Barbie On a Bike

FRI 8/22

It’s hard to say what’s weirder: That someone at Mattel gave a green light to production of the Harley-Davidson Barbie, or that Harley-Davidson was cool with having old arch-foot looking like she’s ready to ride a hog.

Harley-Davidson Barbie’s accessories include a Barbie helmet, a Harley backpack, silver hoop earrings and a Harley belt buckle. The zipper on her studded jacket actually works. The text on the back of her box beckons: “Live to ride. Harley. The rumble of the V-twin. The pull of the open road. You’re gone — Harley. More than a machine. A way of life .. . ”

And why did we only get Barbies in ball gowns? This biker Barbie kicks ass — in a relative way, anyhow. She could take your average Ken in a street fight any day (but don’t get us started on Harley-Davidson Ken — he comes with tattoos and overgrown facial hair).

The Doll Museum celebrates Harley-Davidson’s 100th anniversary with an exhibit opening Friday called Barbie Rides to Kansas City On Her Harley!!

The Harley-Davidson Barbie comes in eight different models — some with the signature flames on their pants, some without; some with traditional blond hair, some with a more daring auburn. To see them, head to the Doll Museum, 10900 North Pomona Avenue. For information, call 816-891-7040. Just don’t tell any doll fanatics that you love your Harley more than you love your Barbie.— Gina Kaufmann

Seeing Is Believing

UPCOMING

Art on the Hill: Expressions of Triumph proves that you don’t need eyesight to make or appreciate visual art. The juried international exhibition features painting, photography and sculpture created by twenty artists with such disabilities as blindness, hearing impairment, depression and Down syndrome. Alphapointe Association for the Blind helped out, creating Braille artist biographies to accompany the artworks, which are for sale with proceeds benefiting the Rehabilitation Institute of Kansas City. Purchase tickets now for the private opening reception at the Historic Rieger Hotel Building (1922 Main Street) September 4. Or just stop by for a casual viewing during the First Friday gallery crawl on September 5. Call 816-751-7815 for more information.— Theresa Bembnister

You’ll Laugh

8/22- 8/24

People assume that all operas are superdramatic. Carmen. Aida. La Bohème. But not all operas are dramas. The Marriage of Figaro — written by Mozart — is a comedy. It’s about a hot maid named Susanna who is engaged to the count’s valet, Figaro. Only the count’s got a wandering eye, and he tries to stand in his valet’s way. If there is a lesson to be learned from this opera — performed by the Civic Opera Theater of Kansas City on Friday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. — it’s never to stand in the way of your valet. Shows are at the Folly Theater, 300 West 12th Street. For information, call 816-235-6222. — Kaufmann

Literary Gumbo

TUE 8/26

With most famous poets gone and Maya Angelou pimping her muse for Hallmark, poetry junkies are down on their luck. For disheartened lovers of verse and pentameter, Danny’s Big Easy (1610 Main Street, 816-221-2244) opens its doors every Tuesday night for poetry readings, with local poet institutions and first-timers taking the stage to read. Danny’s stage spotlights confessional stanzas and comedic word acrobatics, starting at 9:30 p.m. and going as long as the size of the crowd dictates. While you’re not guaranteed a revelation, your chances of finding good poetry and a bowl of gumbo are better than they would be if you stayed home thumbing through your Rilke.— Christopher Sebela