highway all the way to the north and the south,’ which I eventually did. Kansas City, for a man who’s interested in American topography, it was an ideal place to be. Every spot was within a couple of days’ drive, maybe a little more before the interstates. San Francisco, New York City, New Orleans—they weren’t far away. I just felt connected to the country being centrally located like that.
The tenth book by writer William Least HeatMoon, O America, was released in February.
try, encountering adventure and memorable characters that provide insights into the ongoing American experiment in democracy. Born and raised in Kansas City, Heat-Moon now lives on 52 acres near the Missouri River outside Columbia, MO. During a lunch meeting at the Tiger Ho-
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tel in Columbia, the soft-spoken, silver-haired author, who is of English, Irish and Osage ancestry, breaks off mid-sentence when a server appears. Turning his body to face her, he casts out a series of biographical questions and listens to the answers with cat-like attention. There is no small talk with Heat-Moon. Things matter. When our interview resumes by phone on a snowy day, there is ground to be covered before we can embark on the business of the call: snowfall totals at our homes some 250 miles apart, the whereabouts of a mutual acquaintance. He asks for a brief history of my parents and delights in finding details that connect their lives with his own. He once said he set out on his Blue Highways adventure “to meet the nation,” a quest that continues to animate him.
Why did you decide to settle down on a former tobacco farm? Rural life suits me. I’ve let the original tobacco fields grow wild and have been planting a variety of trees, so it’s kind of like a young forest. I figure if I can trade
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tobacco for forest, that’s a worthwhile thing. Do you remember the moment the idea for O America lit upon you? There wasn’t a moment; it was a slowly emerging thing. But around the election of 2016 it was clear that our country was being pushed towards divisiveness, and that the divisiveness was going to be a threat to our democratic way of life. There was a phrase that was common then, “This is not who we are.” But it is who we are. It is who we have been since the beginning. I wanted to address that. What do you think is the explanation for this national lack of self-understanding? Part of the problem is, so many Americans are unaware of our history. I’m not a historian, I’m a storyteller. But the stories that I know from talking to Americans, and the history that I’ve read, they fit together. I thought what I could do as a writer—maybe—is to try to tell a story that would reveal the historical nature of what it is to be an American living our version of democracy.
O America, beyond its political undercurrent, is an adventure tale full of humor and richly drawn minor characters. It has been compared to Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, and to me it calls to mind Homer’s The Odyssey, the Lewis & Clark journals, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. Were you intentionally paying homage to any of those authors or works? I have read all of those people, and I would say all of them had some influence on me. But it wasn’t consciously there. The first time I heard a comparison to Huckleberry Finn, I thought, “Of course!” A black man and a white man travelling around together. And I’m sure that, because I had read that book, that helped propel my narrative along in some way, even though I wasn’t conscious of it at the time The book has not exactly a happy ending, but a glimpse of a possible happy ending. There’s a wonderful sentence on the last page, as the protagonist is waiting for the steamship that is going
“
How did you tackle the research needed to recreate 1848? I have about 3,000 books that are entirely within the subject matter of American travel and exploration. So I read travel accounts from 1848 and thereabout. And I listened. It was almost like interviewing people; I couldn’t ask questions but I could hear the answers. I intentionally set the story before the Civil War, because that complicates everything. 1848 was a little simpler. I made almost nothing up in O America except for the two protagonists. Almost everything that happens to the protagonists is taken out of a historical account. Most people understand that violence and racism have plagued us since the beginning, but O America reveals that contemporary problems such as the opioid crisis, income disparity, and the rise of corporations have existed just as long. Yes, and it’s nothing I invented. People in 1848 were talking about opioids—my protagonist Dr. Trennant carries laudanum in his bag, as people did then. Laudanum is an opiate, a necessary one to keep people from suffering more than they needed to. And it was also sold irresponsibly, as an unlabeled ingredient in non-prescription tonics and elixirs. Yes, and today we’re dealing with opioids again. And with income disparity again. Almost all the ills we see today were present in 1848.
.... today we’re dealing with opioids again. And with income disparity again. Almost all the ills we see today were present in 1848.
to carry him to St. Louis to reunite him with his beloved: “Well, well, well. ‘American Democracy’ is in sight, coming forward in a flurry of steam and wood smoke and frantic whistle-blowing to urge us aboard with dispatch.” At this moment in 2020, do you think American democracy is going to make it? Are we going to be able to get onboard quick enough? I wish I could give a definitive answer. It’s a question I ask every day now. I tend to be an optimist, a very cautious optimist. My guess is that we’re going to solve the current political problem. [Pause] I think we are.
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Interview condensed and minimally edited for clarity.
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words by
Katy Schamberger
photo by
Tom Styrkowicz
The New Faces of Philanthropy LOCAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ARE AS DIVERSE AS THE PEOPLE WHO COMMIT TO THEM. MEET A GROUP OF KANSAS CITIANS WHO HAVE MADE IT THEIR PRIORITY TO GIVE BACK
Left to right: Tekia Thompson, Mike Mitchell, Damian Lair, Lynn Hoffman Carlton, McClain Bryant Macklin, Drew Smith, Gene Willis, Amy Guerich, Jake Jacobson.
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ine Kansas Citians of varying race, gender identity, religion, and professions have more in common than just regional geography. They’re each passionate about giving back to their communities. For members of today’s younger demographics, including millennials and Gen X-ers, philanthropy is less about writing large checks than it is about making another kind of payment: paying it forward. From serving on non-profit boards of directors and starting events or organizations to lobbying at the state capital and conducting mission work on the other side of the world, this group of dedicated community advocates shows just how many ways there are to make not just your surrounding community, but also the world a better place. Here, they share what drives them, how they give back, what they’ve learned and why community service is more than a hobby—it’s a calling, one that everyone should answer. WHY GIVE BACK? Familial influence, meeting new people, helping others, personal and professional growth—what motivates this group of people to give back to their communities is as wide-ranging as the opportunities themselves. For Gene Willis, the chief engagement officer at United Inner City Services, it was the simple yet impactful words of renowned philanthropist and Kansas Citian, Ewing Kauffman, that helped spark his interest in service. “I earned a college scholarship through the Kauffman Foundation, and the thing that Mr. Kauffman said was ‘Give back and do well,’” Willis says. “When someone makes that kind of impact on your life and invests in me over the long term, giving back or paying it forward is the least I can do to ensure this cycle of growth continues in our community.” Tekia Thompson, the gleaning and outreach coordinator at After the Harvest KC and an assistant manager at Ten Thousand Villages; Lynn Hoffman Carlton, the regional director of planning for HOK; and Jake Jacobson, the vice president at Native Digital, are among those encouraged to follow in their parents’ footsteps and prioritize community involvement. “My mother is a powerhouse,” Thompson
Your Turn says. “She empowered me to be someone who does something in the world instead of just walking through it, not seeing what’s around you or making a difference.” Adds Jacobson, “Looking for ways to help is something my parents forged into my mind, especially if it’s something you enjoy doing.” Hoffman Carlton, whose parents taught her the importance of giving back, is now sharing those lessons with her two sons, Griffin and Bridger. “On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, my husband and our kids did a day of service,” she says. “I want to make sure they understand the value and benefits of volunteering.” That’s another trait these civic-minded Kansas Citians share—a true enjoyment of helping others and an excitement about what’s collectively possible. “It would be great if we could all make $50,000 donations to the organizations we support, but that’s not a reality for most of us,” says Mike Mitchell, director of sales for asphalt manufacturer Vance Brothers. “That doesn’t mean there’s a lack of desire to want to be involved in the community and wanting to help. There’s so much good stuff going on in Kansas City at a micro level.” AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERY INTEREST According to Nonprofit Connect’s 2019 annual report, the KC metro is home to nearly 9,000 501(c)(3) organizations. That doesn’t include groups that aren’t formally organized or individual opportunities to give back. In short? Whatever cause you’re passionate about, there’s likely a group—or at least a few people—working toward the same goal. That’s a big reason why all of the story participants agreed that an important first step to community involvement is identifying the groups and/or causes that are exciting or meaningful to you. “My areas of interest are arts, education, and kids,” Hoffman Carlton says. Amy Guerich, a partner at financial planning firm Stepp & Rothwell, says her alma mater, Kansas State University, and the arts are the two things she “cares about the most.” Thompson says solving hunger is one of her top priorities—specifically, “providing healthy continued on page
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Ready to make a positive impact in your community? Our panel of all-star volunteers shared a few tips to help you get started.
IDENTIFY YOUR INTERESTS. “Figure out what causes or organizations are important to you,” Mike Mitchell says. The world is so small today that we can find someone who has a similar concern or similar values, and my guess is they’re willing to help you get involved.” SCHEDULE YOUR COMMITMENTS. “It’s about being smart with your time,” says Lynn Hoffman Carlton. “I work with Lead to Read over my lunch hour and mark it on my calendar like it’s a meeting.” ASK YOUR FRIENDS. “Don’t sit around and wait for someone to ask you to be involved,” Damian Lair says. “Everyone has a friend who’s involved with something, and that’s a great place to start.” DON’T OVERLOOK MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. “Most people don’t appreciate how important our local government is,” says McClain Bryant Macklin. “They’re in the best position to be the most responsive to everyday needs. Go to city or neighborhood meetings and stay in touch with your elected officials through phone calls or letters. It’s incumbent of us to stay abreast of what’s going on. Channel 2 is another important resource.”
