MARCH 2019 I FREE I THEPITCHKC.COM
ST wh
EP R IGHT
P U
oW y? t i ant sC a s to s Kan be the f o r n e x t M a yo
COLOR ME BADD & TONE LOC MARCH 2 | 8:30PM
CLINT BLACK MARCH 9 | 8:30PM
SINBAD MARCH 15 | 8:30PM
NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND MARCH 23 | 8:30PM
3 DOORS DOWN ACOUSTIC MARCH 29 | 8:30PM
GALLAGHER & ARTIE FLETCHER MARCH 30 | 8:30PM
JUST WHAT I NEEDED & DOUBLE VISION APRIL 19 | 8:30PM
GREAT WHITE MAY 24 | 8:30PM
GRAND FUNK RAILROAD JUNE 1 | 8:30PM
JOIN US IN THE STAR PAVILION FOR OUR THRILLING UPCOMING SHOWS. GET YOUR TICKETS AT TICKETMASTER.COM OR VISIT THE AMERISTAR GIFT SHOP TO RECEIVE $5 OFF THE STANDARD TICKET PRICE WITH YOUR B CONNECTED CARD.
Must be 21 or older to gamble. Must be a B Connected member to receive B Connected discount. Must be at least 18 or accompanied by an adult to enter Star Pavilion. Must be at least 21 to enter Depot #9. Tickets available online at Ticketmaster.com or at the Gift Shop (service charges and handling fees may apply). No refunds/exchanges unless canceled or postponed. Offer not valid for persons on a Disassociated Patrons, Voluntary Exclusion or Self Exclusion List in Missouri, Indiana and Ohio or who have been otherwise excluded from Ameristar Kansas City, MO. Gambling problem? Call 1-888-BETSOFF. ©2019 Boyd Gaming Corporation®. All Rights Reserved.
2
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
CONTENTS
H A RV E STE R S
Eat, drink & feed many Join us for this exciting event benefitting Harvesters. Enjoy samples of gourmet food, wine and cocktails from more than 60 of Kansas City’s finest restaurants and beverage purveyors!
16 6 GET OUT
Your March Agenda Who to see, what not to miss. BY DAVID HUDNALL
10 NEWS
Game of Chance Ahead of April’s primary, we break down the crowded Kansas City mayoral field. BY DAVID HUDNALL AND EMILY PARK
16 FEATURE
The Flamingo at Fifty A Lawrence strip club’s golden anniversary. BY KATIE COUNTS
18 FOOD
Bienvenidos a KCK Where to eat on Central Avenue, quite possibly the most exciting culinary thoroughfare in the metro. BY APRIL FLEMING
Thursday, April 4, 2019 | 6:30 to 9 p.m.
20 CAFE
Phad Diet Waldo Thai Place is a new kind of KC thai place. BY LIZ COOK
24 DRINK
Keg Party City Barrel looks to distinguish itself in a Crossroads runneth over with breweries. BY LIZ COOK
Arrowhead Stadium 1 Arrowhead Dr., Kansas City, MO 64129 General Admission Tickets $125
Get tickets now at www.forkscorkskc.com!
26 EAT
Eat This Now Australian Brekkie at Banksia Bakehouse BY APRIL FLEMING
25 DRINK
Drink This Now The Gimlet at Black Sheep + Market BY APRIL FLEMING thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
3
RegisteR tODAY! WWW.tROlleyRun.ORg
CONTENTS
Kids’ Run & Family aFteR-Bash Mill creek Park
THE PITCH
Finish
Publisher Stephanie Carey Editor David Hudnall Digital Editor Kelcie McKenney Staff Writer Emily Park Contributing Writers Traci Angel, Liz Cook, Riley Cowing, Karen Dillon, April Fleming, Roxie Hammill, Libby Hanssen, Deborah Hirsch, Dan Lybarger, Eric Melin, Aaron Rhodes, Barbara Shelly, Nick Spacek Little Village Creative Services Jordan Sellergren Contributing Photographers Zach Bauman, Chase Castor, Joe Carey Graphic Designers Austin Crockett, Jennifer Larson, Katie McNeil, Danielle Moore, Gianfranco Ocampo, Kirsten Overby, Alex Peak, Vu Radley, Zachary Trover Director of Marketing & Promotions Jason Dockery Senior Multimedia Specialist Steven Suarez Multimedia Specialist Becky Losey Director of Operations Andrew Miller Multimedia Intern Rebekah Lodos Design Intern Jake Edmisten
Ward Pkwy (just past central St)
CCVI Trolley run Course Map
4.28.19
CAREY MEDIA
Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Carey Chief Operating Officer Adam Carey
Water Station
VOICE MEDIA GROUP
National Advertising 1-888-278-9866 vmgadvertising.com
DISTRIBUTION
The Pitch distributes 35,000 copies a month and is available free throughout Greater Kansas City, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for $5 each, payable at The Pitch’s office in advance. The Pitch may be distributed only by The Pitch’s authorized independent contractors or authorized distributors. No person may, without prior written permission of The Pitch, take more than one copy of each week’s issue. Mail subscriptions: $22.50 for six months or $45 per year, payable in advance. Application to mail at second-class postage rates is pending at Kansas City, MO 64108.
28 ARTS
Cloistered Away Te Deum looks to revive the largely forgotten choral music of 17th century nuns. BY LIBBY HANSSEN
28 Words with Friends
With Poetic Underground, Samantha Slupski is helping build a livelier, more cohesive poetry scene in Kansas City. BY RILEY COWING
30 Barry Happy
Henry Winkler — in town this month for Planet Comicon — is out here living his best life. BY DAN LYBARGER
34 Passover Country
Danny Caine’s Continental Breakfast ponders midwestern-suburban Jewish identity. BY NICK SPACEK
36 SAVAGE LOVE
Consider the (extra) Lobster Brainstorming a potential addition to the sexual lexicon. BY DAN SAVAGE
38 EVENTS
March Calendar Things are getting springy.
COPYRIGHT
The contents of The Pitch are Copyright 2019 by Carey Media. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means without the express written permission of the publisher.
start USATF-cerTiFied coUrSe/USATF-SAncTioned
Wornall rd & W 75th St
The Pitch 1627 Main St., #600, Kansas City, MO 64108
N
31st annual Run/WalK tO BeneFit
For information or to share a story tip, email tips@thepitchkc.com For advertising: stephanie@thepitchkc.com or 816-218-6702 For classifieds: steven@thepitchkc.com or 816-218-6732
TOC
“Take a Spin,” by Jake Edmisten
4
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
a portion of proceeds benefitting
PRESENTS
Let’s call it what it is...
HOG HEAVEN APRIL 18
601 EAST TRUMAN ROAD KANSAS CITY, MO tickets on sale now at thepitchkc.com/tickets
GET OUT
March weekdays 3pm-8pm
CHANTAL ANDERSON
Noname
Monday, March 4 The Granada thegranada.com
A product of Chicago’s fertile hiphop scene, Noname — aka Fatimah Nyeema Warner — broke into the mainstream last year with Room 25, a dazzling fusion of spoken-word, jazz, R&B, and rap.
Flogging Molly
6
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
Big 12 Basketball Tournament Wednesday, March 13 through Saturday, March 16 Sprint Center sprintcenter.com
The men’s Big 12 conference tourney returns to the Sprint Center for four days of college hoops.
Neil Hamburger
Tuesday, March 12 Voodoo Lounge Caesars.com
Thursday, March 14 RecordBar therecordbar.com
Wouldn’t be March in Kansas City without a Flogging Molly appearance. This year, the Celtic punks arrive five days before St. Patrick’s Day seeking to instigate a wee bit of rowdiness.
America’s Funnyman, aka Greg Turkington, aka Neil Hamburger takes to the RecordBar stage for an evening of music-comedy anti-humor. Major Entertainer opens.
Full Page MARCH - 9.75 X 11.5.qxp_Layout 1 2/21/19 10:27 AM Page 1
The CBD Industry’s Leader is Manufactured Right Here in KC!
CBD American Shaman
™
CBD American Shaman is the highest quality, full spectrum cannibidiol on the market:
• State of the art Nanotechnology increases absorption and delivery time of CBD to your blood stream • Nanotechnology ensures our products are incredibly efficient and cost effective • Both our legal and lobbying efforts have assured legal access to CBD in Kansas and Missouri • Two Doctors on Staff — Third party lab tested • Grown and processed/extracted in the USA https://cbdamericanshaman.com/participatingstores MISSOURI Blue Springs
Gladstone (1)
Grandview
Gladstone (2)
5501 #104 S US Hwy 71 Grandview, MO 64030 By topsy’s (855) 526-6223
Independence
1412 MO-7-Suite G Blue Springs, MO 64014 (816) 295-1921
307 A NE Englewood Road Kansas City, MO 64118 (855) 526-6223
8038 North Oak Trafficway Kansas City, MO 64118 (816) 381-6333
Kansas City (39th)
Kansas City (103rd)
Kansas City (North)
Kearney
Lee’s Summit
1415d W. 39th Street Kansas City, MO 64111 (816) 541-3144
1036 W. 103rd Street Kansas City, MO 64114 (855) 526-6223
3518 NE Vivion Rd. Kansas City, MO 64119 (816) 599-6010
100 E 6th St Suite 6 Kearney, MO 64060 (816) 745-7977
1638 SE. Blue Parkway Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 (816) 434-5059
Raytown
19321 E. US 40 Highway Independence, MO 64055 (816) 491-2452
State Line
Liberty
Parkville
Platte City
1005 Middlebrooke Dr. Liberty, MO 64068 (913) 249-7794
6302 N. Chatham Ave. Kansas City, MO 64151 (816) 702-1042
1303 Platte Falls Rd. - S#CC Platte City, MO 64079 (816) 858-6039
9438 E 350 Highway Raytown, MO 64133 (855) 526-6223
13125 State Line Road Kansas City, MO 64145 (816) 437-8261
Gardner
North Kansas City
611 E. Main Street Gardner, KS 66030 (913) 271-3120
8043 State Ave. Kansas City, KS 66112 (913) 228-6000
Johnson Drive (1)
KANSAS Akasa Care CBD (O.P.)
Bonner Springs
7201 W 110th Street-S#120, 608 Tulip Drive-Suite G Overland Park, KS 66210 Bonner Springs, KS 66012 (913) 647-3999 (913) 568-1713
Johnson Drive (2) 5727 Johnson Drive Mission, KS 66202 (913) 766-9906
Olathe (119th)
15165 W 119th Street Olathe, KS 66062 (855) 526-6223
Kansas City KS
151 S 18th Street Kansas City, KS 64102 (855) 526-6223
Lawrence
Leavenworth
Monticello (Shawnee)
1530 W. 6th Street-Suite C Lawrence, KS 66044 (785) 424-7500
728 Shawnee Street Leavenworth, KS 66048 (913) 250-5277
22354 W. 66th Street Shawnee, KS 66226 (913) 745-5034
Olathe (Blackbob)
Overland Park (75th)
Overland Park (87th)
Overland Park (151st)
13624 S Blackbob Road Olathe, KS 66062 (913) 324-1520
6933 W. 75th Street Overland Park, KS 66204 (913) 217-7476
10069 W. 87th Street Overland Park, KS 66212 (913) 217-7123
7703 W. 151st Street Overland Park, KS 66223 (913) 647-3999
Overland Park (Quivira) 11050 Quivira Road Overland Park, KS 66210 (855) 526-6223
These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. For use by adults 18 + • Keep out of reach of children. Should not be used by pregnant or breast feeding women.
5810 Johnson Drive Mission, KS 66202 (913) 766-9906
Paola 118 W. Peoria Paola, KS 66071 (913) 271-3120
Shawnee
Overland Park (135th)
13436 Metcalf 13213 Shawnee Mission Pkwy Overland Park KS 66214 Shawnee, KS 66216 (913) 231-3032 (913) 766-0430
Buy one VG Cloud Tincture (30mL) And, get one VG Cloud Tincture (30mL) at 25% OFF! OFFER EXPIRES MARCH 31, 2019
*Our Hemp Oil products contain high amounts of Cannabidiol (CBD), are all-natural and extracted organically with CO2, Gluten free, organic, non GMO Hemp, and have no heavy metals or insecticides. They’re Terpene rich, and batch tested. thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
7
GET OUT
March
WELCOME
TO THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION
OUT WARD-FOCUSED • THOUGHT-PROVOKING BRIDGE-BUILDING • HOPE-RADIATING
Leawood
13720 Roe Ave. Leawood, KS 66224 Sat. & Sun. Evenings 5 pm Sunday Mornings 7:30, 9:15, 11 am
West
24000 W. Valley Parkway Olathe, KS 66061 Sundays 8, 9:30 & 11 am, 5pm
Downtown
Blue Springs
1601 Grand Blvd. Kansas City, MO 64108
601 NE Jefferson St. Blue Springs, MO 64014
Sat. & Sun. Evenings 5:10 pm Sunday Mornings 9 & 10:45 am, 5 pm
Sundays 9:30 & 11 am
O N E C H U R C H I N F O U R LO CAT I O N S My Favorite Murder Live
Friday, March 22 Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland arvestbanktheatre.com
Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, hosts of the hit true-crime podcast My Favorite Murder, are touring the country, talking about famous murders, and selling out shows, thanks to their rabid and growing fanbase of “Murderinos.”
Planet Comicon
March 29 – 31 Bartle Hall planetcomicon.com
The annual nerdfest is celebrating its 20th year in Kansas City. Guests include William Shatner, Henry Winkler, Lori Petty, Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica), Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride), and more.
Kansas City Symphony Presents Whitney Houston’s Greatest Hits Saturday, March 23 at 8 p.m. Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts kauffmancenter.org
Pitch1/4_Generic2019.indd 1
2/20/19 4:21 PM
Some like it HOT!
tacos – a great place to enjoy them is at our signature
restaurant, Metropolitan KC or
BARCENTRAL, our lobby hot spot.
Stop in any time day or night to
enjoy freshly prepared Kansas City favorites from barbeque to steak and seafood. And of course, our
JD McPherson
JD McPherson traffics in rockabilly-infused roots-rock, making him a natural fit at Knuckleheads, the best venue in the Midwest for such sounds. He’ll appear there with his full band and JP Harris as the opener.
Pitch Taco week BC/Metro 4,917 x 5.667.qxp_Layout 1 2/14/19 2:33 PM Page 1
And when we’re talking about
Vocalist Rashidra Scott, guest conductor Brent Havens, and the mighty force of the KC Symphony team up for a tribute to Whitney Houston. Expect “How Will I Know,” “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” and many, many more classics. Wednesday, March 27 Knuckleheads Saloon knuckleheadskc.com
COR.ORG
NCAA Midwest Regional
Friday, March 29 and March 31 Sprint Center sprintcenter.com
Kansas City plays host to the NCAA’s Sweet 16 and Elite 8 men’s basketball games. The weekend’s winner advances to the Final Four in Minneapolis.
special version of tacos.
