We Are Kansas City Strong! OUR NEW NORMAL
12 KANSAS CITIANS (Including Mayor Quinton Lucas) ON LIFE IN THE TIME OF THE CORONA CRISIS MAY 2020 | INKANSASCITY.COM
q&a with secretary of kansas dept. of health & environment
DR. LEE NORMAN
PLUS
RESTAURANTS GET CREATIVE a colorful midcentury home, the kc arts scene, entertaining advice, recipes, and so much more
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Contents MAY 2020
70
64
74 62 Features 62
IN CONVERSATION WITH DR. LEE NORMAN The Secretary of Kansas Department of Health and Environment discusses the politicalization of the pandemic, the search for a vaccine, and why he looks forward to doing laundry.
64
A NEW NORMAL Twelve Kansas Citians reflect on how the pandemic has affected their lives.
Departments
70
AN INDUSTRY IN CRISIS Restaurants and bars are some of the businesses hardest hit by the pandemic. Here’s how seven industry leaders tackled it.
74
ORANGE POP A Prairie Village midcentury-modern home goes graphic, bold, impactful—and fun.
20
WOMEN IN BUSINESS IN KC
26
ENTERTAINING IN KC
32
OUR MAN IN KC
36
ARTS & CULTURE IN KC
44
BEHIND THE MUSIC IN KC
50
LOOK IN KC
56
LIVING IN KC
86
FLAVOR IN KC
104
FOUND IN KC
IN EVERY ISSUE On the cover Kansas City Strong.
MAY 2020
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EDITOR’S NOTE
16
INKANSASCITY.COM
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For the latest information, call our Coronavirus Information Line at 877-VIRUS-HQ. (877-847-8747)
Schedule a Video Visit
Download the AdventHealth app on your phone or tablet from your app store. Talk to a medical specialist via a live video chat 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Prescriptions are sent to your local preferred pharmacy and no appointment is necessary. Learn more at AdventHealth.com/eCare.
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Editor’s Note
Kansas City Strong
Vol. 3 | No. 5 May 2020 Editor In Chief Zim Loy Art Director Alice Govert Bryan
T
Digital Editor Michael Mackie
Contributing Photographers Aaron Leimkuehler Graphic Designer Eva Tucker Copy Editor Craig Magnus Managing Director Michelle Jolles Publisher Chad Parkhurst Digital Director Brittany Coale Senior Media Consultants Daisy Chavez, Katie Delzer, Nicole Kube, Shelayne Lawyer, Krista Markley Newsstand Consultant Joe J. Luca, JK Associates 816-213-4101, jkassoc.net Editorial Questions: zloy@inkansascity.com
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Contributing Writers Kelsey Cipolla, Stacy Downs, Judith Fertig, Timothy Finn, Cindy Hoedel, Cody Hogan, Merrily Jackson, Damian Lair, R. Murphy, Mary Sanchez
photo by aaron leimkuhler
wo years ago, when we launched our magazine and digital media company to provide our community with first-class city and lifestyle journalism, we knew it would be a challenge, given the evolving media landscape. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and our mutual struggle to deal with the rapidly changing news environment gives our commitment to our readers and our advertisers a new urgency. We hope you’ll agree that we produce thought-provoking content, from long-form journalism to interviews with prominent Kansas Citians to exceptional home and fashion photography. We don’t define ourselves as a hard-news organization, there are other local outlets for that. Yet in these uncertain times, we view it as our obligation at the magazine, and online at inkansascity.com and through our social media, to provide relevant, useful, not-to-miss coverage about this pandemic and its effects on our community. We’ve invited experts in their fields to write about important issues such as what to tell the children or how to work from home. We also offer a “lighter side” look at dealing with the strains of social distancing and shelter-in-place orders. The ability to laugh during this time shouldn’t be underrated. It’s our plan to continue tackling these issues as long as necessary. But we also will continue to provide the kind of content for which we’re known. So in this issue, you’ll find extensive coverage of how the pandemic and the stay-at-home orders have affected the new realities of local businesses, arts organizations and nonprofits, and you, our reader. Contributor Mary Sanchez interviews 12 Kansas Citians, both names you’ll recognize and folks you don’t know, about how the pandemic has affected their lives and livelihoods. Kelsey Cipolla, who in every issue provides us with up-to-the-minute coverage of our town’s thriving restaurant and bar scene, reveals how this hardest-hit industry is coping with the mandated closures. In our Music IN KC column, contributor Timothy Finn talks to area musicians about how they’re grappling with the lack of venues and audiences. And Cindy Hoedel’s interview with Dr. Lee Norman, Secretary of Kansas Department of Health and Environment, gives us an inside look at the politicalization of the pandemic. But life goes on, so we’re sharing the story of a vibrant Prairie Village midcentury-modern home that’s filled with life and color. There are also recipes to try and beauty, fashion, and wellness tips; there’s advice on how to make your home more cozy and comforting (especially relevant now); and our diva of entertaining, Merrily Jackson, looks forward to the time when we’ll be able to share a table with friends and family again. IN Kansas City is here to support our local businesses and non-profits and help our readers navigate the challenges of this new normal. These are the most trying times many of us have ever encountered, but Kansas Citians have an amazing ability to pull together. Now is the time to do it.
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A healthy Kansas City starts with your gift Kansas Citians are losing their health insurance at an unprecedented rate. Your donation today ensures their access to critical healthcare in uncertain times. At KC CARE Health Center, no one is turned away because of their ability to pay.
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Audrey Lasley, APRN Family Nurse Practitioner
Your gift matters. Donate today. Text HELPKC to 44-321
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Man-tastic! Want to win the perfect gift for your guy? Voilà! You can spoil him with a $500 shopping spree at Ulah—KC’s nationally recognized menswear boutique—plus a onenight stay in a luxurious room at the Raphael Hotel on the Plaza. Enter to win by May 31 at inkansascity.com/ the-magazine/enter-towin. One lucky winner will be announced in early June—just in time for Father’s Day! Enter today—and good luck!
Carbo-loading? Try this recipe for National Buttermilk Biscuit Day on May 14! Chef Shanita Bryant is a pro when it comes to whipping up light, fluffy-fresh biscuits—in fact, she’s famous for them. Check out her easy-to-make recipe at inkansascity.com/eat-drink/recipes.
Looking for a job? You’re not alone! We pinged several well-known local HR wonks and recruiting pros to find out the best way(s) to get noticed, and more importantly, who’s hiring right now! Find the story at inkansascity.com.
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We’ll drink to that! May 30 is
Ferr Shurr!
If you’re of a certain age, 1983’s Valley Girl is one of the most eclectic cult films of the Gen-X generation. The movie—starring a pre-fame Nicolas Cage—is being remade in all of its 80s splendor by Shawnee Mission East (and KU film) grad Matt Smith. We, like, scored a totally awesome interview with him about his tubular new remake— out on May 8. Find our interview at inkansascity.com.
MAY 2020
National Mint Julep Day. This classic cocktail always kicks off summer shenanigans. We’ve got the perfect recipe for you—courtesy of our friends at Tom’s Town—to whip up right after Memorial Day weekend. Find it at inkansascity. com/eat-drink/recipes.
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Women in Business
IN KC
Anne Morgan, D.O. by
Michael Mackie
A LOCAL PHYSICIAN TRANSITIONS FROM AN EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR TO OWNER OF HER OWN WELLNESS PRACTICE
A
fter a 20-year run working in the harried, often chaotic world of emergency medicine, Anne Morgan, an osteopathic physician who has worked at several metro hospitals, was deliberating about making some changes in her professional life. “It was a good run. It was different every day—and I liked that I could make an immediate impact with someone,” she says. “But being in the E.R. has never really been my passion.” Morgan found her calling a few years ago in her early 40s when she suddenly began feeling “run down, drained and stressed. I chalked it up to night shifts, young kids, and trying to be everything to everyone.” She knew an inspiring physician skilled in integrative health and became her patient. “She helped me find my vitality again, which I had lost,” Morgan
MAY 2020
photo by
Aaron Leimkuehler
says. “And that awakened my passion to do the same thing for others.” Instead of jumping right into it, Morgan took several years to learn the ins and outs of potentially running her own practice. “I’m not naturally a businessperson. I’ve always thought I could do it, but there was a lot of trepidation on my part—which translated into making sure I was prepared,” she says. “Even though I knew I wanted to run this practice, the slow road was better for me. I’m much more comfortable with it.” She credits many of her peers for being her biggest champions. “I was tired of being an employee and being at the mercy of organizations— working holidays and weekends,” she says. “I gained empowerment from other women who were doing similar practices—and really getting inspiration from women-owned businesses in general—and realizing I could do it and I was capable.” Morgan opened Thrive Once More last December inside Hollyday MedSpa + Aesthetics, where she is also the medical director. Her ideal clients? “Health seekers,” she says. “People who are striving to feel as good as they possibly can. They’re probably doing all the right things— exercise, eating healthfully—but perhaps there’s a piece missing as they age. The building blocks of my practice are bio-identical hormone replacement and thyroid optimization. People feel—shall we say— lackluster over time, which is usually attributed to stress, work, and life, but in reality, as we age, we have a hormonal decline. Things that gradually change over time and they don’t have to.” Because of the pandemic, Morgan, who is a single mom of two girls, has been seeing a majority of her clients virtually over the last month, including some new patients. “Ideally, I’d like to meet people in person— for that personal connection. But the virtual visits are going well,” she says. She likens what she does to being in a partnership. “It’s a health journey. I want to know what your life looks like and where can you make changes and how can I help to achieve your goals.” One of her specialties is treating women suffering through perimenopause and menopause. Even in the midst of this coronavirus culture, Morgan continues pulling shifts in metro emergency rooms. “It’s a duty and privilege to serve. I’m glad I’m not completely out of it,” she says. “Because if I was, I’d feel regretful that I wasn’t there to help out.” Her friends and family have noticed—as she calls it—a transformation. “I feel I’ve blossomed. If you can find your groove, then that makes everything easier. And when you find your stride, it makes things a little brighter. At 48, I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. I’ve had absolute success helping people thrive once more— hence the name of my business.”
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YOUR HOME IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER. MAKE IT AS BEAUTIFUL AND FUNCTIONAL AS POSSIBLE PRESENTED BY
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“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.”
— Jane Austen
I
nterior designer Karin Ross, owner of Karin Ross Designs, knows she isn’t the only one dealing with the challenges and anxiety of these uncertain times. “One thing that this pandemic has taught us all is that things are going to change,” she says. A second lesson? Homes are more important than ever. They’re places of comfort, of security, of refuge. For many people, homes do double-duty as both living and workspaces; for others, their homes have also morphed into schools. Now, there’s a more urgent need for homes to be both beautiful and functional. “Since you’re going to be at home more, you want that space to help you feel like you’re going to be OK,” Ross says. As you become more acquainted with your home than ever
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before, you might soon realize you want to make changes. That’s why this unprecedented time may actually be the opportunity you needed to improve your home and what it can do for you and your family. “Homes are going to become much closer to an old European saying, ‘Your home is your castle,’” Ross says. In the days ahead, consider the following advice to help you better prepare for the possibility of home improvements and upgrades. This is an opportune time to shift your mindset away from uncertainty and to something that brings you comfort and stability: your home and the people in it. It’s easy to feel helpless right now, but you have control over your home—how it looks, how it performs. Why not make it the home of your dreams? Settle back, get comfortable and start here: ASSESS YOUR SPACE If you find yourself spending more time in your home than you have in recent memory, you’re not alone! Make the most of the current circumstances by carefully paying attention to how you live (and work, learn, etc.) in your home. Consider the following questions: • Are your most frequently used spaces designed and equipped as well as they could be? • Are there any areas of your home that you tend to avoid altogether? Why? • Are you missing spaces that you now need, such as a home office, a learning area, an exercise room, etc.? • What changes to your home—from layout to interior design— would make you happier and more peaceful? Make notes, gather an inspiration file of ideas you love and create a list of questions you have about the remodeling process. Then, you’ll be ready for the next step! START THE PROCESS As conditions improve, Ross predicts a busy client pipeline. That’s why now is the time to get ahead of the curve and start your project. Ross says she’ll be happy to hold a consultation in whatever format a client prefers, including a phone or video chat. She can also recommend some apps to start trading and showing ideas. Ross dedicates an abundance of time to planning for each project, and says that clients can benefit from that expertise, especially now. “I’m really proud of the amount of planning and work that I put into each project, now more than ever,” she says. “You need to work with a designer who understands what you want, and
also takes appropriate precautions, so that you get the beautiful and functional space you want. It’s more important than ever to make sure your home is a happy place that helps you feel better.” LIFE IS CHANGING; SO SHOULD YOUR HOME The saying, “What’s old is new again” is just as applicable to home design as it is to fashion trends. Ross remembers earlier decades when home offices were mostly makeshift spaces, likely to be found at a corner of the dining room table. In some homes, offices disappeared altogether, replaced by more alluring options like coworking spaces. Ross predicts that some of the changes happening now— more time working from home, for example—might very well become the new way of life, even as the current challenging conditions ease. In fact, she credits her upbringing in Belgium as preparing her for this new reality. “Who better than a European to understand working in your home,” she says. “That’s what we were taught—business is downstairs, we’re upstairs.” There are a number of benefits to this new configuration— less time commuting, for example, and more time with the people and things that you love. Embracing the silver lining in these outcomes is just one reason why now is an ideal time to make the changes to your home that you’ve dreamed, planned, envisioned. “I can’t fix the pandemic, but I can help you focus your mindset on the positive,” Ross says. “I want to help others forget about things for a period of time, help them get through these challenges. We can do this together.” To schedule a consultation with Karin Ross, visit her website. KarinRossDesigns.com
Entertaining
IN KC
Email me with your entertaining questions, dilemmas, or triumphs at mjackson@inkansascity.com
photo by jenny wheat
AS WE HOPE FOR A RETURN TO PARTYGIVING, OUR DIVA OF DINING SHARES TIPS FOR HOSTING DURING A DIFFICULT SEASON
How to Have a Party In Trying Times by
M
y friend Kirk Isenhour texted me this morning that he woke up craving the Cheddar Carousel recipe from Beyond Parsley.* It’s an appetizer made to be spread on crackers. “Could it be because you’re craving cocktail parties and sociability?” I texted back. “Yassss,” he replied. “I crave dressing up, cocktail parties, hugs and kisses on the cheek.” Don’t we all. I am writing this in April. I hope by the time you read this, we will be *Legendary cookbook from the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri.
Merrily Jackson
MAY 2020
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Entertaining
IN KC
Recommended Reading for Entertaining on the Cheap Both of these books give great advice and inspiration for frugal, festive entertaining. You can find them on amazon. com or (support local!) call Rainy Day Books and they will order for you.
Park Avenue Potluck Recipes from New York’s Savviest Hostesses, edited by Florence Fabricant, published by Rizzoli. Fabulous recipes and party-giving tips from NYC’s boldface names. The Casseroles chapter alone is worth the price of the book, with delicious, inexpensive, glammy-sounding recipes like Palm Springs Chili con Queso and Martha’s Vineyard Kidney Bean Casserole.
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MAY 2020
Back Pocket Pasta Inspired Dinners to Cook on the Fly by Colu Henry, published by Clarkson Potter. Follow Colu’s advice for stocking your pantry and you’ll have everything you need to make a knock-out pasta dinner for company. The recipes are brilliantly written, so true to how we really cook. My favorites are her Pasta Puttanesca and Fra Crab Diavolo.
