Four More Years

WED 10/22

Arrowhead Stadium will have a significantly different vibe this Wednesday. Whereas the usual action on the Chiefs’ home field involves brute power and battle tactics, the members of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team bring a different style of grace and finesse when they play their Italian counterparts at 7 p.m. Although it’s a shame that the previously dominant team was eliminated from the final round of the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the loss could be a good sign for gender equity in worldwide sports — as The New York Times reported last week, with the U.S. women out of contention, other countries whose teams finally stood a chance might now think about giving up cultural taboos against women in sports. ESPN is going to broadcast the game the same night, but how often can you get into Arrowhead for less than $30? For tickets, call 816-920-9300. — Michael Vennard

Feathered Friends

TUE 10/21

If you think exercise is for the birds but still have a soft spot for the great outdoors, then bird-watching is the not-so-active outdoor activity that will satisfy your no-impact needs. The North Oak Branch of the Mid-Continent Public Library (8700 North Oak Trafficway) hosts a beginners’ bird-watching class for adults this Tuesday at 2 p.m. Mark McKellar of the Backyard Bird Center offers advice on choosing the right binoculars and field guides as well as other bits of introductory wisdom for observing nests and wings and things. The program is free but requires preregistration; call 816-436-4385.— Vennard

Rubber Derby

SUN 10/19

Nature is pretty awe-inspiring on its own, but sometimes it falls a little short. And in those times, nature needs 30,000 bright-yellow rubber ducks unleashed upon it. This ultrasynthetic sight takes place Sunday at the Citigroup Duck Derby 2003 on Brush Creek on the Plaza. Folks can adopt these little numbered wonders and watch them race toward the finish line — the winner’s adoptive parent takes home $1 million. It may be silly, but it’s for a good cause; proceeds benefit Synergy Services Inc. and the Mattie Rhodes Counseling & Art Center. The quackery begins at noon with a host of activities, including music, prederby duck events, food, drink, face painting and more. In case you’re planning to protest this as an impending ecological disaster, you should know that the ducks will be taken off the creek at the end of the derby. (We don’t know where they go after that, though.) For details, call 816-587-4100. — Nadia Pflaum