Archives: June 2011
Journalists who saw the fool in John Danforth go on to great things
The New York Times last week announced that a new executive editor had been chosen. Jill Abramson, the paper’s managing editor since 2003, will take over for Bill Keller in September. Abramson has a connection to Missouri politics. In 1994, while covering Washington for The Wall Street Journal, she co-wrote the definitive account of the political battle over Clarence Thomas’…
Why isn’t this old Chili’s a hot property?
There were all kinds of rumors buzzing around the restaurant community last week that a franchisee for Minneapolis-based Buffalo Wild Wings had signed a lease for the former Chili’s Grill & Bar location in Westport at 554 Westport Road. The venue has been sitting empty for nearly a year. Not true, says Don Gesson, leasing agent for Block & Company….
Chef John McClure to open Barrio, a taqueria
John McClure, the celebrated chef-owner of Starker’s Restaurant on the Country Club Plaza, will be expanding into Westport later this year, but his new venue won’t be anything like his upscale bistro on the Plaza. McClure’s new project will be a 75-seat taqueria called Barrio, located in a 1,900-square-foot storefront at 4141 Pennsylvania — the combination condo and retail space…
Phoenix, the black lab set on fire, is looking happy and healthy
There was a good amount of righteous outrage in the metro this May when the story broke about Phoenix, a 1-year-old black lab who’d been set on fire then denied medical attention. Phoenix’s owner, Maria Alarcon-Suarez, waited a full day before getting the dog to a vet, and when she did finally take him, she claimed that he was a…
96.5 the Buzz is starting beef with Kanrocksas
Oh, snap! The Buzz Beach Ball 2011 announcement is up on the 96.5 the Buzz website, and it opens with a thinly veiled shot at Kanrocksas. Categories: Music Tags: kanrocksas, the buzz
Landis Pendleton accused of assaulting police officers during chase and standoff
The following line in the probable cause statement for Landis Pendleton might explain why the 33-year-old led police on a chase and then pointed a rifle at them during a standoff: Witness #7 stated Pendleton served in the Army during the Iraq War as a bomb dismantler and since being discharged he has been diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and…
Bishop Robert Finn writes letter to Catholics, says he takes ‘full responsibility’ for failures in child-porn case
Amid calls for his resignation, Bishop Robert Finn issued a letter to his flock Sunday, saying he takes “full responsibility” for failing to act sooner in the Rev. Shawn Ratigan child-porn case. Finn is under fire for not taking action after more than a year of allegations that Ratigan was carrying on inappropriate relationships with children at St. Patrick School….
KKFI’s Beatles tribute show, at All Souls Church Friday (photos)
Barry Lee’s Beatles tribute went down Friday night. (Read more about it here.) With sitars! Categories: Music
Snuff Jazz and This Is My Condition, at the Brick Saturday (photos)
Mark Southerland’s ongoing experimental jazz project Snuff Jazz convened Saturday at the Brick, along with one-man drum act This Is My Condition and Arrington de Dionyso. Categories: Music Tags: Arrington de Dionyso, snuff jazz, this is my condition
Food & Wine names Glace to list of country’s top ice-cream spots
The parking lot at Glace might start featuring a few more out-of-state license plates. The artisan ice-cream shop of chocolatier Christopher Elbow was recently named to Food & Wine’s list of the “best ice cream spots in the U.S.” So Kansas City gains another food destination, alongside Oklahoma Joe’s, in the national food consciousness, which we hope signals a shift…
Funeral procession held for Jeff Taylor, Riverside police officer killed by lightning during Joplin rescue effort
A funeral procession was held this weekend for Jeff Taylor, the Riverside police officer who was hit during a lightning strike while helping with the Joplin tornado rescue effort. Taylor’s fellow officers escorted his body to an Overland Park funeral home. The Pitch’s Matt Spencer snapped these photos of the procession. Categories: News Tags: Jefferson Jeff Taylor, Joplin tornado
Death toll from Joplin tornado now at 141; new storm-chaser video shows tornado and aftermath (video)
Storm chasers Jeff and Kathryn Piotrowski have new video of not only the mile-wide EF5 tornado that ripped through Joplin but also the aftermath (TornadoAlleyVideo via Heycameraman). It’s not for the fainthearted. The death toll in Joplin now stands at 141. Meanwhile, rebuilding Joplin could take up to two years, a University of Missouri-Kansas City professor told KSHB’s Sloane Heller….
How far are you willing to go for picky friends?
In Boston, I got used to the idea that they didn’t really know about barbecue. And in New York City, I discovered that pretension comes at any price point. But Kansas City is the first place where I’ve dined out with genuinely picky people. Sushi is usually the first to go. Indian and spicy foods are not far behind. But…
Pizza Hut purchases benefit Joplin relief effort today
If you have a craving for pizza today, you should probably order Pizza Hut. The mega pizza chain is donating 15 percent of all sales today to the United Way Tornado Disaster Fund to help the relief effort in Joplin. The fundraising effort includes pizza shops in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas, and applies for carry-out, delivery and dine in….
American Catastrophe, Saturday night at RecordBar (photos)
American Catastrophe returned to the stage Saturday night at RecordBar, treating the audience to an evening of its dark, dramatic folk jams. Click through for photos from the show. Categories: Music Tags: American Catastrophe
Titus Andronicus en route to the Riot Room
The Riot Room has really stepped up its game in 2011, booking-wise. Toro Y Moi, War on Drugs, tomorrow night’s Asobi Seksu show. And coming Friday, July 1, Titus Andronicus, one of my favorite bands going right now. Also: two very fine local bands on the bill. Categories: Music Tags: Titus Andronicus
Catholics call for Bishop Finn’s resignation; others support him (photos)
Earlier this morning, a group of Catholics called for Bishop Robert Finn to step down over his inaction in the Shawn Ratigan child porn case, protesting at 11th and Broadway. Another group prayed in support of Finn. I snapped a few photos. See ’em after the jump. Categories: News Tags: bishop robert finn, Shawn Ratigan
Find The Pitch