Fresh Fleurs KICKOFF SPRING WITH A SEASON FULL OF BRIGHT, BEAUTIFUL, BOLD BLOOMS
PAINTERLY PETALS Cap-sleeve dress, $199; textured brass earrings with mother of pearl, $99; straw fedora with faux leather band, $59. All from Peruvian Connection (Crestwood Shops).
FREE SPIRIT Free People kimono, $148; Hudson white jeans, $175; Simon Sebbag Designs earrings, $135; Dolce Vita sandals, $120. All from Alysa Rene Boutique (Park Place).
photos by hair
&
Ron Berg
Molly McPheter Roots & Branches Salon
makeup by
shot on location at
Studio Dan Meiners
WILD FLOWERS Tizzie blouse, $120; IC Collection pants with pearl ankle detail, $88; suede necklace, $23; All from Trapp and Company (Midtown). Jeffrey Campbell slides, $140, from Alysa Rene Boutique (Park Place).
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GARDEN VARIETY Baum und Pferdgarten dress, $379; Loren Stewart hoop earrings, $370; Ghimi sunglasses, $99. All from Standard Style (Town Center Crossing).
ORANGE CRUSH Grace Chuang jacket, $115; Patricia Luca sweater, $90; sunglasses, $18. All from Webster House (Crossroads).
FULL BLOOM Alice & Olivia top, $275, and pants, $330; Bauble Bar earrings, $42; Sam Edelman sandals, $100. All from Halls Kansas City (Crown Center).
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A Brady Legler rug from The Rug Studio anchors the shades-of-blue living room. Curtains in a chinoiserie fabric from Thibaut frame window shades in the “Sorrento” pattern from Stout Fabric.
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Second Time’s the Charm IN HIS BROOKSIDE HOME, INTERIOR DESIGNER JOHN RUFENACHT EMPHASIZES BOLD COLOR AND PATTERN
Judith Fertig Aaron Leimkuehler
words by photos by
L
amar, the schnauzer, nibbles his chew toy in the living room under the watchful eye of Effie, a felted chicken footstool from The City Girl Farm in Kansas City. Nearby sits a 1920s armchair found on a City Market curb, wrangled into a car, and now on its fourth upholstery, a reverse raised velvet. Ebony legs with Jacobean turnings peek out from under a new settee, upholstered in Schumacher fabrics. Above the original fireplace hangs a red abstract painting, done in layers of deepening hue, by artist Scott Butterfield. Two black occasional chairs with faux fur seats from the owners’ previous home cozy up in a new spot. “We call it The Collection,” says interior designer John Rufenacht. Rufenacht shares the home with his spouse, Richard Lara, who oversees the Henry W. Bloch Scholars Program through Metropolitan Community College.
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Above, left: Designer and homeowner John Rufenacht. The mixed media painting is by John Ochs. Above, right: A breakfast spot is tucked into one corner of the kitchen. Chairs are upholstered in a handpainted fabric by artist Jason Pollan. Left: In the foyer, Lamar, the couple’s schnauzer, poses in front of the home’s original fireplace. Walls are Sherwin-Williams Aquaverde; ceiling is SW Tidewater.
“It has no period, no effort to mimic a time or place. It’s just ours.” Their home is an early 1900s stone shirtwaist near Brookside. It was once the home of sisters Virginia and Sarah Weatherly, who were renowned for their garden. Rufenacht and Lara have lived here twice. They left for a smaller condo when they were working on their weekend home, Evening Place, which is located outside Clinton, Missouri. The couple returned to the Brookside house last year and have made it their own again. “We believe in a house that is yours,” says Rufenacht. “Your story, your history, and your future.” Their future is awash in soothing, watery blues. A dark robin’s egg on the living and dining room walls, and every shade from navy to periwinkle on upholstery, drapery, and carpet. “I’m interested in how colors feel together,” he says. “A range, not one exact hue that has to match something else.” Although Rufenacht usually goes to textiles as a starting-off place, this time it was a lyrical bird-patterned tile from a trip the couple took to Portugal. The blues in the tile echo the new color palette, the airiness in the design picked up in the overscaled chi-
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In the kitchen, Rufenacht clad the walls with handmade English tiles from International Materials of Design.
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Left: A Marjorie Skouras glass-bead chandelier from Currey & Company plays up the casual feel of the dining room.
noiserie patterns throughout the house. In the dining room, a sculptor’s table that can ratchet up or down takes on a new role as a potting table, with orchids, mosses, and ferns taking advantage of the western light. Red-and-white rattan bistro chairs surround the long table. A Philip Jeffries blue grasscloth covers the walls, a turquoise beaded chandelier provides the light. Mementos from travels, including the Portuguese tile that started it all, hold pride of place in a cupboard from India. “We wanted the room to have fun and be a little exotic,” says Rufenacht. In Lara’s office/library with its dark walls, you feel like you’re stepping into a 17th-century Dutch floral painting thanks to the large-format peel-and-stick wallpaper. The kitchen—“our little jewel,” says Rufenacht—features a mash-up of 17th-century prints in Modern Toile wallpaper from Schumacher. Black cabinets play off walls covered in blue-and-white patterned tiles from England and butcher block countertops. Upstairs in the guest room, a custom iron four-poster bed has stayed around since the first time Rufenacht and Lara lived here. It stayed for the next owners and now again for the couple. They loved the design, and it was simply too heavy to move. Back again, too, are the original toile bed coverings in black, gray, and blue. The master bedroom features Rufenacht’s signature red, which he considers a true neutral. “Can you think of any color that doesn’t go with red?” he asks. Toile draperies, with a soft, watercolor look—came about after he used it in a Pebble Beach design project. The fabric was being discontinued, so Rufenacht bought the last two bolts. Sterlinghouse, a local window-treatment fabricator, crafted the curtains here and throughout the house. The framed ribbons hanging on the walls are a testament to Effie Almond, Rufenacht’s great-aunt, who showed Persian story continued on page
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Guest bedroom walls are painted a cheerful Sherwin-Williams Perfect Periwinkle. The sculptured abstract black, gray, and white rug is from The Rug Studio. Opposite top: Rufenacht scored the vintage clawfoot tub in the West Bottoms. A black-and-white toile, Les Vues de Paris, papers the walls above the white-painted beadboard wainscoting in the bathroom. Opposite bottom: Walls in the master bedroom are painted SW Radish. “My favorite shade of red,� Rufenacht says.
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the
Power
of Food FOUR ORGANIZATIONS TACKLING THE FOOD SYSTEM IN KANSAS CITY
FOOD CAN CHANGE LIVES, especially here in Kansas City. Fueled by enthusiasm from the community, these programs and nonprofits help people find connection, growth, and joy through food.
words by
Kelsey Cipolla
MARCH 2020
BoysGrow Learning to grow and cook healthy food is just part of what young men learn through BoysGrow. Founded by John Gordon Jr., the nonprofit helps participants build camaraderie, discipline, and business skills that will serve them throughout their lives. The application-based program hires eighth-grade boys to work for a paycheck on BoysGrow’s South Kansas City farm, where over two years, they learn the ins and outs of agriculture, producing food that will go on to stock Kansas City restaurant kitchens and stores. They also have a chance to specialize in tracks that align with their interests. Options include farming and agriculture, construction, culinary arts team, graphic design, and public speaking. Kids are on at least two teams, where they work with mentors and staff to learn the field during the summer and for a few days each month during the school year. “They’ll have two years of applied learning and hands-on experience of what it means to work in those different fields,” Gordon says. During their tenure, the boys develop a unique culinary product that they will have to present, market, and effectively sell to grocers and restaurants. Some participants find career direction from their time in BoysGrow, but most everyone comes away with a deeper connection to food and a newfound confidence. “They feel like they have a voice in the adult world,” Gordon says of the boys. “They can advocate for themselves, they can shake people’s hands, they can look people in the eye, they can pitch the program, they can pitch their ideas and concepts. I think when you’re 15 years old, it’s kind of hard to get that experience.” Most teenagers also don’t get facetime with renowned chefs like Michael Corvino and Howard Hanna, who are just a few of BoysGrow’s industry supporters who donate their time and talents to fundraising events or simply coming out to cook with the boys on the farm. Restaurants also help support the organization by purchasing the food they grow and offering mentorship to those interested in the culinary arts. “There are a lot of chefs that believe in what we’re doing, and without their support, I don’t know where we’d be.” boysgrow.com | 90 | INKANSASCITY.COM
Broadmoor Bistro The mingling fragrance of garlic and ginger drift through the air in the Broadmoor Bistro kitchen as high school students finish up a unit on poultry that’s taken them through techniques from deep frying to poaching to today preparing teriyaki chicken with fried rice and sesame broccoli. The dish is an assignment for the Culinary 1 class, part of Shawnee Mission School District’s innovative culinary arts and hospitality program offered to juniors and seniors at the district’s Center for Academic Achievement. The program will turn 20 next year, but it’s mission feels more relevant than ever in today’s shifting education and employment landscape. “The reality is, college is really expensive no matter where you go,” says Matthew Ziegenhorn, the center’s entrepreneurial leadership instructor. “What we’re working on as schools is, how do we prepare them with an industry-recognized credential or some kind of certificate to get to a job that’s $40,000 right out of high school?” Students can tailor their experience through their course selections, which include options like commercial baking 1 & 2, and continued on page
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Thelma’s Kitchen Lunch at Thelma’s Kitchen will set you back $12 for a large plate—or a half-hour of volunteer service. The restaurant, an initiative of Reconciliation Services, is Kansas City’s first with a “donate what you can” model. Headquartered at 31st Street and Troost Avenue, the nonprofit has worked to care for its neighbors in a variety of ways since its inception, and providing food has always been part of the mission, says communications and grants manager Jodi Matthews. But as continued on page
Operation BBQ Relief Stan Hays was an aspiring competition barbecuer in May 2011, when he watched on TV as a tornado devastated Joplin, Missouri. “I just remember sitting there feeling helpless and thinking about what I could do,” Hays recalls. Then his wife had an idea: Why didn’t he get his barbecue team together to go serve food in the community? The group thought they’d serve a couple thousand meals over the course of a few days. “That four or five days turned into 11 days and that 4 or 5,000 continued on page
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words by
Katie Van Luchene
Playing for Keeps WE HIGH-FIVE A HANDFUL OF CHIEFS PLAYERS WHO ARE WINNERS ON AND OFF THE FIELD AS THEY FIND WAYS TO GIVE HOPE TO KIDS AND SECURE HOMES FOR CANINES
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K
ansas City loves the Chiefs. Just ask any of the nearly 900,000 fans who lined downtown streets for the Super Bowl parade. Or camped out overnight in 17-degree weather to score Tyrann Mathieu’s autograph. Or while exchanging a Christmas-morning worthy grin with the person behind you in the checkout line wearing a number 87 jersey. And the good news? They love us back. The players have embraced their adopted hometown with passion, making sure to thank the Chiefs Kingdom first after every game. When the helmets come off, they get to work to support local causes that are important to them, often involving children or adoptable animals. But they do more than just sign checks. These busy pro athletes show up at hospitals, fashion shows, after-school centers, and animal shelters to hand out encouragement and hope.
