Archives: May 2024

Four Inane Questions with Fire Lake Soapery’s Laura Rozell

Photo Courtesy of Laura Rozell If you’re conscientious about what products you use on your skin, may we introduce you to Laura Rozell? Long before she took over the reins of Fire Lake Soapery in Paola, she’d been concocting and creating her own natural, vegan products. “My passion began at a very young age with being mindful of what we…

Kansas lawmakers neglect problems at home, throw $15.7 million at the border. It won’t be spent.

"I don’t care if you’re liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat. If you’re a legislator, you should be trying to solve actual problems on behalf of actual Kansans. Not allocating money that will not be spent for a challenge that we don’t face."

Border Patrol vehicle patrolling along the fence of the international border between San Diego, California and Tijuana, Mexico. // Photo courtesy Adobe In the waning hours of its 2024 veto session, the Kansas Legislature stumbled to and fro like a drunken sailor, pushing some bills into law, scrapping others, and holding its mouth closed tight to prevent itself from becoming…

Premiere: tripliciti’s ‘Journey of Love’ is visually and aurally beautiful

tripliciti. // photo credit Pat Johnson Local fans of acoustic fingerpicked guitar are sure to be familiar with Topeka’s Andy McKee, whose viral videos have led to a diverse and exciting career, including performing with Prince. McKee’s latest musical outing sees him joining with fellow musicians Calum Graham and Trevor Gordon Hall for a project called tripliciti. The fingerstyle guitar…

Dish & Drink KC: Quiet luxury at Vivilore and Clay & Fire

Vivilore Dining Room // Photo by Sarah Sipple Vivilore Entering the double doors of this vine-covered brick building in the Englewood Arts District transported me to another country and century. Visual storytelling is apparent from the first moment at Vivlore–which is fitting because the name translates to life story. Vivilore is not only a modern American restaurant in Independence but…