39 minute read
Our Picks
Our Picks
BLACK-OWNED BREWERY BREAKS BEER BARRIERS
Co-founded by Kemet Coleman, Elliot Ivory, and Woodie Bonds Jr., Vine Street Brewing Company is the first Black-owned brewery in Missouri. They attracted national fanfare with their grand opening in the historic 18th & Vine district back in June, meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris prior to the event.
Located within the former Street Department public works building, the brewery features historic limestone architecture covered in graffiti and large arched windows with local artwork. In addition to the upstairs brewery, there’s a downstairs space called The Groove Room—an outdoor beer garden and green space to host events. The building also houses the Warren Harvey Art Gallery and The Prospect KC, both Black-owned businesses.
Coleman worked for Boulevard Brewing Company and was inspired to start his own when he learned that African women were the first to brew beer. He met Bonds while working at Boulevard. Bonds was a homebrewer at the time and founded KC’s first hiphop beer festival, Hip Hops Hooray. Ivory was a project manager at Honeywell and had been brewing under the name Wiz Brewing. He joined the project later, meeting Coleman through Bonds, whom he had met at a micro beer festival in KC. The three of them came together to bring their vision to fruition.
True to their own roots and the jazz roots of the neighborhood, they’ve made music a major focus of the events, hosting concerts and listening parties in the downstairs and outdoor spaces. They do Thirst Fridays, which include live music, art, food, and board games. Many of the beer names are also music-inspired, including their debut beer, The Jazzman Black Lager. Another beer, the Black is Beautiful Vol. 2 IPA, was released in collaboration with the National Black Brewers Association (NB2A) and coincided with the release of Coleman’s new EP, Black is Beautiful 2.
The owners of Vine Street Brewing hope they will inspire other Black brewers and that Black-owned breweries will come to be a much larger part of the beer scene.
LEGAL WEED STAMPEDE
Missouri took immense steps within the cannabis industry in 2023 when the first legal and licensed sale of recreational cannabis took place February 3 of this year. The state’s economy brought in over $5 million in gross sales on the first day, according to KMBC.
Since 2020, Missouri has raised nearly $1.5 billion in total sales as of August 2023, according to Missouri’s Division of Cannabis Regulations.
But dispensary sales are not the only thing keeping the cannabis industry afloat in Kansas City. Multiple events have been held in the city in an attempt to bring marijuana enthusiasts together in safe spaces. Large events such as the Major Cannabis Expo, Cannafest, and 420 Fest were a few of the bigger cannabis commencements.
After a successful first year of recreational legalization, Kansas City and Missouri as a whole are eager to continue raking in dough from those searching for relief through cannabis.
ELIZABETH DANIEL’S THROWBACK TO THE FUTURE
Tucked away in Tonganoxie, KS, lives Elizabeth Daniel in what appears to be a house of wonders. Complete with a ‘sherage’ (like a garage, but with a twist) and a giant Lorax, you can find just about anything you need for an anachronistic photo montage… and then some.
When The Pitch initially met Daniel, her home was in the midst of transformation for our June 2023 cover shoot. Need your backyard turned into a cookout ad straight from the ‘60s/’70s? Daniel is your best bet. While setting up for the shoot, it was as if she could read everyone’s mind. Daniel would pop in with an “I have one of those in my garage” before ever being asked, and sure enough, it would meet the exact vision.
Since our June drag BBQ photoshoot, local director and producer Christopher Good (Kevin Morby, Joyce Manor, Yeah Yeah Yeahs) has been in touch with Daniel to help stage an upcoming film he’s been working on.
While Daniel’s home is now Kansas City’s unofficial prop house, she has one main goal: to get people to thrift more. A firm believer that you can find anything secondhand, she wants to inspire others to do their own vintage shopping, find the things that would otherwise end up on the curb, and turn them into home decor treasures.
KC TENANTS CLEANED HOUSE IN PERSON AND IN ELECTIONS
We’re not ashamed to admit that KC Tenants seems to make our Best of Kansas City editorial list every year. With what they’ve been able to accomplish since they helped establish the Tenant Bill of Rights with the city in 2019, few would argue the nonprofit tenant union’s efforts don’t already place them amongst the top regional political efforts of the decade.
After securing a $50 million bond “to house the people” in Nov. 2022, The Tenants continued to rack up wins this year through a new sister organization, KC Tenants Power. The legislative arm of the organization hit the scene “focused on winning governing power for tenants.”
In a wildly successful citywide effort, the faction issued its own endorsements in the June 20 City Council election. A definitive win came in the city’s 6th District, where KC Tenants Power leader and Iraq veteran Jonathan Duncan earned 56.50% of the vote to cap a 13-point upset over longtime Jackson County Legislator Dan T. Tarwater III.
