IN Kansas City March 2023

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A Garden of Grace

March is prime time for planning a garden. What was a success, what wilted in the heat, what new variety to experiment with this year? I admire those who thrive on it. Unfortunately, my own garden will consist of three pots filled with herbs. I spent every summer of my youth weeding, hoeing, and working in my mother’s garden, which cured me of ever planning a garden of my own.

My mother’s garden was a practical affair. Any “pretty” in her garden came by happenstance, not by design. The tangle of colorful zinnias in the tomato patch prevented disease—their bright, showy blossoms were a serendipitous treat. It was not a dilettante’s garden to impress, rather its purpose was to feed our family. Our kitchen table was laden with impossibly fresh vegetables all summer long, and all summer long we canned and froze the rest in preparation for winter’s meals.

Every spring, my father plowed what seemed to me to be an enormous plot of ground. Then as soon as the changeable Iowa weather would allow, in went the first hardy seeds—rows of radishes, lettuce, and peas—all cool-weather crops that thrive in spring and early summer. As soon as the ruby red color of the first radish peeked through the soil, I would yank it out, brush off the dirt, and slice it (paper-thin tasted best), slather a fresh chunk of white bread with our own butter, and layer the radish slices on top. That’s the taste of spring to me.

A little later, when the soil warmed up, we planted the Big Boy tomato plants, seed potatoes, green peppers, squash, cucumbers, sweet corn, and ground cherries (for my grandpa’s favorite pie). Does anyone grow ground cherries anymore? Does anyone even know what ground cherries are?

At first, we would valiantly try to keep the plot weeded, but by July the weeds had won. It wasn’t particularly appealing, yet it didn’t seem to affect the garden’s prodigious growth. By August, bushel baskets full of the ripest, juiciest, reddest tomatoes meant days of sterilizing Mason jars, peeling tomatoes, and canning tomatoes, tomato sauce, and salsa. (Even once, ketchup.) It was always—invariably—the hottest, most humid, dog day of summer, and the kitchen was definitely not air-conditioned. By the end of summer, in the cool, stone basement, jars of red, yellow, and green produce lined the wooden shelves. Opening a jar of tomatoes in the depth of winter was opening up a summer memory.

What I realize only now is that, year after year, her garden harbored a quiet beauty. Every shade and texture of green possible filled that plot of land. The pure abundance of that garden, the ambrosial taste of perfectly fresh, luscious food, the distinctive fragrances—of tomato leaves, of dill seed, and freshly dug earth—fed not only our senses but also our souls.

Zim

P.S. If you’re so inclined, check out our listing on inkansascity.com of local garden shops that can help you plan your own bountiful harvest.

Vol. 6 | No. 3 MARCH 2023

Editor In Chief Zim Loy

Digital Editor Emily Laptad

Art Director Alice Govert Bryan

Associate Art Director

Madeline Johnston

Contributing Writers

Susan Cannon, Judith Fertig, Cindy Hoedel, Cody Hogan, Merrily Jackson, Damian Lair, Patricia O’Dell, Jenny Vergara

Contributing Photographers

Corie English, Kenny Johnson, Aaron Leimkuehler, Austin Walsh

Publisher Michelle Jolles

Media Director Brittany Coale

Senior Media Consultants

Katie Delzer, Nicole Kube, Krista Markley

Business Consultant

Chad Parkhurst

Newsstand Consultant

Joe J. Luca, JK Associates 816-213-4101, jkassoc .net

Editorial Questions: zloy@inkansascity.com

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Murder she wrote. If you’ve been binge-watching

ENTER TO WIN

Door prize. Could your home use a little refresh? One lucky winner is going to score a $100 gift certificate to Red Door Home Store with plenty of home decor, furniture, floral arrangements, and seasonal accents to choose from. Enter to win by March 31 at inkansascity.com/the-magazine/enter-to-win. Good luck!

The White Lotus, Only Murders in the Building, or The Glass Onion, we’ve got a reading recommendation for you. Even better? It’s written by a local author, and takes place in 1970s Kansas City. We recently interviewed Julie Mulhern, the author of The Country Club Murders book series. Find out what she uncovered about the Kansas City of 40 years ago and what inspired her to set her murder mysteries in Kansas City at inkansascity.com.

Spring has sprung.

While Kansas City weather is always unpredictable, it’s usually feeling a least a tad like spring by the last few weeks of March. That means it’s time to plan this spring’s garden. Luckily, Kansas City doesn’t have a shortage of local gardening shops that are at the ready to lend a helping hand so you can find all the gardening supplies— from tools to soil, flowers to shrubbery, seeds, saplings, and everything in-between. Plus, their experts usually have plenty of tips for planting and growing the perfect garden in Kansas City’s climate. Find your guide to local lawn and garden shops at inkansascity.com

Trying to decide where to eat? From happy hours to the local restaurant scene, we’ve got the city’s most comprehensive dining guide. Check it out at inkansascity.com/ eat-drink/dining-guide TIKTOK @inkansascitymagazine

Women’s History Month.

As a majority woman-owned and run business, IN Kansas City takes special pride in uplifting and recognizing the dedication of women in Kansas City. It’s always a good time to celebrate women’s achievements, but Women’s History Month brings a bevy of local events that put the spotlight on women in business, art, leadership, and activism. Whether it’s a special presentation, networking event, or exhibit, let us be your guide to gatherings celebrating Women’s History Month in Kansas City. Head to inkansascity.com

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This Month IN KC

March

WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AND WHAT YOU NEED TO SEE

by Emily Laptad

MARCH SPOTLIGHT

Luck of the Irish.

With Irish roots dating back to the mid-1800s, we take St. Patrick’s Day very seriously in Kansas City. is year, the map to St. Patty’s Day in Kansas City stretches across the metropolitan area, with parades, 5Ks, and other parties leading up to St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

e city’s biggest tradition includes the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which begins at Linwood and Broadway in Midtown and goes along Broadway to 43rd Street in Westport. is year’s parade theme is ’23 in KC: Our Irish Ancestry. If you’ve never been to the annual parade, expect to see plenty of leprechauns in tow with the marching bands and elaborate oats that nod to Irish heritage. e 49th Annual St Patrick’s Day Parade begins at 11 a.m. on March 17

If you can’t make it to the St. Patrick’s parade in Kansas City, don’t fret! ere are plenty of other opportunities for parade fun around the metro. e Downtown Overland Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade starts at 10 a.m. on March 11. e parade route begins at 79th Street and Floyd and heads west on 79th Street to Santa Fe Drive. It will then head south on Santa Fe Drive and conclude at Robinson Street.

Meanwhile, the Emerald Isle Parade kicks o at 11:30 a.m. on March 11 in Downtown Lee’s Summit. Complete with oats, Irish dancers, bagpipers, and more, the morning begins with the Gold Coin Hunt for the little lads and lasses before the parade starts. Stick around after the parade for a pub crawl organized by downtown bars and restaurants.

Your last chance to catch an early St. Patrick’s Day parade is at the 41st Annual Brookside St. Patrick’s Day Warm-Up Parade begins at 2 p.m. on March 11 and features over 100 organizations and businesses from across the city. e parade starts at 65th and Wornall, heads north on Wornall to 63rd Street, east on 63rd to Main Street, south on Main Street to Meyer Boulevard, and west on Meyer to Brookside Boulevard. is year’s theme is Chasing Rainbows.

If parades aren’t your thing, that’s okay! e Westport St. Patrick’s Day Run, which begins at 8 a.m. on March 11, is another KC tradition. Teams of four can run the four-mile route, kids 12 and under can do the fun run, and anyone can sign up for a one-mile walk. For something less active, head to Lenexa’s Broad & Brush for a St. Patrick’s Make and Take on March 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., where you’ll have a dozen crafts to choose from to make and take home for $19—simply register at boardandbrush.com/lenexa to participate. Or is drinking more your St. Patrick’s Day tradition? Sign up for the Lucky St. Patrick’s Day Crawl on March 17-18. e crawl runs from 4-10 p.m. on both days, and locations include Border Brewing Company, Double Shift Brewing Company, Doubletap KC, John’s Big Deck, KC Daiquiri Shop, and KC Wineworks. Tickets start at $9.

S/S 2023 Kansas City Fashion Week

March 8-11

Union Station

kcfashionweek.com

In grand style.

Kansas City Fashion Week is back for four days of 2023 spring and summer looks from local, national, and international fashion designers. At each show, the doors will open with a cocktail hour where you can mingle and shop from local vendors starting at 6:30. e show usually starts at 8 p.m. each evening, and you can expect to see three to four designer segments in each 45-minute half of the show, with a 15-minute intermission in between. On weeknight shows, expect the audience attire to range from dressy casual to semiformal. During the Friday and Saturday evening shows, audience members dress in red carpet-style looks.

cocktail hour where you can mingle

Planet Comicon Kansas City

March 17-19

Kansas City Convention Center planetcomicon.com

Con artists. e region’s largest pop-culture and comic book event is back with plenty of celebrity guests, panels, vendors, cosplay, tabletop gaming, and other entertainment. is year’s notable guests include Star Trek ’s William Shatner, Jaws ’s Richard Dreyfuss, Doctor Who ’s Alex Kingston, and Breaking Bad and Mandalorian ’s Giancarlo Esposito. Meanwhile, shop hundreds of handmade items in the Artist and Crafter Alley, enter a cosplay contest, snap photos with your favorite cosplay stars, attend the Fae Ball or the Masquerade Parade, or spend hours playing from a collection of hundreds of tabletop board games.

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

How to Make Your Kitchen Perennially Party-Ready

by Merrily Jackson

English

The kitchen of my dreams has not one but two islands (such as the Hamptons beach house in Something’s Gotta Give), acres of gleaming Carrara marble countertops, sinks inside of sinks, a six-burner Dacor range, and an icemaker that makes ice like the ice you get at Farina.

The kitchen of my reality, a modestly sized South Hyde Park eat-in, has none of these extravagances; you don’t really need them for people to have a good time at your house.

Far more important—in addition to a good sound system, picturesque lighting, and premium hooch—is a sunny attitude and a well-stocked kitchen. In fact, with the right

photo by Corie

Marvelous Yet Decently Priced Wines for Company

WHILE YOU’RE STOCKING UP your pantry, lay in a supply of wines for entertaining. Here’s a list of terrific wines; almost all are under $15. I happen to know that all are available at your local Price Chopper.

RED

Old Soul 2020

Josh Cellars

Francis Coppola

WHITE

Phantom Chardonnay

Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Kung Fu Girl Riesling

ROSÉ

La Vielle Ferme

Noble Vines

Erath Oregon

PROSECCO

Mionetto Prosecco

Lamarca Prosecco

supplies on hand, you can have people over at the drop of a cocktail napkin. Here are some suggestions for what to keep in your cupboard, freezer, and fridge to have a party-ready kitchen.

NICE NOSHES FOR COCKTAILS

Here’s a cocktail snack your foodie friends will never turn down: microwave popcorn, fresh out of the oven. Popping it makes the house smell good, and it tastes equally delicious with cocktails, wine (especially Sancerre), and soft drinks. And it’s nonperishable, so you can always have a stash of it. Black Jewell is my favorite brand; I zhuzh it up with Cajun spices (pulverized in my spice grinder to make them adhere better to the popcorn), freshly grated Parmesan cheese, tru e salt, or chopped, fresh rosemary and thyme.

Hard cheese, while certainly perishable, if wrapped properly lasts in the fridge for close to a month after it’s open, so it’s easy to keep a supply on hand. I love serving hard cheese like extra-aged gouda with warm slices of crusty baguette—it tastes so much better than cheese served on crackers. You always can have fresh baguettes on hand if, the minute you get them home from the market, you chop them in half vertically, wrap them in foil, and stow them in the freezer. To serve a frozen baguette, warm it in a 350-degree oven for about ten minutes, after passing it quickly under the tap with the water running.

Other crowd-pleasers to keep in your party pantry: oil-cured olives, cheese straws, smoked almonds, honey-roasted peanuts, Cape Cod Kettle Chips, Pepperidge Farm Gold sh, and my personal fave, Jalapeño-Cheddar Cheetos. e latter three possess no nutritional value whatsoever and are highly addictive. Serve them in your fanciest little serving bowls.

STAY FOR DINNER, DARLING!

In my cupboard, you will always nd a couple of pounds of rigatoni or penne pasta and several jars of Lidia’s Marinara sauce, delicious on its own and even better if you doctor it up with any of the following in any combination: heavy cream; imported capers; roasted red peppers; vodka or red wine (reduce these down a little); or mushrooms, pancetta, or Italian sausage.

Don’t judge me, reader, but I prefer canned clams to fresh. For years I’ve used an adaptation of a recipe from Bumble Bee brand clams for linguine in clam sauce. You toss canned clams in a pan with bottled clam juice, olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Since it requires only items from the cupboard, it’s a good dinner to serve when you have no fresh produce on hand. Email me and I’ll send you the recipe.

I also recommend keeping a whole chicken in your freezer. ere is nothing like roast chicken. It’s the perfect dish, no matter what the circumstances. It can be elegant or homey, a dish for a dinner party or a family supper. You

Entertaining IN KC

can thaw a frozen chicken in a couple of hours by unwrapping it, dropping it in a pan and covering it with cold water. Stuff the bird with a couple of garlic cloves and half a lemon; season the skin with paprika, salt and pepper. Roast it at 325 degrees for about 90 minutes, basting it whenever you think about it. When the leg bone wiggles and the skin is brown, it’s time to eat.

IMPROVISED DESSERTS

Once, decades ago, before everyone had four-wheel drive, my two college roommates and I were snowed in, confined to our crudely equipped off-campus apartment. From ingredients on hand, my roomie Janey made dessert: a cobbler of Bisquick and store-bought frozen blackberries. It was utterly delicious. In fact, it is the dessert against which I have since privately measured all other desserts. I’ve never been able to recreate that cobbler moment, but the experience taught me that with a box of Bisquick, some frozen fruit, and sugar, I’ve always got the ingredients for a tasty, homemade dessert.