and the MVP. “In this era of pro sports, guys don’t usually live full time in the city in which they play. Mahomes has bucked that trend and made Kansas City his home. We’re lucky to have him as our quarterback and as the face of the franchise and our town. THE BIG DAWG Mahomes isn’t the only Chiefs pro putting Kansas City on the map. When the team won the Super Bowl, Derrick Nnadi made good on a promise to pay the adoption fee for every dog waiting for a family at KC Pet Project. One of these lucky dogs, a three-legged rescue called Rusty, was renamed Nnadi by his new owners. The defensive tackle’s largesse launched more than 700 news stories around the globe and promped Ellen DeGeneres to tweet, “I hope this becomes the new way people celebrate winning the Super Bowl. I love you Derrick Nnadi.” TV show host Rachael Ray, with hashtag FeedItcontinued on page
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Patrick Mahomes partnered with the Missouri and Kansas MakeA-Wish Foundation to grant deserving kids’ wishes to meet him.
MVP FOR LIFE When Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes II showed up at last summer’s Big Slick Weekend, even the celebrities were star struck. For the last ten years, hometown hosts Rob Riggle, Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, David Koechner, and Eric Stonestreet have invited A-listers from TV and film to participate in a softball game and auction to raise money for Children’s Mercy Hospital. Rudd admitted the loudest cheers were reserved for the quarterback. The extra energy helped take in more than $2.5 million for the hospital’s pediatric cancer center, a cause that aligns with “15 and the Mahomies,” (15andthemahomies.org) a foundation the football phenom established in 2019. The media-savvy Mahomes appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon to share his mission to help “the underserved communities that don’t get the same opportunities I had when I was young; kids that are in the hospital that face chronic illness or have suffered major injuries. These are kids that train harder than me by a hundred times every single day.” Children’s Mercy Hospital, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City, Variety KC and Special Olympics of Missouri are just four of the 15 organizations selected by the foundation. And when his girlfriend, Brittany Matthews, created a calendar to promote pet adoptions, Mahomes and several of his teammates posed with adorable pups. Tyreek Hill hoisting a furry Tuppence from Wayside Waifs made a fetching Mr. January. Bob Fescoe, host of 610 Sports Radio’s “Fescoe in the Morning,” speaks about the mutual admiration society between the community
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Derrick Nnadi made national news when he paid all the adoption fees for animals at KC Pet Project.
Left: Massive double doors swing open to the foyer to reveal a photograph by Tony Newlin. This Page: The ashlar-laid native-limestone fireplace wall amps up the texture in the living room. Maggie, the couple’s Bernese mountain dog, enjoys her spot on the Restoration Hardware leather club chairs. Ottoman/coffee table is from Nebraska Furniture Mart.
CREATIVE COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE HOMEOWNERS AND THE ARCHITECT LEADS TO A STRIKING, CONTEMPORARY HOUSE
words by photos by
Stacy Downs Aaron Leimkuehler
T
he Prairie Village couple found an ideal spot for their house: a corner lot with tall trees in a cozy neighborhood within walking distance of shops and restaurants. They knew it was important to work with an architect so they could build a dream home that lived up to the location. This house, with its personalized details, will be featured April 18 on the fifth annual Homes by Architects Tour, a sold-out event each year at KC Design Week. All homes on the tour are designed by American Institute of Architects (AIA) Kansas City member firms and selected by committee. Bruce Wendlandt of Wendlandt & Stallbaumer Architecture designed this Prairie Village house. The front entryway is designed with a sense of arrival and welcoming, but “doesn’t
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Fresh Perspective MARCH 2020
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give away the whole show,” he says. “The homeowners love how Frank Lloyd Wright made a transition from outdoors indoors,” Wendlandt says. “This is a gorgeous backyard in a neighborhood of deep lots, beautiful no matter the season with its foliage.” So the living room was designed with a generous bank of nine-foot-tall windows to showcase the scenery. A floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace adds another prominent natural element. The space is open to the kitchen and dining room. Slabs of deeply veined quartzite used on the countertops and backsplash in the kitchen were a point of contention between the couple. She loved it; he did not. “But once he saw it in place,” the wife says, “he thought it was perfect!” Black leath-
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Above: Custom kitchen cabinets are by Studio Build. West Elm leather and brass counter stools pull up to the island. Appliances are Dacor. Opposite, top: In the dining room, an Alec Vanderboom photograph hangs on one wall. Floors throughout are wire-brushed white oak. Opposite, below: The house is nestled on the large lot to provide sweeping views of the common space in the rear. Materials are stucco and Arkansas stone.
HOMES BY ARCHITECTS TOUR
KC DESIGN WEEK
What: Talk to architects at homes they designed, both new construction and remodels. Architecture firms include Wendlandt & Stallbaumer, Studio Build, and Dan Maginn in a collaborative renovation of interior designer Lisa Schmitz’s home.
The 11th annual event is April 17–24, 2020
When: 1 to 4:00 p.m. Saturday, April 18 Where: Homes are on both sides of the state line; addresses provided at registration. Tickets: $35 each, kcdesignweek.org. They go on sale later this month.
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Since 2010, KC Design Week has informed, connected and inspired the community. Thousands of designers and design enthusiasts have experienced thought-provoking and creativity-boosting programming in all areas of design including architecture, graphics, interiors, products, fashion, landscape architecture, planning and urban environments. kcdesignweek.org
Just off the master bedroom, two wine-barrel Adirondack chairs offer a secluded spot to relax. Right: In the powder room, the backlit mirror highlights the black, three-dimensional tile that punctuates one wall.
er and brass counter stools and a pair of oversized black pendants with gold lining bring a touch of sophistication to the sleek space. In the dining room, an airy glass chandelier hangs over the bold geometric round dining table from Restoration Hardware. Tall sliding glass doors lead to the patio, and a long swath of inset matte black cabinetry that matches the kitchen finishes holds dining and drinking accoutrements at the ready. “Check out the utility areas,” Wendlandt says. A room with a door off the kitchen is a cozy nook that serves as a playroom for the family’s 3-year-old daughter. The bedroom in the master suite is compact with only a bed and nightstands. Floor-to-ceiling sliding doors open to private, outdoor sitting space. But the bathroom is a showstopper with a dramatic, tall stained-glass window, vanities, and a shower room enclosed with a tub. “We wanted a house that reflected our lifestyle, and to have zero wasted space,” the homeowner says, and motioned to Wendlandt. “He made it right.”
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Light streams through the tall, stained-glass window in the master bath. The design was a collaboration between the homeowners and Jamie Jones of Leaded Glass Studio.
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second time’s the charm continued from page
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A leather lounge chair from Century is tucked into one corner of Lara’s office. The rush basket from Pottery Barn serves as catchall.
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MARCH 2020
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and tabby cats all over the world. “She was a true character, the most intriguing person in my family,” he says. “I have wonderful memories of her.” Rufenacht papered the ceiling, the fifth wall, in a red tile pattern. It all adds up to a lively, colorful home. It’s Rufenacht’s credo. “Home must delight you,” he says. “It must offer peace, order, fulfillment, and enticement. I want to rush home and be surrounded by comfort and awe and the feeling that, yes, I live here.”