J o in u s in BA RC E NTR A L d uri ng Taco We e k fo r 1/ 2 of f Ta co s
KANSAS CITY MARRIOTT DOWNTOWN 200 West 12th street Kansas City, MO 64105 816. 421.6800
thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
9
NEWS
Game of Chance
AHEAD OF APRIL’S PRIMARY, WE BREAK DOWN THE CROWDED KANSAS CITY MAYORAL FIELD. BY DAVID HUDNALL AND EMILY PARK
If previous Kansas City elections are any indication, turnout in this year’s mayoral primary will be abysmal. Just 50,000 people could be bothered to come out for the last competitive mayoral primary, in 2011, and only slightly more (57,000) dragged their asses to the polls in 2007. This year, 11 candidates are jockeying for votes, hoping to be the one to replace outgoing Mayor Sly James. (James, who has served for eight years, is termed out.) Among other things, this means that a candidate doesn’t need to round up that many votes to advance to the general election in June, when the top two vote-getters from the April election square off. With such a crowded field, nobody’s really sure which two candidates are going to emerge from the primary. We know who has the most money, and who the long shots are, and who we personally like the best — but anybody who claims to know how this will all shake out is just guessing. It’s a crapshoot. To help you better understand the dynamics of the race, we’ve dug through everybody’s campaign finance records, reviewed comments they’ve previously given to newspaper and TV outlets, and monitored their social media accounts. We’ve also interviewed each of the candidates. (Or, at least, all the serious candidates. As of this writing, Vincent Lee has no website, has not attended any mayoral forums, and has raised no money, according to the Missouri Ethics Commission. Clay Chastain does not even live in Kansas City.) Hopefully, you will find useful our resulting guide to the primary, which unfolds over the following pages. And don’t forget to vote on Tuesday, April 2. of the race after Jason Kander announced he was running, then jumping back in after Kander dropped out. We think it showed good judgment. Barring a scandal, Kander was unbeatable. Justus was pragmatic enough to take a dispassionate look at the facts, reach the correct conclusion, and accept it even though it was unpleasant for her personally. That’s a good quality in a potential mayor.
JOLIE JUSTUS Currently: KCMO Councilwoman (4th District), elected in 2015; attorney Previous experience: Eight years in Missouri legislature, two as Senate Minority Leader Assets: Has raised way more money than anybody else; is seen as the frontrunner Liabilities: Chair of the airport committee, where things have been, shall we say, a bit turbulent Weakness that is actually a strength: Justus has taken some heat for dropping out
10
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
Big donors: Charles Luae, Chris Koster, Clarkson Construction, Shirley Helzberg, Zane Burke, lots of healthcare executives and attorneys Notable endorsements: Former Mayor Kay Barnes, several current and former Missouri legislators, Jason Kander Base of support: Urbanists, corporate lawyers, Sly James Pet issue: Public transit, bike lanes, and other non-automobile means of transportation Telling detail: Justus’ day job reflects her corporate-Democrat worldview: she’s director of pro bono services (nice!) at Shook, Hardy & Bacon, a law firm known for defending tobacco and pharmaceutical companies (booo).
NEWS
On how to pay for more affordable housing: “[It’s] been looked at through a hundred different lenses. Some people say, ‘Well, maybe we should do a property tax.’ Other people have said, ‘Well, let’s move money from the scooters that are being rented in the city’ — but you know, of course, that’s just a drop in the bucket. Others say, ‘If it’s a priority, it needs to come out of the general fund’ — but unfortunately there’s a whole lot of things that are competing for that [general fund money]. So one of the things I would like to see is whether, you know, maybe we have a situation where a developer is getting an incentive and they don’t have an affordable housing component, so they make a payment in lieu of affordable housing, which goes into the trust fund. We can be coming up with creative ideas like that, and I’m going to be proposing those as we move forward.” On the June ballot initiative that would cap developer tax breaks at 50 percent: “It takes opportunities off the table that we don’t want to take off the table. For instance, if we went to a 50 percent cap, and all of a sudden had the opportunity for an amazing catalytic project that was happening along the 71 Highway corridor and the only way we were going to be able to make it work is through a 100 percent tax incentive, and the project didn’t [happen because of that], then that seems like a silly result. Rather than trying to come up with these one-size-fitsall things, we need to start adding in more requirements and responsibilities and diversify the type of incentives that we have. So for instance, what do I mean by that? Well, number one, make more requirements that require job creation with an incentive and then have clawbacks when you don’t hit those benchmarks. Put pieces in there that require affordable housing and sustainability and making sure that our community is resilient in the face of climate change. These are a lot of things that we could be adding into the incentive program right now that we’re not doing. And I think that’s a much better way to handle incentives than to do away with them or to cap them artificially.” On Troost: “I think it’s incredibly important that we have conversations with the state and the county about a property tax cap. I don’t want to get into a situation where we have people who are having to leave neighborhoods that they lived in for decades because property taxes are going up ... I get a little bit frustrated at times when I hear [people say] we’re displacing people along Troost Avenue. Actually no, we’re not. Communities on both sides of Troost Avenue have been working for decades to start to really have some development through the corridor. And it’s finally starting to happen, and we’re replacing car dealerships and check-cashing
stores with amenities that neighbors have wanted forever. And this is exactly what we’ve been wanting through the corridor. So now we need to make sure that we have policies in place that allow people who have been pushing forward development in their communities for years to be able to stay and enjoy the fruits of their labor.” On crime: “I am a firm believer that programs that look at violent crime as a public health issue are incredibly important, because then you’re starting to look at all sorts of different things, including the economic status of individuals who are in higher-crime neighborhoods, housing and job opportunities, education opportunities — ensuring that we’re funding our schools at a level that gets kids ready for kindergarten, that provides for conflict resolution in the schools. It’s really just layer after layer after layer, and what I will be doing as mayor of Kansas City is making sure that all of those resources are being really well hung together.”
ALISSIA CANADY Currently: KCMO Councilwoman (5th District), elected in 2015; attorney Previous experience: Jackson County assistant prosecuting attorney, hair salon owner Assets: Speaks her mind, only person in the race who speaks with sincere urgency about KC’s violent crime problem Liabilities: Not much money, not much name recognition Maverick moment: Supported the Westport sidewalk privatization over the objections of civil rights advocates, citing the likelihood that security in the district would prevent more violence. “We can’t let the haunting history of racism stop us from keeping the people of Kansas City safe,” Canady said during a contentious council meeting. Big donors: Nonprofits and churches, a few
thousand from Block Real Estate, but otherwise the campaign coffers are pretty bare Quote we like: “Giving the community more of a voice, being intentional about reducing crime with solutions that are not necessarily law enforcement, encouraging business growth opportunities, and promoting home ownership: those were the key things I wanted to accomplish [when I was elected to the council] in 2015. And so, obviously, I started out as a neophyte. I wanted to do all these things and then you realize this budget, even though it’s $1.6 billion, they’re telling me there’s no money for me to support neighborhoods. But in that same conversation, we were subsidizing luxury development using that money. So it was not that we don’t have the money, it’s just about where our priorities are. We say we want to be the most entrepreneurial city, but we’re not aligning our dollars to support those activities, to have that impact.” Why she’s running: “As a council person, you’re left to try to fight to get things when all the money is spent, before you even have the ability to weigh in on the conversation. It’s problematic. So I had the option of either spending another four years trying to fight for a little piece of the pie — to do one or two little things. I’ve gotten some wins, but we haven’t been able to make the substantial impact that’s been necessary, and so when I began to look at my [council] reelection, I knew I was not going to be able to effectively deliver on these commitments with just another four years if the leadership from the mayor’s office did not support these positions. And then when I looked at the field of candidates, many of whom I’ve served with, I knew they didn’t share my [positions] because their voting records were reflective of that. And that is where my righteous indignation just really rose up and said, ‘OK, I can keep complaining about it, or I can do something about it.’ And so I decided to step out and do something about it.” On affordable housing: “We’re going to have to make the commitment with the general fund dollars. We’ve made commitments to large scale developers for luxury. We have to make the same commitment for affordable housing in the city. And so everybody’s going to say, ‘Well, there’s no money in the budget.’ Well, there’s $1.6 billion in the budget. Again, we have to look at our priorities. Where are we spending money that we need to reallocate? Our funding preferences right now, the only money that we spend on housing comes from the federal government, and that number is getting smaller and smaller. We have sales tax authority that we could use. The mayor’s currently wanting to use that for early pre-K. I support early pre-K, but the city has to prioritize addressing this
housing crisis.” On the airport: “The problem with the airport project is that the same people that started it off with a backroom deal are the same people that are still trying to lead it. And there’s just this void of credibility with it, you know? They are asking the public to trust a proposal without any transparency. It took the airlines awhile, and now they’re saying that taxpayer dollars are not going to be used to pay for it, but how? My process would be full transparency. We hired an owner’s rep about a year ago and we have received no feedback. If Southwest Airlines can have a third party tell them that they should negotiate a certain number, then why isn’t our owner’s rep doing the same? Clearly there are issues. I am on the City Council, but there is so much we do not know when we should. This is mostly going through the Aviation Department, and we get briefed with far too little information. We just have some of the pieces, and we need more transparency so we can all see what is actually going on with the project.”
SCOTT WAGNER Currently: Mayor Pro Tem, KCMO Councilman (1st District At-Large), elected in 2011 Previous experience: Marketing — vice president of a marketing firm, director of marketing for the City Market in the late ‘90s Assets: Probably the most qualified person running Liabilities: Has the presence and charisma of a Far Side character Big donors: Unions, Northland developers and construction companies, several Asian interests (Kansas City Chinese Association, Mid America Asian Culture Association, and the owners of iPho Tower and Kin Lin) Base of support: Northland voters Snub: The Northland political group Forthepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
11
NEWS
ward endorsed Steve Miller over Wagner, citing Wagner’s lukewarm fundraising How he’d be different than Sly: “This term [Sly’s second] has been much more combative … From my perspective, it’s all about collaboration. It’s all about figuring out what people are looking for … We are a decentralized kind of government in Kansas City. You’ve got a city manager doing one thing, the mayor is doing something, a council that’s doing things, other boards and commissions. You cannot do anything just because you want to. You have to work with people. And I think just looking at what I’ve been able to do the last eight years, how I was able to do it says a lot about how I would work as mayor.” On how to pay for more affordable housing: “I was the one who actually submitted the resolution in 2017 to get the housing policy discussion going. And so that’s what we’re into right now. As far as the [requested] $75 million, yeah, you’re going to need that … the real question is how badly do you want it? Because those out there who think that $75 million is just going to kind of fall out of the sky, I have to remind them that back in the last term, we were talking about just doing a $5 million fund, which we never were able to achieve. Quite honestly, I do not see how you could possibly reach that number in any meaningful sense without asking a taxing question.” On opposing a measure in November (which ultimately passed) that allocated the city’s cut of scooter revenue for affordable housing: “It was estimated that [scooters] would bring in revenues of approximately $300,000 for the city. The average cost of [building] one multifamily affordable house is about $200,000. The average amount it would take to provide funds to rehab a home for affordable housing is between $30,000 and $50,000 … Maybe a handful of people might be assisted in the course of providing affordable housing. To me it was not a real solution.”
least two of those [the city’s] pension programs [there are four total] are going to be upside down. We are currently paying the appropriate contributions to keep them at the state-required levels that we have. That will begin to change in the next two or three years. There’s actually a discussion going on right now related to pension reform — the second one that has occurred over the past eight years. I’d like to see what they come up with, because the issues that we’re talking about are big ones as far as what we may have to do in order to shore them up in the longer term. Those are issues that, quite honestly, will involve collective bargaining agreements with all of our bargaining units. They’re going to be tough conversations, but the reality is that every city in this country is behind on their pension. I know of no city that is 100 percent fully funding its system. We are in a lot better position. We have fiscal challenges, frankly as a result of the obligations that we are paying right now. But I’m going to wait and see what we hear from the second pension task force and then go from there.”
SCOTT TAYLOR Currently: KC Councilman (6th District At-Large), elected in 2011; attorney Previous experience: Served as Shawnee Mission West student council vice president alongside president Paul Rudd
On local control of the police (KC is the only major city in the country that does not control its own police department; instead, the governor of Missouri appoints a KC police board): “I think our ultimate goal should be local control, but I don’t believe that we should force it. And what I mean by that is — you have had essentially two parallel paths between the city and the police department since 1939. You do not just kind of throw it all together and hope it all works out. That’s what St Louis did, and as you’ll recall, it has caused nothing but chaos.”
Assets: Eight years on the council, can claim some credit for positive development projects (Hy-Vee Arena, East Brookside)
On city pensions: “In about three years, at
Family ties: Wife is Cathy Jolly, former
12
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
Liabilities: Raised a ton of money a few years ago, but the faucet dried up as others entered the race Big donors: Developers, real estate interests, and the lawyers who represent developers and real estate interests — Ken Block, Lane 4, Northpoint Development, Steve Foutch, Brad Nicholson, Butch Rigby, Roxsen Koch, David Frantze
KC Councilwoman and state representative Cheap stunt: Taylor last year introduced an ethics ordinance that would limit travel for council members and cap lobbyist gifts at $5, a proposal widely seen (even mocked) for being, as Mayor Sly James put it, “a transparently political move.” Others noted that Taylor — who has received big checks from the business community — didn’t see fit in his ordinance to address council members receiving campaign contributions from parties with business interests before the city. What he says about that: “I’ve always had an issue with taxpayer-funded travel … We have so many people now flying all over, and there were no rules. I think it was $160,000 [in council member travel expenses] that was quoted [close, it was $155,000] just for a two-year period of council. That was a red flag to me.” How he’d be different than Sly: “I think my style’s definitely collaborative on things … I’m a good listener. I don’t necessarily need to be the one talking all the time and on TV all the time and all that.” On crime: “Rewards [for homicide tips] used to be $1,000 when I came on the council, and that had been the same figure probably for the last 20 or 30 years. That doesn’t really get people’s attention if they’re motivated by a reward. This new police chief agrees — he went with the corporate community and the city manager and council, and we raised it from $1,000 to $5,000 and then we got it up to $10,000. And what we’re seeing is a record number of tips coming in. What you’re also seeing, if you look at the clearance rate…. A couple of years ago, we were at 50 percent for homicide. So you had a fifty-fifty chance of getting away with a homicide. And the people who are committing these homicides know that. It’s now up, it’s close to 80 percent now. In other communities, like Omaha, where they have a higher reward, rate — I think it’s $20,000 to $25,000 — I think they’re closer to, like, a 90 percent clearance rate [yep: 91 percent, actually]. So it creates an accountability, because it’s a very small percentage of people committing these crimes. We just need to get them off the streets to protect neighborhoods.” On how to pay for affordable housing: “Affordable housing is difficult to get financed by a bank. That’s why, in almost every instance, what we’ve done either involves HUD giving us money from the federal level or at the state level, or low income tax credits. If we had our own local fund, we wouldn’t have to worry as much.
We wouldn’t be as dependent on the federal government or state. So I advocated a similar thing, but the financing would be to take some of the surplus funds from different development projects that come back to the city ... In the next decade, we’re going to see quite a few of the larger downtown TIFs end, and what that means is all the property that’s built up is back on the tax base for the school districts, but also, a lot of times there’s excess money that comes back to the city. And I’ve heard there might be one worth as much as $2 or $3 million. So if we transfer that into an affordable housing fund, we could start building that up. I would also reach out to other private sources. But we definitely need a local fund.” On the airport: “The selection process was sloppy. I think I still disagree with the selection” — [Taylor really, really wanted Burns and Mac to get the contract] — ”but I’ve been trying to work with them [Edgemoor] and be an advocate for the taxpayers that supported, collectively as a city, a new terminal. But this whole process started with a secret meeting at a private club on a no-bid project, which was the wrong wrong way to go. The chair of the airport committee” — [that’d be Jolie Justus, one of Taylor’s opponents] — “and the mayor were involved in that, and that was a major mistake. It should have been obvious that $1 billion projects always should be bid from day one.”
