Night & Day Events

Thursday, August 19
Chakra (1308 West 11th Street) debuted its new Thursday-night event, Shock!, two weeks ago, and by all accounts it’s a pretty good time. Reportedly spotlighting some of the best “electronic dance and future retro” (is that like, um, contemporary?), it employs resident and guest DJs. Tracks from artists such as Curve, Daft Punk, the Rapture, Fischerspooner and the Faint are pumped throughout the club; it eventually will serve as a backdrop for art installations and fashion shows. Dancing starts at 9 p.m., and drink specials include $2 wells and $2 domestic bottles. There’s no cover charge for the rest of the Thursdays in August, and the club encourages “sexy dress” for its patrons. Whatever that means. Call 816-474-2131 for more information.

Friday, August 20

This weekend, as many as 1,500 amateur boxers are expected to be in town from more than 10 countries for the Ringside World Amateur Boxing Championships at the KCI Expo Center (11730 North Ambassador Drive in North Kansas City). The competition started Wednesday and ends tomorrow; spectators can purchase individual passes to one or multiple sessions — or they can get kick-ass, totally glam ringside tables that seat 10. With so many divisions (9-year-olds, men, women, veterans, novices), audience members are bound to see some fabulous fights (not that we’re promoting violence), including Kansas City boxer Kerry Berry, recently crowned the 2004 Women’s National Champion. For more information, call Kara Murdock at 913-888-7766, ext. 844.

Saturday, August 21

The best thing about the Kansas City Screenwriters’ Screenplay Competition 3 is that the submissions are so goddamned short. If this is the first you’ve heard of it, there’s still time to whip up 12 pages or less of pure brilliance, slap a stamp on it, then sit and wait for cash and fame to arrive at your front door. Scripts must be unproduced and written for film or video in standard screenplay format. Entries must be postmarked by today (send to 111 East 109th Terrace, Kansas City, MO 64114). The three finalists will be rewarded with directed readings on October 13 at the Westport Coffee House; there are two $250 prizes, one chosen by the judges and one by the audience. Major procrastinators can e-mail their scripts to contest@kcscreenwriters.com. Call Bryan Colley at 816-941-3875 or see www.kcscreenwriters.com for further instructions (like where to send the $5 entry fee).

Sunday, August 22

After an informal search designed purely to amuse ourselves, we feel we have chosen the Kansas City-area residents who are truly the most devoted in all of Chiefs fandom. Bernie and Errie Raasch, sixth-generation Missouri farmers, financed the design and execution of a corn maze as a salute to their favorite football team. The maze, which has more than 7 and a half miles of trail and 4 large wooden bridges, is composed of a linebacker, a quarterback and a helmet. Starting this weekend, the maze is open from noon to 10 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays; admission is $8 for ages 14 and older, $5 for children 5 to 13. Cornfield wanderers who wear Chiefs apparel on game days get $2 off any single general admission. (What the hell else would we be wearing on game days?) The maze is just off Liberty Bend road, 2 miles south and east of the intersection of highways 291 and 210, directly behind Carolyn’s Country Cousins pumpkin patch. Call 816-781-9196 for more information.

Monday, August 23

Some of our friends are terrified of having children, because they don’t want their kids to be as fucked up as they are. Maybe they should check out Kansas City author Mary McConnell‘s presentation on her book Train Up a Child in the Way He Should Go: A Guide to Successful Parenting. Her program starts at 7 p.m. at the West Wyandotte Library (1737 North 82nd Street, Kansas City, Kansas), providing tips McConnell has gathered as an educator in the KC area for more than 20 years. That she took her book title from the Bible makes us nervous that she might be a little too traditional for the friends we have in mind, but maybe she can help somebody. Call 913-596-5800, ext. 1029, for more information.

Tuesday, August 24

Many celebrities use their fame to promote causes they deem worthy: Ben Affleck has a penchant for John Kerry, Bono pleas on behalf of Amnesty International, Richard Gere wants to free Tibet, Warren Beatty stumps for universal health care, and Sting helps save rainforests. A less successful example is Geena Davis’ cause. The lovely redhead who took home the 1988 Best Supporting Actress Oscar for The Accidental Tourist attempted to resuscitate the dying sport of archery 4 years ago when she almost qualified for the Sydney Olympics. She failed, however, leaving it up to us to remind readers of the importance of the bow and arrow. Help rekindle the romance of Robin Hood tonight with a beginning archery class, held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Parma Woods Shooting Range and Training Center (just west of Parkville). Call 816-891-9941 to register or for directions.

Wednesday, August 25

Texas Terri Bomb‘s rebellious, aggressive punk style is pretty infamous — she’s notorious for performing barely clad in an ensemble of electrical tape. The former leader of Texas Terri and the Stiff Ones recently released Your Lips My Ass, produced by Jack Douglas (whose credits include John Lennon, Patti Smith and the New York Dolls). She was scheduled to play tonight at the now-defunct Spitfire Club, but the 7 p.m. show has been moved to the Arcade (1118 McGee, below Bender’s). We think she’s pretty damned scary, but supposedly she puts on a raucous, reckless performance. Maybe you’re into that sort of thing. Call 816-221-7722 for more information.