Dine often and dine well.
THE IT LIST Contractor Trademark Walls tradeproskc.com Interior Design Rufenacht Interiors rufenachtinteriors.com Upholstery Décor Upholstery 816 363-3140
250
OF THE BEST KC RESTAURANTS
MARCH 2020
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Dining Guide
For the city’s most extensive restaurant guide, head to inkansascity.com/ eat-drink/dining-guide
the power of food
| broadmoor bistro continued from page 91
the power of food
| operation bbq relief continued from page 91
meals ended up being about 120,000 meals,” he recalls. By their third day in Joplin, the team realized a gap existed between when disaster strikes and bigger organizations can arrive on the scene to start helping with rebuilding efforts. It was a gap he and his teammates thought they could come up with a way to fill—thus Operation BBQ Relief was born. So why barbecue? Hays, who serves as the organization’s CEO, calls it the quintessential comfort food. It’s a common way people gather and celebrate, not just in Kansas City but around the country. “I affectionately tell people I have never been to a bad barbecue, because no matter whether the food wasn’t the best that day, it was the people who were there that made the barbecue. It wasn’t about the food,” he says. “It was about the people.” When the crew shows up to serve hot, fortifying meals in the wake of tragedy, it gives first responders and community members an opportunity to take comfort in something familiar and maybe think back to happier times. In the years since their visit to Joplin, Operation BBQ Relief has dished out more than 3 million meals in 26 states, plus the Bahamas. But in 2018, Hays and company realized they could find ways to make a difference year-round. That led to the launch of the Always Serving Project, which focuses on military, first responders and the food insecure. Last year, Operation BBQ Relief served 318,000 meals outside
catering and event management. Experiential learning is vital, so the center includes a sleek restaurant space that operates as Broadmoor Bistro along with a café, lab-style classroom space for instruction, and a fully-stocked production kitchen. Here, students perfect the light, buttery English muffins that make them favorites at the Overland Park Farmers’ Market, along with a four-course seasonal tasting menu served every Wednesday evening. During dinner service, the students do everything from seating guests and serving to brewing coffee and to cooking. Many will go on to work in the culinary world right after graduating high school or continue their culinary education at another institution. Some are hired by guest chefs and alumni of the program who return to share their experience and expertise through the KC Originals/James Beard Guest Chef Lecture Series. “We’re really one of the largest workforce providers in Kansas City,” Ziegenhorn says. “These are the future chefs of Kansas City, and they’ll go outside of Kansas City too.” But even if culinary stardom isn’t in their future, students still gain valuable skills. “These kids, whether they go on to be chefs or not, they can cook their own food,” he adds. “That’s a win for us.” facebook.com/broadmoorbistro
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Tom Ford
of disasters at events at military bases and in communities around the holidays as part of the program. The organization also launched Barbecue Basics, which teaches military personnel and first responders the foundations of grilling and barbecuing. “We train all of them to value their new skills, to go out and help in the community,” Hays explains. “The discussion of the fight on hunger is always part of what we’re talking about—use your skills now to cook for good.” operationbbqrelief.org
THE POWER OF FOOD
| THELMA’S KITCHEN CONTINUED FROM PAGE 91
other organizations began offering food banks and meals in the neighborhood, Reconciliation Services saw an opportunity to evolve its concept into a dignified dining experience where people from all walks of life could enjoy quality food together. “We wanted to continue to increase food access for our neighbors, but we also wanted to deepen the opportunities for positive social interactions between different people that may not always be in the same space,” she says.
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Pamela Shoemake serves as Thelma’s chef, and her menu includes a rotating array of soups, salads, sandwiches entrees and desserts—fried pork tenderloin and potato cheddar soup are among the community favorites. Guests can make a suggested donation ($9 for a small plate and $12 for a large plate), pay what they can or complete 30 minutes of volunteer work around the restaurant helping do dishes or bussing tables. The volunteer aspect allows people of all resource levels to contributing in a meaningful way. “Investment isn’t always about quantity—it’s about quality and participation,” Matthews says. That participation is critical for Thelma’s, where long-term sustainability for the concept will depend on about 60 percent of people making monetary donations and the other 40 percent contributing their time. Since opening its doors in summer 2018, Thelma’s has been well received by neighbors as well as people from around Kansas City who choose it for an affordable and delicious lunch spot. “We will have big executives and homeless folks and postal workers and a crossing guard and our friends that come from some of the group homes around the area all sitting in the same space enjoying the same meal,” Matthews says. “People have to make a choice to be here. I think that when our more resourced neighbors make a choice to be here, I find that really encouraging.” thelmaskitchen.org
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playing for keeps continued from page
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Forward, donated a year’s worth of pet food to the new families. Nnadi’s foundation (dnnadifoundation.org) also supports Ronald McDonald House and Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City among others. A BEAST WITH A HEART OF GOLD At six-foot five and 260 pounds, Travis Kelce can strike fear in any opposing player. But his soft side comes out when hosting a dance party for pre-schoolers at Operation Breakthrough, a child-services organization. His bond with Operation Breakthrough started when he invited two of the kids to model at a fashion show benefit in 2015. Kelce’s personal support over the years has created valuable exposure for the midtown center. Growing up, Kelce felt lucky to have a village of family members and mentors to encourage him. Through his foundation, Eighty-Seven & Running (87running.org ), he’s committed to giving disadvantaged youths the resources to succeed in areas of education, business, athletics, STEM, and the arts.
Travis Kelce’s Walk the Walk fashion benefit helps raise funds and awareness for his foundation and Operation Breakthrough.
Amy Guerich Partner
Amy’s hard work and commitment to our clients and the Kansas City community is an inspiration to us all.
steppandrothwell.com
LEADER OF THE PACK Tyrann Mathieu is a tough guy, but he’s no match for a hot car or a walk-in freezer. To raise awareness for neglected dogs, the all-pro safety partnered with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
congratulates
Amy Guerich on being named a NextGen Leader in 2019.
7300 College Boulevard, Suite 100 Overland Park, KS 66210 913-345-4800
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Amy’s hard work an commitment to our clients is an inspirat
(PETA) by personally demonstrating the dangers of leaving an animal in a vehicle during summer or outside in winter. Mathieu also tackles food hunger by participating in food drives both in Kansas City and his hometown in New Orleans. But his foundation’s signature event is a celebrity kickball tournament, a sport he grew up playing at school and in the streets (tyrannmathieu.org). It was no easy street for number 32. In a cover profile for this publication, Mathieu said the reason he devotes time and resources to help kids is because growing up, without a mom and dad, all he needed was hope. “I think,” he said, “that’s really how we all reach our potential—by believing in ourselves, but also having other people pushing us toward certain goals. “So ultimately, kids need more people in their corner.” For Mathieu, the incentive to reach his potential came from other people believing that “I could be something that I didn’t necessarily think I could become.” By helping those at risk in Kansas City—especially children who need role models and encouragement to see their own potential— these Chiefs champions might consider making a minor tweak to the song title Travis Kelce belted out after winning the Super Bowl— You Gotta Fight for Your Right to Succeed.
MARCH 2020
Tyrann Mathieu established his foundation to impact the lives of financially disadvantaged children.
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TROLLEY
PHILANDTHROPY CONTINUED FROM PAGE
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RUN 2020 Pomp and Ceremony: Inaugurations, First Families and Beyond Pomp and Ceremony: Inaugurations, First Families and Beyond looks at what we wore to those political events: the inaugurations, balls, parties, and campaign rallies. Everyone has a garment they have kept because of its relationship to a political event or belief. For many years, the Museum’s auxiliary The Women’s Division was intent on collecting the best pieces of fashion worn to “big” events, paying particular attention to ceremonial wear. Some of the items acquired by the Women’s Division have belonged to a few 20th Century First Ladies.