Duncan’s success here was the headliner, but perhaps equally as impressive was the margin by which another KC Tenant leader, Jenay Manley, lost to a candidate with significantly greater resources in the 2nd District AtLarge race. Pulling ahead by just 1,304 votes, Lindsay French (51.61%, 20,937 votes) topped Manley (48.39%. 19,633) in what should be remembered as a moral victory for the movement. To become substantial enough in message and organization to garner an actual city council seat in a matter of just five years is not the norm in the political world. This movement is special, and we, as Kansas Citians, should continue to recognize and appreciate that.
DRAFT FEVER OFFERS A GLIMPSE OF OUR WORLD STAGE PROWESS
Kansas City became the seventh city to host the National Football League Draft from April 27-29, drawing 312,000 fans to the National WWI Museum and Union Station campus and generating $164.3 million for the local economy. The latter figure topped the widely circulated projection of $100 million, while the former swung right on the prospect of bucking the attendance record of 600,000 set by Nashville in 2019. With a footprint of 3.1 million square feet, the NFL Draft was also notable in that it served as the largest site in the event’s 88-year history (and also marked the first time the ceremonies occurred in the same city that won the Super Bowl that year).
With visitors praising the experience, the city has expressed interest in hosting the event again in the future. Before that can happen, though, we can’t pretend we didn’t want the 2026 World Cup—because we got it. With games set to be hosted at a revamped Arrowhead Stadium that year, KC is busy setting in motion plans to shine on an international scale, with efforts bound to ramp up as the date gets closer. In late September, a delegation of over 30 FIFA organizers visited the City of Fountains to assess our preparation.
Local businesses are now vying to become base camps for national teams looking to centralize themselves between the 16 North American host cities. KC is one of 11 such cities in the United States. Like it or not, major sporting events look to remain a fixture in our city for decades to come.
OUR DIRELY NEEDED NEW AIRPORT MAKES FLIGHT DELAYS MUCH EASIER TO STOMACH
Last February, the long-anticipated new airport terminal finally opened. In sharp contrast to the dark and crowded horseshoe terminals of the old airport, the new terminal has larger waiting areas around each of the 39 gates, along with open hallways, all-glass jet bridges, and a sky bridge with two moving walkways connecting the two concourses.
Another issue with the old airport was the lack of restroom facilities, which the new airport rectifies with family restrooms, multi-user restrooms, gendered restrooms, service animal relief areas, and water bottle stations. There are 10 rooms for nursing mothers and infants as well.
The new terminal features 50 places to eat and shop, with many of these being local businesses. This includes a miniature City Market at the center of the airport that includes Pigwich, Buffalo State Pizza, Taste of Brazil, and Bo Ling’s. We also love the addition of a Pitch convenience store. Notably, a large majority of these are inside the security checkpoint, so no need to worry about having to ditch purchased food or drink items.
One of the most controversial aspects of the new airport, which has drawn a torrent of complaints on social media platforms, is the new pick-up/ drop-off area. Previously, it had been easy for people to simply pull up their cars and wait for the person they were picking up. Now, there are separate levels for arriving and departing flights, and these areas are smaller by comparison when considering that they serve the entire airport. People who are picking up passengers have been advised to park and wait in the cell phone lot, which is roughly a three-minute drive from the airport, where parking is free for an hour. The pick-up/drop-off areas continue to be congested and have long wait times, but are slowly improving as people get the hang of it.
Aside from a few kinks, the new airport is a major improvement. New flights have already been added since the terminal opened, with more to come. It will much better serve KC and accommodate its growth—especially the large influx of visitors for the World Cup in 2026—and now provides a much better first impression of our city to first-time visitors.
TAYLOR SWIFT KINDA-SORTA LIVES HERE NOW
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour stop the weekend of July 7-8 sent Kansas City into a frenzy. She announced a new song and music video and brought Taylor Lautner and Joey King up on stage to celebrate with her. Jennifer Garner and Presley Cash were also spotted at the show with their fair share of friendship bracelets. North Kansas City Mayor Bryant DeLong even renamed two streets off Armour Road: “Honorary Swift Street (Taylor’s Version)” and “Honorary Cornelia Street.” Not only were these shows a major Swiftie event, but they had a huge economic impact on the city itself. Mayor Quinton Lucas announced that both shows resulted in a $47.8 million dollar boost to the economy.
On July 7, Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) was released, just in time for her July 8 performance of her secret song “Last Kiss.” The Koi Fish Guitar that had been displayed in the Country Music Hall of Fame was removed for this song, being played for the first time since the 2012 Speak Now World Tour.
These shows also lead to our very own Chiefs player Travis Kelce attempting to shoot his shot with a friendship bracelet with his phone number. While he didn’t get a chance to pass it on to her at the show, the attempt was noticed, and dating rumors began to fly, coming to a head with Taylor being seen sitting with Donna Kelce at multiple Chiefs games. They reportedly paid for the dinners of everyone at Prime Social and were eventually seen confirming the relationship by holding hands in public in New York following a mid-October SNL appearance.
You could say Kansas City is in its “Red Era.”