JERMAINE REED Currently: KCMO Councilman (3rd District), elected in 2011 Previous experience: Not much; he did some work for Alvin Brooks and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, but was just 26 years old when elected to the KCMO Council in 2011 Assets: Youngest KCMO Council member in history counts for something Liabilities: Got dinged pretty hard for
NEWS
racking up $31,000 in taxpayer-funded travel costs in two years Likes to tout: 18th and Vine redevelopment, which is odd, because it’s a mess over there Notable endorsement: Andrew Gillum Big donors: Jim Nichols, Heavy Construction Association, other construction interests Defining characteristic: An almost pathological aversion to speaking in specifics Telling quote: We asked Reed what the three most critical issues facing the city were. His answers were: “reducing the homicide rate”; “efficiency of governance”; and “workforce development.” When we asked him which was the biggest challenge, he responded, “All three.” On the June ballot initiative that would cap developer tax breaks at 50 percent: “Well, I certainly agree. I do think, as well, that the rebuilding of our downtown is extremely important, and I don’t want to lose sight of that, but I do know that people want to be able to feel the momentum in all parts of the city ... And so we have to work with our development community to really figure out ways that their community benefit is something of great value to the entire city. I think we have to send a clear message to our development community that we have to get serious about the redevelopment and growth of our entire city. I think that we also have a number of real unique tools in our toolbox to help us address this. It’s extremely important because it helps people realize the type of benefits that they can actually receive, but also for them to realize that these are valuable places for you to actually come in and invest in and develop within the heart of the city. And how we actually incent companies to do that is something that I want to do within my first 100 days as mayor of the city. I plan to convene a group of developers and organizations to help tackle how we as a city really address pulling this together.” So do you support the 50 percent cap? “I didn’t answer that purposely for you. I mean, it is a debate obviously we as a council will have to take, and it’s something that, um, likely won’t make it to the mayor’s desk. It’s something that I as a council person will have to make a decision on pretty soon. Honestly, it’s capped at 75 percent now. We are aggressively trying to pursue what that cap may be, and 50 percent could be the best cap. We’ll make that determination. Could be soon.”
HENRY KLEIN Currently: Bank manager Previous experience: Runs for office constantly and always loses Assets: Nothing to lose, no fear Liabilities: Still $49,800 to go before he hits $50,000 GoFundMe mayoral fundraising goal
only now coming to the surface with solutions for districts and neighborhoods. Some of them have been in office for eight years, some of them for four years. Why now?”
Shining moment: Getting booted off the TIF Commission for (rightfully) opposing unnecessary tax incentives for a new BNIM Crossroads headquarters.
On the structure of KCMO government: “[As mayor], I’m most likely going to require a charter change to make city government more responsive to the people. I’ve never seen a structure where the mayor is more of a figurehead than the one we have here. So, simply put, a solution: the mayor would be the CEO and would have the ability to hire and fire the city manager. The city manager would be something akin to the chief operating officer, and the City Council would be something more akin to the board of directors. If you want certain things done in this city today, and city government is responsible for delivering those things, you really would be much better served going to the city manager than you would going to the mayor … That’s too diffuse of a reporting structure to really make this situation work the way it needs to.”
Base of support: Bishop Miege graduates, Visitation parishioners in their 30s and 40s, some social justice activists
Likes to tout: Was board president of Habitat for Humanity Not wrong about: “The idea of having to go to various special interests, ask them for money — knowing full well they expect something in return — is truly harming our city. No city and no candidate [should] have to succumb to this. And it brings out candidates that aren’t prepared to make the important, difficult, but ultimately beneficial decisions that have to be made.” How he’d be different from Sly: “I’m looking to be an inclusive mayor. I could envision having a day of the week where my schedule’s entirely open only to meet with citizens, just to try to understand the types of feelings citizens are having. So they’ve got an open door to my office. My leadership style is going to be one where we’re going to truly develop new leadership and new talent. That’s going to be a huge focus of mine.” On an affordable housing fund: “It’s a day late and a dollar short … The other aspect of this that really bothers me is that I don’t just want to have funds — I want to have real projects that can be moved forward. We give a lot of incentive dollars on the basis that these projects would not get done otherwise. Going forward, entities like Cordish or other developers [need] to be expected to do something else in addition to what they’re doing right now.” On the status quo: “I have never been more proud of being a candidate outside of city government as I am in this election. I think there’s a terrible disconnect that’s going on when we have City Council people who are
PHIL GLYNN Currently: President of Travois, a local firm that finances economic development projects in Native American and indigenous communities Previous experience: KCMO TIF Commission, Jackson County Democratic Committee Assets: Outsider status, lots of small-dollar donations, tallest candidate Liabilities: Thin résumé; his wife’s father founded the company of which he is now president Likes to tout: “The business that my wife and I own builds affordable houses and invests in community development projects across the entire country, and I really want to do that for Kansas City.” Doesn’t like to mention: Lives in a million-dollar mansion on Ward Parkway
Big donors: Lots of small-dollar donations, some academics, but also a healthy chunk of Polsinelli lawyers Bonus points: Didn’t drop out when his high-school classmate Jason Kander entered the race and stole his campaign manager On old people: “[One] thing that I have found frustrating about the political debate, and a lot of the conversation around it, is that it has completely left seniors out of the equation. When it came time [for my parents] to move into a specific senior housing type of environment, they had to leave their neighborhood. There was nothing for them in the Plaza or Brookside area, where they had lived their whole lives … We have a system in Kansas City now where once you get too old to live in your own house, not only do you have to leave behind that place you love, but you have to leave your community behind, and that’s wrong. We should be doing more to encourage the development of affordable senior housing in the core of our city.” Quote we like: “I was on the TIF Commision for years, and I supported projects like a new grocery store at 39th and Prospect. [That project], number one, could not have actually accessed capital any other way, and number two, really benefited the community. I opposed other projects that were happening for large corporations in parts of town that are already doing well, because they could access capital for that project, and it did not create benefits for the community. So when it comes to the use of tax incentives, my standard is that we should only be using them in parts of Kansas City that can’t access that capital already, and that we’re using them [incentives] to bring things into the community that we do not already have: net quality jobs that we do not already have, and the kind of housing projects we don’t have enough of.” On jobs: “Real estate development is important, and it brings a lot of jobs to Kansas City, but I think because of our sole focus on that alone for the last 20 years, we have missed this other growing problem of job-skill development. So now the problem we face is not real estate vacancy. For the most part, we have addressed the issue of having a dead downtown — we have a cool downtown. Now the problem is we have 3,000 to 5,000 tech jobs that average $90,000 a year that we can’t fill. We have good career paths open to thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
13
NEWS
people in Kansas City now. Yet at the same time, we have neighborhoods in Kansas City where the unemployment rate is shockingly high. So what that tells me as a business owner is that we have a gap between the skills that our employers demand and the skills that our people are graduating from 12th grade with.”
STEVE MILLER Currently: Attorney Previous experience: Seven years as chair of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission, helped found a nonprofit called Turning Point Assets: Outsider status, has raised a lot of money — second only to Justus — even though nobody had even heard of him a year ago Liabilities: The Howard Schultz of this race, Miller is a guy with a lot of money who seems incapable of articulating why he actually wants to be mayor or what he’d actually do Big donors: Miller is the preferred candidate of entrenched power. Executives supporting his campaign include Leo Zahner (A. Zahner Company), Gary Muller (Americo Life Insurance), Robb Heineman (Sporting KC), Bill Clarkson (Clarkson Construction), Warren Erdman (KC Southern), John Houlehan (Country Club Bank), Henry Massman (Massman Construction), and Sean Miller (The Miller Group). Lots of Mission Hills residents who are “retired” or “community volunteers” also maxed out for Miller. Base of support: Blue bloods, Visitation parishioners in their 50s and 60s, Republicans Notable endorsements: Tim Kaine (they’re old Rockhurst buddies), Forward (a Northland political group) Similarity to Sly: Both trial lawyers, both mediators, both have giant hole inside that can only be filled by approval from the
14
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
business community Revealing glimpse into his worldview: “The reality is there is just not enough money in government to solve all affordable housing problems. We’re going to have to do public-private partnerships. And that means our government working very closely with private businesses and putting together a sound policy that encourages private investment. Because that’s where the money is in this world, it’s in our free markets.” On the June ballot initiative that would cap developer tax breaks at 50 percent: “I think that providing artificial caps is not the solution. I agree with the objective of making certain that we have properly tailored tax incentives for development. But I don’t believe that just handpicking numbers is the way to do that ... I think the answer is a well-articulated city plan. The decision of where to put those dollars should be guided by the city plan, it should include a plan for incentives, and we should have a sliding scale depending on the nature of the project and its value to our community. It would be awful to lose out on an opportunity to provide good, meaningful, paying jobs because we have handcuffed ourselves.” On jobs: “We are not the New York Yankees. We are not going to bring really highprized talent or big companies back to Kansas City. We need to grow our home-grown talent and make certain this a great place for our young people to stay. We need to make sure this is the place for small businesses.” Why him: “I am the only one that is qualified in terms of experience. No one else in this race has started their own business [not true, Canady opened a hair salon], ran that successfully, and knows what it’s like everyday to have to attract business and be financially responsible, for employment, for healthcare. No one has the experience in the nonprofit community as I have [not true, Klein has been involved in several nonprofits]. No one has been involved in the founding of a not-for-profit where you have to start something from ground zero, go around, make money, watch it grow. And most importantly, no one has been involved in real executive leadership in the public realm. There are council members who are working in the legislative office, but it’s a really different experience when you have the financial leadership on your shoulders. You are the one person who people are looking to to articulate leadership, and I had the opportunity to lead MoDOT in the state, and no one else has had that opportunity.”
QUINTON LUCAS Currently: KC Councilman (3rd District, AtLarge), elected in 2015; University of Kansas law professor; attorney Assets: Media savvy, policy wonk, natural politician Liabilities: Kinda-sorta got a DUI in Lawrence last year (he’s contesting it); chameleonish tendencies Base of support: Millennials, Twitter activists, lawyers Likes to tout: His work on affordable housing policy and his distaste for unnecessary incentives for developers Doesn’t mention: Several developers — as well as many attorneys who represent developers before the city — have cut him big checks Big donors: Price Brothers Management Company (real estate developer), attorneys at big-money firms like Shook, Hardy & Bacon, Bryan Cave, and Polsinelli (including Polsinelli CEO Russell Welch), Jonathan Kemper, Bill George Notable endorsement: Eastside political club Freedom Inc. How he’d be different than Sly: “Particularly coming out of the financial crisis, when we needed to be exciting, engaged, etc., I think the mayor was the right guy for the time. I disagree sometimes with how the mayor wants to get things done. I think the details are important, particularly when you’re talking about tens of millions of taxpayer dollars, and I think sometimes his attentiveness to those details has not always been the same level of focus I would have. You know, on some of these incentive deals he has supported, I frankly think — my preference is always to see how we can give the lowest incentive, and how we can get the most money to taxpayer hands as soon as possible. I think his has been more, ‘Look I just want to see the project done.’ I get that — that’s kind of a tension in government — but cost matters, taxes matter, and delivery of services matter.” On taxes: “I have no interest in raising people’s taxes for a number of years. I just think
we’ve had a lot of that lately in the city. Particularly the reliance on the sales tax. I’m not necessarily the first President Bush saying, ‘Read my lips, no new taxes,’ but frankly I think it’s about time in KC that someone says that, and I think I’m pretty darn close to that. Barring some emergency or something of that sort, I do not think we need to raise taxes in our city. I think what we really need to do is see how we’re spending, see where we can cut out spending, particularly on things like consultants and studies, and deliver the basic services that we’re supposed to.” On how to pay for affordable housing: “We need to be spending the money we get already. Each year since I’ve been on the council, Kansas City, Missouri, gets about $8 million from HUD. So eight times five actually gets you to $40 million of the [requested] $75 million dollar fund. Do we have a real plan for how we spend it? No. Do we actually try to see long-term measurable goals of how it’s been allocated throughout the city? No. So I would suggest a big part is making sure you’re being smart with what you’re doing with those funds and how that’s aligning with long-term business goals with the city. How do you get to $75 million? By being smart about what you’re already getting in. There’s funding from HUD, and we’re getting $10 million a year from the eighth-cent city economic development sales tax — some of that money this year went into housing. How did that money that went into housing relate to our broader housing goals? I don’t think that study has been done.” On the airport: “Let me see here, how to be nice ... Look, I support the new terminal project. I think it’s important for our city, I think it will be positive for our city once it gets built and gets done. I’ve been disappointed by much of the process. There are some who say, ‘Well, that’s just politics.’ No, it’s not. From the moment that this project was announced, and I still remember it like it was yesterday, in May of 2017, at a press conference. I stood actually on the press side — several of my colleagues were on the side with the mayor and with the cameras looking at them — but I stood behind the camera because I didn’t know what the hell was happening. And then we get that proposal, a no-bid, now multi-billion dollar contract, which was was bizarre, and not basic governing principles. Then we go through this summer odyssey of ‘Let’s come up with the most convoluted approach to procurement ever…’” Lucas went on for several more minutes, but suffice it to say he is not a fan of the airport process so far. Quote we will hold him to: “My [goal as mayor] is going to be long-term policies … that change the city for the better. And at the end of that, I don’t want anything named after me. I would be honored frankly, if my successor has even better ideas for keeping the city going forward.”
