Archives: April 2009

Killa City: Homicide No. 31

The Kansas City Star reports that three homicides were added to KC’s total on Monday. We already knew about two, but how did they get 31 homicides? The third homicide was added after a man critically wounded in a double shooting Jan. 6, 2008, died early Monday. Eric L. Davis., 26, had been wounded at a home in the 2700…

Star editor: ‘We are not dying’

Yesterday — as far as I can tell — was the first time that Kansas City Star editor Mike Fannin spoke to readers since becoming editor in May 2008. Fannin weighed in on his shrinking newspaper. In these situations, we usually get publisher Mark Zieman spouting some less-than-reassuring gibberish about Ernest Hemingway and penetration. Instead, Fannin pulled on his big-boy…

Sodomizing a dog to death will get you deported

See ya later, Cem Basoflas. After pleading guilty to sodomizing a dog to death in February (and a cat that survived a year before), the 21-year-old international student who was studying at the University of Kansas will be deported to Turkey. Try explaining that to your parents. The Kansas City Star reports that Basoflas will serve 30 days in jail,…

The Closed Restaurant File: March

Among the area restaurants that closed last month were: Poco’s on the Boulevard Cantina #1 Mexican Restaurant (formerly the Corona Cantina #1) Cafe Song in Shawnee Categories: Dining, Food & Drink Tags: Cafe Song, Cantina #1 Mexican Restaurant, closed restaurants, Poco’s on the Boulevard

The Rhonda Chriss Lokeman DUI video, part II

Rhonda Chriss Lokeman’s mug shot As promised, here’s the next Rhonda Chriss Lokeman tapes. Turns out the footage, originally roughly 90 minutes, was too big to upload without editing so we’re presenting several vignettes today and tomorrow of Lokeman’s booking. The Pitch Action News Team has a lot to learn when it comes to AV stuff.  The camera angle doesn’t change…

Everyone wants to be a server! Who knew?

Flickr: Foto Blitz Color In the last few months, I’ve met two servers — both very elegant women in their 40s — who were also, in their “other” lives, real estate salespeople. Two weeks ago, a friend of mine who works as a waiter at a pretty snazzy restaurant on the Country Club Plaza told me that the managers of…

Now Open: Szechuan House

If this building looks familiar, it should. For many years, the low-slung, brown brick structure at 1403 W. 39th Street was the home of the late restaurateur Tommy Macaluso’s namesake restaurant, Macaluso’s. Then Macaluso’s chef Scott Warren took over the lease and opened it, in 2007, as Scotty’s on 39th. Then two young restaurateurs opened it, all too briefly, as…

Funkhouser recall papers filed

Formalizing their frustration with Mayor Mark Funkhouser, a group of citizens has filed paperwork to begin the recall process. Electronic and print reporters packed the city clerk’s office this morning as the affidavit calling for Funk’s heave-ho received an official stamp. The petitioners say Funkhouser’s continued reliance on his wife, Gloria Squitiro, violates the city’s nepotism ordinance. Anne McGregor, one…

KC rapper Steddy P. introduces self, opens for Talib Kweli

Scoring a coup for Missouri rap, local MC Ray Price, aka Steddy P., has landed the opening spot for Talib Kweli when the renowned Brooklynite comes to the Granada with Hi-Tek on Sunday, April 26. Though he recently moved back to his hometown of KC, Steddy rose out of the Columbia, Missouri scene (hence his latest full-length, Dear Columbia, P.S.)…

Claire McCaskill wants to talk

Stimulation update: Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill is in town on Wednesday to promise that help’s on the way. This from her office: “As our nation faces its most serious economic crisis in decades, Congress and the President worked together in order to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This recovery package will energize and uplift our state’s economy, and…

What Twitter is good for: restaurants!

Few things are better than hot baked goods. Especially hot doughnuts and cookies just out of the oven. But it’s hard to know when a bakery has such treats. Krispy Kremes turn on a neon light when their doughnuts are coming out, but even then you have to be driving by to see it. Calling a bakery every 10 minutes…

Does Pub-Corn really pop?

Two weeks ago Charles Ferruzza wrote a post on Cary Silverman, a young local entrepreneur. Silverman is the inventor and promoter of Pub-Corn, the alcohol-flavored (but non-alcoholic) popcorn that has gained quite a bit of online buzz. After Charles’ post appeared, Pub-Corn e-mailed me and asked if I’d like some samples. Not being one to turn down anything alcohol-related I…