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restored to some semblance of normalcy, which includes the fun to be had from a normal social life, and from real—not virtual—parties. LET’S NOT LOSE THE HABIT OF SOCIALIZING In addition to fretting about COVID-19, everyone is concerned about the economy, and many about their personal job security and finances. The virus has reminded us of the shortness of life, of the unimportance of stuff, of how much we need the fellowship and solace of our friends. This seems hardly the time to have a six-foot restriction from our peeps. Even if, as you read this, we are still required to keep our distance, let’s remember the importance of socializing, of sinking back on a sofa with a drink and a friend, of leaving a party giddy over delicious conversation. This is the time when having people over will be most appreciated, once we’re allowed to have people over again. Many of us will likely be on an austerity program when that happy day arrives. Here are some tips for hosting a hard-times gathering, without resorting to Manwich canapés and ramen noodle casseroles.
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SERVE WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD For the cost of a swell evening out for two, you easily can have six or eight friends over for dinner if everyone brings a bottle of wine. (That is not to discourage anyone from visiting any of Kansas City’s marvelous, independently owned fine-dining establishments, which will be hurting and in need of our business.) Regular readers of this column know my point of view, even in pleasant financial times, is that a good party is not about the food. If you have interesting (and interested), affable souls around your table, you don’t need steak and lobster to have a fabulous time. In fact, the food you serve guests never has to be expensive, but it should be delicious, and presented attractively, in pretty serving dishes. Like wearing a Target dress with Jimmy Choo shoes, you can mix inexpensive basics (pasta, rice, or beans) with small portions of costlier foodstuffs, to create an extravagant feel. Think shrimp risotto, or creamy angel-hair pasta with crabmeat. One really superlative dish is better than two or three mediocre ones. And always, with whatever you serve, hot foods should be very, very hot, and cold foods and drinks should be very, very cold. Email me for some of my favorite low-budget recipes.
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HELLO, POTLUCK! Potluck dinners are back in vogue, no doubt because they are a brilliant solution for the money-conscious host. If you’re concerned that a potluck dinner screams “low budget” a little too loudly, whomp it up with a theme. You could even make it a “downturn dine-in” and cap how much people can spend on their dish, providing a nice conversation starter. Most popular ethnic cuisines rely on inexpensive ingredients, providing lots of budget-friendly menu solutions. Consider hosting a Spanish (tapas or paella), Cuban, Tuscan, Mex-
MAY 2020
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Entertaining
IN KC
ican or Indian-themed potluck dinner. (The latter two cuisines pair up wonderfully with beer, which will help the alcohol budget.) The key to a successful potluck dinner is to take the “luck” factor out of it. Assume control of the menu and assign specific dishes to your guests. You will avoid any redundancies in the menu, and they will appreciate the clear instructions. The world is full of wonderful dinner guests who can’t cook. Two solutions for them: Have them bring an aperitif or bread; or assign them a dish, but make it clear that it’s okay for them to bring something restaurant-prepared or store-bought. A WORD FROM THE AMBIENCE COMMITTEE So you can’t afford that new sofa you’ve had your eye on, and you’ve decided to postpone the kitchen redo you had planned. That doesn’t mean your friends can’t have a great time in your home. Turn the lights down low (I like 15-watt bulbs), crank up the music, burn a few scented candles, and laissez les bon temps rouler. Fresh flowers add tone to the humblest of joints. Your flower allowance can go a very long way at Trader Joe’s, the wholesale clubs, and even many grocery stores, which offer nice blooms at great prices. Many local florists, in addition to creating gorgeous bouquets, sell flowers directly
from their cooler. Even better, they often reduce prices on individual stems late in the day. Don’t forget to put a few blooms in the bathroom. If you need a centerpiece and don’t want to spring for flowers, look around your home and use what you have. Decorative vases from other rooms, small houseplants or flower pots, little sculptures or other accessories can combine to serve as distinctive centerpieces. SPOON THEATER AND OTHER CHEAP THRILLS You can create your own fun, and remind your friends that the best things in life truly are free. Invite your guests to bring their favorite poem to read after dinner, or an excerpt from a historic speech. One of the most moving experiences I’ve had was at just such a party, listening to an anesthesiologist friend read The New Colossus, the Emma Lazarus poem engraved on the Statue of Liberty (“give me your tired, your poor…) Have you ever read the whole poem? It’s so beautiful! There was not a dry eye in the house. And then there’s Spoon Theater. Give me a couple of glasses of wine and I will reenact my favorite scene from Sense & Sensibility, using two spoons, one depicting Emma Thompson, the other Kate Winslet. Everybody’s got a Spoon Theater performance inside them somewhere—what’s yours?
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CELEBRATING
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MAY 2020
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To everyone going the distance to protect our community, thank you. At The University of Kansas Health System, we are incredibly grateful for our healthcare heroes working day and night, the businesses providing supplies and support, and everyone who is staying home to keep us all safe. Your partnership means everything to us – and for that we would like to say, thank you.
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Our Man BY
IN KC
Damian Lair
dlair@inkansascity.com
ART & HONORS
: @damianlair #OurManINKC
OBLIVIOUS to the challeng-
Virtual Life
MAY 2020
PHOTO BY JENNY WHEAT
J
ust a few weeks in, I already miss the days when my social encounters were with people who knew whether I was wearing pants or not. OK—I guess there are a few upsides. But truly, what is the ‘man about town’ supposed to do when his town is locked down and boarded up? Like everyone else—I’ve become resourceful. Yes, I’ve done the Zoom and House Party virtual hangouts for everything from celebrating friends’ birthdays to no reason at all. And my waistline knows I’ve pulled my weight in support- Damian Lair. ing local restaurants, via delivery. Repeat: pool season, pool season, pool season! But beyond the obvious, I thought I’d use this space to share a few other options I’ve discovered for engaging or simply passing time. If you’re the type to wait until the last weekend to see an exhibit that’s been open for months (sometimes guilty!), and you missed the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s landmark exhibit Queen Nefertari: Eternal Egypt—well, don’t sweat. Hours before they closed the museum to the public, Director & CEO Julián Zugazagoitia recorded a special walk-through of all the Queen’s treasures. You can find it on YouTube. And even if you did get to see the exhibit, I think you’ll enjoy Julian’s knowledgeable perspective as a follow-up to your own haphazard self-tour. I know I did. On the topic of art, remember First Fridays? The spring (and fall) are typically my favorite times of year to drop by. Though I sorely missed the food trucks, the virtual tours gave me all the feels. A few of the participating galleries included Weinberger Fine Art (Laura Berman exhibit), Haw Contemporary (Archie Scott Gobber exhibit), Belger Arts Center (Stuart Asprey, Kelli Rae Adams and Emily Young exhibits—and check out the instructional pottery-making videos), Leedy-Voulkos Art Center (Kris Schmolze and Harold Smith exhibits), and Cerbera Gallery (Rachel Hubbard Kline exhibit). Next First Friday (if we’re still behind bars), why not order in from your fave Crossroads restaurant and “browse” some galleries? And in the meantime, every (quarantine) Friday, check out Friday Night Arts!, featuring four different artist talks each week (sign up for the Zoom event at kccrew.com). If your weekends are typically spent dancing, rather than gallery-hopping, then skip the art, turn down the lights, and have HOT GOSSIP: a dance party! DJ Aston Martin, Calvin Arsenia, DVJ’s Synematix and youfoundmusic.com (a KC record label that’s What country club just (devastatingly) compiling local live streams happening every weekend) are all banned bridge because working hard to keep the party going. I’m sure they’d also love the cards may harbor it if you drop a Venmo gratuity while you’re at it. Pro tip: pour the virus? yourself a few drinks—you’ll feel extra generous.
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OVERHEARD “This is all happening because I didn’t forward that chain email to ten people in 2007, right?”
ing times ahead for artists in our community, a ballroom chock-full of people (weren’t those the days?) gathered for the ArtsKC annual awards luncheon at the Kansas City Convention Center. Upon entering, we were free to mingle and admire the collection of works assembled by this year’s featured artist, Hyeyoung Shin. Her print-based paper castings with chrysanthemum prints and antique frames revealed her wish to create tangible memories, not only of her grief and regrets, but also of love and longing for family. The three-dimensional, sculptural paper-cast method she uses is the traditional Korean technique, Jiho-gibeop, and is similar to the papier-mâché process in Western tradition. The works are unique, delicate, and full of beauty. After ample socializing, we were ushered into the main event space for lunch, award presentations, and entertainment. Performances, interspersed throughout our chicken piccata lunch, included an entrancing electronic music composition by Stacy Busch, a contemporary dance performance by Ice Studios, a gripping spoken word presentation by David Wayne Reed, a mini-concert by newEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, and a grand finale soul/jazz flute performance by Amber “Flutienastiness” Underwood. This year’s award recipients included: InterUrban ArtHouse—Innovation Award, Deanna Muñoz—Equity in Arts Award, Mazuma Credit Union—Arts Partnership Award, Academy for Integrated Arts—Arts in Education Award, The Whole Person “Expressions” Art Exhibition (also featured in this column!)—Arts Unity Award, and Lonnie Powell—Virtuoso Award. The awards recognize those people and organizations elevating the arts in our city, strengthening the connections between the arts and business, and accelerating the work of regional artists and arts nonprofits. We don’t yet know the length or level of disruption this pandemic will bring, but our local artists—already strained—are struggling. Please take a moment now to think of a way you could support just one. Awards are wonderful and important. But the ability to survive and keep creating right now is even more critical. SPOTTED: Helen & Frank Wewers, Linda Lighton, Ada Koch, John Bluford III, Mary Leonida, Ken Petti, Katrina Revenaugh, Lynn Carlton, Rachel & Kanon Cozad, Ryan Wilks, Jaime Corral, Joey Mendez, Buck Wimberly, Kellie Mingori, Jeff Serven, Terri Goddard, Brent Kimmi, Wolfe Brack, Nicole Emanuel, Carmaletta Williams, Joy Baker, Kwanza Humphrey, Paul Tyler, Kimberly Wilkerson, Maria Maffry
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OVERHEARD “Looking back, I guess I should have developed better hobbies than ‘eating out.’”
UNBEKNOWNST TO ME, after attending The Whole Person “Expressions” art exhibition, my calendar would go from a jubilant grid of celebrations to a bloody massacre of canceled and postponed. Had I known about the social isolation ahead, I likely would have lingered a little longer. But so it is. On this particular Friday before heading to Westport for (one last round of ) mayhem, one of my favorite event companions and all-around, down-for-anything friend, Crissy Dastrup, and I dropped by the Rochester Brewing & Roasting Co. in the West Crossroads for some art and brews. The Expressions exhibition provides opportunities for artists with disabilities to overcome barriers that may keep them from showing their art in other professional settings—allowing them to share their perspectives and experiences with the community. Each artist selected is also provided with professional development training to jump-start their experience in marketing and selling their artwork. We meandered our way through the exhibit featuring 17 artists—some of my favorites included: Margarita Aguilar, Kim Johnson, April Marie Mai, Elise Huther, and Matthew Breedlove. We checked out the silent auction, which included a clay-making session at the KC Clay Guild, a butcher class at Local Pig, and artworks from local notable artists. With our plates of Jack Stack Barbecue and Rudy’s Tenampa Taqueria (incredible empanadas!), we sat to enjoy the company of our neighbors. Artist and nonprofit art HOT studio owner John Campbell delightGOSSIP: ed us with his live painting. And all the while, DJ’s Papa Biz and BrothWhat local law firm is seeking celebrity justice er JJ were spinning away. in a high-profile Calabasas helicopter crash?
So, KC—where do you want to go? XO
MAY 2020
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Stay safe, Kansas City
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Arts & Culture
by
IN KC
Judith Fertig
Ellen McDonald ARTS PUBLICIST ANSWERS FOUR QUESTIONS
E
llen McDonald started out in the New York metro area with absolutely no idea that she’d come west to embrace Kansas City’s arts community. “I literally grew up backstage,” she says. “My mother was an actress. Working amongst artists and artistic staff is a very familiar and comfortable space for me.” But relocating to the Midwest? That was a bit of a stretch. While studying for her degree at Grinnell College, halfway between Iowa City and Des Moines, McDonald was gradually introduced to Flyover Country. When McDonald and her husband moved to Kansas City from Brooklyn thirty years ago, she still wasn’t sure she’d stay. Now she’s all in. Here’s how. And why. INKC: How did you come to be the metro’s go-to arts publicist? McDonald: For where I am right now, it was a combination of being in
the right place at the right time, being passionate about the work and fine-tuning my skill set. I had been working in the nonprofit sector for
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craftsmanship • quality • customization several years, providing capacity building, communications, and training services. When plans for the Kauffman Center began in earnest, I had been working with Kansas City Ballet for several years and had helped develop other smaller arts organizations. It soon became clear that our new performing arts scene would be striving for national and international attention, turning the spotlight not only on the center but on the entire arts renaissance here as well. I knew I could help. And, turns out not only do I love what I do but I’m also pretty good at it.
Your style, elevated
INKC: Promoting the arts is your business, but it’s also your passion. Why? McDonald: Art is humanity’s superpower. Have you ever sat in a darkened theater and been so moved you began to weep? Or heard an audience gasp in shock? Have you laughed so hard your cheeks hurt? Have you ever emerged from a performance or an exhibit and had your mind blown open? If I can play even an infinitesimal role in helping people have these transformative experiences, to shift perspective, to think deeper, to see the world differently or to simply experience beauty, then I find that deeply satisfying. INKC: Now that the 2019/20 performing arts season ended prematurely because of COVID-19, what can we do, as audiences and art-lovers, to help these groups recover? McDonald: Pay attention. We have been talking for years about the value and vibrancy of the Kansas City arts scene, and now more than ever we cannot forget that. As we recover, we have to remember what we want to return to. We cannot take the very existence of the arts or any of the arts organizations for granted. The arts require investment—nothing is free. Each artist, each arts organization must be nurtured and supported. If you had a ticket to a canceled performance, please donate it back. Add a little something if you can. And finally, as I keep saying, come back. I guarantee you that we all missed out on some stunning and brilliant performances this spring. Everyone is working tirelessly to do what they can to emerge on the other side of this virus with new and vital works. We all need you back in your seats. You’re going to be amazed at what we can do. INKC: What do you like best about living in Kansas City? McDonald: When my husband and I moved here to raise a family in
an affordable city, the only things we had heard about were the Royals, and all the fountains and boulevards. It certainly took some time for us to acclimate. For many years, my husband and I had an agreement that when the kids left for college, we would move back East to be closer to family. But a funny thing happened along the way: we realized we had fallen in love with this amazing city. It wasn’t just the incredible quality of life, but there was a buzz in the air. Anything was possible. Civic and arts leadership took huge risks. The art scene exploded. It was like a magnet, drawing people in, including us! I think that’s what I like best about Kansas City: This town does a stellar job supporting the arts, enabling so many artists to have an opportunity to do great work and raise a family. They are our neighbors and friends. We see them not only on stage but also about town. We care about them because they so care about us. They want to share their talents and passions with us. How lucky are we? I have no doubt that Kansas City will rise to this challenge and let their superpowers reign again.