ZAMBEZI ZINGER ZIPS THROUGH TIME
If you were a kid in Kansas City in the ‘80s and ‘90s, the Zambezi Zinger was a staple of Worlds of Fun. As one of the first three original coasters in the park, no wonder it was one of the most popular rides. In 1997, WOF made the decision to relocate the ride to Montenegro, Colombia, much to the disappointment of parkgoers.
For its 50th anniversary, Worlds of Fun opted to bring its most remembered ride back to its original location. This steel-wood hybrid coaster reopened for business on June 19 and was greeted with a warm welcome from those who remember the ride as a kid and those who have yet to experience it.
YOLI TORTILLERIA BRINGS HOME FIRST EVER JAMES BEARD AWARD FOR “OUTSTANDING BAKERY”
Kansas City’s special spot for tortillas in Westside isn’t a secret anymore. The national spotlight is shining on Yoli Tortilleria after it took the first-ever “Outstanding Bakery” award from the James Beard Foundation, a category introduced earlier this year.
Co-owner Marissa Gencarelli credits a lot of the quality of Yoli’s tortillas to sourcing good, local ingredients and combining that with traditional Mexican methods. She says that many people think the only way to make an authentic tortilla is to use Mexican corn, but in Marissa’s view, that’s a mistake. By shipping it in from so far away, the corn can lose its flavor.
Marissa estimates they get through 15,000 pounds of corn every week. They’ve been partnering with the University of Missouri’s College of Agriculture to find new varieties that can work for Yoli’s products.
If all this has your mouth watering for tortillas, you can pick some up at Yoli’s retail location at 1668 Jefferson St. #100, Kansas City, MO 64108. You can also visit them at the Overland Park Farmers’ Market or sample some at local restaurants such as Chicken N Pickle and Tiki Taco.
LIGHT THE LAMP
Since formally incorporating as a league in May of 2022, the Kansas City Women’s Hockey League has provided women throughout the metro the opportunity to find themselves and gain confidence while learning a new sport. Team leaders focus their efforts on creating a supportive environment for new players so women of any skill level feel empowered to play. While there are games against local men’s recreation teams and other women’s teams across the region, the KCWHL isn’t about winning. Instead, it’s about developing skills and a love of hockey. The league encourages and accepts new members at any time of the year. Practices and scrimmages run on Saturdays at 5 p.m. at the Line Creek Community Center, with games and other learning opportunities set throughout the schedule.
KC CURRENT ELECTRIFIES EVEN IN A REBUILDING YEAR, WHILE BUILDING ITS OWN STADIUM
In the NWSL 2023 season, KC Current placed 11th out of 12 teams in women’s soccer. “We didn’t take dead last!” is rarely a good rallying cry, but in this case, it’s also a wildly disconnected summation of how great this team has been. KC is known for finding ways to make its own fun around perennially losing squads, but you’d be hardpressed to say many of the Current matches this year felt like anything except strong victories. Sure, we were hampered by some injuries, and more than once it appeared like our happygo-lucky crowd might not let a ref leave the stadium alive, but KC Current made for some of our favorite nights and afternoons in 2023. On the pitch, Lo’eau LaBonta, Alex Spaanstra, Cece Kizer, Michelle Cooper, Mimmi Larsson, and Kristen Hamilton were nothing less than bright shining stars. AD Franch didn’t get the season she deserved, and few things felt as otherworldly powerful as screaming “DEBINHA!” after one of her many goals or assists.
But as is always the case, the Current is so much more than the players on the green. KC Blue Crew leads the crowd chants and drumline music that fills the stadium, and their dedication to the craft of supporting our heroes in song earned them a full feature in our May issue. Assistant Coach Caroline Sjöblom was called up to head coach, after the team parted ways on a game day with former coach Matt Potter. Back in January, Brittany Mahomes was joined in co-ownership of the club by new investor Patrick Mahomes, whose name might be familiar from other regional sports activities. The final touches are also being put on the new CPKC Stadium that the Current will occupy next season—the first stadium built for a women’s professional sports team. In keeping with the team’s ethos, the venue will give back to the community in so many ways, as it will also serve as a concert venue and weekend farmer’s market. We’d love to see the new Royals stadium strive to be anything as utilitarian as that!
YET ANOTHER SUPER BOWL RING TO ADD TO OUR COLLECTION
The Kansas City Chiefs continue to produce success for football lovers in the city. After experiencing a devastating loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2021 AFC Championship, the Chiefs bounced back during the 2022-23 season, defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl.
With much talk and speculation that the Chiefs would not be a top-tier team after trading Tyreek Hill, Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes quickly silenced those rumors with a 14-3 season. Nick Bolton, Trent McDuffie, Isiah Pacheco, George Karlaftis, and Jaylen Watson are just five of the many young pivotal players who helped this team bring back hardware to the city. Of course, we would have never been able to go on to win a Super Bowl Championship without stars quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce. This dynamic duo is the foundation of Chiefs football, and it is pretty clear to see. With the loss of Hill, Kelce knew that he would need to take on an even heavier workload, which he did with ease, finishing the season with over 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns. Mahomes continued his hall-of-fame run of a career, accumulating 5,250 passing yards and 41 touchdowns to regain the MVP crown.
