Archives: May 2024

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Politics

Kansas’ smallest school district prepares to close in warning sign for rural communities

Rachel Mipro,

Healy Unified School District 468 caught the attention of lawmakers this legislative session, inspiring a new law over school funding formulas. (Rachel Mipro/Kansas Reflector) HEALY — Eighth-grade graduates walked the stage May 16 as family members cheered them on, filling rows in the front of the Healy public school district’s auditorium. School board members were seated at the side of…

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A&E, Culture

Hundred years of Disney exhibit set to provide plenty of nostalgia this weekend at Union Station

Kansas City's unique connection to the Walt Disney Company makes this a must see event
Ellen Beshuk,

The span of displays makes this a perfect exhibit for adults to experience nostalgia and kids to take part in the Disney magic // Photo by Ellen Beshuk Become immersed in 100 years of Disney’s enchanting history this weekend at Union Station’s newest exhibit. With over 250 objects spanning ten decades, the story of Kansas City and the Walt Disney…

Function Junction At Shops At Crown Center
News

Function Junction closes its Crown Center brick-and-mortar, celebrating 47 years of service with a fire sale

Kaylynn Mullins,

Photo by Brenda Cox Beloved Kansas City kitchenware business, Function Junction, will be closing its Crown Center location permanently on June 30, 2024. After 47 years in business, the store will have an “End of an Era” sale on all products. Various kitchen tools, barbecue tools, bakeware, and more will be marked down from 20-70%, starting May 22 and ending June 30, or while supplies last.  As co-owners of Function Junction,…

KC Sipps neon sign logo
Food & Drink

KC Sipps: Four new bar and restaurant options, plus Dino & Vino

Your Kansas City dining guide.
Sarah Sipple,

Art by Cassondra Jones Looking for delicious plans? 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 (mostly) local.  Here is your weekly roundup of the best food and drink offerings around Kansas City. Cheers! Opening HomeGrown: The newest location of…

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Music

Umphrey’s McGee took us on a three-hour musical journey at Grinders Friday night

Allison Scavo,

Umphrey’s McGee. // photo by Allison Scavo Umphrey’s McGee Grinders KC Friday, May 17 Umphrey’s McGee was originally formed by students intelligent enough to have been enrolled at Notre Dame. That intelligence is evident and saturated in their ever flowing sound that flawlessly intertwines between genres that only those with an elevated sense of consciousness could compose. Umphrey’s has headlined…

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Music

Maddie Zahm’s endearing set pulled The Madrid together

Zoe Strohm,

Maddie Zahm at The Madrid Theatre on Friday, May 18, 2024. // Photo by Tori Collene On Saturday night, Maddie Zahm’s Now That I’ve Been Honest tour made its stop at The Madrid, bringing songs about religious trauma, coming out, and self-acceptance. An hour before the show fans were lining up, ready to sing, dance, and cry. Doors opened at 7…
Food & Drink

Eat This Now: Chicken Wings at Smaxx

Tiffany Watts,

Chicken wings at Smaxx // Photo by Tiffany Watts As a chicken wing fanatic, tasting and rating wings for my own edification is a favorite pastime.  Since my friends know this about me, they sent me to Kansas City’s Historic Jazz District at 18th and Vine, to try some “real wings” from Smaxx Gourmet Restaurant–a restaurant known for their fried…

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News

Rose Brooks Union holds rally for better working conditions after filing multiple unfair labor charges against organization

Kaylynn Mullins,

Rose Brook Center Union rally. // Photo by Kaylynn Mullins Since 1978, Rose Brooks Center (RBC) has provided Kansas City families and pets with resources to escape domestic violence. The non-profit offers safety shelters, a hotline, therapy, legal help, and job advocacy that help survivors recover and safely take their lives back. The employees work diligently to continue this care…

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Music

Manor Fest 6 is ready to rock double weekends across KC starting May 23

Cameron Capers,

Manor Records was initially created by Shaun Crowley in Shawnee while running D.I.Y venue The Shawnee Manor. The 501(c)(3) non-profit record label had its official launch in 2017, after hosting numerous shows and festivals within the underground music hall, featuring artists from Glass Animals to Shy Boys. Their festivals began reaching up to 10 bands a night, which led them…

Juneteenth Film Festival
Movies

KC’s Juneteenth Film Festival returns for an entire month of programming, events, and premieres at Screenland Armour

Austin Woods,

Photo Courtesy of Underneath: Children of the Sun As a journalist and film critic for Fox 4 News Kansas City, Shawn Edwards frequently corresponds with the city’s Black independent filmmakers, who often tell him about the difficulty of finding a platform where they can showcase their work. In 2023, Edwards launched the Juneteenth Film Festival to provide them with such…

