IN Kansas City November 2023 by KC Media

KANSAS CITY’S COZIEST BARS AND BISTROS

PARTY IN A TOP PITCH-PERFECT PARTY ATTIRE

Holiday Food

& Entertaining

RUSTIC FRIED PIES A FROM-SCRATCH RECIPE FOR THIS NOSTALGIC TREAT

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR A FLAWLESS THANKSGIVING

FOUR FABULOUS HOMES DECORATED TO THE NINES

A Q&A WITH NEW YORKER WRITER

DAVID OWEN

PLUS: COCKTAIL RECIPES,

BRINGING BACK BROOCHES, ARTS EVENTS, HAND-ROLLED SUSHI & HOLISTIC FACIALS NOVEMBER 2023 | INKANSASCITY.COM

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ALWAYS ON This is the Perpetual rotor. Rolex's automatic winding mechanism. It enables the watch to be constantly wound by the wrist's movement. Invented in our workshops, then patented, it was introduced in 1931. We have ceaselessly improved this groundbreaking innovation which, since then, has tipped the world of watchmaking off its old axis. In a constant state of unstable equilibrium, the half-moon oscillating weight is beholden to Earth's gravity and cannot escape it. Therefore, it

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Holidays in Crestwood: November 30–December 2

Photo by Lea Murphy, Lea Murphy Photography

Three fun-filled days at the Crestwood Shops!

Event Chair Co-Chairs Amy Embry and Carrie McLiney

Annual Luncheon | DEC. 1ST | 11:00 A.M.

Purchase your tickets in advance for the prix-fixe luncheon at Aixois with your friends and family. Bid during the silent auction on one of the charming Gingerbread Houses created by local pastry chefs on display at each of the shops in Crestwood.

Get all the event and sponsor details at

cpckc.org/holidaysincrestwood • THURSDAY kicks off the weekend of festivities with cocktails, live music, shopping and of course Santa! 5pm-8pm

10% of sales from each shop beneﬁt Child Protection Center.

• FRIDAY AND SATURDAY bring Santa back to the block each day with a horse drawn sled for that perfect holiday photo.

Make this a year of giving back to those in need and have a fun time doing it as you check off your holiday list.

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Contents NOVEMBER 2023 66 78 62

74 Features 62

IN CONVERSATION WITH DAVID OWEN The New Yorker writer and Kansas City native talks about growing up in KC in the ’60s, his love of the outdoors, and his career as an author.

PARTY IN A TOP After all, at the best holiday parties, no one even sees your shoes.

Departments 74

COZY UP Fifteen bars and bistros to enjoy this winter.

FESTIVE FINERY Highlights from the 2022 Kappa Kappa Gamma Holiday Homes Tour.

ENTERTAINING IN KC

OUR MAN IN KC

ARTS & CULTURE IN KC

LOOK IN KC

WOMEN’S HEALTH IN KC

LIVING IN KC

FLAVOR IN KC

110

FACES IN KC

120

MY ESSENTIALS IN KC

IN EVERY ISSUE

On the cover Fried pies evoke a nostalgic past for our IN the Kitchen writer Cody Hogan. Recipe on page 96. Photo by Anna Skvorcova.

NOVEMBER 2023 | 12 | INKANSASCITY.COM

EDITOR’S NOTE

INKANSASCITY.COM

THIS MONTH IN KC

Go ahead...make a scene. The INFINITI QX60

I-35 & 67th Street | Merriam, KS 66203 | INFINITIofKC.com | (816) 941 - 0770

Editor’s Note

Party On, Dude!

Vol. 6 | No. 11 NOVEMBER 2023 Editor In Chief Zim Loy Digital Editor Liz Schroeder

ow fortuitous that just as we were putting together this “entertaining” issue, I was lucky enough to be invited to a gathering hosted by a friend who’s well-known for throwing very fun parties. The invitation teased that it was going to be a game night, which left much to the imagination. Oh, and one other thing. The guest list was exclusively women. Women of all ages. Women who were single, married, widowed. I’m pretty sure the only person who knew everyone on the guest list was the host herself. Now, if you’re like me, you know how this goes. You attend. You have a lovely time chatting with the women you know and nod politely at the women you don’t. The next day you send a cordial text or email thanking the host for the delightful evening and that’s that. Well, no. A bounteous spread of spectacular salad, delicious chilies (both traditional and white) with all the imaginable accompaniments (including a few I’ve never thought of ) greeted us when we arrived. Then after a quick chili klatsch, we were encouraged to find a seat and let the games begin. Our hostess’s house isn’t small, but the 15 or so guests did fill the living room to the brim. The game was “Celebrity.” If you don’t know it, google it. Just know that hilarity ensued. Our three teams quickly took to the assignment and by the time the evening was over, everyone was raving about how much fun was had. We all made new friends and reconnected with old ones. We exited into the cool night warmed by the glow of a gaggle of women experiencing what women do best—make connections. I came away from it realizing that we all need to take that first step. It doesn’t have to be a game night, or only women, although this woman-centric gathering was particularly fine. We are all thirsty for connections to feed our soul. Just have the party!

photo by jenny wheat

Art Director Alice Govert Bryan Contributing Writers Judith Fertig, Cindy Hoedel, Cody Hogan, Damian Lair, Patricia O’Dell, Jenny Vergara Contributing Photographers Ron Berg, Corie English, Laurie Gaboardi, Andrej Grilc, Aaron Leimkuehler, Anna Skvorcova Publisher Michelle Jolles Media Director Brittany Coale Senior Media Consultants Katie Delzer, Nicole Kube, Krista Markley, Josie Rawlings Business Consultant Chad Parkhurst Newsstand Consultant Joe J. Luca, JK Associates 816-213-4101, jkassoc.net

Editorial Questions: zloy@inkansascity.com

Advertising Questions: bcoale@inkansascity.com

Distribution Questions: mjolles@inkansascity.com

Magazine Subscriptions:

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IN Kansas City is published monthly by KC Media LLC

118 Southwest Blvd., 2nd Floor Kansas City, MO 64108 816-768-8300 | inkansascity.com Annual Subscriptions are $19.95

NOVEMBER 2023 | 14 | INKANSASCITY.COM

Something from

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INKANSASCITY.COM ENTER TO WIN Shop and win! The 13th Annual

Holiday Boutique is at the Overland Park Convention Center this November 16-19, with 300 vendors showcasing some great holiday items. Samsara Home—located in historic Parkville, MO—is one of those vendors, and they’re offering a $200 gift card to one lucky winner. Enter by November 30 at inkansascity.com/the-magazine/ enter-to-win. Good luck! enter-to-win

Local literary arts. Kansas City’s literary scene is bursting with talent. November 1 is National Author’s Day, and we’re celebrating with a roundup of some upcoming titles and recent releases from right in our backyard. Show your appreciation for these novelists, poets, and hometown historians, and take a peek into an arts community that helps make Kansas City a cultural destination. Find the full list at inkansascity.com.

FACEBOOK @inkansascitymagazine

Minestrone masterpiece. Michael Smith is one of Kansas City’s most venerated chefs. His Spanish tapas concept, Extra Virgin, has been delighting diners in the Crossroads Art District since 2007, and he has since expanded into Farina, a rustic Italian restaurant at the intersection of 19th and Baltimore. What better way to ring in soup season than with a recipe from this James Beard Awardwinning chef. Try out his classic minestrone, a hearty Italian soup that is as good for you as it is delicious. Get the recipe at inkansascity.com.

A rising musical star. A debut album is out from

Nicole Springer, a local singer-songwriter and awardwinning vocalist. The LP is full of personal, powerful pieces that cover everything from mental health to relishing being in love. Springer’s sound defies genre— her style ranges from pop to gospel to Americana, highlighting her skills as guitarist, pianist, and vocalist with a three-octave range. We spoke to Springer about her story, her new album, and what it really means to write from the heart. Read the interview at inkansascity.com.

Hungry? Try out a new, local eatery tonight! From happy hours to the local restaurant scene, we’ve got the city’s most comprehensive dining guide. Check it out at inkansascity.com/eat-drink/dining-guide.

NOVEMBER 2023 | 16 | INKANSASCITY.COM

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TIKTOK @inkansascitymagazine

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

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Join us today. Visit childrensmercy.org/give or call 1 (833) KC-GIVES

This Month IN KC

November

WHERE YOU NEED TO BE AND WHAT YOU NEED TO SEE by Liz Schroeder

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey T-Mobile Center November 10-12 t-mobilecenter.com

Gladys Knight Kauffman Center November 19 kauffmancenter.org

The greatest show on earth. Superhuman feats and spectacular thrills own the night as this classic circus experience is transformed. Immersive, unforgettable, and full of new technology, the audience is newly able to create connections and stay close to the action. Lovers of acrobatics and daring feats have found their next night out, with an evening of never-before-seen acts on a highwire, trapeze, bicycle, and more.

Knight to remember. For one night only, Gladys Knight brings her incomparable vocal stylings back to Kansas City. Long known as one of the great singers of our time and hailed as the Empress of Soul, Knight has won seven Grammy Awards and enjoyed numerous chart-topping hits. Gospel, pop, R&B, and contemporary music would not be the same without Gladys Knight. Check out this unforgettable artist and you won’t, either.

NOVEMBER SPOTLIGHT Plaza Lighting Ceremony Country Club Plaza November 23 countryclubplaza.com Let there be light. The Plaza Lighting Ceremony is a much-beloved holiday tradition that’s often seen as the official kick-off point to our holiday season. Th is year celebrates the 94th year we will gather in the Plaza to watch the lights turn on, and we wouldn’t miss it. The event has always been free and open to the public, and we hope that never changes.

A Christmas Carol KCRep November 25 kcrep.org A spirited classic. Are you looking to get a jump on the holiday season? The quintessential KC Christmas experience has always been KCRep’s A Christmas Carol, so we’re glad to see the early birds can start celebrating as soon as possible. Don’t keep Ebenezer Scrooge waiting—it’s always appropriate to discover the true meaning of the holiday season.

For Kansas City’s most comprehensive calendar of events, go to inkansascity.com NOVEMBER 2023 | 18 | INKANSASCITY.COM

INKC - NOVEMBER 2023 (DelBrenna Pre-Holiday2).pdf

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Entertaining IN KC

Ten Tips for Hosting Thanksgiving at Your Place

OUR ACE OF ENTERTAINING OFFERS INSPIRATION FOR HOSTING AMERICA’S MOST BELOVED HOLIDAY MEAL by Merrily Jackson photo by Corie English

ey you. You darling, angelic, lionhearted hosts of Thanksgiving 2023. Thanks for stepping up! Do you even know how heroic you are? Just having your house in readiness to accommodate a large group is a feat. Add a multi-generational guest list along with a very large bird to roast and the pressure is on. Here are ten points of guidance to help you relax and enjoy the day. Much of it is targeted toward hosts who are preparing their own Thanksgiving feasts, but there is no shame whatsoever in purchasing your entire Thanksgiving meal from your favorite grocery store, restaurant, or country club.

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

NOVEMBER 2023 | 20 | INKANSASCITY.COM

LAY THE GROUNDWORK NOW You want to be at least loosely organized as the day approaches. Start by making lots of room in your fridge and pantry. Clean ’em

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Thanksgiving Menu Cheat Sheet USE THIS handy list when you’re putting together your dinner menu for the big day.

APPETIZERS Choose 1 to 3 Olives Nuts Shrimp cocktail Crudites and dip Stuffed mushrooms ESSENTIALS Turkey Gravy Cranberry sauce or relish CARBY SIDES Choose at least 2 Some kind of white potatoes Some kind of sweet potatoes Stuffing or dressing GREEN VEGETABLES Choose at least 1