We believe in doing things differently. That’s why everything we do is different. From the way our tobacco is grown to the way we craft our blends. Tobacco Ingredients: Tobacco & Water Use your smartphone to check for paperless Gift Certificates at AmericanSpirit.com* CIGARETTES
*Offers and website restricted to age 21+ smokers ©2019 SFNTC (1)
thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
15
FEATURE
The Flamingo at Fifty A LAWRENCE STRIP CLUB’S GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY. WORDS AND PHOTOS BY KATIE COUNTS
Red and green lights flash as the exotic dancers make their way around the club. Normally, they’re in G-strings and 7-inch heels, but tonight is special. The ladies are clad in formal attire: a flapper dress dripping in fringe, a bedazzled gown, a blue lace dress worn at a college graduation. It’s the 50th anniversary of the Flamingo Club, a strip club located off a gravel road on the outskirts of Lawrence. The squat green building, endearingly called the Bird, has been serving the community’s “topless needs since ‘69.” The actual year is up for debate; the topless part is not. Wes Kabler is one of the owners of the Bird. Most days, you can find him walking around here in jeans and a stained Kansas Jayhawks jacket. Tonight, he wears slacks and a button-down. He bought the place in the 1960s, back when it was a supper club. A few years later, he turned it into a strip club and never looked back. Over the years, there’s been “good times and hard times,” he says. He reminds himself: “Don’t let the bastards get you down.” The walls inside the Bird tell a partial history of the last five decades. Hanging on them is a flyer for the Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade — Kabler and friends started the parade in 1988; the last stop is the Bird — as well as black-and-white photos, dozens of press passes and tickets, and newspaper clippings. There’s even a sports Emmy Award from the 1988 Winter Olympic Games. (In the 1970s, the Bird became a popular spot for some ABC sports reporters who would stop by when they were covering Royals, Chiefs, and Jayhawk games. Over the years, the ABC guys became close with Wes and started inviting him to sports events. He’s been to Super Bowls, World Series games, boxing matches, the Indy 500, even the Olympics.) One photograph shows
16
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
a man with dark curly hair resting his arm around a laughing woman. She’s naked except for a thong and the paint covering her chest. He’s half-smiles, eyes shying away from the camera. That’s Kabler. Onstage, a woman wearing metallic bottoms and nothing else flashes a smile at the crowd. Her body is petite, but hard. As she spins around the pole, you can catch a whirring glimpse of a Nike swoosh on her lower back. Her name’s Paula. She began dancing at the Flamingo Club in the mid-2000s after a breakup. She liked the fast cash and flexible hours, but most of all she liked how empowered she felt while dancing. She’s bounced around — down to Texas and back — but she’s settled in here now, and says she can’t imagine doing anything else. It’d be too hard to walk away from the independence the job provides, too hard to leave her dancer friends, too hard to say goodbye to the Bird. “The people that are running the show here actually have integrity, and I never see that anywhere,” Paula says, “especially in these places [strip clubs].” Everyone’s got their reasons for sticking around. When Brianna was 7 years old, she watched Hurricane Charley rip through central Florida. The wind and rain tore down power lines and pulled shingles off roofs. She decided she wanted to study meteorology. But college was expensive, and working a part-time job was time-consuming. “I didn’t have time to do homework or study or even live life,” Brianna says. She’d taken pole-dancing classes before; it made her feel sexy. So she started dancing after her junior year, at a different Lawrence strip club. But that place, she says, was full of uncaring managers and customers who degraded the dancers. So she and her friend Whiskey moved over to the Fla-
FEATURE
mingo Club. The extra money — and the extra time it afforded — was huge for Brianna. She graduated in May and credits dancing with helping her achieve that goal. Whiskey’s different. To the outside world, she’s private about her life as a dancer. Few people know about Whiskey’s career, including her two sons (though she plans to tell them when they’re older). But inside the club, she doesn’t hide who she is. She has a boyfriend. She talks about her kids. She has a life. She doesn’t know what she plans to do after dancing, but she’s proud that she makes enough money to support her family. “I [will eventually] explain to my children what I did [here] and what I got out of this,” Whiskey says. “And explain to them how to treat somebody [with respect]. I know who I am, and I want my children to understand that.” Dancers at the Flamingo Club are independent contractors, and they pay the
club a fee of roughly $10 per shift to work. The price increases if the women are late. The dancers also pay for their own health insurance and retirement plans (if they have them), not to mention other work-related costs, like outfits, shoes, makeup, and jewelry. But the cash can make up for it. Some shifts, Whiskey earns up to $600. She also regularly works double the minimum required three shifts per week. As a result, Whiskey — who’s been dancing for about three years now — estimates that she earns as much as $4,000 a month. •
•
•
In the crowd, on the night of the big 5-0, there’s a wide variety of customers: friends of the women, older men, younger men, and even a couple that goes to the club for date night. The dancers stop and chat with many of them. Otherwise, it’s business as usual: an older gentleman offers to buy the dancer
WED 3/6 THURS 3/7
LIVE MUSIC
on his lap a drink as another woman takes a customer back into the VIP room. Much like the dancers, customers come to the Bird for a variety of reasons. Jewls, who recently stopped dancing at the Bird, says she knew a man who came in to smell armpits. One of her regulars had a foot fetish and would spend the first couple of dances rubbing her feet and legs. “He’s my favorite,” Jewls says. Jewls described her dancing skills as “awkward,” but she’s a skilled conversationalist. Simply talking to someone can be more lucrative than fancy pole-tricks. “You have to make them feel wanted, loved, and cared for — and in a way, we do care for them, because they pay our bills,” Jewls says. Most of the customers at the Flamingo Club are well-behaved, but like many service jobs, there are “rude” customers. And at a place like this, “rude” can quickly turn dangerous. “The people who are the most judgemental and close-minded have more skeletons in their closet than any stripper I have ever met,” says Skylar, another Bird dancer. “We’re subhuman to a lot of people,” Brianna says. “[People think] we don’t live other lives other than just being dirty strippers.” She’s had customers call her obscene names. She has dealt with wandering hands. She’s had customers assume that she’s a prostitute. She’s had customers threaten her. None of this is unique to the industry. Several studies over the years have found that exotic dancers experience sexual assault at a rate far above the national average. Management at the Bird makes a point to walk the dancers out to their cars at night. And Whiskey says this is the first dancing job where she’s felt like she could stand up for herself without getting fired. She can tell a customer off, just walk away, or get them kicked out if she feels threatened. “I have the power to be in control of my sexuality,” she says. “Who touches me. Who talks to me. Who says what to me.” As the night wears on, the formal dresses come off and on. One woman plays “Paradise City,” by Guns N’ Roses. Whiskey picks a slow country song. Paula takes the stage as the opening notes of the Temptations’ “My Girl” ring out. Rather than sexy pole tricks, she performs cheesy dance moves like the “Sprinkler,” smiling. People laugh and drink. Kabler sits off to the side, talking to patrons and staff. “People got their opinions about [the exotic dancing industry],” Kabler says, referring to those who think of places like the Bird as a haven for vice and sin. But, he says, that stigma is “probably less and less of what it used to be in the old days.” But Kabler doesn’t really care about all that. Tonight, he’s just enjoying the party.
FRI 3/8 SAT 3/9
WED 3/13 THURS 3/14 FRI 3/15 SAT 3/16 SUN 3/17 WED 3/20 THURS 3/21 FRI 3/22
SAT 3/23 WED 3/27 THURS 3/28 FRI 3/29 SAT 3/30
JEFF, NORM & DAVE 7PM KELLY HUNT & JOHN STATZ 7PM JASON BUICE 7PM ROCK PAPER SCISSORS 5PM LONNIE RAY 9PM JEFF, NORM & DAVE 7PM BARCLAY BROTHERS GULLY WASHER WOMEN ON THE RISE 3PM BLARNEY STONED 8PM JOHN MORRIS 1PM BLARNEY STONED 4PM JEFF, NORM & DAVE 7PM CHRIS HUDSON & FRIENDS ROBERT KIMBROUGH SR. W GHOST MOUNTAIN REVIVAL 8:30PM PLAY DEAD 9PM JEFF, NORM & DAVE 7PM NACE BROTHERS ACOUSTIC TRIO 7PM BETTER OFF DEAD 9PM REX PRYOR SONG CIRCLE 2PM FRED WICKHAM & THE HADACOL CARAVAN 7PM
1515 WESTPORT RD. 816-931-9417
FRIDAY FRIEND NIGHT
FRIENDS AND FAMILY NIGHT. GRAB THE GANG AND COME BOWLING! FAMILY VALUE PACKS • • • •
2 hours of bowling Shoe rental (5 people) 1 pitcher of pop 1 large nachos
$52.99 • • • •
2 hours of bowling Shoe rental (5 people) 1 pitcher domestic beer 1 large nachos
$56.25
1020 S Weaver, Olathe KS, 66061 913.782.0279 | missionbowl.com thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
17
FOOD
grow n by h and
made by han d
Bienvenidos a KCK CHASE CASTOR
816. 22 1.7 55 9 | blue bi rdbi s tro. c om 17 00 Su mmi t Street
WHERE TO EAT ON CENTRAL AVENUE, QUITE POSSIBLY THE MOST EXCITING CULINARY THOROUGHFARE IN THE METRO. BY APRIL FLEMING
Try Our EXTENSIVE Gluten-Free Menu!
Cruise down the seventeen or so blocks that make up Central Avenue, near downtown Kansas City, and you’ll see what can happen when an immigrant community finds a welcoming home. This commercial stretch is largely free from the dull and oppressive hand of corporate influence. Instead, you find dress shops overflowing with tulle and sequins, the customers excitedly anticipating quinceañeras and weddings. Down the street are locally owned electronics shops, pawn shops, auto shops, thrift stores. There’s even a farmer’s market run by refugees. Central is also chockablock with de-
Completely Different . . . and Absolutely Better! 1110 E SANTA FE ST OLATHE, KS 66061 (913) 210-5170 STRIPSCHICKEN.COM THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
Supermart El Torito 1409 Central, eltoritosupermart.com A steady, heavy stream of customers files in and out of Supermart El Torito all day, every day. The grocery store is small by the mammoth standards of suburban Hy-Vees and Price Choppers. But it wants for nothing, its shelves generously stacked floor-toceiling with imported canned goods, hot sauces, snacks, and sweets. There are house-
made tortilla chips and fresh-baked items in the panaderia. The carniceria, though, is the store’s biggest draw. Customers pull a number when they arrive and wait for one of several butchers to get around to cleavering their order. However long it takes, it’s worth it: the shop keeps an impressive stock of beef, pork, and chicken cuts, including diezmillo (shoulder cuts minus the roast), flap steak, chicken wings, beef tongue, and ready-to-cook foods including guajillo chile-seasoned al pastor pork. Too lazy to cook? Head next door to the El Torito taqueria. We can’t resist the tacos, but don’t sleep on the tortas, chilaquiles, or whole fried fish, either. El Pollo Guasabe 1600 Central El Pollo Guasabe is easy to miss — the yellow, walk-up chicken stand isn’t much more than a kitchen with a window — but if you like perfectly-seasoned, fall-off-the-bone, charcoal-grilled chicken, it is well worth a stop. For just $6.75, you can pick up a half chicken (breast, thigh, wing leg) plus rice, beans, tortillas, and salsa. The chickens are prepped Sinaloa style: marinated in orange, garlic, herbs, and salt before being thrown over charcoal and open flame. The result is a charry, crispy greatness that you really can’t find anywhere else in town. This little place has heart, too: we recently witnessed some pay-what-you-can action with a customer who needed a bite on a cold day.
Whats hiding under your wings!? Introducing Nearly Naked WINGS along with 5 new sauces “Nearly Naked” means they have an incredibly light, zesty breading that seals in all the flavor. These wings just happen to be gluten free, egg free, and dairy free but don’t let that scare you - they are truly awesome.
18
licious food. You can sample, at affordable-as-hell prices, some of the city’s finest tacos, seafood, cakes, Honduran food — the list goes on. Here are a few of our favorites.
CHASE CASTOR
FOOD
Breakfast Brunch Lunch Cocktails 4059 BROADWAY / (816) 931-4401 / THECORNERKC.COM
CHASE CASTOR
Sabor Centroamericano 1304 Central, saborcentroamericanoks.com Sabor Centroamericano is one of the few restaurants in the city that offers Honduran dishes, from familiar offerings like carne asada with rice and beans to far less common items like pata de cerdo con tajadas (pig’s trotters with plantains). El Salvadoran and Mexican specialties are also available, including stellar pupusas (thick, tortilla-like discs stuffed with pork, beans, and/or cheese), generous tortas, tacos, house-made soups, and empanadas. The dining room is cozy — decorated with dozens of small flags representing Central America — and typically filled with families and workers from the neighborhood. And if you order any of your items to go, you get plenty in the way of extras: our recent order came with baggies full of fresh cabbage slaw for pupusas, pickled red onions for tacos, and three types of salsas. Delicias Pastries 1704 Central, deliciaspastries.com This little cake and pastry shop at the corner of 18th and Central Avenue is owned by Jesús Magaña, and his son, Jesús Magaña, Jr. The two have been in business for several years, originally selling their cakes to hotels and corporate clients. But they’ve been at this location, which also serves the public, for about five years. The flavors are straight-
forward classics, brilliantly executed: fruit tarts glisten with candied kiwi, plums, and strawberry; incredibly moist chocolate cake is layered with chocolate mousse and covered in slick ganache; and coffee-soaked white and chocolate cakes are layered with mocha mousse. Buy by the slice or pick up an entire sheet cake. El Camaroncito 1022 Central There are actually two marisqueria (seafood) restaurants directly across the street from each other at the intersection of North Baltimore Street and Central Avenue: Mariscos el Pirata to the south, and El Camaroncito to the north. Both are worth trying, but we give the slight edge to El Camaroncito (“The Little Shrimp”) for its huge menu and friendly service. Naturally, El Camaroncito specializes in seafood: whole fried snapper, oysters, and octopus are available natural or dressed. You can order shrimp served a dozen different ways, our favorite being the Camarones a la Diabla: whole, unpeeled, head-on shrimp, cooked in a super-spicy, tangy, and thick chile de arbol sauce that will have you licking your fingers. The restaurant also serves guilotas (quail), prepared in that same insanely good diabla sauce or fried with rice and beans.
Spring? ? s ’ y d d a P . t S y? a D g n i n e p O foo’s?
(Open daily for foolishness.)
HAPPY HOUR
$3 SINGLE SLIDERS
Mon - Fri 2pm - 6pm
4010 Pennsylvania Avenue Suite D KCMO 64111 greenroomkc.com | 816-216-7682
thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
19
CAFE
Phad Diet
WALDO THAI PLACE IS A NEW KIND OF KC THAI PLACE. BY LIZ COOK
Since August, friends and enemies in the service industry have been telling me the same thing: You gotta go to Waldo Thai Place. Their passion surprised me, as did the marks their fingernails left in my arms. I’ve enjoyed the Liberda family restaurants, and mourned the 2015 closing of their Westport Thai Place along with every other Midtowner. But the buzz this time around felt different. That might have something to do with the new talent in the kitchen: executive chef Pam Liberda, who co-owns the restaurant with her husband, Teddy Liberda (Teddy previously operated the Westport Thai Place). Waldo Thai Place is an altogether different kind of restaurant. It’s a little more upscale than the other places Thai, with an assured cocktail program (courtesy of Darrell Loo) and trendy date-night décor. It’s also committed to a chef-centered model that places the integrity of Pam’s northern Thai dishes above the whims of unfamiliar customers. Know before you go: this isn’t Americanized Thai cuisine. The menu lists the Thai names of dishes and makes clear that the restaurant won’t entertain modifications or substitutions. You can’t sub chicken for beef in your Phad Kee Mow Nua, nor can you customize your spice level in the grand takeout tradition of one to five stars. But you also don’t have to be a fan of spicy food to enjoy a meal here. If you’re in the mood for something mild, check your preconceptions of “curry” at the door and order the Gaeng Orm Nua E-Sarn. The regional stew from northeastern Thailand is brothy and delicate, with tender beef, bitter greens, and a heady fragrance from lemongrass and dill. The Tom Kha Goong, a Thai restaurant mainstay, is another mellow option. Pam’s version is sweet and subtle, with a fragrant, milky broth and tender lumps of shrimp. The menu is extensive, with something for every palate. In addition to familiar rice and noodle dishes, diners can choose from a shifting assortment of colorful sautées and specials. But don’t overlook the salads and share plates, which contain some of Waldo Thai’s most unique dishes. I adored the Nam Prik Orng, a humble-looking pork chili dip with a deep, complex flavor and a slow-building, lip-burning heat. Satellite garnishes — frill-cut carrot
20
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
ZACH BAUMAN
and cucumber slices, fresh pork rinds still firecracking on the plate — provided complementary ways to spoon up the silky, tomato-rich chili. Also excellent: the Som Tum Thai, a salad composed of tender green ribbons of papaya in a tart-sweet herb dressing. The versatile Thai chili added a subtle heat, and roasted peanuts and pork skin lent the dish both salt and structure. If you aren’t sure what to order, request a table on the south side of the restaurant and let your server be your guide. The southern dining room has a more traditional fine-dining ambience, with sleek black tablecloths, roomy booths and cool mood lighting. The service matches the environment — on both of my visits in the dining room, my dishes were delivered by service veteran James Chang, who has mastered the middle path between professionalism and personability. Chang was skilled enough that I can forgive him one sin: trying to talk my table out of ordering the Pam’s Special. Caving in would have meant missing out on one of the restaurant’s best dishes. To Chang’s credit, Pam’s Special is perhaps the spiciest dish on the menu, and not everyone finds pleasure in pain. But there’s much more here to appreciate than raw heat. The dish combines browned, crisp-edged ground pork, tender rings of calamari, chubby pieces of charred Serrano peppers, and enough chopped Thai chilis to fill a cranberry bog. At the risk of dragging a lofty meal down to my basement level: Pam’s Special is the Platonic ideal of drunk food. The heat inspires you to shovel in mouthfuls of soft jasmine rice to cool the burn; the balance of earthy/salty/spicy flavors keeps you coming back against your better judgment. By the time the fork scrapes the bottom of the plate,
Waldo Thai Place 8431 Wornall Road 816-605-1188
Hours: Tuesday–Saturday: 11 AM–11 PM Sunday: 11 AM–9 PM
Prices: Appetizers: $9–13 Entrees: $16–28 Cocktails: $11–12
Best bet: Sip a Shiso Tasty and share the Nam Prik Orng with your table. Heatseekers should order the Pam’s Special; everyone else should try the Mussaman Brisket Curry.
you’ll feel sober enough to attempt some light trigonometry — provided you don’t down the tallboy of Pabst Blue Ribbon that accompanies the dish like a wink. The dinner menu feels overlarge, and a few weaker dishes pull focus from what Pam does best. I wanted to love the Khao Tod Nam Sod, an addictive crispy rice salad made here with cured sausage, cilantro and peanut. But Waldo Thai’s version was undercrunched and oversalted, burying the other flavors. The Laarb Moo — a cold salad of minced pork with onion, herbs, and chili — was a similarly blunt instrument of salt and sour. The restaurant could take a cue from the bar menu, which is as compact as a neutron star. Bar manager Darrell Loo has developed one of the most coherent cocktail menus I’ve seen in recent memory. Many of Loo’s creations tie in unexpected ingredients from Pam’s dishes, such as fish sauce or soy. But those ingredients are never treated like novelties. The fish sauce provided a welcome savory edge to the Tamarind Thunder, an otherwise sweet and tiki-inflected drink the color of charred pineapple. I’m not a huge fan of cachaça, and yet I still enjoyed the Thaipirinha, which folded the spirit’s burnt sugar characteristics into a soft base of creamy durian and bright lime. But my favorite drink — and the best pick for gin-lovers — was the Shiso Tasty, a fine-boned cocktail that let the botanicals in the gin shine against a subtle backdrop of herbal shiso leaves and cleanlined yuzu. The bar side of the restaurant is more casual, with plenty of high-top tables, concrete and gray corrugated vinyl. It’s also more crowded, especially on weekends, and service is less prompt and polished. On a recent Friday night trip, sightings of our absentee waitress were treated with the ex-
CAFE
ZACH BAUMAN
citement of spotting a rare bird. Just getting the check was a twenty-minute ordeal, even though there were people hovering in the doorway waiting for a table to open up. The restaurant may have been shorthanded that night, but the service set a sour tone for what was a fairly expensive outing. Still, it’s worth sitting in the bar if you go during happy hour, when whiskey is 25 percent off and you can try lower-cost versions of menu mainstays. It’s also a great chance to snag Loo’s renditions of classic cocktails for $6 to $8 (I liked the penicillin, which only improved with time). Waldo Thai Place’s biggest challenge may be calibrating new diners to its price
point. Most of the entrees have a fine-dining price tag, but not all of them live up to fine-dining expectations. The Gai Phad Sup Pa Rod ($21) underwhelmed despite its dramatic presentation — large pieces of tempura-breaded chicken piled high inside a hollowed-out pineapple and sprinkled with cashews and diced bell peppers. It makes for a great Instagram photo, but the chicken was bland, the breading gummy. And I enjoyed — but wasn’t wowed by — the Gaeng Kiew Whan Gai, a politely spicy and predictable green coconut curry. The morsels of Thai eggplant were tender, but the chicken breast was dry, making the $18 price tag harder to swallow.
