Kemper Bug
OK, I've tried a half a dozen times to get this picture uploaded to Blogger. WHAT is the problem?
Maybe it's just the "rainy day" thing. It IS a kind of strange morning in KC. Here it is, November 29th, and the weather outside feals more like April. This rain is wamer than you'd expect in late November. The thunderstorms last night were kind of interesting. Made for good sleeping.
I'll try to get this pic to work again later today. Meanwhile, enjoy the thunderstorms and showers today! Won't be long until it'll be snow. UGH!
Ahhhh, there's the picture. Kemper Arena in the hot August sun. I don't think this is the prettiest building in town, but it is unique. It kind of reminds me of some huge futuristic bug from Star Wars. See the resemblence to Darth Vadar? I know, I have a strange way of looking at things sometimes.
Kansas City Weekend - November 24 thru 27
Now we're all full of turkey, or whatever your particular celbratory feast may be. We're basking in the glow of a Chiefs win, which topped off a wonderful day of family and friends. It's time for the weekend!
Hy Vee stores, in support of the City Union Mission, will present their 7th annual Stuff a Truck for the City Union Mission event throughout the holiday season. Stores will be offering $5 and $10 donation vouchers for customers to purchase. These vouchers will be used by the City Union Mission to purchase urgently needed items for their food pantry. 100% of your donation will go to the City Union Mission and will allow for purchasing needed items at Hy Vee's cost! It's a great and convenient way to share our blessings with those less fortunate than us this holiday season!
Check out these links to find out all the weekend events:
Kansas City Weekend Events2 Night in Kansas CityVisitKC.com's Calendar of EventsKansas City Homes and GardensKC Story ezineThe Pitch’s
http://www.pitch.com/issues/current/calendar_toc.html" href="
events'>http://www.pitch.com/issues/current/calendar_toc.html">events calendar and
http://www.pitch.com/issues/current/music_toc.html" href="
music'>http://www.pitch.com/issues/current/music_toc.html">music calendar.
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/entertainment/events/" href="
KansasCity.com'>http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/entertainment/events/">KansasCity.com events and entertainment listings - Straight from the Kansas City Star.
http://www.jazzkc.org/" href="
KC'>http://www.jazzkc.org/">KC Jazz Ambassadors
http://www.kcbluessociety.com" href="
KC'>http://www.kcbluessociety.com/">KC Blues Society
http://www.artslinks.org/calendar/findeveF.html" href="
ArtsLinks'>http://www.artslinks.org/calendar/findeveF.html">ArtsLinks calendar of exhibits and performances.
http://www.crossroadscommunityassociation.org/" href="
First'>http://www.crossroadscommunityassociation.org/">First Fridays - Gallery open houses in the Crossroads Arts District.
http://thezone.org" href="
The'>http://thezone.org/">The Zone music calendar - lists various rock shows and bands around town.
http://visitkc.com/calendar_of_events/events_calendar_home.cfm" href="
Convention'>http://visitkc.com/calendar_of_events/events_calendar_home.cfm">Convention and Visitors Bureau calendar of events.
http://upcoming.org/metro/us/mo/kc/" href="
Upcoming.org'>http://upcoming.org/metro/us/mo/kc/">Upcoming.org Kansas City calendar - new user-created collaborative events calendar.
http://aroundtownkc.com/community/events/calendar/" href="
Around'>http://aroundtownkc.com/community/events/calendar/">Around Town calendar from Time Warner Cable.
http://www.rainydaybooks.com/pagefile/events.html" href="
Rainy'>http://www.rainydaybooks.com/pagefile/events.html">Rainy Day Books author series - great series of lectures and readings from current authors.Area libraries:
http://www.kclibrary.org/calendar.cfm" href="
Kansas'>http://www.kclibrary.org/calendar.cfm">Kansas City, MO,
http://www.kckpl.lib.ks.us/Calendar.htm" href="
Kansas'>http://www.kckpl.lib.ks.us/Calendar.htm">Kansas City, KS,
http://mcpl.lib.mo.us/programs/" href="
Mid-Continent'>http://mcpl.lib.mo.us/programs/">Mid-Continent (Missouri suburbs), and
http://www.jocolibrary.org/?moduleid=" href="
http://www.jocolibrary.org/?moduleid=4&displaypageid=871" displaypageid="871">Johnson County, KS.
