Night & Day Events

Thursday, July 28
In case you haven’t heard, there’s a little-known annual celebration ’round these parts known as the Renaissance Festival. Each fall, a fake 16th-century village in Bonner Springs welcomes men in tights and women in wigs, and everyone — truly, everyone — devours repulsive turkey legs. It’s such a draw, in fact, that some fans simply can’t wait until Labor Day weekend for the fun to begin. For them, there are Stone Church Feastes. Characters dressed up as King Richard and Queen Eleanor play host to a seven-course dinner for 200 guests at 7 tonight, tomorrow and Saturday, and regular Ren Fair performers provide the entertainment. Tickets are $20 and include one complimentary pass to the festival. Stone Church is located at 1012 Lexington Avenue in Independence; call 913-721-2110.

Friday, July 29
There are theater people, and there are musical people. We’ve always placed ourselves firmly in the first category, with our snarky opinions about Jekyll & Hyde‘s cult following and Andrew Lloyd Webber, the king of all things overwrought (Cats? Dancing cats?). We make an exception, however, for West Side Story, which kicks musical ass. If you haven’t seen this updated Romeo and Juliet, we know you’re at least familiar with the Sharks and the Jets or the soundtrack, full of gems such as “Somewhere” and “I Feel Pretty.” You’re not? Get thee to Theatre in the Park (inside Shawnee Mission Park, 17501 Midland Drive in Shawnee) for tonight’s show — opening night — and watch the star-crossed lovers under the stars. The gates open at 7 p.m., and the performance starts at 8:30; admission is $5 for adults and $3 for kids ages 4-10. Additional performances follow on July 30 and 31 and August 4-7. Call 913-312-8841 for more information. Trust us. You’re going to be singing “America” all week.

Saturday, July 30

Tonight, as part of Quran Awareness Month, the KC chapter of the Muslim American Society Freedom Foundation joins forces with the Islamic Society of Greater Kansas City from 4 to 9 at Mill Creek Park (47th Street and JC Nichols Parkway) for Meet Your Muslim Neighbor. Deqa Rabile, local co-coordinator of MAS Freedom Foundation, says the groups’ aim is to “educate the public about the Quran and to build bridges of understanding among people of different faiths.” Sounds like a plan. E-mail drabile@hotmail.com for more information.

Sunday, July 31

Before you head to Mill Creek, however, stop by Wild Oats (6621 West 119th Street in Overland Park, 913-663-2951) between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. and get your pet washed for a donation to Wayside Waifs. Your dog smells.

Reading over the rules and regulations for today’s Wiener Dog Nationals at the Woodlands (9700 Leavenworth Road in Kansas City, Kansas) is not recommended for the easily amused. In fact, we can’t decide what’s funnier, that the organizers have written, in red italic type, “no spectator canines allowed” or that it’s necessary to remind participants that “humans should remain sober until their race is completed.” Because usually, people who race their dachshunds get liquored up and then slur their words as they’re toting wiener dogs around a racetrack. We’ve saved the best note for last: “A designated grassy area will be available for canines; humans may use the restrooms.” So don’t get any ideas, OK? Doors open at 11 a.m. and races begin at 1 p.m. Admission is free; call 913-299-9797 for more information.

Monday, August 1

It’s probably passé

to quote Michael Jackson lyrics nowadays. But we just couldn’t help but think of the Gloved One’s “Man in the Mirror” after hearing about today’s deadline for the Downtown Council’s Urban Hero Award Program. The DTC is searching for small businesses and individuals who have enhanced the quality of life downtown by “improving the physical, social, business, retail, manufacturing, office, neighborhood, political or work environment.” You know, someone who wants to make the world a better place, takes a look at himself, then makes that change. Na na na. Nominators should explain why nominees are urban heroes in less than one page and e-mail the information to Ann Holliday at ann@downtownkc.org.

Tuesday, August 2
Ladies, gents: Here’s a chance to mess with gender roles. Or play by the books. Your choice. Tonight brings the start of Communiversity’s women’s health class. Dr. Ella Ladd gives the 411 on treating female-specific health problems the natural way. We’re talking PMS, yeast infections and hormone balancing. But there could be a very (and we do mean very) enlightened male out there who wants to, we don’t know, help the women in his life. We salute you, wherever you are. The class runs from 7 to 9 p.m. for four sessions and costs $16 at Synergistic Medical Care (6363 West 110th Street). Call 816-235-1448 for more information. On the testosterone end of the spectrum, doors open at 6 p.m. at Union Station (30 West Pershing Road) for Clash of the Titans IV, a boxing spectacular that will be broadcast on ESPN2’s Tuesday Night Fights. See www.titanentertainment.com for more information and tickets.

Wednesday, August 3

We can’t begin to imagine what Bryan Adams considers the high point of his career. But the low point? We’ve got a damned good guess that it’s today, when he plays an acoustic lunch set at Brio’s Tuscan Grille on the Plaza for 20 lucky KUDL 98.1 listeners and their guests. Luckily for Adams, things pick up again tonight when he takes the stage at Community America Ballpark (1800 Village West Parkway in Kansas City, Kansas) with Def Leppard as part of a Rock ‘n Roll Double Header. We have to wonder, though, just how much he really cares about this tour, now that the King of Romantic Ballads has reinvented himself as Photographer to the Stars — his recently released American Women, including photos of Gwyneth, Jennifer and Lindsay, is bizarrely acclaimed. Perhaps we’ll get a chance to ask him. The show starts at 6:30 p.m.; tickets are $48. Call 816-931-3330.