MAY 2020
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Arts & Culture by
IN KC
Judith Fertig
PAUL MCCOBB: AMERICA’S DESIGNER MINIMALISM is not just a Millennials thing. Midcentury-modern families enjoyed their own brand of streamlined form and function. Their go-to designer was Paul McCobb, whose affordable furniture, lamps, carpet, china, radios, and other home furnishings were available at department stores. From New York City high-rise apartments to suburban Kansas City homes, McCobb made America modern. Like other midcentury-modern pieces, signed McCobbs used to be found at estate sales for next to nothing. Now, they’re highly desirable, once again. Paul McCobb: America’s Designer exhibit continues at the Johnson County Arts & Heritage Center Commons in Overland Park through August 15. Local collector Samuel Hildreth loaned the pieces to the museum and will give a talk to be rescheduled. jcprd.com/330/museum
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MAY 2020
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SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THE SCULPTURE PARK
IN THESE CONTINUED TIMES of social distancing, health experts encourage us to get outside. There may be no better way to enjoy the arts, the outdoors, while engaging in little social contact than a visit to the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park on the grounds of the Nelson Atkins. Formerly known as the Henry Moore Sculpture Garden after the Hall Family Foundation acquired 57 sculptures by British artist Henry Moore in 1986, the outdoor collection grew. Claes Oldenburg’s and Coosje van Bruggen’s site-specific and now-iconic Shuttlecocks, a generous gift from the Sosland Family, were completed in 1994. If you haven’t been for a while, you can pack a lunch and a thermos and check out two newer additions: Ferment, Roxy Paine’s stainless steel, tree-like dendroid, and Robert Morris’ The Glass Labyrinth. nelson-atkins.org
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MAY 2020
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Arts & Culture by
IN KC
Judith Fertig
THERE’S AN APP FOR THAT THERE’S NO NEED to give up seeing dynamic contemporary art just because the museums are closed. The Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art has launched a new museum app designed to offer self-guided tours of exhibitions and the museum’s permanent collection. Custom features encourage users to engage with the museum on multiple levels—including videos of interviews with the artists, high-quality images of works of art, and informative content about each work. Best of all, the app is free! Find it at kemperart.org/app
MAY 2020
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MURAL TREK 2020 WITH SO MANY cultural events postponed, we might have to make our own fun, like the do-it-yourself Mural Trek 2020. Kansas City is home to several stunning examples of public mural art—we just have to find them. So let’s get going: The Power & Light District Mural features a tribute to Count Basie and jazz players. Find it at 50 East 13th Street in downtown KC. “I Love You Like a Summer Night” behind Messenger Coffee on 1624 Grand Boulevard. The Lewis & Clark Expedition Mural in the River Market calls out another famous trek up the Missouri River to chart out Thomas Jefferson’s Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The 636 Minnesota Mural at—you guessed it—636 Minnesota in Kansas City, Kansas, celebrates westward expansion and the spirit of Native America. Drive up and down this avenue and you see more street art that tells a rich story of diversity—the Strawberry Mural in Strawberry Hill; Mexican folklorico dancing; and a Hmong story cloth.
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SPONSORED CONTENT
Despite the COVID-19 Crisis, KidsTLC Continues To Thrive Helping Children In Need By Michael Mackie
SINCE 1972, KidsTLC in Olathe has been serving the Kansas City community. Early on, the organization was a preeminent emergency shelter for abused and neglected children. Over the years, KidsTLC’s mission continued to grow and meet community needs by implementing innovative, new programs. While their mission hasn’t changed, the services they provide have blossomed over the years to further help children and youth in the areas of mental and behavioral health, autism and family support. “I think what makes us stand out more than others is the amount and intensity of care and comfort provided to the kids who live on and receive services on our campus,” says Dr. Erin Dugan, president and CEO of KidsTLC. “But it’s also our outreach and making sure entire families are whole again.” For Dugan—who is now in her second year at the organization—not only has she focused on the ever-present needs of the kids, but also on the hardworking staff. “We have kids and families that are struggling with some of the most intense mental and behavioral needs,” she says. “But how do we take care of our staff that are taking care of these kids? How are their mental needs and life needs being met? They work in an atmosphere with families and kids who have experienced so much trauma,” she says. “So we have a strong focus on our staff and taking care of them—and in turn, how they take care of our kiddos.”
intensive group and individual therapy,” says Dugan. “On Thursdays, their families join us. We have a meal and continue group work. Along the way, we’re helping parents figure out the best way to be a positive influence in their kid’s life. It’s become incredibly popular and needed.” 4) The Lotus Clinics, meanwhile, provide much-needed outpatient mental and behavioral-health services to children, adolescents, and their families. “We’ve increased our number of therapists—we’re servicing thousands of kids and their families in a traditional outpatient model where kids and their families can come in once a week to visit with a therapist. It’s been very well received.” We have added specialty clinics in the areas of anxiety and gender-affirming care that are most needed in the community. 5) Finally, KidsTLC’s Thriving Families program gives parents useful tools to help their kids succeed. “Parents come once a week or Zoom in to a parent support group or parent training,” says Dugan. “We’re also serving our Hispanic-Latino families in the community and through churches—so everyone can get together and discuss the challenges of parenting and parenting kids who have experienced trauma or attachment disorders.”
EXPONENTIAL GROWTH If you haven’t been to the campus recently, Dugan would love for you to visit. “We’ve made updates for a more welcoming campus,” she says. “If you’re a parent dropping your kid off, campus should look comforting and feel like home—or the next best thing—a warm, friendly place to bring your child for services.” Meanwhile, the organization is starting a large campus expansion—its biggest in over a decade—to get more kids in need off the waitlist and into KidsTLC’s expansive programs. “We’re hoping to add six more acres and 30,000 more square feet,” says Dugan. “We’re beyond excited—as our waitlist continues to be huge. There are kids out there who need our services.”
BREAKING THROUGH THE STIGMA OF MENTAL HEALTH
Dr. Erin Dugan (center) speaks with PRTF operations manager Devin Burgin (left) and VP of clinical operations Kelly English (right).
Dugan says that KidsTLC has consistently seen “more families dealing with traumatic issues that are impacting younger and younger kids. We have six and seven year old’s with such significant levels of trauma that it’s almost unimaginable.” More families are reaching out as metro children are “experiencing higher levels of poverty and domestic violence,” she says. Parents who suffer from drug addiction—specifically opioid addiction—have had an even bigger impact causing “more and more intense levels of kids not attaching to their parents. Why? Because their parents are absent or without the skills needed to nurture their child.”
FIVE WAYS TO HELP CHILDREN IN NEED
THRIVE IN A CRISIS
Eighty to 90 percent of the children KidsTLC sees have a history of childhood trauma, abuse or neglect, as well as disrupted attachments, or perhaps an autism diagnosis. So the organization has created five well-known lifelines of assistance—each with amazing degrees of success. 1) Phoenix Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility is “the one we’re most known for,” says Dugan. “We have 75 kids who live on campus full-time.” Many suffer from complex PTSD or developmental trauma disorders. Immersive therapies in a safe environment help to resolve the emotional effects of abuse/neglect. The number of children on the waitlist to get into the program is substantial. “At any given time, 120 to 140 kids are waiting to get in. It’s one of our most-needed services,” she says. 2) The Trellis Center at KidsTLC offers nuanced autism training for “children ranging from 18 months to 12 years who receive clinical services during the week,” says Dugan. The collaborative programs run the gamut from social behavior, language and communication, fine and gross motor functioning, and sensory needs to academic and adaptive functioning. The program accommodates 50 children—with another 50 already on the waitlist. 3) The organization’s Intensive Outpatient Program serves as a crucial bridge between residential and traditional outpatient services at KidsTLC. “Right after school, we’ll pick up kids to come to our campus and spend three hours in
In the middle of all this, the COVID-19 crisis hit the organization hard, but it never missed a beat. “We’ve had to spin on a dime with how we provide services. That speaks to the resiliency of our agency, our staff, our families and our community,” says Dugan. We’re now providing tele-health services to over 50 percent of our clients and we switched overnight. That’s fabulous.” The staff at KidsTLC has proved invaluable during the pandemic turmoil. Dugan couldn’t be prouder. Home schooling and mock classrooms are now the norm. “It’s not ideal, but we’re coming up with all sorts of creative ways to do it,” she says. “We keep it fun—and we needed to add some structure back for our kids.”
STRONGER THAN BEFORE Even before the charity put out the call, the community inundated them with assistance. “I continue to be amazed at the outpouring of people asking, ‘what can we do or how can we help.’ We’re going to survive this with community assistance. And it never ceases to amaze me how many folks have reached out.” Dugan and her staff remain optimistic. “I’m proud of the kids who are working their program and treatment every day. I have kids who haven’t seen their parents in a month. Families aren’t able to come visit right now, but I’m proud of their trust in us,” she says. “It’s been a test of our agency’s resilience. We’re all leveraging positive rays of sunshine right now,” she pauses. “So far, so good.” kidstlc.org
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The list of guest artists collaborating with us onstage this season could not be more exciting — Gil Shaham, Pamela Frank, Yefim Bronfman, Jeffrey Kahane and Jon Kimura Parker. Also, marvelous young artists coming to play are cellist Zlatomir Fung, violinist Benjamin Beilman, Martina Filjak and many more. 14-concert Masterworks series and two 7-concert series (Bravo and Ovation) are available.
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Behind the Music
IN KC
Music in the Time of Coronavirus by
Timothy Finn
Counter clockwise from top: Mark Lowrey regularly live-streams performances from his apartment. Kelley Hunt has a weekly, one-hour Saturday evening Facebook performance. Kadesh Flow performing FF7 Trombone Cover on YouTube. Bob and Una Walkenhorst held an online benefit concert for the staff at Mike Kelly’s Westsider. Victor & Penny hosted a concert from their home to raise money for the Midwest Music Foundation.
F
or nearly 20 years, music has been Mark Lowrey’s sole source of income. As a solo artist, part of his own group, or a member of someone else’s band (like the Barclay Martin Ensemble), Lowrey booked dozens of gigs each month, sometimes as many as three in one day. When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the Kansas City live-music world in March, he, like hundreds of other musicians, had to improvise and come up with ways to keep performing and sustain some income flow. His solution: Jazz and Plants, a regular live performance streamed via Facebook from his apartment. He charges no admission but accepts tips via a cash-payment app. It has been a tricky enterprise but one that has produced good results, so good that initially he was able to share some
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of his income with his regular accompanists. “For the first weeks, my solo stream was successful to the point of my being able to pay bassists and drummers for the club work they were missing that I had hired them for,” he says. “But as tips predictably average out much lower, I might not be able to continue that.” Another upside to these performances: He draws a wider audience. “I’m noticing people who can’t make it out due to their normal schedules, health concerns, or location are tuning in,” he says. “I’m playing for my high school band director, my best friend in Tennessee, my elderly fan friends every night. It feels good to share something with them. I learned a Billie Eilish song for my niece. It is weird, and I’m learning as I go.” He is not alone. IN Kansas City asked a dozen Kansas City musicians to talk about how they are managing their careers from the confines of their homes and apartments. Responses varied. Danielle Nicole Schnebelen, a Grammy-nominated artist from Kansas City, has hosted two ticketed events since the shutdown, including one from an otherwise empty Knuckleheads Saloon, a gig organized by the venue’s owner, Frank Hicks. “It was me, Brandon [Miller] and my brother Kris, plus Frank and a crew of two,” she says. “We all kept our social distance and we each handled our own gear.” The results? “The experience was fulfilling and successful and also very, very odd. I knew we’d sold a few hundred tickets so there was an audience, but we basically performed a set in a venue that holds 700 people and was completely empty.” With his mother, Ruth, Madisen Ward has toured internationally as Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear. They had no immediate touring plans and have been focusing on writing new material, he says, but it’s a bit unnerving not knowing if they’ll be able to tour when the need and desire arise. His first online performance experience gave him hope, however. “I have done one Instagram Live stream with the intentions of just noodling around, hoping to connect with folks however I could,” Ward says. “Surprisingly, though, it quickly turned into a full-on performance. I began taking requests and actually shared a few tunes I had been working on. I enjoyed it more than I imagined I would, and I might try another one here soon.” Soul/R&B singer Kelley Hunt responded to the shutdown by scheduling a weekly, one-hour Saturday evening Facebook performance for her fans, who have embraced the chance to see and hear her sing. “We conceived it as a meeting place every Saturday where my fans and I could come together and share lots of music,” she says. “They’ve been really successful. I’ve averaged over 9,000 views and over 500 comments, and the cool thing is fans are interacting with each other. “It also gives me a chance to do a full-on show for my fans all over the world in places I haven’t been to recently, or in some cases, have never toured.” For Ryan Jamaal Davis, a musician and hip-hop artist who performs as Kadesh Flow, the stay-at-home order has provided an
MAY 2020
127th & Metcalf
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Behind the Music
IN KC
opportunity to work on his branding and create content he can issue regularly onto his online platforms and channels. “I made my nerd-music-world bones on YouTube, releasing anime and video-game rap [videos]. Some of them went viral,” he says. “That built the foundation that has led to me playing all of the conventions I play. I had been planning to return to that world, especially now that I have merchandise to which I can direct people. “That initial content batch is a lot of work. But now I’ve got about two months of weekly drops batched out.” His goal: Stockpile a three-month supply of content and keep contributing to that so he can maintain a weekly “drop” schedule. Streaming live performances will be a secondary priority: “I want something that can turn into a long-term move from this, and the content-drop seems like the most likely option.” Others in the community have organized charity events for their fellow musicians and for the venues that have booked and supported them. In April, Una Walkenhorst and her father, Bob Walkenhorst [Rainmakers], held an online benefit concert for the staff at Mike Kelly’s Westsider, where they’d performed regularly. They raised nearly $6,000. For Una, the experience was enriching in several ways. “My dad and I were thrilled by the number of people who tuned in and incredibly moved by everyone’s generosity,” she says. “Friends as far away as Norway and Finland showed up to help out our little neighborhood bar. I mean, that’s pretty wild.
MAY 2020
“At the end, my dad and I were both surprised by how emotionally wiped we were. After not having that performer-audience exchange for a minute, experiencing it in this intense and concentrated environment was both special and kind of exhausting, in a really satisfying way. “ The event introduced a fresh experience to her father, who has performed live for decades, often before audiences in the thousands. “There is a magic moment when you are set up in your little basement room and you click that ‘go live’ button, and you start seeing people joining in, watching and listening, and being so generous,” he says. “Not the same as a good live show, but unique.” Jeff Freling and Erin McGrane, who perform as Victor & Penny, hosted a concert from their Kansas City home to raise money for the Midwest Music Foundation, which assists financially stressed musicians, particularly those facing medical debts and hardships. The event raised nearly $20,000 for the foundation, which, as of midApril, had dispersed about $26,000 in grants to nearly 90 musicians. “I loved the concert itself, and even though it was weird that there was no clapping and we were in our dress clothes in the middle of the day in our front room, it felt surprisingly comfortable,” McGrane says. “Honestly, I had so much fun … We could see the comments and people sending us hearts and clapping hands over the internet. I felt very close to everyone.” Despite a few distractions, Freling says the show was an all-
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round success, for the foundation and for McGrane and himself. “I tried to play as if we were performing an intimate house concert, of which we’ve done many over the years,” he says. “The lack of audience reaction—interacting with people, seeing their faces, hearing them clapping or laughing—was difficult. The incoming messages were important but pulled focus. Plus, I was monitoring the live feed to make sure we weren’t having technical difficulties. But regardless of all that, the energy we feel when we play together was undeniable, as it always is.” Many musicians in our town are missing more than income and live audiences. They are also missing one another. Zoom and other digital gathering sites aren’t the same as real-time venues and rehearsal spaces. For Olivia Fox, an electro-folk trio built on a foundation of keen vocal harmonies, the physical separation is particularly difficult. Olivia Fox vocalist Aubrey Callahan says, “Life separate has been really lonely. I can’t wait to get together again. I’ve been trying to do vocal warm-ups regularly and have been trying to work on the piano that is accessible to me at a church next door.” Tiffany Smith, a registered nurse who is otherwise immersed in this healthcare crisis agrees. “I miss live performances—a crowded space with heads you can’t see over, the smell of smoke, the sound of a train barreling through a song at Knuckleheads. Even the times when the person standing next to you spills their beer seem far less significant now because at least someone was standing next to you.”
