2020’s top stories from The Pitch as decided by you, our very attractive readers
The editor’s office features many records and a Pitch dispenser that looks hella cool. // Photo by Kelcie McKenney
Thus ends 2020.
Good. Glad you’re dead, you stupid year. You were not beloved, and we spit on your grave.
Despite a lockdown, a revolution in the streets, and political turmoil unlike America has ever seen, we here at The Pitch plowed through, kept our heads up (mostly), and tried to cover as much of our great city as a rag-tag group of rebels possibly could.
To wrap up, we thought we’d collect some of the top stories of the year—as decided by the traffic/clicks /social media shares you pushed out into the universe. Here are the stories that KC connected to en masse. [And yeah, a couple of stories that we’re just too proud of to leave off the end-of-year wrap-up.]
So many excellent ‘Citians got lifted up in these stories this year. So many shitheels got a spotlight shone on them. So many new voices made their debut in our pages. I don’t think any of us could have foreseen just how goddamned ridiculous this whole thing would become. But here’s the abridged archive of what mattered most to you.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for sharing. Thanks for letting us be the lunatics in your corner.
Thank you for your support during an awful time.
Thank you for being part of the family.
See you in 2021, when absolutely nothing bad will happen and we’ll all be happy forever! [JK, but we’ll still be here for you then.]
Pitch in, and we’ll make it through.
Editor-in-Chief Brock Wilbur
Food & Drink:
Pickled cabbage and guacamole top a house-made patty that swaps beets for beef. // Photo by Zach Bauman.
Blinding Ambition At Páros Estiatorio: The Cate Blanchett of metro Greek restaurants
The meaty politics of Pirate’s Bone Burgers’ meatless menu
A dining guide to the historic West Bottoms, a neighborhood poised to keep scaling up
Ready to escape this world? Try Humboldt, Kansas. Really.
In the near future, what will restaurant adventures look like? Choose your own.
Five notable KC restaurants offering pay-what-you-can meals; plus unique new curbside offerings
Protests:
Black Lives Matter protesters maced back in June. // Photo by Joe Carey
Seminar on training police to kill without hesitation coming to Kansas City this December
Photos from KC Tenants protest along I-70, demanding renter and homeowner protection
The time has come to cancel ‘copaganda’ television, and it is long overdue
Longform Journalism:
Mainstreet Drafthouse was the site of some terrible shit. // Photo by Travis Young
Wrestle Yr Friends is a queer Thunderdome
KC artists are being digitally erased
With KC’s sprawling CBD empire, the science is still out, but the profits are rolling in
Wax Poetic: The Secret Life of KC Vinyl
Who you gonna call? Marie Jackson’s story will haunt you
Push Start: How Kansas City creators are making indie games the world won’t fly over
My Own Cold Blood: How the Clutter murders still haunt Kansas
How inventing a pocket fought a different pandemic: AIDS
All strapped in for the great Kansas City climbing renaissance
For a surprising number of Kansas Citians, it’s all about the plants. And business is blooming.
Trying Boudoir photography on a mission to love myself
How Monster Jam fires on every cylinder and every dopamine receptor
The psychedelic pandamonium of Baby Shark Live!’
Sav Rodgers is chasing sexuality itself in a Hollywood fantasy
Allegations of misconduct swirl around Betty Rae’s Ice Cream ownership
Letter from the Editor: A series of unfortunate events
Getting lost in Graffiti Attic: KC’s newest art gallery
Politics:
Republican Tik Tok thinks “Red Kingdom” by Tech N9ne is their new hype song; we’re laughing
Why doesn’t KC control its own PD? Crime in 1939.
We made ‘Last Week Tonight’ for the second week in a row for being embarrassing; cool
Charles Foust deserts the Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools at the worst possible time
Our Loews Hotel project faces disaster after the world abandons conventions
So. WTF happened with the booing last night at Arrowhead?
The Reale Womxn’s Rally aims to host a more inclusive women’s march
KCPD’s cringeworthy “Handling Haters on Social Media” guide uncovered online
Kansas City sucks at voting. We need to get better.
Shawnee Mission North faces repeated calls to replace its Native American caricature mascot
Pandemic:
Closed park amid lockdown. // Photo by Alyssa Orr
Photos that prove KC is doing a great job staying home
Beloved local bartender Christopher “C-Wash” Washington passes away unexpectedly
Yes, you should do a 14-day quarantine after protesting
Of states without a stay-at-home order, Missouri ranks first in number of coronavirus cases
Allegations of misconduct swirl around Betty Rae’s Ice Cream ownership
Accepting your pandemic body changes is the healthiest choice possible
KC police permanently blind local dogwalker amid peaceful protest
Gov. Parson announces Missouri will allow all businesses to open with no social gathering limits
What is canceled in Kansas City and what is closed thanks to coronavirus