Kansas City Museum at the Historic Garment District* 800 Broadway Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64105 Open Wed-Sat: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Special Exhibition Fee: $5 per person Pomp and Ceremony: Inaugurations, First Families and Beyond is on view through April 25, 2020
kansascitymuseum.org *satellite location while Kansas City Museum at Corinthian Hall is closed for restoration and renovation
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food and access to healthy food to those communities without,” she says. “We waste nearly 50 percent (or more) of our food. I know there are several organizations in Kansas City working to make a difference, but I think we’re missing a huge opportunity to grow more good food and feed more people in our community.” There’s no doubt that the range of available volunteer opportunities is a key driver when it comes to encouraging people to get involved. And here’s the best part: when you’re helping others, no role or task is too small. “When I first moved to Kansas City, I got involved with the Arthritis Foundation and, each December, would help direct parking lot traffic before their annual race event,” Jacobson says. “It’s not exactly a sexy volunteer role, but attendees would talk about how nice it is to be greeted with a smile and reassured that they’d get to the start line on time.” So many non-profit organizations run on skeleton teams that opportunities often exist for advocates to donate resources besides money; namely, time and talent. “I’m not swimming in money, but what I have to give is my time and my network and lending what I hope is my good name to different organizations,” says McClain Bryant Macklin, the director of policy and research for the City of Kansas City. “I also offer knowledge capital and helping organizations to think through how to be more inclusive, how to be more attractive to younger audiences and how to be more socially conscious.” START FROM SCRATCH Despite the number of available volunteer opportunities and non-profit groups, gaps still exist. That’s one reason why more people are embracing an entrepreneurial spirit when it comes to their community involvement, starting events or organizations at the ground level to help others in ways they never imagined. Mitchell had an idea one night while sharing a glass of wine with his wife. Mitchell had been a longtime advocate for the Gillis Center, now part of the larger Cornerstones of Care network. “The work they do with families and kids that have been exposed to trauma is unreal and the whole metro benefits,” he says. While talking with his wife, Mitchell wondered why people don’t often go caroling anymore. Then, the idea grew. “We turned caroling into a way to collect donations for the Cornerstones of Care gift gallery,” he says. “If anybody answers their door when we stop by, we tell them that we’re raising awareness while collecting donations.” Mitchell turned to the ultimate 21st century conversation starter— Twitter—to spread the word about the inaugural Tipsy Caroling event. Last year, Mitchell hosted the second annual event and, at his wife’s urging, became better organized! “She made fliers that I printed off and distributed around the neighborhood the week before the event,” he says. “They gave information about what time we’d be caroling and that we’re collecting donations. We had quite a few houses welcome us and give us money or gifts.” Willis is a two-time Tipsy Caroling participant, having been introduced to Mitchell through Willis’s weekly Gene’s Five Questions Twitter chat (search #G5QS on Twitter to see past conversations). Willis launched #G5QS in 2011 to help bring people together online in a positive way. “It’s an opportunity in the midst of the vitriol that we see on social media to create an environment where people can connect in the most trivial of ways, but also in the most profound ways,” he says. The premise is simple: every Tuesday night between 8:30 and 9
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p.m., Willis asks five questions on Twitter, each labeled with the hashtag #G5QS. Then, he watches the responses roll in, sharing them and engaging with participants. He writes most of the questions, but also crowdsources ideas and occasional guest hosts. “It trends almost every Tuesday night when we do it, and the ‘we’ is the big part,” he says. “I think it’s a reminder that connecting can be fun.” It was #G5QS that sparked Willis and Mitchell’s friendship. Now, Willis says they’re friends that not only support each other’s endeavors—Tipsy Caroling and United Inner City Services—but also talk about everything “from the Royals to religion,” Willis says. Like Willis, Drew Smith felt driven to build a community where he previously saw none. Smith, an IT Specialist at Lathrop GPM, began transitioning from female to male in 2010 and realized he was in dire need of support. “I didn’t know what transgender was until I found something on YouTube,” he says. “That’s where a transgender community existed, but I wanted to connect with people locally.” Through word-of-mouth, Smith gathered five transitioning men in the small Midtown studio apartment he shared with his girlfriend (now wife). “We were in awe of each other and couldn’t believe that we all were transitioning,” he says.
March 7
‘‘
LUCIANA SOUZA
You’re reaching people, building relationships, filling specific needs and experiences. You don’t realize how many local opportunities there are to get on that human level with someone.”
April 24
— Drew Smith
JOHN PIZZARELLI
Those impromptu meet-ups became an official organization, The Union — A Midwest Transguy Coterie, which has now built an online community of more than 250 members. In addition to providing a safe space for transgender males to ask questions and learn, The Union also hosts programming, including Momentum, a partnership with Waldo-based City Gym that helps members focus on their health and fitness. Smith also teams up with local professionals to host events in another sub-group of The Union, Union Jack. During the informal gatherings, guest attendees will showcase a particular skill—how to tie a tie, for example—that The Union members may have not previously learned during a female-oriented upbringing. “I feel like volunteering today is a fuller experience,” Smith says. “You’re reaching people, building relationships, filling specific needs and experiences. You don’t realize how many local opportunities there are to get on that human level with someone.” LESSONS LEARNED At its core, volunteering is about helping others. Yet there’s no doubt that anyone who volunteers is just as positively impacted by the experience. Fred Rogers—quite possibly the ultimate example of doing good— made the world collectively teary-eyed when, in the wake Robert Kennedy’s assassination, he offered this advice: “My mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” CONTINUED
Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts, Commerce Bank, Trustee
>>>
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Be IN the Know
philandthropy continued
That drive to help hasn’t only guided Jacobson’s community involvement; it’s the common thread in his professional roles, too. And it also guides how he cultivates and cares for his network, which often reveals more opportunities to give back. “It’s important to treat your network like a friendship and relationship, not as a transactional exchange,” he says. “If I wait to talk to you until you can help me, why would you help me? People jokingly give me a hard time about having a big network, but I don’t see it that way. I see it as having a lot of friends.” Guerich, who has held a number of Board of Director positions, credits her community involvement with playing a chief role in her professional development. “The only reason I’ve been able to assume these management roles in my company is because I’ve been serving on boards since I was 24,” she says. “People really underestimate how important that experience is—it’s leadership.” Guerich has also built relationships with a group of women who range in ages from 36 to 65. They meet regularly to share stories, ask for advice and simply enjoy each other’s company. “These are some of my dearest friends, and I met them all through board roles and service,” Guerich says. And there’s nothing like giving back to help you embrace the bright side of life.
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— Damian Lair
“My wife, Carrie Dilley, and I have been foster parents for Great Plains SPCA for nearly six years,” Willis says. “We’ve fostered 23 dogs, many of which have come from the streets, hoarding situations, or abuse. We had one dog for seven months that we didn’t think someone would want; she was so shy and fearful. We met someone who wanted a dog exactly like her, and I realized that there truly is a lid for every pot.” That saying applies to volunteer opportunities, too. Whatever skill or interest someone has, there’s likely a group or event that meets that particular need. Damian Lair, co-founder and managing director of a public affairs consulting firm, for example, focuses his community involvement on arts-related organizations, which helps him give back while also providing him an otherwise lacking creative outlet. “You can volunteer in a way that uses your professional skills, or you can volunteer in a completely opposite direction from your profession to give yourself more dimension as a person,” he says. “We all have limited time, and you should be getting something out of these experiences. There’s growing, learning, discovering and the engaging that comes along with giving your time and resources. I’ve gradually discovered that being part of something larger than myself is a great exercise in humility.” | 108 | INKANSASCITY.COM
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Flavor
IN KC
In the Kitchen DANDELIONS
BY
Cody Hogan
L
PHOTOS BY
ike it or not, one of the harbingers of spring in Kansas City is the dogged dandelion. If you’re one of those “meticulous lawn” types, well, this article may not be for you. For the rest of us, those hungry for something fresh— dandelions might just be the first sign of local life and gustatory excitement we get. When harvested young, bittersweet dandelion greens can be delicious. Let me say first that you should not eat dandelions from areas that have been treated with herbicides. So if you don’t know the provenance of that little mound of toothed greens, move on. I only eat those that occur in my garden, both those that happen naturally, and those that I have planted intentionally. Yes, I grow dandelions— a “cultivated” variety of this pesky weed specifically grown for eating (seeds ordered from growitalian.com). ). Supposedly, the cultivated ones taste better. In truth, they may be a little milder in flavor, but I mostly enjoy their reliability. Besides, it’s not a weed if I planted it there,, which allows this potentially invasive nuisance to live in harmony with my control issues. When I find the occasional random dandelion in the vegetable garden, I dig it up and toss it in with my next soup, salad or batch of braised greens. Problem avoided. For those who don’t grow or have access to untainted dandelions, they are frequently available in grocery stores, especially natural or health-food stores like Whole Foods. You may notice that the dandelions you find behind the vegetable counter are a little different from those peeking up out of your sidewalk, and there is a slight difference. Although called dandelions, they are technically dandelion chicory (different species, same plant family), and they taste the same as the sweetest—relatively speaking—wild dandelions to come up in the cool weather of spring. The cultivated dandelion chicory is larger leaved, saw-toothed, and comes in both red and white ribbed types. They are interchangeable with wild dandelions for all practical culinary purposes. The chief obstacle to instantly loving the dandelion is its bitterness. I adore all manner of bitter foods: greens, espresso, Campari, grapefruit, IPA beer, and artichokes, just to name a few. Not everyone shares my appreciation of this taste. Although the American aversion to bitterness in foods has changed considerably over the past two decades, there is still a ways to go before people are fighting for the first dandelions sprouting up in the neighborhood. The best way to adjust to dandelion’s
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Aaron Leimkuehler
bitter flavor is to balance it with other flavors like smoke, salt, acidity, or sweetness. In the following recipe, their bitterness is paired with rich and salty smoked pork shanks and the earthy caress of new potatoes. This spring when you run across unintended dandelions in your garden do what I do—get your revenge and eat them. Dandelions Braised with Smoked Pork and New Potatoes This recipe should be larger than necessary for one meal, because you’ll want to have leftovers, either for the following day or maybe for your freezer. If you don’t have dandelions, feel free to substitute another bitter green, such as any of the members of the chicory/radicchio family or a mixture of any type of greens. Begin by roughly chopping three to four large bunches of dandelion greens including the stems into one-inch pieces. In a large oven-proof pot, heat a generous glug of extra-virgin olive oil. oil Peel and lightly crush 6-8 cloves of garlic and add them to the oil, lightly browning them on each side. Add a few dried or fresh hot peppers and lightly brown them as well to accentuate their flavor. Add the chopped greens and stir occasionally until the greens are wilted. While the greens wilt, peel about two pounds of new potatoes and add them to the pot—if you have freshly dug new potatoes, there is no need to peel them, just wash them thoroughly. To the pot, add a smoked pork shank or two—one will be enough for three to four servings. (Other smoked meats like smoked sausages or pork chops could be substituted but will take less time to cook and should be added about 45 minutes later in the cooking process). Nestle the potatoes in with the greens around the pork. Add enough stock or water to almost cover the shank. Season the pot lightly with salt, bring to a simmer, and cover. Place the pot in a 350°F oven and cook for about two hours. If you like a less brothy dish, remove the cover for the second hour of cooking. Just remember to occasionally stir the mixture and roll the shank so that nothing dries too much on the surface. At the end of about two hours, taste the liquid, adjusting salt and red pepper if necessary. Remove the meat from the shank bone and discard the bones. Serve a few chunks of the meat with a generous amount of greens and potatoes—the meat is delicious but will seem inconsequential next to the silken dandelion greens and potatoes which have absorbed the smoky unctuousness from pork, a hint of bitterness from the greens and a spark of heat and salt. Drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil if you feel like you need it, but honestly that’s just gilding the lily, or in this case, the dandelion.