At the same time, I gladly paid $25 for a similarly sized bowl of mussaman brisket curry. Each bite of the creamy coconut peanut curry was skillfully tensioned between salt and sweet and spice. The presentation was deceptively simple: chubby roasted peanut halves, tender red potatoes, generous morsels of brisket, and a velveteen gravy laced with just enough heat to power you through the rich bowl. When Pam delivered it, she announced that the brisket had been cooked for about seven hours. I believed her. This is the stick-to-your-ribs fare I want to slurp all winter; I’m willing to endure a late spring if it means I can order it one (two, twelve) more time(s).
From full service to express drop-off and everything in between, you can rest assured that you will get the menu and service you need to make your celebration a success!
The Poh Taek ($24) was near-perfect, teeming with jumbo shrimp, tender bay scallops, and fleshy calamari. It’s an undeniably beautiful dish, blushed with chili paste and slashed with Christmas colors from bell pepper, scallions, and bok choy. All it needed was a grace note — a little more heat, a more courageous aromatic — to complicate the rich seafood broth. Does Waldo Thai live up to the hype? Right now, it depends on what you order. But with a little tuning and trimming, the menu could better highlight the dishes Liberda does best — dishes you aren’t likely to find anywhere else in town. Pam’s Special is a dish. It’s also a sentence.
Brancato’s
CATERING
BrancatosCatering.com sales@BrancatosCatering.com 816.765.4707
thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
21
Taco Week mA
the ainsworth taco trio
4 R. 18 -2
Fried Chicken Tacos with chipotle aioli, avocado purée, and pico de gallo; Coffee-Rubbed Fish Tacos with pineapple pico de gallo and avocado purée; Short Rib Tacos with red cabbage and house made pickled jalapeños, on corn tortillas.
the pitch kc.com/tacoweek
11563 Ash St., Leawood, KS (913) 320-2530 | theainsworth.com
half-priced
tacos,
all week
long! *Dine-in only, unless otherwise noted.
charlie hoopers Shrimp tacos
Chicken or beef hardshell tacos topped with lettuce, tomato, and shredded cheese with sour cream and salsa.
7539 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO (816) 444-8080 | lewsgrillandbar.com
22
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
al pastor street tacos
Teriyaki Honey Garlic Shrimp Tacos with flash-fried shrimp tossed in teriyaki honey garlic sauce with green onions, carrots, and shredded lettuce or Fried Avocado Shrimp Tacos with beer battered, flash-fried avocado, sautéed shrimp, pico de gallo, and queso fresco on a flour tortilla.
Four traditional street tacos with soft corn shells, cilantro, and white onion. Served with lime wedges and a side of salsa verde.
12 W 63rd St, Kansas City, MO (816) 361-8841 | charliehoopers.com
1405 W 39th St, Kansas City, MO (816) 326-7209 | drunkenwormkc.com
mesob
mission taco
lew’s grill & bar chicken or beef hard shell tacos
drunken worm
taco triot
Portobello mushroom topped with caramelized onions, tomatoes, jalapenos, and spinach. Fried fish taco topped with salsa verde, avocado, baby arugula, and chipotle aioli. Jerk pulled pork topped with grilled corn, avocado crema, lettuce, and sweet plaintain. 3600 Broadway Blvd #105, Kansas City, MO (816) 492-5099 | mesobkc.com
soft shell taco Fried Cajun shrimp on our fresh, house-made flour tortilla with cayenne pepper aioli, celery slaw, pickled tomatillos, and blue cheese crumble. 409 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO (816) 844-3707 | missiontacojoint.com
bar central & MetropolitanKC adobo shrimp taco
cali fish tacos
200 W 12th St, Kansas City, MO (816) 802-7095 | marriott.com
Three tacos stuffed with fresh tilapia, shredded lettuce and cabbage, black bean corn salsa, and our chipotle sauce, wrapped in flour tortillas and served with Spanish rice, chips, and salsa. 860 NW Blue Pkwy, Lee’s Summit, MO 64086 9100 W 135th St, Overland Park, KS 66221 (816) 347-1881 | (913) 257-5439 | bigwhiskeys.com
ej’s urban eatery
el fogon
Cajun lemon aioli, carrot cucumber slaw, and fresh cilantro garnish.
pork, beef, chicken, or veggie tacos
Ancho chile-cocoa rubbed pork tacos with salsa verde, espresso-rub beef tacos with salsa verde, pulled chicken tacos with chipotle crema on corn tortillas with lime, onions, and cilantro or veggie tacos with roasted zucchini, red peppers, pickle onions, black beans, and avocado. 1414 W 9th St, Kansas City, MO (816) 491-8262 | ejsurbaneatery.com
Ted’s cafe escondido atomic chicken best mexican tacos
Four open-faced corn tortillas; topped with a generous portion of grilled fajita chicken, sautéed with our spicy atomic salsa, diced onions, and cilantro; served with a side of guacamole. 636 Northeast 291 Highway, Lee’s Summit, MO (816) 524-8337 | tedscafe.com
brew lab
big whiskey
grilled chicken or carnitas tacos
Fresh, homemade tortillas with your choice of seasoned grilled chicken or dipped fried pork carnitas with housemade salsa.
4037 Mill St, Kansas City, MO (816) 982-9945 | elfogonkc.com
unforked barking pig taco
Crispy Carnitas tossed in shagbark bacon glaze with scallions and queso fresco. Limit 4 tacos per person. Available at drive-thru. 7337 W 119th St., Overland Park, KS 2450 Grand Blvd #113, Kansas City, MO (913) 661-9887 | (816) 283-3675 | unforked.com
pulled pork taco Pulled pork with house-made, fresh crema, queso fresco, pico de gallo, and cilantro.
7925 Marty St, Overland Park, KS (913) 400-2343 | brewlabkc.com
el patron all tacos $2
Regular Tacos - choice of hard or soft and corn or flour shell with beef or chicken, Tacos de Carne Asada, Tacos de Fajitas with either grilled marinated steak or fajita chicken shredded cheese, lettuce, pico de gallo, and sour cream, and many more options! 2905 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, MO (816) 931-6400 | elpatronkc.com
The Well soft shell taco Soft shell taco on corn tortilla filled with our Well taco meat (grilled steak, chorizo, bacon, onion, and jalapeño) and topped with Cotija and cilantro 7421 Broadway St, Kansas City, MO (816) 361-1700 | waldowell.com
thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
23
DRINK
Endless Variety, Matchless Talent! Spring 2019 Shows on Sale Now
Keg Party ZACH BAUMAN
CITY BARREL LOOKS TO DISTINGUISH ITSELF IN A CROSSROADS RUNNETH OVER WITH BREWERIES. BY LIZ COOK
8 p.m. l Friday l Mar. 29 Skerryvore – The EVO Tour Winners of Scotland’s Traditional Music “Live Act of the Year,” these Scottish lads create a unique fusion of folk, trad, rock and pop.
Check out next year’s lineup! Secure your season package of five or more shows today.
jccc.edu/CarlsenCenter | 913-469-4445 NO ONLINE FEES | FREE PARKING | WINE & BEER AVAILABLE
24
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
City Barrel Brewing has something to say to anyone who thinks the Crossroads has reached Peak Beer. In late February, the 15-barrel brewery and restaurant opened on 1740 Holmes, just a stone’s throw from five other microbreweries — Torn Label, Border, Brewery Emperial, Double Shift, and Casual Animal. But co-founder James Stutsman doesn’t see them as competition. “Honestly, it’s become this awesome 18th St. Brewers’ Alley,” Stutsman says. “There’s total safety in numbers. Crossroads is the new Westport, it’s the new Plaza. This is where it’s happening.” City Barrel has already distinguished itself from the neighbors in a few ways. For starters, it’s enormous: the 7,700 square foot brewery can seat 125 on its first floor and an additional 25 on its second-floor “barrel deck” — a round, wood-faced patio that looks exactly like a beer barrel from the street. The beers are a little different, too. Stutsman and his co-founders, Grant Waner and Joe Giammanco, have fine-tuned a focus on beer styles that seem underrepresented locally given their national popularity — hazy IPAs (often called New England IPAs), wild ales, and sours. “There’s nobody who’s really owning the IPAs and sours,” Stutsman says. “Lots of people make great ones, but they don’t do it all the time.” Even sour-beer skeptics will likely find something to tempt them here. City Barrel’s sours run the gamut from tart and earthy (the Crossroads Sour Red) to soft and fruity (Ahoy!). The latter is part of the brewery’s rotating tiki sour series, inspired by the founders’ favorite tropical cocktails. The current iteration is a pink guava lime
gose that Stutsman accurately describes as “a crusher.” City Barrel is a uniquely chill place to sample them. The beer garden and dining room are sheltered in what was once a stone alley between two century-old brick buildings. Turning a covered alleyway into a brewery and restaurant required a little bit of invention — and a lot of infrastructure — but City Barrel has kept as many of the historic features as possible. The stone floors are original, as are the brick walls and archways. Ditto the funky interior windows on either side of the dining room, relics from a time when City Barrel’s neighbors could peer into an open alley (don’t worry; the frosted panes mean no one’s going to be spying on your table and tallying the empties). The dining room is crammed with white Missouri oak tables and chairs, a nod to the stately oak foeders the brewery uses to age its sour beers. The bar is a live-edge showpiece cut from a 280-year-old tree, and the wood-paneled wall behind it was taken from the Nelson-Atkins Museum after a recent gallery renovation (if you look closely, you can see the nail holes from where paintings were installed). It all adds up to a warm but elegant taproom, the kind of place where you can imagine lingering over a few beers. “Classy yet comfortable is kind of what we’re trying to do here,” Stutsman says. “We wanted to be a little more upscale than your normal brewery.” That ethos extends to the food. City Barrel tapped Ben Wood, previously the executive chef for The Corner Restaurant in Westport, to develop its lunch and dinner offerings. The resulting menu combines more traditional bar bites — burgers, loaded fries — with upscale entrees like beurre
DRINK
ZACH BAUMAN
blanc shrimp and a 12-ounce dry-aged ribeye (using grass-fed beef from nearby Salt Creek Meats). Wood has worked City Barrel’s beer into the menu in creative ways. Onions are caramelized in the brewery’s Rad AF IPA in lieu of red wine, and the restaurant has partnered with Farm to Market to devel-
op breads using the brewery’s spent grains. The menu already features two charcuterie boards (and one vegetarian board) with jams and jellies that Wood tells me are made using the brewery’s spent fruits. “We’re trying to think creatively and out of the box as far as what defines us as City Barrel, what defines us as a restaurant or an upscale American cuisine,” Wood says. Stutsman and his partners are banking on that cuisine to convince customers to stick around for a few more beers. The menu provides beer pairing suggestions for each dish, and bar manager Michael Hughes has created a creative list of beer-infused signature cocktails for an extra splash of variety (classic cocktails and a handful of wines are available for diners who aren’t into beer). Flights are also available so customers can try out a few “tiny” beers before committing to a full pour. Anticipating which beers will connect with drinkers is always a challenge, but Stutsman hopes two of the current taps will be permanent fixtures — Rad AF, a double dry-hopped hazy with the juiciness and sippability of a beer mimosa, and 816, a soft and approachable blonde ale brewed with many of the same techniques (and dry-hopping rates) as a hazy IPA.
816 will also be the first beer to take a turn on City Barrel’s high-speed canning line, with a can release planned for March 16. But if you want to take a six-pack home, you’ll still have to stop by the brewery. City Barrel has no plans to distribute and will sell all its cans onsite. Also coming soon: spontaneous fermentation. City Barrel invested in a coolship, an old-school, open-top fermentation vessel, and plans to use it to collect wild yeast from different neighborhoods around Kansas City. Look for the coolship to set sail sometime this month, when temperatures are ideal (20 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit is the sweet spot for collecting the right kind and quantity of beer-friendly microbes). For all the upscale touches and “craft beer meets wine bar” affectations, City Barrel doesn’t feel stuffy. The beer garden at the front of the restaurant has three large TVs for game days, and the brewery plans to add pinball machines and arcade games on its mezzanine level. In perhaps the perfect synthesis of the brewery’s hybrid identity, Stutsman, Waner, and Giammanco have titled one of their forthcoming taps, a Sauvignon Blanc-inspired IPA, “Fancy AF.” “It’s still beer,” Stutsman says with a laugh. “We can’t take ourselves too seriously.”
City Barrel Brewing 1740 Holmes St. (816) 298-7008 citybarrelbrewing.com
Prices Beer: $6.50–$9 Cocktails: $10–$14 Sandwiches and bar bites: $9–$16 Entrees: $20–$39
Hours Tuesday–Thursday: 11 AM–11 PM Friday–Saturday: 11 AM–12 AM Sunday: 11 AM–10 PM
Better food Better living
OPENING MARCH 27
AT COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA
At True Food Kitchen, healthy isn’t just an idea, it’s a science... and we take it seriously. Every delicious dish and drink is crafted to be better for your taste buds and your body.
