Prohibition Party
SAT 2/28
It’ll be just like the old days, when the federal government still futilely prohibited the use of semi-hallucinogenic substances. OK, so it’ll also be a lot like the not-so-old days, but with an old-days kind of vibe. It’ll be 1925 at the Bacchus Ball this Saturday, a time when every moment promised another opportunity to indulge in the forbidden. ScreenLand (1656 Washington Street) transforms into the Bacchus Speakeasies Swing Club, which opens for drinking, dancing, gambling and auctioneering at 7 p.m. No secret password is required; however, tickets are $100 a person — the money helps support a selected annual charity.
A dinner buffet and open bar are included in the cost, as well as access to gaming tables and a silent auction. “Creative black tie” is the dress code, and a live band will perform. For tickets and information, call 816-753-7278.— Lary Wallace
Pop Quiz
This trivia challenge ain’t that trivial.
SAT 2/28
There’s only one way to save face when you don’t know the answer to a trivia question: Crack a good joke. Your team won’t get the points, but the clever quip might cover for your ignorance until the next round. However, at Saturday’s Groundhog Trivia Tournament, creative incorrect answers can still collect points. The Alphapointe Association for the Blind (7501 Prospect) hosts the tournament from 1 to 5 p.m. to raise funds for the Alpha Lions Club and the Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome Network.
The tournament pits teams of eight against one another in ten rounds of questions, with all the categories — which range widely for the whole family — rolled into one. The winning team gets $20 for each participant, which they can keep or donate to one of the sponsoring charities. Single admission costs $10. For details, call 913-526-4439.— Michael Vennard
Mmmm, Poetry
SUN 2/29
Some artists like their work to be reviewed without consideration for ethnicity, race or other affiliations. Kansas City Poet Ed Tato is not among them. If he were, he’d likely be disappointed by his own reading Sunday evening at Prospero’s (1800 West 39th Street), where, in honor of True Stories From la Cosa Nostra — a book of poems about Tato’s Italian family history — the neighborhood bookstore serves traditional Italian refreshments. But we, the visitors, will not be disappointed, because we like Italian food — a lot. And we always thought poetry should be more filling. For information on the 4 p.m. reading, call 816-931-7538.— Gina Kaufmann
