Lady Loves Chai. // Photo by Sarah Sipple Nothing says KC date night like sipping a cocktail at a jazz club. Visiting Black Dolphin Lounge in Crossroads may feel like being transported decades back. Once inside and adjusted to the dimly lit interior, a romantic retro scene emerges with glittering Sputnik chandeliers and round leather booths. On weekends the lounge…
Shelia Johnson hosting Gangsta Goodies Kitchen.// Courtesy of Shelia Johnson Shelia Johnson has a love for cooking that has been nurtured from a young age. In 2015, she decided to use her skills in the kitchen to uplift change-makers in the KC community. The show Gangsta Goodies Kitchen, of which Johnson is the host and executive producer, invites KC leaders…
Lamar Johnson, center and his attorneys react on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023, after St. Louis Circuit Judge David Mason vacated his murder conviction during a hearing at Mel Carnahan Courthouse in St. Louis. Johnson has been serving a life sentence after being convicted in 1995 of killing Marcus Boyd. // Photo by Christian Gooden, POOL After spending nearly 30 years…
Fire in the Hole. // Courtesy of Silver Dollar City Silver Dollar City has announced its plans to do away with its popular Fire in the Hole ride after this season. For 51 years, Fire in the Hole has attracted visitors to Silver Dollar City. Thousands of visitors travel to the park each year. The ride features animatronic characters who…
Torrance Evans’ parents, Charkira Harris-Evans and Torrance Evans Sr., stand outside of the Howard County Courthouse just moments after a hearing on Jan. 18, 2023 when a judge allowed their son’s killer to be released on bond and leave Missouri awaiting trial (Rebecca Rivas/The Missouri Independent) FAYETTE — Tears ran down Torrance Evans Sr.’s face, as he watched the freezing…
Courtesy Sweeping Promises From the outside, the home of the post-punk duo Sweeping Promises is an unassuming mid-century modern structure located on a side street off Lawrence’s Ousdahl Road. The pair of Lira Mondal (bass and vocals) and Caufield Schnug (guitars, drums, and recording) greet me as I walk in the front door and ask if I want to see…
Wiz Khalifa with support from French Montana & 88Glam live at the Budweiser Stage 2019. // Photo by Mac Downey Grammy-award-winning rapper Wiz Khalifa will headline the inaugural 4/20 Fest on April 20 at the soon-to-be-unveiled Smokey River Entertainment District, Besa Hospitality Group’s latest venture. This will be the first event held at the new venue and bringing in a…
Roe vs. Wade reproductive rights protest in June 2022. // Photo by Jim Nimmo Self-love—or lack thereof—is learned. Learning to let go of shame and embrace pleasure again after experiencing intimate partner violence—or any kind of traumatic relationship—is a process that looks different for everyone. For some, sex and other forms of intimacy can feel intimidating after having trust broken….
