Archives: October 2012

Sarah Vowell on Kansas state history, election-year politics and her latest, Unfamiliar Fishes; reading Wednesday in Lawrence

A hero to literature-history-public-radio nerds, Sarah Vowell is the author of six New York Times best-selling books about American history and culture; a contributor to This American Life, the New York Times, and Salon; a McSweeney’s editor; Pixar voice actor (Violet in The Incredibles); and a really freaking funny person. Her most recent work, Unfamiliar Fishes, follows the bawdy sailors…

Do you pay the bill no matter what happens at a restaurant?

Flickr: Steve Snodgrass The check is coming, even if your food is not. Restaurant cooking is a lot different from home cooking. You can’t tell the people at the table that the steaks aren’t quite done yet or that an experimental side didn’t quite work out. You’ve got to deliver and deliver consistently on what the menu promises, or your…

Some days you just can’t beat a good cheap steak

Shawnee’s Garrett’s Bar & Grill offers a $10.99 steak dinner on Sunday and Wednesday nights. I know, I know. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it almost always is. That’s why when a restaurant or a saloon offers a steak-night special, you can’t walk in expecting to get the same quality of beef as the Capital Grille…

Frida’s Taqueria is now open in Leawood

Frida’s Taqueria has been open for two weeks. Frida’s Taqueria, the fast-casual concept from Ivan and Mary Marquez, has opened its doors at 6537 W. 119th St. in Leawood. Street tacos have officially arrived at 119th and Lamar. Frida’s Contemporary Mexican Cuisine, the first restaurant opened by the Marquez family and its partners, moved in June to 7200 West 121st…

KC fans’ bitterness turns to boorishness

Flickr: Rhonlynn Chiefs fans’ hearts are as empty as the seats these days. It turns out, you can push a fanbase only so far. Who knows if it was The Wall Street Journal calling Kansas City a loser last week for the ineptitude of its sports teams, the Royals’ decision to raise ticket prices following the miserable 2012 season, or…

Shiggin & Grinnin named Grand Champion at American Royal Barbecue Open

American Royal Shiggin & Grinnin took home the big check Sunday. Today marks the first day since Thursday that I haven’t eaten barbecue. But it’s early, so I’ll report back in a few hours. The 33rd Annual American Royal World Series of Barbecue Open contest concluded Sunday with Minnesota’s Shiggin & Grinnin (Derek Schansberg, Jeff Vanderlinde and Ted Moonen) besting…

Farm to Market inaugurates its new Crossroads HQ (slideshow)

Ashford Stamper The mayor makes a cut. Mayor Sly James’ diet took a hit this afternoon. As you can see, he was on hand for Farm to Market’s “bread cutting” ceremony, capping the bakery’s move to the Crossroads. The company’s new HQ — at 100 East 20th Street — is now operational, following a $500,000 renovation over the summer. A…

Farm to Market’s bread-breaking ceremony

“Not loafing around” was just about the only bread pun Mayor Sly James didn’t utter at Farm to Market’s bread-breaking ceremony Friday, October 5. The event marked the bakery’s move from Waldo to the Crossroads, following a $500,000 renovation of the new space, at 100 East 20th Street.

KC is America’s 15th Best City, says Businessweek

Flickr: Hey Paul KC is the 15th best city in the country. Crank up the T-shirt machines or find three foam hands because another ranking of Kansas City is hot off the Interwebs. Businessweek released its second annual ’50 Best Cities to Live’ and Kansas City was ranked 15th. According to Businessweek, the only thing holding KC back from a…

Uncommon Stock is a revival of the Happy Soup Eater

Facebook: Uncommon Stock Uncommon Stock is all souped up. Soup makers might just be more accurate than weather forecasters when it comes to predicting the weather. Todd Schulte, co-owner of Happy Gillis and the Genessee Royale Bistro, opened a new soup operation, Uncommon Stock, with Bill Haw Jr. (who talked with The Pitch this May about running the Hotel Frederick)…

The American Royal and other weekend possibilities

Plowboys BBQ chicken, if you needed more incentive. If you haven’t made it to the American Royal yet, that’s something you should remedy this week. The 33rd annual barbecue contest is today (from noon to midnight) and Saturday (from 10 a.m. to midnight). Walk by competition teams and cooking demonstrations until you can stand it no longer. Then gorge yourself…

The Pitch‘s Questionnaire with You Put What in My Mouth? filmmaker Randall Moore

Name: Randall Moore Occupation: Filmmaker Current neighborhood: Northwood Trails Who or what is your sidekick? My three kids What career would you choose in an alternate reality? Biochemist What was the last local restaurant you patronized? McCoy’s in Westport Where do you drink? KC Fountain What’s your favorite charity? Consumers for Dental Choice Favorite place to spend your paycheck: B…

Bitterman’s Eye Candy & Vintage Market open today

If you don’t want any candy, how about a set of 1940s glassware? An old-fashioned candy store probably hasn’t been in historic Dutch Hill since 92-year-old Walt Bodine was a schoolboy at Longfellow Elementary. But as of today, there’s a shop devoted to vintage sweets (Chick-O-Stix, candy necklaces, Cherry Mash) and crinkly cellophane bags of bulk candy: malted milk balls,…

Making Movies, ‘Hangover Blues’ (video)

Free shit alert: Making Movies’ most recent EP, Aguardiente, is downloadable for free right now over at the Record Machine. Also, check out their new video for “Hangover Blues,” up above us there. Lots of KC action going on — cameos from the Union, Gusto, the Foundation, YJ’s and more. Basically it is a music-video version of what I, and…

Wall Street Journal writes greatest Kansas City headline ever

Display type perfection. The Royals finished off another losing season Wednesday night. Hooray for not finishing last! Right? The Wall Street Journal took the occasion to note that our city now has the longest active streak of years without local MLB and NFL teams recording a playoff win. Yes. The Chiefs and the Royals combined have not won a playoff…

Art of Pizza’s garlic knots should not be missed

Add some knots. Garlic knots are a good way to tell your body to get ready because this…is…happening. They’re carb precursors, more bread than cheese, and when done right, all garlic. The garlic knots at the Art of Pizza (1801 Baltimore) are fine examples of what you should order from the appetizer menu at a pizza shop instead of toasted…

Listen before the show: First Aid Kit

First Aid Kit First Aid Kit, a super-fun, female-fronted duo from Sweden, will play the Granada on Tuesday, October 9. The all-ages show begins at 7 p.m. Support from Dylan LeBlanc. If you aren’t acquainted with the talented women, watch the video for the band’s jaunty folk-pop ditty “Wolf.” Categories: Music Tags: Dylan LeBlanc, First Aid Kit

The beer and voting booth correlation that might surprise you

Flickr: Felixtriller It’s kind of a blue-green? The bottle may be green, but Heineken drinkers are apparently blue to the core. The National Journal has published a piece, entitled ‘What Your Beer Says About Your Politics.’ While Heineken lovers are devout Democrats, the National Journal’s look through Scarborough Research data suggests that Shiner Bock drinkers are Republican at heart. Miller…

Zombies to invade downtown Lawrence for charity tonight

Flickr: veggiefrog Zombie Adam Duritz may not be there, but you’ll still have plenty of people-watching opportunities. If you think you’re seeing more of the undead around Lawrence, you’re not wrong. The sixth annual Lawrence Zombie Walk (which has grown from 50 to 850 people since 2006) is set for tonight from 6:30 to 9 p.m. For those who need…