As the Chiefs start the 2023-24 season off, the future looks bright for another memorable Super Bowl run for the football-loving city.
CHIEFSAHOLIC TURNED SUPERFANDOM INTO WOLF DAY AFTERNOON
With the continued success of the Kansas City Chiefs, fandom in the city has reached an all-time high. So towering that one diehard fan even turned to robbing banks, as long as it meant that he could watch his beloved football team take the field on Sundays.
Xaviar Babudar, better known as ChiefsAholic, received national publicity last December for all of the wrong things. He was charged with bank robbery in Tulsa County, Oklahoma, after he had allegedly robbed the Tulsa Teachers Federal Credit Union, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Babudar was released on bond in February of this year and later removed his ankle monitor in an attempt to flee prosecution in March. Three months later, he was found in Lincoln, California, and taken into custody once again.
In August, Badudar was indicted on one count of bank theft, three counts of armed bank robbery, four counts of transporting stolen property across state lines, and 11 counts of money laundering. He pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his trial is set for January 8, 2024.
VIBES ON VIBES ON VIBES AT LE LOUNGE
All the cool kids hang out at Le Lounge—it’s one of the Crossroads’ hidden gems, located in the upstairs portion of boutique hotel, No Vacancy. Le Lounge has indoor and outdoor seating and a rotating bar menu. Rich textures and eclectic art welcome you into the narrow space with booths and bistro tables. DJs, unique food vendors, and expert bartenders pop in for evening service. The offerings vary by week, but in general, the lounge is open Thursday nights from 5-11 p.m. Keep an eye on their Instagram account (@le___lounge) for details. A $5 cover will be added to your tab—a small price to pay for a spot at the most relaxed little hangout. No reservations are required—simply meander in through the alley door and up the wooden staircase.
MONARCHS REIGN AS ROYALTY WITH CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON
While Kansas City’s beloved Royals have continued their run of disappointment, the Kansas City Monarchs gave baseball fans in the city something to cheer about. On the west side of the metro in Legends Field, the Monarchs finished the regular season 59-40, claiming the best record in the American Association of Professional Baseball.
They then went on to beat the Chicago Dogs 3-1 in the Miles Wolff Cup Finals to be crowned American Association champions. Catcher Chris Herrmann, second baseman Justin Wylie, catcher and infielder Gavin Collins, and pitchers Jalen Miller, Trey Jeans, and Grant Gavin paved the way for the team this year after all were selected as all-stars.
Their stellar performance this year season ensured a playoff run for the team and ultimately propelled them to win it all in September. Manager Joe Calfapietra secured his third championship with the team, previously winning in 2018 and 2021.
A TASTE OF NOSTALGIA
After a decade in the making, in late 2022, owner Emily Kate Johnson was able to form Nostalgia Room—the first fully temperate bar in Lawrence. Located at 412 E 9th St., the bar and coffee lounge was born from a woven community and family—a love letter to those with us, entranced in a homely atmosphere and conversation, and those we remember sitting idly in our countertop picture frames or loveseat mementos. The menu features thoughtfully selected spirits and sophisticated, handmade elixirs and coffee creations. The walls are dressed with a rotating display of local artists, and the recently added bottleshop offers take-home souvenirs and imbibements to enjoy at your leisure. Nostalgia Room is designed as a resort for the sober and sober-curious. Careful scrutiny is implemented with each concoction, dedicated to the absence of mind-altering substances. This way, all guests are welcome to enjoy a night out without the anxiety or consequences of intoxicative ingredients.
AZTEC SHAWNEE THEATER BRINGS LIVE MUSIC TO THE ‘BURBS
Closed since 1974, Aztec Shawnee Theater reopened in the winter of 2020 after three years of renovations. It’s been a slow come-up since, but over the past year, the Aztec Shawnee Theater has not only become a place for film lovers to catch classic flicks but for music lovers to catch shows outside the hustle and bustle of the Crossroads. The mix of cover bands and original music sell the place out on a regular basis, thanks to booking acts as varied as country duo Jenna & Martin, punks Sirens in the Suburbs, or tributes to the Judds, KISS, Tom Petty, Hall & Oates, and every other act under the sun. Add in the healthy support of their fellow local businesses and a robust social media presence, and heading down Johnson Drive seems like a better idea every weekend.
ROMAN RAYA’S BARBACOA KNOWS THAT THE SPICE MUST FLOW
Barbacoa was a unanimous staff pick— turns out it was your pick, too. Chef Roman Raya has always been driven to bring his nostalgic favorites to life on the plate and then to share those tastes with others. He believes he now has the vehicle to do just that with Barbacoa, his new restaurant located on the corner of 55th and Troost and winner of “Best New Restaurant” in 2023.
After trying most of Barbacoa’s drinks and dishes, we’re inclined to agree. Barbacoa hits the sweet spot of being experientially casual, but a well-crafted menu and expert service make it feel special. The limited menu of chef-driven dishes is thoughtfully built for brunch, dinner, and cocktails.
