A new reality show that covers barbecue competitions — BBQ Pitmasters — debuted last night on TLC, and Fat City was on the couch to watch it. The premise: The show opens with an instrumental version of “The Ring of Fire,” which saddens me and also gets me a bit pumped up. It’s like seeing a bad action movie on…
They’re a little late for the Black Friday masses, but PETA activists will be targeting holiday shoppers in the Country Club Plaza this afternoon. The revealing costume of choice for the latest episode of titillating street theater: sexy cops. According to a press release from the national animal rights organization, a pair of anti-cruelty beauties — “scantily clad in sexy…
The frozen food aisle is not immune to Christmas creep. Besides the annual appearance of peppermint ice cream, there are lots of holiday-flavored ice cream treats to sample. To determine which of the other flavors should become holiday staples, Fat City has pitted Fat Boy Egg Nog Ice Cream Sandwiches against Edy’s Pumpkin Frozen Dairy Dessert in a battle of…
Frank Martin, the men’s basketball coach at Kansas State, has settled in to the role. The team is off to a 6-1 start and figures to make NCAA tournament It’s fun to hear Martin talk. He doesn’t speak in the monotone that many coaches use to express their disdain for microphones and notepads. He sounds instead like a guy in…
Gum has become complicated. The packaging is slick and the flavors are complex. You don’t just get bubble gum-flavored gum any more. Wondering whether it was worth the hype and price ($1.49 for a 14-pack), I picked up two packages of new Trident Layers Gum. And my expectations were high based on the current ad campaign which suggests people would…
What kind of spoon is Spoon? A long handled pot-stirrer used to thwap orphans in a fairytale? A dainty, functionless souvenir made to hang on a rack until it’s pocketed by a klepto character in a Wes Anderson film? Is it a song by the German krautrock band Can? The battle cry of the Tick? Or is it a verb…
%{}% Thoughts on honest pints and short pours and whether it really matters. Buzzard Beach turns out to be a pleasant surprise for one drinker, who might have a new favorite spot for cheap drinks. A stop at Oak 63 Bistro shows that the french fries are closely guarded, but worth an order. How obligated is a liquor store employee…
Over at Chunklet this past Monday, they posted a 40+ minute mix of Fugazi on-stage banter. You can check that out in their post (and, yes, it does include the “ice-cream-eating motherfucker” moment from Instrument. However, while absolutely hilarious, it does not hold one single candle to the awesomeness that is People, Let Me Get This Off My Chest. If…
My favorite Christmas movie of all time is Gremlins. Wait, no — second favorite. Die Hard is number one. Anyhow, it’s my second favorite Christmas movie because not only does it contain blood, gore, and dark humor (all of which are earmarks of something I will not only own on DVD, but quote incessantly), but it manages to keep a…
Let’s just assume that the weather is going to be frigid. It’s December, man! It’s supposed to be. So don’t use that as an excuse to stay in the house all weekend like a loser. Especially not when there’s so much going on in Kansas City. Examples: 1. First Friday. Yes, there are fewer art openings in winter months, but…
Sean Malto is a native of Lansing, Kansas, and a member of Escapist’s skate team. He’s in the running to win the coveted title of Skater of the Year from Thrasher, and your vote could put him over the top. According to Escapist co-owner Dan Askew, Malto just bought a house in Leavenworth, Kansas, “which is cool considering most pro…
A Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy claims ex-Chief Neil Smith was driving while intoxicated and failed a field sobriety test. Smith’s attorney claims Smith wasn’t drunk, and he has several people to back up the claim. The Kansas City Star reported late last night that Smith was pulled over after allegedly driving 53 in a 65 in a center lane, crossing…
The big news here isn’t that the Kansas City Repertory Theatre has a hit big enough to hold it over, a once-rare occurrence that now seems to be the norm. To me, the big news about the Rep’s Broadway-bound A Christmas Story: The Musical! is that for once, everywhere I go in Kansas City, people want to talk about theater….
Update: ESPN’s Joe Schad just tweeted that Mark Mangino has agreed to a financial settlement, ending his coaching career at KU. ***ESPN’s Joe Schad is reporting that Mark Mangino is finished as the University of Kansas’ football coach. The report says the football team will be told tonight. Stay tuned. Categories: News Tags: espn, Kansas City, kansas city, Kansas Jayhawks,…
Slanted and Enchanted: The Evolution of Indie Culture, by Kaya Oakes, is a fantastic book. The title is a little deceptive, however. Rather than deal with “indie” as the accepted term of today “hipsters in skinny jeans,” horn rims, and mellow college rock, Oakes traces the culture of artists, writers, and musicians outside the mainstream from the sixties until present…
If you’re unfamiliar with the wide range of Belgian beers, you’ve got an opportunity to learn from one of the masters on Tuesday, December 15, at 6 p.m. That’s when the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium hosts a tasting for six of New Belgium Brewery’s seasonal and regular offerings. Lauren Salazar, New Belgium’s “sensory guru,” will be on hand to discuss…
Eddie D. Cobbs is Kansas City, Kansas’ 38th homicide victim. KCK police identified Cobbs as the victim of Wednesday night’s fatal shooting in the 2300 block of Silver Court. KCK police officers found Cobbs’ body between two apartment buildings. If you have any information about Cobbs’ death, KCK police are asking you to call 913-573-6020 or the TIPS Hotline at…
A state board voted Tuesday to approve a casino overlooking the Kansas City Speedway in Wyandotte County. With that done, here’s Fat City advice to the Hollywood Casino developers on dining options that they might want to consider as part of the 28,000 square feet of planned restaurant and entertainment space. Restaurants in casinos — particularly Las Vegas — tend…