CRESTWOOD SHOPS 55TH & BROOKSIDE BLVD. hudsonandjane.com

Green beans Cabbage Brussels sprouts Leafy greens Broccoli

NOVEMBER 2023 | 22 | INKANSASCITY.COM

OTHER SEASONAL VEGETABLES Choose at least 1 Cauliflower Fennel Squash Onions or leeks Root vegetables DESSERT Choose at least 2, depending on the number of guests Pumpkin pie Apple pie Pecan pie Lemon meringue pie Flourless chocolate tort Chocolate or gingerbread ice cream roll Berry cobbler Apple bread pudding Poached pears

out, tossing all expired and mystery items. Closer to the day, lay in a supply of the stuff you’ll use in abundance: butter (lots!); chicken stock; aromatics like garlic, onions, shallots, fresh ginger; fresh citrus; sturdy, branch herbs like rosemary, thyme, and bay leaves; light brown sugar; and the creams: heavy, sour, and ice. If your family is fond of Champagne and wine, stock up now before they hike up the prices for the holiday. White Burgundy, Chardonnay, Beaujolais and pinot noir all taste delicious with a turkey dinner! WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT STICKY NOTES? Decide whether you’re going to serve the meal buffet or family style. Think through where you’ll set up the self-service drinks station. Well in advance of the day, pull out your serving platters, bowls, and implements. Decide what foods will go where and tag them with sticky notes. Also pull out your dishware, linens, glasses, and flatware. Lay everything out so you can determine whether you’ll need to buy or borrow more of anything. On the big day, put sticky notes on each cooking appliance with its respective cooking schedule. For example, for the oven: “stuffing 3:00–5:00; green beans, 4:00–5:00; rolls, 4:40–5:00. SEATING EVERYONE IS BETTER THAN HAVING THINGS LOOK PERFECT There’s something touching about a dining space that’s been cobbled together—lovingly but not necessarily seamlessly, using card tables and the odd piano bench or ottoman—to create seating that includes everyone. You’ll probably need to round up chairs from other areas of your home, and perhaps employ a folding table or two to create extra seating for the meal. You can go online and buy, in virtually any color, cloth covers that make folding chairs look elegant. Buy some if it will make you happy. But know this: nobody cares if things don’t match. The same goes for linens and tableware. It’s charming to mix things up! THE POWER OF PLACE CARDS If you want to host a truly fun-for-your-guests gathering, place cards are more important than any elaborate table decor you might be planning. People really appreciate knowing where to sit, the assurance that there is a place, just for them, at the table. They don’t want to have to bother you to ask. The cards don’t have to be fancy, or even “cards.” Here’s an idea: find some pretty leaves outside, write your guests’ name on them using a Sharpie, and tuck each leaf into a napkin ring. BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY LOVES FOOTBALL If people are arriving hours before dinner, it’s thoughtful to provide some sort of amusement for those not glued to the football games. It could be as simple as putting out a deck of cards, a board game or a partially started jigsaw puzzle. Take advantage of everyone being in one place; assign to one or two guests the task of arranging a group photo. LET’S TALK ABOUT MR. TURKEY Well before Thanksgiving Day, inventory your kitchen and make sure you have: a roasting pan with rack big enough to hold your turkey; a bulb baster; a big spoon for defatting pan juices or a fat separator; a sharpened carving knife; a carving fork; and an instant-read thermometer. When buying a turkey, plan on about one pound per person for an eight- to 12-pound bird, or 3/4 pound per person for a larger bird. PurNOVEMBER 2023 | 23 | INKANSASCITY.COM

CRESTWOOD SHOPS 55TH & BROOKSIDE BLVD. hudsonandjane.com

Entertaining IN KC chase a larger turkey if you want leftovers for the weekend. If you are cooking a frozen turkey, start thawing it in the refrigerator on Sunday. For really juicy turkey, take it from the oven when it’s done, then create a tent of tin foil over the bird and let it sit for about half an hour. This allows the juices to redistribute themselves throughout the turkey. To garnish the turkey platter, have on hand fresh sage, thyme, and rosemary and some colorful fall fruits, such as crab apples, cranberries, and pears. If there are only two or three of you, consider roasting a turkey breast instead of the entire bird. Your house will still smell like Thanksgiving, but without all the to-do of a turkey. And you’ll have more room in your oven for your sides. But you won’t have dark meat, and you won’t have that Norman Rockwell moment of pulling a gleaming roasted turkey. HUNKER DOWN ON YOUR TIMETABLE This is the part I hate, but it’s essential to your own enjoyment of the day. A day ahead, create a written timetable for serving dinner. Start with what time you want to serve, and work backwards. When should the bird go in the oven, if you want dinner to be at 5:30? (Probably about 1 p.m., if it’s average-sized and stuffed. Butterball.com has a handy chart.) I always switch off any music or TV to do my timetable because it requires focus. REMEMBER WHY YOU’RE TOGETHER It’s so easy, in all the commotion, to overlook this part. Have a plan—

Pear Tree

even if it’s only in your head—for how you will, once you’ve sat down to dinner, observe that it’s Thanksgiving. It can be serious, it can be funny or lighthearted, it just can’t be an afterthought. CONSIDER DOING A DAY-AFTER LUNCH After all the feasting and fun, Thanksgiving Friday is a relaxing time to unwind with your nearest and dearest. A cozy lunch in the family room would be just the thing, where everyone can enjoy a casual, self-serve spread while watching football on the telly and catching up. Set up a station in the kitchen with makings for turkey sandwiches: a Waldorf salad; Bloody Mary ingredients if you’re feeling festive; and other drinks along with plates and trays. Arrange some dips and nibbles on trays in the family room, restocking as needed. When it’s time for dessert, bust out some brownies and freshly brewed coffee and tea. NEED RECIPES, YOU SAY? I have recipes for the above-mentioned dips and nibbles as well as brownies and blondies. I also have lots of Thanksgiving recipes, including instructions for making turkey brine and gravy, and my tried-and-true recipes for make-ahead gravy, classic Thanksgiving dressing, cream-braised cabbage, roasted Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, creamed spinach casserole and stuffed mushrooms. Email me. Please know I will never share your email address with anyone else.

Your Home for the Holidays

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NOVEMBER 2023 | 24 | INKANSASCITY.COM

In the spirit of the season, we want to send a heartfelt thank you to all of our clients!

Reach out today to let us help you LOCATE your place in the world.

thespirit spirit of season, In Inthe ofthe the season, we want to send a heartfelt thank you we want to send a heartfelt thank you to all of our clients! to all of our clients!

Reach out today to let us help you LOCATE your place in the world. TO M SU THER • K E VIN BRYANT • B EC K Y LO B O DA

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Reach out today to let us help you LOCATE your place in the world. Locate is a team of real estate agents affiliated with Compass Realty Group, a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.

TO M S UTHER • K E VIN B RYANT • B EC K Y LO B O DA

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Our Man IN KC by Damian Lair dlair@inkansascity.com : @damianlair #OurManINKC

Home Sweet Home

he Well-Loved House is the beautiful (Rizzoli) book by notable decorator (a term she prefers) Ashley Whittaker. Ashley was recently in Kansas City to discuss her book and interiors work as the featured guest for the annual Committee of 100 luncheon at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. C100 is an auxiliary membership group dedicated to hosting signature fundraising events that deepen engagement and further the museum’s mission as a cultural anchor for Kansas City. While C100 organizes events and programming across the year, the most notable is their annual luncheon, which has hosted a staggering roster of design world icons. Past headliners include last year’s dynamo Bronson Van Wyck, and previously Miles Redd, Alexa Hampton, Charlotte Moss, Suzanne Kasler, and Bunny Williams. I’ll note that the committee does an exceptional job at varying annual guests by their style and field. Last year was a flashy event designer; this year was a neo-traditional interior designer. What will next year bring? I’ve been sworn to secrecy, but I’ll give you a clue: architecture. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves…. The C100 flagship event is part lecture, part lunch. And before all that, actually, morning terrace cocktails. As one should. (I was blown away by the watermelon margarita; if you were there, you get the pun.) Following a heaping dose of spirited conversation with some of the most delightful ladies in our city—who all got the floral print memo—we wandered to the auditorium. Ashley took us on a visual tour of several homes featured in her book, sprinkled with personal anecdotes and advice. Ashley’s first foray into decorating was covering her off-campus college bedroom (painted red—the horror) with leftover childhood Laura Ashley wallpaper—applied via staple gun. It wasn’t long until she traded her college classrooms for “the school of Ralph.” You know the one. She graduated from staple guns to planning PR campaigns, large events, and legendary fashion shows. Ashley eventually founded her own design firm in 2007. Since then, she has had the opportunity to outfit great homes from coast to coast—Montana to the Upper East Side. I could see the wheels spinning inside my interior design friends’ minds, pondering what they might do with the GreenHOT wich, Connecticut, budgets Ashley GOSSIP: is accustomed to. “Move” a pool to accommodate a new loggia? Ellsworth Kelly artwork in a Who lost a tooth at children’s room? Scrap plans for dinner and surreptitiously a tear-down, then top-to-bottom stowed it away in her remodel, only to design a new Chanel bag? home that will fulfill the original

Damian Lair with (left to right) Shelly Copaken, Ashley Whittaker, and Amy Thompson at the C100 luncheon.

tear-down plans? All in a day’s work for Ms. Whittaker. OVERHEARD Some of Ashley’s top tips? Contrast “Hey, honey. is essential—be it color, pattern, material, What’s our zip code?” or scale. Think: gorgeous modern art juxtaposed with a Louis XVI armchair. Or, in a large room, try two rugs to break up the space vs. one behemoth. Otherwise, you may wind up living in your own Marriott ballroom. Sidenote: This expert contrast of pattern and scale was on full display at the event’s benefactor party held the preceding evening that Clare & Nick Blasi hosted at their stunning Mark Sikes-designed home. Another Ashley tip: sleep in your own guest bedroom(s) at least once. Another—your home should never look like the decorator just left (even if the decorator lives there). Dishevel something. Just a little bit. Following Ashley’s remarks, I was once again honored to share a table with the event’s most gracious co-chairs, Shelly Copaken and Amy Thompson. And of course, Ashley. While her 9-year-old son was off experiencing what must have been the most awesome game of Night at the Museum, we got to enjoy Ashley’s company amidst the lush, garden-like ambience imagined by Andrea Martin and Ken Sherman at Trapp and Company. We dined on Andrew Wigger’s chilled spinach avocado bisque and niçoise-roasted baby potato and ahi tuna salad. Pastry chef Aubrey Wellingon’s fluffy blueberry donut with lime tequila curd and wild blueberry coulis was something we knew we didn’t need, but couldn’t resist seeing through to the last bite. Finally, a word about some of my tablemates: the Thompson family contingent—there to support co-chair Amy and represent Country

NOVEMBER 2023 | 26 | INKANSASCITY.COM

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Our Man IN KC

HALLMARKET ADDING TO MY GROWING LIST of firsts, I took advantage of a gorgeous autumn day (albeit early rain) to check out Hallmarket. Held annually since 2010 at Crown Center Square, the one-day art festival is typically scheduled for the Saturday coinciding with the Plaza Art Fair weekend. The event is an outlet and showcase for the Kansas City creative bastion that is Hallmark. Current and retired employees are invited to gather and sell their personal creations to the community. Wandering through the nearly 80 booths, I spied a number of treasures and had the opportunity to connect and converse with several of KC’s most talented artists and creators. There were beautiful fly-fishing lures by Kristina Ferguson and clay-bead jewelry by Karen Skillet. Marcos Román, a senior designer and illustrator, had one of the most colorful and joyful offerings. His vibrant, quilt-patterned, mixed-media collages are made of painted paper and canvas scraps. He HOT also had collage kits available for asGOSSIP: piring artists to assemble their own paper quilt creations. Who remotely Ginkgo Embroidery by purchased a painting Jeffrey Nguyen also made an featured in this impression on me. His tufted, column, without ever framed art stood out for its origviewing it in person? inality and nostalgia. Nguyen also

Ginkgo Embroidery artwork by Jeffrey Nguyen.

had an iPad on hand, continuously looping a video of his process. It was mesmerizing to witness a near-finished product getting sheared like a sheep. Hat tip to my friend and proud Hallmarker, Bernard Shondell, for flagging this not-to-miss artist on my visit. Finally, The Artsy Fartsy, by mother and daughter duo Christine & Lilli Stalder, caught my attention due to the bustle of activity inside their combined tent. While they had stacks of illustrated prints, it was their female icon mixed-media collages that were a total hit with passers-by. These framed pieces with a quote and 3-D details included legends such as Frida Kahlo, Iris Apfel, Dolly Parton, Cleopatra, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I snapped up a (very popular) Taylor Swift one—complete with beaded jewelry and gown— for a friend’s upcoming birthday. Beyond these market highlights, there was a diverse array of creations including the more obvious paintings, photography, jewelry, and ceramics, but also dried flowers, bath bombs, candles, and adorable tooth-fairy pillows. In addition to the market itself, there was an afternoon of programming and entertainment. While there, I got to enjoy some upbeat acoustic cover songs from The James Perryman Band and local R&B artist Kent Crockett. Earlier in the day, there was a presentation on how to write like a Hallmark humor writer. I had a delicious lunch from the outdoor pop-up for nearby Burnt End BBQ while witnessing some of the lawn games. I also dropped by the free card-sending station for one of my favorite activities—sending cards to friends. Snaps to Hallmark for providing this venue for its artists to share their creativity with the community.