Raya and his brother, Phillip, are co-owners, and they run the kitchen at Barbacoa as executive chef and sous chef. Mixing up a devilishly delicious drink menu is another co-owner, Madeline Buechter. The menu is inspired by the Mexican flavors and dishes that the Raya brothers grew up enjoying at backyard family gatherings. That said, Raya wants to clarify the style of cooking the restaurant is doing.
“Barbecue means a lot of things to a lot of people, especially in Kansas City,” he says. “Our dishes are inspired by the flavors of traditional Mexican food, told through the cooking style of barbecue. You’re going to get a lot of smoky, tender meats. You’re going to get a huge depth of flavor. There are a lot of spices and a lot of big, bold tastes. This is the type of food I remember from my childhood, but elevated and adapted for a new audience.”
MERCURY ROOM IS NEVER IN RETROGRADE
The Mercury Room in the Crossroads is the closest thing you can get to sitting in the stars. Nested on top of the Reverb Apartments at 18th and Walnut, the high-end bar overlooks the hustle and bustle of the nightlife below. At 800 square feet, the venue seats 28 guests and includes a small patio. The ceiling is lined with over 9,000 LED lights, which reflect off the floor-to-ceiling windows, shiny black floor, and reflective bar and tables to mimic the feeling of being amongst the cosmos.
Apologies, casual bar-goers—reservations are necessary. Standard reservations require a $20 deposit per person and a three-course cocktail tasting at a $75 deposit per person. Cocktails start at $20, with the most expensive being the Lux Perpetua at $52, made with 18-year Japanese whiskey, oxidized Syrah, coconut sugar, mirin, and bonito-infused Campari.
CHAMOY BOI SERVES UP FUEGO SNACKS AND FAMILY ROOTS
Remember lunchroom currency? Sometimes, it was a Pop-Tart, a stowaway mini-candy bar, or, if you were super lucky, a package of Gushers. With their bright colors, gooey center, and flavor mash-ups, Gushers were a hot commodity in the ‘90s. Fast forward to treat-yo-self adult snack time, and you have the intersection of sweet, spicy, and salty Chamoy Boi candy. The craving-crusher pop-up was founded by Michael Ho during the pandemic following a nail salon shut-down. He needed to make money and thought, “I should make some candy.” One batch and a social media post later, and here we are. Chamoy Boi candies marry Vietnamese, Mexican, Cambodian, and Thai cultures to form mouthwatering morsels and his newest development: Red Honey. Yes, you can buy chamoy by the bottle. We recommend putting it on literally everything.
GREG RAZER AND THE FIGHT FOR ACCEPTANCE
In the midst of transgender rights being stripped from Missouri and Kansas youth, Missouri Senator Greg Razer has been one of the leading voices standing up against the recent changes.
The push against the trans youth community by the two states initially stripped access to school bathrooms that aligned with an individual’s gender identity, but as residents of the neighboring states have seen throughout the year, it has not stopped there.
In April, Kansas passed laws that banned trans athletes from competing in any organized women’s sports between the early elementary years up to collegiate level play. Along with this, they also banned gender-affirming care for transgender youth, placing restrictions on puberty blockers, hormone prescriptions, and gender-affirming surgeries.
In June, Missouri took the same path, making these states two of 24 total states that have placed bans on either gender-affirming care, sports participation, or both, according to the Human Rights Campaign.
Razer, who grew up as a closeted gay in Cooter, Missouri, has been one of the lead voices in the Missouri Senate fighting for equal rights for transgender youth. As a lead advocate who can truly empathize with trans youth in the state, Razer has been at the forefront of the battle for obtaining equal opportunities for these individuals.
HALLEY VINCENT IS THE SHAPE OF PUNKS TO COME
Teenage activist and entrepreneur Halley Vincent is making waves in the Shawnee community by spearheading literacy in her neighborhood and beyond.
After spending much of her time volunteering at her local animal shelter reading books to dogs and cats awaiting homes, she knew she had to take her passion full force. At eight years old, she founded her nonprofit organization, Paws Up KC, with a mission to tackle community service issues of animal adoption and literacy at the same time. All of the organization’s proceeds go towards local charities such as Chain of Hope, Great Plains SPCA, and the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City.
“I think people don’t realize that books, literacy, and animals really do connect in many ways,” says Halley. “I like to say that the same people that have a stack of books next to their beds are usually the same people that have a cat in their lap or a dog at their feet.”
To further expand her mission, Vincent put Paws Up KC on wheels by transforming a broken lawn mower into a bookmobile, which she uses to provide free books to the community while seeking donations to benefit local animal shelters.
In addition to her nonprofit, Halley has also worked to fight injustices in her local community. One of the most notable is moving Shawnee Mission North High School to change its mascot after nearly 100 years in 2021.