4749 PENNSYLVANIA AVE | KANSAS CITY, MO 64112 TRUEFOODKITCHEN.COM/KANSASCITY
thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
25
EAT
APRIL FLEMING
Eat ThisNow AUSTRALIAN BREKKIE AT BANKSIA BAKEHOUSE
You may not think of Australians as having an incredibly vibrant food and dining culture, but it turns out to be true, and it all starts with breakfast — “brekkie,” if you must. Australians were eating generous, healthy, largely plant-based meals in the morning long before that became a mark of a good brunch here. (We have them to thank for avocado toast, after all.) Now, there’s an opportunity for Kansas Citians to sample a bit of what Australians have to offer without traveling 8,000 miles or using one of those alternate-universe toilets. On a trip downtown to Banksia Bakehouse (105 West 9th Street), you can get avocado toast, yes — their version is topped with arugula, white miso, ponzu-roasted sesame seeds, pan-roasted tomatoes, and a fried egg — but also mushroom-and-beet toast (slow-cooked shiitake and portabellos with house-made ricotta, spinach, and goat cheese). We also love the corn, zucchini, and cilantro fritters: crispy, pan-fried cakes topped with savory refried black beans and generous hunks of avocado, dressed in lime juice, all topped with a runny fried egg and a heap of cilantro. Get it with a flat white (another Australian gift), and you’re set for the day. --April Fleming
26
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
DRINK
APRIL FLEMING
Drink ThisNow THE GIMLET AT BLACK SHEEP + MARKET
Late last year, the same team behind River Market stalwart Farmhouse opened Black Sheep + Market, a promising new operation on 39th Street West. (It’s in the space formerly occupied by the Thai joint Aep and, before that, Thomas.) Both restaurants source heavily from local farmers, and many menu items, from daily specials to cocktails, are modified depending on what those farmers supply. For example: the Black Sheep Gimlet, which starts with super-floral Corruption Gin from Tom’s Town, fresh-squeezed lime juice, and simple syrup. What really makes the cocktail, though, is the garnishing, which changes with the season (or on the fly if something special comes in the door). Currently, the gimlet is served with crushed fennel seeds and greenhouse herbs, which hit your nose with fresh, straight-from-the-earth notes. The cocktail tastes like a garden — all the more necessary as we inch toward spring. --April Fleming
thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
27
ARTS
Cloistered Away TE DEUM LOOKS TO REVIVE THE LARGELY FORGOTTEN CHORAL MUSIC OF 17TH CENTURY NUNS. BY LIBBY HANSSEN
Though he’s spent years performing music from the Baroque era, Matthew Shepard — the conductor and artistic director of the choral music group Te Deum — realized recently that he knew almost nothing about an important choral tradition: convent music from the cloisters of 17th Century Italy. “It’s not that [these musicians] were completely unknown,” Shepard says, “but they are certainly not part of today’s standard repertoire.” In fact, many of these musicians were famous in their time. So why aren’t they better-represented in the canon? Simple: They were women. “There are many women religious composers from the early modern era who were exceptionally talented musicians and whose music is only forgotten because they were normally not allowed to publish their music during their lifetime,” says Alison DeSimone, a professor at the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance who teaches a course called Gender and Music Before 1800. It was DeSimone who suggested to Shepard that he explore Italian convent music. Intrigued, he turned to the scholarship of Candace Smith and the work of her Italy-based ensemble Cappella Artemisia. As a result, on March 10, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the women of Te Deum Antiqua will raise their voices and perform music from two 17th Century female composers: the Benedictine nun Chiara Margarita Cozzolani (of Milan’s Santa Radegonda) and Sulpitia Cesis (of the Augustinian order in Modena’s Santa Geminiani). For this concert, Te Deum Antiqua will perform a mass by Cozzolani and two motets by Cesis. (Only one volume of Cesis’ work survives, published in 1619; Cozzolani published four that we know of.) “To do it in the context of a mass gives
28
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
a better insight to the experience of the cloistered nun,” says Shepard. And because the concert is on the first Sunday of Lent, they’ll perform the prescribed offertory chants as well. “That’s what the nuns would have done,” Shepard says. “I think it will make it feel more like transporting back 300 years.” Cozzolani is an inspiring character, particularly in these “Nevertheless, she persisted” times. As abbess, she defied an archbishop who attempted to restrict the nuns’ music-making. Such defiance wasn’t uncommon among these nuns. A letter from 1664 recounts that in the convent of Santa Radegonda, “There are singers who sing like angels, but act like Furies.” Still, these women were bound by limitations imposed by the patriarchy, and the performance at St. Paul’s will reflect that. The chorus will be accompanied by only an organ and cello. “The only instruments they were allowed to use were the viola da gamba and an organ — maybe a harpsichord for practice,” Shepard says. “Everything else was forbidden.” “But,” he continues, “there’s also evidence that they would have done the bass line on trombone and other brass instruments, even though they weren’t allowed. They didn’t always follow the rules, as it turns out.” And while this music may seem very much of the past, there are still women that keep it alive today. In Gower, Missouri, just an hour north of Kansas City, the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles live secluded lives, but have nevertheless produced multiple award-winning albums. Though they spend their days avoiding idle chatter, they sing in worship for over five hours a day. “[This kind of choral music] is not something that just got uncovered,” says Shepard. “It’s been around. We just haven’t given it the focus it deserves.”
Te Deum Antiqua Presents: “Convent Music” Sunday, March 10, 2019 7 p.m., St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (11th E 40th Street) For more information visit www.te-deum.org.
ARTS
RILEY COWING
Words with Friends
WITH POETIC UNDERGROUND, SAMANTHA SLUPSKI IS HELPING BUILD A LIVELIER, MORE COHESIVE POETRY SCENE IN KANSAS CITY BY RILEY COWING
Samantha Slupski started writing poetry sometime around sixth grade, and she even posted some of it on a Tumblr account as a freshman in high school. But she hadn’t really considered sharing her work out loud until December 2015, when a friend suggested she stop by Poetic Underground’s weekly open mic at Uptown Arts Bar. She was immediately drawn to the warmth of the place — the stage encased by white, twinkly lights, a lone microphone at the center, a velvet curtain providing a gentle barrier between the poets in the back of the venue and the patrons at the bar up front. How the audience members would encouragingly snap and clap and stomp their feet when moved by the performance. “I truly didn’t even really know an open mic existed that could hold the kids of poems that I was writing,” Slupski says. “[Poetic Underground] was this place that was really welcoming for me, where I could talk about all the things I was experiencing. It was really the first place where I could talk about my mental illness in the open and not feel super judged or stigmatized or anything like that.” Three years later, Slupski is the executive director of Poetic Underground, having taken over duties from Jeanette Powers, who previously held the role. The organization holds writing workshops, open mics every Wednesday, and the monthly Kansas City Poetry Slam. Though the idea of a po-
etry slam wasn’t appealing to Slupski initially, she’s now a regular participant. “I was like, ‘What is competing with poetry? I don’t get it,’” Slupski explains. “Then I saw how that was not only a fun way to experience poetry, but it was also a way to challenge yourself and challenge the community.” In 2017, Slupski became Slam Master of Kansas City Poetry Slam and attended the National Poetry Slam for the first time in Denver, CO. There, in conversation with other poets, she noticed a lack of awareness of Kansas City’s active poetry scene and saw an opportunity to blend the two worlds. “I was like, I think that Kansas City needs big names to come here, so not only will people see, ‘Oh there is something really growing here, there is extreme talent in this city’ — but also so that local poets here can have their horizons broadened,” she says. “Just to hear different stories and hear from different people from different walks of life.” So she pitched a new idea, which she called the Middle of the Mic workshop series, in a grant proposal to ArtsKC. The series kicked off with poets Lino Anunciacion and Desiree Dallagiacomo and now occurs the second Wednesday of each month on a donation basis. It gives local poets the chance to learn from touring poets. “The teaching was really important for me, because one of the things that I thought
Kansas City lacked was workshops and the opportunity for people to sit down and get feedback and have prompts to just write in an intimate setting,” Slupski says. “Slams and open mics are great because you can get immediate, ‘Oh my gosh that was so good,’ type of feedback. But you don’t really get more in-depth, intimate feedback if you’re not in a workshop setting.” And Slupski continues to share her work. Her first book of poetry, What Sits Between My Veins, was published by EMP Books in 2017. Though Slupski finds it difficult to revisit, she describes it as a springboard for her work now. The collection covered topics from heartbreak to familial trauma. It was also the first time she acknowledged her body “as a thing that exists instead of just feeling like a weird, meat robot.” She says writing those pieces allowed her to write more in-depth today about topics such as femininity and patriarchy, as well as diving deeper into experiences with her family. She also found room to incorporate joy and happiness into her poems. “A way that my work transformed, over at least the past year anyway, was incorporating joy,” Slupski says. “Because that was not something I knew how to do ... For so long, it was just a coping mechanism and I had to squash the trope within myself of, ‘You can only make good art when you’re sad.’ I think that’s something that, universally, writers, poets, artists are trying to be
Poetic Underground Open Mic Wednesdays, 9 p.m., Uptown Arts Bar (3611 Broadway)
like, ‘That’s not true! Quit trying to romanticize tragedy!’ Yes, it can create beautiful art, but that’s not all; you can create good art in any state.” Slupski recently celebrated her third anniversary of reading poetry at Poetic Underground at Uptown Arts Bar, and the open mic celebrated its fifth birthday with a slam in early February. “Being in this community gave me the freedom to be as experimental or as conforming as I wanted to be,” Slupski says. “I could really just go in-between whatever I wanted to. I could sit down and try to write a ‘slam poem’ or I could sit down and just write words upside down and call it a poem. I saw so many different formats of how poems could be written and that was huge for me. In my head I was just like, ‘There’s only one way poems can be written or there are only these forms that we’re taught in school and in that there’s not a lot of ways to veer off from it.’ And I think if I wouldn’t have entered into that community I would’ve just been stuck in a box.” thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
29
ARTS
Barry Happy HENRY WINKLER — IN TOWN THIS MONTH FOR PLANET COMICON — IS OUT HERE LIVING HIS BEST LIFE. BY DAN LYBARGER
Henry Winkler sounds upbeat, and he’s got several reasons to be. The man formerly known as The Fonz is enjoying a late-career renaissance: as the hilariously maladroit attorney Barry Zuckerkorn on Arrested Development, and more recently stealing the show as Bill Hader’s loopy acting teacher on HBO’s Barry. (Winkler himself is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama.) He’s even back executive-producing a MacGyver reboot. Winkler is also scheduled to meet fans and sign autographs during Planet Comicon at Bartle Hall from March 29 through March 31. While he isn’t known for comic book roles or having superpowers (unless you count Fonzie’s ability to fix machines by simply knocking them), Winkler has overcome some obstacles that would make Spider-Man or the Hulk bow in admiration. We chatted recently about some of that. The Pitch: Although you’ve had a long career, it’s interesting to be talking with you now
because you’ve just won your first Primetime Emmy for Barry. I had a dream when I was seven, and I am now 73 years old, and I’m still living my dream, and I must say I’m one of the lucky ones. There are men my age that are still waiting by the phone, or they’ve put the phone in the closet and stopped waiting. I’m just having this incredible moment in my life. I was only supposed to do an episode or two for Arrested Development, and I stayed for five years. I was only supposed to do an episode for Parks and Recreation, and I stayed for three years. And here I am on this incredible show Barry, which will start again in the spring. Comicons are incredible I bring my children’s books. I bring photographs. I have a few Better Late Than Never hats. I love meeting the people who watch me. Haven’t you played a character in an animated Batman series? Yes. I played the Bug, or something like this. I have a cell of it. I have a picture of the character, who’s in much better COURTESY OF THE ARTIST
Concerts are held in Helzberg Hall, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
(816) 471-0400 / kcsymphony.org
FEEL-GOOD MUSIC + GREAT PERFORMANCES
Alessio Bax
MENDELSSOHN’S “SCOTTISH” with BARBER’S PIANO CONCERTO Friday & Saturday, March 8-9 at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 10 at 2 p.m. Edo de Waart, guest conductor Alessio Bax, piano ROSSINI Overture to William Tell BARBER Piano Concerto MENDELSSOHN Symphony No. 3, “Scottish” The energy of Rossini. The spectacle of Barber. The magic of Mendelssohn. It’s all here for you to enjoy. Tickets from $25.
WHITNEY HOUSTON’S GREATEST HITS Saturday, March 23 at 8 p.m.
Richard Carsey, guest conductor Amanda Cole, lead vocalist Whitney Houston is the most-awarded female act of all time, having sold more than 170 million albums, singles and videos worldwide. Her powerful voice touched our hearts and inspired our souls. Join the Kansas City Symphony and former En Vogue vocalist Amanda Cole for an evening of Whitney’s biggest hits, including “How Will I Know,” “Where Do Broken Hearts Go,” “I Will Always Love You” and many more. Tickets from $40.
(816) 471-0400 / kcsymphony.org 30
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
CARMINA BURANA
Thursday, March 28 at 7 p.m. Friday & Saturday, March 29-30 at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 31 at 2 p.m.
BEST AVAILABILITY ON THURSDAY
Ryan McAdams, guest conductor Jennifer Zetlan, soprano Nicholas Phan, tenor and Hugh Russell, baritone Kansas City Symphony Chorus Charles Bruffy, chorus director
Lawrence Children’s Choir Carolyn Welch, artistic director
SARAH KIRKLAND SNIDER Something for the Dark AUGUSTA READ THOMAS EOS: Goddess of the Dawn ORFF Carmina burana Tickets from $30.
DISPENSARY FIRST IN KC TO OFFER
DURBAN
HEMP CBD Flower BUD LOW THC Cannabis - below 0.3% THC IT’S REAL! And Lab Tested - ask us for full lab results on any product
JUICY FRUIT
JOINTS EIGHTHS QUARTERS Full array of CBD and terpene products Largest selection in KC
3 LOCATIONS
Westport 39th & Broadway River Market 110 E Missouri Ave Raytown 55th & Raytown Rd
RINGO
emeraldgardencbd.com
UPLIFTER
NOW HIRING - medical field experience a plus
Kansas City’s Cannabis Pioneers, many will follow... Let us help guide the way! Get some in YOUR store: Ready Packaged Bud Pre-Rolled Joints Custom Orders
Contact Gerry at EmeraldGardenCBD@gmail.com
SHERBERT
TERMINATOR
NOTICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES: What is contained here might look like marijuana, but it is actually legal industrial hemp flower grown in compliance with the Agricultural Act of 2014, 7 U.S.C. §5940 (2014 Farm Bill), pursuant to pilot programs lawfully established under Nevada Revised Statutes §557.010, et seq. Nevada’s respective Departments of Agriculture have certified, registered, and regulated the growing of our industrial hemp in conformance with federal and state laws, rules, and regulations. Federal law, in particular, 7 U.S.C. §5940(b)(1), entitled “Legitimacy of Industrial Hemp Research,” encourages growing, cultivating, and marketing industrial hemp products pursuant to these pilot programs, and by the rights and protections thereby established, CBDHemp.direct proudly offer this legal industrial hemp flower high in cannabidiol (CBD) in the United States. According to 7 U.S.C. §5940, the term “industrial hemp” means the plant Cannabis sativa L, and any part of such plant, whether growing or not, with a Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-9 THC) concentration of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis. Only the Delta-9 THC level is relevant, not THC-A. As shown by the enclosed Certificate of Analysis, this hemp flower has a Delta-9 THC level on a dry weight basis will below the 0.3% maximum level and, therefore, this flower is hemp, not marijuana, and is perfectly legal to possess. This right applies in any state pursuant to the Full Faith and Credit Clause, Article VI, Section 1 of the Constitution, the Supremacy Clause, Article VI, Section 2 of the Constitution, and the Equal Protection Clause, Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment. thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
31
ARTS
shape than I am, but I’ve never seen the show. The biggest voices I did were All Hail King Julien [he plays Uncle King Julien] and Norville the Bird, and I won a Daytime Emmy for Norville the Bird on Clifford’s Puppy Days. Have you had any acting teachers like Gene Cousineau, whom you play in Barry with Bill Hader? I’ve had some in college and graduate school. I went to the Yale School of Drama, and combined I have 14 or 15 teachers through the years. I’ve heard about teachers from other actors. I’ve done research about a teacher here in L.A. who ran a big school. I combined them all and put them in my imagination, and out popped Gene Cousineau. Cousineau, by the way, is the name of the woman, the doctor, who delivered Bill Hader’s three daughters. From listening to an interview with him on Marc Maron, I understand the character changed as the show developed. When they wrote it, [Gene] was kind of a mean, uncaring charlatan, and as they watched me play it, they started to write to me. They said, “Oh, he could be that way also.” I think he became a little softer, a tad bit warmer. It was not just, “If you can pay in cash, on time, you are an artist.” This year I make them work for looking for what defines them as an actor.
