Photo by Gabriel Flynn The Mafia, whether you know it or not, is something that has always been uniquely tied to Kansas City. While the modern day mafia certainly remains, the extent of their criminal activity is slim to none in comparison with its heyday. Frank R. Hayde’s Mafia Dreams: A True Crime Saga of Young Men at the End of…
Shish Tawook Wrap from Shawarmar. // Photo by Lauren Textor Shawarmar You’d be forgiven for driving past Shawarmar. Its Kansas City location looks almost abandoned, especially with the mess of construction and detours on Linwood Boulevard. As I pulled into the drive-thru, I half expected that no one would be there to answer me on the other side of the speaker. …
Filmland Whiskey // Photo by Mike Dahlor If you’ve been into whiskey for any length of time, this has surely happened to you: A bottle shape caught your eye. A shiny, foil-embossed label shone out to you from the top shelf of your favorite store. You bought that bottle you knew nothing about, but it looked so damn cool. The…
Courtney Eastman VP Kevin Eastman Studios Inc. In the wild, tortoises can live up to 150 or even 250 years. This might explain the longevity of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the crime fighting reptiles who made their debut 40 years ago in a self-published comic by Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman. It led to toys, an animated TV series (with…
Former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley suspended her presidential campaign March 6, 2024. // Photo by Andy Brack, Charleston City Paper You could almost taste the solemn disappointment in the air at Blackboard headquarters as former Gov. Nikki Haley suspended her presidential campaign today. Haley’s withdrawal from the campaign trail leaves former President Donald Trump as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee….
Emo Nite LA at recordBar on March 1, 2024. // Photo by Emily Jacobs Since its inception, Emo Nite LA has brought genre rock fans of all ages together and inspired emo-themed events in cities around the country. Founded by Morgan Freed and T.J. Petracca in an LA dive bar, Emo Nite LA celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The…
While Missouri Republicans pulled two gun-related bills in the wake of the Chiefs Parade mass shooting, only two weeks later, new Stand Your Ground legislation is moving right back into Jefferson City. // Cartoon by Bob Unell Less than three weeks after the mass shooting at the Chiefs Super Bowl Victory parade, where one woman was killed and more than…
In 2022, Justus West found himself in a late-night studio session, laying down guitar parts for a track intended for Beyoncé. West—a Kansas City-raised songwriter, producer, and session guitarist that has collaborated with John Legend, Ariana Grande and Mac Miller—was unsure what would come of the session, especially after Beyoncé’s release of Renaissance later that year. While watching the Kansas…
Courtesy of Night Goat Barbecue When Chef Vaughn Good opened Fox and Pearl in 2019, the new restaurant quickly found a place on a number of “Best of Kansas City” lists—and even netted Good a James Beard Award nomination. His ability to marry bold cooking techniques with high-quality ingredients was a breath of fresh air for the local fine dining…
Seeking Mavis Beacon. // Courtesy Neon The True/False Film Festival is currently running in Columbia, MO. The nationally renowned event brings together many of the year’s most important upcoming documentaries and our film editor Abby Olcese is sharing highlights. Read this year’s other coverage here as it goes live. When I hear the name “Mavis Beacon,” I think of my…
Veeze. // photo by Isabella Galvan Veeze with Myaap The Granada Friday, March 1 Touring in support of last year’s Ganger, Detroit rapper took to the stage of the Granada Friday night to show why he’s one of the best in the business. Milwaukee’s Myapp opened. Our photographer Isabella Galvan was there to capture it all. Veeze Myaap Categories: Music…
Jenny Lewis. // Photo by Bobbi Rich Musician Jenny Lewis has likely graced your ears at some point in the last few decades, of noot multiple times. She was part of Rilo Kiley, the band she founded with Blake Sennett in the late ’90s, she’s paired up with Johnathan Rice and the Watson Twins, and guested on albums from Bright…
Courtesy of the True/False Film Festival The True/False Film Festival is currently running in Columbia, MO. The nationally renowned event brings together many of the year’s most important upcoming documentaries and our film editor Abby Olcese is sharing highlights. Read this year’s other coverage here as it goes live. I have a personal pantheon of movies I watch to remind…
Katie Garrity of Overland Park and Alicia Keeney of Kansas City work on flower arrangements for Unexpected Blooms. // Photo by Beth Lipoff Recycling to brighten someone’s day is the core idea behind Unexpected Blooms. The group collects flowers from all kinds of events—corporate dinners, weddings, galas—and repackages them into small arrangements. Those arrangements go to rehab hospitals, hospices, and…
Jamie Kennedy Comedy. // Courtesy of JamieKennedy.com Sometimes the best celeb interviews happen when you have little-to-no time to prepare. Case in point, actor/comedian Jamie Kennedy, who is appearing alongside many of his original Scream castmates this weekend at Planet Comicon Kansas City. The actor will be appearing all three days at Planet Comicon KC to sign autographs, kibitz with horror movie…
The Missouri House chamber during debate on March 12, 2023 (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications) Kansas City’s downtown took on a campus-like feel in early February as 8,000 visitors congregated at the downtown convention center and fanned out to nearby bars, coffee shops and tourist sites. The guests included students, immigrants, people of color and people who identified as LGBTQ, in…
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson shakes Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick’s hand prior to the State of the State address (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). Missouri Gov. Mike Parson drew condemnation from across the political spectrum over the weekend after he reduced the sentence of former Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid for a drunken driving crash that permanently injured a 5-year-old girl. Reid,…
Sid Krofft. // Courtesy Krofft “I’ve been in this business, and it’s been the only job I’ve ever had for 83 years,” says 94 year old Sid Krofft. “I do lectures for young kids. They don’t know who I am. Right off the top, I tell them you don’t know who I am, this old guy talking to you. I…
Holy Smoke BBQ. // Photo by Steph Castor As a kid, Jeron Slater developed a passion for cooking while grilling with his father. Now, he owns and operates his own restaurant along with his wife, the rest of his family, and the young men they mentor. Jeron and Nykita Slater—locally known as Mr. and Mrs. Holy Smoke—were both working full-time…
Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, oversaw a hearing on two anti-trans bills on Thursday in the Health and Human Services committee. She is seen here during an Aug. 2, 2023 KanCare Oversight committee meeting. (Sam Bailey/Kansas Reflector) Rep. Brenda Landwehr: What you did to LGBTQ+ Kansans at your Thursday hearing in the Kansas Statehouse has no excuse. Your committee was considering…
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…
Sen. Rick Brattin of Harrisonville, speaking, and fellow Freedom Caucus members Sen. Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg, left, and Sen. Bill Eigel, speak to reporters. // Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent Right-wing politicians who won’t apologize for labeling Denton Loudermill as the shooter responsible for a death and almost two dozen injuries at the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory parade will have to answer…
Illustrated by Katelyn Betz It’s been a hot minute since we’ve done one of these, so bear with us. We dug through social media, YouTube, and random emails to bring to you this cream of the local music video crop that is Cine Local, and this one’s banger after banger after banger. Hip hop from Kye Colors, Stephonne’s sultry R&B,…
This week, Breakaway announced the full lineup for their Breakaway Kansas City Music Festival, taking place at Azura Amphitheater on June 14 and 15. In addition to activations, onsite fan experiences, and a silent disco featuring local talent, the festival will be hosted by Bobby Hendrickson and feature performances by Fisher, Tiësto, Slander, Two Friends, ARMNHMR, BUNT., Chuew, Cloonee, Coco…