POURING ONE OUT FOR THE TOILET BOWL’S FINAL FLUSH
Fem-ran, pro-LGBTQ+ icon venue Toilet Bowl has sadly flushed for the final time. For the community, it’s like losing a limb. Operating as a safe-space music venue spawned from the sewage of a once-flooded basement, the Toilet Bowl was a haven for musicians all throughout the KC and LFK scene. The notoriety of the Toilet Bowl was forged by word of mouth and a sizable but tight-knit Instagram following. After a year of serving and fortifying the community, persistent police presence, among other things, caused the Bowl to shut its doors. Although the greater KC DIY music scene has now lost an icon, it served as a catalyst for other venues such as The Dungeon and BauHaus. Rest in p(e)eace, Toilet Bowl.
JARED HORMAN’S REVERSE GAME OF KEEP-AWAY
Kansas City Creative Director, Commissioner of the Stonewall Sports Kansas City chapter, muralist, and designer of the KC flag—queer illustrator Jared Horman lives and breathes KC. Focusing his work on community outreach and user experience development, Horman’s work can be seen all across the city and online (check out his coloring book Rotten Foods). Not only a visual artist, Horman has done extensive research in important fields such as developing and finding resources to help trans community members, creating a weather guide app for hikers, and researching collaborative ways to stream with friends and family.
GRIMM TATTOO EMERGES PHOENIX-LIKE FROM THE ASHES
After a fabric shop next door burst into flames, Grimm Tattoo—and the entire set of connected buildings it occupied at the corner of Main & 39th Street in Westport—burned to the ground. The next morning, we met with owner Wes Grimm as he smoked a cigarette, standing on the still-smoldering rubble of his family business. “There just hasn’t been time to cry,” the man in a black cowboy hat and bolo-tie told us, as he listed off all the work that he needed to do towards rebuilding. The Grimm family business had operated here for more than 40 years, with Bert Grimm being one of the American pioneers of the inky art form. The Bert Grimm Tattoo Museum, just around the corner from the main building, which housed more than 100 years of tattoo history and design, was luckily untouched by the flames that claimed the rest of the business. Despite space limitations in that small historic space, some of Grimm’s tattoo artists were inking folks the very next day. The shop has since reopened a fully staffed permanent Grimm Tattoo location at 613 Genessee Street.
FOUNTAIN CITY GUITARWORKS IS TUNING UP THE TOWN
Much like the wardrobe in Narnia, the exterior of Fountain City Guitarworks is unassuming. When you step inside, each corner of the house is covered in guitars. It’s located in the Squier Park neighborhood right off of 71 Highway, providing a homier alternative to traditional guitar repair shops. Fountain City Guitarworks came to be when twin brothers Mark and Shaun Penechar took over Seuf Guitars after David Seuferling retired in 2016. With over 35 years of combined experience, the brothers tag team the process. They service everyone from the hobbyist who’s just playing for fun to the local musician who is playing five nights a week. It’s worth mentioning that Phoebe Bridgers’ bassist plays their gear with pride on stage—no big deal.
FREE STATE FILM FESTIVAL REMAINS A BEACON FOR FREAKS AND FREEDOM IN THE MIDWEST
When we consider art festivals, music is the common thread that connects theater, film, dance, and, of course, live musical performances. Starting as a platform for short films in 2011 before morphing into a weekend Free State Film Festival in 2012, this year’s FSFF truly hit its artistic stride and fully achieved the vision set by festival director Marlo Angell over a decade ago. With the pandemic limiting 2021’s offerings to socially-distanced outdoor screenings, last year’s weeklong festival got the proceedings back on track by bringing in heavy hitters such as acclaimed filmmakers John Waters and Lawrence-based Kevin Willmott. However, 2023’s FSFF took matters to an entirely new stratosphere with the incredible breadth and depth of diverse offerings, partnering with local venues, community organizations, and the University of Kansas, just as Angell had prophesied earlier.
Liberty Hall provided a safe space for a wide-ranging discussion with Boots Riley, lead vocalist of the revolutionary hip-hop group The Coup and director of the new boundary-pushing Amazon series I’m A Virgo. Liberty Hall welcomed in BLKBOK, a neo-classical pianist who marries Mozart with hiphop, spitting lyrics with his piano keys. The famed venue also saw the return of seminal ‘80s Wichita act The Embarrassment in town for a screening of We Were Famous, You Don’t Remember, as well as a raucous performance powerfully demonstrating the band had lost none of their chops. All screenings were followed by intimate Q&A sessions with the audience, providing rare access to these artists.
A brisk five-minute walk away, the Lawrence Arts Center hosted an equally impressive slate of programming. The aforementioned Kevin Willmott was back again this year with No Place Like Home: The Struggle Against Hate In Kansas, a documentary based on CJ Janovy’s book of the same name, which describes the LGBTQ community and their struggles for empathy and acceptance. Renowned producer and turntablist DJ Spooky created a live score to accompany the (classic) film Body & Soul, while local artist Bad Alaskan provided pre-show music to set the stage for the documentary Imagining The Indian: The Fight Against Native American Mascoting
The closing event at Liberty Hall was a showing of Lost Angel: The Genius Of Judy Sill, which was capped off with a tribute concert curated by Heidi Gluck, a perfect Midwestern complement to the baroque pop folkie Sill. Student-run radio station KJHK partnered with the theater for many of these events, introducing scores of scholars to these cross-disciplinary artistic delights.