PORCHFEST RETURNS! I HAD HEARD of PorchFestKC, but a multi-year hiatus spurred by the pandemic put a major pause on my plans to attend. Fatefully, as the stars and stoops aligned, this was my year! Perhaps one of the most unique and joyful live-music events in the city, PorchFest occurs (most-

NOVEMBER 2023 | 28 | INKANSASCITY.COM

nguyen art courtesy of bernard shandell

Club Bank. Though our paths don’t frequently cross, I’m left with an indelible impression by their family patriarch, Byron Thompson. He was humorous, gentle, and a good friend to my grandfather, Virgil, when they were alive. I will forever remember my annual dinners with them at the Broadmoor’s rooftop Penrose Room each summer during the Kansas Bankers convention. I don’t suppose they were as entranced by the white-glove service as the sole child in the restaurant, nor do I imagine either gave much thought to how beautiful the dining room was—or design, generally. But I know that each cared about their families deeply and would have very much subscribed to the idea that a home is for living. That’s precisely the warm, embracing ethos conveyed by Ashley Whittaker’s designs—and something we can all strive for. . SPOTTED: Honorary Chairs Kay Newell and Lisa Schellhorn, Julián Zugazagoitia, Mina Steen, Shirley Helzberg, Dr. Phyliss Bernstein, Susan Bernstein, Bunny Copaken, Amy O’Connor, Ann Baum, Ellen Merriman, Liz Uhlmann, Emily Fehsenfeld, Lauren Blazer, Carmen Sabates, Rachel Sabates, Amy Embry, Gina Penner, Lillis Beihl, Susan Bubb, Megan Bubb, Ann McCray, Barbara Spilker, Kim Klein, Sharon Hoffman, Tammy Edwards, Debby Ballard, Jon Porter, Katie Kwo Gerson, Jamila Weaver, Melanie Miller, Erica Crenshaw, Jane Gard, Anne Hickock, Missy Love, Tiffany Ruzica, Alissa Block, Lisa Lala, Lisa Hardy, John Rufenacht, Courtney Bash, Margaux Blackwell, Tess Merriman, Jane Ehinger, Suzy Hall, Carol Logan, Beth Cole, Georgina Herrera, Lucy Coulson, Sara Noble, Emily Sanger

ly) annually—and yes, on historic neighborhood porches. More than 100 genre-diverse musicians gathered to perform 60-minute acoustic sets at staggered times among walkable neighborhood addresses. Earlier iterations tried out the West Plaza, Union Hill, and Longfellow neighborhoods, but the organizers recently landed on the perfect KC neighborhood: Roanoke. My endearment for the close-knit Roanoke community definitively stems from the 1,001 (neighbor-heavy) parties I attended at my good friend Jim Blair’s former Frank Lloyd Wright home there. Let it be said—if I ever trade downtown condo living for house living, it will surely be in Roanoke. (And, technically, the fest spanned across Southwest Trafficway to neighboring Valentine, which is nearly as lovely.) On this first chilly day of the autumn season, it was the perfect opportunity for me to don a snuggly vest just pulled from storage and spend an afternoon with the first fallen leaves crunching beneath my boots. I began in unplanned fashion at a home near where I was able to find street parking (pro tip: arrive early). I heard the sweet vocals of singer/songwriter Erica McKenzie and floated in her direction. Her rendition of Landslide nearly brought me to tears, as it always does. Meanwhile, I joined some friends who happened to be nearby, and we made our way to Rhonda & Scott Burnett’s (recently sold) home. There, we lingered and heard the jam/funk band, Satori. Soon though, we were off on Scott’s golf cart to get a glimpse inside his (stripped-to-the-studs) future home. You never know where the day might take you. Following the impromptu tour, we caught the cheery folk band String Theory, appropriately strumming and singing from a grand plantation-style home. As we wandered, we nibbled on bites from some of the food trucks, including Tamale Kitchen, Johnny Joe’s, Julita’s, and Tacontento. The mobile app greatly helped us navigate the band locations as well as food and portable restrooms. Our final stop was to hear the boisterous (and very popular, judging by the crowd) New Orleans-style Back Alley Brass Band performing on the stately, columned porch belonging to Lucy & David Terry. There’s just something jubilant and thrilling about a live brass band. With so many performances and overlapping, limited time, I naturally missed some of the day’s other standouts including Pepper Sprouts, Electric Lungs, Swallowtails, Carlton Rashad, Friendly Thieves, Kansas City Bear Fighters, and Meyadi. Though I imagine other cities have scattered neighborhood music festivals (actually, PorchFest founder Kathryn Golden was inspired by a similar event in Napa), this felt like a uniquely Kansas City OVERHEARD community event. Neighbors and visitors walking, talking, lawn-sit“She’s got more legs than a bucket ting, snacking. It was a beautiful, of chicken.” midwestern-type thing; something I hope suffers from no future hiatus and becomes part of my annual autumn traditions.

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ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS. . . IS THE ULTIMATE GIFT—A DREAM KITCHEN

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hile “visions of sugarplums” might dance in some heads, anyone who has faced the holidays with an outdated kitchen might dream of . . .

HIGH IMPACT TILE “Tile is the least expensive way of expressing yourself in your kitchen,” says Belgian-born Karin Ross, the owner of Karin Ross Designs. “It can make a big change, and yet it is easier to replace than cabinets, if you want a different look down the road. With tile, you can add color, shape, dimension, texture, and movement. One of the most popular styles we’re seeing right now is triangular tile, both glossy and matte, in super-cool patterns.”

A 45-INCH SINK The holidays have a way of exposing the flaws of our kitchen design, like a two-bowl sink that won’t fit a turkey roaster or a large sheet pan. Fitted with two faucets, this big sink allows two people to work at the same time. “You can soak at one end and rinse vegetables or dishes at the other,” says Ross. “A large sink makes life so much easier, and the stainless-steel finish is easy to maintain.” like a lot of crystals and bling or you want something more streamlined, modern, or industrial.”

LUXURY AT YOUR FINGERTIPS A countertop that looks good and feels good, too? We expect countertops to feel cold and smooth, but a new style offers a surface that is appealing to touch. “Cambria makes luxurious countertops that can be seen and felt,” says Ross. “They have texture along with cool colors and elements like silver or gold flakes and black veining. And they’re easy to clean. A Cambria countertop lasts a long time too, with a limited warranty.” MAJOR STATEMENT LIGHTING Instead of the usual two pendant lights over the kitchen island and a chandelier over the kitchen table, the new trend is one big statement light that does double duty. “It’s worth the money you would spend on the other three,” says Ross. “A major statement light can fit the style of your kitchen, whether you

A REIMAGINED SPACE Just because your kitchen footprint has been the same all these years, it doesn’t mean that’s the only way it can be, says Ross. “Your family grows and changes, and your kitchen needs to change with it. When your kids were small, maybe you needed a desk in the kitchen for them to do their homework. Now, you want an island. Maybe you entertain more now and need a space for a buffet. It takes a kitchen designer to look at your space and see the possibilities.” An extensive questionnaire for the clients plus an onsite visit initiates the process. “We get to know our clients and their home first, then present them with several design options and solutions,” says Ross, “after I have done all the research.” Like an antique expert or an art consultant who could point you to a piece of furniture or a painting that will hold its value, a kitchen designer can do a similar thing, says Ross. There are no surprises, either, during the installation. Karin Ross Designs keeps products in stock, so no waiting. And Nick Ross, Karin’s husband, oversees the installation work with his team. “Our clients know we will take care of it all,” she says. The National Home Builders Association estimates that a renovated kitchen will return to homeowners 70 to 75 percent of their investment when they sell. Ross estimates that her clients get an even bigger return—80 to 85 percent. “With the housing market still strong in Kansas City despite the interest rates, this is a perfect time to remodel your kitchen. You can then enjoy your new kitchen as the value of your home rises,” she says. Selecting the perfect kitchen designer can be a valuable investment, saving you time and money. Give yourself and your family the ultimate Christmas gift—the kitchen of your dreams.

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Arts & Culture IN KC

by Judith Fertig

photo by Andrej Grilc

Maria Ioudenitch VIOLINIST ANSWERS FOUR QUESTIONS

n American violinist with a self-described Russian soul, Maria Ioudenitch grew up in Overland Park, attended Barstow, and is part of a very musical family—her parents, Tatiana and Stanislav Ioudenitch, are world-renowned pianists and educators. Cliburn Gold Medalist Stanislav is the artistic director at Park University’s International Center for Music. Maria Iodenitch’s talent was apparent very early. She trained with violin master Gregory Sandomirsky from the age of 3 and later with Ben Sayevich at Park ICM. This year, she is touring after the debut of her album Songbird in March, performing in New York and Washington, Jerusalem, Spain, and Germany. Because the violin can sound so much like the human voice, Ioudenitch chose pieces for her album that

are meant to be sung, but instead are played on the violin with piano accompaniment by Kenny Broberg. Many of the songs are by female composers, classical through contemporary—Amy Beach, Clara Schumann, Nadia Boulanger, and Fanny Mendelssohn—underscoring her belief that beautiful music from “underappreciated composers should be part of our repertoire.” Ioudenitch completed her bachelor’s degree at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music and her master’s at New England Conservatory. This month, she will perform as part of the Marlboro Music Festival of chamber music at concerts in London, Ontario; Greenwich, Connecticut; Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; New York City; and Boston. “Generosity,” says Iodenitch, “is the most important part of playing

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Arts & Culture IN KC music with fellow musicians, for the pleasure of listeners. With each phrase that you’re playing, you give it to the others.” mariaioudenitch.com INKC: Born in Russia, you grew up in Overland Park, the daughter of Russian emigres who also happen to be world-class musicians. What was that like? While other kids were eating hot dogs, were you eating borscht? Maria Ioudenitch: Oh man, I loved the hot dogs at school!! Also eating some borscht and blinis at home. But honestly, I think my parents put in a lot of effort to integrate, and let me do so, as well. Growing up in a house with two amazing musicians was special, and I promise I’m not just saying that because I have to. I was always enveloped in the sounds of both of them practicing, or teaching, or listening to the greatest recordings of all time. I think all of that shaped me, in many ways, as a musician. INKC: As an internationally renowned violinist, you are also known

for your innovative programming, like a chef who pairs flavors in a dish. What goes into selecting the music you will play for a concert? MI: We are storytellers, and although pieces on their own are stories in and of themselves, the audience comes to a recital with the intention of blocking off 90 minutes of their life. My belief is that we must make it a 90-minute experience, rather than several separate experiences that make up 90 minutes. A burger, biryani, fresh sashimi, and a Sichuan hot pot are all excellent dishes by themselves but eat them all in one meal and your stomach will be confused.

I love to find either a thematic string that connects all the pieces or two totally contrasting themes that are interesting and surprising paired together. I think it’s deeply important to create a colorfully varied program. One of my favorite parts of making music is how many sound worlds we are able to form with one instrument. The nuances of sound, and the emotional possibilities that come with them are endless. More often than not, these sound worlds are how I build my programs. Where are they similar, where they differ, how they differ, and, importantly, are they complementary in how they differ. INKC: If you could look ahead 20 years, where do you hope your career takes you? MI: I see myself doing more of the same! Making music with musicians and humans I admire and adore and sharing it with audiences around the world! I also have a developing mission to create a nonprofit with concerts and projects for humanitarian aid. INKC: How has the Kansas City area nurtured you as a musician

and as a person? MI: I have the fondest memories of growing up in Kansas City. I

went to Barstow school for 13 years, which undoubtedly shaped me as a human, met and studied with my first two beloved violin teachers, Gregory and Ben, and all the while was surrounded by wonderful Kansas Citians and beautiful suburban nature. I think my parents made the best decision to put down roots in Kansas City, and I will always call it my home.

NOVEMBER 2023 | 36 | INKANSASCITY.COM

P A R K

U N I V E R S I T Y ’ S

INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR MUSIC ICM ORCHESTRA FREE HOLIDAY CONCERT Following the incredible success of our inaugural holiday concert last year, International Center for Music Orchestra at Park University returns to usher in the holiday season. Under the direction of Steven McDonald, the music director of the ICM Orchestra, anticipate being whisked away to the very core of the holiday spirit. Don't delay – secure your seats today to guarantee your presence at this enchanting musical affair! It's an evening that not only delivers exquisite music but also fosters a profound sense of unity and community, embodying the true essence of the holiday season.

December 2, 2023 • 7:30 p.m. Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel Dr. Steven McDonald conducting Make it an evening! Visit charming Parkville, Missouri for dinner before the concert.

Tickets are FREE with reservation. Scan here!

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Arts & Culture IN KC by Judith Fertig

THE HILLS ARE ALIVE . . .

photo by karli cadel

. . . WITH THE SOUND OF MUSIC, from November 4 through November 12 when this popular musical delights Lyric Opera audiences at Kauffman Center. With a big production and live music, the hills really will come alive, telling the story we all know and love. Captain George von Trapp, a widower with seven children, needs a governess. His children have made short work of the previous nannies. Enter Maria, a novice in a nearby convent who brings her guitar and her love of music. She charms the children, then their brusque father, all when Hitler has invaded Austria during World War II. Edward Watts, who recently played the lecherous professor in this summer’s Legally Blonde at Starlight, returns to Kansas City as Captain von Trapp. Soprano Mikaela Bennett plays the spirited Maria. Alexandra Loutsion, whose powerful voice wowed as Brünnhilde in Wagner’s opera Siegfried, will send chills down your spine when the Abbess sings Climb Every Mountain. For more information, visit kcopera.org.

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Mayor’s TREE LIGHTING at Corinth Square

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Holiday cheer · Singing · Dancing Special Guests: Santa and KC Wolf

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AN EVENING WITH THE LATE JOHN CLEESE NO, JOHN CLEESE is not really late, in the sense of no longer living. But the British funnyman, actor, producer, and writer is long overdue to perform again in Kansas City with his acerbic humor as a person who does not suffer fools gladly. In a long and varied career, he has appeared in several TV series, films including A Fish Called Wanda and the Harry Potter and James Bond series; he has also cowritten two books on family dynamics. On November 9, Cleese takes the stage at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts with a stop on the world tour of this show that sometimes includes film clips of Fawlty Towers and The Holy Grail, sometimes not. Likewise with a Q & A afterwards—maybe, maybe not. So, go, expecting a little bit of the unexpected. It’s a freeflowing evening of funny bits and life stories by this intelligent, sometimes politically scathing raconteur and comedic icon. The man is 83, so he is allowed to relive his childhood, young adulthood, the Monty Python years, all that alimony he has had to pay, and the loss of his longtime friend and cowriter/Python Graham Chapman. Visit kauffmancenter.org for more information and tickets.