“THERE’S A MAN ON THE RADIO BY THE NAME OF JOHNNY DARE, AND I TALK TO JOHNNY MAYBE SIX TIMES A YEAR. WE HAVE THE GREATEST CONVERSATIONS. HE IS A HUMANIST.”
Wasn’t Fonzie different when Happy Days originated? That is also true. He was tall and tough and just like a gang member. As I played him, [creator] Garry [Marshall] and the writers saw that he could also be really tough, but with a heart. He was the opposite of wimpy, but he was the perfect person to have your back. Absolutely, because he cared about his friends. His friends were really important to him. Loyalty was very important to the Fonz. He’s become so much a part of our culture. I’ve actually been to see the “Bronze Fonz” in Milwaukee. Someone just sent me a picture of the “Bronze Fonz,” and they put a scarf around him because it was so cold in Milwaukee. I discovered the statue because you showed it on Twitter. I like Twitter. It calms me down on the set when it gets really tense, or the scene gets tense. I just enjoy it. I really do. I like reading other people’s Twitter, and it’s sometimes fun to put a tweet up. You’ve recently been part of a death hoax, and Twitter was a way of letting people know that you were both alive and three years younger than the hoaxes said you were. Yes,
really. My daughter called me and wanted to know what was going on. And I said, “No. I’m still here.” I don’t have Instagram. I don’t have any other social media, except for Twitter. So, I never saw the death hoax until somebody on Twitter said, “Is this true?” I never saw the original. You know, it happened once before in the ‘70s. Someone called my parents in New York and asked if I was still alive. Of course, my parents never changed my number, and it was in the phone book. So that was kind of a shock. MacGyver has also become a cultural touchstone, and you produced it. And now MacGyver is back and a big hit. It’s a wonderful. When I was doing Happy Days, part of my compensation was a production company with ABC. And I had on-the air commitments. I think I had two. So, if I brought them a show that they liked, they had to put it on the air. And one of the shows I brought them was MacGyver. We created it. We sold it. We ran the show. I had a partner at the time, John Rich. It was on Sunday night after Sunday Night Football, and we would edit it on Saturday night until 3 a.m. The technical term is that we sent it out “wet” because it was just finished in time to get it on the air. And now a man named Peter Lenkov
Spring Forward with NEW APPAREL! Welcome New Riders! Chaps Starting at $94.99
NOW OPEN
1517 S. 7 Hwy Blue Springs, Mo 64015 Open Tue-Fri 11am-6pm and Sat 11am-3pm
816-295-1232 • deemdead.net 32
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
ARTS
runs the show, and I get to sit with him and edit once in a while. Like a lot of the heroes at Comicon, you’ve had a struggle of your own. You’ve been public about living with dyslexia. That’s right. All my books, the 28 novels of Hank Zipzer, the last one just came out. The very last one called Everybody Is Somebody, and it deals with a little boy named Hank, short for Henry, who is dyslexic. He’s in the second grade. He doesn’t know it. He’s just confused and in the fourth and the fifth and the sixth grade, and he finds out that he has a problem. It’s important to note that the condition has no bearing on intelligence. Gen. George S. “Ol’ Blood and Guts” Patton was dyslexic and was a brilliant strategist. Right. That’s what I tell every child, especially every one that comes to the table at the Comicon — that how you learn has nothing to do with how brilliant you are. So how do you handle scripts? Not easily. I have to work harder, but it’s something I want to do, so I make the accommodation. I have to read it slower and longer, but I’m able to memorize pretty well and pretty quickly so that really helps.
Your partner in the travel series Better Late Than Never, William Shatner, will be at Planet Comicon as well. Yes, and he is so wonderful. We traveled all over the world together. It was one of the great jobs in my career, not only to travel with these wonderful other people, but also to witness these extraordinary events, the food, the glorious people. We’re all the same. We just speak a different language. You got to get in touch with your roots in Germany through the show. Your family fled the Nazis. That was amazing because I was not prepared for the emotionality of that. There was a plaque with your family name on it. That was my uncle, who I never met. That was something to look down and see that. That’s what spurred on the emotionality. Have you been to KC before? Many times. Many times. There’s a man on the radio by the name of Johnny Dare, and I talk to Johnny maybe six times a year. We have the greatest conversations. He is a humanist. We talk about everything and anything. And I hope we will continue doing that. He is just so much fun to chat with.
thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
33
ARTS
Passover Country DANNY CAINE’S CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST PONDERS MIDWESTERN-SUBURBAN JEWISH IDENTITY. BY NICK SPACEK
Comparing poetry to song lyrics is lazy, so I’m reluctant to mention to Lawrence poet Danny Caine that the way he’s organized his new collection, Continental Breakfast (Mason Jar Press), reminds me of the way a band or a musician might tracklist an album. The front half of the book is a collection of poems that examine the idea of place and homogeneity in America, while the back half is 18 poems that wrestle with matters of Jewish and familial identity. The latter is collectively called “Uncle Harold’s Maxwell House Haggadah” and organized around the rites of Passover: the four glasses of wine and the festive meal. It was originally published a few years back as a chapbook of the same name from Etchings Press. I’m relieved to learn Caine — who also owns The Raven Bookstore — agrees with my music-writer assessment. “The main thing my editors and I were
talking about was sequence,” Caine says over coffee one rainy February afternoon. “We decided to list it in the table of contents as one poem, so if you’re thinking [of it like an] album, it’s like the really long suite of ambitious songs is at the end. Side one is all the pop songs, and side two is the most formally daring and ambitious piece in the book.” So: think of “Uncle Harold’s” as the medley that concludes the Beatles’ Abbey Road or even — as Caine puts it — Weezer’s “The Futurescope Trilogy” from Everything Will Be Alright in the End. (What, you missed that one?) Caine also cites Sufjan Stevens’ somewhat kitschy Christmas albums as an influence. “I do pull inspiration from music like that,” Caine says. “You can see that’s all over [‘Uncle Harold’’]. I’m just doing the same thing for Passover that he [Stevens] does for Christmas.” Caine’s series of Passover poems have
seen multiple published incarnations, from a photocopied zine to several chapbooks, and now as part of Continental Breakfast. These poems also represent his MFA thesis for the creative writing program at the University of Kansas, from which Caine graduated a few years aback. “It’s not “Leaves of Grass” by any means, but it’s been the single poetic project that has followed me through the last six years of my serious poetry-writing career,” Caine says. The seeds of “Uncle Harold’s Maxwell House Haggadah,” which is almost six years old, were planted when Caine went to a Jewish grocery store in Cleveland, where he’s from. While there, he saw “a staggering amount” of Passover junk food. He found that funny because of the concept at the heart of the holiday. “You’re supposed to eat the bread of affliction to mirror the pain of bondage, and how they had to flee quickly and scrape by in the desert for 40 years with nothing but matzoh,” Caine explains, with a wry smile. “But this grocery store display is just different junk food: it doesn’t taste quite as good, and it’s more expensive, but it’s still junk food.” So, the first poem written for “Uncle
Book release party for Continental Breakfast with Danny Caine, Megan Kaminski, and Jim McCrary The Eighth Street Taproom Tuesday, March 19, 7 p.m.
TONY AWARD WINNER!
BEST NEW PLAY
City Pets is Closing Our Doors We are so grateful and honored to have been part of the Midtown community for so many years.
HEART, HILARITY & HORROR
10-50 off % %
by STEPHEN KARAM director DARREN SEXTRO
816.531.7529 W W W. U N I C O R N T H E AT R E . O R G 34
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
MAR 6 - MAR 31
of Everything in the Store!
All equipment, tanks, and displays must be sold!
ARTS
Caine holds court at The Raven.
Harold’s” was “The Inflatable Matzoh Ball of Affliction,” which was basically just a list of the various junk food Caine saw in the grocery store that day. From there, though, Caine became interested in exploring his family’s ideas about Passover. “I think there are issues my family deals with and goes through — and the way they deal with Passover — which is probably similar to a lot of other suburban Jewish families,” Caine says of the relatively mundane subject matter at the heart of the poem cycle: the boys fall in love with non-Jewish women, all the grandchildren want to move away, grandparents die. I ask if Caine’s eight-month-old son has changed his perspective on the familial aspect of religion, and whether “Uncle Harold’s Maxwell House Haggadah” may see future installments. “It is a whole new way of looking at things, but I didn’t want to keep going,” Caine says with a laugh. “Like, I reached a point with this sequence where I’m like, ‘We’ll end it there.’ The story of every family is ongoing, and I could keep expanding [this] for my entire career, but I have other things I would like to write about. So, I’m writing about being a dad, but in different ways.”
ZACH BAUMAN
THANK YOU KANSAS CITY FOR VOTING US BEST VAPE SHOP vape
12267 W 87th St Pkwy Lenexa, KS 66215 913-541-1995 21+
6829 N Oak Tfwy Gladstone, MO 64118 816-214-5890 21+
7113 NW Barry Rd, N Kansas City, MO 64153 816-237-6823 21+
1302 Platte Falls Rd, Ste G Platte City, MO 64079 816-491-6341 18+
2424 NW Vivion Rd, Northmoor, MO 64150 816-914-8030 18+
9598 E State Rte 350 A Raytown, MO 64133 913-541-1995 18+
LOST VAPE ORION Q
$39 4pk juul pods
$14
95 +tax
(2 for $20)
95 +tax
finest sweet & sour apple peach sour
$19
95 +tax
MUST MENTION THE PITCH TO RECEIVE DISCOUNTS. Expires April 5th.
WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical. thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
35
SAVAGE LOVE
Consider the (extra) Lobster BRAINSTORMING A POTENTIAL ADDITION TO THE SEXUAL LEXICON. BY DAN SAVAGE
Two weeks ago, a longtime reader challenged me to create a new sexual neologism. (Quickly for the pedants: You’re right! It is redundant to describe a neologism as “new,” since neologisms are by definition new: “ne·ol·o·gism noun a newly coined word or expression.” You got me!) “Neo-Neologisms, Please!” was too polite to point it out, but my two most famous and widely used neologisms have been around so long — pegging (2001) and santorum (2003) — that they’re practically paleogisms at this point. So I accepted NNP’s challenge and proposed “with extra lobster.” My inspiration: on a visit to Iceland, I was delighted to discover that “with extra lobster” was a menu item at food carts that served lobster. This delighted me for two reasons. First, lobster is fucking delicious and getting extra lobster with your lobster is fucking awesome. And second, “with extra lobster” sounded like it was a dirty euphemism for something equally awesome. I offered up my own suggested definition — someone who sticks their tongue out and licks your balls while they’re deep-throating your cock is giving you a blowjob with extra lobster — and invited readers to send in their own. It was my readers, after all, who came up with the winning definitions for pegging (“a woman fucking a man in the ass with a strap-on dildo”) and santorum (“the frothy mix of lube and fecal matter that is sometimes the byproduct of anal sex”). What follows are the best reader-suggested definitions for “with extra lobster,” with occasional commentary from yours truly…
lobster” should mean anytime you get some extra lobster in on the act — from normal lesbian sex (two lobsters!), to a standard-issue male fantasy threesome (two lobsters and one cock), to a surprise second go-around after you thought the sex was over.
“With extra lobster” sounds to me like going down on someone — regardless of sex — when it’s a little more odoriferous than you would like because they haven’t bathed in a while. For example: “Things were getting hot and heavy with my Tinder date last night, and then I started to go down and was surprised with extra lobster.”
When you see a gorgeous ultra-feminine creature far more gorgeously feminine than my straight CIS ass will ever be. But under all the silks and stockings and satin panties… there’s a wonderful and welcome surprise! That girl comes WITH EXTRA LOBSTER!
I think I have a good candidate for your “with extra lobster” definition! It could be applied to a man who has an exceptionally large and dangling foreskin (“His penis comes with extra lobster!”) or a woman whose labia protrudes (“I love pussy with extra lobster!”). When I first started dating my wife, she kept her lady parts waxed clean, and they looked a bit like a lobster claw, even being slightly red if the waxing was recent. We nicknamed her vagina and surrounding area “The Lobster,” or “Lobby” for short. So I would suggest that “with extra
36
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
(The area surrounding the vagina already has a name: the vulva. While most people are familiar with the labia majora and minora parts of the vulva, aka “the lips,” fewer know the name for the area between the labia minora. The spot where the opening to the vaginal canal can be found — also part of the vulva — is called the “vaginal vestibule.” According to my thesaurus, lobby is a synonym for vestibule. So this proposed definition of “with extra lobster” is pretty apt. Now, some will quibble with the lobby-ish implication that a vagina is a space that needs to be entered. One can have a good time — great sex with lots of extra lobster — without anyone being penetrated, i.e., without anyone entering the lobby.) “Extra lobster should be the name for those cock-extender things. Example: “My husband has a small penis. And you know what? The sex is great! He gives great head, and isn’t afraid to strap-on some extra lobster now and then.” As a vegan, Dan, I strongly object to “with extra lobster.” It reinforces the speciest notion that it is permissible to consume lobsters, sentient life forms that feel pain, and associating a sex act with the violence of meat consumption further desensitizes us to acts of sexual violence. (Fuck off.)
I’ve learned about fursuits from you, Dan, and so many other crazy things — like the guy who wanted to be sexually ravished and then torn apart and eaten by zombies. With that in mind, I think “with extra lobster” shouldn’t refer to a sex act. It should be ENTIRELY literal: an act of bestiality performed not with one lobster, but with two or more lobsters. (The zombie guy was what hooked me on “Savage Love.” I’m too shallow for the actual problems and stuff. More freaks please!) (Too literal and too improbable — and euphemisms that describe things that have never
happened or only happen very, very rarely are unlikely to enter the lexicon.) I used to hook up with a cuckold couple with a particularly naughty fetish: I’d fuck the woman, fill her up, and her man would eat it out of her. So, say you hooked up with a woman, let’s call her “Melania,” and her husband, call him “Donald,” ate her pussy after you filled her with come. Donald is eating pussy with extra lobster! (Sounds more like pussy with extra chowder to me — and what you’ve described already has a perfectly good, and widely-used, name: cream pie. And, please God, let’s leave Trump out of this. There’s no need to associate something so vile and disgusting with eating another man’s come out of your wife’s lobby.) “With extra lobster” should refer to any intimate pleasure where your expectations are greatly exceeded! I’m a gay man in my sixties, and my husband and I have been together for decade. I also have a friend with benefits. One night we were camping and I blurted out, “I would like to cuddle with you.” What happened next was 12 courses — at least — with extra lobster! We’ve managed to rekindle this energy every couple of years over the past 25! I believe your example of “with extra lobster” regarding an extra WOW factor during something sexual is perfect and doesn’t need extra explanation. As the saying goes, Dan, you pegged it! I agree with the last two letter writers: “with extra lobster” shouldn’t refer to any specific sex act — and it should never involve actual lobsters and/or mental images of the current president of the United States — but should, instead, be a general term meaning “expectations exceeded.” When someone really comes through for you, when they knock your socks off, when they make you see stars — when they really WOW you — then you got boned or blown or fucked or flogged or torn apart and eaten by zombies with extra lobster! And with that sorted and settled, a bonus neologism to close the column… This isn’t a definition for “with extra lobster,” but I wanted to share it. I live in Uganda and many of the streets are lined with stalls that sell BBQ chicken. If you know to ask for the special chicken, they’ll often sell you weed. Special Chicken has become my favorite euphemism for weed! Question for Dan? E-mail him at mail@savagelove.net. On Twitter at @fakedansavage.
20
19
W
itness six of KC’s most talented chefs as they battle for the Gold Fork along with sampling from 20+ restaurants. Early bird tickets available.