I also try to keep a box of Belgian chocolates in the freezer, hidden from my husband who can’t leave them alone. Boxed chocolates, plated on a pretty serving dish and plopped down at the center of the table,

fudge sauce and some crispy almond biscotti on the side. A doctored-up brownie mix is another easy, straight-from-the cupboard dessert solution. Any brownie mix can be vastly improved by adding a teaspoon of vanilla extract and a tablespoon of instant coffee to the batter. You also can stir in chocolate chips, chopped macadamia nuts or chopped candy bar of your choice. The best made-from-scratch brownies in the world are Outrageous Brownies from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook. Next time you’re in the mood to bake, make a batch of them and freeze them for unplanned gatherings chez vous

DRESSING UP YOUR KITCHEN FOR COMPANY

While we’re on the subject of kitchens, here are a few tips for dolling up yours before a party. If, like me, you tend to accumulate clutter on your kitchen countertops, clear that stuff off. Put away anything that isn’t pretty—you’ll feel better.

Bring in some fresh flowers (hydrangeas or tulips are always pretty in a kitchen) or a small potted plant—an herb or a simple pot of ivy works well. A living thing animates the space and brings instant cheer to the room.

Place a bowl of fruit somewhere, to add a shot of color. Lemon and

Once your guests arrive, relax and know that people feel privileged to be invited into your home. Remember, if it’s perfect, everyone will

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by Damian Lair

dlair@inkansascity.com

: @damianlair #OurManINKC

A Different Downtown

On what was a cheerfully mild but still wintery day, I met up with two great friends and charted our way to downtown Lee’s Summit for a day of spirited wandering and unplanned adventure. Each time over the years that I’ve been to LS for distinct happenings, I’ve found myself saying that I really need to come back and spend a whole day. So, this was the day.

Our date of escapades was to center around the downtown Main Street district. First, however, brunch at a favorite downtown-adjacent restaurant, Pearl Tavern. We got things goin’ with their fresh-juice “crush” cocktail of the month—a golden pomegranate crush with rum, pomegranate liqueur and juice, lemon juice, and Sierra Mist. Fresh and scrumptious. We meandered around the menu, ordering plenty to share, including the hush puppies, blue crab dip, crab rangoon, and Nashville hot popcorn shrimp. Because Pearl Tavern is known for its rotating menu of fresh sh delivered daily, I went with the sh and chips (Alaskan cod—and perfect), but I didn’t mind helping myself to samplings of my friends’ Belgian wa e and B&G. When the dessert tray arrived, we couldn’t pass up the key lime pie or the peanut butter pie. Ooof—already loaded and only stop number one!

After a bigger-than-planned brunch, I needed ca eine. Fortunately, as we were parking on Main, I spotted the chic Frost Co ee and Tea Just a cappuccino for me, but I would note that their case of pastries and breakfast sandwiches looked awfully enticing.

We next popped into A Thyme for Everything—a specialty grocer and gift shop—and simultaneously ran into an old friend of mine, Jennifer Pine. Jen showed us around the shop, which carries numerous gourmet food items (think dried pastas, soup mixes, cocktail accouterments) as well as an array of fun kitchen gadgetry and other gift items. With spring on the horizon, I was in the mood for some lighter scents for the

upcoming season. Out with the rewood and in with the Hedgerow (I’m immediately transported to the Hamptons) from my all-time favorite candle purveyor, Mixture, and a citron geranium one from Linnea. Oh, and I lled a box with Christopher

Elbow Chocolates. Perfect for snacking later. In addition to retail items, the shop also features a full kitchen where they host (BYOB!) cooking classes conducted by local chefs. Upcoming classes include sushi, Sicilian, prime rib, and Mardi Gras feast courses. Note: all were already sold out, so get your tix fast.

OVERHEARD

Next, we dropped into Cameron’s, a home-furnishings store that focuses on the Norwalk line of custom upholstery furniture, as well as a bevy of home accessories. Aside: my very rst sofa was a custom mushroom velvet number that held up beautifully.

Did someone say time for another cocktail? No, but we walked by the incredibly stunning Hand in Glove, and found it impossible to resist the magnetic pull. We saddled up to the solid Carrara marble bar, mesmerized by the soaring, library-like shelves of obscure bottle after bottle. Straight to business. One glance at the menu, and I knew

“She dresses like an extra in Little House on the Prairie.”

I was getting the Toki-Doli-Parton martini, made with Toki Japanese whisky, pineapple, and burnt sugar. Oh, and a floating wafer on top with the one and only Dolly. The menu is a dizzying array of whimsical ingredients, from breakfast cereal to mole-spiced coffee, artichoke liqueur, and Nutella foam. Incredible creativity, invention, and talent here. And the space is just plain gorgeous. Upstairs, there’s a nighttime speakeasy bar called The W. But, sadly, it was not open yet for the evening. Another trip. . .

We then stumbled upon another unique shop, Embers Candle Bar. It’s a candle-making experience center where you choose your own combination of scents to create and pour a custom candle. There are also pre-poured candles and other gifts, to boot. With a shopping bag already full of candles, I picked up a stack of watercolor note cards. You can never have enough cards on hand. I will admit, though, the candle-making looked super fun.

Across the street, a small, nondescript hanging sign with a single hot-pink elephant, caught our eye. Why not drop in? It turned out to be—a bar. Who knew this day would turn into a pub crawl? We were greeted by the super warm and friendly owner. We had a relatively quick round of drinks in this gentleman’s den-like space before we were told that we had to check out another nearby bar belonging to his friend. So, out of obligation for this thoughtful neighborliness, we made one final stop at Bricks Pub & Grub. We arrived, somehow, at happy hour. Ready for some food to balance out the booze, I ordered one of everything on special—chips and queso, white cheddar-cheese curds, soft pretzels, you name it. And a margarita, because the entry sign had a big lime on it, and it just seemed logical. Looking around—every table full—I remarked how there was just about every kind of person in the room— families with little kids running around, single young friends whooping it up (ahem!), gay/straight, black/brown/white—I’ll admit, it wasn’t the mental picture of Main Street Lee’s Summit I had when I walked out my door that morning. But there it was, a rich tapestry of people connected by the hard-to-describe midwestern hospitality that confronted us at every stop. We got the “you must not be from around these parts” looks followed by a slap on the back and suggestions for what spot we should check out next on our journey. It was a really fun day. And I encourage everyone to give it a similar, unplanned try.

TEMPEST TOSSED

OVERHEARD

“And he never blinks. Bet me.”

gramming in Kansas City area schools. Curious about this year’s festival? I got you! ’Twill be The Tempest, June 13 through July 2. Plenty of time to get your picnic basket ready.

At this year’s gala, hosted at the Intercontinental Hotel, silent auctions kicked off the evening. The signature Tempest cocktails were flowing, and—as always—it was so great to catch up with all the people I can count on seeing at this event every year. Inside the ballroom, candelabras flickered, and chandeliers sparkled in Shakespearian fashion. The always bubbly HASF executive artistic director, Sidonie Garrett, welcomed the gala revelers. Honorary chairs Drs. Susan and Charles Porter were on hand to graciously bestow the Founder’s Award to Linda Word. Meanwhile, I nibbled on the surprisingly delicious surf and turf meal, chatting the night away with the lovely Paul Gutiérrez (adorned with two faux white macaws perched on his dinner jacket) and Lisa Yansura. “O brave new world that has such people in’t!”

SPOTTED: Congressman Emanuel II & Dianne Cleaver, Barb Bloch, Ed Milbank, Michael Fields, Bernie & Scott Ashcraft, Ursula Terrasi, Suzanne McMeel Glynn, Carmen Sabates, Dan Nilsen, Alex Cole, Don Loncasty, Dr. Terry Anderson & Michael Henry, Deirdre Devine, David Jimenez, Loretta & Tom Mentzer, Garrett Toms, Laurence & Edward Bate, Linda Lighton & Lynn Adkins, Guy Townsend, Tere & Dr. Matthew Naylor, Courtney Gonzalez, Kathryn & Chris Bannister, Meghan & Andrew Schulte, Janney & Josh Polsinelli, Lindsey & Brad Heinz, Taylor Smith, Jon Fulton Adams, Carol & Fred Logan, Sally Nelson, Jay Nichols

WHO ARE YOU?

IT HAD BEEN YEARS since I last visited Vulpes Bastille Gallery for an art show. So, when I learned that my friend Mark Allen was assembling an anthology of his works, I got my chance to return for opening night. Mark’s solo exhibition, You Are Not Who You Once Were, is an assemblage of photography, paintings, sculpture, video, and installations created by the artist over the past 15 years of his career as a visual creator.

Like a beautiful invitation, even the exterior of the building is draped with deconstructed and shredded images printed on vinyl, offering a taste of what’s to come. Inside, guests are confronted with a home’s facade, with a door by which the viewer enters this temporary residence, complete with bed, bath, living, and dining rooms. Hundreds of images are presented in an overwhelming display of encasing the interior space.

HOT GOSSIP:

Who’s always got a hand out for free biz advice on social media?

CALL ME AN INVITATION SNOB, but I can usually tell how good a party is going to be from the printed invitation. And giving credit where credit is due, my heart went aflutter when I received and opened my luminescent invite for The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival’s Romantic Revels Gala. The event annually coincides with Valentine’s Day weekend, and this year’s theme was full of tropical island flair. The gala is the primary source of funds for supporting not only the beloved three-week Shakespeare Festival in Southmoreland Park, but also summertime camps for children and year-round educational pro-

I spoke with Mark about this exhibit, which is a personal one for him because it’s the culmination of his life as an artist thus far and the final big splash before he packs up for Brooklyn to obtain his MFA in photography at the illustrious Pratt Institute. (Notable alumni include Jeremy Scott, Betsey Johnson, Robert Redford, and Ellsworth Kelly.)

And about the show’s title? It’s not directed toward you or anyone else. “This statement is self-directed and acknowledges personal evolution and growth—a requiem for a former version of myself.” The use of

his archive was an opportunity for Mark to revisit old work with a fresh perspective, comparing and contrasting working methods, messaging, and processes. In doing so, he found that he no longer recognized the person he once was. He became disinterested in what he once considered his “best work,” and discovered a new, larger interest in the mistakes made along the way.

The works include hundreds of photographs—many never exhibited before—printed from Mark’s digital archive, ranging from 35mm negative scans from his early days of analog experimentation to more recent digital photographs. He used various forms of bleach baths and sprays to alter some of the images, removing some of the contexts, and bringing out new forms and compositions. It’s the actualization of the MGMT lyrics from the song Kids: “Memories fade, like looking in a fogged mirror…” The process not only creates beautiful marks, textures, and colors but also comments on our own memories and how they fade over time, tasking our minds to fill in the missing pieces. It’s the exhibition form of digging through an old box of saved but forgotten mementos. Through the lens of time, the objects take on different meaning as well as the memories associated with them. Never static. Always changing. Ever evolving.

SPOTTED: Rep. Mark Alford, Mayor Quinton Lucas, Caranne Camarena, Lauren & Jack Merriman, Lacy Gordon, Amber Botros

So, KC—where do you want to go? XO

Mark Allen’s bleached photographic print on paper, Ghouly Gala Selfie

Susan Seidler Nerman

CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR THE KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE ANSWERS FOUR QUESTIONS

by Judith Fertig

When it comes to making a difference, Sue Nerman has what it takes. Tony Jones, the former president of KCAI, described her as “forward-thinking” with “boundless energy.” She belongs to a family that gave their name to the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College as well as endowing the Nerman Family President at KCAI and is passionate about art.

Years in corporate life with her family’s company, Excell Brands, as well as Farmland Foods and R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, gave her valuable experience in thinking big, managing people and projects, and identifying as well as embracing core values. Nerman has served on the board of the Jewish Federation of Kansas City. She is also a supporter of Kansas PBS and the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Connecticut.

Nerman’s late in-laws, Margaret and Jerry Nerman, were passionate and informed collectors of contemporary art, including works by Julian Schnabel, Jasper Johns, Andy Warhol, and Frank Stella. Both Sue and her husband, Lewis, continue their support of contemporary artists.

With background, vision, and determination, Nerman is ready to help shape the education of yet another generation of artists.

INKC: KCAI has been an incubator for the arts in Kansas City, educating and nurturing artists who go on to find careers in animation, graphic arts, and fashion design as well as the fine arts. How do you help guide KCAI to keep its faculty and educational offerings evolving as the arts evolve?

Seidler Nerman: In 1885, KCAI started as a Sketch Club and has been evolving since then. The

Arts & Culture IN KC

college has established itself as a “maker” school where our faculty are working artists as well as educators and mentors. Over the years, KCAI has changed as the world has changed while maintaining our commitment to the techniques of making art and embracing the inuence of technology and the digital world. We have spent the past ve years upgrading our campus to provide state-of-the-art facilities for our faculty, sta , and students. KCAI is constantly looking at ways to provide the best academic experience for our students and faculty. In 2022, we were granted our ten-year accreditation from both the National Association of Schools of Art and Design and from the Higher Learning Commission. KCAI is well positioned for the future the world has yet to see

INKC: You and your husband, Lewis, collect contemporary art. Why contemporary art? What led you to collect and do you have favorite artists? Is there a contemporary artist on your wish list?

Seidler Nerman: e Nerman Family has been collecting contemporary art for over 60 years. Jerry and Margaret, of blessed memory, loved art and wanted to buy who were the artists of their time. Fortunately, they had a great eye and acquired many artists who became well-known. ey lived with their art and believed in the “ ree S’s: Searching for the art, securing the art, and sharing the art.” We recite this motto to all our visitors!

Lewis and I share the love of art and are always learning about new artists and looking at their work. Every collector has a long list of

artists they should have bought and would like to buy. e thrill is in the discovery, the intelligence and creativity of the artist, and the visceral response to the work. We have tremendous respect and admiration for the creative process.

INKC: As the chair of the Board of Trustees for the Kansas City Art Institute, what do you hope to achieve during your tenure?

Seidler Nerman: As board chair at KCAI, my primary goal is to make KCAI the best college of art and design in the country and prepare our students for the opportunities that await them upon graduation. I am thrilled to have Ruki Neuhold-Ravikumar as our Nerman Family President. Under her leadership, we will begin a new strategic planning process—along with our faculty, sta , students, board, donors, and the community—to reshape our approach for the future. My job is to surround myself with smart, creative thinkers and embrace new ideas. Our KCAI campus is full of intelligent, creative problem solvers—artists. It is the most exciting place in Kansas City!