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Arts &Culture IN KC by Judith Fertig

ON NOVEMBER 17, the Mark Morris Dance Group performs The Look of Love as part of the Harriman-Jewell Series at Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The Brooklyn-based contemporary dance group was founded in 1980 by choreographer Mark Morris, who has created over 150 works and was named a fellow of the MacArthur Foundation in 1991, among his many honors. Inspired by the musicality of the late Burt Bacharach, who was born in Kansas City, The Look of Love features original choreography by Morris and new musical arrangements by Ethan Iverson. The two channel Bacharach’s chart-topping songs, with poignant and unsentimental lyrics by Hal David, that helped make Herb Alpert (This Guy’s in Love with You), Dionne Warwick (That’s What Friends Are For), and B. J. Thomas (Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head) famous. Bacharach’s music combined jazz, pop, and Brazilian beats. An ensemble of piano, trumpet, bass, and drums accompanies actress, singer, and Broadway star Marcy Harriell, the lead vocalist. For more information and tickets, visit hjseries.org.

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MAKE YOUR OWN GLASS ORNAMENT IF YOU’VE ALWAYS SEEN, admired, and perhaps collected those beautiful colored glass orbs for your holiday tree or winter window, now you can take a class and make your own. On Saturday, November 25, in 2½-hour sessions that begin at 9 a.m. through 5:30 p.m., you can try blowing glass into your own keepsake at Belger Arts. You don’t need any experience, but you do need a reservation at $75 per person. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Professional glass blowers will guide you through the process of adding color and shaping molten glass. Of course, your finished piece will need to cool down—way down—before you can take it home. Come back to pick up your finished ornament at Belger Crane Yard Gallery on November 30. For information on tickets and times, visit belgerarts.org.

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Look IN KC

Fashion BY Liz Schroeder

Back to Brooches

Popping up on the runway. At Coperni, a silver hand-shaped brooch adorned everything from T-shirts to dresses.

THE PERFECT WAY TO ADD INTEREST

his year we’re going brooches out and taking this classic style back with our own modern twists. Whether you’re a proud vintage brooch owner or shopping for new, these statement pieces can give any outfit a modern, updated lift. Function to Fashion. The original brooch was used in a utilitarian fashion, fastening cloaks and the togas of the Roman gentry, but people today mix form and function—try securing a shawl, tying a top, or cinching the waist of a skirt or your favorite jacket with a statement brooch for some extra sparkle. Laid-Back Luxury. Because brooches have been so closely associated with the upper class, including the likes of Madeleine Albright, they often get branded as stuffy. But these days, versatility is key. Get creative—bunch a few brooches on a T-shirt to dress up a casual look or pin a brooch to a chunky chain necklace to make a statement on a funky night out. Even pinned on a handbag or a hat, the right brooch can make an underused piece feel brand new.

Hidalgo gold, diamond, ruby, and enamel bumblebee pin, $2,750, available at Lilliane’s Jewelry.

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Mystic Eye brooch, $88, available at Kemper Museum Shop. Vintage sterling feather brooch, $54, available at Donna’s Dress Shop.

Schiaparelli, Autumn/ Winter 2023 Ted Muehling brooch, $495, available at Asiatica.

NOVEMBER 2023 | 44 | INKANSASCITY.COM

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Look IN KC Beauty

10 STEPS FOR GLASS SKIN

STEP 1 & 2: Oil cleanser and gentle foam cleanser for double cleansing. You need to clean your skin very well. You want your pores to be open and clear. Double cleansing helps remove makeup as well as dirt and pollution.

STEP 3: Exfoliator Exfoliating gets rid of dead skin cells and brightens the look of your skin. It also helps unclog pores and make you less likely to get blemishes.

STEP 4: Toner. Choose a moisturizing toner rather than an astringent. This will be your first layer of moisture in the process.

Like Glass SMOOTH SKIN BY KBEAUTY BY Liz Schroeder

orean beauty is all about the long game. American consumers have become accustomed to products promising immediate or overnight results, but Korean skincare takes a gentler approach, avoiding potentially irritating side effects. Prevention and protection are the cornerstones of K-beauty products, with an extra emphasis on hydration. The sought-after result is “glass skin,” a term describing a smooth and clear complexion that appears nearly flawless—like glass. Glass skin is the true no-makeup look, a seemingly unachievable dream until now. But this holistically focused multi-step skincare routine keeps us coming back for more. The traditional ten-step routine went viral in the U.S., including an oil-based double-cleanse and products like sheet masks, toners, essences, exfoliants, and the all-important SPF. While having a poreless complexion might be your dream, keep in mind that K-beauty is less about conventional beauty standards and more about self-care and respect. Take care of your skin, take care of yourself.

STEP 5: Essence. This is a lightweight fluid with active ingredients to boost hydration. The essence helps your skin absorb heavier products. STEP 6: Serum or face oil. Look for ones with active ingredients like antioxidants for anti-aging effects. Serums with ingredients like hyaluronic acid plump skin from the inside out. STEP 7: Sheet mask. Sheet masks are an easy and effective way to provide your skin with an immediate and big boost of vitamins and moisture. STEP 8: Eye cream. The skin around your eyes is extra thin, so it’s more prone to wrinkles. Keeping it hydrated is key to appearing more youthful. STEP 9: Moisturizer. An excellent moisturizing cream will seal in all the products that you’ve already applied. STEP 10: Sunscreen. If your moisturizer doesn’t have sunscreen in it, use it as your final step. You can skip this step before bed, but be sure to use sunscreen before you leave the house.

NOVEMBER 2023 | 46 | INKANSASCITY.COM

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10. 1. Oil cleanser, $39, at lover-cosmetics. com. 2. Peach & Lily Power Calm Hydrating Gel Cleanser, $29, at Ulta Beauty. 3. Josh Rosebrook Active Enzyme Exfoliator, $70, at Welwythn. 4. Belif Moisturizing Bomb Toner with Ceramide, $30, at Sephora. 5. Vintner’s Daughter Active Treatment Essence, $225, at Welwythn. 6. Glossier Super Bounce Hyaluronic Acid + Vitamin B5 Hydrating Face Serum, $225, at Sephora. 7. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Mask, $5.49, at Ulta Beauty. 8. Ilia Bright Start Activated Eye Cream, $46, at Welwythn. 9. The Dewy Skin Cream Plumping & Hydrating Moisturizer by Tatcha, $72, at Sephora. 10. Tula Ultimate Sun Serum PentaPeptide Sunscreen, $42, at Ulta Beauty.

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Look IN KC Wellness

by Liz Schroeder

Holistic Facials MORE THAN SKIN DEEP

ore than simple skincare treatments, holistic facials feel like beauty therapy. The wellness industry is increasingly focused on all things holistic, addressing the body as a whole rather than the sum of its parts. The skin is our biggest organ, and aestheticians are creating customized treatments and recommendations in response to their clients’ lifestyles. Your skin can reflect what’s going on inside, from emotional stress to hormone imbalance, pollution, or diet. So what’s the difference? Anyone familiar with facials knows the experience includes a combination of cleansing, exfoliation, and moisturizing, but the holistic approach goes further. Most use facial massage techniques over equipment, and choose organic and natural ingredients over chemical peels and extractions. The mind—body connection during a holistic facial dives into the underlying cause of your skin issues, refusing to stop with a quick fix.

HOLISTIC FACIALS AROUND KC: VERY WELL KC – Overland Park Very Well KC is a wellness center providing an integrated, holistic approach to all things health and wellness. Holistic skin therapist Wenny Grant’s comprehensive facial treatments include ancient traditional methods and modern modalities, helping clients both physically and energetically. verywellkc.com WELLKNOWN – Crossroads A space for well-being and wholeness, Wellknown operates under the direction of holistic facialist and skincare formulator Amanda Rose. The Crossroads spa prioritizes self-exploration and restorative care through community workshops and its house-made skincare line, Laid Bare. bewellbeknown.com SASSY FACE KC – Leawood Summer Serrano founded Sassy Face to celebrate the positives in our skin (and our lives). Corneotherapy is the foundation of her skincare practice, and she focuses on the repair and maintenance of skin barrier defense systems, preferring long-term prevention and emotional healing over quick-fix treatments. sassyfacekc.com

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by Liz Schroeder

Changing Gears

DR. THOMAS HSING ON WHY SWITCHING FROM ENGINEERING TO SURGERY MAKES PERFECT SENSE

hat do mechanical engineering and orthopedic surgery have in common? For Dr. Thomas Hsing, MD, MBA, the two career paths share some striking similarities. Hsing worked as a mechanical engineer for ten years before leaving the field to pursue a career in medicine. “I began to desire a field that allowed me to make a direct impact on people’s lives,” he says. The AdventHealth-affiliated orthopedic surgeon often uses advanced robotic techniques, combining his technological expertise with a passion for patient care. Starting a new career is never simple, but Hsing’s decision was driven by passion. “I shadowed a few different types of physicians before

jumping in and making the switch,” he says. He found a home in orthopedic surgery, a department that uses implants and techniques familiar to him. “I saw that orthopedics incorporated what I loved about engineering into a field that brought a sense of societal impact.” As an engineer, Hsing already possessed many qualities desirable in a surgeon—working in multidisciplinary teams, complex problem-solving, and understanding and applying principles of physics and properties of material. “Technology is always improving, and whether it is engineering or orthopedics, there’s always an opportunity to find cutting-edge ways of making the field better,” he says. One of those cutting-edge technologies is robotics—a tool he often uses in his practice. “In a robotic knee procedure, optical arrays are placed on the femur and tibia (thigh and shin bones) to allow the surgeon to track that limb, and this is the basis for dynamic evaluation of the knee,” Hsing says. “Overall, robotics allows the surgeon to make more precise cuts.” Robotics is a growing field, according to Hsing, who has a long-standing interest in technology. “Technological advancements are becoming an increasingly integral part of our world to help us do things better. In training, one mentor described robotics in joint surgery as, ‘driving with GPS compared to using a paper map.’” At AdventHealth Shawnee Mission and AdventHealth South Overland Park, Hsing has access to the most advanced orthopedic robots so he can perform procedures with the highest precision. Orthopedic surgery brings new fulfillment to Hsing, along with different challenges. “Being a surgeon is fulfilling in being able to impact lives positively. However, with that comes the pressure of making decisions that sometimes do not turn out as planned,” he says. “Another surprise is the constant balance of precision, which was paramount in engineering, with the speed that is required of a surgeon.” And though his time as an engineer was spent working with objective data, things as a surgeon are not always so cut and dried. “Robotics allows me to try to bridge the gap and obtain more objective data for decision-making,” he says. “If a knee is loose, I now have a number I can look at to tell me in millimeters exactly how loose.” Hsing believes his previous career as a mechanical engineer helps him as a medical provider. “It does affect the way I approach problem-solving,” he says. “The saying ‘once an engineer, always an engineer’ is absolutely true. I always try to think of problems in a systematic fashion.” But his life experiences also grant him insight into his patients. “Knowing a life outside of medicine has allowed me to appreciate what it is like to not be ingrained in the medical Thomas Hsing, MD, MBA world, and to be more humble.”

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GIFTS THAT SPARKLE & SHINE

VISIT THE OUTLETS OF YOUR FAVORITE BRANDS TORY BURCH SEPHORA

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Scan here to see Santa for yourself

Doesn’t the world need

a little more kindness?

Living IN KC by Patricia O’Dell

Making Memories

NEW BOOK BY WASHINGTON STATEBASED DESIGNER SHOWCASES A GIFT FOR MIXING STYLES

nterior designer Heidi Caillier’s first book, Memories of Home, is the perfect companion for a chilly day at home. Her rooms are warm and engaging, and while she uses plenty of color and pattern, they have a fresh, modern feel. It’s not unusual that floral prints live easily with midcentury furniture. One striking example is the dining room in Callier’s guest house. The stark white Saarinen table cozies up to a floral-stripe banquette that is placed against a black wall. Hans Wegner Wishbone chairs provide seating on the other side. If you’ve been averse to brown furniture, this book may change your mind. Most appealing is Caillier’s philosophy on the value of renovation. “The obvious analogy is that in our own lives, and in the houses we restore, is that almost everything is not beyond hope, that we can rebuild when we restore a wall,” Callier says. “When we change a color, when we take something that looks like it’s gone and beyond hope and physically alter it in the restoration of a house, it reinforces the fact that we can do that for our lives.”

Above: The dining room of the Fox Island guest house. Left: Heidi Caillier in her dining room.

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DARLING, FIX ME A DRINK

TAKE TIME TO CELEBRATE, BUT DON’T LET THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE GET THE BEST OF YOU MAYBE IT’S YEAR-END REPORTS, or incoming relatives, or constantly out-going offspring, but this time of year seems to require a lot of energy. It’s fun, of course, but in its own way disruptive. I do hate to complain—and I do love a party—but let’s face it, part of the reason we look forward to this time of year is for the opportunity to hibernate a bit. I’m making a case for making a date to stay home. There’s a difference between being home for the evening and having a date at home. No need for silk and pearls—unless you’d rather, but let’s avoid sweatpants and slippers—unless you must. Also, no television unless there’s a team playing that you both adore, or anything starring Cary Grant is available. Treat yourselves like guests. Fix a new cocktail from a vintage cocktail book. Serve on beautiful tableware. Use linen napkins. For the love of Pete, light some candles. Be thankful.

Rocks glass, $11.95, from Crate & Barrel.