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Music

Photos: Maddie Zahm brought pop heat to the Madrid

Tori Collene,

Maddie Zahm. // Photo by Tori Collene Maddie Zahm with Leanna Firestone The Madrid Saturday, May 18 Touring in support of last year’s Now That I’ve Been Honest, singer-songwriter Maddie Zahm came to Kansas City to perform her open and emotionally-revealing songs at The Madrid Theatre, with Indie-pop musician Leanna Firestone taking over the opening act. Together, the two brought…

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Politics

Parson orders state agency not to pay legal expenses for legislators facing defamation suit

Jason Hancock,

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson prior to the State of the State address on Jan. 24, 2024 (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). Missouri taxpayers will not cover the costs of damages that may result from defamation lawsuits filed against three state senators who incorrectly identified a Kansas man as the shooter at the Chiefs’ Super Bowl parade, Gov. Mike Parson said Monday. In…

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Movies

Home Movies: KC Film’s new lead Rachel Kephart wants Hollywood to set up shop in the Heartland

Abby Olcese,

Photo Courtesy of Netflix / Christopher Smith When The Pitch last covered the state of filmmaking in Missouri, the regional industry was in a hopeful-if-unsettled space. Photo Courtesy of Rachel Kephart Kansas City, which offered financial incentives to productions interested in shooting here, was starting to draw outside attention from outside productions thanks in part to its starring role in season…

Pioneer Women Quilting Has A Storefront At 206 S. 5th St. In Leavenworth.
Culture

KC Cares: Sewing solidarity

Pioneer Women Quilting serves comfort to the Leavenworth community
Beth Lipoff,

Pioneer Women Quilting has a storefront at 206 S. 5th St. in Leavenworth. // Photo by Beth Lipoff In a bright storefront in downtown Leavenworth, Pioneer Women Quilting is working to help stitch the community together. The basic idea? Take donated fabric and make it into beautiful and useful works of art that keep people warm. Pat Crowson and Karen…
Food & Drink

Drink This Now: Healthwtr

Sarah Sipple,

HealthWtr // Photo by Sarah Sipple What beverage had our Editor-in-Chief spurt out an enthusiastic string of expletives in our office kitchen after just two sips? These fruity lil bottles right here.  I brought HealthWtr to the office to share, specifically to verify that I wasn’t alone in my assessment. I was wowed. As it turns out, I was not…

The four pickers stand in and around their white collection van
Culture

TV’s American Pickers looking for KC folks to feature in June filming

Time to dust off... everything(?) in preparation. Do you have a collection that could be featured on air?
Ellen Beshuk,

From vintage cars to radioactive teacups, there are few limits to what the American Pickers might discover. (From left to right Jersey Jon, Robbie Wolfe, Danielle Colby, and Mike Wolfe.) // Photo Courtesy of Meredith Ball The American Pickers TV Show will uncover Kansas City’s rare collections this June, bringing their expert eye for antiques to Missouri. This History Channel…

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Music

Dayseeker brought a stellar evening’s lineup with them to The Uptown

Emily Jacobs,

Dayseeker. // photo by Emily Jacobs Tuesday night at Uptown Theater was a hell of a good time in a nearly sold-out show with Dayseeker headlining, and AVOID, Rain City Drive, and Silent Planet opening the night. Strolling in about 30 minutes before start time, the Dayseeker merch line already stretched across the venue. AVOID was a fun start to…

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Music

Photos: Gary Clark Jr. at The Midland

Daniel Fuchs,

Gary Clark Jr. // photo by Daniel Fuchs Gary Clark Jr. with Abraham Alexander The Midland Wednesday, May 15 Touring in support of his latest album, JPEG RAW, blues guitarist Gary Clark Jr. took to the stage at the Midland on Wednesday night to burn the night out with searing fretwork. Singer-songwriter Abraham Alexander opened. Our photographer Daniel Fuchs was…

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Music

Photos: Local Natives at The Truman

Kylee Gregg,

Local Natives. // photo by Kylee Gregg Local Natives with Uwade The Truman Wednesday, May 15 Touring in support of the recently released But I’ll Wait for You, indie rockers Local Natives stopped at the Truman on Wednesday to bring these new songs to KC for the first time. Singer-songwriter Wuade opened. Our photographer Kylee Gregg was there to capture…

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Politics

Brown v. Board at 70: Students from Topeka’s all-Black schools recall how segregation shaped lives

Cuyler Dunn,

People talk May 18, 2024, outside the front gate of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park, formerly Monroe Elementary School. The site hosted a reunion of former students from Topeka’s all-Black elementary schools to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. (Cuyler Dunn for Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — Former students…