INKC: Before or after attending an art exhibit or opening in Kansas City, where is your favorite place to have a drink or dine? If you had a magic wand, is there any type of restaurant or food you would add to the KC restaurant scene?

Seidler Nerman: Our favorite place to be is at home. But, every time we are in New York, we love Katz’s Deli, so an outpost in KC would be most welcome!

The

SURROUND YOURSELF IN SOUND

Pops Concert

Kenny G with the Kansas City Symphony

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, March 13-15 at 7 p.m.

GONZALO FARIAS DAVID T. BEALS III

ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR

Grammy Award®-winning saxophonist Kenny G is the top selling instrumental musician of our time. His easy style and smooth sounds will transport you to Havana and beyond.

Hear “Songbird,” “Forever in Love,” “Heart and Soul,” “Silhouette” and “My Heart Will Go On.” Kenny G will captivate and carry you away.

Sponsored by:

CLASSICAL

Featuring the Women of the Kansas City Symphony Chorus

Holst’s The Planets

Friday, March 24 at 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 25 at 8 p.m.

Sunday, March 26 at 2 p.m.

TEDDY ABRAMS GUEST CONDUCTOR

JENNIFER KOH VIOLIN

WOMEN OF THE KANSAS CITY

SYMPHONY CHORUS

CHARLES BRUFFY CHORUS DIRECTOR

CAROLINE SHAW The Observatory

MISSY MAZZOLI Violin Concerto

HOLST The Planets

Enjoy modern musical takes on our universe, and the greatest celestial journey ever composed.

Tickets from $30.

Classical Concert Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Nielsen’s “Inextinguishable”

Friday, March 31 at 8 p.m.

Saturday, April 1 at 8 p.m.

Sunday, April 2 at 2 p.m.

THOMAS WILKINS GUEST CONDUCTOR

RAY USHIKUBO PIANO

(Underwritten by the Almy Legacy Fund)

COLERIDGE-TAYLOR Suite from Hiawatha

GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue

NIELSEN Symphony No. 4, “Inextinguishable”

Think Spring! Gershwin’s masterpiece is an all-time favorite, plus enjoy Nielsen’s celebration of life. Tickets from $30.

Pops Concert Rodgers, Hammerstein and Hart

Friday & Saturday, April 14-15 at 8 p.m. Sunday, April 16 at 2 p.m.

JACK EVERLY GUEST CONDUCTOR

ASHLEY BROWN VOCALIST

Fall in love all over again with Richard Rodgers’ hit songs, whether he was paired with writers Hart or Hammerstein. You’ll hear “Lover,” “Falling In Love With Love,” “This Can’t Be Love,” “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” “My Romance” and many others. Broadway’s original Mary Poppins, Ashley Brown, sings the music of Richard Rodgers for you as only she can. Tickets from $40.

Sponsored by

POPS

Ashley Brown

CLASSICAL

Thomas Wilkins

Michael Stern, music director

CONCERTS ARE HELD IN HELZBERG HALL AT THE KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS.

POPS

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR TICKETS:

Arts & Culture

by Judith Fertig

CAPTURED

THROUGH APRIL 30 at the World War I Museum, you can witness a side of war too often neglected—the experience of soldiers who are captured and the enemy who captured them.

From 1914 to 1918, nearly 9-million people were prisoners of war around the world, as the ghting erupted in western Europe as well as Southeast Asia and Siberia. Technological advances, such as machine guns and poison gas, allowed the victors to take more prisoners, while the newfangled invention—barbed wire—kept the captured inside the prison walls as e ciently as the wire kept cattle from roaming. In July of 1916 alone, Germany shipped over 7,000 tons of barbed wire to the front each week.

Other innovations, such as quarantine protocols in camps, helped keep malaria, typhoid, and tuberculosis from spreading. More e cient parcel deliveries fed prisoners on meager rations from packages their families had sent. Humanitarian “relief” organizations, mainly sta ed by women, kept records and updated families.

As the war in Ukraine continues, Captured also shows us how so much more goes on beyond the ghting, even a century later.

For more information, visit theworldwar.org

Nothingtransformsaspacefasterthan abig,beautifulpendantfromthe WilsonLightingShowroom.

THE MYSTERY OF MESOAMERICA

FROM DRY DESERT to high mountains, coastal plains, and humid tropical jungles, the various pre-Columbian peoples of Mesoamerica lived their lives and created their art.

e Olmec people, in what is now Veracruz, carved large Easter Island-like heads out of volcanic basalt around 900 B.C. Mayans on the Yucatan Peninsula carved stone and jade, wrote in hieroglyphics, and had a calendar. Although their cultures rival the ancient Egyptians in pyramid-building, these societies have only been rediscovered in the past century. Some Mayan sites had been covered with dense jungle growth; Aztec sites were destroyed by the Spanish conquistadors. But traces of their vibrant cultures remain in their art. Sometimes even the smallest particle can reveal a larger story.

Art historian and micro-archaeologist Diana MagaloniKerpel decodes some of these secrets in a National Geographic Mesoamerica Illuminated presentation at the Kau man Center on March 14. Using archaeological nds and fascinating information from the Florentine Codex (so-named because this two-volume encyclopedia of 2,868 paintings by indigenous peoples had to be spirited out of Spain to Florence, Italy, during the Inquisition), Magaloni-Kerpel brings these civilizations back to life.

For tickets and information, visit kau mancenter.org

An illustration of the “One Flower” ceremony, from the 16th-century Florentine Codex.

Arts &Culture IN KC

by Judith Fertig

Rob Stern

GLASS MASTER CLASS

THIS MONTH, Belger Arts welcomes visiting glass artist Rob Stern for a series of presentations, beginning March 2. Stern is a modern-day magician, creating fabulous and colorful forms with sand, high heat, and metals for large-scale architectural installations and artful sculpture. When’s he’s not working at Rob Stern Art Glass in Miami, he is teaming with longtime friend Ty Pennington of Extreme Makeover to create new designs.

Stern’s work includes sculptures in colorfully translucent, fantastical shapes as well as clear glass, with an eye to maximal size and minimal style.

On Thursday evening, March 2, he will give an artist talk, free to the public.

On Friday evening, there is a glass demonstration from 6 to 8 p.m., also free.

And then for four days, from March 2 through 5, there are master classes in glass techniques, hot and cold construction, glass blowing, and more for a few students. Registration required. For more information and master-class registration, visit belgerarts.org

YO-YO MA AND KATHRYN STOTT

CELLIST YO-YO MA and his longtime collaborator, pianist Kathryn Stott, come together for a brilliant program on March 31 at the Folly Theater.

The pieces grouped together will be played without pause— music that zips from classic to traditional to modern to folk and tango. They will begin with Songs without Words, Op. 109 from Felix Mendelssohn, then the lyrical and evocative Scarborough Fair, Caroline Shaw’s spare and elegant interpretation of Shenandoah, and Jean Sebelius’ Was It a Dream?

Yo-Yo Ma, a child prodigy born in Paris to Chinese parents before moving to New York City, has recorded over 90 albums, received 19 Grammys, and performed as a soloist all over the world. He has played with artists in diverse genres, recently backing Miley Cyrus on the Metallica song Nothing Else Matters.

Kathryn Stott, an English classical pianist, has been, by turn, a soloist, chamber musician, and recitalist, with a repertoire that include classical English and French music— and curiously, the tango. She first met Yo-Yo Ma in 1978 when she returned from holiday to “a Chinese man in his underpants playing the cello” in her flat, she says. It was a mix-up; blame her flat mate for not telling Ma that the flat was shared.

For ticket and performance information, visit hjseries.org

ASYMMETRY

at’s what’s at play here with the attering high waistline and skirt with a frayed asymmetric hem that splays out creating lovely movement.

ZW Denim Skirt, $70. Available at zara.com.

BY Susan Cannon

Roomy Blues

DENIM GETS VOLUMINOUS, COMFORTABLE, AND VERY COOL

OVERSIZED

From the coveted Scandinavian creatives behind Toteme, who recently landed stateside bringing along their strong identity for the modern uniform, this versatile piece is made in Italy from lightweight organic cotton denim. Toteme

Overshirt Jacket, $690. Available at totemestudio.com

YOUTHFUL

CARRY ALL

VERY FRENCH

A attering high-waisted jean that’s relaxed, yet dressed, and shows o the shoe with its cropped leg. Juliet Jean, $395, by Nili Lotan. Available at Clique Boutique (Prairie

Village Shops).

pet, groceries, and the kitchen (Westwood).

Vintage Japanese indigo and ikat strips are handwoven and lined with denim to create this large tote that carries everything: baby, pet, groceries, and the kitchen sink. Japanese Big Bag, $1,100. Available at Asiatica (Westwood).

is one’s all about the super-wide leg, the relaxed, cool slouch, and the soft, faded wash. Old West Slouchy Jeans, $128. Available at Free People (Country Club Plaza).

SUBTLE SWING

Love this midilength organic-cotton washed-denim dress with its simplicity and ease.

Dress, $135, by Cos. Available at

Love this midiA-Line Denim Dress, $135, by Cos. cos.com

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.

Leawood, KS | maddenmcfarland.com

BY Susan Cannon

Enhance It

THOSE EYES, THOSE LIPS, THAT SMOOTH SKIN

ZOË SALDAÑA, 44, is a mom of three boys and one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood. Yet with her busy schedule, she’s a proponent of a natural, unfettered look with a careful hydrating regime and products. But, wow, do the reds illuminate her complexion! Stay Vulnerable Melting Blush in Nearly Berry, $22, by Rare Beauty. Available at all Sephora shops; Colour Riche Original Satin Lipstick for Moisturized Lips in 297 Red Passion, $7, by L’Oreal Paris. Available at all Target stores; For extra illumination that supports skin barrier and boosts collagen production, Lit Up Highlight Stick in Nectar, $48 by Westman Atelier. Available at Welwythn (Prairie Village Shops).

TWENTYYEAROLD Wednesday star, Jenna Ortega, got the dramatic Sophia Loren treatment for the Golden Globes. Her makeup artist, Vincent Oquendo, elevated the dark-eyed actor’s look from soft goth to sophisticated 1950s glamour. 24/7 Moondust Eyeshadow in Cosmic, $24, by Urban Decay. Available all Ulta shops; Muse No. 14 Cat Eye Lashes (biodegradable on exi-cotton band - 20 wears), by Nood. Available at lovenood.com; Clean Line Liquid Liner in Midnight Express, $28, by Ilia. Available at Welwythn (Prairie Village Shops); (Hint: for extra brightness, line your inner lower lid with Gel Pencil Eye Liner in Incorruptible White, $23, by Mac. Available at all Ulta shops.)

THE UNIVERSAL HEROINE, Michelle Yeoh, at 60 is clearly con dent and exudes “real” beauty while engaging in a purposeful regime to maintain a healthy natural look. She’s religious about her daily use of face masks and eye patches, keeps the harmful rays at bay, and moisturizes with the best. Hyaluronic Cloud Hydra-Gel Eye Patches (30 pairs), $55, by Peter Thomas Roth. The Rich Cream with TFC8 face Moisturizer, $290, by Augustinus Bader. Both available at all Sephora shops; Everyday Coverage Tinted Sunscreen SPF 30 in Light Tint, $48, by Marie Veronique. Available at Welwythn (Prairie Village Shops).

jenna ortega photo by vincent oquendo. zoë saldaña photo by patrick demarchelier for allure

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BY Susan Cannon

Eat. Sleep. Soar.

DEEP SLEEP

We know very well that using our cell phones in bed will keep us awake, as the blue-screen light suppresses production of melatonin, keeping our brains stimulated and depriving us of much-needed sleep to keep us healthy. Of course, insomnia due to stress is its own nightmare. is is where replacing that one technology for another may just transform your life. Leave your phone in the other room and turn on some pink noise at bedtime, which emits lower frequencies than white noise, aiding in falling asleep faster and sleeping deeper. e Sound Oasis Pink Noise Machine is a compact 2.5-inch cube that o ers 20 built-in sleep sounds, including three pinknoise options. It can also connect to your phone via Bluetooth to stream music from your collection and is great for travel. $40. Available on amazon.com

IN THE SWING OF THINGS

A GRAIN OF HEALTH

If you’re getting bored with your usual cooking rituals, consider fresh ingredients. Enter fonio, a West African ancient grain that’s been rediscovered. It’s gluten-free, plantbased, and high in aminos, iron, zinc, phosphorus, and B vitamins, including thiamine, ribo avin, folate, and niacin. While rich in carbs (great for athletes as a master fuel), fonio has a low glycemic index, meaning it’s an excellent choice if you are watching your blood-sugar levels. Fonio also plays a key role in healthy muscle, nerve, heart, and brain functions. Try it as a creamy, warm cereal with fresh berries, or go savory creating a fonio grain, grilled sh, and fennel dish, or as a pilaf using aromatic spices with lamb. A range of Yolélé fonio grains, $7, are available at Whole Foods and Sprouts Markets. e Fonio Cookbook, by Pierre iam, is available at yolele.com or Barnes and Noble stores.

Get a full body cardio workout that involves alternating short bursts of super intense work with a low-intensity recovery while you’re in the air. Wellness Warehouse in Liberty, Missouri, o ers aerial and barre tness, particularly popular with teens, in a positive and fun environment. Begin with Aerial Basics classes and advance into Aerial Yoga (vinyasa-inspired aerial yoga that incorporates the breath and hammock). Advance to Aerial HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) designed to help burn body fat while strengthening and toning muscles. After hanging from the ceiling, hang out in the health bar for a nutrient- lled meal replacement shake or energizing drink. Go to wellnesswarehouseliberty.com to learn more.

t oble De igns, our pa ion is designing h mes and paces for our client that reflect their needs in a style that lasts. We arc a full service interior design firm read to help with your new build, renovati n orju t imple update to make your h me beautiful.

by Emily Laptad

A Long and Healthy Life

ADVENTHEALTH’S SHANDI APPIER ON MAINTAINING TEEN HEALTH

many mental-health struggles teens can deal with,” says Appier. “These conditions affect mood, thinking, and behavior—it often makes an impact on school performance, social interactions, and conduct at home. Intentional self-injury and homicide are leading causes of death in adolescents, second only to unintentional injuries. It is important to identify potential mental-health issues early so teens can get appropriate resources.”

