Archives: October 2010
Yes, Virginia, there are men in the kitchen
The old joke about a woman in the kitchen doesn’t hold much water in 2010. So why do I still have to read news stories about how incredible it is that men cook for their families? It’s no longer a novelty, nor should it be. Everyone works. Everyone cooks (or at least knows how to dial for pizza). Let’s put…
Teens who smoke in Lee’s Summit may wind up in court
It wasn’t so long ago that American high schools accommodated students who smoked cigarettes. On drizzly days, nicotine clouds would billow out from underneath the umbrellas of students getting their fix in outdoor “lounges.” Nowadays you can’t say the word “Winston” within 500 yards of a school building. And the City of Lee’s Summit is considering an ordinance that would…
The 5 best vintage band shirts to snag at Halcyon this Friday
Over the past few weeks, Halcyon Diversified Trading shopkeeper Rod Peal has been uploading Facebook photos of some sweet vintage band tees for sale at his store. I want them all to myself, but unfortunately I am very particular about the way t-shirts fit me — collar width is important! — and so I share this information with you. This Friday from…
RED promotion means free coffee and prizes at Starbucks tomorrow
Movie tie-ins used to mean action figures or a glass with a picture of the film’s star. But we’re adults now and we don’t want juice glasses (unless, it’s Star Wars and then all bets are off). Hollywood understands that. Summit Entertainment is throwing a party in honor of the new Bruce Willis flick at Starbucks (1701 W. 39th St.)…
Black Swan film review: Natalie Portman has sexy time with sexy friend Mila Kunis
Oh yes. This is happening. As a young man who appreciates all the warming trays in our cultural buffet, I’ve made it a point to attend this year’s Kansas International Film Festival at the Glenwood Arts Theater. I was especially interested in the screening of the Black Swan, from Darren Aronofsky, the director, nay, auteur, responsible for such statements…
Jeanette Lawrence guilty of involuntary manslaughter of 18-month-old Ava Patrick
Jeanette L. Lawrence can apparently write a good book about running a daycare. Actually running one, that’s a different story. A Johnson County jury found Lawrence guilty on Wednesday of involuntary manslaughter, aggravated endangerment of a child, and a violation of a family day care regulation in the death of 18-month-old Ava Patrick. Lawrence was babysitting Patrick at the Olathe…
Jimmy LaFave at Knuckleheads tonight
Though he’s originally from eastern Texas, the whole state of Oklahoma and the music capital in Austin each claim Jimmy LaFave as its own. They have their rights. LaFave went to high school in Stillwater, Oklahoma, where he swapped secrets with great songwriters like the late Bob Childers. He formed his first bands in Oklahoma, and established a strong regional…
’70s wives ask themselves, ‘When was the last time I expressed pleasure in our sex life?’ and so much more
Each Thursday, your Crap Archivist brings you the finest in forgotten and bewildering crap culled from basements, thrift stores, estate sales and flea markets. I do this for one reason: Knowledge is power. Especially for Wives: When Was the Last Time Author: Michael A. Campion, PhD., with photos by Wilmer Zehr Date: 1978 Publisher: Bethany Fellowship, Minneapolis Representative Quotes :…
Method
Back when Shomari Benton and David Lloyd were grinding away at one of the largest corporate law firms in Kansas City, their fellow attorneys made fun of their style: three-piece suits, pocket squares and impeccable shoes. Now Benton and Lloyd are the ones laughing, from the other side of the counter at Method, the menswear store that they opened this…
Spool
It’s hard to wander through Spool without imagining a mini self dressed in the store’s cute handmade toddler garb. Hipster tees, rocker sneakers, and sweet dresses made from kimono fabric make you want to run out of the store, make a baby and rush back. From purple hand-woven beanies to African print dresses to charming handmade bows, this is fashion…
Hammerpress
You may know Hammerpress as the place to ogle concert posters on First Fridays, but this Crossroads anchor offers more than a peep show for design nerds. It’s a nationally recognized studio that locals can feel good bragging about. And it’s as functional as any design shop in town, turning out stylish invitations, stationery, business cards and other paper staples,…
Peggy Noland
Peggy Noland Kansas City is the Kramer of West 18th Street. The 120-square-foot shop, operated by its namesake designer, is the eccentric neighbor that makes nearby shopkeepers smile and look bewildered. Four years in, Noland admits that she rarely sells any clothes at her store. It’s more a gallery and a way to maintain a presence in her hometown, while…
Coffee Wonk
Plenty of shops jumped on the K2 bandwagon during synthetic marijuana’s moment in the legal sun. But Coffee Wonk got there first. The new products gave the shop a revenue stream that put its java sales to shame. And while some stores would’ve pocketed the extra cash, Coffee Wonk reinvested in itself. It’s planning an alternative bookstore within its walls…
Vinyl Renaissance
With digital downloads and iTunes taking up space on everyone’s hard drive, you may wonder why anyone would go to a record store anymore. Music has become more portable, but we’ve grown horribly accustomed to lousy sound quality. If you doubt this, get to Vinyl Renaissance and marvel at the tonal richness and vibrant warmth of a vinyl LP. This…
Filling Station
A bell sounds when you drive over the air hose at the back of the Filling Station. The sound isn’t a signal that you’ve wheeled in looking for service; it lets the barista inside know that you need a high-octane boost from the drive-through to navigate the cluster mug that is the intersection of Westport Road and Southwest Trafficway. Owner…
Picking Sundays
It isn’t easy showing up to a vineyard by 8 a.m. — on a Sunday. But it was harvest time at Holy-Field Winery, where “Picking Sundays” happen only a few weeks a year. One clear, cool September morning, about 100 people had reserved spots as volunteer laborers. Clippers and plastic gloves were issued (the grapes get sticky), and there was…
Best of Kansas City 2010
Model railroads, Battlestar Galactica, canned beer — everyone’s a geek for something. And we’re all closer in our offbeat enthusiasms than we sometimes realize. You built a recumbent bike out of prewar plastic pieces. The driver who just ran you off the road collects Depression-era Bakelite utensils. Brothers and sisters, can’t we all just geek out together? Yes, it turns…
LOUIE, LOUIE, LOUIE, LOU-ee
Consider it discomfiting. Consider it self-flagellating. Consider it his penance for being the brains behind Pootie Tang. But above all, consider FX’s Louie to be the brashest, funniest, most relentless half-hour comedy on television right now, and its writer-director-producer-editor-star, Louis C.K., to be the reigning pound-for-pound champ among stand-up comics. Having built his reputation as a writer for the likes…
Pro Visitors
A 7:30 p.m. matchup at the Sprint Center (1407 Grand) between the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder provides a lesson in contrast, NBA-style. The Heat is a gerrymandered collection of stars, with LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh playing together for championships, camaraderie and a significant decrease in their tax rates. They personify why people don’t like…
John Lennon
This exhibit, from the Pacific Edge Gallery, features more than 120 pieces of John Lennon’s artwork. The exhibit’s second day is the 70th anniversary of Lennon’s birth. Fri., Oct. 8; Sat., Oct. 9; Sun., Oct. 10, 2010 Categories: Music Tags: John Lennon, Night & Day
Freakonomist
Some consider economics a dismal science, with its practitioners involved in arcane discussions that have few real-world implications for normal citizens. But those who dismiss the science of economics miss the rare treat of Stephen Dubner’s writing. The author of Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics brings a scientific approach to issues that most people wouldn’t consider within the realm of economics: the…
Find The Pitch