For Mikala Petillo, who performs as Miki P, the rewards of performing before live audiences have been difficult to replicate. “It’s been tough completely going cold turkey,” she says. “For me the stage is so therapeutic, as it is for so many musicians, and I really miss not only connecting with the audience but with the musicians I play with.” Her built-in remedy: Her live-in partner, Trevor Turla, a fellow musician who plays trombone with the Grand Marquis. “We have a duo, Miki P & Trevor Turla. We’ve both been taking it day-to-day in a lot of ways, trying to adjust to teaching online and finding other ways we can make income during this time and probably the next year or so.” Roy “Sauce” Handy is a music educator at We Are Rap, a co-owner of the Rap Asylum and a member of the neo-soul/jazz ensemble NuBlvckCity. His approach was an online performance in which fellow musicians were also the audience. “It was more a roundtable style that included conversation,” he says. “Adjusting wasn’t bad. It was just weird after being so used to being in front of people. I adjusted by making sure I performed interactive songs and also used the other musicians as my crowd. It worked fine, and I’m preparing for more.” Others are grappling with ways to reproduce online what they’ve been presenting live. For more than 20 years, Kim Stanton has organized the weekly Monday night Rural Grit Happy Hours at the
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Behind the Music
IN KC
Brick. Shepherding a dozen or more musicians on one stage at a well-equipped music venue is an ambitious and hefty chore in itself. Doing it online, with everyone in different locales, posed an even bigger challenge and a few unforeseen obstacles, technically and otherwise. After a few missteps, she settled on Zoom, the video conferencing/webinar program, with mixed results. ‘The first live Zoom performance provided more of a [Rural Grit Happy Hour] feel, and for the performers, when we were all on before the show—it was great. We were all talking at once, saying hi, catching up.” she says. “But the performance sound was atrocious.” Mark Smeltzer, her partner and fellow Rural Grit organizer, reiterated what others expressed. What’s been missing so far is the freewheeling camaraderie among musicians that’s implicit in their weekly gatherings. “Musician interaction is a big part of the Rural Grit Happy Hour. Getting to play with others in a spontaneous way has been the glue that held everyone together.” Smeltzer says. “The most elegant monologue is nothing compared to a simple conversation when music is the language.” Stanton figures there’s someone out there who can remedy their problem, if one hasn’t already. “I hope that some really savvy computer programmers figure out
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how to make [what we need] possible and create a new app. Pretty optimistic that this will happen before the COVID-19 experience is all said and done.” In the meantime, she says, “We will continue to have something online for the RGHH each Monday.” Likewise, Lowery will continue to perform from the confines of home five or six nights a week, for himself as much as for his loyal audience. “It is something I look forward to. It’s a reason to play the piano, to take a shower. I am lucky to be able to play right now. It makes me feel like I’m doing something.”
WANT MORE TIMOTHY FINN? Check out his weekly online-only content at inkansascity.com. Every Wednesday the website publishes his list of Top 5 Notto-Miss Concerts in the metro. Every week you’ll find his revered, rollicking, reasoned reviews and commentary. Email Timothy Finn at tfinn@inkansascity.com
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MAY 2020
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ai158154627013_IN KC Magazine March Issue FINAL .pdf
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WELCOME TO UPSCALE LIVING IN THE HEART OF PRAIRIE VILLAGE
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Look
IN KC
Fashion
by
R. Murphy
True Blue
C
an denim ever really be considered a trend? The runways are proclaiming the affirmative as denim comes roaring back in style this spring and summer. The key to styling denim this year is to keep it classic. Sure, you can throw on a T-shirt for the de facto Americana look à la The Boss. But you can also dress it up with elegant touches like jute bags, espadrilles, and the trendy crop top you’ve been eyeing. With rises that flatter any shape, keep the length either cropped or dusting the floor and consider yourself a trendsetter.
SKIRT ALERT
It’s not just about shirt dresses anymore. This wrap dress is a breezy way to flaunt your denim savvy. Pair with a natural fiber bag for a classic look or spice it up with bright shoes. It’s the neutral that isn’t. Dress by Mod, $79, available at Kate (River Market) and Lady Bye (Brookside). Bag, $66, available at Coco (Brookside).
HOLD EVERYTHING
This is the epitome of the everyday bag—durable, upcycled denim that looks chic filled with produce at the farmers’ market or great slung over a chair at your favorite coffee shop while you work. Blue Upcycled Denim carry-all tote bag, $108, available at East and West (Crossroads) or eastandwest.store.
SHORT STORY
Warmer weather and plenty of time at home to work on your squats mean it’s time to flaunt those gams! Denim shorts are the move, especially when they are crisp white, high waisted, and with an unfinished hem. Pair with a cropped smocked peasant blouse in chambray for the chicest denim-on-denim vibe. AGOLDE Reese relaxed cut-off short in tissue white, $128, available at Halls Kansas City (Crown Center).
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ENHANCE YOUR LIFE WITH A BEAUTIFUL SMILE People from all walks of life have entrusted their smiles with Dr. Ross S. Headley. For some, their lives changed dramatically while for others it simply enhanced what was already successful. The importance of finding the right dentist is everything. Contact us to see how we can help you achieve a healthy and beautiful smile.
Before
After
Look BY
IN KC Beauty
R. Murphy
Get Your Glow On NEWSFLASH: SKIN CANCER IS SO 2016. IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A SUNKISSED GLOW BUT HAVE BECOME A SUNSCREEN DEVOTEE (AND YOU SHOULD!), WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF SELF-TANNERS. REMEMBER, EXFOLIATION IS THE KEY TO A STREAK-FREE TAN
JUST A TOUCH
For the commitment-phobe, try brushing on a tan where you need it. With EU compliant standards, local favorite Lover Cosmetics offers a gluten-free, vegan tanning powder that will put the sun where you want it. Tanning Powder, $24, available at lover-cosmetics.com.
LIKE THE SUN BUT BETTER
If you want to eliminate the weird self-tanner smell, get rid of the chemicals that produce it. With all-natural, organic ingredients like shea butter, green tea extract, and coconut oil, the All-Natural Self-Tanner by Beauty by Earth will be your new best friend. Self-Tanner, $30.99 for 7.5 oz., available at beautybyearth.com.
MITTS ON
If you could choose a bronze to emulate, wouldn’t Brazil be the place? Try the Brazilliance self-tanner from Tarte Cosmetics. With a bit of tint, you’ll know exactly where you applied it with the custom-made application mitt. And with PUREshield scent-control technology, they’ll have to guess whether it’s fake or bake. Tarte Brazilliance PLUS+ self-tanner + mitt, $39, exclusively at Sephora.
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Located in the heart of the Crossroads Arts & Technology District 2009 Baltimore Ave. Kansas City, MO 64108 @flocksalonandgallery ph. (816) 656-5727 - Book today!
SALON AND GALLERY
Look
IN KC
Wellness
Dinner, Delivered
HEALTHY MEALS, INC.
Healthy Meals has been around since 2009 and caters to many different diets, including but not limited to vegan, HCG diet, gastric bypass diet, paleo, and diabetic and prediabetic. With several plans to choose from, including some that include snacks and desserts, Healthy Meals caters not just to those trying to lose weight but to anyone that has a goal for their health. Added plus? It’s delivered to your door daily by 6 a.m. healthymealsinc.com EVOLVE PALEO
If you want the assurance of the expertise of an on-staff doctor, on-staff trainer, and numerous classically trained chefs, then Evolve Paleo is the service for you. Choose your menu from each week’s options, and they will deliver within a 15-mile radius of any of their five KC Metro locations, or pick up at one of their retail partners. Plus, with options like chocolate chip French toast and mustard pork chop with zucchini, this is delicious clean eating. eattoevolve.com
U
CHEF KANSAS CITY
nless you are living under a rock (in which case, you’re winning the social-distancing game), you’ve probably had some take-out lately. While we love supporting our local restaurants, there are a few places that have been doing meal delivery for a while now. If you want to support your gluten-free, paleo, or Keto diet without having to chop and prep, these places have you covered.
by
R. Murphy
MAY 2020
If you’ve always dreamed of having a personal chef, then Chef Kansas City might put you a little closer to that goal. Chef Christopher T. Zembrzuski has options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for both individual servings and familymeal sizes. With the onset of social distancing practices, Chef Z has added a pickup day to accommodate demand. His creations range from protein-packed fitness meals to the comfort food meals that we crave in times like this. chefkansascity.com
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CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF SUPPORTING UNINSURED CANCER PATIENTS IN KANSAS CITY! DATE CHANGE
SEPTEMBER 25, 2020 SIGNATURE FLIGHT SUPPORT DOWNTOWN AIRPORT Tickets and Sponsorships are still available.
Bra Couture KC supports cancer services centers in the following organizations: Missys’ Boutique at the University of Kansas Cancer Center, BCKC Center at Truman Medical Center, Verda’s Place at the Sarah Cannon Center through the Research Foundation and Cancer Action In 2020 we will open a new center at North Kansas City Hospital and provide a grant to support the Samuel U. Rogers free mammogram program. Additionally, in partnership with Imaging for Women, we will provide 200 free mammograms at screening events throughout the year. Join our celebration and help us to reach our $500,000 goal and assist more patients in need!
LEARN MORE AT
BRACOUTUREKC.COM
Living BY
IN KC
Stacy Downs
MAKING YOUR HOME A HAVEN
H
ome as sanctuary is no longer a cliché. It is our truth. Yes, hunkering down in our houses to protect our health and the greater good challenges our independence and spirit. But it also has made us more appreciative of what we have, grateful for those in our lives and kinder to each other. Without doubt, we need to focus on treating ourselves, but we also need to lift each other up as never before.
Flower Power IT’S PRIME TIME for flowering gardens, trees, and shrubs. There’s nothing like a fresh bloom to boost a mood. Each spring, I’m always eager to plant new things and can’t wait to bring fresh-cut flowers inside the house. This year, ten times more so. Floral patterns, too, are more appealing and uplifting than ever before.
CURBSIDE FLOWER PICKUP You can phone in or order online from local nurseries this year. familytreenursery.com soilservice.com suburbanlawng.com
GARDEN ANTIQUES A friend turned me on to Green Door Art and Antiques. Their vintage, crusty urns and other garden ornaments make for swoon-worthy online shopping. thegreendoorantiques.net
Buy from your favorite locally owned stores. Even if they don’t have a fully shown online shop, contact them and arrange for a drop-off/pickup, or at least purchase a gift card. Support local artists. This goes for visual and performing artists. With canceled showings and events making for a challenging year, make an extra effort to order prints, ceramics, music, and DVDs.
OF AN ERA Convivial of Kansas City has created a collection of simple, functional, limited-release ceramic planters, vases, and candleholders. convivialproduction.com
Reach out to those near and far. Do someone’s grocery shopping. Help a neighbor with yard work. Snail-mail letters to loved ones and friends. Send small gifts of appreciation to teachers. Make a donation to support and encourage healthcare workers.
PETAL-FILLED PLACEMATS These paper ones from Hester & Cook are filled with joy— especially the peonies! facebook.com/sprucehomekc
MAY 2020
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LET THERE BE LIGHT MAYBE YOU’VE SPOTTED strings of Christmas lights on houses during your evening walks (or your morning or afternoon ones). It’s a movement—check out the hashtag #LightsforLife—that certainly makes this dark moment a bit brighter. As my family took a different route around the neighborhood, I saw a fanciful display of spring-colored lights on a front porch. The glowing pink, blue, lime, orange, and yellow orbs certainly elevated the spirits. On the same stroll, we happened upon a cyclist whose bike was lit up like the Electric Light Parade at Disneyworld. And if that wasn’t enough, a radio hitched to his handlebars cranked St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion). A little ’80s Billboard blast from the past! But you don’t have to be that elaborate to be festive at home. Simply dim the sconces, turn on the table lamps, and burn candles. In the backyard, light lanterns and the firepit. All are warm, comforting, and cozy.
PARTY LIGHTS Strings of lights add spots of cheer to the front porch or patio, and even the office. 10 count spiral patio light set, $24.99. seasonalconceptsonline.com
A VERSATILE GLOW This rechargeable, dimmable LED light can be used anywhere around the home (bedside, desk, dining table, backyard parties) and on the go (picnics and evening strolls). Menu Carrie LED Lamp with detachable handle, $179. shopkanso.com
You’re Glowing Maybe it’s the light of the fire… the awe of your outdoor living space that’s just as inviting as your home’s interior… the satisfaction of hosting a “hit” party… or the contentment of relaxing fireside solo or together after a long day. Whatever it is, you’re positively glowing.
SALES | NEW INSTALLS | UPGRADES & SERVICE
See what’s #Trending at Complete Home Concepts! 4380 Belgium Blvd. Riverside, MO 64150 Tel: 816-471-4663 completehomeconcepts.com
MAY 2020
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Living
IN KC BY
Stacy Downs
The Great Escape BOOKS ALWAYS TAKE ME PLACES, AND I CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THEM. NOT ONLY AM I READY TO EXPLORE SOME NEW NOVELS AND BIOGRAPHIES, I’M EAGER TO CHECK OUT THESE NEW INTERIOR AND GARDENING TITLES!
Decorate Happy by Anthony Baratta The first solo book by the interior designer showcases his preppy-chic style in a color- and pattern-filled guide to decorating. The book shouldn’t be judged by its modern-interior cover— this features traditional, nautical, and rustic interiors, too, with Baratta’s more-is-more style.
The Garden Source: Inspirational Design Ideas for Gardens and Landscapes by Andrea Jones
Bloom Wild: A Free-Spirited Guide to Decorating With Floral Patterns by Bari J. Ackerman In her new book, the designer presents practical advice for adding florals to every room of the house, along with easy DIY’s, advice on staying within budget, and detailed source lists. Ackerman shows readers how to achieve a curated maximalist style and to seamlessly create a gorgeous, layered floral look that will spark joy and lift the mood of the whole house.
The book includes gardens from all over the world and features projects by celebrated designers. Hundreds of images are arranged to offer thousands of possible design solutions and inspiration.
Mad About the House: 101 Interior Design Answers by Kate Watson-Smyth The author is a journalist and blogger, and the book starts with answering the five Ws and one H before you begin any decorating project.
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Perfect Lawns, Perfect Pots, and Perfect Pruning by Simon Akeroyd The author has a career in garden management for the National Trust and has also worked at the BBC as a horticultural researcher and writer on gardening programs. Books from this trio can be purchased separately.
Made You Smile DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I COULD SURELY USE SOME NEW DÉCOR FOR MY WFH (WORK FROM HOME) OFFICE, WHICH IS BASICALLY THE WHOLE HOUSE!
NOBLE DESIGNS
Items with levity top my list.
