Archives: November 2022

Psychiatrist Nora Nneka on the cultural audacity to own her identity as an artist

A creative interpretation of Nora’s work as a Black female psychiatrist. // Photo by Tayler Gilbert Dr. Nora Ekeanya—artistically known as Nora Nneka—is a community psychiatrist, storyteller, and poet currently based out of Kansas City. Raised by Nigerian Immigrant parents in Florida, Nora has used creative writing as an outlet throughout her life. However, her work was met with hostility…

KC Sips: Your weekend dining guide

KC Sips. // Illustration by Cassondra Jones Looking for delicious plans? I spend the week scouring social media, press releases, and reservation sites so you don’t have to. Whether you want to impress a date, show your fam the best of KC, or just get out of the house, we’ve got you covered… all while supporting local.  Here is your…

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio will tug your heartstrings (and freak you out a little)

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. // Courtesy Netflix Stop-motion animation has always lived in a fascinating uncanny valley between child-friendly art form and child-unfriendly creepy remove. There’s beauty to it, but also a strange dissonance between registering what you’re seeing as animation (not real) and knowing at the same time that everything is actually hand-made and manipulated (real). It takes very…

Opposition growing to Missouri Secretary of State rules on library materials for children

Ashcroft’s proposed rules would deny state support to libraries that don’t adopt policies allowing patrons to challenge book selections for minors.

Dakota Hommes, an executive board member of the Daniel Boone Regional Library Workers United union, speaks at a Columbia news conference opposing new rules from Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft on minors’ access to library offerings. // Photo by Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent When she was 13, Dakota Hommes felt scared and alone. She was having a crisis, didn’t feel she…

Miller Bogart’s West Bottoms gallery illuminates contemporary Latin American art

Spectators interact with Espacio Mutuo #16 in Bogart Gallery. // Courtesy Miller Bogart. Miller Bogart of Gallery Bogart in the West Bottoms hesitates to associate his space with the ephemerality of a passion project, although he admits that passion underlies its conception. On Saturday, Nov. 6, the contemporary art gallery featured its inaugural exhibition, Abel Massot’s Dialogo Figurativo. Dialogo Figurativo…

Leawood’s Dustin McKamie bridges artistic talents with self-produced “Last Night” music video

Courtesy of Dustin McKamie Visual effects artist and indie-rock musician Dustin McKamie recently released his new single “Last Night”. McKamie’s career took him to LA and includes work for shows like Game of Thrones, Westworld, and The Walking Dead. In addition to visual work, his music was recognized in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and as a finalist for the…

Best of KC 2022: A space to recognize Black filmmaking

Boone Theater. // Courtesy Black Movie Hall of Fame This month, we published The Pitch’s annual Best of Kansas City issue. You can browse the results of the readers’ poll here. The issue also included a list, compiled and written by our editorial staff, of some of our current favorite things about Kansas City in 2022. We’ll be publishing these…

Dish & Drink KC: Outpost Social Club and Parisi Coffee

Biscuits and gravy at Outpost Social Club. // Photo by Tyler Shane Outpost Social Club Tucked away along Southwest Boulevard is your new favorite breakfast and lunch spot, Outpost Social Club. The unassuming breakfast joint is quaint and easygoing with a full cocktail bar, tons of greenery, and a menu full of your usual breakfast and lunch suspects. All of…

Missouri man awarded $441,000 after rocking chair collapses in state office

Adobe Stock. A defective rocking chair will cost Missouri taxpayers $441,000, the Southern District Court of Appeals ruled Monday. In a case stemming from a 2015 accident at the Missouri Children’s Division office in Sikeston, the court ruled that Kenneth Gilmore, a grandfather injured when a rocking chair collapsed during a supervised visitation, must be compensated for his medical and…

Best of KC 2022: Other dimensions

Cory Imig Installation. // Photo by EG Schempf This month, we published The Pitch’s annual Best of Kansas City issue. You can browse the results of the readers’ poll here. The issue also included a list, compiled and written by our editorial staff, of some of our current favorite things about Kansas City in 2022. We’ll be publishing these items…

Missouri judge rules AG’s office under Josh Hawley ‘knowingly’ violated transparency laws

The office used private email accounts to “knowingly and purposefully” subvert the state’s open records law. 