Kansas City cocktail napkins, $56 for set of four, from merefilledesigns.com. Bottoms Up book, $350, from chairish.com. 1930s French Trolley bar cart, $2,200, from RH.

Drink rocks, $45, from the Kemper Museum Shop.

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NOVEMBER 2023 | 55 | INKANSASCITY.COM

Living IN KC by Patricia O’Dell

Let’s Sit by the Fire Kansas City puzzle, $28, from kansascitypuzzlecompany.com.

My Hometown Map puzzle, $59.95, from llbean.com.

Wool throw, $129, from llbean.com.

erhaps cooking for two seems too much. Or maybe three wouldn’t be a crowd for dinner, but five or six is. Carryout is not out of the question, in fact, it is the answer. Even with a bigger group, there’s still an opportunity to hibernate and have fun. Build a fire. Make some cocoa. Put on music that will make your friends and family feel at home or roll their eyes. And why not do a puzzle? Working a puzzle can be the perfect solution for multiple generations, and there are some great hometown options. L.L. Bean creates custom map puzzles with your home location as a house-shaped puzzle piece. Kansas City Puzzle creates great Kansas City-themed puzzles, as well as a selection of other cities and subjects. Not only are their puzzles delightful, but they will also replace a missing or ill-fitting piece. That’s something to be thankful for.

Marshall bluetooth speaker, $166.99, from Best Buy.

Waxed-canvas log carrier, $69.95, from llbean.com.

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I FELT BETTER WITH YOU IN THE ROOM KEEPING WITH our cozy theme, I cannot get enough of these felt pieces from MerSea, but instead of wrapping you, they provide a wonderful cover for your pillows and plants. I haven’t settled on my favorite colorway, but the blue and green pillows seem destined for my sofa, once our puppy is out of his chewing phase. mersea.com

Felt pillows, $79 each.

Felt nesting bowls, $64.

Felt planter, $26.

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RELIVE THE STORY OF A BELOVED BROADWAY CLASSIC Buy tickets at kcopera.org or call (816) 471-7344 | Kauffman Center

NOV 4–12, 2023 THANK YOU TO OUR SEASON SPONSORS:

The Sound of Music is made possible by a generous grant from the Theater League and it is supported, in part, by the City of Kansas City, Missouri Neighborhood Tourist Development Fund.

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General admission tickets purchased in advance are $30. One ticket gets you into all four homes. Tickets are also available for purchase during Tour hours for $35 at each of the featured homes and at the Holiday Boutique.

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Hannah Murrell

IN CONVERSATION WITH

David Owen

words by Cindy Hoedel

photo by Laurie Gaboardi

orn on Valentine’s Day in 1955 and raised in Kansas City near Loose Park, New Yorker staff writer David Owen has mined his childhood for literary gems like this: “During parties at our house, a cloud like an inversion layer would fill the downstairs, and the next morning, when Anne and I went down to pour bowls of cereal for ourselves and wait for cartoons to come on, there would be overflowing ashtrays everywhere, and sodden cigarette butts floating in the bottoms of almost-empty beer glasses, whose sides were spider-webbed with dried foam. The nineteen-sixties were the golden age of smoky, inebriated parents.” (“The Dime Store Floor,” The New Yorker, Jan. 25, 2010). After graduating from Pembroke-Country Day School, Owen attended Colorado College before graduating from Harvard University with an English degree. Owen has written a number of books, most recently Volume Control: Hearing in a Deafening World (Riverhead, 2019). He lives in Morris, Connecticut, with his wife, writer Ann Hodgman, and their poodle, Henry. IN Kansas City spoke with him by phone recently while he was recovering at home from a broken leg he suffered while playing golf, slipping in a muddy spot he had warned others about.

were no limits on how long you could go on and on, and when I look back on some of the things I wrote then, I’m amazed that they ran at the length they ran at. Now assignments come with word counts or parameters. They stick to them, with rare exceptions, and things are edited more tightly than they were 30 years ago. There’s more of an emphasis on articles that bear some relationship to the things that are happening right now. One of the things I used to like about the old New Yorker is that you might read a profile of a film director, say, who had no film coming out. It would just be an interesting person. That was nice in one way, but it’s a better way now. It feels more anchored in the real world than it did 30 years ago and especially before that, before my time.

There is a comforting sameness about The New Yorker, at least in terms of fonts and page layouts, in an era of upheaval and decline at many newspapers and magazines. What changes have you experienced at The New Yorker over 32 years? Everything is much shorter now. I remember when I started there

Your most recent piece for The New Yorker, “Lost in the Mountains,” is a thrilling account of a camping trip you took in Colorado, but it happened when you were a youth in Kansas City. Not to give away too much, but a fellow camper at your camp went missing while you were there. He was eventually found,

Do you think it’s better? If I read a profile of a film director who doesn’t have a movie coming out or maybe is even dead, I feel like if it’s new to me, it’s news. Right. I think readers have less patience with that now. There are so many things that could be written about, and I don’t mind having assignments anchored to something that is happening right now, which it usually is.

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but not for two weeks. What was the hook in that story? you do this?” That falls into the broad memoir category that The New Yorker does a lot And I think it’s even harder now. Both my kids have kids and when of. They are often called either “Personal History” or in this case, it was I think, “How do you let your kids ride a bike in the street? When you in the online New Yorker in a category called “The Weekend Essay.” It let them walk to school, what do you do about phones?” All these queswas just an interesting story, and I think what was interesting to my extremely young editor was just how different [laughs] childrearing was 55 years ago from the way it is now. That article, the fact-checker was young, and One of the things that I’ve wondered, with my parents’ she couldn’t believe it [laughs]—she was wanting to call people and ask, “Did they really not wear generation, is whether they had just survived the Second World War, helmets? Did they really let you go for three days and maybe it just felt like all the bad things had already happened, without food?” All those things were true. Less and they were sort of mellow about possibilities. There were also likely to happen now.

‘‘

fewer dangers then. There were fewer guns, there were fewer cars.

What that essay made me think about, havThe world didn’t seem as filled with perils as it does now.” ing also enjoyed a lot of unsupervised free time growing up but then having children of my own, is how difficult it is to find the balance between letting kids experience life independently and make mistakes while tions that to me seem much harder than the questions my wife and I also protecting them from grievous harm. How did you and faced, or my parents faced when I was a kid. Ann negotiate those competing interests with your own kids? One of the things that I’ve wondered, with my parents’ generation, Yeah, it’s hard. One thing, I would always remind myself that most is whether they had just survived the Second World War, and maybe it of my favorite memories of growing up involve doing things that just felt like all the bad things had already happened, and they were sort were risky in one way or another or that I shouldn’t have done, that of mellow about possibilities. There were also fewer dangers then. There were forbidden. were fewer guns, there were fewer cars. The world didn’t seem as filled You want to protect your kids but at the same time you don’t want to with perils as it does now. prevent them from doing the kinds of things that you yourself remember as having been especially meaningful or fun or interesting. You said your kids never asked to do the kinds of things you In that piece about summer camp, I mentioned that the summer did. I never reflected on that, but my kids also didn’t ask to do after that, when I was 17, my parents let me and one of my 11ththe same kinds of things in junior high and high school that I grade classmates go all by ourselves on a backpacking and mountain asked to do. That’s interesting. climbing trip in that same area [where the camper was lost]. In those Yeah, right? One of the guys I play golf with is exactly my age. He went days, there was no GPS and no cell phones. I kind of showed my dad to Brown. The way that he traveled home for vacations, with his parents’ on a topographical map where we were going to go, but we didn’t full approval, was hitchhiking from Providence to Chicago. have an itinerary. We were just going to wander around in the mountains for a couple of weeks. We carried all our food and 150 feet of It seems like we all did it back then. manila climbing rope. A lot of things that now seem almost insanely dangerous didn’t seem My mother told me later she had no idea why they had let us that way then necessarily. do that. She thought maybe we were just so persuasive that they fell for it. But I think they also—my father had very happy memories of The outdoors seems, from your writing, to have had a powergoing to summer camp in Montana, where they basically lived like ful pull on you when you were younger. Does it still? cowboys. They rode horses and roped cattle and branded cattle. He In a way. Now the main thing I do outdoors is play golf, so that’s very found a prehistoric axe head. He pulled fish out of streams with his different from what I was like when I was a kid. I had this idea when I hands. It was one of the great experiences of his life. He went with was starting at that camp you know, fifth grade, sixth grade, I thought, friends of his from school, and they traveled by train to get there, “Oh, I’ll live my whole life in the mountains. This is what I want.” That and so I think that he was very sympathetic. And I’m really glad. But was part of the reason I went to Colorado College to start with, was the I was also glad [laughs] that my own kids never asked if they could incredible pull of—you know, I pictured myself living in a cabin in the do the same thing, because you would really feel like, “Gee, can I let

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hills someplace. But then I changed my mind [laughs] and moved to the East Coast. And I’ve been a very East Coast person since then. What caused you to change your mind and move to the East Coast? I’d been the editor of the college newspaper and the college magazine, and I had a great time. I really liked it. But I felt that I had done everything that I wanted to do, so I withdrew, and I took a year off in which I worked and traveled. I saved enough money to spend three months bumming around in Europe, and then I applied to other colleges and ended up at Harvard, which is where I finished and where I met my wife. We met actually writing for The Harvard Lampoon, the humor magazine. That was one of the reasons I was interested in Harvard—I was a big fan of The Harvard Lampoon. Was it a pretty straight line from The Harvard Lampoon to The New Yorker? No, it wasn’t a straight line. I worked for a few months as a fact checker, at New York magazine. I hated it. The pay was terrible, the hours were endless, and I quit without really knowing what I was going to do. The first thing I did was write a book. I pretended to be a high school student at a large public high school about an hour and a half away from New York. You’d get arrested for it now, and you should be, but the school knew I was 24 and not 17, and I went for a semester and then wrote about it. That led to Esquire magazine excerpting some of that book, and I wrote for Esquire for a while. And Harper’s magazine was in the same building as Esquire, and I showed them a couple of things I’d written for Esquire, and I wrote for them for a while. Then the editor got fired and I wrote for The Atlantic Monthly. A difference between the early ’80s and now is that Harper’s and The Atlantic competed in one way, but they shared an advertising sales force. I wrote for The Atlantic for about six years, and then I sent some things to The New Yorker and started writing for them. And that’s what I’ve done since then.

I’ve written, I’ve written a little bit about a huge number of things, so I know a little bit about a lot. I feel like I know a lot but it’s an inch deep. Which is the way my mind works, I think. It’s kind of a short attention span. But it’s great, because when something comes along, if I get interested in it, I know that I can write about it. At exactly the time that I started writing for The New Yorker, I took up golf, kind of late. I was 36. And I realized as soon as I did that if I write about this, I’ll be able to have a lot of experiences that the average golfer couldn’t have. And that turned out to be true. For 30 years I wrote for Golf Digest, and I’ve written some golf things for The New Yorker, too. But I got to travel all over the world. I got to spend time with Tiger Woods. I got to do all these things that the average golfer isn’t allowed to, and it was only because I could turn it into a job, and so it’s great. I did the same thing when my wife and I foolishly bought a very old house. It consumed a lot of our time, energy, and money. But I was able to make a subject out of it, too, starting with a piece for The Atlantic Monthly about sheetrock and plaster, and then a couple of books. [My wife] has written several cookbooks. We’ve both been fairly effective at turning the ordinary parts of our lives into topics that we could write about, and that we could cobble together into a job.

You wrote in one piece for The New Yorker about going with your sister on a tour of places from your childhood in Kansas City to see if they smelled the same. You also talk about how you can lose scent memories if you try too hard to recreate them. Yeah, it was funny. It was my sister’s idea, to go around and see if these places we remembered smelled the same. There was a doctor’s office and the Nelson-Atkins—we both had these vivid memories of what the art gallery smelled like when we went there on class trips. That was one of the disappointing ones, because it did not smell the same. I think it was because so much renovation had been done. Whatever the source of that smell had been when we were kids, it was gone. But there were lots of places where we went, and you’d catch this whiff of what a doctor’s office smelled like in a medical building on the Plaza. We went to the house that we grew up in, and it was completely different. The people who had bought it . . . if you look back through the things had totally changed it. But the basement still smelled the same and it was weird. You feel like you sort of step into that I’ve written, I’ve written a little bit about a huge a time machine. number of things, so I know a little bit about a lot. I And then the thing that struck me, and it was over my father’s Old Spice deodorant, was that you find feel like I know a lot but it’s an inch deep.” a smell that evokes the past for you—it doesn’t just evoke it, it sort of transports you back into the past— but if you then experience it too much, if you sniff it too often, it fades away. It becomes something you associate with your life now and not with your life then. You kind of At this stage of your writing career, what are the topics you have to be sparing with these little mini portals into the past. are most interested in exploring and why? There are lots of them, and if you look back through the things that Interview condensed and minimally edited for clarity.

‘‘

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CHAIN GANG Joseph Ribkoff blouse, $210; Kenda Kist earrings, $110. Both from Alysa Rene Boutique (Park Place).