A FLOCK OF FUN Charley Harper’s famous bird illustrations are the best. These wall decals include cardinals, jays, and more. generalstorekc.com
POSTCARDS WITH AN EDGE Tinyescape is a Kansas City business that creates dioramas fashioned from souvenir postcards and model landscape materials. The tiny art pieces—6-by-4 ½ inches—can be displayed tabletop or on the wall. It’s hard to choose just one, but those with bears are favorites! georgelifestyle.com (call 816-361-2128
Your home has never been more important. Let us help you so that you love the space you own. We are navigating these times with more v irtual meetings so do not hesitate to reach out and we’ll create the design you deserve. Sign up for Noble Designs updates on our website.
or email connie.beall@georgelifestyle.com to place order)
THAT WASN’T THAT LONG AGO What a memory! What a culture shift! Within a month we went from celebrating with thousands of our Super Bowl-winning Chiefs to sheltering in place. This print in maroon-and-gold ink by Anthony Schmiedeler is definitely one for the office. madeinkc.co saranobledesigns.com | 913-218-0001 @nobledesigns
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Vaping is a complicated subject. Learn the facts, understand the latest research and identify prevalent myths. Check out talkvaping.allmentalhealth.org
To learn about local advocacy efforts,text KCFLAVORS to 46839 Š Copyright 2020 American Heart Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
2020_KC_Vaping_Ad_9x10.875.indd 1
4/6/2020 11:13:09 AM
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photo courtesy of kdhe public affairs
words by
Cindy Hoedel
IN CONVERSATION WITH
Dr. Lee Norman
S
ome people set out to make history. For others, history finds them. History intersected with the quiet arc of Dr. Lee Norman’s life last month. In a day, Norman went from being a well-respected but little-known state agency head to being Kansas’s version of Dr. Anthony Fauci as the coronavirus epidemic bore down. On daily livestreams, seated six feet away from Gov. Laura Kelly, Norman reassured a jittery citizenry. When a tussle between Gov. Kelly and the legislature over closing churches in Kansas on Easter Sunday hit the national news, Norman was interviewed by Rachel Maddow on MSNBC. That was an unexpected development for a doctor born and raised in Adel, Iowa (pop. 3,600), who got his medical degree at University of Minnesota and practiced medicine for 20 years in Seattle. Norman was hired as chief medical officer at University of Kansas Health System in 2007 and at age 61, Norman joined the Kansas National Guard, where he still serves as the State Surgeon of Kansas, guiding medical troop training, force health protection, and biosecurity. In March 2019, Gov. Kelly appointed Norman as Secretary of Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Norman, who has two children and two grandchildren, lives in the River Market area of Kansas City and also keeps a residence in Topeka. He uses his proximity to the City Market to indulge in a favorite hobby, canning. Having scores of jars of jellies, chutneys, dill pickles, pickled okra and picked asparagus lining his pantry shelves turned out to be handy when coronavirus hit, and he began working essentially around the clock. He made time for a long telephone call with IN Kansas City on a Sunday morning.
photo courtesy of kdhe public affairs
You’ve had a long career of dealing with infectious disease, but are there political aspects of dealing with the crisis that are new for you? Yes. The political part is very new to me. It does require a different kind of navigation to get things done. What do you mean? The thing that is different is, I’ve always been able to focus single-mindedly on making the infection go away and protecting people. What is very clear in the political process is, other people have agendas other than that. In Kansas, public health has been very under-funded for decades. When you look at the state of funding, $50 per resident per year, that is in the very bottom part of the rankings in the United States. That’s four
MAY 2020
to five times less per person than the states in the upper tier. So when an infectious disease breaks out there is no resiliency built in, in terms of people or resources. There is a strong anti-tax sentiment in Kansas and also a widespread belief that government spending is often wasteful. What does that $50 per person go towards and why would we be better off if we spent more? For example, we have this coronavirus pandemic going on, and we have a huge syphilis outbreak in Kansas, with babies being born with congenital syphilis. So we are never fighting just one wildfire at a time. There are also so many undesired pregnancies in the state of Kansas because of lack of access in so many areas to contraceptive services. We’ve got a huge battle on vaccines, and a lot of the funding for public health goes toward purchasing vaccines so people can get them at no cost. We have ten times more whooping cough than we ought to. Whooping cough is a preventable illness. My biggest battle in this job before this pandemic was immunizations and the fact that there is so much of an anti-immunization sentiment in Kansas.
‘‘
Yes. I saw this coming. I didn’t know that it would be a coronavirus, but I knew that a modern-day epidemic is not only a health threat but a national security threat.”
When a vaccine for the coronavirus becomes available, what will be your message to people that have safety concerns about vaccinations? So many people don’t have their children vaccinated, for example, that I’ll be curious whether the same anti-vaccine persons will view a coronavirus vaccine as anything different than measles-mumps-rubella, etc. One of the real challenges we’re experiencing with the coronavirus is that there’s no vaccine and no treatment. We won’t make this thing go away until we have a vaccine for it. The best we can do is, one, understand what people’s fears are about the vaccines and, two, have a fact-
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continued on page
84
as told to
Mary Sanchez
A New Normal TWELVE KANSAS CITIANS REFLECT ON HOW THE PANDEMIC HAS AFFECTED THEIR LIVES
COVID-19
is a deceptively stealthy threat to our region’s physical health and economic vitality. Its means is to seep, largely undetected, into the very air that Kansas Citians breathe. And yet, people are settling in and adjusting to the best of their abilities. They’re adopting new routines and attitudes that less than a month ago might have seemed unfathomable. Human contact, so vital to our existence, is shunned. Interactions that once felt carefree and automatic—a handshake, a hug, a kiss—could kill us. But COVID-19 is not untenable. People are adapting to what it means to shelter at home; converting laundry rooms, garages, and guest bedrooms into repurposed office space. They’re finding that the virtual world of Zoom, FaceTiming, and other gadgets of technology are sufficient for gathering in prayer, song, and sometimes for happy hour to share a nip of wine or spirits. For healthcare workers and those caring for the aging and ill, life during the pandemic is hyper-charging the decisions that long extended a heavy moral canopy to their work. The coronavirus is not only an invisible threat, it’s a wily one. As new information emerges, protocols must shift—mask or no mask, homemade versus store-bought, six feet distance or completely cut off. Many are deeply reflective for what not only their day will hold, but the future. But they are not daunted. Here are a few of their stories:
MAY 2020
Monica Powers assistant chief nursing officer and incident commander over COVID-19 operations and planning task force at AdventHealth One of our biggest strengths is that we are a faith-based hospital. Being faith-based, we’ve already ensured that nobody dies alone. That’s something I see in the news that’s incorrect. We do everything we can for our COVID patients. If they are critically sick, we bring at least one family member in so that they can see and touch them. We have Chromebooks that we use to connect them with family who can’t be here. The nurses will stay with the patient if no one can be here from the family. No one is dying alone here at AdventHealth. WE EXPECT OUR That to me is a big deal. With COVID it seems FRONT-LINE STAFF like the way we are hanTO PROVIDE WHOLEdling things changes about every 48 hours. The mesPERSON CARE TO OUR sage morphs as the situaPATIENTS WHILE WE ARE tion has matured and as we have more cases come in. PROVIDING WHOLEOur frontline staff is PERSON CARE TO OUR fearful. Our physicians are fearful. FRONT-LINE TEAMS. I think what’s key is really knowing how to control your emotions and being able to listen to what the real fears are and have a real conversation. There’s been a lot of change in a very short period of time. People, in general, don’t like change. So just helping people adjust on the fly has been the hardest, and it’s what I’ve lost the most sleep over. Frankly, I’m fearful at times. We expect our front-line staff to provide whole-person care to our patients, while we are providing whole-person care to our front-line teams. In the last week-and-a-half, we’ve also been letting the staff know what our surge plan is. We’re letting them know how many ventilators we have on site, for example. And we’re letting them know what our plan is if we have to set up an ICU outside of our regular ICU. So if we get a surge, the staff knows this is how we are prepared to handle it. We’ve been able to get predictive analytics so those are the numbers that we are really planning towards. It’s a day at a time. My whole day is COVID.
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Quinton Lucas Mayor, Kansas City, MO
Rev. Scott M. Chrostek Two-thirds of the deaths in KCMO and two-thirds of the deaths in KCK are African Americans. We’ve got to be talking about that. When this first broke out, I was already thinking about the disparities. I knew this couldn’t last forever. And yet I was terrified for the communities—the black and brown communities—where it would probably hit the hardest. I fear they will be completely forgotten when all of this shifts. When some of us are bored with staying home and want to go on our way and play. The real-life stories are the most difficult. It’s people like Billy Birmingham [the Fire Department EMT who died of COVID-19] that this is all about—those who are out saving lives. On the night he died, it broke my heart, and it almost broke my spirit. On the other hand, it motivated me. It motivated me to fight about dates for reopening. We have to ON A BRIGHTER POINT, continue to fight about I’VE BEEN IMPRESSED this, even though people are shouting about WITH HOW MUCH reopening. THE COMMUNITY HAS For some, it’s like what AIDS was in the BEEN WILLING TO ’80s and ’90s. If you CHANGE. AND THAT don’t know anybody with it, you don’t think SHOWS THAT WE CAN that it’s a problem. CHANGE FOR THE I think that’s why people shout about BETTER IN A NUMBER reopening. I get a lot of OF WAYS TO HELP US calls about it. “Yeah, you are ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. going to save a few lives, Lucas, but what about the economy?” That’s a direct quote. I’m worried about things like the recent news item about the man that the FBI shot—the white nationalist from Belton who wanted to blow up the hospital, and he wanted to shoot up a black elementary school. This is the first week I’ve had more concern for my personal safety. I get messages saying, “Lucas, you hate freedom.” We can’t just reopen without thinking about both the economy and about the disparities. On a brighter point, I’ve been impressed with how much the community has been willing to change. And that shows we can change for the better in a number of ways to help us address these issues.
MAY 2020
executive director of regional campuses,The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection So much of our faith is reflecting and imagining how you might look back. And for me, my wife Wendy and son Freddy, when we look back at this season, one of the defining moments is that we had our second child—our first daughter—two weeks ago. So much now is about restriction and sheltering in place. But that’s been redefined by that baby girl’s little face. We’re calling her Poppy, for Penelope. Our son has said repeatedly, “I just love that I get so much family time now.” It melts my heart. We call it “germ season.” My hope is that he remembers this as when he got to spend time with his parents, and that he was getting to cuddle his baby sister. What a great time that we have to instill that in him.
AS A CHURCH THAT ROOTS ITSELF IN PHYSICAL GATHERINGS, WE HAVE HAD TO PIVOT. AND WE’VE HAD TO REIMAGINE EVERYTHING IN HOW WE DO OUR MISSION.
As a church that roots itself in physical gatherings, we’ve had to pivot. And we’ve had to reimagine everything in how we do our mission. How do we begin to focus on each other and care for one another and really serve each other by doubling down on doing whatever we can to meet people where they are? More than ever, we’re having more in-depth and centered conversations with church members—and non-church members too. We’ve found that people are more accepting of reflection right now. I have a prayer group. It’s about 50 guys, and we meet on Zoom. I asked them, “How do you want to remember this moment, and how you lived in it and navigated in it?” For some, it’s that this would be the best season of life for their family. For others, it is what would it mean to be the best leader in his business now. To someone else it might be being fearless to give away what they had, because they had a lot to give. For me, this time has been exhilarating... seeing the best parts of humanity. Kind of a reflection on what we can be when we come together.
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John Gordon, Jr.
Kathy Nelson president and CEO, Kansas City Sports Commission & Foundation–WIN for KC For us—with what is happening within our industry of sports commissions—it’s survival of the fittest. I’m in conversation with my counterparts every day at other sports commissions across the
WE’RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO STAY RELEVANT, ABOUT HOW WE CAN HELP BRING SPORTS BACK. WE WANT TO ALWAYS BE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO MAKE OUR CITY BETTER THROUGH SPORTS. country. And every day, I have a counterpart who has had to cut staff by 50-plus percent, and some who have had to close indefinitely. Now we’ve started to look at how we can serve as a collaborator. We know how to put events together. We planned the Super Bowl parade! So here we are, all at home on our computers planning e-sports. Our staff is pretty excited. We’re trying to figure out how to stay relevant, about how we help bring sports back. We want to always be thinking about how to make our city better through sports. But I keep worrying about all sorts of issues. Like, we need to get 75,000 people into Arrowhead. How are we going to do that safely now? It will be similar to what we experienced after 9-11. The first thing to come back was youth sports. All of the surveys said that no one would miss little Susie’s game, and they might not fly, but they would drive to get there. They wouldn’t miss it for the children.
executive director, Boys Grow The guys are pretty much a mix of races, but the majority live in the urban core. They are 14 to 17 years old. This is a place that’s a constant for many of them. The farm is where they know they’re going to get a paycheck, where they know they will be a part of it. We’re trying to reassure them that it will be back up and running. We just don’t know when. Our mission is working directly with the youth. And in that regard, to do what we do, we’ve shifted our LIKE MOST focus a little bit. We are trying to secure some more BUSINESSES AND funding for projects. It’s a problem. Normally, we sell our products back NONPROFITS to restaurants. We wouldn’t be where we are right now RIGHT NOW, if it wasn’t for the generous chefs and restaurants in the community. And they are really feeling the hurt. I feel WE’RE TRYING TO a little helpless about what we can do for them. FIND SOME KIND Another piece of our mission is to teach being good stewards of the land. So now, with this current OF SILVER LINING. situation, we’re trying to get food back to the families of our kids. Some vegetables are already planted—like lettuce and garlic—and we have greenhouses where we’re growing tomatoes, beets, and carrots. We’re raising meat chickens now. Our chickens and turkeys are going to be harvested and given back to the families of the boys. Like most businesses and nonprofits right now, we’re trying to find some kind of silver lining.
Dr. Michael Moncure trauma surgeon and critical care specialist, Truman Medical Center and professor of surgery, UMKC School of Medicine We in Kansas City are extremely blessed that we had leadership in our region and in our city to put the stay-at-home orders in place. It’s a real factor in the fact that we aren’t currently filling every ICU bed with COVID patients. We don’t want to be in a situation where we run out of ventilators and ICU rooms. Right now, it’s manageable. But we’re always looking at the potential for things to change. It’s one thing for someone to cough near you, and then you touch your face. But it’s another thing for someUNTIL A PATIENT one to have particles flying in the air and you are the one IS CLEARED who inhales them. That’s what the healthcare workers and first responders are facing. It’s not only the exposure OR THE TESTS to the virus, it’s the amount they are being exposed to. COME BACK That’s what we’re speculating. We take all the precautionary measures with any NEGATIVE, WE trauma patient entering the hospital. Until a patient is TREAT THEM cleared or the tests come back negative, we treat them as if they have COVID. AS IF THEY The best thing is to be proactive. That has made a HAVE COVID. huge difference.
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Matthew Gibson, Ph.D. dean of the graduate school of the Stowers Institute and associate professor, UMKC School of Medicine
Randy Wisthoff
It’s like we are doing an experiment with our daily lives. You can be productive in a totally different kind of way. We are in the midst of this really difficult and challenging period, but at the same time it’s forcing us to adopt new technology and a new way of doing things. The way people will communicate for science, for medicine, for business, will change if the technology can allow for human interaction. It will get better and better. I’m not an epidemiologist. I’m a very basic kind of scientist. My lab works with fruit flies and sea anemones. Keeping them alive during this is what we are focused on. Fortunately, our sea anemones can live a month or two without eating. They’re almost immortal. They don’t age like other animals. Sea anemones eat small crustaceans, so we feed them shrimp larvae, but they’re able to go through starvation for months at a time. IN THE BEGINNING, Fruit flies can grow at a ALL OF THIS WAS KIND lower temperature, but they reproduce less. So we can OF SCARY. BUT NOW slow them down by keeping YOU HAVE PEOPLE them at a lower temperature. Well before the shutdown, WHO HAVE REALLY we scaled back everything that PULLED TOGETHER IN we could. Now one person goes into the lab and takes REALLY MEANINGFUL care of them. WAYS AND HAVE In the beginning, all of this was kind of scary. But STARTED TO PLAN FOR now people have really pulled A NEW FUTURE. together in meaningful ways and have started to plan for a new future. There’s research leading to treatments and vaccines. We are going to find a way out of this. That’s a cool story of resilience. This teaches us how we might respond to the climate crisis. That’s a slower moving, but even a more disastrous problem in the long term. But by reasoning and the application of science, we may realize that we can make life better. I’m totally confident that we will be able to overcome COVID-19.