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In Your Pantry BALANCING BITTER Bitterness in food is not necessarily bad, just frequently out of proportion to other flavors. Think of black coffee or cocoa powder and what just a little cream and sugar can do to those—they metamorphose into a comforting morning latte or delicious chocolate ganache. Bitter just needs to be balanced with other flavors like salinity, acidity, smoke, richness, or sweetness. Here are some useful tools to help tweak your next bitter bite.
Maldon Smoked Salt You may be familiar with the delightful flaky crystals of Maldon sea salt, but there is also a version that has been cold-smoked over hardwood embers. Smoked salt is a great way to bring the warm mellow flavors of the outdoors to a dish when you just don’t want to fire up the grill. Other sources of smoke include smoked meats (bacon!), cheeses, and fish, or liquid smoke.
Pepper Vinegar A Southern staple, pepper vinegar is a classic accompaniment to down-home comfort food. A generous dash of its bright acidity and punch of heat partners beautifully with bittersweet greens like collards, kale, and dandelion. It’s also great for brightening up a bowl of brown beans or fried potatoes. Known regionally as “pepper sauce,” make your own by pouring boiling hot apple-cider vinegar over any kind of spicy peppers and letting them steep for a day or two.
Roasted Walnut Oil Those accustomed to dressing salads with olive oil will be intrigued by the warm, nutty nuances of this oil. Loaded with health benefits, walnut oil is a lovely accompaniment to salads with cheeses or sharp flavors that would benefit from additional complexity. Great for adding deeper, richer umami notes to vegetarian or vegan dishes, it will be perfect the next time you want to give your salad a touch of that “je ne sais quois” to keep your guests guessing.
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IN KC
In Your Cocktail THE HEY! HEY! CLUB by
Kelsey Cipolla
J.
Rieger & Co. has a history with Kansas City—more than 130 years of it. So, it’s only fitting that the Hey! Hey! Club, located on the basement level of the company’s recently opened distillery in Electric Park, takes its cues from the past in a variety of ways. Let’s start with its name, a reference to the Kansas City speakeasy The Hey Hay Club, which operated at 4th and Cherry during a chunk of the 1930s. Guests enter the bar by way of an appropriately clandestine entrance on the distillery’s ground floor and are greeted by a replica of the sign from Robert Altman’s 1996 film, Kansas City. The club itself is all vintage styling with velvet and leather banquettes, plaid wingback
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chairs, a glamorous crystal chandelier and rich blue-green walls. If you were to picture what getting a nightcap looked like a cool 90 years ago, chances are this is the aesthetic that would come to mind. The high-end look and feel could make the bar seem inaccessible, but grouped seating, a working fireplace and a selection of board games shift the energy toward intimate rather than exclusive. Food options from culinary director Maria Swift make one even more inclined to curl up in a seat and stay awhile. Her menu includes fare to snack on like shrimp cocktail served with Rieger’s gin cocktail sauce and a local cheese plate, as well as an herb-roasted beef filet and sweet treats such as espresso crème brûlée. The food is a welcome surprise, but the cocktails are what you come
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for. Unlike many distilleries, J. Rieger isn’t afraid to let competitors take up real estate on its menu. Cocktails incorporate spirits from a variety of brands across categories. Visitors can also order from a short list of wine or sip a Heim Beer, a nod to the building’s original occupant, The Heim Brewery. The Hey! Hey! Club’s version is brewed by local booze brother-in-arms KC Bier Co. in the authentic German tradition. Reflections on the past are even more present on the cocktail menu. The Hey! Hey! Club’s beverage director Andrew Olsen and bar manager Derek Branham took a semi-narrative approach to designing the bar’s debut offerings, aiming to explore westward expansion and its impact on Kansas City from the late 1700s to 1887, the year Jacob Rieger’s distillery was first founded. If that all sounds a bit highbrow, rest assured that you don’t need to understand the backstory to appreciate the thoughtful, nuanced cocktails, like the Flintlock. “We knew we had to create a drink that captured the determination and grit of the cowboys and traders who made a life in this area,” explains Olsen. “We wanted a cocktail that was as bold and timeless as the spirit that drove these folks.” They started with a Manhattan or Boulevardier-style cocktail in mind and slowly added elements to build the character they were after. “Overall, this drink has a lot of components, which can be a challenge with consideration for balance, but the end result is both complex and singular, and has helped make it the most popular cocktail on our inaugural menu,” Branham says. jriegerco.com/heyheyclub
MARCH 2020
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Flintlock ½ ounce Russell’s Reserve 10 Year ½ ounce Appleton Estate 12 Year Blend ½ ounce Carpano Antica ½ ounce Bruto Americano ¼ ounce J. Rieger & Co. Caffè Amaro ½ ounce China China
3 dashes Cacao Bitters Blend (50/50 Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate & Bittercube Corazon Bitters) Orange Peel
Combine all ingredients in glass with ice, stir. Strain over ice. Flame orange peel over drink and discard.
FEATURED PROPERTIES IN KANSAS CITY
2509 W 63RD STREET, MISSION HILLS, KS 66208 Pristine Mission Hills Tudor completely updated- taken down to the studs and renovated with the highest quality materials. White and bright throughout! Nearly 9 foot ceilings throughout, Cedar Closet, 2nd floor Laundry, Gorgeous finishes. Amazing setting on an oversized lot! Stacy Curtis, ReeceNichols, MLS #2197293 913-220-5096, scurtis@reecenichols.com
3505 W 64TH STREET, MISSION HILLS, KS 66208 Spectacular custom all brick home in prime Mission Hills location on over 1/2 acre. The Kitchen opens to the Family Room with one of the 4 fireplaces. The Living Room has gleaming hardwoods, fireplace, and beautiful architectural detailing. The gardens and yard have been meticulously maintained. Susan Fate, ReeceNichols, MLS # 2168766 913-226-6554, sfate@reecenichols.com
2908 W 113TH STREET, LEAWOOD, KS 66211 First time on the market! Original owner’s estate home is an entertainers oasis with English Gardens, Pool, Hotub, Grotto, Waterfalls and Firepit. Full Chef and Catering kitchens. Walk-Out Finished Basement. Lots of built-ins and storage. Shows pride in ownership! The Broderick Team, RE/MAX, MLS #2190506 913-989-6300, heatherbroderick@remax.net
11609 MANOR ROAD, LEAWOOD, KS 66211 This impeccable one owner home has never been on the market! It features one of the Top Lots in Hallbrook overlooking breathtaking lake views on the 11 & 12th Fairways, so Private & Serene! Large Fabulous Pool with Waterfall and Pool House! Endless Entertaining Areas. The Broderick Team, RE/MAX, MLS# 2197696 913-989-6300, heatherbroderick@remax.net
5208 BELLEVIEW AVENUE, KANSAS CITY, MO 64112 A stately English Country Manor sitting on a beautiful acre lot in Sunset Hill. Formerly home to the Kansas City Country Club whose garages were pony stalls for the Polo Fields. The beautiful architectural detail includes Walnut paneling & beams, French doors, marble fireplaces, and hardwood floors. Nancy Ward, Better Homes and Garden Real Estate, MLS# 2195061 913-226-8093, nancyw@kansascityhomes.com
5650 MISSION DRIVE, MISSION HILLS, KS 66208 Seize the opportunity to own this landmark Colonial overlooking the Mission Hills Country Club. Owned by the same family since it was built in 1952, this is the first time this home has been offered for sale. This is truly a once in a lifetime opportunity. Cory Ward, Better Homes and Garden Real Estate, MLS# 2195061 913-706-7512, cory.ward@bhgrehomes.com
View more information on these featured properties at inkansascity.com/home-design/real-estate Interesting in featuring a property? Contact Chad Parkhurst at cparkhurst@inkansascity.com
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IN KC
Kelsey Cipolla
THE SCARLET ROOM
In Culinary News
THINK YOU KNOW the Country Club Plaza? Think again. Secreted away under Parkway Social (616 Ward Parkway) you’ll find a literal underground club, The Scarlet Room. A kindred concept to The Fall, Westport’s subterranean Alice in Wonderland-themed enclave, this semi-experimental club is a dramatic departure for the typically buttoned up neighborhood. The Scarlet Room features striking visuals via more traditional art works and electronic displays, plus a pulsing DJ-driven sound and, as the name implies, plenty of seductive red lighting. Both spots are owned by the team behind Westport Ale House and offer VIP bottle service. At the Scarlet Room, you’ll find takes on classic cocktails, plus beer, wine, and spirits. Ready to unlock some more of the club’s secrets? Make the descent when it’s open Fridays and Saturdays at 10 p.m. scarletroomkc.com
Location, Location, Location!