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arty P in a Top

AFTER ALL, AT THE BEST HOLIDAY PARTIES, NO ONE EVEN SEES YOUR SHOES photos by Ron Berg TorchHouse Studio hair by Arlen Wickstrum

Flock Salon and Gallery

makeup by Silvia Duckworth

Bellisima By Silvia at Plaza West Total Beauty Med Spa

RISE AND SHINE Zadig & Voltaire top, $378; Zadig & Voltaire pant, $348; Native Gem earrings, $100. All from Luna (Westwood).

STRONG SUIT Joseph Ribkoff jacket, $320; Joseph Ribkoff pants, $223; Peruvian Handmade necklace, $108. All from Trapp and Company (Midtown).

HEIGHT OF THE PARTY D. Exterior top, $380; Avenue Montaigne pants, $360. Both from Hudson & Jane (Crestwood Shops). Etruscan Links earrings, $139; Mini Figaro necklace, $809, both from DelBrenna (Crestwood Shops).

A STAR IS BORN Kitri top, $210; Kitri vinyl trousers, $115; Jenny Bird earrings, $130; Cult Gaia sandals, $468. All from Clairvaux (Fairway Shops and Hawthorne Plaza).

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ON THE FRINGE Julian Chang top, $148; Theia Jewelry earrings, $88; Joseph Ribkoff slacks, $158. All at Alysa Rene Boutique (Park Place).

LEAN IN Trina Turk top, $298; Milly pants, $395; Mignonne Gavigan earrings, $215; Jimmy Choo shoes, $930. All from Halls (Crown Center).

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Cozy Up

words by Jenny Vergara

E The bar at The Campground.

very year, like clockwork, once we fall back with the time change, our collective desire to go out to eat or drink can take a bit of a seasonal dip. It is a natural phenomenon that happens to many this time of year. Not only is it now dark outside earlier, but it’s also usually cold too. The couch is so much more attractive, especially when it’s so easy to order food and just stay in. Fight the urge to hunker down! Instead, venture out with friends or loved ones, not only for the health of our local restaurant and bar scene but for our own mental health. In some of the world’s coldest countries, where it’s dark and snowy for much longer than it is here in the Midwest, it’s simply part of the culture to

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photo by aaron leimkuehler

15 BARS AND BISTROS TO ENJOY THIS WINTER

bundle up and sit outside for a bite and a drink with family or friends as cheeks blush red with cold. We all need a little down time before the holidays, but not at the expense of our friendships—or even our romantic relationships. Aren’t you due for a date night? Enjoy a special night out—just the two of you. What would entice us to leave our home on a cold, dark night? Meeting friends for dinner or drinks at a casual, warm, and cozy spot. But how do you define a place as cozy? It could be a glowing fireplace or hearth, or maybe it’s a dimly lit spot with a bit of live music. It could be something as simple as a coffee shop or a cocktail bar. Maybe it’s a restaurant known for comforting food that wraps you in a hug, such as pasta, or braised meat and root vegetables with a bottle of wine, or perhaps something with just a bit of spice. Let’s make a pact that we’ll celebrate the start of this season by cozying up and connecting with the ones we love—in places we love. POT PIE After 20 years, Pot Pie has carved out its own cozy little corner of the culinary scene in Kansas City by staying true to the things they have always done well—steamed mussels, “the” pan-roasted chicken, and of course, potpie. From the classic chalkboard menu to the tiny dining room and bar, you’ll enjoy eating by candlelight with your special someone. kcpotpie.com

photo by aaron leimkuehler

THE CAMPGROUND Regardless of whether you dine inside on the rotating menu of chef-driven dishes or outside by the firepit with a warm cocktail in hand, it’s easy to see why so many people choose this moody little outdoor-inspired spot in the West Bottoms as a place to bring friends and family from out of town. Reservations are recommended. thecampgroundkc.com Top: Steamed mussels from Pot Pie. Middle: The aprés-ski-style fireplace in the indoor/outdoor patio at Mildred’s in the Crossroads. Bottom: The Founder’s Old Fash from The Town Company.

WAH GWAN This restaurant is a triple threat, with the charming owner and chef, Tanyech Yarbrough, delivering a menu that NOVEMBER 2023 | 75 | INKANSASCITY.COM

serves up an irresistible mix of both Jamaican and Nigerian dishes that are full of deep flavor and spice served in a dining room decorated in warm colors with a fun flair. From Egusi soup with fufu to jerk chicken, there’s so much to explore, just one visit will not be enough. wahgwantan.com MILDRED’S OUTDOOR PATIO AT CROSSROADS Once you’ve picked up your Irish coffee and The Standard sandwich featuring Mildred’s famous steamed eggs, bacon, and American cheese with Dijon mayo on marbled rye, make your way to the indoor/outdoor covered patio and gather around their après-ski-style fireplace that gives off plenty of heat and atmosphere. mildredskc.com GREEN LADY LOUNGE Pay five dollars at the door, then take the stairs down to one of the coziest live-music venues in Kansas City. Order a nightcap and a slice of double chocolate cake, cheesecake, or tiramisu (with two forks) while you kick back and listen to local and traveling jazz and blues musicians jam live on stage. greenladylounge.com THE TOWN COMPANY With an open-hearth kitchen that gives the dark dining room with lowslung ceilings a warm and welcoming glow, The Town Company’s menu warms the soul. Try the hot buns and carrot dip, or grilled cabbage with benne seeds and pistachios, or chile-smoked pork chops with okra and corn bread for two. A couple of glasses of wine make the scene picture perfect. thetowncompany.com JIM’S ALLEY BAR Open seven nights a week, Jim’s Alley Bar feels like an old-school East Coast neighborhood dive bar because of the hidden front door located in the East Crossroads alley. While you pay homage to the photo of Jim on the wall above the bar, have a seat and place your order for your favorite yard beer or well drink to sip while you wait for a Jim’s beef sandwich, the

bar’s take on an Italian beef sandwich. jimsalleybar.com HITIDES COFFEE Whenever you need a little taste of Hawaii, Hitides Coffee is where you want to be. Decorated with fun and curious Hawaiian tchotchkes, straw mats, warm woods, and colorful tiki cocktail mugs, the entire place makes you feel like you are on vacation every day. Order the Alani orange latte or a cup of pineapple-flavored Dole Whip ice cream to connect your tastebuds to the islands. Aloha! hitidescoffee.com NOVEL Whether you decide to have dinner at the horseshoe-shaped bar or make a reservation for a table for two in the intimate dining room, this Crossroads restaurant’s solid menu of fresh seasonal dishes will have you settling in for the night. Order the honeynut squash soup, crispy farm egg, and at least one or two of their pasta dishes or a meaty entrée. Save room for dessert. novelkc.com LE FOU FROG This iconic family-run French restaurant has been operating on the edge of the City Market for 27 years. Le Fou Frog offers a crash course in French wine, food, and culture all rolled up into one. The dining room feels almost romantic, awash in pink and red, but the impeccable food and French wine list will make you forget the time and linger over Champagne and dessert instead. lefoufrog.com VOLTAIRE Blessed with good bones, a handsome cocktail bar, and lighting that is just dim enough, Voltaire is a great place to land for food and drink that’s a little off the beaten path. With a creative menu of worldly shared plates, excellent cocktails, and distinctive wines, some of the not-miss dishes are grilled Spanish octopus, Salvadoran pupusas, and the French-inspired pommes aligot made with Yukon gold potatoes, gruyere “fondue” with roasted garlic and Swiss chard, charred broccoli with shallot agro dolce and crusty bread to scoop it all up. voltairekc.com

HEMMA HEMMA This new grab n’ go marketplace in Waldo has now opened their restaurant dining room for breakfast and lunch, serving up a big dose of Grandma chic with the nostalgic décor and healthy, comforting favorites. Ashley Bare has created a cozy nook for enjoying a slice of breakfast casserole or an oatmeal bowl, or even a power kale chicken salad with a bowl of white chicken chili, which is likely better than Grandma used to make. hemmahemma.com EARL’S PREMIER Whether you snag a seat at the bumping bar or make reservations for a table, Kansas City’s favorite teeny tiny seafood shack in the middle of landlocked Brookside, Earl’s Premier, offers frozen gin and tonics, oysters on the half shell, and the best fried fish sandwich in town. Add to that the natural conviviality that happens when an engaged staff, neighbors, local celebrities, and the occasional tourist all mix in a shotgun-shaped space on a cold, dark night. It’s a party waiting to happen. earlspremier.com SWORDFISH TOM’S With an alley-side front door, this bar is tucked away in the boiler room of a quiet red-brick building in the heart of the Crossroads. Yet Swordfish Tom’s tiny bar is known as the spot for some quiet conversation fueled by excellent craft cocktails. No reservations are accepted, simply wait at the door for the red light to turn green, then someone will arrive to escort you to your seats. instagram.com/swordfishtoms.kc NOAH’S CUPBOARD Named after their son’s habit of hiding in the cupboards, the chef Nick Martinkovic and his wife, Andrea, moved to Weston, Missouri, from St. Louis five years ago to be closer to family. The couple has since opened a 400-square-foot, farm-to-table restaurant with only four tables that’s only open on weekends. They serve an impressive menu of meat, seafood, and seasonal vegetable dishes, but the only thing mandatory here are reservations. eatnoahscupboard.com

NOVEMBER 2023 | 76 | INKANSASCITY.COM

Top: Strawberry semifreddo dessert from Novel. Middle: The Hot Line, Hemma Hemma’s elevated, cafeteria-style dining room. Bottom: Seasonal Tuna Yuzu Crudo from Earl’s Premier.

photo by katie currid

Stuffed piquillo peppers from Noah’s Cupboard in Weston.

NOVEMBER 2023 | 77 | INKANSASCITY.COM

Festive Finery HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2022 KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA HOLIDAY HOMES TOUR

words by Judith Fertig

photos by Aaron Leimkuehler

NOVEMBER 2023 | 78 | INKANSASCITY.COM

THE KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA HOLIDAY HOMES TOUR decks the halls of architecturally significant homes with festive finery by Kansas City’s most gifted floral designers, all in support of worthy causes. The tour is also a great opportunity to pick up tips on making our own holiday homes merry and bright.

OH, CHRISTMAS TREE. . .

he tall Christmas tree in Travis and Amy Hiles’s Kansas City Tudor home seems to glow from within. And that’s by design. “Lighting is so important,” says designer Katie Laughridge of Nell Hill’s. “Wrap lights around the tree from the bottom up, around each branch,” she suggests. Amidst the glow, cherished Christopher Radko ornaments hang from velvet ribbons, while a vintage tree skirt, garlands, and sprays of faux red berries complete the look. Laughridge added a few more holiday “moments.” A collection of Christmas houses and bottle-brush trees sits atop a radiator. A garland of faux greenery, baubles, and ribbons draws your eye up the staircase. On the dining table, one of Nell Hill’s signature place settings combines white and silver chargers, pink velvet ruffled placemats, cupcake plates with a cloche on top, and garlands down the table. “Using faux greenery gives you the gift of time,” says Laughridge. “You can put up your decorations earlier and leave them up longer.” nellhills.com

NOVEMBER 2023 | 79 | INKANSASCITY.COM

NOVEMBER 2023 | 80 | INKANSASCITY.COM

SEASONʼS GREETINGS

or longtime client Lynne Beaver’s home in Mission Hills, Chuck Matney of The Little Flower Shop celebrated the holiday season with winter’s finest florals, from fresh greenery to amaryllis, poinsettias, sprays of red winterberry, colorful ranunculus, hellebores, and white narcissus that will scent a room. “I love using fresh for the look and the fragrance,” he says. “I knew Lynne already had a great collection of Christmas decorations, so we were able to simply enhance that.” Winter flowering plants bring a festive feel to every room of the house, from the winterberry branches in the blue-and-white china vases on the kitchen island, to the individual bouquets at each place setting in the dining room, parrot tulips in the primary bedroom, and the arrangement on the hall console table that greets you. A fresh evergreen tree, topped with a gold star, holds keepsake treasures and spurs the homeowner on to make new memories. thelittleﬂowershop.com

NOVEMBER 2023 | 81 | INKANSASCITY.COM

NOVEMBER 2023 | 82 | INKANSASCITY.COM

DECK THE HALLS

or Mark and Valerie Brandmeyer’s Fairway home in classic coastal colors, the team from Studio Dan Meiners added pops of color and a little fun, starting with a fabulous fuchsia reindeer taking center stage. An exuberant garland of pink, blue, and white ornaments and ribbons cascade down a staircase. The flocked tree in the living room adds other references to the seaside—coral and seashells. The second flocked tree in the primary bedroom keeps it quiet with blue globes, tiny wooden figures, and snowflakes. “Keep your mind open to adding a new twist to your traditional décor, maybe a little outside your comfort zone, so it feels fresh and inviting,” Meiners suggests. “Another key to holiday décor is how you store it for the next year,” he says. “Ornament boxes with cardboard in-between work like a dream. And I always store the tree topper on top.” studiodanmeiners.com

NOVEMBER 2023 | 83 | INKANSASCITY.COM

MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT

or the Mission Hills Georgian owned by Brett and Michele Oettmeier, Chuck Matney of The Little Flower Shop went full-on Christmas. Illuminated glass trees glow on mantels and tables, wreaths of shiny baubles glitter, fresh magnolia leaves mixed with faux take your eye up to a large beribboned wreath above the fireplace, and tiny white lights make the greenery garlands sparkle day and night. Even in a room of subdued olive and

coral and brown, “All the decor is essentially green and white with lights,” he says. “You can never go wrong with that for the holidays.” On the kitchen island, a vase of greenery with pops of red amaryllis and New Zealand peonies stands near a Santa in charge. They lead the way to the dining table set with charming little gingerbread houses, burgundy glasses, and faux winter trees at every place. thelittleﬂowershop.com

NOVEMBER 2023 | 84 | INKANSASCITY.COM

About the Tour Since 1951, the Kappa Kappa Gamma Holiday Homes Tour has transported us to a winter wonderland where all is merry and bright. This year, from December 6 through 7, Kansas City’s top florists and designers will show us how to put a little holiday spirit in every room. kappahomestour.com

NOVEMBER 2023 | 85 | INKANSASCITY.COM

Longview Lake Park November 22 - December 31 Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-10:00 PM Friday-Saturday, 5:30-11:00 PM

MakeYourDayHere.com

FREE ADMISSION – Voluntary donations are accepted benefitting Local Charities.