MAY 2020
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executive director and CEO, the Kansas City Zoo The elephants don’t care if it is Christmas, or New Year’s, or your birthday, or snowing. They need the same amount of attention and care every day of every year, every day of their lives. We have a great team that cares for them. But with this coronavirus, we just have to assume that somebody, somewhere, sometime, is going to become infected, and operate on that premise.
THE ELEPHANTS DON’T CARE IF IT IS CHRISTMAS, OR NEW YEAR’S, OR YOUR BIRTHDAY, OR SNOWING. THEY NEED THE SAME AMOUNT OF ATTENTION AND CARE EVERY DAY OF EVERY YEAR, EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES We still have 200 acres and almost 2,000 animals to take care of. Feeding penguins is a very labor intense and detailed operation. We probably have at least 70 penguins in that building, and they are fed by hand, twice a day. Our fruits and vegetables come from the same supplier that supplies restaurants and grocery stores. We’re being really careful with masks for our animal health department. Right now, they aren’t doing the routine procedures, sort of like our human counterparts in hospitals. Now—with the tiger at the Bronx zoo testing positive—we’ve had to adjust. Every one of the areas that have cats was addressed—our cat population is spread out in different areas of the zoo. Our new protocol now is to wear face masks and rubber gloves with the cats. All of the experts kept saying that this wasn’t transferable to animals. But this virus originated in an animal so, well, we learn stuff everyday too. We’ve been able to shift on a dime and change protocol. There is still so much unknown about this virus.
Brenda Tinnen senior vice president and general manager, AEG Kansas City/ Sprint Center At first, in March, it seemed that we just got information about COVID-19 in bits and pieces. Now that the Sprint Center is closed, we have 24-hour security that maintains it. I’ll go inside and walk around, and I drive around the outside regularly. It’s very eerie when I walk around the concourse. It’s quiet. The Big 12 basketball court is still there, out on the floor. I have time to reflect. I’ve been in the sports and entertainment industry a long time. I was at Staples during 9-11. And at first, this seemed similar. But with 9-11, we thought we knew who the enemy was. And as bad as it was, people got back to having events maybe four or five days later. While we didn’t forget, at least it felt like we were moving forward. I FEEL VERY CONFIDENT But now, you can’t just say OK on this date THAT WHEN THE we will have an event or INDUSTRY COMES let’s play ball and let’s get the Royals out there. BACK, WE CAN It’s challenging to DISINFECT AND manage everything because the facility expenses SANITIZE AND ACCEPT go on whether you have PEOPLE INTO THE events or not. There have been discussions in the BUILDING. BUT I’M national media about how NOT SURE WHAT THE refunds are being handled, and there have been PROTOCOL WILL BE. changes, new policies. People are short of cash and maybe having concert tickets today isn’t as important as it used to be. They need the cash instead of the ticket. I’m happy that’s been taken care of. I’m very confident that when the industry comes back, we can disinfect and sanitize and accept people into the building. But I’m not sure what the protocol will be. Will there be social distancing and what will it need to look like? It might be that we sell every other seat or every other row. Some of those conversations are just now taking place because we all have time on our hands. The NHL and NBA will probably set the tone for how we will move forward.
MAY 2020
Kwanza Humphrey artist and user-experience designer at Cerner I don’t think in my lifetime I’ve ever seen everyone on the globe dealing with the same challenge. It is not a Democrat thing, or a Republican one, or a racial one. Everybody has to deal with it. And then there are the layers and complexities within. When you have money, you’re able to do more and be safer, and if you don’t have money, you can’t. But in some way, everyone has to deal with the pandemic.
I DON’T THINK IN MY LIFETIME I’VE EVER SEEN EVERYONE ON THE GLOBE DEALING WITH THE SAME CHALLENGE. IT IS NOT A DEMOCRAT THING, OR A REPUBLICAN ONE, OR A RACIAL ONE. EVERYBODY HAS TO DEAL WITH IT.
Right now, I think about the everyday. The hustle and lack of cars on the street. Now I’m always seeing the road and the empty parking lots. But I see more people actually walking. It’s transitioned. Now it’s people rushing back and forth instead of cars. I see the individuals. Early on at Cerner they suggested that everyone work from home. Then I just started coming in here to the studio [at Cerner] to do my work during the day and my art at night. My day job is all digital and thinking about the user. The artwork is thinking about the experience. Some of my favorite works of art are timeless and have universal themes. That’s why I like to focus on portraits. People can tell a story just by the way they look. Art is an interactive medium. It’s not like a physical interaction, but I think of it more as a mental interaction. As a viewer, you have your own preconceived ways of seeing things that comes from your history. I like to leave it somewhat open. I don’t want to necessarily dictate everything, I want to leave it open to interpretation. It gives the viewer a say in it as well.
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Lila Tulp senior at Shawnee Mission East High School and co-editor of The Harbinger
Dr. Wayne Hunthausen doctor of veterinary medicine, Westwood Animal Hospital As a small business owner, I have concerns. I have a great staff that I really want to keep employed. We are still exploring, but one of things that we have thought about is dividing the staff into two teams. They would work in shifts, but always with their team. If someone on one team became infected and PETS ARE GREAT possibly exposed their team, we STRESS RELIEVERS. would still have the other team. At the hospital, we are trying EVEN JUST to limit our services to only needTOUCHING AND ed services. Just like the human hospitals, we are trying to postSTROKING A PET pone any unnecessary procedures. BRINGS BLOOD When someone pulls up with a pet, we have a masked PRESSURE DOWN and gowned staff person take AND DECREASES the pet from the owner, put a new leash on it and guide the THE HEART RATE pet into the hospital. IN THE PERSON. And then we’ll have the conversations that we need to OWNING A PET have—gathering more informaHAS MENTAL AND tion—by phone with the owner, who’s usually waiting in the PHYSIOLOGICAL parking lot. BENEFITS. It takes more time to see an animal that way. We have about half the appointment times available than we’ve had in the past. Pets are great stress relievers. Even just touching and stroking a pet brings a person’s blood pressure down and decreases their heart rate. Owning a pet has mental and physiological benefits. My dog is getting a lot more attention right now.
MAY 2020
I plan on going to the University of Missouri where I’m going to study strategic communications in the journalism school, but they’ve already canceled orientation. There are talks about not having classes this fall. Definitely everything is fluid right now. I’m preparing myself for anything. But I
I HAVEN’T PLANNED ANYTHING PAST GOING ON A WALK WITH MY FRIENDS TOMORROW. IT’S JUST ONE DAY AT A TIME.
know that once one school drops, most are going to follow. And there is talk about it [COVID-19] coming back and resurfacing in the fall. I haven’t planned anything past going on a walk with my friends tomorrow. It’s just one day at a time. We’re still producing the print issues of the school paper. We usually print about 2,000 copies; that’s gone down to approximately 200, and it’s posted online. That’s been keeping me busy. We do 16 editions every year. This was our 15th. It’s like our senior issue. Everything is just weird because you don’t know when you’ll see everybody again, but I feel that keeping the paper going is like keeping our school together. It’s bringing some normalcy to everyone. I think it’s better to not try to figure out when it’s going to end, but to try to do your part in ending it. I’ve been going on walks with my friends, but we will be on different sides of the street. We also have car circles where everyone is in a different car; we park our cars and hang out. Everybody is adapting because there aren’t other options—we’re all in the same boat. There isn’t a single person who isn’t facing the same things. The most important part is being able to adapt.
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words by
Kelsey Cipolla
An Industry in Crisis RESTAURANTS AND BARS ARE SOME OF THE BUSINESSES HARDEST HIT BY THE PANDEMIC. HERE’S HOW SEVEN INDUSTRY LEADERS TACKLED IT
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T
his spring, COVID-19 precautions changed daily life for everyone in Kansas City. Those in the food and beverage industry were hit especially hard as restaurants and bars limited operations or closed, and many establishments found themselves forced to lay off employees. Keely Edgington, co-owner of the Westport cocktail bar Julep, opted to shut its doors during the crisis, while Chris Meyers, co-founder of Crane Brewing Co., and Isaac Hodges, president of Messenger Coffee, looked for ways to safely adapt their businesses. Rachel Kennedy, co-developer of North Kansas City’s collaborative outdoor food, beverage, and retail space Iron District and owner of Plantain District, hit the brakes on a grand reopening. Meanwhile, new initiatives emerged to support KC restaurants and hospitality workers. The Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange shifted to operate as a community kitchen, explains general manager Kyle Bennett. Open Belly podcast creator Danielle Lehman started Curbside KC, an online directory of what local bars and restaurants are offering during the pandemic, which is designed to help connect businesses with their customers. And after losing his job as the executive chef at Plate, Clark Grant co-founded the KC Hospitality Support Initiative, selling T-shirts to raise
grocery money for service industry workers. Through a series of separate conversations in mid-April, these seven Kansas Citians shared their experiences navigating the industry during this unprecedented pandemic.
Before businesses open to the public were officially forced to close, owners were already reacting to COVID-19, many during the week of March 9. RESPONDING TO COVID-19 Rachel Kennedy: We launched last October and were open for about six weeks. And then we were going to have our grand reopening on Snake Saturday, March 14. That was the week when restrictions started getting tighter and we were starting to learn more about COVID-19. The big parade in North Kansas City was canceled, so we obviously halted our grand opening for the safety of ourselves and for the patrons as well. Kyle Bennett: That weekend was when the uptick of concern really started to become noticeable in a restaurant. We saw a huge
impact on business throughout that weekend as concerns of the nation were public safety; public health definitely was a big discussion. Fast-forward, that Monday was when we started seeing other restaurants talking about going to curbside to-go, making decisions to essentially stop or transform their normal style of business. As we were trying to stay ahead of everything, we made the decision to stop normal services, but take it a step forward as we recognized the potential for a need to feed our community in a different way than what the Rieger would normally. On the 16th we sat down as a team. Howard [Hanna, chef-owner] and our director of operations, Becki [Ford], met earlier in the day and they had made the decision to make that call and transform. That night we started feeding people as Crossroads Community Kitchen. Keely Edgington: Realizing that it was for sure going to happen, not just something we thought was going to happen, was probably about ten days before we shut down. I knew it was on the horizon. I told my employees to save everything you make from here on out. Don’t spend a dime. I was hoping we’d have a little bit more time so they could save up one pay period’s worth of money, but no, not quite. Christopher Meyers: We pretty much immediately got emails from all our distribu-
Kyle Bennett
Keely Edgington co-owner
Clark Grant
Isaac Hodges
Rachel Kennedy
Danielle Lehman
Chris Meyers
general manager
The Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange
Julep
KC Hospitality Support Initiative
Messenger Coffee
Iron District
Open Belly
Crane Brewing Co.
co-founder
president
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co-developer
podcast creator
co-founder
tors—we had two orders ready to go—saying those orders are canceled and any orders for the foreseeable future are also going to be canceled. Isaac Hodges: The week of the 16th, we had the layoffs starting to happen for our business. It’s the hardest thing ever when you let go of anyone, let alone over 100 employees have to be let go. That week was horrific and awful, and I really hope we never have to go through anything like that again.
Clark Grant and his wife were both laid off the week of St. Patrick’s Day along with numerous others in the service industry. Inspired to help, Grant started the KC Hospitality Support Initiative, which sells T-shirts to raise money for grocery gift cards raffled off to unemployed and underemployed service industry workers. Clark Grant: We sold 640 shirts in exactly three weeks. We’ve had about $4,000 in donations. We’re doing pretty well with people helping us out, but the more we can spread the word, the more we can get money out to people. Even after today, I still had over 400 applicants who hadn’t received a gift card yet. If nothing else, you’re giving people something to look forward to when they wake up in the morning. They go and check their email and see if they’ve won—anything that can take your mind off it. That’s really what our focus is: Helping people eat during this time, making sure people have groceries. Bennett: That first night, we sent a message out that Crossroads Community Kitchen is going to be operating from 4 to 6; anybody who needs a meal can show up at the restaurant and we’ll prepare it for you to go on a pay-asyou’re-able basis, no questions asked, and we’ll take donations if you want to give them to us,
The Rieger switched gears to become Crossroads Community Kitchen, serving meals to the food insecure people of Kansas City.
but it’s obviously not a requirement. On an average day, we’re serving anywhere from 500 to 1,000 people right now.
To bring in some revenue, many businesses transitioned to offering carry-out, curbside pick-up or delivery, while others shut down entirely. ADAPTING TO THE UPHEAVAL Danielle Lehman: As a consumer, I felt like it was pretty confusing to figure out who was offering what, and everything was changing super quickly. Unless you were closely monitoring each restaurant’s social-media feed, it was hard to tell what the latest information was. A lot of my friends who own restaurants were concerned about how to get the
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word out and I, of course, just wanted to do anything I could to help them. I suggested, “What if I just set up a website where you guys could list what your current hours are, what you’re offering—would that be helpful?” They were kind of like, “Yeah, why not?” Now we’ve had over 100,000 unique visitors on the site since it launched a few weeks ago, and we have over 1,200 restaurants in the database. I had no idea it was going to become that much of a crucial communication channel for people. Meyers: We initially planned to completely shut down. We went back realizing that as long as we can still sell beer in the taproom, we’re nowhere near at full production but we can at least try and fill a tank, keep something going to have some new stuff to keep people interested. Edgington: I knew we had the option to do delivery and cocktails to-go and things like that, but it’s not extremely profitable.
With the money raised from T-shirt sales, KC Hospitality Support Initiative provides grocerystore gift cards for hospitality professionals in need. Monarch Coffee made the hard choice to lay off some employees, but the roasting team is still hard at work to meet online orders.
It’s all about risk—you’d make a little bit of money, but it’s not going to be enough to make things operational, and you’re putting yourself and whoever that person is at risk because they’re still dealing with the public. It was our feeling that it was more responsible to just shut down all together and wait it out. Hodges: I think our biggest focus has been to maintain the business, because we knew what our run rate looked like and we knew we needed to maintain revenue coming in, so the online revenue generating has been extremely helpful for us. Our online sales are up 280 percent over the previous 30 days. Kennedy: With the current situation, our vendors and our patrons aren’t able to experience the benefits of what Iron District truly offers until summer at the earliest, no matter how worthy our concepts are. To help kind of bridge the gap for vendors we launched the Container Club Membership Program. In a
nutshell, you’re basically purchasing an invite to attend one of our 2020 private parties and that features a taste of Iron District.
With the course of COVID-19 still uncertain, businesses have little sense of when they may be able to reopen or what it will look like for them and the rest of the industry. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE Bennett: We’re still in the middle of this, and I don’t think we’ve seen the worst of what it’s going to be. Things are changing by the week, and I think they’re going to continue to do so until they don’t, I guess. It’s really hard to put a timeline in place,
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and that has a huge impact. Hodges: We can kind of move things around to keep our business afloat. But like in Lawrence, our partner Wake the Dead is completely out of business. She’s selling everything off. It’s hard to see a lot of small businesses that won’t ever recover. I just don’t know how we support businesses like that moving forward in a different kind of way. Edgington: This isn’t great for any business, but we’re lucky that we had a bit of a safety net built up—most restaurants and bars are not built to sustain this at all. If this happens again later in the year, I don’t know what that looks like. It’s going to be really hard. We have no cash flow. There’s zero cash flow now, essentially. I think once we do open back up, every single penny that we make, we have to be thinking this will happen again in the fall. We have to be prepared for that, just in case. And maybe again next spring. As long as there isn’t a vaccine, this industry isn’t safe.