Josh Hawley fleeing on Jan. 6. // Jan. 6 Hearings A Missouri judge on Monday ruled staff in the attorney general’s office, while it was being run by now-U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, used private email accounts to “knowingly and purposefully” subvert the state’s open records law. Cole County Judge Jon Beetem determined the attorney general’s office violated the Sunshine Law…

Scout Gillett on her musical journey from KC to NYC

Scout Gillett. // photo by Julie Orlick At the end of October, musician Scout Gillett released her debut album no roof no floor on Captured Tracks. Currently living in Brooklyn but originally from Kansas City, Gillett’s music is alternately moody and dreamy, much like that of her mentor, Sharon Van Etten. Born out of tragedy but defiantly fighting free of…

Carrie Underwood impresses at the T-Mobile Center

Carrie Underwood. // photo by Chris Ortiz On a brisk November Sunday evening, thousands of people waited in line to get inside the T-Mobile center for a long-awaited show that everyone knew would impress. Carrie Underwood, the 39-year-old American Idol winner turned country megastar from Muskogee, Oklahoma, was in town on her “Denim & Rhinestones” tour, featuring special guest Jimmie…

Oh La… La Traviata: Lyric Opera of Kansas City offers thick drama and flamboyence

La Traviata. // Photo by Don Ipok for LOKC Rampant tuberculosis, oppressive French bourgeoisie opulence, and a stage full of diaphragms that rival a team of Olympic swimmers—a tale as old as time.  The Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s latest production, La Traviata, is a classic opera thick with drama, heartbreak, and flamboyance (think Real Housewives of French Bourgeoisie meets…

Country Club Plaza Centennial Grant award winners to be selected by KC locals

Public voting for grant award winners open today through Nov. 18 // Photo Courtesy of Country Club Plaza Country Club Plaza announces its eight finalists for the $100,000 Centennial Grant Program, opening its public vote for Kansas City citizens to decide the four winning organizations.  With over 90 applicants submitting for recognition, you now get to decide what four local…

Best of KC 2022: Story (still) developing at FilmX

Travis Young of FilmX. // Photo by Chase Castor This month, we published The Pitch’s annual Best of Kansas City issue. You can browse the results of the readers’ poll here. The issue also included a list, compiled and written by our editorial staff, of some of our current favorite things about Kansas City in 2022. We’ll be publishing these…

Best of KC 2022: Off-the-grid offerings from Saltwell Farm Kitchen

Saltwell Farm Kitchen. // Photo by Steph Castor. Processed by FilmX This month, we published The Pitch’s annual Best of Kansas City issue. You can browse the results of the readers’ poll here. The issue also included a list, compiled and written by our editorial staff, of some of our current favorite things about Kansas City in 2022. We’ll be…

Four Inane Questions with The Year of the Dog actress Alyssa Groenig

Classically trained theatre actress Alyssa Groenig spent much of her adult life honing her skills in Los Angeles. The former self-proclaimed “West coast kid” brought her networking talents and comedic timing to Kansas City six years ago and has been making waves ever since. The thrift store aficionado and dog-mom (to the aptly named Anniston Rachel Karen Green) has been…

Best of KC 2022: Elizabeth Belden at KC Bier Co.

Elizabeth Belden stands by her product. // Photo by Chase Castor This month, we published The Pitch’s annual Best of Kansas City issue. You can browse the results of the readers’ poll here. The issue also included a list, compiled and written by our editorial staff, of some of our current favorite things about Kansas City in 2022. We’ll be…

THUNDERGONG! 2022 goes live and in-person Saturday to benefit Steps of Faith foundation

Billy Brimblecom, Jr. and Jason Sudeikis at THUNGERGONG! presser. // Photo by Jason Domingues In a press conference this morning at Uptown Theater, THUNDERGONG! co-founders Jason Sudeikis and Billy Brimblecom answered questions ahead of Saturday night’s 6th annual event. The revue show mixing music and comedy serves as a fundraiser for Brimblecom’s charity Steps of Faith Foundation, whose goal is…

KC Cares: The Sewing Labs’ stitch in time saves more than nine

The Sewing Labs. // Photo by Beth Lipoff At The Sewing Labs, their finished product is about a lot more than cloth and thread. They’re helping people sew new paths in life through vocational training programs. A 2019 grant from Kauffman Foundation really helped propel their 30-week sewing salon training program, allowing them to buy new industrial sewing equipment, hire…