Unsafe Sexual Practices: “Many teens engage in sexual activity of some sort. Due to this new experience and lack of inhibition, adolescents are at higher risk of pregnancy or contracting Sexually Transmissible Infections (STIs),” says Appier. “It’s vital to have discussions with your teenager about safe sex and be available to answer any questions they might have. If teens are not comfortable discussing this with their parents, their primary care provider is available to have these conversations in a non-judgmental, safe environment.”

As adults, it’s easy to envy the teens in our lives enjoying the prime of their health. But that doesn’t mean their annual health screenings and wellness visits are any less important.

“It may be easy to assume that since adolescents don’t usually have a complicated medical history or chronic health issues, they do not need to see their physician regularly,” says Shandi Appier, MD, FAAP, pediatrician and internist with AdventHealth Medical Group Internal Medicine & Pediatrics at South Overland Park. “However, instilling healthy habits and providing education on the prevention of chronic diseases needs to start as early as possible. The more we investigate risk factors for things such as diabetes, hypertension, or obesity, the more we understand that behaviors and health practices early in life have a significant impact on later well-being.”If you have a teenager under your care, you can help them get the health resources they need by keeping up with annual wellness visits. Not only will yearly preventative visits foster a trusting relationship between your teen and their physician, but they can help identify health concerns that are easy for non-medical professionals to catch.

If you have a teenager under your care, you can help them get the health resources they need by keeping up with annual wellness visits. Not only will yearly preventive visits foster a trusting relationship between your teen and their physician, but these visits can identify health concerns that are difficult for non-medical professionals to catch.

“While some teenagers have excellent communication with parents, others may be less forthcoming about their sexuality and mental health,” Appier says. “The relationship and trust a teen develops with their physician can lead to a discussion of concerns they may not be comfortable talking about with anyone else.”

COMMON HEALTH CONCERNS IN TEENAGERS

While teenagers are likely to experience some health challenges less than other age groups, Appier notes several key areas that may impact teenagers more than adults.

Mental-Health Disorders: “Mental-health issues are becoming more common within the adolescent population. Anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, and body dysmorphia are just a few of the

Substance Use: “Almost half of all adolescents will have tried an illicit drug and over 80 percent will have used alcohol by the time they are adults. Many factors increase the risk of substance use in teens, including concurrent mental-health issues, family concerns, peer encouragement, community risk factors, and negative life events,” says Appier. “Screening for these substances and counseling on potential harms, including addiction, is necessary to help prevent long-term complications. While cigarette smoking has decreased in prevalence, vaping has become common among teens and can lead to other adverse effects, such as nicotine addiction and associated lung injury.”

Unintentional Injuries: “This is the leading cause of death in the adolescent age group. Most of these involve motor-vehicle accidents, followed by an accidental overdose of substances,” says Appier. “The teenage years come with a sense of invulnerability and, therefore, can lead to potentially dangerous activities and decision-making. Alcohol use and illicit substance use can contribute to risk-taking and unsafe conditions involving activities such as driving or swimming.”

TIPS FOR PARENTS OF TEENS

One of the most important things an adult can do for the teenagers in their household is to foster open-ended discussions about topics such as mental health, safe sex, and drug use.

“Despite the way they sometimes act, teenagers still do care about how their parents interact with them,” Appier says. “Just being there when they need you will be the most helpful as they explore their individuali ty, freedom, and identity. Make sure to give your teenager the best chance of success by bringing them to preventive care visits each year.”

In between visits, remember to be vigilant about any changes in your teen’s mental or physical health. You know your teenager best, and any concerning changes warrant a visit with their physician.

Living IN KC

by Patricia O’Dell

Northern Star

IF YOU DON’T LIVE IN PARKVILLE, THEN IT’S TIME FOR A DAY TRIP. THE HOUSE ON SCOTT CARRIES A SELECTION OF PRODUCTS THAT IS BOTH SOOTHING AND LIVELY. DECORATE YOUR HOME WITH TREASURES FROM THE GROUND UPTHEIR RUG COLLECTION IS PARTICULARLY APPEALING. THE HOUSE ON SCOTT IS THE PASSION PROJECT OF OWNER EMILY JACKSON

houseonscott.com

1. Vintage copper stock pot, $60. 2. Olive wood juicer, $19.50. 3. Small vintage Turkish wool rug, $150. 4. Eco kitchen starter gift set, includes solid dish soap in porcelain bowl, reusable handmade sponge, and bamboo ber dish brush, $48. 5. Concrete hexa pot with saucer, $29.99. 6. Concrete knotted trinket dish in white or terra cotta, $22.

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Get Outside and See Some Architecture!

WALKING TOURS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND

AS OUR WEATHER BREAKS —or at least begins to break—it’s a great time to get outside and enjoy the city. Fortunately, the Clio App has walking tours of Kansas City’s neighborhoods that includes historic buildings and landmarks.

Get to know downtown, including the Financial District, Garment District, and the historic buildings and landmarks in the neighborhood. You can walk the Financial, Library, and Garment Districts or drive the Fountains of Kansas City tour. Check out the American Jazz Walk of Fame and 18th & Vine. ink you know the Country Club Plaza like the back of your hand? Did you know it started as a swamp and rock quarry?

You can discover Kansas City’s history on the site at theclio.com or download the free app for Android or iPhone. Pop in your ear buds and see your hometown design, architecture, and history in a brand-new way.

Top to bottom: The Saint Regis Hotel, the Kansas City Work House, the Kansas City Title and Trust building.

by Patricia O’Dell

Light Me Up

CRATE AND BARREL LIGHTING

While I like shopping locally owned retailers, I am aware that the national chains in Kansas City provide a lot of jobs for our residents, and I have a few favorites. Crate and Barrel’s clean-lined products and reliable quality is one. Their new lighting collection is difficult to ignore. While it borrows heavily from midcentury masters, it makes good sense for homeowners who want a great look without getting into the four-digit category. These are pieces that could work well from first house to peak house. (“Peak house” is a term I heard once more than 20 years ago, and it knocked me for a loop then. I’ve never used it—or forgotten it— and it made its way here.) While I don’t love every piece, there are good selections from ceiling to table to floor.

1. Corfu black table lamp with woven shade, $349. 2. L’Union black metal arc floor lamp with rattan shade by Athena Calderone, $399. 3. Colin perforated metal pendant light, $349. 4. Sardinia six-light plaster chandelier, $699. 5. Bibelot wavy black metal mini table lamp with rattan shade by Athena Calderone, $129. 6. Corfu cream table lamp with linen drum shade, $299. 7. Finley wooden adjustable table lamp, $229.

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IF THERE IS ANYTHING I miss about the pandemic shutdown—and there’s very little—it’s the musicians who performed in my neighborhood. Sometimes I would read about their concerts in advance online, but most of the time I’d be outside and hear the rst few chords and follow them to a nearby porch.

While it’s not exactly the same thing, the Bitti Gitti Design Workshop Wooden Speaker’s wood-grain casing blends well with front porches, backyards, and campsites, or anywhere else you take your music. Available from the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art’s Museum Shop, I like the clean simplicity of the black speaker, but the tie-dye options may better suit your groove. shop.kemperart.org

Wooden speaker, $59.

Limited-edition marbled wooden speaker, $79.

Billy Brimblecom IN CONVERSATION WITH

words

At 20, during the heyday of grunge, he formed a traveling band and later lived in Nashville. But Kansas City-born drummer Billy Brimblecom is back home now with a day job as executive director of Steps of Faith, which has raised $3.7 million to pay for prosthetic limbs for uninsured amputees. Brimblecom lost a leg at 28 to a rare cancer, Ewing’s sarcoma, but it doesn’t stop him from playing the drums in the house band for Thundergong!, the raucous fundraiser he throws the second weekend of November each year at Uptown Theater with pal Jason Sudeikis to benefit Steps of Faith, which he has run since its inception in 2013.

Brimblecom grew up in Shawnee and Lenexa, graduated from Shawnee Mission North and attended KU for a year, studying jazz music and playing in the Marching Jayhawks “that year KU had a good football team like this year” (1995, when they beat UCLA in the Aloha Bowl.) He lives in Lenexa with wife, Allison, and their children, Leo, 10, and Goldie, who turns 8 this month.

Brimblecom spoke with IN Kansas City by phone from his Midtown office about the origins of his friendship with Jason Sudeikis, the shift from being a full-time musician to running a nonprofit, misconceptions people have about amputees, the failings of the health insurance industry, and his sneaker “addiction.”

How did you and Jason Sudeikis come up with the concept for Thundergong!, which is kind of a crazy concert-comedy-benefit hybrid?

Jason and I do Thundergong! together first and foremost because we’re friends. But it’s also combining a couple things. I know how to put on that kind of show. I know how to turn a handle and open a door. He has keys to open a much bigger door to attract a bigger audience.

There’s a photo on your Instagram from last summer of you in London with Jason in an alley familiar to fans of Ted Lasso. How did that come about?

That’s a real place in Richmond that is partially used as a set. My wife and I were over there visiting Jason. The spark for the trip was a big concert he was a part of at Wembley stadium. The Foo Fighters put on a tribute to Trevor Hawkins, their drummer who passed away last year. I had met [Hawkins] a handful of times, but Jason was legitimately friends with him. A group of us had been out to dinner in Richmond. We were walking down that alley and Jason and I were talking, and

Brendan Hunt, who plays Coach Beard, said. “You may recognize this door.” And I was like, “Oh, whoa! We’re here!”

How did you become friendly with Jason?

We met in 1995. I was in my senior year of high school, and he was in his first year of college, and we both auditioned and were hired for an improv comedy club called ComedySportz in the River Market. We were in the same workshop, getting trained to play those improv games. We were fast friends, and we’ve been in each other’s lives in a pretty big way ever since, in each other’s weddings. He’s like my brother.

You lived in Nashville for a while. Do you identify as a Kansas Citian and if so, how does that manifest itself?

Oh, I very much identify as a Kansas Citian, even during the seven years I lived in Nashville, much to the chagrin of the people there who had to listen to me. There’s a lot of things about Nashville I loved, but I never loved living there.

I think really having an appreciation for where I was from started in my old job as a full-time professional musician. When we started touring, I went to so many places for the first time to play concerts. That was the first time I was in New York City, the first time I was in Boston, first time I swam in the ocean, all these things. As incredible as that was, the thing it made all of us feel was, we were proud that we came from the middle of the country, from this great city that people need to know more about. Traveling all over the country just cemented my love of Kansas City even more.

As we speak, the Chiefs are in Arizona getting ready to play in the Super Bowl. Are you a fan?

Of course! They are so exciting, and this is such a great sports town. Admittedly, I was never much of a sports guy, but I’ve become a really big Chiefs fan. I credit my dad. He said to me a few years ago when Patrick Mahomes came on the scene, “Billy, I know you’re not a huge football guy, but I’m telling you this young quarterback is special, and you should watch him.” And obviously, the world agrees. I’m friends with Ben Lyons, the host of a live morning talk show called Bonjour Sports Talk on Amazon Prime, and I was on his show on Friday (after the AFC Championship game) because he knows I love the Chiefs.

This year I got to meet Mahomes and Kelce, and they are everything you’d want them to be. They asked me, “Is this like old hat now? Are people in Kansas City just used to winning?” I was like, “Look man, we went

by Cindy Hoedel photo by Austin Walsh

50 years between Super Bowls. Growing up, other cities had dynasties, like the Yankees or the Patriots that won all the time for years and years and years. I think, wouldn’t it be great if we had that in Kansas City?”

What were you like as a little kid?

I loved music from an early age. I was a class clown, kind of rambunctious and loved to make people laugh. I loved comedy, loved Saturday Night Live from a young age, loved the movies that people from SNL went on to create, from Caddy Shack to Fletch to Beverly Hills Cop to Stripes I played sports because that’s what you do when you’re little, but I wasn’t a natural athlete. Fortunately, when I was in 6th grade, I started playing the drums and that just rewired my brain and changed the whole trajectory of my life.

You’ve been in many bands. Can you give a quick description of the ones that mattered most?

In 1995 when I was 18, I joined a band called Stick. In the early ’90s when grunge exploded, record companies all over the world went searching for rock bands. Non-hair rock ’n roll was selling, man! Lawrence, Kansas, was the quote-unquote next Seattle for about 15 minutes, and Stick was signed to a major label. Two of the guys were ten years older than me and what that did was, I kind of got introduced to the whole city and people who became bandmates in my next band.

In 1997 I started a band with a friend called The Creature Comforts. That was the band I toured with. We had a booking agent in Boston. That band went until about 2002, and we’re brothers to this day.

I was in a band called The Start in LA, which was a really cool and weird time of life in 2003, 2004. My friend Jim Suptic from The Get Up Kids and I started a band called Blackpool Lights in 2004. We put out an EP in 2010 and we’ve had a bunch of songs on TV shows

throughout the years.

Since 2009 my wife, who sings, and friends and I have had a band called Summer Breeze, which started as a yacht-rock tribute band of ’70s and ’80s soft rock. In the six years we’ve been the house band for Thundergong!, we’ve teamed up with everyone from Winona to Ben Harper to The Darkness. It’s been really life-giving for us.

Do you get tired of telling the story about what happened to your leg?

Yes. But I’ll tell you if that’s why you’re asking. Or was that the question?

That was the question. I don’t want to define you by your leg. I feel like a big part of why this happened to me is to tell the story. I didn’t write it. But after ten years of Steps of Faith, I can claim some responsibility for how the story has unfolded. Previously I felt like all these things that happened to me just happened to me.

What are the worst things well-meaning people say when they see or learn that you are an amputee?

There are so many misconceptions. I know some amputees who, if a random stranger says to them “You’re such an inspiration,” they’re offended by it. I’m not offended by it. Maybe because I was a grown man by the time I lost my leg.