5930 Oakwood, Mission Hills
Coveted In Countryside
Uncommon Elegance
SO
6 W 53rd Terrace | 6 BR | 3.2 BA | 3-Car Gar
LD
Bruce Kay RE/MAX Premier Realty 913.530.8636 bruce.kay@remax.net “Bruce Kay is a Realtor with the uncommon ability to make a connection with anyone or any property. He has years of exceptional success in listing and selling properties in the Mission Hills, Sunset Hill and surrounding areas, but his expertise is unlimited. But most importantly, he will provide you with unsurpassed attention to detail for the best possible result. Call him today for an uncommon real estate experience.” - Mission Hills Seller
MARCH 2020
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Flavor BY
IN KC
Kelsey Cipolla
GOCHA TEA & BEVERAGES
In Culinary News
GLADSTONE-BASED GoCha Tea & Beverages got a new address last fall, opening a second location in Westport (4111 Pennsylvania Ave). Its signature is undeniably bubble tea, also known as boba tea, which features a tea base and pearls of chewy tapioca, available in a dizzying array of flavor combinations. But GoCha does so much more, from the fan-favorite avocado cream smoothie to five flavors of matcha lattes. Then there are the fresh fruit drinks, coffee-based beverages, slushies and, oh yeah, cheese mustache tea. What in the heck is that, you ask? Tea topped with a layer of slightly salty, cheesy foam, which is surprisingly tasty and can lead to some very charming photo ops, whether you’re mugging in the modern, minimalist shop or taking your drink to go. facebook.com/bobaaddictskc
International Materials of Design TILE & STONE
4691 Indian Creek Parkway (I-435 & Roe) Overland Park, KS 913.383.3383
www.imdtile.com MARCH 2020
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Lunch: Tuesday through Friday, 11:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Brunch: Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m. 4420 Warwick Boulevard, Kansas City, Missouri 64111 | 816-561-7740 | kemperart.org/cafe
Lunch: Tuesday through Friday, 11:00 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
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IN KC
Kelsey Cipolla
VERDIGRIS THE MINDS BEHIND The Monarch Bar are cross-
In Culinary News
ing state lines for their new Park Place concept, Verdigris (5245 116th Place). Named for both the river that runs through Kansas and the bluegreen patina that forms on copper over time, the high-end cocktail bar will draw inspiration from elemental and chemical change, explains bar director Brock Schulte. “I have a chemistry background, so I’m really excited. It allows me to throw caution into the wind when it comes to all kinds of different chemical reactions that can live on the menu.” Although he won’t divulge any specifics about the drinks guests will find, (you’ll have to wait until Verdigris opens, tentatively scheduled for late March) expect them to exemplify the art—and science—that goes into a well-made cocktail. verdigrisbar.com
THE
Tempest
Heart of America SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL With John Rensenhouse as Prospero SOUTHMORELAND PARK - kcshakes.org June 16 - July 5, 2020 INKC_ShakesTempest_2.20.20.indd 1 MARCH 2020
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2/20/20 11:00 AM
City Year believes that developing the skills and mindsets of children and young adults contributes to strong, vibrant communities for all of us. Do you know an 18 to 25-year-old ready to grow as a leader while making a positive difference? Learn more at cityyear.org/kansascity
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IN KC
Reservation for One STRANG HALL by
Kelsey Cipolla
F
photos by
or some of the most interesting eats in Overland Park, look no further than Strang Hall. Opened at the end of 2019 on the ground floor of the Edison District, Downtown OP’s new mixed-use development, the food hall is an exciting hub for the neighborhood, delivering chef-driven eats in a stylish, streamlined space. It helps that the concepts are diverse: There’s Basabasa, a fried-chicken spot with Asian influences; craft pizza and sandwich shop Noricini; Nida, serving nouveau street tacos; Southeast Asian eatery Anousone;
MARCH 2020
Aaron Leimkuehler
super food-focused Solstice; and Fond, where familiar dishes get a twist. But it’s not the variety that makes Strang Hall something special— it’s the quality of the execution, from menu design to food preparation. All of the kitchen fronts feel fleshed out enough to stand on their own, with nobody playing it safe to attract potentially overwhelmed diners. Put them under one roof, and it’s an embarrassment of riches. Chef Remy Ayesh’s Nida is a standout, with tacos inspired by flavors from around the world. Barbecue lovers will be all-in on the black gold brisket taco, smoky with a hint of coffee offset by a chimichur-
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ri crema. Other offerings include the carnidas, made with confit pork shoulder and belly and topped with grilled pineapple salsa, and the fried gulf-shrimp taco, made with crunchy tempura-battered shrimp and piled high with slaw. Whichever version you opt for, top it with the burns-so-good sundried-tomato hot sauce and Ayesh’s refried black beans, velvety smooth and expertly seasoned. Norcini, helmed by Chad Tillman, also makes an indelible impression. Pizza doughs are cold-fermented for 72 hours to produce a chewymeets-crunchy texture. Diners can choose a single topping or specialty pies like the Incedio, featuring mozzarella, fresh basil, chili flakes, garlic, blistered tomato and salsa rossa. Norcini’s other specialty is sandwiches, lusty behemoths served on Le Monde baguettes roughly the size and shape of a kid’s toy football. The Jersey Butcher features heritage pulled-pork shoulder, with garlicky, peppery greens, and a dusting of pecorino romano providing a sharp lift. Along one wall of Strang Hall, guests will find the bar, which is equipped with garage doors opening to an outdoor dining area. Here, the signature cocktails represent a rainbow of colors: The Pink, a light and effervescent vodka cocktail with sparkling water, cranberry, and vanilla; the chai tea-infused Rittenhouse Rye Brown; and the Blue, made with burnt rosemary-infused gin and blue curacao. Strang Hall also puts its spin on a few classic cocktails—the spicy margarita cleverly uses Tea Biotics ginger lime kombucha. There’s a unifying aesthetic throughout the space; each concept
MARCH 2020
shows personality through the food rather than branding, which extends from the look of the fronts to the font of the menus. It’s a wise move. With so many options to choose from, the uniformity smooths out the experience. Strang Hall also smartly takes pains to distinguish its environment from other food halls, serving food on substantial, minimalist plates and bowls or metal trays rather than paper products, providing sturdy silverware bundled in cloth napkins, and keeping a steady flow of staff bussing tables. Granted, it would feel mighty odd to eat some of the offerings at Strang Hall with plastic cutlery, especially those at Fond, perhaps the most high-end of the food hall’s concepts. Chef Mark Dandurand’s menu includes pork tenderloin in a bourbon maple sauce and salmon with smoked chili grits, as well as some truly drool-worthy dessert specials. The crowd includes young and old faces; kids scamper around as groups of twenty-somethings share plates and sip craft beers. Guests glance around at their neighbors’ dishes with open curiosity. “What are those?” a woman stops to ask, pointing to a colorful plate of pork belly buns. “The bread looks so soft!” The steamed buns, a product of Anousone, are indeed soft and fluffy, just as you’d hope. The pork could be a touch more tender, but the crunch of slaw, tang of quick-pickled cucumber, and three-spice hoisin sauce make the overall dish a success. Exposing people to new food in an environment where they feel easy and low-risk to try? We’ll call that a win, too. stranghall.com
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kcbuilding.com
Solutions “ We are a second-generation building company, known for superior quality and craftsmanship. Kansas City Building Supply does things the same way, they provide quality service and exceptional solutions for every project, large or small.
The only windows we recommend are Marvin windows– from entry level to custom, Kansas City Building Supply is THE source for Marvin.”
— Brett Fritzel Brett Fritzel Builders, Inc.
7600 Wedd | Overland Park, KS | 913.962.5227
THE HIT BROADWAY MUSICAL
APRIL 15 - 26
©Disney
BroadwayInKC.com • 866-870-2717 Groups (10+): 866-314-7687
G E T YO U R T I C K E T S T O DAY !