Orange Pop A PRAIRIE VILLAGE MIDCENTURY-MODERN HOME GOES GRAPHIC, BOLD, IMPACTFUL—AND FUN Judith Fertig Aaron Leimkuehler
words by photos by
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“I’m a vintage and estate sale addict,” Jacquie Gering says with a laugh. Some of her finds include the Knoll-fabric upholstered Danish-modern armchairs and the Albers fabric throw pillows on the sofa.
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A West Bottoms vintage shop was the source for the Formica-topped dining room table, while the midcentury chairs were found on Craigslist. “Grandfather” clock is from CB2.
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The double-sided stone fireplace with its classic Drummond chimney is original to the house. The Fusion pool table is adjustable and can convert to a dining table.
I
n 1958, “The Castilian” became an unlikely TV star. The design for this modern house in Prairie Village appeared on an NBC network TV show called Home. Designed by the California architects A. Quincy Jones and Fredrick Emmons, it was built by Kansas City’s Don Drummond. Its modified “H” layout, with a private wing of bedrooms and baths, a public wing of living and dining, and a kitchen in the middle, showed America how patio daddy-o’s wanted to live. Today’s cool kids can find midcentury-modern Drummond homes throughout Kansas City’s older suburbs. Drummond built more than a thousand homes in the metro. Artist Jacquie Gering and her educational consultant husband, Steve Gering, found theirs in 2018, moving from a Westside condo. “As soon as I walked in, I knew this was my house,” recalls Jacquie Gering. As a designer of contemporary quilts, Gering quickly saw the potential
In the family room, Gering framed 24 prints from Mike Joyce’s Swissted book.
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In the kitchen, the original-to-the-house cabinetry was painted by a previous owner. The stainless-steel island is from Ikea.
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Above: At the entrance, the vintage sewing machine fronts walls papered in Scion’s midcentury-inspired “Waris” pattern. Left: Sideways, the couple’s rottweiler/Newfie mix, poses at the hallway that separates the public wing from the private wing of the home.
in the mahogany paneling, window walls, and cork floors. “The flow is spectacular,” she says. So is the indoor/outdoor feel. In winter, when she and Steve sip coffee and read The New York Times in front of the double-sided fireplace, “We feel like we’re in a snow globe.” Although the couple respects the 1950s design, “We don’t want to live in a museum,” says Gering. Some things had to go, namely the heavy draperies, brown blinds, and a ’90s bathroom from a previous owner. In came discreet roller shades that practically disappear and a new bath with a modernist edge. Now, when you walk in the front door and see the vintage Singer sewing machine against a backdrop of atomic-themed wallpaper, you “get” what this house is about. Orange is a neutral. Jacquie’s graphic quilts—“Homage” to artist Josef Albers and “The March of One” inspired by the Women’s March, with its own homage to the minimal realism of Charley Harper—hang on the living room walls. A green sofa from Retro Inferno, orange chairs she picked up at an estate sale, and a recliner from Design Within Reach continue the modernist vibe. In the dining area, a Formica-topped table
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In Gering’s studio, her “Chomp” quilt is displayed over Ferm Living’s “Half Moon” wallcovering. Two midcentury white leather armchairs sit on a rug from Ikea.
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A quilt honoring the Japanese quilt artist Yoshiko Jinzenji holds pride of place in the master bedroom. Gering found the floor lamp, a vintage obstetrics lamp, in an East Bottoms antique shop.
stays true to midcentury materials. Clocks in all shapes, sizes, and colors—the favorite way to tell time in the 1950s—pop up everywhere. The family room’s minimalist pool table—perfect for when the couple’s grown sons visit—is lined in orange felt. Two chartreuse barrel chairs swivel to the fireplace. Along one wall hang framed graphic prints from Swissted by Mike Joyce, a book of rock n’ roll posters reimagined in Swiss modern. “I’m obsessively organized,” admits Gering. “I love repetition. I find it calming.” The small, tidy kitchen is brightened by turquoise and pale green sliding doors on the pantry cabinets, and a turquoise metal bread box (full of dog treats for Sideways, their rottweiler/Newfie mix) on a stainless-steel cart functioning as an island. What was the master bedroom is now Gering’s studio, with a long wall where she can pin up new designs. An orangey-red and white graphic quilt “Chomp,” black-and-white half-moon wallpaper, and a rainbow-banded Ikea rug provide the visual punches. Gering’s style is changeable rather than static, no better illustrated than in
MAY 2020
Above top: “That’s my Orla Kiely collection room,” Gering says of the bathroom filled with Kiely designs, including the clocks, the pillow, and the towels. Above: Vibrant yellow tile, a collaboration between Mod Walls and the artist Rex Ray, clads the walls in a second bath.
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what is now the master bedroom. “I change quilts and pillows all the time for a completely new look,” she says. In one bath, a space-age vanity and towels in an Orla Kiely pattern stand out against earth-toned mosaic tile on walls and floor. When Gering asked for Formica on the vanity and orange Rex Ray tile from ModWalls when she renovated a second bath, the Studio Build team didn’t blink. A Danish modern Louis Poulsen pendant light completes the look. “I believe a house should reflect who its owners are,” says Gering. And through these new homeowners, The Castilian shows a more playful, upbeat side to its personality.
One wall of Gering’s studio is designed for works in progress. The pair of bright orange Eames dowel-legged chairs are reproductions from Design Within Reach.
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lee norman continued from page
63
based discussion and not an internet-based discussion as to what the material risks really are. And three, see what is the common ground that we can agree on in order to increase the likelihood of herd immunity—I think it can be achieved through vaccination. Two years ago, when you were Kansas State Surgeon, you gave a speech at Ft. Leavenworth entitled “Modern epidemics: Why they occur, and why we should worry!” The exclamation point struck me as unusual in a scientific presentation. Was that intentional? Yes. I saw this coming. I didn’t know that it would be a coronavirus, but I knew that a modern-day epidemic is not only a health threat but a national security threat. Do you have any theories about why people failed to take the threat seriously two years ago? Well, I think it’s because these kinds of things seem remote when they’re not happening. It’s kind of like tornado insurance. People don’t think of it until it happens to them. I think also, that when we have leaders that don’t listen to science and don’t plan based on good scientific forecasting, it takes us down a different path. Was there an aspect of the crisis that you did not see coming? Yes, the supply-chain issues. We rely heavily on China for much of our pharmaceuticals and so on. I certainly didn’t see that the supply chain would be so disrupted by having China be so disrupted. It seemed like
an endless flow of goods from there, and then, quickly, it was cut off. It’s a wake-up call. We need to diversify our supply chain. Is that something that can happen at the state level or does that need to come from the federal government? I think it has to come from both, really. I think there need to be incentives for diversifying. Quite honestly, it’s profit-driven. Things coming from China are cheaper than things made in the United States. We can talk about “made in America” all we want to but until companies are willing to pull that manufacturing back home and reduce their profit margins, we don’t have any Plan B or Plan C for the next time that chain gets disrupted. And we haven’t seen the worst of it yet. On the pharmaceutical side, there are things not even related to COVID-19 that are going to be problems for us, things like anesthetic agents and paralytic agents we use for putting people on ventilators. When we turn the switch back on for elective surgery, we’re not going to have enough pharmaceuticals for the kind of anesthesia that we’re accustomed to. Why is it taking so long to get to a vaccine? SARS, which hit back in 2003, was a coronavirus, and it fizzled out quickly. Once that happened, it was no longer profitable to work on a coronavirus vaccine. Better planning would have been to say, “We know it could happen again, let’s get a coronavirus vaccine.” But it’s hard for a government or an administration to take credit for something that doesn’t happen. Let’s say in ’03 and ’04 that we had
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continued with a coronavirus vaccine, implemented it as a routine. People would say, “Why are we spending money on something that’s not even around anymore? We should be worrying about influenza.” Will we be contending with COVID-19 in the future, after the current outbreak is controlled? Yes, I think this will continue. I was deployed in the Middle East in 2017 and 2018. There’s a respiratory coronavirus there, and it didn’t peak out until its fourth year. There’s still no vaccine and it’s still grinding along in its seventh year. What gives you hope? We have a number of things on our side. Spring and summer are coming, and respiratory illnesses tend to decrease in spring and summer, so I expect we will see a natural decline. I fear we will see an uptick when people start relaxing their stay-at-home and social distancing behaviors. I fully expect it will come back in the fall. If we look at other pandemics, history even suggests it will come back larger in the fall. I don’t think a vaccine will be available by this fall. If you expect it will come back even bigger in the fall, why should people not despair? I think the pause will give us time to regroup. I think in relatively short order we’ll be able to relax on staying at home. I think eventually businesses and work will recur. The economy will take an uptick. People will be able to go to restaurants and socialize and go to church. I also think
the breather will allow us to restock the supply chain, so we don’t have to ration protective equipment. Your son in Brooklyn came down with coronavirus and has recovered. What were his symptoms like? Curiously, the first thing he noticed was that he couldn’t smell anything, and he lost his sense of taste. Then it moved into the usual stuff with fever and cough, chest pain and body aches, headache. He was never in peril, and he has returned to work, but he was down and out for 15 days. It was not a fun trip for him. You’ve been working 16-hour days. How has that impacted you personally? [long inhale] Yeah. This has been hard. When I was deployed with the Army in the Middle East in 2017 and 2018, I had a big responsibility and a big area of operation. This absolutely feels like deployment again. It’s a single-minded focus in a very complicated theater with lots of moving parts. What do you most look forward to getting back to, when life returns to normal? The thing that I enjoyed more than anything when I was in the Middle East was doing laundry. That felt familiar, like back home. Sitting and listening to the rumbling machine while I’m reading my novel and smelling fresh, clean laundry. Interview condensed and minimally edited for clarity.
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Flavor
IN KC
In the Kitchen
NECESSITY SALAD
BY
Cody Hogan
PHOTOS BY
N
eedless to say, over the course of the past couple of months, most people have spent considerably more time cooking and eating at home than possibly at any other time in their lives. If we’ve learned anything, it’s the value of a well-stocked pantry and the necessity for thinking outside the box when cooking. We’ve also been reminded of the value of frugality and of our mothers’ and grandmothers’ admonitions to not waste food. When leaving home is to be avoided, and a trip to the market or grocery store is a potential health hazard, foodstuffs previously deemed too much of a hassle to manage or scraps destined for the waste bin have newly appreciated value. Taking stock of the pantry and fridge has become second nature to many who previously never gave much consideration—if any—to the contents of their home larder. As a professional chef—not to mention as someone who writes a monthly column about things to have in the pantry—my pantry is well stocked most of the time. I am also—as are most chefs I know—thrifty. One dish that appeals to my sense of thrift and to the contents of my pantry, even in its barest state, is a rice salad. A salad doesn’t have to be about fresh greens. It is almost more about a sense of freshness. That sense can come from acidity in the salad’s dressing or from a crispy crunchy texture of some of the ingredients, or even from piquant peppers or seasonings. Rice—or just about any other grain for that matter—can be a perfect vehicle for what might normally be considered a meager salad, one with a minimum of fresh ingredients (maybe none!), but one that is tasty nonetheless. COVID-19 has made more resourceful cooks of us all, especially when presented with the parameters of our own pantries. Since a little digging in most cupboards should uncover some type of rice, bean or grain, don’t let necessity be an obstacle. Let it be a launching point for a satisfying meal. Rice Salad My favorite method for cooking rice (and most other grains) for a salad is to bring water to a boil with salt, a couple of bay leaves (fresh or dried) and some extra-virgin olive oil (only the water is absolutely necessary—the flavorings are just a nice addition). Add the rice and cook until tender but firm (one cup raw yields about two cups cooked). Do not overcook—very important. Overcooked rice has a flabby texture
MAY 2020
Aaron Leimkuehler
which has no place in a salad.* If using white rice, this will take approximately ten minutes based on the variety of rice—whole-grain rice could take up to 40 minutes or more. Drain the rice, reserving the water to blanch vegetables if needed. Spread the rice on a plate or baking sheet to cool. If you have a fresh or frozen vegetable or two, now’s the time to use them. I like frozen peas and baby lima beans, and usually have some of those lurking in the freezer. Add a handful or two of them to the reserved rice-cooking water and cook until done to your liking. Drain the vegetables—possibly reserving the liquid for either poaching more ingredients, or to use as a base for soup—and add to the cooked rice. Your fridge and pantry can provide the rest of the ingredients. For proteins, try cured meats like salami, ham, or prosciutto, diced or cut into matchsticks. A ricebased salad is a great venue for leftover roast or grilled chicken or fish. Other sources of pantry protein could be canned tuna, anchovies, marinated sardines, or little frozen shrimp (poached in that handy leftover rice water). Don’t forget eggs—hard-boiled would be perfect. And nuts—a great source of protein and texture. Cubes of your favorite (meaning “whatever you have on hand”) cheese add substance and savor to the salad, as can grated cheese stirred in at the end. For bright flavors and bite, try pickled vegetables (maybe that jar of Giardiniera hanging out in the door of your fridge), capers, and/or olives, and that jar of pesto could stand in for fresh herbs if you don’t have any. Leftover grilled, marinated vegetables would be equally at home, as would roasted peppers and sun-dried tomatoes. The dressing, at its most simple, would be good extra-virgin olive oil and wine vinegar of some type, but once again, is limited only by your pantry and imagination. Rice vinegar and sesame or peanut oil could take you in the direction of deconstructed sushi, and apple cider vinegar and walnut oil could take you straight to France. You decide the theme based on your ingredients and turn necessity into triumph. *If you cook it that far, the only thing to do is keep cooking it until you make almost a puree and turn it into a soup. For inspiration for the thrifty and inspired culinary lifestyle, Tamar Adler, in her eloquent book An Everlasting Meal: Cooking with Economy and Grace, explains the essence of cooking and living with what is available, avoiding waste, and culinary accidents.
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In Your Pantry VERSATILITY WITH GRAINS When weather, a lean wallet, pandemic, or time necessitate cooking from the pantry, a sense of freedom from recipe constraints is an absolute must. Be willing to freestyle a little with the variety of rice, grain, bean, or flour called for.
Carnaroli Rice It’s not just for risotto anymore. Carnaroli rice, a medium-grained Italian/Japanese rice hybrid, has the perfect starch content for risotto—better even than its more famous cousin Arborio. It is also extremely versatile thanks to its resilient texture and starch content. Great for soups, salads or just about any rice application.
TO—GO PACKAGES N O W AVA I L A B L E F O R CURBSIDE PICKUP
Oat Groats They’re not just for horses anymore. Groats are minimally processed grains (in this case, from oats). Having only the hull removed, groats preserve all of the nutritional value of the grain and have a hearty, chewy, almost meat-like texture. Great for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or dessert applications. Just plan ahead—they benefit from overnight soaking and a 40-minute cook time.
Horse Lentils Despite the name, also not necessarily just for horses (although horses would undoubtedly appreciate them). Also known as horse gram, they look like tiny, flat black-eyed peas—and without close inspection could be mistaken for regular brown lentils. The most protein-rich lentil found on the planet, they have extremely high levels of many nutrients. These lentils are traditionally used for medicinal purposes. They differ significantly in an extremely long presoak and cooking time. Be warned—horse lentils require a long soaking and extended cooking time of several hours.
