Art by Teddy Rosen “Show Me Hate” is a personally reflective series from columnist Michael McGrady Jr., exploring the widespread harm and vast cultural/political/personal pain stemming from leaders and ideologies—along with how to turn this toxic tide for the betterment of all. This is the fourth and final entry in the series. Reflecting on your emotions can be a powerful…
Photo Courtesy of Shawanna Meeks Designer Shawanna Meeks doesn’t just make bespoke handbags—she crafts little declarations of joy. Think of them as wearable mood lifters, stitched with purpose, peppered with personality, and fully capable of carrying your entire life (plus snacks). At Meeks Me Smile Studio, Meeks wants to make you an accessory that makes a statement; an eye-catching, head-turning statement…
Frost // Photo by Sarah Sipple Many things about Frost Frozen Bar are unexpected. Though a specialty cocktail bar is on-brand for Westport, this playful spot specializes in slushy-style cocktails year round. This is not a pop-up, though this writer hopes they bring back the “Bye, Buddy” holiday theme. Just as I am a supporter of hot soup in the…
Steve Tulipana. // photo by Ben McBee For two decades, recordBar has been a steady rhythm in Kansas City’s live music scene as a space where underground artists and international names alike have shared the stage in the city’s own backyard. Since 2005, the venue has evolved from a humble neighborhood hangout into a sought-out midsize stage known for its…
Courtesy Well Go USA Fantasia Fest 2025 is currently wrapping up and our own Adrian Torres is covering the genre film event—catching break-out new hits and underground premieres. Read all of our coverage here. Hi-Five kicks off on a seemingly typical night in Seoul, where an unidentified body is brought into the emergency room for organ extraction. After the procedure,…
Courtesy Yellow Veil Pictures Fantasia Fest 2025 is currently wrapping up and our own Adrian Torres is covering the genre film event—catching break-out new hits and underground premieres. Read all of our coverage here. If pressed to name the most creatively rich yet often misunderstood film genre, I’d likely place Found Footage at the top of my list. On the…
Threadless design. In the KC Voices column, we ask members of the KC community to submit stories about their thoughts and experiences in all walks of life. If you’ve got a story you’d like to share with our readers, please send it to brock@thepitchkc.com for consideration. Today, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Christopher T. Conner, weighs…
Galactic Empire. // Photo by Shea McGraw Galactic Empire with NiNi recordBar Thursday, August 7 If you’ve never seen a Star Wars movie—which is criminal if you ask me—it’s more than likely that you’d still recognize its music within the first few chords. John Williams’ score has become one of the most iconic soundtracks in cinematic history, seeping into pop…
Deandre Pointer, a man incarcerated at the Jefferson City Correctional Center, discusses his legal effort to get his parole date recalculated. If the date is not changed, Pointer will serve 40 years on a 23-year sentence (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent). When Deandre Pointer appeared in front of a Jackson County judge in June 2023, his world was bright. After years of…
Photo by Shea McGraw For many, marbles are just small, vibrant, glass balls that hold no true significance. But for Bruce Breslow, they aren’t just items for a game or a pretty sight on the eyes. They’re his full-time job. From a small store in Bonner Springs, Breslow handcrafts marbles, turning sticks of glass into colorful sphere-shaped art that fits…
The Songs For Kids Band! // photo courtesy the artist Started in 2007, the Songs For Kids Foundation began as a way for kids with “illnesses, injuries, and disabilities” to perform music, something which might not have been available to them due to their circumstances. In addition to mini concerts within hospitals, Songs For Kids also does bedside performances for…
KC Sipps logo by Theodore Rosen Life in KC is pretty delicious. In fact, there is often so much going on that it can be hard to decide where to go and what to try. That’s where I come in. I’ve curated this weekly list of events, openings, deals, and celebrations to keep you in-the-know. Cheers! Something New News Bites:…
Ghost. // photo by Eli Ralls Ghost T-Mobile Center Tuesday, August 5 Upon trekking down the lower level section to my seat for Ghost’s ninth trip to Kansas City in just 11 years – first since early 2022 – I became well aware of what I was getting in for. Tons of rabid fans interspersed about, a number of them…
Lenexa City Council member Melanie Arroyo talks with supporters after the Aug. 5, 2025, council meeting. Arroyo revealed city police investigated her citizenship status and required her to prove her citizenship. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) LENEXA — Melanie Arroyo lives in two worlds. There’s the one where the Lenexa City Council member has to “assimilate and perform” like her white counterparts,…
Black Fawn Films Fantasia Fest 2025 is currently wrapping up and our own Adrian Torres is covering the genre film event—catching break-out new hits and underground premieres. Read all of our coverage here. One of the most compelling aspects of horror is its ability to transform mundane elements of everyday life into sources of unsettling dread. Ian Tauson’s debut feature,…
Photo Courtesy of Monarch Waste Co. When we purchase products, we typically don’t think about the end result: the waste. As awareness has risen over time, individuals have become more cautious about how they dispose of the remains of the respective product. And while recycling and composting have trended upward, there are still plenty of ways to continue to drive…
Cuts to federal food assistance will hurt local grocery stores, experts say. (Blaise Mesa/The Beacon) The Merc Co+op started in Lawrence in 1974. It originally was a group of neighbors who pooled money together to buy foods like eggs, milk and fresh produce in bulk. The group’s original goal was to ensure neighbors had access to healthy foods that weren’t…
Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Marie Here in KC, Jennifer Marie is the BFF/coach/wisecracking gender guide you never knew you needed. She’s also proof that personal transformation can be both powerful and fabulously unapologetic. Marie is a proud transgender woman, bestselling author (Ask Me Anything: My Transparent Transition Story), podcast host, and the fierce force behind Jennspire—a coaching and empowerment platform helping people find…
Blacksmith Daniel Yoka holds a custom-made sword in 3 Trails Forge. // Photo by Shea McGraw As you draw near 3 Trails Forge, a metallic and rhythmic clang, clang, clang echoes into the streets of Independence. Entering the newly opened blacksmith studio, you hear the screech of a belt grinder as it sharpens steel to a fine point, or the…
Photo Courtesy of American Comic Fate works in bizarre ways. Long before either of them ended up in L.A., comedian Joe Kwaczala and musician Alex Ward—then of The Noise FM, along with his brother Austin—first crossed paths when they were both living and working in Chicago. “When The Noise FM was in Chicago, Joe hosted this late-night talk show, and…
Dropkick Murphys. // photo by Allison Scavo Dropkick Murphys with Bad Religion Grinders KC Monday, August 4 The Kansas City skyline dripped pastels across the stage at Grinders as the first chord cracked through the speakers. “Who Will Stand With Us” roared as the crowd surged forward, ready for a fight against all things wrong. The sea of fans immediately…
Thai Orchid // Photo By Tiffany Watts If you’re ever in KC’s Northland and craving something that hits hard on flavor and spice (if you’re into that), do yourself a favor and pull up to Thai Orchid. I ordered the Spicy Basil Fried Rice ($16.95) with shrimp and asked for it hot because if I’m going to do Thai food,…
Wonderlick. / Courtesy the artist The duo of Jay Blumenfield and Tim Quirk should be well-known to fans of the power pop punkers Too Much Joy, who’ve been making music for nigh on four decades now. You might not be aware of their duo, Wonderlick, but anyone who loves Too Much Joy’s clever lyricism and catchy hooks would do well…
The Trump administration has taken its first step toward restricting access to abortions for veterans who are covered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ medical benefits, reversing a 2022 rule. Former Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration enacted the rule following the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, which ended federally protected access to abortion. More than a dozen states implemented abortion…