I try to see the place people are coming from. I don’t always succeed. But I try to understand; they see something, and they don’t know what to say. To say people are ignorant is considered an insult, but it’s just a fact. It means “not knowing.” I’m ignorant about most things other than music and robot legs. [Laughs]

One of the things that is the most exhausting is people assuming I was in the military. The common misconception is, since I don’t look old

Left: Billy Brimblecom performing at Thundergong! to raise funds for Steps of Faith. Right: In the London suburb of Richmond, Brimblecom and longtime friend Jason Sudeikis walk along the street featured in Ted Lasso

and I have a prosthetic leg, I must have been in the military.

Let me break down some stats for you. Around 510 people lose a limb every day, just in America. The most common causes are vascular disease and trauma—like a motorcycle accident. The third most common cause, cancer, only makes up two percent.

When you look at the military, since 9/11 around 1,500 people have lost a limb in combat—that’s the total in more than 20 years, compared to over 500 per day from other causes. So, if you see an amputee, it’s very, very unlikely that they lost their limb in the military.

So don’t thank them for their service if you don’t know. Right. I get thanked a lot for my service. So that’s my PSA, along with, don’t park in a handicapped spot, even just for a second, because it makes you a jerk.

Do you think amputees feel pressure to be positive and uplifting for the benefit of non-amputees, so they don’t have to feel sad? Does it feel like there’s a taboo against saying, “This totally sucks”?

There is, and I think it’s incredibly unhealthy. Like it says on T-shirts and bumper stickers, it’s OK to not be OK. I definitely feel a little bit of that. And I’ve maybe pushed back on that a little bit. I don’t want to go on a rampage and break windows. I just want to tell the truth. I don’t have time for anything but that.

And on the flip side, when people say, “You’re nice!” it’s like, that should be the baseline for humanity. Yeah, I’m nice, and sometimes I’m also not nice, I’m impatient, I’m a human being. I think people might think I’m nicer than I am just because I have a job where I help people for a living.

But yeah, I think a lot of people experience that. Sometimes, with somebody who’s lost a limb, you’ve got a room full of people looking at you with their eyebrows raised like, “Ok, so, are you, are you, all right? How do you feel? Is everything OK?” Sometimes that’s good, but then that time passes.

The best advice I was ever given was to mourn the loss of my leg like you would mourn a family member. And that has helped me enormously. I have more PTSD from other things in my life than from losing my leg.

You have created this amazing foundation that helps so many people. When you meet these people and hear their stories does it ever anger you that a foundation like yours is needed in the first place?

More and more—to the point that it concerns me how angry it makes me. Which is why I’m trying to find ways to help fix the problem that we address. It’s such a joke that I should have to have this job in the first place. And we’re not the only nonprofit that does this kind of stuff. There aren’t many of us, and we all do it differently. But it’s completely and totally ridiculous that you have to fight more for a prosthetic knee than you would for a knee replacement or reconstructive surgery after breast cancer. If I have my leg cut off, I have to fight with the insurance company to get the robot leg to be able to walk and be healthy. It’s just backwards.

We’re all, including doctors, under the thumb of insurance compa-

nies and drug companies in this country. It’s not like that in other countries. I’m not saying this country versus that country is doing it right or wrong. But we certainly ain’t doing it right here, period.

‘‘We’re all, including doctors, under the thumb of insurance companies and drug companies in this country. It’s not like that in other countries. I’m not saying this country versus that country is doing it right or wrong. But we certainly ain’t doing it right here, period.”

Cruising through your Instagram, I saw a whole bunch of good-looking sneakers. You appear to possibly be a sneakerhead. Would you say that about yourself?

I would. The addiction is very real. I don’t drink anymore, but I do love those sneakers.

How many pairs do you own?

I don’t even know. But I don’t pay a lot of money for them.

You don’t?

No. Sneakers are a hundred and fifty bucks, you know what I mean? If you’re paying more than that, you’re getting ripped off. I had the Air Jordan 1s when they were just called Air Jordans, and they were new in 1985. I was in third grade.

Wow, you’re an OG sneakerhead.

[Dramatic exhale] Not to pat myself on the back, but yes, I am. I go all the way back. Now it’s weird—I go to sneaker stores when I’m traveling and even here and it doesn’t look like there’s a single adult that works there. [Laughs] Crazy.

It’s a whole weird world, but it can be fun. For example, I have actual friends in my life who became friends exclusively because someone said, “Oh, you should meet my friend Todd. He loves sneakers.” Todd is now one of my great friends, who I communicate with every couple of days.

I won’t ask you to pick favorites but is there one pair of sneakers that has a great story behind it?

Yeah, and it involves Jason. I was in New York in 2013, the year Steps of Faith started. I was still a musician, and I was there to play a show. Jason came to the show, and I met up with him afterwards, and we were talking sneakers, because he shares this affliction. I crashed at his place and the next morning we went out to breakfast together, then I went back to his apartment to get my stuff and get in the van to go to the next city, and he was like, “Here, these are for you.” Somehow, while we were at breakfast, someone had gone and got this pair of shoes, which were my favorite shoes, the Jordan 1 Royal Blue. That day was Aug. 4, which he remembered was my leg-aversary—the day I lost my leg but also the day I lost my cancer, so we always celebrate it.

Interview condensed and minimally edited for clarity.

Left to right: Lizzie Place, Halley Vincent, Max Atlas (seated in front), Sadiya Abid, Madyson Kline, Luke Taylor, Madden Tanner.

words by Judith Fertig

Making a Difference

KANSAS CITY-AREA YOUTH COMMIT TO GIVING BACK

Whenever the 24/7 news cycle seems to burden us with negativity, it’s refreshing—and heartening—to learn about all the good things that are happening right here at home.

We may be enduring yet another war, cancel culture, and divisive politics, but we’re also in a time and place in which young people have more opportunities to serve others.

When they volunteer, not only do middle- and high-school students do good in the community, they also learn valuable life skills while finding their causes and their voices.

SCHOOLS GET INVOLVED

“Students believe we can make a difference in our community,” says Todd Clauer, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy upper-school principal and creator of the metro-wide social justice program involving a coalition of three high schools—HBHA, University Academy of Kansas City, and Academie Lafayette. “They are looking at systemic change through policies and working with local officials.” Students involved in Future Votes KC reach a consensus each year about the social justice project they will undertake. In past years, it has been getting voters informed on the issues of local Kansas City police control and climate change. Students work with officials such as Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas. Currently, Future Votes KC has had much success running candidate forums in the metro area. “Teenagers are not afraid to ask tough questions, and they gain confidence interacting with stakeholders,” says Clauer. “They want their voices heard.”

Many high schools in the metro area require or encourage student volunteering. At Bishop Miege High School, students must have 80 volunteer hours to graduate; Rockhurst High School sets aside three weeks each January for senior service. Lee’s Summit High School, Shawnee Mission, and Blue Valley schools encourage students with lists of volunteer opportunities and faculty advisors, but do not require volunteering.

Shawnee Mission East goes a step further with the SHARE program, which is allied with the school, but funded by the annual Renovation Sensation homes tour. SHARE co-coordinator Erin Billingsley

helps oversee 50-plus projects that range from one-off volunteering at Habitat for Humanity or Harvesters to ongoing projects. “These are opportunities for students to gain leadership skills while showing them a different perspective and offering a way to give back,” she says.

Shawnee Mission East freshman and SHARE program volunteer Luke Taylor learned about the needs at Kansas City International Academy, formerly known as Della Lamb, from his friend’s mother Becky Croker, who does social outreach there. KCIA serves students from 25 different countries. “We meet with the kids and help them read and learn to speak English,” he says. “And we also just play football and

continued on page 68

Aaliyah Smith launched the Community Poultry Project in Kenya as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award. The project addresses food insecurity and income inequality in the region.

READY FOR TAKEOFF

THESE LOCAL RESTAURANTS WILL TAKE FLIGHT AT THE NEW AIRPORT

words by Jenny Vergara

Af ter last month’s unveiling of the $1.5-billion-dollar terminal at the Kansas City Airport, it has been hard to resist the urge to book a flight going anywhere just for the chance to explore all the new local food and drink options waiting behind the airport security gates.

With only Dunkin’ selling coffee and crullers at departures and ticketing outside the security checkpoint, the rest of the good stuff is going to take a plane ticket to see and taste.

Once past security, the new airport has food and drink located at both concourses A and B. Each area offers a unique mix of local and national food and drink vendors that always includes a coffee spot, a bar or two, healthy food options, a food hall with multiple restaurants, and both casual and sit-down restaurants that are themed by Kansas City attractions, museums, and even neighborhoods. As for national chains, you’ll find Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Cinnabon, and Smoothie King all run by local Kansas City franchise owners.

Vantage Airport Group, which won the 15-year contract to run the airport concessions, spent the last few years working with its hand-selected group of local restaurant owners on the build-out of their individual spaces—including branding and decor, menu creation and the hiring of staff—to be ready to give those traveling into and out of our new airport a taste of the variety of flavors found in Kansas City’s food scene.

A restaurant new to Kansas City, Big Chicken, will also open its first location in Missouri inside of Concourse B. Owned by former professional basketball star and NBA Hall of Famer, Shaquille O’Neal, Big Chicken is all about boneless fried chicken in all forms. From popcorn to tenders and whole fried chicken sandwiches to sliders, the menu is based on O’Neal’s childhood favorites.

In addition to the food offerings, there are plenty of retail shops, many with local themes, offering a variety of KC-based gifts, clothing, barbecue rubs and sauces, local chocolates, and so much more.

At arrivals and baggage claim there will also be a few food and drink options, including &Go, an automated shopping experience powered by Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” technology, where you’ll be able to scan your credit card and shop from sundry to snacks items and then walk out with your card charged for your shopping spree. Mother Earth Coffee, a sister concept to Parisi Coffee, owned by the Paris Brothers, will also be found here.

With 45 unique eating and shopping experiences at the new airport, 25 of them are locally owned. In addition to supporting local brands, the overall concessions program is record-breaking. The Airport Concession Disadvantages Enterprise (ACDBE) program has achieved a 59-percent participation rate at MCI. This has far surpassed the airport’s original goal of 16 percent, and it has surpassed that of all other major airport ACDBE concessions programs across the U.S. This means we have a bigger percentage of women and BIPOC-owned businesses operating concessions inside of our new airport than in any other airport in the country today. Three cheers for that stat!

Here is an up-close look at where you can find your favorite locally owned food and drink establishments inside the new airport the next time you take to the friendly skies.

GRAPES & GRAINS

Featuring artisan wines and spirits made in Missouri in an upscale, sophisticated setting, this bar pours a mix of local spirits and wines from venues such as Fence Stile Vineyards & Winery, Ladoga Ridge Winery, Pirtle Winery, Terra Vox Vineyards, and Jenny Dawn Cellars, along with shared plates using locally

HEARTH LOCAVORE KITCHEN

This catch-all concept is not locally owned, but it does feature dishes made with ingredients from local producers, including Arrowhead Specialty Meats, Boys Grow, Farm to Market Bakery, Green Dirt Farms, Burgers Smokehouse, Fair Share Farms, and New Roots for Refugees, to name a few.

MARTIN CITY BREWING COMPANY

When Matt Moore and Chance Adams began brewing beer in Martin City in 2014, they had no idea they would be opening their seventh restaurant inside the new airport. This microbrewery taproom serves its beer along with hand-tossed pizzas, sandwiches, and salads.

MEAT MITCH

After years on the competition barbecue circuit, Mitch Benjamin, owner of Meat Mitch, opened his flagship restaurant in Leawood last year. At the airport you can get his 16-hour smoked Black Angus hand-carved brisket, burnt ends, and pork ribs available for dine-in or to take with you on your flight.

BLOOM BAKING CO.

Owner Sarah Darby oversees a team of bakers who create the scratch-made breads, fluffy cakes, and decadent pastries produced at her City Market bakery. Here you can enjoy all her sweet treats and find breakfast items, sandwiches, and specialty coffees.

JAY “HOOTIE” MCSHANN’S BLUES BAR

Serving as the bar inside this food hall, this hot spot pays tribute to one of Kansas City’s original blues brothers, whose orchestra launched the career of Charlie Parker.

POÍO

The chef Carlos Mortera is known for mixing flavors from his Mexican heritage with Asian flavors, Poío will have wood-fired chicken, pork ribs, and barbecue jackfruit along with sides such as Korean fried rice.

PARISI CAFÉ

Parisi Coffee has only added to the bean scene here, roasting coffee in Kansas City since 2006. With expertly trained baristas making your favorite espresso beverages and tea, you’ll also find sweet treats with breakfast, brunch, and lunch offerings.

SOIREE STEAK & SEAFOOD HOUSE

With a performance stage for live music and a rotating exhibit of memorabilia from the American Jazz Museum, Anita Moore, chef and owner of Soiree Steak & Oyster House at 18th and Vine, is serving soulful Cajun pastas and grilled entrées with signature sides.

URBAN CAFÉ

With loyal fans who rave about their chef-driven food made from farm-fresh ingredients, the chefs Justin and Rashaun Clark are serving healthy, organic small plates, salads, sandwiches, and grilled entrées served with wine, beer, and cocktails.

THE HUNGRY HATCH

Frustrated by the lack of fresh, healthy mobile meals in Kansas City, Angela Maciel started her food truck and restaurant in the City Market. Look for healthy wraps, quinoa and smoothie bowls, and fresh cold-press juices for a meal on the go.

BO LINGS

For 42 years, Richard and Theresa Ng have been delighting generations of Kansas Citians with their selection of traditional Chinese dishes and weekend dim sum service at multiple locations across the city. Now you can enjoy your favorite dishes before take-off.

RESTAURANTS AT MCI: CONCOURSE B

BROWN & LOE

It’s a cornerstone of the City Market, owned by Kate McGlaughlin and Harry Murphy, the father-daughter team who also own Harry’s Country Club. Here they have a dinein experience serving their New American cuisine, with French and Italian fl avors.

CITY MARKET COFFEE ROASTERS

Anchoring the City Market since 1996, Nikole Ammer owns this small-batch coffee roastery that is a popular spot on the weekends. You’ll fi nd the same great coffee, attention to detail and service from their new airport spot.

GUY’S DELI & PUB

Guy Caldwell started Guy’s Snacks in Kansas City in 1938 selling roasted peanuts before potato chips. Last year, the company opened their fi rst restaurant, Guy’s Deli & Pizza, in the back of Kelly’s in Westport. Here you can get its signature sandwiches and chips served with beer and cocktails.