(816) 503-4805

In The Park In The Pa Longview Lake Park November 22 - December 31 Sunday-Thursday, 5:30-10:00 PM Friday-Saturday, 5:30-11:00 PM

JacksonCountyParks FREE ADMISSION

JacksonCountyParks

Longview Lake Park November 22 - December 3 FREE ADMISSION – Voluntary donations are accepted Sunday-Thursday, 5:3 (816) 503-4805 benefitting Local Charities. JacksonCountyParks Friday-Saturday, 5:30MakeYourDayHere.com FREE ADMISSION – Voluntary donations are accepted benefitting Local Charities.

Christmas

In The Park

Christmas Christmas

(816) 503-4805

MakeYourDayHere.com

Christmas

In The Sky

Longview Lake Beach Wednesday, November 22 5:00 p.m. - Gates Open 6:00 p.m. - Holiday Show 7:45 p.m. - Fireworks Display

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RBC WEALTH MANAGEMENT IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT

Total Wealth Management Group has joined the Leawood office of RBC Wealth Management. Patrick McCarthy, CIMA®, CRPS®

John L. Brown

Eric A. Taylor, CFP®

Office: (913) 451-3592 Mobile: (913) 340-3551 john.l.brown@rbc.com

Office: (913) 451-3593 Mobile: (913) 340-2030 eric.a.taylor@rbc.com

Scott Jones

Penny McKinney, AAMS®

LaGina Nicholas

Office: (913) 451-3594 Mobile: (913) 340-3500 s.jones@rbc.com

Office: (913) 451-3595 penny.mckinney@rbc.com

Office: (913) 451-3596 lagina.nicholas@rbc.com

Managing Director – Financial Advisor Office: (913) 451-3591 Mobile: (913) 340-3495 pat.mccarthy@rbc.com

Vice President – Financial Advisor

Total Wealth Management Group 4001 West 114th Street Suite 200 Leawood, KS 66211

Senior Vice President – Financial Advisor

Associate Vice President – Senior Financial Associate

Senior Vice President – Financial Advisor

Associate Vice President – Senior Business Associate

John F. McCarthy

Associate Financial Advisor Office: (913) 451-3597 john.f.mccarthy@rbc.com

www.TotalWealthMgmtGroup.com

Investment and insurance products offered through RBC Wealth Management are not insured by the FDIC or any other federal government agency, are not deposits or other obligations of, or guaranteed by, a bank or any bank affiliate, and are subject to investment risks, including possible loss of the principal amount invested. © 2023 RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, registered investment adviser and Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC. All rights reserved.

23-KC-02427 (09/23)

I I

-1 1

PARK PLL\CE More to celebrate Holiday Season Premiere Saturday, November 18 (All day) Begin your holiday shopping and family traditions with all

the sights, sounds & beauty Park Place brings!

- llam: Arrival of Santa (& The Grinch at the ice rink)

- Photos with Santa (11am - 4pm)

- Skate with The Grinch (11am - 2pm)

- Special offers at stores and restaurants - Strolling Dickens Carolers

- Official opening of The Ice at Park Place

Shop Small & Holiday Crawl Saturday, November 25 (All day) Shop Small and sip libations for a cause! Enjoy specials

throughout the Village shops, plus a special "Holiday

Crawl" from 2pm - 4pm. Pre-purchase your tickets for a

tour of 8 wine or beer tastings, plus a few surprise holiday

sips and snacks - 100% of ticket sales benefit Children's Mercy Hospital.

- 11am: Shops open and ice skating begins

- 11am - 6pm: Photos with Santa

- 2pm: Holiday Crawl (visit website to buy tickets)

Strolling Santa & Dickens Carolers Every Saturday until Christmas (11am - 4pm) Take photos with Santa Claus and Dickens Carolers

as they bring joy to Park Place every Saturday until Christmas!

- November 18 & 25

- December: 2, 9, 16 & 23

Visit ParkPlaceLeawood.com for more details.

Park Place is located on the northeast corner of Nall Avenue & 117th St., just north of AMC 20 Theatre.

Spotlight KC Attractions not to miss in November

The College Basketball Experience

Kansas City Ballet’s, The Nutcracker

Open Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Home of the Men’s Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

Don’t miss this beloved KC tradition at the Kauffman Center Dec. 1–24, 2023! Tickets and information at KCBallet.org.

The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

The Kansas City Automotive Museum

Step into a museum within a museum! The Miniature Art Museum is now open. For tickets: toyandminiaturemuseum.org

Featuring a wide variety of exciting vehicle exhibits, educational displays and community events. kcautomuseum.com

@AttractionsKC @gkcaattractions

EDUARDO STRAUSS KANSAS CIT Y SYM CHARLES BRUFF

dastardly villains in a fun musical tle. This concert overflows with s of caped crusaders and wellown music. Don’t forget to join our ARVO PÄRT “Salve sicians in wearing your favorite VERDI “Stabat Ma tumes for the show. Everyone’s VERDI “Te Deum” come, from superheroes and SCHUMANN Symp dies to princesses and sports GREAT MUSIC GREAT FUN FOR EVERYONE s! Tickets start at $25+ for adults This music evoke $15 for children. GREAT MUSIC + GREAT FUN FOR EVERYONE of contrasts — da and triumph, sun onsored by Tickets from $25 Michael Stern, music director

Michael Stern, music director

Family Concert

Heroes and Villains Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. Family Concert

Heroes and Villains CALEB YOUNG, CONDUCTOR

Classical Concert

FridayMusic & Saturday, Nov. 17-18 at 8 p.m. Illuminates

Friday & Saturday, Dec. 1-2 at 7 p.m. A Kaleidoscope of Orchestral Color Classical Concert Holiday Sunday, Concert Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. Friday & Saturday, Nov. 24-25 at 8 p.m. Through the Lens Handel’s Messiah Nov. 26of at 2 p.m. Color Friday & Saturday, Dec. 1-2 at 7 p.m. ASunday, Kaleidoscope Orchestral

Music Illuminates the Classical Soul Concert

Through the Lens

Holiday Concert

Handel’s Messiah

CONCERTS ARE HELD IN HE

Sunday, 19 at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. theNov.Soul Be here for an epic superhero Friday & Saturday, Nov. 17-18 at 8 p.m. CALEB CONDUCTOR showdown as the YOUNG, “good guys” take EDUARDO STRAUSSER, Sunday, Nov. 19 at 2GUEST p.m. CONDUCTOR on dastardlyBevillains in a fun musical here for an epic superhero KANSAS CIT Y SYMPHONY CHORUS battle. This concert overflows with showdown as the “good guys” take EDUARDO STRAUSSER, GUESTDIRECTOR CONDUCTOR CHARLES BRUFF Y, CHORUS tales of caped and wellon crusaders dastardly villains in a fun musical KANSAS CIT Y SYMPHONY CHORUS battle. Thisforget concerttooverflows known music. Don’t join ourwith CHARLES BRUFF Y, CHORUS DIRECTOR “Salve Regina” of caped crusaders and well- ARVO PÄRT musicians intales wearing your favorite known music. Don’t forget to join our VERDI “Stabat Mater” costumes for the show. Everyone’s ARVO PÄRT “Salve Regina” musicians in wearing your favorite VERDI “Te Deum” welcome, from superheroes andEveryone’s VERDI “Stabat Mater” costumes for the show. Symphony VERDI “Te Deum” No. 2 baddies to princesses andsuperheroes sports and SCHUMANN welcome, from SCHUMANN Symphony No. 2 stars! Tickets start to at princesses $25 for adults baddies and sports Tickets start at $25 for adultsThis music evokes a beautiful display and $15 forstars! children. This music a beautiful display of contrasts — evokes dark and light, tragedy and $15 for children. of contrasts — dark and light, tragedy and triumph, sunshine and shadow. Sponsored by and triumph, sunshine and shadow. Sponsored by Tickets from $25. Tickets from $25.

ROBERTO KALB, GUEST CONDUCTOR

Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. Friday & Saturday, Nov. 24-25 at 8 p.m. Sunday,KANSAS CIT Y SYMPHONY CHORUS PAOLO Nov. BORTOLAMEOLLI, CONDUCTOR Sunday, 26 at 2 p.m. CHARLES BRUFF Y, CHORUS DIRECTOR KALB, GUEST CONDUCTOR ZHU WANG, PIANO (Underwritten by the Almy Legacy ROBERTO Fund)

KANSAS CIT Y SYMPHONY CHORUS CHARLES BRUFF Y, CHORUS DIRECTOR Witness one of the KC Symphony’s most beloved holiday traditions! MOZART Piano Concerto No. 21 WitnessFeaturing one of thethe KC Kansas Symphony’s City Symphony MIGUEL FARÍAS Retratos Australes DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 7 most beloved holiday traditions! MOZART Piano Concerto No. 21 Chorus and some of America’s Featuring the Kansas City Symphony DVOŘÁK Symphony No. 7 most accomplished soloists, Handel’s Discover the captivating music of Chorus and some of America’s Messiah includes iconic most accomplished soloists,the Handel’s Chileanthe composer Miguel Farías, a Discover captivating music of Chorus” and sweeping Messiah“Hallelujah includes the iconic Chilean composer Miguel Farías, a sensitive interpretation of Mozart’s “Hallelujah and sweeping solosChorus” portraying one of the greatest sensitive interpretation Piano Concerto No.of21Mozart’s played by solos portraying one of the greatest stories ever told. Handel’s glorious Piano Concerto No. 21 played by Chinese pianist Zhu Wang and stories ever told. Handel’s glorious masterpiece will bring hope and joy to Chinese pianist Zhu Wang and masterpiece will bring hope and joy to Dvořák’s brooding Symphony No. 7. Dvořák’s brooding Symphony No. 7. your Christmas season. Tickets from your Christmas season. Tickets from Ticketsfrom from $25. Tickets $25. forand adults and $20 for children. $30 for$30 adults $20 for children. PAOLO BORTOLAMEOLLI, CONDUCTOR ZHU WANG, PIANO (Underwritten by theAustrales Almy Legacy Fund) MIGUEL FARÍAS Retratos

ORDER NOW

CONCERTS ARE HELD IN HELZBERGHALL HALLATAT THE THE KAUFFMAN FORFOR THE THE PERFORMING ARTS. ARTS. CONCERTS ARE HELD IN HELZBERG KAUFFMANCENTER CENTER PERFORMING

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Daniel and Kristen Fromm Donor Advised Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City Christy and Bill Gautreaux Halls Kansas City Haw Contemporary Shirley and Barnett Helzberg Jr. Donor Advised Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City International Architects Atelier / Elizabeth and Majid Amirahmadi

Palle and Dennis Rilinger John and Marny Sherman Victoria’s Door, LLC Mary and Gary Wolf

Mashup Barkley Ann Baum Kathy Benich Diane Botwin and Mike Vessels Bunni and Paul Copaken Ellen and Jamie Copaken Amy Embry Theresa and Brad Freilich John and Ellen Goheen Cheryl and Robert Goodwillie

Pam and Gary Gradinger Dr. Jeffrey Goldstein and Kim Klein Goldstein Terrance and Dr. Andrea Hendricks Ryan Hiser and David Tran Anne N. Hickok Liz and John Hjalmarson Hufft Linda and Topper Johntz

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YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING JUST GOT EASIER! WATCH FOR IN KANSAS CITY’S 2023 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE COMING WITH YOUR DECEMBER ISSUE

2022 Holiday Gift Guide In Partnership with Kansas

From stocking stuffers to luxe indulgences there’s something for everyone on your list in the upcoming 2023 Holiday Gift Guide created in partnership with Kansas City merchants.