LUCAS KUNCE HAS MAGIC UP HIS SLEEVE IN THE 2024 ELECTION
Ask U.S. Senator Josh Hawley about Magic: The Gathering and he’ll first defer to the think-tank that designs his personality before coming back to spew a bunch of buzzwords about how the popular trading card game is a cornerstone of the attack on masculinity. Meanwhile, his probable 2024 challenger, Democrat Lucas Kunce, is being himself: crushing online opponents in the wee hours of the night while he ponders the cards he’s been dealt.
Kunce, 41, a former major in the Marine Corps, ran for Roy Blunt’s seat in 2022 but lost to Trudy Busch Valentine in the Democratic Primary 43.2% to 38.3%. Eric Schmitt now holds that office, but Kunce is taking what he’s learned and launching another assault on the Missouri GOP next year.
Hawley, 43, has never served his country, nor has he served up devastating spells from the latest booster pack. In fact, he appears to wear the same shirt at every major public event. Never mind the running from the Capitol riot he helped stoke; Josh Hawley just isn’t cool. And while both candidates look to emphasize labor issues in their campaigns, Kunce has been working himself to build an entirely new kind of deck, one that can bridge the surface-level ideological divisions in a former bellwether state that has pivoted sharply red in recent decades. One which creates and revives rather than incites and destroys. Your move, Missouri.
GODFREY RIDDLE HAD, LIKE, FIVE YEARS IN ONE
Kansas City philanthropist and entrepreneur Godfrey Riddle has been up to a lot this year.
Back in April, the first season of the home/life/spiritual improvement series The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning was released on Peacock, featuring Riddle in its fifth episode. The premise of the show is based on a bestselling book by Margareta Magnusson, which teaches how to declutter items so loved ones won’t carry that burden after you’re gone. This allows participants to recognize what the essentials are in their lives and involves breaking attachments with sentimental items. The show entails life coaches coming into KC to help local people with overwhelming messes.
In Riddle’s episode, “What Lies Beneath,” the hosts of the show help him declutter his basement, where he has stored inherited items from his parents, who passed away unexpectedly. The episode details his emotional journey in finding other ways to celebrate his parents and to turn his basement into a livable space that evokes positive memories rather than grief.
During an interview with The Pitch Riddle says the process changed his relationship with his grief in a positive way. In fact, the lessons Riddle learned while participating in the show were the starting point for his next endeavor, as he also learned to reduce his ecological footprint.
Riddle began Civic Saint as a clothing brand previously and is now turning his brand into a business that seeks to bring eco-friendly, affordable housing to historically redlined communities and narrow the racial wealth gap. To create tiny, creatively designed homes, he’s chosen compressed earthen blocks (CEBs), which are essentially bricks that are composed of 90% soil and 10% water and cement. His business pitch won both the Inaugural Communities of Color Initiative (CoCi) Biz Pitch and the overall Biz Pitch competitions from the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce at their 2023 International Business & Leadership Conference.
Most recently, an investor reached out to Riddle to fully fund his prototype, so he’s hoping to deliver his first demo build and start taking public orders in the new year.
KC ZOO’S AQUARIUM MAKES A SPLASH
The Kansas City Zoo and Aquarium opened the long-awaited Sobela Ocean Aquarium in September 2023. This 650,000-gallon aquarium hosts nearly 8,000 animals representing over 200 species and spent 10 years in design and production before construction began in 2020. The execution of this project cost $77 million dollars, with $45 million coming from the Zoological District and $32 million from private donations.
The two-year wait was worth it. While on the smaller side, this aquarium is an excellent addition to a zoo visit. Tortellini, the sea turtle stuck in her permanent handstand, is the perfect mascot for the aquarium (don’t worry, she’s getting a backpack to help her float). Each exhibit is beautifully crafted to meet the needs of each animal and includes educational information about the species and habitats they represent.
With the opening of the aquarium, the zoo has pledged to help to ensure the conservation of endangered species of corals found off the coast of the U.S. and in the Caribbean as well as partnering with rescue centers to provide a home for sea otters when returning them to the ocean is not a viable option.
OUT OF THE BASEMENT, INTO THE MANOR
In February, thanks to a little help from Manor Records, Nightosphere, Abandoncy, and Flooding—“a trio of trios”— released a three-way split cassette. In the year since, all three bands have gone on tour across the country and released further new music, with Nightosphere and Flooding releasing the respective full-length Katabasis and Silhouette Machine to great acclaim. Nightosphere tour mates Chat Pile even said of Katabasis, “They released the best album of the year, and we’re getting to see people realize it in real-time.”