Faces
IN KC
Party Arty 2020: Night of the Shining Sun GUESTS DESCENDED into the Valley of the
Queens for this year’s Party Arty, inspired by the Nelson-Atkins Museum’s exhibition Queen Nefertari: Eternal Egypt. All the guests enjoyed live music and dance, food from favorite KC restaurants, an open bar, and late-night treats. The event helps fund the museum’s education efforts, community outreach initiatives, and free access for more than 500,000 visitors each year. For more photos go to inkansascity.com/events. photos by brian rice
MARCH 2020
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Your Urban Oasis in the Heart of Westport Customizable Spa Packages | Tailored to Your Needs! Open 7 Days a Week | Book Online 24/7
6772 W. 135th Street Overland Park, KS 66223 4021 Somerset Drive Prairie Village, KS 66208
www.landofpaws.com
MARCH 2020
(816) 531-8600 | spaonpenn.com 4143 Pennsylvania Ave Kansas City, MO 64111 | 129 | INKANSASCITY.COM
C hiefs C hampions C elebration P osters "Sea of Red" Own a piece of history in this large-format commemorative print. An image that was literally shared around the world.
Available framed (as shown) and unframed
A “Sea of Red” Floods Kansas City in this Historic and Collectible Image taken from high atop Union Station, February 5, 2020
• Exclusive and spectacular panoramic image taken by famed photographer, Roy Inman • Finished posters are printed on thick cover stock and measure 12” H x 36” W Framed Editions measure 18” H x 43” W • Proceeds go to the Union Station Preservation Fund to help maintain our historic monument for generations to come
Online Sales of Deluxe Framed Edition Available Now at UnionStation.org
BIG 12
PHILLIPS 66 BIG 12 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP MARCH 12 - 15 MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM
BASKETBALL PRESENTED BY
Saturday, March 14, 2020 Municipal Auditorium 9:30 AM - Brunching Begins 11 AM - Basketball Tipoff Featuring music by Katy Guillen & brunch by Happy Food Co.
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! sportkc.org/big12wbb
Tickets: $40 Includes brunch, bottomless mimosas, music, commemorative gift & tickets to the 11 AM & 1 PM Big 12 Women’s Basketball games
GROUP DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE!
Purchase tickets at sportkc.org/big12wbb
LIFT AS YOU RISE Women Building Confidence & Leadership presented by
Thursday, March 12, 2020 Kansas City Convention Center 4:30-6:30 PM Panel Disscussion & Mentoring Session Followed by Big 12 Women’s Basketball
Be a mentor and help build tomorrows leaders! Mentors: Table - $500 Individual - $100 More information and register at sportkc.org/big12wbb Grow your skills & network as a future leader! Mentee (Ages 13 - 18) - $20
Visit sportkc.org/big12wbb for more information
Experience the Nation’s Capital of College Basketball featuring defending Naional Champions, the Baylor Bears!
Discounted Ways to Experience the Tournament: Youth Night - Friday, March 13 Tickets: $5 for anyone 18 or under Group Sales Discount - Available for all sessions Tickets: $8 per ticket (min. of 10 tickets) Groups that sell 100 tickets or more are eligible for special benefits!
Faces
IN KC
Kemper Museum’s 2020 Artist Dinner Series with Summer Wheat GUESTS ENJOYED creative, colorful cuisine prepared by Cafe Sebastienne’s executive chef Rick Mullins and his team for the kickoff to the 2020 Artist Dinner Series. The dinner was inspired by the paintings of artist Summer Wheat, currently on exhibition, whose paintings depict a community of heroic females doing “heavy lifting and running things.” For more photos go to inkansascity.com/events.
photos by brian rice
MARCH 2020
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12for$12
Limited Offer • Extended! • Ends 3.31.20
Pros Know Best
FEBRUARY 2019 | INKANSASCITY.COM
MADE IN KANSAS CITY
THE QUEER EYE GUYS’ COOL CROSSROADS LOFT FASHIONABLE FOOD
KC’S BEST ARTISANAL FOOD FARE KC START-UPS TO WATCH
APRIL 2019 | INKANSASCITY.COM
MARCH 2019 | INKANSASCITY.COM
IN FASHION IN HOME DESIGN
the Pet
Issue
MAY 2019 | INKANSASCITY.COM
DOG-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT PATIOS PET-FRIENDLY AND PRETTY COUNTRY AND CITY HOMES
IN FOOD
MULTI-PURPOSE MUDROOMS
AN EXCLUSIVE Q&A WITH KAY BARNES
PAWSITIVELY FUN FASHION
(and the pets are available for adoption)
style!
An exclusive Q&A
with the Fab
Spring
Five
from QUEER EYE
WHAT TO DO ON A SUMMER WEEKEND
What to Wear to a Wedding
PLUS
JUNE 2019 | INKANSASCITY.COM
KC’s Top Caterers A STUNNING PRAIRIE VILLAGE MAKEOVER
JULY 2019 | INKANSASCITY.COM
AUGUST 2019 | INKANSASCITY.COM
SEPTEMBER 2019 | INKANSASCITY.COM
Entertaining for Introverts, Summer Fashion & so much more!
MEN’S WATCHES
Just in time for Father’s Day
A Renovation Sensation Home
4 COOL POOLS + 1 LOVELY LAKE HOME
4 REAL WEDDINGS
Day Trips Destination Dining Staycations
PLUS
Restaurant Reviews, Recipes, Entertaining and more
A GARDEN IN TIME
Fall Fashion
A COLORFUL FAIRWAY COTTAGE
Exclusive Q&A with SNL’s HEIDI GARDNER
Paul Rudd AN EXCLUSIVE Q+A
Conquering KC’s Food Deserts
FOLLOW THESE FOODIE INSTAS
Talks about his movies, his hometown, his favorite charity (Big Slick, obvs.)
Fall Arts Preview
What To Wear Now —And This Fall
LOCALLY GROWN
Summertime!
Year the
Exclusive Q&A with bestselling author
SARAH SMARSH
KC-CENTRIC PODCASTS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS
Food
in
OCTOBER 2019 | INKANSASCITY.COM
NOVEMBER 2019 | INKANSASCITY.COM
Revisiting the Downtown Ballpark
LIVE LIKE A LOCAL
Tyrann Mathieu Kansas City Chiefs’ Safety
Holiday Fashion
DECEMBER 2019 | INKANSASCITY.COM
THE QUEER EYE “HEROES”
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
BOTTOMS UP The New Volume in Trousers This Fall
Kitchens to Covet
A STUNNING SUNSET HILL CONTEMPORARY
JANUARY 2020 | INKANSASCITY.COM
TASTY GIFTS (LITERALLY!)
Talks Football, Philanthropy, and Food
A Cool Ranch Reno
4
Holiday issue the
SPARKLE & SHINE!
GLORIOUS GIFTABLE GEMS
An In-Depth Interview with Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas
A Country Club District Home
RISES FROM THE ASHES
A HISTORIC MANSION’S REVIVAL
Be the
BestYou Resolved: No Resolutions Booze-free Cocktails Wintertime Entertaining
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ers Chiefs Play Charitable
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RAL FASH
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COLORFUL E BROOKSID BUNGALOW
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SCIT Y.CO
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FACES OF THE NEW ROPY
PHILANTH
IN Kansas City magazine is available at The Roasterie Cafe. Purchase a copy at any of our eight area locations and The Roasterie will donate a portion of the sales to Variety Children’s Charity of Greater Kansas City.
The Grand Hall at Power & Light 4.3.20 | 12:00pm
W E C A R E K A N S A S C I T Y.O R G PRESENTED BY
My Essentials
IN KC
PAUL GUTIÉRREZ ARTS LOVER, FUNDRAISER, ORGANIZER BY
Michael Mackie
P PHOTO BY AARON LEIMKUEHLER
aul Gutiérrez is definitely a renaissance man. After growing up in West Texas—on Chicken Farm Road, no less—Gutiérrez landed in Kansas City to attend grad school at KU. Thirteen years later he’s firmly entrenched in the world of arts and philanthropy here in the metro. After a stint at the Mattie Rhodes Center, Gutiérrez is now the programs director at the soon-to-be new crown jewel, the Kansas City Museum. “I’m tasked with keeping the museum alive with public programs, collaborative partnerships, and events. Have you heard of the Derby Party? It’s quite the event,” he says. When Gutiérrez is not “out dancing with Barb Bloch at a gala, you can find me out exploring the ever-changing neighborhoods in Kansas City.” To that, we wanted to find out the who/ what/when/where of Gutiérrez’s must-have essentials.
Paul’s essentials... SHOP LOCAL:
GUILTY PLEASURE
HIDDEN GEM:
The Kansas City Museum will soon open a gift shop. It will have beautifully curated one-of-a-kind items from local designers and artisans.
Watching rom-com films—especially if they’re set over the holidays! (P.S. No, my eyes are not watery!)
El Pueblito on Southwest Boulevard for carne asada tacos and margaritas.
FAVE SPLURGE: ART LOVE:
Locally? Claude Monet’s Boulevard des Capucines at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. By a local artist? Everything by Caleb Lee Bowman.
My new cowboy boots—but I still wear my 15-year-old pairs more! DATE NIGHT:
Shareable bites and cocktails at The Westside Local. Table #21, please. Must have the kale salad with salmon and an extra-dirty vodka martini; or in a short glass, soda with extra bitters, no ice.
MARCH 2020
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WHY KC?
I love its rich history—particularly the untold stories of different neighborhoods.
SWEET TREAT
All of them—especially Trader Joe’s Sea Salt and Turbinado Sugar Dark Chocolate Almonds.