A 1905 double exposure “spirit” photograph shows a girl surrounded by spectral figures. It was made by G.S. Smallwood of Chicago. (Library of Congress) When it came time for John Seybold to place the ring on his bride’s finger, he was given a warning: he must not touch any other part of her body or risk death. That should have…
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:…
Photo by Shannon Carpenter I do not believe in ghosts. Or I believe in ghosts. It’s the coward’s choice when it comes to the supernatural. If I believe in ghosts, they will search me out. I’ve seen Sixth Sense, and I want no part of that. If I don’t believe in ghosts, then I’m the sucker in the horror movie…
Photo by: Rowan Bickelhaupt If you’ve ever wished you could sip a cocktail inside a novel, you’ll find your next chapter waiting at Afterword Tavern & Shelves. Tucked away in the Crossroads Arts District, this bar-bookstore hybrid has grown to be one of the most alluring locations in the city. Afterword is where books and drinks meet, where glass clinks…
Marcus Rattler of Legerdemain. // photo by Allison Scavo After an extremely intense weekend in Arkansas, emergencies, and mishaps, it was so nice to be welcomed at everyone’s favorite venue, Knuckleheads, on Sunday, October 12. The night air carried that familiar breeze composed of part train whistle and part crowd buzz. Inside, the lights were low and golden, catching the…
Destroyer. // photo by Maddy Shugart Dan Bejar’s reputation as indie pop’s patron saint of indifference makes it even more disarming to watch him attempt to disappear in real time right in front of you. Touring behind Dan’s Boogie, another trip down self-glorification that he’s consistently been at since ‘98, Bejar fronted his namesake through an 85-minute set at Warehouse…
Goofball Sk8boards. // photo courtesy Goofball Sk8boards Joan and Harper Rose don’t care if you can kickflip or not. They just want you to be cool, be safe have a good time, and feel comfortable digging into the unknown. In their three-year run, Goofball Sk8boards hosted community events that featured skaters of all levels, local advocacy groups, and local musicians….
Lovetta Tattoo // Photo by: Rowan Bickelhaupt Lovetta Tattoo will open its new home in Downtown KC on Nov. 1. The move marks a milestone for owner Melanie Lopez and co-owner Jim Little, who have built their careers on a mix of craft, creativity, and community. Lopez envisioned Lovetta as a space that could grow, accommodating artists and clients meaningfully….
Frankenstein. // Courtesy Netflix Guillermo del Toro knows as well as anyone that adaptation is an art unto itself. Frankenstein is his third film in a row adapting an existing work of literature that’s also been interpreted onscreen before. The anticipation that accompanies an auteur like del Toro adapting anything—whether it’s William Lindsay Gresham’s Nightmare Alley, Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures…
Photo by RJ Baig The crowd is heavily dressed in that edgy shade of black—bordering on punk, highlighting potential artistry while allowing shadows to blend in as if humbly base and not itchingly self-aware. The stage lies before us in ominous waiting, two antique-looking modern-made Windsor chairs loom stage left with a true antique coffee table perched in front, a…
Dish & Drink KC logo by Theodore Rosen There are few things more terrifying than returning to the scene of your teenage trauma, and for me, that place is The Edge of Hell, Kansas City’s oldest and longest-running haunted attraction. Tucked in the West Bottoms, this legendary haunt has been scaring locals since 1975. I went once—once—after my junior prom,…
Pot Pie // Photo by Sarah Sipple While this Westport restaurant is a beloved local favorite year-round, cooler weather is when it truly shines. Pot Pie has been serving up savory pot pies and other homey dishes at the 40-seat dining room for over 20 years now, fostering a level of familiarity and consistency that is a true achievement in…
Enchanted Objects // Photo by: Matthew Muphy For the first time in more than 25 years, Disney will bring the classic musical Beauty and the Beast back to the stage in North America this fall. The show will play eight performances at the Music Hall from Oct. 28 to Nov. 2, bringing audiences a reimagined version of the timeless tale…
Stacey Ryan. // photo by Kylee Gregg Stacey Ryan with Haven Madison and The Collarbones The Bottleneck Saturday, October 18 Canadian singer-songwriter Stacey Ryan took to the Bottleneck stage on Saturday night as part of her first-ever headlining tour. Pop singer Haven Madison and duo the Collarbones were along for the ride. Our photographer Kylee Gregg was there to capture…
Kansas City Mavericks versus Rapid City Rush on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. // Photo by Eli Ralls The Kansas City Mavericks’ 2025 season kicked off this past weekend with a two-game series against the Rapid City Rush. After falling in the Kelly Cup Final last season, the team is hopeful to get back on the right foot as the 2025-26…
Fountain City Comedy Festival 2025 Comedy is returning to Kansas City in a big way in mid-October. From Oct. 22–25, the Fountain City Comedy Festival comes back home for its fourth year, offering four nights of neighborhood-hopping laughs and a showcase of local and national talent. The festival will feature 20 shows across 10 meaningful venues, including recordBar, The Ship,…
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins walks into a Missouri Right to Life rally in March (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent) Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is warning voters that a repeal of Missouri’s $1.5 billion stadium subsidy could mean the Chiefs pack their bags and move to Kansas. And what about the Royals, the other team state lawmakers were hoping to…
No Kings Rally at the Country Club Plaza on Saturday, October. 18, 2025. // Photo by Stephen Fuller Citizens around the metro came out in droves for the No Kings rallies that took place throughout the city and its suburbs. The central protest took place on the Country Club Plaza and Mills Creek Park. Estimates of thousands showed up to…
Courtesy of Netflix Irish actor Colin Farrell is a familiar face on the big screen that gives powerful performances time and time again in critically acclaimed films—The Banshees of Inisherin, The Killing of a Sacred Deer, The Lobster—and he continues to not disappoint in Netflix’s Ballad of a Small Player, expected to hit the streaming platform globally on October 29. …
Protestors wave signs as thunder begins to rumble near the end of the No Kings demonstration at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City on Saturday (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent) Thousands gathered in cities and towns all over Missouri Saturday at No Kings demonstrations to speak up against the many ways they believe the current administration — both at the federal and…
Black Phone 2. // Courtesy Universal Pictures It’s never a great sign when a filmmaker’s sequel to their own film vibes like fan fiction. But that’s exactly the vibe of Black Phone 2 (“The” was apparently one word too many to carry over from 2022’s The Black Phone). Scott Derrickson and Robert Cargill’s movie retains the stilted, tell-don’t-show dialogue from…
Beverly’s team at KC Restaurant Festival // Photo by Sarah Sipple How are the restaurant industry folks holding up? What’s the outlook from the inside regarding the next few years in Kansas City? While it seems like a new restaurant or bar is opening every week, closures aren’t too far behind, and we frequently have a national spotlight on us…
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids speaks at a watch party on Nov. 5, 2024, in Overland Park, as she wins a fourth term to Congress. Davids says she is planning to take legal action if Republicans gerrymander her district. (Chloe Anderson for Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA — Kansas’ lone Democratic congresswoman is preparing legal strategies to fight Republican redistricting efforts in court,…
Protesters gather in the Missouri Capitol rotunda Sept. 10 in opposition to a gerrymandered congressional district map (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent) As the campaign to repeal Missouri’s gerrymandered congressional map approaches the 106,000 signatures needed to put the issue on the 2026 ballot, Republicans are pulling out all the stops to block it. Secretary of State Denny Hoskins announced Wednesday that…