MADE FOR KC BBQ EXPERIENCE

As the primary barbecue offering in concourse B, the Made for KC BBQ Experience is operated by Outstanding Hospitality Management (OHM). Last summer, with help from the Kansas City Barbecue Society, OHM hosted the “Made for KC BBQ Championship,” and allowed local teams to compete for prizes money and the title Grand Champion pitmaster. Smoke n’ Magic won the competition earning top scores in chicken, ribs, pork, and brisket, along with $25,000, and a one-year licensing agreement for their award-winning barbecue recipes. The competition will be held annually, with a different team being featured in this spot each year.

THE LEAGUES SPORTS LOUNGE AND EATERY

Pouring McCormick Distilling Co. spirits, bottled in Weston, Missouri, The Leagues is an upscale sports bar with food to match, highlighting the Kansas City sports experience, including the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum history and legacy.

MESSENGER COFFEE CO.

The artisan coffee roaster and bakery (Ibis Bakery) run by the Matsch family as part of the FairWave Coffee Collective will have fresh-brewed and specialty coffees, along with pastries and lighter grab-and-go meals.

SAFI FRESH

Operated by local Kansas City chef LaRonda LaNear, owner of We Got It Covered Catering, which has been in business since 2017, Safi Fresh offers fresh healthy options including veggie bowls, salads, wraps, and snacks to fuel your fl ight.

SALUMERIA CERVASI MODERN ITALIAN DELI

Cervasi Italian foods are found on grocery store shelves across the city and owned by local KC company Paris Brothers. Here they are serving popular Italian dishes made with Cervasi products, including sandwiches and pasta dishes.

STOCKYARDS BREWING CO.

Owner Greg Bland has been making good, unpretentious craft beers since 2016 in Kansas City’s West Bottoms. Now he will be pouring his beer and other local spirits from his spot next to the Made for KC BBQ Experience.

TASTE OF BRAZIL

Marco Rabello and Cristian Maciel hail from San Paulo, Brazil, and together they brought their cuisine to the City Market. Here they serve Brazilian-style shredded-beef pot roast, risoles, and coxinhas, traditional meatand-cheese-fi lled fried croquettes.

BOULEVARD BREWING COMPANY BEER HALL

Serving as the bar for the food hall, who better than our own hometown favorite to pour a wide selection of their own locally brewed artisanal beers.

PIGWICH

In 2019, Alex Pope and Matt Kafka moved their butcher shop, Local Pig, and sandwich shop, Pigwich, together into a single space in the City Market. At this terminal, you can enjoy a rotating selection of their meaty sandwiches and charcuterie.

BUFFALO STATE PIZZA CO.

With two locations in the metro, Phillipe Lechevin and Steve Lobson are known for ridiculously large New Yorkstyle pizza slices, unique toppings, and selection of craft beer. Expect nothing less from their airport location.

BO LINGS

It’s the only restaurant that will have two locations at the airport, one in each terminal.

CITY MARKET FOOD HALL

Coming Home

A SECOND RESIDENCE IN THE OZARKS BRINGS FAMILIES TOGETHER

words by Patricia O’Dell photos courtesy of Hufft

Custom-designed board-and-batten siding clads the exterior of the home. The landscaping is by PLAID Collaborative. Opposite: Samantha, Matt, and Charlie Ray enjoy the view from the deck. Sectional is from RH.

Samantha and Matt Ray are native Missourians, and while they live in Chicago, they found themselves coming home regularly to see their families in Kansas City, where Samantha grew up, and Ozark, Missouri. “I’m from Ozark,” Matt says. “Samantha and I met in Kansas City. Our families are from around the area, and she grew up coming to Table Rock Lake.”

When they visited from Chicago, they stayed at Big Cedar Lodge to be close to both families. Eventually, they considered finding a home in the area to make visiting easier, and Table Rock Lake seemed the best choice. To ensure that they had room for their families to visit, they decided to build.

The couple has a modern aesthetic and had admired the work of Hufft, the architectural firm founded by Matthew Hufft “Matthew Hufft is from Springfield, and I thought he’d be familiar with the lake,” Matt says. “In the process we found out we have mutual friends.”

The Rays had clear objectives at the start of the project. “The lot wasn’t huge,” Matt says. “We wanted a smaller footprint, and we did not want a big, dry-walled house. We wanted natural materials and to maximize the view.”

They had another firm parameter. “We’re in a neighborhood, but

we wanted the house to feel private,” Samantha says. “And we wanted to make the most of the outdoor space. We didn’t want to feel as if we were trapped on a back deck.”

Scott Miller was lead architect on the project. He was thrilled, but not surprised. “Early in the process we studied a few ways of engaging the site, including a traditional back deck configuration,” Miller says. “We all agreed we wanted the house to feel anchored in the landscape. There were so many advantages to where we landed and being out on the side terrace is a much more engaging experience.”

An additional advantage of the deck placement is the view from the back of the house. “The living room is one of my favorite elements,” Miller says. “The feeling of hovering over the lake, out on the edge, with those immersive windows, is a moment of silence for me every time I’ve visited.”

In addition to the expansive view of the lake, the living room also has access to the patio, which is set up for outdoor dining. The lines of the kitchen are clean and minimal, with white-oak wood encasing storage and appliances. A live-edge table that seats 12 divides the space, though there’s room for more at the kitchen island. Matte black Eames dining chairs, Muuto pendant lights, and the backless

stools provide graphic punctuation.

While the inside of the house is smartly designed. The couple did not want a “showhouse.” “We wanted it to be livable,” Matt says. “We’re going to put some bruises on it, and it needs to wear over time.”

While the house is built to hold up to a crowd, the primary suite is an oasis. With beautiful views of the lake unencumbered by heavy win-

dow coverings, and built-in side tables and desk, the room is as efficient as a ship stateroom. Their closet, however, is generous. “We wanted something really special in here,” Samantha says. “So, we had them design a space that would accommodate Matt’s grandfather’s instruments.

“He was in a bluegrass band,” Matt says. “I wanted to have a showplace for them, but I wanted them to be protected and this seemed like

A sleek granite facade defines the fireplace, which has ample firewood storage tucked under it to accomodate fewer trips to the woodpile.

Above, top: A row of floor-to-ceiling windows envelops the wrap-around lake view.

Above, bottom: The staircase is framed in painted steel with white-oak treads and risers.

These pages: Three views of the kitchen and dining space. Because it was open to the view, the design directive was to keep it calm, simple, and clean-lined, so it felt less like a “kitchen” and more like a living space. The lack of upper cabinets keep it less cluttered, and simple cabinet fronts disguise most of the appliances. All the casework in the home is by Hufft. The backsplash tiles from Heath Ceramics behind the range add a touch of the handcrafted.

In a cozy guest room, the sleek walnut wallhung night table was crafted by Hufft.

Clockwise from top left: Two views of the primary bedroom. A vibrant textilecovered lumbar pillow is the only shot of color in the room. The built-in desk is a convenient spot to catch up on work. The walnut cabinetry in the primary closet was crafted by Hufft. In the primary bath, simple materials used creatively define the space.

THE IT LIST

Architect Hufft hufft.com

Landscape Design PLAID Collaborative workwithplaid.com

Ceramic Tile

Heath Ceramics heathceramics.com

Charlie Ray plays in the bunkroom, which features four queen-sized beds for weekend guests.

the best spot.”

In addition to the primary bedroom and two guest bedrooms, there is a bunkroom with four private bunks.

“We designed it specifically as our son’s bedroom,” Samantha says, “But each bunk has a queen-size bed, and we choose stairs for the upper bunks instead of ladders. This way, if we have adult guests, they can access them easily and they have privacy.”

The house was complete in March of 2020. They went down for the weekend and were there for eight months, through much of the pandemic. “We were so fortunate,” Matt says. “So many of our friends were trapped in apartments in Chicago, and we were on a boat. We were lucky to be able to have some of them stay with us.”

hang out so they feel like they have a friend and maybe a mentor. It’s incredible to see so many success stories.”

A Blue Valley high school student wanted her voice—and the voices of other young women—to be heard. When Sadiya Abid encountered gender inequality and sexual harassment, along with others she knew, she gathered a group of like-minded female students around her. With cofounder Kavya Parikh, she formed the nonprofit Future is Female, which won a 2022 T-Mobile Changemaker Challenge Award. Today, they have 12 chapters in six states. Along the way, she has learned how to set up a 501c3, increase funding from $200 to $1500 per project, and expand their reach across the country. “We have to stand up for ourselves,” she says. “If we don’t do it, who will?”

STARTING SMALL, STARTING YOUNG

Some school-age children in our area recognize their causes early. Those causes can also grow in unexpected, organic ways.

At the age of 8, current Shawnee middle-school student Halley Vincent loved pets, reading, and helping people. She organized a bake sale at her school to raise money for Great Plains SPCA and netted $300. A shy girl, Halley learned that dealing with donors for a cause she believed could make her more confident. And she became more proactive, making presentation boards for people she would approach for donations. By the age of 11, she founded (with the help of adults) her first nonprofit, Paws Up KC, which combines literacy and animal adoption. Who doesn’t need

a stack of books and a pet to love? Halley gives out free books through the Paws Up KC bookmobile, encourages donations, and urges kids—and adults—to read to pets at shelters to help the animals socialize. She also sees another link from used books to adopted pets. Says Halley, “You don’t know how that played out when you get them or when you adopt them from a shelter, and I thought it was kind of similar with books because the book had a past life when it came from the bookmobile. So it may be a little rough, but it could be a great book.”

Halley chooses reading material from diverse viewpoints, which recently brought her attention to banned books. With the help of her mother, Ali Vincent, Halley recently opened Seven Stories, a small bookshop in The Collective in downtown Shawnee. This year, they are hosting monthly book clubs to read and talk about “banned” issues.

Max Atlas, a middle-schooler from Prairie Village, also started with something he feels strongly about. He loves Legos. When he realized not everyone can afford them, he started a Lego Drive in which people dropped off new or used Lego sets to be collected at Summer Salt Ice Cream in Corinth Shopping Center. The sets went to Children’s Mercy Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Kansas City International Academy, and Jewish Vocational Service for families with kids in the hospital or new to Kansas City. Why Legos? They can “bring happiness to people who are in tough situations,” Max explains.

At just 6 years old, Kansas City middle-school student Madden Tanner started helping his mother, Tovah Tanner, with literacy sessions

for the underserved, held at local libraries. The two went on to establish the nonprofit Royale Cohesive Network, guiding young people ages 6 to 25 through all the steps toward entrepreneurship, starting with literacy and other steps to self-actualization.

BLAZING TRAILS, RAISING CHICKENS IN KENYA Scouting also gives metro area youth a way to give back, with support from an organization. “The Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn,” says Gina Garvin, chief brand and marketing officer for the Northwest Missouri/Northeast Kansas Council. “I am blown away by how many girls get an idea, take the lead, and find a way to make a difference.”

Madyson Kline, a high-school student in Leavenworth, tapped into her love of the outdoors for her Gold Award. “I have a lot of happy memories just going on a hike with friends and family and I wanted to share my love for the outdoors with everyone,” she says, but how to do it? Kline fundraised, then built Little Bird Trail in Tonganoxie’s Camp Tongawood. On March 11, she will help host a Fun Run on Little Bird Trail.

High-school student Lizzie Place, a hiking aficionado from the south metro, researched, hiked, raised funds, and built a website, takeahikekc.wordpress.com. “I am in better shape, just from hiking so much!” she says. “I have met so many people and have also visited so many parts of the metro that I had never visited before, such as the

Brush Creek Trail. Finally, I’ve become more experienced with social media, from all the posts, tweets, and stories I put out.” Soon to be released is her 2023 downloadable edition of 50 Free Hikes

Aaliyah Smith, a high-school student, chose a Gold Award project that took her halfway across the world—from northeast Kansas to Africa. A chance meeting with a person from Kenya who talked about the needs he saw in his community resonated with Aaliyah, who says, “I wanted to do something different but impactful at the same time. The Community Poultry Project (CPP) really gave me an opportunity to think outside the box and explore an option for empowering women in a country with limited resources.” The CPP supplies chickens to single women, often heads of their households. The women raise the chickens for meat and eggs as well as barter them for other items, increasing their family’s nutrition and economic prospects. “In 2020, we started with the goal of helping women and children secure a steady food source and steady stream of income,” Aaliyah says. “It has since extended to the men in the community to provide day labor support.” Aaliyah has crowd-funded her project, started a Facebook page, and visited the small village in Makueni County to see for herself the difference the CPP has made.

One small act of kindness really can make a difference, not only to those on the receiving end, but also for those who give.

“I feel very hopeful about the world, and the ways young people can make things happen,” says Lizzie Place.

JOIN US AS WE RAISE A GLASS TO HONOR THE LEGACY OF AMERICA’S 33RD PRESIDENT AND RAISE FUNDS TO BENEFIT OUR WORLD-CLASS PRESIDENTIAL CENTER, THE HARRY S. TRUMAN PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM.

We’re celebrating the 75th anniversary of President Truman’s “Year of Great Decisions,” 1948, which paved the road for lasting constitutional democracies worldwide and new freedoms here at home: Recognition of Israel, Desegregating the U.S. Armed Forces, The Marshall Plan, and Berlin Airlift.

Together, we will rediscover his steadfast commitment to collaboration, inclusiveness, and bipartisanship, and his mission for establishing a library that would serve as a “Classroom for Democracy” ...visions that have re-emerged as more vital and timely in 2023 than ever before.

URSULA TERRASI AND JIM MILLER Honorary Chairs

LEIGH AND TYLER NOTTBERG Event Chairs

a D Makingifference

Save the Date

5 NOT-TO-MISS CHARITABLE EVENTS

Our annual Making a Difference issue shines a spotlight on one of our favorite reasons we love Kansas City: the people and organizations who work tirelessly to make Kansas City the best possible place to live. There are more than 8,000 nonprofit organizations making a difference in the metro. There’s a local nonprofit every Kansas Citian can connect with. These organizations thrive thanks to donations of funds and time from people like you. Many host annual fundraisers with plenty of perks—think tasty meals, cocktails, interesting presentations, music, and auctions for unique items. Here are a few to add to your calendar—both to have a bit of fun and to do some good in the community.