Kansas writers who published a full-length book between 2020 and 2022 are eligible to enter the Hefner Heitz Kansas Book Award in Fiction. The winner will take home a $1,000 prize. The annual award since 2016 rotates each year between nonfiction, poetry, and fiction, with this year being fiction writers’ turn for recognition. There is no entry fee for the…
Courtesy image February 3-4 marked the sixteenth year that KC’s Störling Dance Theater has presented Underground, a story about the Underground Railroad told through the language of dance. Performed at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, this year’s production was stunning as it told the story of three enslaved people escaping the South to freedom, and a Quaker community that…
The Veggie Benny at The Farmhouse. // Photo by Sarah Sipple It’s the morning after. Whether you’re ravenous and needing to refuel or still seeking satisfaction, we suggest the Veggie Benedict from The Farmhouse. Lovingly referred to as the “Veggie Benny” by the staff, this hot brunch dish consists of two poached eggs on a bed of massaged kale, butter-toasted…
The Big Ol’ Slut. // Photo courtesy of Maya Hockaday Sunday, Feb. 12 and Monday, Feb. 13 from noon to 4:00 p.m., or while supplies last, the Atlanta-based Slutty Vegan food bus—affectionately dubbed the Big Ol’ Slut—is bringing vegan burgers and fries to the Kansas City community. You can find the Big Ol’ Slut stationed outside The Epicurean on Troost,…
Thomas Hart Benton’s home. // Courtesy photo Unless you’re looking for the Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio State Historic Site, it’s easy to miss. At one-third of an acre, it’s the smallest state park in Missouri, and it’s nestled inconspicuously in Kansas City’s Roanoke neighborhood. Save for a few small signs on surrounding streets, there’s not much to draw…
Emily. // Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures Emily, Frances O’Connor’s debut as a director and screenwriter, is the product of 10 years of writing and rewriting. It’s a love letter to the Wuthering Heights author and poet, but it’s also a coming-of-age story, a journey through grief, a collection of steamy sex scenes and longing glances, and a historical drama with…
Patrick Mahomes pumps up the crowd at the 2020 Chiefs Super Bowl victory parade. // Photo by Zach Bauman Update Feb 13: Here is the official map for Wednesday’s parade: The two-mile-long parade starts at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15. The parade begins on Grand Boulevard at 6th street and heads south to Pershing Road. The parade turns west on…
Halley Vincent loads up her riding lawnmower and prepares for delivery. // Courtesy photo Halley Vincent is anything but your typical middle-schooler. Activist, student, and creator of a nonprofit organization, the 13-year-old has managed to spearhead the literacy of the Shawnee community and create profound systemic change extending into Kansas City as a whole. “A lot of people reference what…
The Pitch has partnered with a local political awareness organization called Loud Light. Their goal is to engage and empower individuals from underrepresented populations to build community power. And impact decision-makers. Each week of the year that the Kansas statehouse is in session, they release a short video recapping what the legislature is up to. Knowing the nitty-gritty of what’s happening with your…
A fiery dance number. // Photo by Amanda Hadlock Quixotic—Kansas City’s multi-sensory performance featuring aerial acrobatics, contortionists, modern dance, comedy, fire throwing, burlesque, live vocals and instrumentals including saxophone, violin, cello, and more—presents Sensatia L’Amour, a sensual Valentine’s Day performance featuring special guest harpist and vocalist Calvin Arsenia. Calvin Arsenia takes us to a higher place on his harp. //…
Stephonne. // Photo by John Brant for Faded Sons Stephonne Singleton, is looking towards the horizon in 2023 and planning exciting new projects that will expand his already-vast genre. Singleton cannot be contained to one genre of music. Their sound has grown and evolved with them over years of self-discovery, but it all started, simply, with a love of music….
Kristen Thomas. // Photo by Nicole Bissey Many people give a heavy eye roll to Valentine’s Day and its heart-shaped trappings. The disdain sometimes comes from people who are partnered up, but this Hallmark holiday catches the most ire from the singles I encounter. “I just had to go through Christmas and New Year’s alone, and now I have to…
The audience enjoys the ambience at Green Lady Lounge. // Courtesy Brian Turner The initial meet-up with an online match can be intimidating. The Pitch is here to help with first-date suggestions that are free or inexpensive, public, and low-stakes to take the pressure off. Fun and—most importantly—safety are focal points of these spaces. Laugh your asses off at Scarlett…
Courtesy Cinedigm For any tried and true film fanatic, the holy grail of events is attending a film festival. Finding that chance to see a world premiere film that either changes the landscape or leaves you frothing at the mouth to discuss with anyone. As great as that prospect is, it also comes with a downside: the waiting. While bigger…
Illustration by Cassondra Jones Every person has their own definition of “love.” For some, love is just a word. For others, love is the carrying out of action. Overall, there is a consensus that “love” can be titled one of the most complex emotions. There are thousands of songs in our everyday life that convey this idea of love according…
Death Cab for Cutie. // photo by Chris Ortiz Death Cab for Cutie with Momma The Midland Monday, February 6 One of the best things about Death Cab for Cutie shows in Kansas City is that they consistently perform phenomenally live. The band is familiar with the city and the audience already knows the drill. For their umpteenth return to…
