Photo courtesy of Crossroads Hotel A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Aaron Cross Wells-Morgan worked in fine dining establishments all over the country and learned from Michelin-star chefs. In Kansas City, he’s been the executive chef at Cafe Provence, Grand Street Dining, Verbena, and The Market at Meadowbrook. He also opened two McLain’s Bakery locations. Now, he’s the…
Roasted Duck Panang Curry // Photo by Mar’Che Boggess Pad Thai Restaurant is tucked away in a strip mall right off Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park. It’s a quaint and cozy space with just eight tables indoors, aside from their outdoor patio space. The bamboo light fixtures and chairs make it all the more inviting. The menu offers a wide…
Courtesy of Kansas City Jazz Orchestra Charlie Brown holiday television specials have been a favorite among generations, ushering them into the holiday season year after year. On Dec. 5, the Kansas City Jazz Orchestra (KCJO) invited fans to join them for an evening filled with nostalgia and soulful twists on Vince Guaraldi’s timeless compositions in A Charlie Brown Christmas as…
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey speaks Jan. 20 to the Missouri chapter of the Federalist Society on the Missouri House of Representatives chamber (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent) Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey does not have the legal authority to demand access to patient records at the Washington University Transgender Center, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in St. Louis Circuit Court….
Sweet breads from Panaderia de las Americas. // Photo by Lauren Textor Panaderia de las Americas Panaderia de las Americas is tucked into a row of storefronts in the Westside, where it lures in customers through the mouthwatering smells of freshly baked bread. It’s not fancy, but it serves filling and inexpensive treats to-go. It’s a simple self-serve setup. Metal…
Smoked Popcorn at Verdigris // Photo by Jollene Hastings There are two kinds of people in this world: those who only eat popcorn during movies, and those who snack on popcorn religiously. I am the latter. As a proud popcorn connoisseur, it always excites me when I come across a unique take on popcorn. Enter, Verdigris’ Smoked Popcorn. While Verdigris…
Demonstrators rally before the U.S. Supreme Court, which overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that found Americans have the right to an abortion. Missouri doctors worry the state’s new abortion ban could put women with high-risk pregnancies in danger. (Robin Bravender/States Newsroom). Pulling off a successful ballot initiative campaign in Missouri is an undertaking so difficult that one Democratic…
The Heartland Men’s Chorus // Photo provided by Heartland Men’s Chorus The Heartland Men’s Chorus brings its first ever Christmas pageant to the stage this weekend. The HMC is not new to Christmas shows, but A Very Merry Christmas Pageant is like no other. The 140 member chorus will compete against each other in solo and group ensembles—encompassing modern holiday songs to…
Mario and Monte, the couple featured from Nebraska // courtesy of Cindy Naber We Live Here: The Midwest is a crucial addition to the discourse surrounding LGBTQ+ communities that documents the stories of queer families in several small towns around the Midwest—busting a stereotype that LGBTQ+ folk only exist in big cities and exploring oft-forgotten narratives. “We’re showing a story…
Former members of Congress are deeply concerned about political violence ahead of the 2024 presidential election, former Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama and former Rep. Barbara Comstock of Virginia said at a Thursday joint appearance sponsored by the liberal Center for American Progress and the nonpartisan McCain Institute. Jones, a moderate Democrat who lost reelection in 2020, and Comstock,…
Noble Stout at Rochester Brewing and Roasting Company. // Photo by Sarah Sipple Rochester’s Original Coffee Stout was nominated by readers as a finalist for “Best Stout” in our Best of KC 2023 contest. A newer release, the Noble Stout, is a coffee stout with an 8.3% ABV. In the brewing process, Rochester uses their “Original” coffee blend, chipotle peppers,…
Courtesy image Drag queen Daisy Buckët (aka Spencer Brown) has played a big part in the LGBTQ+ scene in Kansas City for over 15 years, winning “Best Drag Queen” in 2019, 2021, and 2022 in The Pitch—not to mention receiving coverage in national publications such as The New Yorker, Forbes Magazine, and CNN. She’s toured around the country, both solo…