All three bands have gone from playing opening matinee slots to being legit draws on their own. They’re not just Farewell KCMO/Toilet Bowl draws anymore, but instead, the newest purveyors of Midwest rock ‘n’ roll spreading the gospel to masses far and wide.
PROPERTY TAX WAS MET WITH A FIGHT BACK
A battle between the Jackson County Assessor’s Office and property owners continues to garner new twists, even as the looming Dec. 31 deadline creeps closer and closer.
The inciting incident came in an average 30% increase in property tax rates that led well over 40,000 citizens to file an appeal in late July. The backlash led the office to put together a shoddy website to “combat misinformation” and extend the appeal deadline. The increase occurred, in essence, because a new partnership with Tyler Technologies had replaced an old “legacy” assessment system that was ripe with error.
“For the last two decades, really, there has been hyper-deflated taxation, so it was just never really increased appropriately,” Jackson County Legislator Manny Abarca IV says. “So, through inaction, it basically created a cheaper way for development to occur in Kansas City. It kind of stimulates the retail market. You’re creating more opportunity for folks and providing tax relief because you’re not really taxing them.”
In early September, the department admitted it had discovered an error that impacted the values of hundreds of homeowners after KCTV5 reported on it weeks earlier. A few days later, Assessor Gail McCann Beatty said her office was scheduling around 300 appeal meetings per day, but that 50% weren’t showing up.
The Missouri State Auditor’s Office has launched an investigation into the matter. Meanwhile, municipalities continue to step forward to join a growing list of legal challengers, including Independence and Lee’s Summit. The situation has also spurred a widespread legislative effort to provide relief for the many seniors on a fixed income who may not be able to meet their increases.
THE LAST OF US SHOWED THE WORLD HOW INVITING KC CAN BE, EVEN IN THE APOCALYPSE
The HBOMax—now, “Max” or perhaps an even stupider moniker by the time you read this—TV series The Last of Us gave a several episode arc to its main characters’ journey through a post-apocalyptic Kansas City. Adapted from a PlayStation video game, the original story saw these plot events occur in Pittsburgh, making the move to KC quite the glow up—or grow up—as it follows sentient plant-life reclaiming the Earth. For locals, it was a delight to watch Joel and Ellie navigate familiar sections of the metro, including the WWI Memorial, parts of downtown, and a disastrous series of events in even North KC. The show’s resistance leader for this area was played by actress Melanie Lynskey who, despite being from New Zealand, really felt like the perfect KC mom who takes no shit from anyone. The production team hammered in a number of incredibly small details, perhaps most notably a shot where an abandoned store’s windows were covered in newspaper— featuring actual pages of The Star from the days leading up to the September 2003 “Outbreak Day.” The only other PlayStation game adapted into a TV show this year—Peacock’s Twisted Metal—also decided to center around a post-apocalyptic hub in our vicinity: Topeka, KS. While we appreciate all the love video game TV shows seem to be giving our neck of the woods, the shots of Topeka that included palm trees really hammers home the idea it would be nice to offer tax credits to get these Midwest-set shows to actually come film here.
ERIC FAIN IS WHY WE LEAVE THE HOUSE
Eric Fain got his big break this year, touring around the world as a production assistant with Paramore and eventually with Christina Aguilera.
Fain previously worked on preparing events at The Truman, recordBar, and The Midland. Before that, he played in local bands, ultimately pivoting to behind-the-scenes work as a guitar tech, merchandiser, tour manager, and more. He’s gained a lot of unique experience through these jobs, including being a tour manager for American Football, Senses Fail, and Poppy.
As a production assistant, Fain manages production runners, stocks tour buses with supplies, keeps track of tour bus routes, manages accommodations at music venues, and runs merch tables. At times, the job can be stressful, having to deal with last-minute tasks for shows and workdays sometimes being stretched to 22 hours. But Fain says he loves what he does.
“The goosebumps always happen,” says Fain. “I don’t think that’ll ever go away for me. If it does, I need to find another job. I just can’t. At this point in my life, I can’t work anywhere I’m not passionate about. It’s a very privileged thing that I don’t take for granted at all.”
SMOKEY RIVER ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT OFFERS A PERMANENT VENUE FOR CANNABISFRIENDLY EVENTS
Now that recreational cannabis is legal in Missouri, there is a need for social gathering places for smokers and substance-free friends alike. It’s important that safe spaces be available where people have the option to partake in a toke or choose not to while they mingle with their stoned friends. Besa Hospitality Group meets this need with its new cannabis-friendly entertainment venue.
Smokey River Entertainment District is located off 291 Highway in River Bend, MO, east of downtown Kansas City, and showcases music, artwork, cuisine, and more at its events.
“[The Smokey River Entertainment District] is progress, not just for us, but for the country as well. We want it to be responsible and safe as we celebrate the end of prohibition,” says Besa Hospitality Group’s President Joey Pintozzi.
Since their opening event, 420 Fest, in April of this year, they have hosted events for consumers and industry folks alike, such as the Missouri Grower’s Cup, CreepShow, and CannaBrew.