April 21, 2023 Bra Couture KC

Bra Couture KC’s annual event will take place at the Signature Flight Support at the Downtown Airport on April 21 at 7:00 p.m.. Bra Couture KC is about the coming together of a community of cancer survivors, volunteers, donors, and local companies raising over $3M million in fourteen years toward our mission. We have raised funds to provide cancer care services to support more than 14,000 uninsured/underinsured men and women in the greater Kansas City area struggling with all types of cancer. Join this volunteer led organization. Here are ways that you can help:

•Become a sponsor of the event

•Volunteer before and at the event

•Donate items for auction packages

For sponsorship information contact: Michelle Lockman at sponsorship@bracouturekc.com

BraCoutureKC.com

BRA COUTURE KC

April 29, 2023 Celebration of Hope Catholic Charities Gala

Art opens our minds and hearts, and shows us what is possible in the world.

When we engage with art, we elevate our mood, we improve our ability to problem solve, and open our minds to new ideas. The same things occur when families in crisis engage with Catholic Charities—their anxiety is relieved, and they can begin to consider the possibilities of a stable and self-sustaining life.

This makes the Nelson-Atkins Museum a fitting place for our 2023 Celebration of Hope. Surrounded by magnificent works of art, we will gather in the inspiring Kirkwood Hall to celebrate the lives changed this past year, and the hope that will be restored in the coming year.

Purchase your tickets, commit to a sponsorship, or make a patron gift today!

For sponsorship information contact: Katie Pike | 816-203-2918

kpike@ccharities.com

catholiccharitiesgala.org

www.CatholicCharitiesGala.org

October 1, 2023 Sunday Night Live Celebrating Compassion

The end of a person’s life is a significant time when they are able to reflect on their life and accomplishments, work through their regrets and challenges, and spend their remaining days with friends and family in comfort and peace. For families whose loved one is experiencing a serious illness, this precious time is one of life’s most meaningful milestones.

For too many local families, access to critical healthcare during a serious illness is limited by a lack of financial resources or the complexity of care needed. Your support of Sunday Night Live ensures everyone has access to the palliative care, hospice, mental health and grief support they need.

Join us on Sunday October 1 at KC Live! Block in the Power & Light District for an unforgettable evening of food, drinks, games and more! This highly-anticipated event is integral to funding the critical work of Kansas City Hospice. It will be a night to remember!

For sponsorship information contact: Karen VanAsdale | 816-276-2637

kvanasdale@kchospice.org

KCHospice.org/snl

October 19, 2023 Bonne Santé: A Toast to Good Health

Bonne Santé: A Toast to Good Health is an annual gala celebration benefiting Northland Health Care Access (NHCA). In its 26th year, the event features live and silent auctions, fabulous food and wine pairings, and a celebration of the work NHCA does in the Northland to ensure all residents have access to health care. This year’s event will be held Thursday, October 19, 2023 at Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa, and more than 400 health care and community leaders will attend in support of NHCA.

Since 1991, NHCA has invested over $39 million through Northland health care providers to support health care services to Northland residents that are uninsured and underinsured. From primary care to specialty, prenatal to behavioral health and older adult care coordination, efforts are driven by the agency’s system of care in action to expand Access to Care for all.

For sponsorship information contact: Cory Unrein | 816-809-7984

coryunrein@nhcakc.org

nhcakc.org

Fall 2023 The Blasters

The Blasters is the ShareWaves Foundation’s game-changing charity golf event for KC Youth. Details about the 2023 event will be announced soon.

Sports has the power to change lives. ShareWaves addresses the deficits in a child’s life that has been fortified by years of neglect and worsened by the emergent issues brought on by COVID. They have identified children desperate for reconnection to meaningful, high-quality-of-life experiences. They are investing in programming designed to provide kids various benefits beyond physical activity. They call them “Programs of Impact” which are grassroots, innovative initiatives that address severe deficits in physical activity in under-resourced communities.

ShareWaves has partnered with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Greater KC, to distribute funds directly to kids who need financial support.

For sponsorship information contact: bill@sharewavesfoundation.org sharewavesfoundation.org

In the Kitchen GREEDY FOR GREEN

by

Leimkuehler

Spring is so close I can almost taste it. If you love bright, vibrant vegetal flavors and are tiring of complex, longcooked braises and root vegetables—lovely as they are during the depths of winter—then March is a restless time of year. Impatient gardeners, anxious to get their hands in the soil, probably have a good number of seeds sprouting. But cooks who love creating with fresh, seasonal ingredients still have to work with what they can get at the grocery store.

The earliest greens of our Midwestern spring include spinach, dandelions, and cold-tolerant lettuces. In specialty grocery stores and farmers markets you may find greater variety thanks to greenhouses, poly tunnels, and other growing techniques that take more energy and time than available to the hobbyist gardener who also has a full-time job. Otherwise, you are most likely limited to Swiss chard, kale, and bagged baby spinach at your local grocery. Regardless of the greens available to you, the following technique for quick-cooking greens comes in handy—and it’s great for those who like to do weekly meal prep or have limited space in the refrigerator where bulky raw greens take up valuable real estate. The flavors are endlessly variable and can be made to accompany just about any cuisine the world over. Enjoy and remember—spring is almost here!

Swiss Chard Three Ways

The first step to cooking fresh tasting greens is buying the freshest greens possible. I usually plan for an 8-ounce bundle or bag of greens to feed two people (quite generously). If the greens are in a bundle, be sure to give them a good once-over and make certain there is no visible decay (those twist ties and rubber bands can be very damaging), and select those with intense color. Also, pick the most crisp of what is on of-

fer—greens lose moisture the longer they are in storage. Bagged greens should be even more thoroughly examined—no visible slime or dark or milky liquids. If your choices are questionable, it might be a good day to have cabbage—in which case you can quit reading and find another recipe (visit inkansascity.com to find the chopped cabbage salad recipe featured in the January 2022 issue).

For all three of the variations, begin by washing the greens. If using chard, strip the leafy part from the stalk. Put both parts in a large bowl of water and let them soak and allow any sediment to settle to the bottom while you assemble the rest of your tools and ingredients (if using kale, discard the stalk). Next bring a roomy pot of lightly salted water to a boil. If you want to keep your greens brightly colored (like for a photograph in a magazine, or to cook later in the week), have a large bowl of ice water ready to stop the cooking (chefs call it “shocking” the vegetable). Drain the chard and cut the greens into one-inch wide strips. Cut the stalks into half-inch wide pieces, discarding any discolored bits from the end. Put the chard stems in the boiling water and cook for three to four minutes (they should still be resilient but tender). Next, add the leafy greens and cook for two minutes more (bagged greens or spinach need only about one minute of cooking, so if using those, adjust your time accordingly. Scoop everything out with a spider (or drain the greens in a colander over the sink) and immediately plunge the greens into the ice water. Stir them, separating any clumps so that they cool quickly and thoroughly. When fully shocked, drain them again, gently squeezing to remove excess moisture. This blanching step can be done when you have the available time, up to a week in advance. The remaining steps take only a few minutes and can be completed at the last moment before serving, or prepared earlier and served either warm or at room temperature.

Cody Hogan photos by Aaron

Greens With Lemon and Olive Oil ( e most basic and versatile version—really, it goes with anything.) Peel and slice 2-4 cloves of garlic. Heat a pan large enough to contain the greens, pour in a few tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil, add the garlic, and cook brie y until the garlic begins to color around the edges. Add a small (or large, depending on your preference) pinch of crushed red pepper akes (Aleppo pepper is delicious here) and toast brie y. Drop in all of the blanched greens and stems at once, sprinkle lightly with salt, and stir, tossing occasionally until the greens are heated through. To serve, o the heat add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a drizzle of evoo (good olive oil always has more avor when it isn’t subjected to heat). For a more lling variation, top the greens with seasoned, crunchy toasted breadcrumbs or a sprinkling of grated cheese. e addition of chopped charred scallions is delicious, but begins taking the recipe away from simplicity and freshness.

Greens With Dried Fruit, Nuts and a Hint of Spice (To accompany dishes that need a hint of sweetness, especially if the meal has Middle Eastern, Indian or North African tendencies.) Roughly chop a small handful of dried apricots (or other dried fruit) and put them in a small bowl, covering them with hot water to rehydrate them slightly—I use some of the boiling water from blanching the greens. In a skillet, pour in a few tablespoons of good oil and brie y sauté either a few cloves of sliced garlic or half a thinly sliced onion, and a handful of roughly chopped walnuts (or other nut). When the garlic is golden, add the greens, toss, and then season with salt, pepper, and a scant pinch of cinnamon. Toss brie y and taste, adjusting seasoning as necessary. To serve, crumble a bit of feta or goat cheese on top—if using good feta, a splash of the cheese brine could be a nice addition. e variation mellows nicely when allowed to stand for a bit, but can be eaten straight out of the skillet.

Greens Oshitashi/Ohitashi style (Perfect for any Asian, especially Japanese-themed, meal or as a healthful and quick, standing-in-frontof-the fridge, right-out-of-the container snack.) is Japanese preparation is normally applied to spinach, but works equally well with other greens. It is normally served room temperature to cool, and in cute little individual servings (see photo). In a bowl large enough to hold the cooked greens, combine ½ teaspoon hondashi (see In the Pantry), ½ teaspoon mirin, 1 ½ teaspoon soy sauce or tamari and a few drops of sesame oil (omit for cleaner avor). Stir the mixture until the hondashi powder is dissolved, then add the blanched chard and continue tossing until the greens are completely dressed. In an ideal world, the greens will marinate for 30 minutes to 24 hours, but I seldom nd myself in an ideal world. To serve—if the greens have given o a substantial amount of liquid (chard won’t give o nearly as much as spinach), gently squeeze the greens, reserving the marinade. Place them in serving bowls, drizzle with just a little bit of the marinade, and garnish with toasted sesame seeds and possibly a sprinkling of bonito akes (optional— see Pantry). is technique of marinating and serving at chilled or room temperature works with many vegetables, so feel free to experiment.

A SAVORY BOOST

JAPAN HAS GIVEN THE WORLD the word for the fth taste, the savory avor and quality of foods: umami. Rightly enough, Japanese cuisine has a great variety of culinary tools to increase this savory quality in many dishes. Here are some of the most readily available and easiest to use to enhance many of your dishes, as well. Keep an eye out for them in larger grocery stores or those specializing in Asian ingredients.

Hondashi

Instant dashi powder is a fast and easy form of dashi, the fundamental umami-rich broth of Japanese cuisine. Think of it as a high-quality bouillon cube but in granulated form. It’s great when you’re in a hurry or simply don’t want to make your own dashi. It is composed of dried ground bonito, seaweed, and all the other seasonings required for dashi stock—and usually a good dose of MSG. It is intensely flavored—one teaspoon granules in a quart of water is enough. Great for enhancing dressings, or making a quick cup of hot broth when you want something savory and warm on a chilly day (garnish with a few bits of scallion and maybe a thin slice of raw ginger for added deliciousness). Hondashi is relatively inexpensive (especially considering the price of individual ingredients for a good dashi) and has a very long shelf life.

deliciousness). Hondashi is relatively inexpensive (especially considering the price of individual ingredients for a good dashi) and

Miso

Not just for the classic miso soup, this complex flavor bomb is made from salty fermented soybean paste. It comes in red (the most aggressive) or white (sweeter, more delicate, with generally less salt and shorter fermentation time) with lots of variation in-between. They can be used interchangeably in an emergency (or when you just don’t feel like going out to find the kind you don’t have). Try whisking into salad dressings and marinades, or adding to vegetarian dishes to increase the umami flavor.

fermented soybean paste. It comes in red (the most aggressive) or white (sweeter, more

Bonito Flakes

A fish in the mackerel family, bonito is used in combination with kombu (dried kelp) to make dashi (see hondashi above). Bonito are steam-processed, dried to wood-like hardness, then shaved into flakes of different sizes. The flakes are sold in cellophane packages of various sizes (single use to multiple) and are highly perishable when exposed to air and moisture. Store in an airtight container and use as soon as possible after opening. For a neat and tasty dinner party trick, try sprinkling them over a hot dish right before you serve it—it’s really cool (and slightly disturbing) the way they wave at you as if in greeting or celebration.

A fish in the mackerel family, bonito is used in combination with kombu (dried kelp) to make dashi (see opening. For a neat and tasty dinner party trick,

by Jenny Vergara photo by Madeline Johnston

In Your Cocktail UNION ON THE HILL

Right before the holidays, the chef George Atsangbe quietly opened his first restaurant, Union on the Hill, after consulting and managing food and beverage programs for several successful restaurant groups in town, including Bread & Butter Concepts and KC Hopps. He also owns and operates the Happy Belly food truck. Opening in the former Café Europa location near the Union Hill

neighborhood in Midtown, Union on the Hill is serving classic American cuisine, including favorites like their Union Burger, the Hot Momma fried chicken sandwich, and a cool and creamy lobster roll. Entrées focus on center-of-the-plate protein dishes, such as seared salmon, hanger steak, scallops, crispy chicken, and filet meatloaf.

In addition to being open for lunch and dinner, Union on the Hill also dishes up a handful of half-priced appetizers and drinks served

during happy hour along with a full bar menu full of creative cocktails and a wine and beer list, too.

Local bartenders AnnaMarie Foster and Mallory Bandelier were tasked with coming up with the drink menu for the newest Union Hill neighborhood restaurant, and for that they only had to look to the cemetery located a few blocks away for inspiration.

One of the most popular drinks of their new cocktail menu is a take on a traditional ip, made with vanilla vodka sweetened with fruit juices and elder ower liqueur and made light and frothy by shaking it with egg whites. e Elizabeth Porter is a drink named after the person with the oldest headstone in the historic Union Hill cemetery.

Porter has been given the title “Pioneer Mother” for surviving the brutal conditions many settlers faced when coming to America. After marrying Samuel Porter and starting her family, Elizabeth, her husband, and their three children (she would go on to have a total of seven) were captured by the British army during the Revolutionary War. After spending years in captivity washing and cooking for the British o cers, she and her husband were released at the end of the war, and the couple then moved back to their family land to farm and raise their children.