THURSDAY, MAY 16 KC LIVE! BLOCK P O W E R
&
L I G H T
D I S T R I C T
A portion of the proceeds benefiting:
Save over $15 on the door price by purchasing tickets now! VIP includes early entrance and a goodie bag valued over $100 for the first 100 VIP attendees.
thepitchkc.com for tickets
EVENTS • Voted KC’s Best Gentleman’s Club • Oldest Adult Club in Missouri • 70 Girls • VIP Lounge • Great Place to Watch Sporting Events • Full Service Kitchen • Cover Friday & Saturday ONLY! • Premium Bottle Service
30 seconds East of the Power & Light District 2800 East 12th St., Kansas City, MO 64127 816.231.9696 • KcShadyLady.com
Playmates and soul mates...
March Events For more events, visit local.thepitchkc.com
MAR. 1-17
MAR. 8
School Girls, Copaken Stage
Andrew McMahon, The Truman
MAR. 4
Story Slam: Breaking Free, Lawrence Arts Center
First City: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Alamo Drafthouse
The Urban Renewal Project, RecordBar
Navigating the Legalities of Medical Cannabis, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
MAR. 8-9
MAR. 6
Ish & Thumbelina, A Double Feature Dance Experience, Lawrence Arts Center
Cocktails & Conversation with Kathy Nelson, P.S. Speakeasy
MAR. 8-10
Metallica, Sprint Center
Kansas City Symphony Presents Mendelssohn’s “Scottish” with Barber’s Piano Concerto, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
The Matrix, Alamo Drafthouse
MAR. 6-31
MAR. 9 Frye Dance Party, The Granada Game of Crawls, Power and Light District
816-841-1521
T E G S ’ T LE
C 38
y k e e h
30 MINUTE FREE TRIAL 18+ 816-841-1577 // 913-279-9202
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
Glow Silent Disco, Crossroads Hotel
18+ MegaMates.com
CYNTHIA LEVIN
Kansas City:
The Humans, Unicorn Theatre
Uncorked, Union Station
MAR. 10 LEEDS with Brent Windler, The Riot Room
MAR. 7
MAR. 12
Jacob Banks, RecordBar
Flogging Molly, VooDoo Lounge
EVENTS
TICKETS
TOM BUNDY
ST. PATRICK’S DAY MARCH 16
Go to thepitchkc.com/tickets to find the hottest events in KC.
Brookside 39th Annual St. Patrick’s Warm-Up Parade, Brookside Snake Saturday Parade, North Kansas City Westport St. Patrick’s Day Run, Westport
MARCH 17 DJ Pauly D, KC Live! Block at Power & Light St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Midtown and Westport St. Patrick’s Day Party Brunch, KC Live! Block at Power & Light More deals and events (see websites for details): Bistro 303, Callsign Brewing, Grain to Glass, Howl at the Moon, Julep, Smokin’ Guns BBQ, Uptown Arts Bar, The Big Rip Brewing Company, Velo Garage and Tap House, and The Well.
PAINT & SIP Events Paint & Sip Party
Every Weds and Thurs at 7pm
Friday Night Paint & Sip Friday, March 8th at 7pm
Western Auto Paint & Sip Friday, March 29th at 7pm Happy Trees at Hook Gallery
MAR. 13 Anoushka Shankar, Helzberg Hall The Aces, RecordBar
MAR. 13-16 Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship, Sprint Center Miller Lite Fan Fest, KC Live! Block at Power & Light
MAR. 14 Church Basement Ladies: Rise Up O Men, Missouri Theatre COURTESY OF THE ARTIST
DO YOU NEED A TICKET PLATFORM FOR AN UPCOMING EVENT? Email us at stephanie@thepitchkc.com.
thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
39
COURTESY OF THE AINSWORTH
EVENTS
MAR. 15 Cypress Hill and Hollywood Undead, Uptown Theater Maren Morris, Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
MAR. 16 Makers Translations, Lawrence Arts Center
MAR. 16-24 Lyric Opera of Kansas City Presents Così fan tutte, Muriel Kauffman Theatre
MAR. 17 NIGHTLY with Phangs, RecordBar
MAR. 18-24 The Pitch’s Taco Week Participating restaurants include: The Ainsworth, Bar Center and MetropolitanKC, Brew Lab, Big Whiskey’s, Drunken Worm, EJ’s Urban Eatery, El Fogon (Westport), El Patron, Mesob, Lew’s Grill and Bar, Charlie Hooper’s, Mission Taco Joint, Ted’s Café Escondido, Unforked, The Well, Kansas City Marriott Downtown, and Unforked.
MAR. 20 Michael Bublé. Sprint Center
MAR. 21 Justin Timberlake, Sprint Center COURTESY OF THE ARTIST
MAR. 18 Scream Movie Party, Alamo Drafthouse
MAR. 19
Free Tastings Every Friday Evening Phone | 816-531-5900 Address | 4500 Belleview Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64111 Hours | Mon-Thur: 9am to 10pm Fri-Sat: 9am to 12am Sun: 9am to 10pm
plazaliquorkc.com
National Geographic Live - When Women Ruled the World, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
Metric, The Truman
MAR. 22 Kansas City Jazz Orchestra: Spring Fever, Helzberg Hall My Favorite Murder Live, Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
MAR. 22 - APR. 14 Pride & Prejudice, Spencer Theatre
40
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
EVENTS
MAR. 23
MAR. 28-31
Atmosphere, The Granada
Totally 80s Bar Crawl, Kansas City Live! Block
4050 PENNSYLVANIA AVE SUITE 111 KCMO 64111
OR ONLINE
WWW.CROWDSYSTEMS.COM KENNY JOHNSON
Tori Kelly, Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
$11.25 AN HOUR APPLY IN PERSON
MAR. 23-24
MAR. 24
PART-TIME EVENT STAFF
CONCERTS, CONVENTIONS, & SPORTING EVENTS -
Tender, Uptown Theater
Heartland Men’s Chorus presents Stonewall 50, Folly Theater
NOW HIRING
Zlatomir Fung, Cello, Lied Center of Kansas
Kansas City Ballet presents “New Moves”, Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity
MAR. 24-25
MAR. 28
Twister Movie Party, Alamo Drafthouse
Opening Day at the K, Kauffman Stadium
MAR. 26
MAR 29
Bubbly & Bow Ties: KCFW Cocktail Kick-Off Party, The Everly Event Space
Run DMT, The Riot Room
MAR. 29-31 Planet Comicon, Bartle Hall
COURTESY OF THE ARTIST
MAR. 30 Kansas City Roller Warriors Double Header, Memorial Hall
MAR. 31 Weezer and Pixies, Sprint Center
MAR. 27-30 Kansas City Fashion Week, The Grand Hall at Power & Light
Catfish and the Bottlemen, Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
KANSAS CITY’S ONLY
CBD SUPER STORE Naturally Alleviate pain, elevate your mood, reduce inflammation and calm anxiety Compassion, education & an amazing selection every visit
www.phoenixnaturalwellness.com Now at 4 convenient locations:
7932 W 151st St. 9627 W 87th St. Overland Park, KS Overland Park, KS 913.257.5717 913.730.8520
13324 College Blvd. 1519 Main St. Lenexa, KS Ottawa, KS 913.549.3032 785.229.0658
20% OFF YOUR PURCHASE
WITH COUPON. NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER OFFER. EXPIRES 5/26/19
thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
41
AUCTION DATE: 4/3/19
MARKETPLACE LOCAL
WEATHER PERMITTING
The following vehicles will be sold at public auction on Wednesday, April 3rd, 2019 unless claimed by owner and all tow and storage charges are paid in full. For information, please contact Insurance Auto Auction at 913-422-9303.
YR MAKE/MODEL
1000
2000
EMPLOYMENT
REAL ESTATE/RENTALS
BACCALA’ STRIP CLUB NOW HIRING DANCERS
VALENTINE NEIGHBORHOOD $400-$850 Rent 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments & 3 Bedroom HOMES.
816-753-5576
Colliers International. EHO
Contact Frank 7pm-3am Mon-Sat
CALL TODAY!
816-231-3150
3000 KS-KCKS | $545-$650 913-299-9748
4000
BUY, SELL, TRADE
WANTS TO purchase minerals and other oil & gas interest. Send details to P.O. Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201
KITCHEN CABINET AUCTION
SERVICES
LEGAL
HEAT & WATER PAID... NO GAS BILL! KCK 25 acre setting. 63rd & Ann 5 minutes west of I-635 & I-70. One bedroom $545. Two bedroom $650. No Pets Please. You CAN NOT BEAT this value! Don’t miss out on this limited time offer!
Peakauction.com
ATTORNEY SINCE 1976 KS/MO Injuries, KS Divorce, All Family, Juvenile & More. FREE CONSULTATION Greg Bangs 913-345-4100
7000
MUSIC/MUSIC ROW
Piano, Voice, and Guitar lessons Available from professional musician and instructor. Instructor teaches in a fun and meaningful context from ages 4 to the young at heart. Sessions are 1⁄2 hour and 1 hour. Students who sign up before March 31st will receive $5 off For more info Please call/text Kathleen 913-206-2151 or Email: klmamuric@yahoo.com
Call NOW! MUCH NICER THAN THE PRICE!
THEPITCHKC.COM
Largest seLection of cBD ProDucts in Kansas city! Hemp Oil Tincture, Topical, Edibles, Lotion, Lip Balm and E-Juice
400 E 18th Street, KCMO, 64108 • 816-474-7400 Thecbdstores.com
Gifts & Decor
NOW HIRING HOUSEKEEPERS | HOUSEPERSONS SERVERS | BUSSERS
1G6DF577980194011
2005 Acura TL
19UUA66285A042378
2010 Ford Fusion SEL
3FAHP0JA1AR384187
2006 Ford F150 Supercrew
1FTPW14VX6KD64268
2007 Saturn Aura XR
1G8ZV57797F161800
1997 Ford F250
1FTFX27L7VKB81966
2006 Kia Sorento
KNDJD733165524406
2010 Toyota Scion TC
JTKDE3B75A0306877
2007 Hyundai Accent
KMHCM36C17U006893
2013 Toyota Camry
4T1BF1FK8DU294649
2011 Kia Soul
KNDJT2A20B7287194
2004 Yamaha YXR660 F
5Y4AM06Y54A001710
1997 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
2G1WW12M8V9314726
2003 Toyota Camry
4T1BE32K43U191862
Many of these vehicles run and drive. If you are looking for cheap transportation, don’t miss this auction/sale. We welcome all buyers. Terms of auction: All sales are “as is” “where is”. No guarantees or warranties. Paper work to obtain new title will be $75.00 Per vehicle. No guarantee that paperwork will produce title.Bidding will be number only. Terms are cash or certified check. Vehicles must be paid for in full at end of auction. No exceptions. All sales are final. No returns.
INSURANCE AUTO AUCTION 2663 SOUTH 88TH ST. KCKS, 66111 | 913-422-9303
FREE
Scared? Anxious? Confused? HELP IS HERE DWI, Solicitation, Traffic, Internet Crimes, Hit & Run, Power & Light Violations, Domestic Assault Criminal Defense Attorney David M. Lurie 816-221-5900 www.The-Law.com
steven@thepitchkc.com 816-218-6732
2008 Cadillac CTS
SAMPLES
LEGAL
Classifieds
Swords & More
WHER E NEIGHBORS A R E BEST FR IENDS
Best Kratom Prices in Kc!
Eastland Court 816-363-9684
Loyalty program for Kratom cBD products • Smoking accessories • Metaphysical Essential Oils • Swords • Knives, Figurines
Senior Apartments Rents Starting at $1,020/mo.
mOn-Sat 10am-8pm
913.782.4244
Employment Opportunities Link to
APPLY: www.arborlodging.com/careers FOLLOW US AT LIKE US AT
Sun 12pm-6pm
@PHILLIPS_JOBS
123 S. mur-Len, OLathe, KS 66062
HOTEL PHILLIPS
5 miles from Montauk State Park and Current River.
N OW L E AS I N G!
Free Heat, Electric, Cable, Water & Garbage Small Pets Welcome! Close to Shopping, Restaurants, and Places of Interest
NEWto see& what RESALE ALL AREAS | ALL PRICES Want your Short Sales-Foreclosures-Condos Townhomes-Single Family Homes.
CALL NOW 42
home is worth?
Sharon Sigman, rE/maX STaTELinE 913-488-8300 or 913-338-8444 www.FormLS.com
THE PITCH | MARCH 2019 | thepitchkc.com
VIN#
Spacious one-bedroom cabin, sleeps four. $ /night
85
25 one-time cleaning fee
$
901-233-4496
BRAND NEW, 1&2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS FOR THE ACTIVE ADULT (55+) In-Suite Washer and Dryer
Emergency Call Systems
Central Air Conditioning
Beauty Salon & Large Community Room
Patios/Balconies Smoke-Free Living
Fitness Center
Elevator/Secure Entry
19301 East Eastland Center Court | Independence, MO 64055 eastlandcourt@clovergroupinc.com
KC’s Premier Medical Cannabis Clinic Cannabis Education & Workshops Confidential - Safe & Legal Want to be the first to apply for a Missouri Medical Cannabis Card?
Schedule Your Appointment Online Now!
NOW OPEN
415 Delaware St, Suite 4W, Kansas City, MO 64105
816-514-0023
TheGreenClinics.com #FeelBetter #RiverMarket
Now Hiring For Numerous Departments
SINCE 1949 MO & KS
· Auto · SR22 · Home · Renters · Commercial · Contractors
● $30 parking per month ● Generous travel discounts ● Vacation & PTO pay ● Holiday pay
● Discounted bus passes ● 1 free meal per shift ● Medical ● Vision ● Dental
Call or Text 816-531-1000 · KCinsurance.com
Apply in person at
1130 Westport Road · Kansas City, MO 64111
1329 Baltimore Ave, Kansas City, MO 64105 Questions? Call HR at 816-303-1629
The Hispanic Economic Development Corporation is requesting bids for the Center for Urban Enterprise project located at 2720 Jarboe, KCMO. Garcia Architecture is serving as the Construction Manager on the project. All trade bids to be submitted to Garcia Architecture, 508 W 75th St, KCMO 64114. Contact Richard Oddo at Garcia Architecture, roddo@GarciaArchitecture.net for details.
KS/MO Injuries, KS Divorce, All Family, Juvenile & More
Call
Attorney Since 1976
913.345.4100
Greg Bangs
for a FREE consultation
GET YOUR MEDICAL MARIJUANA EXAM
MISSOURI MISSOURI MARIJUANA MARIJUANA DOCTORS DOCTORS
Scared? Anxious? Confused? HELP IS HERE! DWI, Solicitation, Traffic, Internet Crimes, Hit & Run, Power & Light Violations, Domestic Assault Criminal Defense Attorney
WWW.MMD.CLINIC WWW.MMD.CLINIC
David M. Lurie
816-221-5900 www.The-Law.com
204 Admiral Blvd, KCMO 1-888-MMD-INFO thepitchkc.com | MARCH 2019 | THE PITCH
43
FLOGGING MOLLY WITH LUCERO AND MATT HECKLER
MARCH 12
STOKLEY
ROBIN TROWER
OF MINT CONDITION
WITH FAST JOHNNY RICKER
APRIL 18
APRIL 19
SHY BOYS
WITH BERWANGER AND KID COMPUTER
APRIL 20
*21+ ONLY
*21+ ONLY
AARON LEWIS STATE I’M IN TOUR
MAY 16
WALK OFF THE EARTH MAY 17
APOCALYPTICA
PLAYS METALLICA BY FOUR CELLOS
MAY 24
THE RECORD COMPANY ALL OF THIS LIFE TOUR PRESENTED BY 90.9 THE BRIDGE
JUNE 12
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Tickets available at VooDooKC.com or Ticketmaster.com/voodookc or by phone at 1-800-745-3000. Located minutes from Downtown Kansas City. Unlimited Free Parking. All shows are 18 & up unless noted otherwise.
Know When To Stop Before You Start.® Gambling Problem? Call 1-888-BETSOFF. Subject to change or cancellation. Phone and online orders are subject to service fees. Must be 21 years or older to gamble, obtain a Caesars Rewards card or enter VooDoo®. ©2019, Caesars License Company, LLC.