City Merchants

For any merchant wishing to be included in the Gift Guide, contact Brittany Coale at 816-768-8308

The Perfect Holiday Gift to Give Your Friends—and Yourself! KC-CENTRIC PODCASTS YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS

GLORIOUS GIFTABLE GEMS

DECEMBER 2019 | INKANSASCITY.COM

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Flavor IN KC

In the Kitchen

FRIED PIES

BY Cody Hogan

PHOTOS BY Aaron Leimkuehler

hen searching for topics for this column, I tend to focus on something that I love or that brings back fond memories, something I have been curious about and want to explore, or something new to me—but definitely not new (in our thousands of years of history, humans have cooked just about every food in every combination with every technique imaginable or possible—truly new in food seldom occurs). I was recently musing on the fried pies my mother would make, and I realized I had never actually cooked one. And there you have it, my topic Fried pies (aka hand pies, fry pies, and turnovers, among other names) have probably been around since humans first made a paste of some type of ground grain with which they could encase a more delicate food to protect it while cooking. They may or may not have eaten the casing. Creativity and refinements happen, the most successful being passed on from generation to generation, and the next thing you know, we have delicious little pastries that are portable, extremely versatile, and relatively simple to prepare. They can be made with almost any type of dough—from flaky pie crust to many-layered puff pastry to sturdy hot-water pastry to what my mother used—canned biscuits. I have even had delicious fried pies made from pizza dough. The fillings—and the crust—can be sweet or savory, or both. They can be shallow fried in a skillet, deep fried, something between the two, or even baked (safer if you worry about the filling exploding, or if you are counting calories). You can go full-on country and first cook bacon and/or sausage in a skillet, then cook the pies in the rendered fat—a particularly delicious

option, especially if one doesn’t make it a daily habit. For fruit-filled fried pies, any type of cooked fruit or jam will work. My mother occasionally used prepared cherry pie filling (my grandmother would use mincemeat, but that isn’t as easy to come by these days), and even chunky applesauce or pumpkin butter could work. I am currently fond of a pear-vanilla-lemon combination that is easily and quickly prepared and perfect for the season. I hope you’ll enjoy my topic du jour and make it your own. Vanilla-Pear Fried Pies Prepare the filling by peeling, coring, and dicing 3-4 firm but barely ripe pears (fully ripe and they will dissolve into a purée, which is okay but not ideal). Heat a wide skillet and add about 2 tablespoons of butter, the pears, ¼ cup of sugar, the zest and juice of a whole lemon, and half a vanilla bean split open to allow the seeds and flavor to escape into the pears (the vanilla bean is an extravagance, but it really makes the pears sing). Cook rapidly until the pears are tender and the juices thickened (it should almost be gone—completely reduced to a glaze on the pears). Set this aside to cool. Note that you could just stop here and eat the pear mixture spread on toast, pancakes, or waffles—even ice cream! It is delicious all by itself. For the dough, I use essentially whatever dough I have at hand (pizza, puff, pie, etc.), but if I’m making it from scratch, I would make a quick biscuit dough as follows: Cut 6 tablespoons cold butter into ¼ inch pieces and place them in the freezer while you assemble the ingre-

NOVEMBER 2023 | 96 | INKANSASCITY.COM

dients for the dough. Put 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, and ¾ teaspoon of salt into the bowl of a food processor. Briefly pulse the flour mixture. Add the cold butter and pulse a few times until some of the butter is beaten up (you should still see lots of bits). Pour 1 cup cold buttermilk over the mixture and quickly pulse 6 to 8 times until the mixture mostly comes together. It will not yet be a smooth dough. Allow the dough to rest for a few minutes. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured surface, patting into a square, pushing any extraneous bits of dough into the mass. Dust a rolling pin with flour, then roll the dough out to a 10 by 10inch square. Dust off excess flour, then fold the dough in half top down, then fold left to right so you have a small square. Roll this out again into a 10 by 10-inch square. Repeat the process. This next time, roll the dough into an 8 by 16inch rectangle. Again dust off any excess flour. Cut the dough into 8 squares (2 rows of 4-inch squares). Brush the edges lightly with water, then put a dollop (about 2 tablespoons) of the pear filling into each square. Fold the squares diagonally corner to corner to make triangles (or in half to make rectangles), pressing the moistened edges together firmly. Next, crimp the sealed edges with a fork, then turn the pie over and crimp the opposite side (I know this seems excessive, but it really helps keep them from bursting when they cook).* In a large skillet, heat a 1/4-inch depth of vegetable oil and/ or butter (or use rendered bacon fat) until a bit of dough dropped into the skillet sizzles. Dust off any excess flour, then carefully place as many of the pies as will fit comfortably—not touching—in the skillet. They need to cook about 5 minutes on each side until the dough is a deep, rich golden brown with a few darker spots here and there. Remove them to a paper towel-lined platter and keep them in a warm oven while the remaining pies cook. Serve the pies warm, perhaps drizzled with a little maple syrup (and the bacon) for breakfast, or with a scoop of ice cream for an afternoon snack when life seems overwhelming and you need a hug. Feel free to experiment with fillings and doughs, making your own refinements to pass on to your friends and family. Perhaps one of them will be inspired to write about it someday.

In Your Pantry

PEARS A WORKHORSE of the fall and winter fruit pantry, pears are complicated, in that despite years of breeding (often to the detriment of flavor), they are still fragile and must be handled with care. In our area, pears mature in mid to late summer, but because they store well, acceptably good pears can be found throughout the cooler seasons. Because pears are easily damaged, they are most frequently sold (exceedingly) unripe in grocery stores. Keep this in mind if serving or using in a recipe calling for pears at a certain ripeness. Seldom are they ready to use immediately when coming from the farmers market or store. Allow them to set out at room temperature (in a paper bag if you’re in a hurry) until the aroma awakens and the texture reaches desired tenderness–there should be a slight give at the neck. To slow down ripening, store pears in the fridge, although the flavor and aroma will fade over time. Ripe pears go downhill quickly, so keep an eye on them. There are many varieties of pear but they tend to fall into two categories: European and Asian. Here are some of the most common varieties found in area supermarkets.

Bartlett This pear is potentially one of the best pears to eat out of hand, one with the best “pear” flavor and silky, finegrained texture. When perfectly ripe (the skin turns from a dusky brownish green to a mottled yellow, sometimes with a hint of blush, and the pear gives slightly to the touch), Bartlett pears are occasionally available in a red variety. Good for salads when firm-ripe. Also known as the Williams pear.

Bosc The pear with the sexy shape, Bosc pears are one of the best pears for cooking. They poach well, and their elegant curves lend beauty to many desserts. They are a firm pear, even when ripe, and they come in a range of hues, so don’t judge ripeness just by the color of the skin.

D’Anjou Not the most flavorful of pears, but valuable because of their extremely (for a pear) sturdy nature. They store especially well and can be found in groceries year round. Although pale green and yellow varieties are usual in our stores, they are the most common variety of red-skinned pear.

Asian Always round, with a very crisp-firm texture. Asian pears are wonderful for salads where their texture and sweetness play well off other ingredients. Their flavor is very mild and they store well in the fridge. Asian pears are also called apple pears or sand pears (due to an almost “sandy” quality of their texture).

*If you want to take mom’s shortcut, use a good quality canned biscuit dough, rolling each biscuit out to about 6 inches in diameter before proceeding with filling the pies. NOVEMBER 2023 | 97 | INKANSASCITY.COM

Flavor IN KC

Spicy Pineapple Margarita

by Jenny Vergara

In Your Cocktail

TACO NACO

he 100-watt smile on the chef Fernanda Reyes's face can be seen from across the room as she delivers her signature street tacos and trays of crispy tortilla chips and fresh guacamole to tables filled with guests at her new Westport cantina she co-owns with husband, Brian Goldman Ruiz. After one meal there, it is clear the rumors are true. The vibes are just as good at Taco Naco, number two. The business plan for Taco Naco was built while Ruiz was studying

to get his master’s in entrepreneurial real estate development. He used the restaurant as a project for one of his classes, and together (Reyes also has a master’s degree in business administration and nutrition) they saw an opportunity to take her culinary training and his passion for real estate and apply it to opening their own taqueria. By 2019, they were selling street tacos out of a tent at the Overland Park Farmers Market, and in 2021 they had opened their first brickand-mortar location in a small strip center near downtown Overland

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Park. Now in 2023, they have made the move across the state line to Missouri, opening their second location in Westport in the former Port Fonda location. Gone are Port Fonda’s reclaimed wood walls and red letters, replaced with hot-pink paint and native Mexican art. The former private dining area is now a Latin-inspired grab-and-go market stocked with Taco Naco house-made hot sauces, dips, sauces, margarita mixes, and more. Instead of table service at the Westport location, guests will find counter service instead, a move Reyes hopes will get more people in and out of her restaurant quickly and mirrors the operation at her original Overland Park location. The menu remains identical to their Overland Park outlet with all their most popular items, including carne asada chimichurri tacos and potato and pipián vegan tacos on the menu, along with the current crowd favorite, the quesabirria taco platter served with a side of hot and spicy broth or consumé. If you are feeling spicy, you can order her six-salsa sampler to help you identify your level of heat. Behind the bar is another familiar face, Diana Condori, the talented bartender who ran Cóndor’s Cove tiki drink pop-ups around Kansas City before she left for California a year or two ago. She says she has returned for a chance to head up the bar program for another talented Latina business owner whom she deeply admires. While Diana works to add her own signature drinks and agave-based spirits to the mix, guests will find a cocktail menu full of plenty of delicious and fruity margaritas created by Reyes and Ruiz, including their favorite, the Spicy Pineapple Margarita. “I love this drink. This margarita was one of the first cocktails that Brian and I created when we started our first location in Overland Park, Kansas,” says Reyes. “I recommend you pair it with our taco al pastor with the fresh pineapple relish. In Westport, we make our al pastor in the traditional way using a vertical oven called a trompo, where we slice off the roasted meat into each tortilla to order. It is a perfect pairing.” taconacokc.com

Spicy Pineapple Margarita 1.5 ounces pineapple and jalapeño -infused tequila blanco 1 ounce orange liqueur 1 ounce simple syrup 1 ounce pineapple juice 1.5 ounces lime juice Splash of lime soda Put all ingredients into a shaker with ice, shake vigorously, then strain into a rocks glass that has been garnished on the rim with sweet and savory Chamoy Carmona and rolled in Tajin. Add a slice each of fresh pineapple and jalapeño. Cheers!

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Flavor IN KC BY Jenny Vergara

BILLIE’S GROCERY

In Culinary News

ROBIN KRAUSE is almost ready to reveal her new Leawood location for Billie’s Grocery, the second location for her café and bakery. The restaurant will be similar in design to her Midtown location, sporting fresh white walls with warm wood and black accents while offering the same menu and scratch-made baked goods. New to the Leawood location will be an expanded graband-go area stocked with house-made soups, sauces, and dressings along with meals and sides to enjoy at home, in addition to a new in-house floral department selling fresh flowers to go. Look for space to have a full coffee and cocktail bar, and a significant amount of new retail items, such as packaged Billie's spices, granolas, nuts, and seasonings and fun, healthy home and kitchen goods. Think Dean and Deluca meets Billie's Grocery. In the spring of 2024, Krause will open a 1600-squarefoot outdoor patio perfect for happy hour. “I grew up in that neighborhood,” says Krause, “so this location feels like I'm going home.” billiesgrocery.com

STEP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT OF THE MOST FABULOUS HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA EVER! Join us as 140 singing contestants compete for the coveted crown, taking you on a theatrical journey through eclectic holiday favorites. With stunning vocal performances, high-energy dance numbers, and a heartwarming message, A Very Merry Christmas Pageant is a must-see event that will fill you with the festive spirit.

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For more information and to purchase tickets, visit HMCKC.ORG. NOVEMBER 2023 | 100 | INKANSASCITY.COM

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Flavor IN KC by Jenny Vergara

TAKE CARE BY OLEO COFFEE

In Culinary News

THE FOUNDERS AND OWNERS of the Kansas City-based wholesale coffee roasting company Marcell are ready to see how the other half lives as they prepare to open their first direct-to-consumer retail coffee shop. Take Care by OLEO will open soon in the East Crossroads. Created by Christopher Oppenhuis and Mark Sappington, OLEO is their first retail-only roasting brand focused on coffees grown on single-estate farms that the partners know and already support. The space was the original home of Thou Mayest’s flagship and operated most recently as Chances Social. The 2,000-squarefoot two-story location is based on a rural homestead esthetic, seen in their in-house baking program, which will offer signature biscuits served with seasonal preserves and flavored butters and additional pastries baked fresh daily. OLEO’s coffee beans will soon be available for purchase at both their coffee shop and online. Follow them online for their estimated opening date. oleocoffee.com

Mt. Gilead School

Jesse James Bank Museum

Historic Pharis Farm

FIND YOUR WAY TO CLAY. VisitClayMO.com NOVEMBER 2023 | 102 | INKANSASCITY.COM

Mt. Gilead Church

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SPREADING JOY,

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Flavor IN KC by Jenny Vergara

THE HOUSE BAR

In Culinary News

THE TINY BLUE HOUSE located next door to Lulu’s Thai Noodles in Westwood was known as The House Bar when it first opened in 2021. The quirky dive bar soon became a gathering spot for many who live in the neighborhood. The space closed for a colorful interior refresh and has now reopened, offering Lulu’s full food and drink menu plus a fine selection of yard beers. The refresh created more bar space inside, and it allowed for a new adjacent room, complete with vintage furniture and décor, to be created. Guests can choose from an eclectic selection of rotating vintage records that a staff member will happily play on owner Malisa Monyakula’s childhood record player. In addition to a small seating area inside, guests can opt for a seat at picnic tables outside under the shade of trees or on the front porch. The House is open Fridays and Saturdays from 5 – 11 p.m., and on Sundays from 2 – 9 p.m. Follow on Instagram @thehousewestwood.

Proud to be recognized as

BEST CHEF Hannah Winnett

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Experience Exceptional 12401 Johnson Drive Shawnee, KS 66216 913-379-1300

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BEST BARTENDER Evan Spieker