In Bloom

June 16, 1904, was James Joyce’s first date with his future wife, Nora Barnacle. Later, after he’d called her his “sweet naughty little fuckbird” in the most famous dirty letters ever written by a Nobel laureate, he set Ulysses, his account of one day in the life of Leopold Bloom, on June 16, 1904. Sweet, right? Anyway, June 16 is now known as Bloomsday, when Joyce fans the world over get together to celebrate Ulysses, widely acclaimed as one of the greatest novels of the 20th century. Here in Kansas City, Bloomsday events take place at the Irish Museum & Cultural Center (Union Station, 30 West Pershing Road) and feature Irish music, a performance of Bloomsday Dublin: June 16 (a theatrical adaptation of Ulysses), and an abridged reading of Molly Bloom’s soliloquy. The free festival runs from 4 to 10 p.m. Call 816-474-3848 for more information.— Danny Volin

Wed., June 16, 5:30 p.m., 2010