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Instant Brown Rice Don’t be a food snob. When you’re hungry and run across that ancient and forgotten box of instant rice in the very back of the cupboard, think of it as an opportunity to be creative and pat yourself on the back for being resourceful. Use it where its texture isn’t playing a key role in a dish, like a binder for meatloaf, the filling starch for a frittata, or in a creamy sweet pudding.
MAY 2020
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SPONSORED CONTENT
A COCKTAIL PARTY PRIMER FROM THE HEARTLAND By Katie Van Luchene
Produced Spirit,” and Tastings.com described it as an uplifting, smooth, fantastically clean vodka. At the most recent national SIP Awards, TILL took home Gold. TILL’s creamy mouthfeel lends itself to sipping straight over ice, chilled from the freezer, or simply mixed with a flavored sparkling water like grapefruit or key lime. When you’re not in the mood for fancy mixology, just pour over ice (soda, tonic and garnish optional) and relax.
In Person or Online, Creativity is Key
T
hese days, the words “cocktail party” may mean cocktails at home for two or hosting a virtual happy hour over Zoom. But that doesn’t mean the home-bound happy hour can’t be delicious and fun. Many of the same traditions and techniques are still in play—and it’s a great way to test out recipes for that time when we can gather in large groups again. And we’ll drink to that! In either case, choosing liquor with versatility is key. From a bracing Bloody Mary at brunch, classic martini at five-ish, or a Black Russian to end the evening, no spirit lends itself to a variety of drinks as well as vodka.
Farm to Cocktail If your eyes cross while perusing shelves of vodkas at the liquor store, default to the #BuyLocal refrain used to celebrate products made in our own backyard. That’s where TILL American Wheat Vodka shines. TILL is distilled in Atchison, Kansas, made from farm-grown Kansas wheat, known worldwide for its quality. Even the distinctive, frosted glass bottle shows off its pride of place with a graphic of a farmer tilling the soil. But don’t base your choice of vodka on local loyalty alone. TILL has won a number of prestigious awards for its velvety, full-bodied taste with natural hints of orange zest and vanilla. It’s also responsibly made; the distillery gets 100% of its electricity from wind power, one of many sustainable practices in place. USA Today named TILL the “Best Kansas
Now back to that cocktail gathering, which for the foreseeable future could be a virtual party via Zoom, FaceTime or Google Hangouts. No matter the method, follow the same social niceties you would for an in-person event. Send out online invitations and include the video link, a theme (which might mandate dressing up for the first time in weeks) and the recipe for your signature cocktail. Or encourage guests to create their own drinks with prizes for the best one or the most lavish garnishes. Give your signature cocktail a clever name based on your party’s theme or the guest of honor such as Digital Divas. Even if the gathering is more intimate than usual or celebrated in all-digital spirit, make it special. Use your best glassware or look for cool, retro highball glasses at area antique shops (they’ll be happy to take your order online!) Garnish your drinks with sliced citrus, berries or fresh herbs. Try different olives stuffed with jalapenos or blue cheese in a martini.
Vodka Versatility As for what to serve, visit TILLVodka.com for dozens of recipes from savory to sweet. A few cocktails call for infused syrups, which are easy to make at home. TILL is sourced from wonderful, local ingredients. Keep the theme going and make your own infusions with berries and herbs. For mixology made simple, local company Boozy Botanicals (available from Made in KC and Whole Foods) has a variety of syrups infused with flowers, herbs, and spices. Rosemary Mint is delicious mixed with vodka (one part Boozy, two parts TILL). If your guests are all in town (even next door or down the street), consider having cocktail ingredients delivered to their doors the day before the party: a bottle of TILL Vodka along with mixers and garnishes including lemons or limes. Add sprigs of fresh herbs or a small pot of rosemary or mint to keep as “party favors” to retain your hostess of the year status. And the bonus? There’s no clean up!
A Toast to Future Parties And finally, when it comes time for a toast—whether in person or via Skype—replace the Russian “Na Zdorovia” in favor of a phrase that honors the vodka made from Kansas wheat. Clink your glasses at the end of the evening and say, “TILL we meet again.”
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IN KC
M
In Your Cocktail BOOZY BOTANICALS by
Kelsey Cipolla
MAY 2020
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aking a drink that tastes delicious at home doesn’t need to be complicated. Just ask Cheryl Bisbee, the founder of Boozy Botanicals. Her company produces smallbatch syrups designed to make whipping up a round of cocktails approachable. “People don’t think that they can do it when really they can,” Bisbee says. “It just takes one more ingredient to make their cocktail just as good, just as fun, just as different or unique as something they’re going to get in the craft cocktail bar.” A self-described “huge foodie” who loves to cook and entertain, Bisbee would often try recreating elaborate drinks inspired by her latest find at a cocktail lounge. At the same time, she was feeling restless in her career as a lawyer and was ready to make a change. “I’ve never been a bartender, but I started looking at all these cocktail ingredients on the cocktail menus and thinking, ‘How can I make this thing with fourteen different ingredients and liqueurs I know I don’t have in my home bar? How can I create that at home fairly easily without buying a bunch of ingredients that I may or may not ever use again?’” The answer she came up with was infusing syrups with flavors she didn’t see already available. Her first batch was made using ingredients she had on hand: A pot of rosemary on her deck, mint growing throughout her garden and fragrant roses from her natural-gardening neighbor’s bushes. Those evolved into her first products—herbal and savory rosemary mint syrup and the aromatic classic rose syrup. Boozy Botanicals was born.
“Everyone in my life thought I was completely crazy,” Bisbee says. She worried whether she had the credibility to enter the cocktail space, “but that was kind of the point. With Boozy Botanicals, I wanted to make the craft cocktail more accessible.” Bisbee figured out the food manufacturing process and homed in on the ingredients she wanted—certified organic cane sugar serves as the base, while lemon juice acts as a preservative, allowing the syrups to be all natural. Still, Boozy Botanicals has been a bit of a slow burn. Bisbee sold her first bottles of syrup in 2015 but didn’t fully focus on the business until mid-2016. Since then, she’s worked on establishing the brand in the Kansas City market and beyond. Her syrups are available online and at stores throughout the Kansas City area as well as at several retailers in Colorado and Nebraska. The company’s line of flavors has expanded too, highlighting an array of other herbs, spices, and florals. There’s a smoky vanilla allspice syrup and a cardamom spice (which initially featured saffron as an ingredient, until Bisbee realized how costly the spice would be for large batches). Other offerings include ginger hibiscus, lavender earl grey and the sweet and spicy three pepper syrup, which replaces the traditional orange liqueur in Boozy’s simple version of a margarita. “This syrup is infused with jalapeño, serrano, and Anaheim peppers and gives the drink a uniquely flavored sweet heat,” Bisbee says. For best results, she recommends using a quality silver tequila and fresh lime juice. Frozen berries help keep things cool and provide an unexpected visual pop.boozybotanicals.com
Three Pepper Margarita 2 ½
ounces tequila ounce Three Pepper syrup Juice from one fresh squeezed lime
Combine everything in a shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into glass filled with ice and frozen cranberries (any frozen berries will work). Garnish with jalapeño slice and top with a splash of club soda.
Support Local Buy Local IN Kansas City thrives because of our local content and most importantly, our local advertisers, both online and in the magazine. In this time of uncertainty, please shop local, eat local, and do whatever you can to support local Kansas City businesses. Keep calm, observe all preparedness advice, and carry on!
MAY 2020
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Flavor BY
IN KC
Kelsey Cipolla
MONARCH COFFEE IT’S EASIER than ever to get what Food & Wine her-
In Culinary News
alded as Missouri’s most exciting java at Monarch Coffee. The company opened a second café this February in the sleek, modern 2345 Grand Boulevard space remodeled by Helix Architecture + Design, conceived with plenty of space to spread out with a laptop and a refreshment. Monarch’s new location features a menu familiar to fans of its flagship shop, including top-tier coffee and espresso drinks, plus a variety of cozy tea lattes, an uber-trendy turmeric latte and kid-friendly beverages. The Monarch crew also serves up an impressive seasonal rotation of cocktail-inspired specialty drinks. On deck for spring? The Lavish Mocha, made with white chocolate and lavender and garnished with gold and blackberries. monarchcoffeekc.com Editor’s Note: During the stay-at-home order, Monarch Coffee is serving to-go only.
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Circle of Lights A Virtual Ceremony of Remembrance May 19, 2020
Remember your loved one by requesting a candle to be lit in their name.
MAY 19, 2020, 8PM CST Gather in remembrance at Circle of Lights, a Virtual Ceremony of Remembrance.
Request a remembrance candle for your loved one here: KCHospice.org/we-remember For assistance, call (816)276-2617
Flavor BY
IN KC
Kelsey Cipolla
SWEET COMBFORTS & WINGMAN KC IF YOUR IDEA of a waffle pops out of a toaster, prepare
In Culinary News
to have your mind blown. Sweet Combforts (4117 Pennsylvania Ave.) pays tribute to the traditional liege waffle with honeycomb-patterned treats paired with premium toppings. The concept has worked its way from Coachella to Kansas City, where you can now enjoy confections like the Bam Bam, covered with fruity pebbles, cheesecake bites and white chocolate, and the Churro Crunch, rolled in cinnamon-sugar and topped with Cinnamon Toast Crunch and a cream-cheese drizzle. But the fun doesn’t stop there—Sweet Combforts shares its space with Wingman, a chicken spot that combines American and Asian influences to create dishes like a fried chicken and kimchi sandwich and a rice platter that comes with wings sweetcombfortskc.com & 1800hotlinewing.com Editor’s Note: Sweet Combforts & Wingman KC are open for pick-up orders and delvery only.
Play with Fire A drink in hand. Some roasted marshmallows for the kids. Legs stretched out or snuggled under a blanket. Much-needed chill nights call for a gorgeous, relaxing fire pit. Visit us for backyard fire feature inspiration. Trust us for creating your custom-designed fire pit lounge.
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MAY 2020
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Flavor by
IN KC
Kelsey Cipolla
APOGEE COFFEE & DRAFT QUAY COFFEE FOUNDER Cory Stipp’s lat-
In Culinary News
est project is leading him to new heights. Apogee, a café and bar that takes its name from an astronomy term denoting the point in the orbit of a heavenly body which it is farthest from the earth, is part of ROKC’s recently opened Olathe climbing facility (654 N Central St.). Guests can expect the same high-quality coffee they came to know and love at Quay, along with much more, including a bar program focused on craft beer and whiskey and a menu of pastries and breakfast burritos for a.m. guests and heartier fare like salads, sandwiches and pizza for lunch and dinner. “I just wanted it to be approachable to a person coming in to get a cup of coffee, or someone who just got done climbing and wants to grab a beer,” Stipp explains. apogeekc.com Editor’s Note: Apogee Coffee & Draft has delayed its opening date.
MAY 2020
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Reservation for One SEVEN SWANS CRÊPERIE by
O
Kelsey Cipolla
nce upon a time, there was a food truck that delighted Kansas Citians with its inventive crêpes. People loved the food truck so much, they helped raise money to bring it to life as a restaurant where guests could always find it. And they lived happily ever after, full and satisfied. OK, so Seven Swans Crêperie’s origin story isn’t exactly a fairytale, but you feel like you’ve stepped into one when you enter the Westside eatery. Its mismatched wood tables and chairs contribute to the sense
MAY 2020
that you’ve wandered off the beaten path into the modern-day version of an enchanted cottage. Nods to its namesake waterfowl are visible in the gentle curve of an ornate light fixture and the minimalist mugs. That softness is juxtaposed with unfinished walls and hodgepodge of color and texture—a patterned wallpaper here, a wood paneled wall there, and pops of seafoam and brass. Green leaves spill out over the edges of pots and planters, and plates are displayed decoratively throughout. Rather than looking sloppy or calculatedly disheveled, the effect is
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cozy and welcoming. Perfection isn’t the goal; enjoyment is—and you’ve come to the right place. Open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, Seven Swans offers a relatively small menu of sweet and savory crêpes, plus a soup of the day, a seasonal salad and housemade granola. Muffins, cookies, cake and quiche beckon from the pastry case at the counter, where guests can place their order and take a number for their table. There’s no fancy bar—coffee is available hot or iced alongside an assortment of Hugo Teas. Seven Swans’ approach proves less is more, because what it chooses to do, it does impeccably. The crêpes are thin but not overly fragile, a little eggy with crispy edges and golden-brown spots. They’re the building blocks much of the restaurant is constructed with, and they do not disappoint—the crêpes are an ideal backdrop for the clean, considered flavors of each dish. Savory varieties include the Frenchie, made with caramelized onions, gruyere and fresh parsley, as well as an eggs benedict interpretation complete with Local Pig applewood-smoked ham, roasted asparagus, a sunny-side up egg and a sharp hollandaise sauce that sidesteps the usual richness in favor of acidity. The Bruncher is an impeccable take on a smoked-salmon breakfast with fresh dill cream cheese, arugula, marinated red onion, capers, and sesame seeds. Seven Swans does a remarkable job of ensuring you can distinguish each individual ingredient while appreciating the way they contribute to the dish as a whole.
On the sweet side of the menu, there’s the Clean, a sophisticated lavender lemon curd-filled crepe topped with fresh berries and candied lemon. Other offerings feel more expected, but are nevertheless delicious—cinnamon, sugar and Kerrygold butter get kicked up a notch with a sprinkle of sea salt in the simple cinnamon toast crêpe, and a generous spread of Nutella is married with banana or strawberry and honeyed almonds in Seven Swan’s Paris creation. It’s the dessert you dreamt of as a kid (complete with a dollop of fluffy whipped cream) brought elegantly to life. Vegan offerings include a selection of the main menu’s crêpes made with plant-based ingredients. With such a singular focus—and a rather novel one at that—Seven Swans runs the risk of coming off as gimmicky or cutesy, but the restaurant manages to emanate sincerity. Groups gather around the charmingly discordant tables and appear delighted by the vibrant plates presented to them, each a little different than the one next to it, but all bearing something tasty. It’s an experience akin to finding yourself immersed in a great story—one you don’t want to end. sevenswanscreperie.com
Editor’s Note: At this time, the menu is available for curbside pick-up only, Thursday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
CAR WON'T WON'T GO? GO? CAR CAR WON'T GO?
Give from the HEART and SUPPORT KC’s Shakespeare Festival. With every PURCHASE! They are soft. They look vintage. ORDER at www.kcshakes.org Heart of America SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL ** TOW or 913.894.5201 | SANTAFETOWSERVICE.COM ** 913.894.5201 || SANTAFETOWSERVICE.COM SANTAFETOWSERVICE.COM ** TOW TOW or or 913.894.5201
MAY 2020
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The Roasterie cafés are open and ready to serve you in a variety of ways! Order through our mobile app or call ahead for curbside pickup, stop in and take your order to go, swing through one of our Drive Thru locations or order through Grubhub for delivery to your door! Thank you for supporting local. See café hours at theroasterie.com/cafes
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IN Kansas City magazine is available at The Roasterie Cafe. Purchase a copy at any of our eight area locations and The Roasterie will donate a
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STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER
WE CAN’T THINK of a better reason to be tilling the soil and getting our hands dirty than being outside on a lovely May day. Start by growing wild strawberries in this sweet ceramic basket. The kit, available online from The General Store + Co., comes complete with growing mix, wild strawberry seeds, a removable plastic inner pot and instructions. Start them now, transplant them outside (wild strawberries spread by runners readily, so you’ll have more soon) and enjoy the sweetest fruits of your labor. Wild Strawberry Grow Kit, $15, generalstorekc.com
MAY 2020
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we are
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