Java the Hutt
THU 11/18
That rush we coffee snobs feel isn’t from our fourth venti mocha of the day but rather from anticipating Tim Wendelboe‘s arrival. The current World Champion Barista and three-time reigning Norwegian Barista champion, Wendelboe has climbed the caffeinated mountain and come back down bearing the secrets of great espresso, which he shares Thursday at LattéLand (4771 Jefferson). From 5:30 to 8 p.m., Wendelboe makes drinks, explains the finer points of brewing, roasting and blending espresso, and answers all coffee-centric questions. In town to support the regional World Barista Championships, Wendelboe also will lend his experience to the LattéLand staff, including owner Ed Schultz. “What he’s perfected are the technical things of creating great espresso — being able to recognize grind adjustment, what a finely pulled shot should look like, taste profiles and what goes into creating a blend that works,” Schultz explains. “It’s a great opportunity when the top barista can show us what he knows.” Coffee lovers who aren’t content to wait for LattéLand’s baristas to finish training should bring a notebook or a video camera — maybe that barely used espresso machine under the kitchen sink can finally sing. Call 816-931-7577 for more details. — Christopher Sebela
Melting Pot
A Jewish writer examines the culture club.
SAT 11/20
We recently met a guy who has a Colombian mother and a Palestinian father. We asked him whether it was difficult to identify with both cultures. “I don’t,” he said. “I’m an American.” This type of assimilation is both troubling and fascinating to Jonathan Sarna, and it prompted the prominent scholar to write American Judaism, an exploration of individuals struggling to retain their heritage while adapting to this country’s way of life. The book chronicles Judaism’s 350-year history in the United States and analyzes how American culture — predominantly Protestant and overwhelmingly capitalist — affects the religion.
Sarna discusses his book at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Jewish Community Center (5801 West 115th Street in Overland Park) as part of KC’s tenth annual Jewish Book Fair. Authors Tova Mirvis and Hubert Locke kicked off the series in early November; it culminates with the Chanukah Super Book Sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, December 5, also at the JCC. Call 913-327-8000. — Annie Fischer
Chug-a-lug
This is a wine to be slammed.
THU 11/18
Each year, on the third Thursday of November, Frenchmen release the Beaujolais Nouveau to raucous, wine-soaked merriment. Such celebrations once were contained to the area of France where the grapes grow, but Parisians joined in the festivities in the ’50s, and the rest of the world soon followed. A fruity, easy-to-drink red wine that is said to be better gulped than sipped and enjoyed in high spirits rather than critiqued, the Beaujolais Nouveau has its own coming-out party in Kansas City Thursday at Boozefish (1511 Westport Road, 816-561-5995). Though celebrations are typically at the stroke of midnight, we’ll take advantage of the bar’s regular hours — 4 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. — Fischer
Vincent Gall-o
11/19-11/21
When the Glenwood Arts shelved plans to show Brown Bunny, we were afraid we’d have to wait for video to see Vincent Gallo in all his egomaniacal glory. But now Screenland (1656 Washington, 816-421-2900) has come to our rescue, opening the racy film on Friday. We’re not sure why we want to see the ultimate shit disturber and dour Chloe Sevigny in a movie that’s been almost unanimously panned … but we know we aren’t alone. — Fischer