The Marshall Tucker Band at Ameristar Casino, Dec. 1. // Courtesy Ameristar Casino-Kansas City, Alex Agueros On Dec. 1, The Marshall Tucker Band brought their 2023 Infinite Road Tour to Kansas City, celebrating 50 years of their traditional southern rock. Current band members, guitarists Chris Hicks and Rick Willis, percussionist B.B. Borden, bassist Ryan Ware, flutist, saxophonist, and keyboard player Marcus…
The Japanese House. // photo by Isabella Galvan The Japanese House with Quinnie Liberty Hall Thursday, November 30 If you’ve ever been to a sold-out show at Liberty Hall, you understand the thickness of the air. Thursday night was no different as The Japanese House made their way through Lawrence amid a cold autumn rain in support of their recent…
Sean Shannon, lead organizer with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 655 (left), and former budtender-turned-organizer Danny Foster visited several marijuana dispensaries in eastern Missouri in November to talk to employees about unionizing (Rebecca Rivas/Missouri Independent) The first day was a breeze. Sean Shannon and Danny Foster walked into several marijuana dispensaries around Missouri with their matching…
Fields & Ivy. // photo by Nick Spacek Sitting with Cory Johnston, owner of Lawrence brewery Fields & Ivy, and general manager Derrick Broeckelman earlier this year, we spoke about the brewery and restaurant’s connection to the land in and around Lawrence over drinks one afternoon. What was unspoken during our hour-long chat was the fact that not 50 yards…
Baked Mac & Cheese at Cliff’s Taphouse. // Photo by Sarah Sipple Winter can bring out a range of feelings, and comfort food is something we turn to in both celebration and loneliness. Cliff’s Taphouse in Martini Corner is there for you whether you need a welcoming space to dine alone or a reliable spot to bring a group. From…
Courtesy Sara Siegele Sara Siegele, owner and operator of Fountain City Sweets has recently participated in the 7th season of Food Network’s Christmas Cookie Challenge. Siegele is Kansas City through and through, and we here at The Pitch are stoked to have her representing. After the birth of her first child in 2017, Siegele began to feel slightly lost in motherhood and…
Kiri-ai: The Duel layout. // Courtesy photo As someone who hasn’t played board games since Chutes and Ladders in grade school, it took me a while to catch on to something big. The tabletop gaming industry is hot—and getting hotter. While the rest of us weren’t looking, Dungeons & Dragons and Risk made room for a new wave of inclusive…
Topeka collector Tom Allen — shown with a small portion of his collection — has some 10,000 license tags, 85 percent of which are from Kansas. (Submitted by Tom Allen) When the governor rolled out the new Kansas license plate redesign just before Thanksgiving, she said the design “promotes the state and our sense of optimism as Kansans travel near…
Gingerbread Lane at the Steamboat Arabia Museum. // Photo by Emily Jacobs Even after decades of living around the country, Jon Lovitch still thinks of Kansas City as home. As such, he’s brought his Gingerbread Lane display back for a second year. “I grew up in Kansas City,” says Lovitch. “I haven’t lived there in close to 30 years, but…
Seen Merch sign visible from I-35. // Courtesy photo Six months ago, with absolutely no fanfare or even an announcement, Kansas City’s Seen Merch purchased long-running Lawrence businesses Blue Collar Press and the online counterpart known as Merchtable. For such an epic merger of two companies responsible for merchandise for acts like boygenius, Iron Maiden, Turnpike Troubadours, Willie Nelson, John…
An individual holds a lead pipe, a steel pipe and a lead pipe treated with protective orthophosphate. The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a rule requiring water utilities to remove lead pipes decades after new ones were banned (Photo courtesy of EPA). Utilities in Kansas and Missouri would have to pull hundreds of thousands of lead pipes out of the…
Boxknife. // Photo by Justina Kellner Queer dark-pop group BOXKNIFE have done it again with their newest single, “VENUS IN ARIES,” out December 1 The KC-based outfit’s latest effort showcases just how nailed down they have their sound as a group. Consisting of members Stephanie Bankston, KJ Jarboe, Britt Wild, Mia Morrow, and Brook Worlledge, the group continues to hone…