At the age of 82 she made the 600-mile trip from Tennessee to Missouri with three of her sons where she would settle for the last time. She died on April 11, 1845, and was buried in Jackson County on the plantation of her son, Reverend James Porter. In 1885, her remains were moved and she was nally laid to rest in the Union Cemetery, where she has remained for the last 138 years.

As March is Women’s History Month, let’s raise a glass and toast women like Elizabeth Porter. A woman who had the courage to persevere during di cult times and the faith to believe in a better tomorrow. uniononthehill.com

Elizabeth Porter

1.5 ounces vanilla vodka

1 ounce pear juice

.5 ounce St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur

.5 ounce lemon juice

1 egg white

2 dashes toasted almond bitters

Shake all contents together and strain into glass. Garnish with grated cinnamon.

Modern-American cuisine from award-winning Chef Linda Duerr. Chef Duerr and team present elegant fare and carefully curated menus for a variety of special occasions.

A spectacular, contemporary venue with transformable reception spaces and a magnificent courtyard.

by Jenny Vergara

JINYA RAMEN BAR

ALTHOUGH THE SOUTHERN SUBURBS of Kansas City have traditionally been where some of the best Asian cuisine in the city can be found, there hasn’t been a strictly Japanese-inspired ramen shop any further south than 75th Street until now. Jinya Ramen Bar recently opened in the Bluehawk Shopping Center at 159th S treet in Overland Park, Kansas. This is the first location in Kansas for the Los Angeles-based chain, which offers 13 different steaming hot ramen bowls featuring their signature full-flavored pork bone broth, in addition to small plates, including gyoza, pork belly chashu, cr ispy rice squares topped with spicy tuna, and sautéed shishito peppers, along with salads and rice bowls. The 3,000-square-foot restaurant features an open kitchen, full patio, and bar serving sake flights, Japanese whisky, and a carbonated Toki highball served from a quick chill Suntory Hoshizaki dispenser. jinyaramenbar.com

OF THE BEST KC RESTAURANTS

Dining Guide

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

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•KC REAL ESTATE INFLUENCER: RANKED ONE OF THE TOP 20 AGENTS IN THE METRO

•200+ BOTTLES OF CHAMPAGNE POPPED ANNUALLY & COUNTING!

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•99.9% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION RATING

•DEDICATED RELOCATION PROGRAM

•FULL-TIME

CONCIERGE

Kasey Bourk

Dede Dunn

Kristin Johnson

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Tricia Gill

Blake Nelson

Flavor IN

BY Jenny Vergara

BRICK RIVER CIDER CO.

SURROUNDED BY LOCAL Kansas City breweries and an urban winery, St. Louis-based Brick River Cider Co. is now open and serving up the newest adult beverage du jour in Kansas City’s Crossroads. Founder Russ John opened his rst location in an old rehouse in St. Louis in 2018 and expanded to Kansas City late last year. e brewery makes its gluten-free hard apple cider and distilled apple brandy on site with fruit from John’s family orchard in Elmwood, Nebraska. Averaging around ve percent alcohol by volume, Homestead, an un ltered, cloudy and semi-sweet hard apple cider, is considered its agship brew. From there, guests can choose from the Homestead Peach, the Cornerstone, an o -dry hard cider, and Sweet Lou’s, a hard cider spiked with blueberries. With room to seat over 150 people in the tasting room, they are also o ering a dozen local craft beers in addition to cider-based cocktails. Come ready to drink and eat, as there is a substantial food menu here featuring sh and chips, mushroom risotto, pulled-pork macaroni and cheese, burgers, wings, atbreads and much more. brickrivercider.com

MIDTOWN 1000 W 39TH ST, KANSAS CITY, MO

Authentic chef-driven barbeque for your dine-in, carry out, or catering experience

Donate directly to Rob’s Memorial Fund for Cancer Research.

Donate directly to Rob’s Memorial Fund for Cancer Research.

Rob’s

Rob’s

more visit ccalliance.org

To learn more visit ccalliance.org

To learn more visit ccalliance.org

Q www.Q39KC.com

founder, Rob Magee, and in recognition of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Q39 will proceeds of every Reuben sold towards Memorial Fund for Cancer Research. DONATE. GET SCREENED. SPREAD THE WORD.

Flavor IN KC

by Jenny Vergara

KATA NORI HAND ROLL BAR

ALTHOUGH KANSAS CITY has had the opportunity to enjoy sashimi, nigari, and maki made in Japanese-inspired sushi restaurants across the city, none have focused solely on the art of temaki sushi, or the hand roll. Kata Nori Hand Roll Bar is preparing to do just that by opening this month in the former Ron Rico Puerto Rico space in the East Crossroads. Kansas City natives Nam Phan, (whose parents owned and operated Sao Mai, a Vietnamese restaurant on Independence Ave.) and his partners, Kyung Kim, Jennifer Vu, and veteran chef Anh “Bass” Pham (who worked at Uchi restaurant in Houston), are ready to unwrap their first concept together. A hand roll is made using a sheet of seaweed that is wrapped into a cone and stuffed with sushi rice and a variety of raw and cooked fish and seafood and fresh vegetables. The rolls are eaten by hand, no chopsticks required, and they are quick to make and to eat, which should equate to quick turnaround times at lunch and before and after events downtown. In addition to the hand rolls, Kata Nori will offer a few shared plates, sashimi, and a small selection of beer, wine, and sake. Follow on Instagram @katanorikc.

Flavor IN KC

Reservation for One OMBRA SMALL PLATES + LIBATIONS

by Jenny Vergara photos by Aaron Leimkuehler

Opinions vary greatly on small plates in a restaurant setting, particularly here in the Midwest, where quantity not quality is still the measuring stick of value when dining out regardless of the price point.

Family-style shared plates (or platters) usually work best when the people eating them are, well, family. When strangers or mere acquaintances try sharing plates things can get complicated and strangely competitive. You try cutting two croquettes into six equal pieces to share with everyone at your table while they watch. There are also those who don’t like to share their plates in a restaurant. Period. They often get labeled as not being team players.

A restaurant that serves only small plates must be rendered like an appropriate tool in your entertaining toolbox. It needs to occur with a tight number of people looking for a social evening out where connecting and sharing is the goal, not sustenance. It also matters where a place like this opens, and The Village at Briarcliff shopping center is home to the newest snazzy small-plates spot, Ombra Small Plates + Libations.

Named after the cool afternoon shadows where the wine merchants of Venice, Italy, used to sit and enjoy a glass of wine, Ombra’s executive chef and owner, Sarah Nelson, is originally from north of Kansas

City. That’s where she and her husband, the chef Louis Guerrieri, landed when they moved back to town in 2018, after years spent honing their collective culinary skills in Denver, Colorado. He worked in sushi restaurants, and she trained as a pastry chef but worked as a line cook. Together they opened SushiMO!, a local sushi concept they launched inside Parlor and moved to the Iron District during the pandemic. Eventually, they closed that concept to focus on finding the right spot for Ombra.

The restaurant is surrounded by well-developed neighborhoods with restaurant stalwarts, including Piropos and Trezo Mare, that have now been operating in the same shopping center for almost 15 years. Nelson’s intention was that a small-plates wine bar might add some variety to the big entrée energy of those familiar players. To that end, Ombra has succeeded in bringing a fresh new perspective to this clubby shopping center.

Nelson chose small plates for the creativity it offers her, but also the flexibility to price her dishes affordably (all her dishes are priced with tax included). She focuses on vegetable-forward dishes and chooses to save her meatier dishes for nightly specials. The only exception to that rule is the comprehensive in-house charcuterie program, which allows her to have a butcher board on the menu nightly. It is the most expensive item on the entire menu at $20, but it showcases a rotating selection of made-

in-house sausages, patés, and terrines served with mustards and jams.

With a large wrap-around bar framing the kitchen, her bar program, run by her charming bar manager, Josh Melgoza, features organic, biodynamic natural wines, and a cocktail list that comes either full-leaded or with no-to-low alcohol options. Melgoza can be seen both behind the bar and running wine bottles to the table and seems comfortable in both the wine world and talking about spirits.

The restaurant itself is spacious, with seating mostly for parties of two and four, with an intentionally unspecific global feeling in the décor. When you are in the space you feel you could be anywhere in the world because of the icy-blue velvet banquette seating and modern, warm, wood tables and chairs. Long, dramatic sheer curtains keep the focus inside the restaurant. Clockwork Architecture + Development designed metal booth dividers to play with the light that streams in through the front door and windows, creating moody shadows no matter what time of day you are dining.

The menu changes monthly and begins with a variety of sharable starters for the table. There are also two boards—a bread-and-butter board and the butcher board. We ordered both and found the breadand-butter board redundant, as most of the small plates came with generous baskets of a variety of sliced Ibis Bakery bread. In fact, the only leftovers we took home were three full boxes of sliced bread.

There are eight to ten small plates on the menu, and I was able to sample almost the entire menu on two visits. The beet-cured salmon gravlax was visually appealing, cut into thicker pieces served with caper berries (and more bread). The casserole arancini brought a hot dish to the mix of cold or room temperature ones already on our table. It came as three crispy fried fritters filled with a gooey mixture of broccoli, cheddar cheese, and rice—familiar and comforting to eat.

We enjoyed two pastas on two visits that really showed Nelson’s commitment to a vegetable-forward menu. The Pasta Gorgo featured mandili sheet pasta dressed with a sauce made from roasted butternut squash and topped with gorgonzola and pepitas. The second stuffed-pasta dish was filled with Lion’s Mane mushrooms tossed in pesto and finished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

We capped our meal off with a Spanish coffee, a cocktail made with overproof rum, coffee, orange, and whipped cream. The drink was an absolute delight. I also sampled the butternut-squash trifle, composed of a peanut-squash cake, crumbled up and layered in a large glass filled with rum pudding topped with whipped cream and pepitas, and interestingly, it’s the single sweet-leaning dessert on the menu.

Ombra is a whole vibe, with ambience that really transports you. The beverage program is also a highlight, with its small selection of curated natural wines coupled with a cocktail list that is creative and well-crafted.

The menu may just need a little time to find its groove. The first menu at Ombra is a collection of unrelated items, with some dishes leaning on Japanese flavors, others focused on bowls of roasted vegetables and handmade pasta dishes, which are almost Mediterranean-inspired. Then there was the charcuterie board, a meal in itself.

But that’s the thing about a small-plate restaurant, you must be open to trying a variety of different dishes and flavors all at once. Did I order poorly—a mish-mash of all different cultures and kinds of dishes smashed together? Or did I order exactly the right way to experience everything they have to offer? With a globally inspired menu and a small-plates format, they have an opportunity to experiment and discover what the right mix of choices will be. I look forward to tasting all their delicious results along the way. ombrakc.com

WIN for KC Women’s Sports Awards

THE ANNUAL WIN for KC Women’s Sports Awards presented by Burns & McDonnell is the largest celebration of National Girls and Women in Sports Day in the country. The event was Thursday, February 9, and featured 1999 World Cup champion Briana Scurry, considered one of the best goalkeepers of all time, as the featured speaker for the 2023 Women’s Sports Awards! For more photos go to inkansascity.com/events.

My Essentials IN KC

by Emily Laptad

TANNER MORGAN SAMMONS

ENTREPRENEUR. DESIGNER. INFLUENCER

Some people are lucky enough to nd the profession they were born to do. Tanner Morgan Sammons of Morgan Madison Design calls himself one of the few. “It is likely that I criticized the architecture of my crib and the pattern on my onesie. From as early as I can remember, I was drawn to things many might deem unnecessary, perhaps impractical, or too luxurious for my surroundings.” Sammons’s knack for luxury shines through his designs—so much so that his recent project transforming a cramped 100-year-old lake house in Ohio into a lively gentleman’s lake retreat caught the attention of House Beautiful

If you take a look at the eight-page Winter 2023 House Beautiful feature, you’ll see his style is colorful and rich with detail. When Sammons isn’t busy perfecting interiors like the Ohio lakehouse, he’s enjoying his favorite parts of his home base in Kansas City, which he recently moved to from suburban Cleveland, Ohio. “I believe that Kansas City has so much to o er. It’s a great place to live, work, and I especially feel it is a great place to be an entrepreneur—not to mention people are so kind and supportive. While I am new(er) to KC it very quickly felt like home. I travel quite a bit for work, and Kansas City’s central location is perfect.” morganmadisondesign.com

Tanner’s essentials...

LOCAL ARTIST: I love the work of Tom Corbin, and I have for years. I love the style of his gures and the way his bronze seems to feel alive. Each gure almost has a personality that really comes through subtle details, such as how they are posed.

SELF-CARE SESH:

I love going to Hollyday Med Spa + Aesthetics! A favorite is the OxyGlow Facial.

HIDDEN GEM: Kansas City Public Library’s Central Library branch is a gorgeous historic building with beautiful features and furnishings—and terri c resources for the public as well. A treasure that not enough people know about or appreciate.

NIGHTCAP: I am loving Verbena’s espresso martini. Earl’s Premier also has a frozen gin and tonic that is just so good. I know it should be considered out of season, but you must try it!

LOCAL MAKER: I consider myself slightly cooler because of knowing Sierra Otto owner of Sierra Winter Jewelry

If you don’t follow SWJ on Instagram, you must (@sierrawinterjewelry). Her local design roots have quickly garnered national attention. I love how wearable Sierra’s designs are, and if you know me, you know that I love a little modern Southwestern air.

LUNCH STOP: e food at Ca etteria

Modern Cafe is always so good. I also love the atmosphere, and it is a great place for a lunch meeting or to connect with a friend. I love the Sunny-Side-Up bowl and the tacos con pollo.

OUT ON THE TOWN: Kansas City has so many incredible museums. Of course, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, and The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, but The Kansas City Museum is a must if you have not visited. It is newly renovated and full of Kansas City history.

KC SCENT: Salt and Sage by Mixture, which is based in Merriam, Kansas.

From patio furniture to outdoor kitchens and décor for every style, Nebraska Furniture Mart has everything you need to relax, rejuvenate and restore. So, turn off notifications and turn on the outdoor speakers. Pour your favorite drink and put your feet up. Because the ideal escape is right in your own backyard.