The space that shows “exceptional art for very silly people” presents the photography exhibit “Studies in Clay” by Stephan Jahanshahi. Black-and-white photos of human models smeared with clay explore a sense of time and expound on themes of change and renewal. The gallery is open by appointment. See letyourfreakflagfly.com for more information. June 6-30, 2011 Tags: Night & Day, Stephan…
After the folks at Prospero’s put one of their gently used books in your hands and you buy it, get it home, and crack it open, you feel satisfied and pleasantly surprised that they knew exactly what you needed. The same thing applies to their annual Unregulated Word poetry festival, sponsored in conjunction with local prose and poetry press Off…
This year, the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and Western Missouri celebrates its 50th anniversary. In an attempt to get folks energized and involved in their communities, the ACLU partners with Kansas City Anti-Violence Project, Kansas Equality Coalition and Promo for Get Active! Meet Your Leaders at Crosstown Station (1522 McGee, 816-471-1522). Special guest speakers include Wyandotte County District…
The ginger in Generation Ginger, at the Charlotte Street Foundation’s Urban Culture Project, doesn’t refer to redheaded people. It’s about the pungent plant with medicinal qualities that’s often used for seasoning. Generation Ginger — inspired by second-generation Indian-American Ritu Nanos’ experiences as a mother to multi-ethnic children and as a partner in an interracial marriage — seeks to explore the…
Parents, we hear your pain: You need something to entertain your children. But Bazooka’s has a closed-door policy for people who consume juice from boxes, and Davey’s nonsmoking policy means your kids would have to leave their Kool Kings at home. And, frankly, they’re also bored by throwing rocks at the cruisers in Liberty Memorial Park. Fortunately, Frontier Park (15501…
Taboo, the National Geographic Channel’s weekly exploration of cultural topics, once explained the culinary phenomenon of balut, describing the duck-fetus delicacy popular in the Philippines as “Philippine Viagra.” But we don’t have to consume a fertilized embryo with feathers and a beak to experience the true flavors of this country. Fiesta Filipina, the annual showcase of culture, food, music, dance…
We’re pretty sure that Margaret Landon, author of the 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam, didn’t picture the handsome, mild-mannered Lou Diamond Phillips as the lead in the Broadway adaptation, about a governess to the children of Siamese King Mongkut in the 1860s. Fortunately, the smooth multi-racial actor is able to pull off the role of the boorish…
Theater! Or, if you’re fancier, theatre! The reason we love plays? They’re enacted right there in front of you. It’s like voyeurism, only with better acoustics. And if the writer is Andrew Lloyd Webber or Tennessee Williams, the actors dress up like cats or the characters are all drunk by the third act. Playwright Neil Simon, on the other hand,…
If Ozzy’s crazy train made actual stops, it would drop by Hell Bar (504 Westport Road) for a little controlled debauchery. This pseudo devil’s playroom, located in the former Karma spot, has hot, friendly and tatted-up staffers, and an accessible rock theme good for blue-collar stiffs, bikers, metalheads and average rock enthusiasts. Perfect for hookups, the bar’s five dimly lit…
Two bands, Soft Reeds and the Latenight Callers, will perform a free concert at dusk on the front lawn of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College. The concert is part of the free summer Light Up the Lawn series offered one Friday night each month through August. Bring lawn chairs and blankets for seating. This…
Today is National Strawberry Shortcake Day. No, the holiday has nothing to do with the freakish cartoon character that became a children’s fad in the 1980s. The actual dessert — fresh strawberries and whipped cream on a sugary biscuitlike pastry — is a popular summer confection. Local venues currently serving the real thing include Bonefish Grill (6334 North Lucerne Avenue,…
Experience the beauty of the cosmos with an incredible journey into space against the backdrop of Jules Olitski’s atmospheric and explosive abstract paintings. Dark Matter fuses original electroacoustic music by composers Daniel Eichenbaum and Richard Johnson and performers Rebecca Ashe, flute, and Cheryl Melfi, clarinet, with a voyage into space guided by astronomer Bob Riddle. Dark Matter merges art, science,…
From Gregory Boulevard to 91st Street, from State Line to Holmes, Waldo is one of Kansas City’s largest and most eclectic neighborhoods. Retail in the area dates back at least 100 years, when a streetcar stop at 74th Terrace and Wornall sold groceries and became known as the “Grand Central Station of Waldo.” Now it’s a bus stop surrounded by…
From Gregory Boulevard to 91st Street, from State Line to Holmes, Waldo is one of Kansas City’s largest and most eclectic neighborhoods. Retail in the area dates back at least 100 years, when a streetcar stop at 74th Terrace and Wornall sold groceries and became known as the “Grand Central Station of Waldo.” Now it’s a bus stop surrounded by…
The West 18th Street Fashion Show has come a long way since its humble beginnings as Isabel’s Fashion Spectacle in the summer of 2001. The show this year features 18 designers, both local and national; 100 models; and a small army of stylists, crew members, musicians and volunteers. The theme? “A Summer in Spain.” “We really wanted this year to…
It’s hard to get tired of beautifully shot barbecue. The video is up for the Fire Smoke & BBQ Tour featuring Top Chef cheftestants (and brothers) Michael and Bryan Voltaggio. The brothers Voltaggio were in Kansas City back in February as part of a four-city barbecue tour sponsored by Williams & Sonoma, and they crammed in Danny Edwards and Oklahoma…
The Kansas City Area Transportation Authority is advertising the cost-effectiveness of commuting by bus at a time when gasoline is selling for north of $3.50 a gallon. The trouble is, fewer than 20 percent of the jobs in the Kansas City metropolitan area are reachable in 90 minutes via public transit. Job access (or lack thereof) is one of the…
Enough already with New York Rep. Anthony Weiner’s swollen sausage! The Internet is practically engorged with Weiner news since the notorious Andrew Breitbart accidently released the now-infamous Twitter photo of the disturbed Dem’s ding dong (pretty fuzzy, but still maybe NSFW). Yes, we can all agree that Weiner — pronounced the same way as an Oscar Mayer frankfurter but spelled…
I doubt that the rats at the Family Dollar at 54th and Prospect were as cute as the one on the right. Rats munched their way through the store’s bags of candy and potato chips on the sales floor, the Star’s Joyce Smith reported. But that’s not all they did. During a May 26 inspection, Kansas City Health Department inspectors…
UPDATE (June 8): The dead in Sunday’s possible murder-suicide have been identified as 60-year-old Linda Neal and 33-year-old Justin Neal. Their bodies were discovered early Sunday morning. Justin Neal was found next to a shotgun in the front yard of their home at 25th and Harrison. His mother was found inside the home. Police say they’re waiting on autopsy results…
Given that Ratatat was playing a block away at the Beaumont Club, the Riot Room drew a respectable Tuesday crowd for Asobi Seksu, Capybara and Hospital Ships last night. Categories: Music Tags: asobi seksu, Capybara, hospital ships
A Missouri appeals court has opened the door for Markus Lee to be tried for murder again in the Mach 2007 drive-by killing of Eliseo Thomas. Former Pitch writer Nadia Pflaum profiled Lee in November 2010. Lee, 27, had beaten three murder charges in eight years. Really, it’s the definitive story on Lee (read it by clicking here). In Lee’s…
