Night & Day Events

Thursday, August 18
We recently picked up a copy of the Midwest Irish Focus and couldn’t believe how many Irish groups are established locally, one for almost every day of the month … and for every bar in KC. The Celtic Fringe? Every first Tuesday at Charlie Hooper’s. The Harp and Shamrock Club? Third Friday of each month at Kyle’s Tap Room. Father Bernard Donnelly Ancient Order of Hibernians? W.J. McBride’s, second Thursdays — as if you didn’t know. We were interested to see, however, that today’s offering is a meet-up of the local Irish Northern Aid chapter at Creekside Bar and Grille (9916 Holmes). An American organization, the INA says it supports, by peaceful means, a free and independent 32-county Ireland — and the KC club’s Web site (www.kcina.com) complains that it’s the most “maligned” Irish group in the area. The “peaceful means” is the part that trips us up; the INA is reputed to have used donations to purchase weapons for the IRA. We’ll hear their side of the story at 7 tonight — as long as it’s free to get in.

Friday, August 19
Growing up in rural Missouri practically ensures corn-maze parties where kids drink themselves silly among the stalks, eventually stumbling out with stomachaches from laughing so hard. Getting turned around, giving up, making out for a while … it’s all part of the fun. At least we assume that’s what it was like for the kids who were invited. We’ll make our own fun at the Liberty Corn Maze (17607 Northeast 52nd Street, 816-781-9196), which kicks off tonight from 5 to 10 and remains open through October 31 in all weather (except when lightning has been spotted). Admission is $9 for adults and $7 for children; see www.libertycornmaze.com for information.

Saturday, August 20
Over at the Chiefs‘ Web site (www.kcchiefs.com), goofily named rookie Boomer Grigsby has been chronicling the ups and downs of training camp with insights such as “If we’re going to make a highlight tape, we want to be on it for the right reasons. I don’t [want] it to be because I’m doing a Pete Rose slide across the grass while there is a guy running by me in the other direction and the crowd is on its feet.” Well said, Boomer. Make sure the newbie makes good on his promise tonight at the Chiefs’ first preseason game at home, against the Arizona Cardinals, at 7:30 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium (1 Arrowhead Drive). Tickets start at $59; call 816-931-3330.

If you’re down with birds that aren’t team names or mascots, today’s Know Your Museum tour at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (4525 Oak Street, 816-751-1278) might be just your wing — er, thing. Watch the Birdie treats the museum as an aviary, and art-loving bird-watchers are invited to spot doves, hawks and the mythical phoenix starting at 1:30 p.m. The tour is for members only; a yearlong membership to the museum costs $50.

Sunday, August 21
Today is the anniversary of William C. Quantrill’s 1863 raid on Lawrence. After forming his own troop of pro-Confederate guerrillas — which supposedly included Jesse and Frank James — Quantrill spent the day killing unarmed citizens and burning the town’s business district. So we’re spending the day at the Watkins Museum’s “Civil War on the Western Frontier” program, a weeklong examination of the havoc he wreaked. Today’s activities include the Oak Hill cemetery tour — we’re psyched. Call 785-841-4109 or see www.watkins museum.org for a full schedule.

Monday, August 22
We’re down with Lance Armstrong and his superhuman lung capacity, but damn him for spreading those blasted yellow Livestrong bracelets, seemingly worn by everyone and their mother — including our mother. Of course, our Lance-loving mom is a sports-nut badass who, in the course of one day, might have a private Pilates session before hitting a spinning class and then later going for a run. Despite the fact that she’s barely 5 feet tall, she could totally take us in a fight. Inspired (and slightly scared) by her, we suggest that fellow wusses join us at tonight’s Monday-night bike ride, starting and finishing at River Market Cyclery (315 East Third Street, 816-842-2453). This 17-and-a-half-mile road ride starts at 6:30 and keeps a friendly pace, organizers claim, with cyclers stopping a few times to regroup and pick up stragglers. Even so, pray that we don’t die.

Tuesday, August 23
As if Wes, the Real World: Austin cast member whose 17 clones we met the last time we were dragged against our will to the Granfalloon, hasn’t brought KC enough notoriety on MTV these days, here comes a little bit more. The channel’s High School Stories, a collection of what the channel’s Web site calls “true-to-life re-enactments of actual high school scandals, pranks and controversies,” is in town this week filming a spot for the series (something about a teacher, a chair and some masking tape). Think this could be your big break? E-mail a head shot to john.giarratano@mtvnmix.com and beg to be made famous. But don’t even consider the role of head cheerleader — it’s all ours.

Wednesday, August 24
We like the circus as Katherine Dunn describes it in her novel Geek Love. A place full of sideshow freaks such as Arturo the Aqua-Boy, who has flippers instead of limbs, and Siamese twins (and pianists!) Electra and Iphigenia. There’s something sad and creepy and weirdly beautiful about the whole thing, in the same way that wild, overrun gardens are often more appealing than the well-manicured ones. But when the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus comes to town, starting at 7 tonight at Kemper Arena (1800 Genessee), it’s a different sort of affair. There are lions and elephants and a performer named Crazy Wilson (OK, but is he really that crazy?) who does tricks on a “pendulum of pandemonium.” Yawn. What about the human condition? The pain of existence? Cheerier sorts may content themselves with tickets (starting at $11) to the shows, which run through August 28. Call 816-931-3330.