http://digitalcity.com/kansascity/" href="
AOL'>http://digitalcity.com/kansascity/">AOL City Guide for Kansas City.
http://kansascity.citysearch.com/section/events/" href="
CitySearch’s'>http://kansascity.citysearch.com/section/events/">CitySearch’s Kansas City events.
http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes/showtimes.html?z=" href="
http://movies.yahoo.com/showtimes/showtimes.html?z=kansas+city%2C+mo&r=sim" r="sim">Yahoo’s Kansas City movie listings.
Happy Holidays and have a grea
CHRISTMAS IN THE SKY
KUDL FM 98.1 presents their 10th Annual CHRISTMAS IN THE SKY
Wednesday, November 22 at the Longview Lake Public Beach
Located 1.5 miles south of I-470 on Raytown Road
For a MAP OF THE LAKE, click HERE.
* Gates open at 5 pm
*Treats and beverages will be available from the Salvation Army... donations welcome! Bob Evans pies and sandwiches also available.
* HOLIDAY STAGE SHOW at 6 pm
featuring the Independence Primary Choir Soloist Don Whiteand and The Wonderful World of Christmas Dancers from Monica's School of Dance in Lee's Summit
* KUDL's "Christmas In The Sky" at 7:30 pm (time is approximate)
All eyes turn to the sky for KUDL's 10th Annual holiday fireworks extravaganza choreographed to your favorite holiday music and simulcast on 98.1 KUDL. A highlight of this year's program will feature a 24" shell... the largest shell to be shot in Kansas City in more than two decades!
*
Jackson County's "Christmas In The Park" Opens at 8 pm
*Drive thru hundreds of lighted animated holiday displays in the park!
Enjoy the show with the KUDL Crew at Longview Lake Public Beach or pull up anywhere around the lake and TUNE YOUR RADIO TO 98.1 KUDL to enjoy the fireworks and holiday music program from the comfort of your car!
Happy Holidays!
Make Me Smile Monday - Kansas City 2006
Some great photos of things going on in KC!
Make Me Smile Monday - Kansas City 2006
Make Me Smile Monday - Kansas City 2006Some great photos of things going on in KC!
Kansas City Weekend - November 17 thru 19, 2006
It's time to kickoff the holidays in Kansas City. Let the celebration begin!!
Hy Vee stores, in support of the City Union Mission, will present their 7th annual Stuff a Truck for the City Union Mission event throughout the holiday season. Stores will be offering $5 and $10 donation vouchers for customers to purchase. These vouchers will be used by the City Union Mission to purchase urgently needed items for their food pantry. 100% of your donation will go to the City Union Mission and will allow for purchasing needed items at Hy Vee's cost! It's a great and convenient way to share our blessings with those less fortunate than us this holiday season!
Junior Broadcaster ContestNovember 18, 10AM to 1PM
Nebraska Furniture Mart will host the 'Junior Broadcaster' contest in cooperation with KCTV5. If your child is 18 years and under, and a talented "broadcaster", they could win a television, tickets to a Chiefs football game AND the opportunity to appear on KCTV5's Chiefs KickOff Show in December!
Book Signing with Caroline KennedySaturday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. at the Truman Presidential Library
Caroline Kennedy will make a special appearance for the opening of
A Child in the White House: Caroline Kennedy’s Dolls. Ms. Kennedy will read selections from her book A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children and autograph her books.
Sleigh Rides with SantaNovember 17 - December 23 on the Independence Square, Main & Lexington Streets, Independence, Mo.
10AM to 5PM daily.
"Christmas with the Trumans"November 17 - December 30 at the Harry S Truman Home, 223 N Main Street, Independence, MO 8:30AM to 5PM Admission is free. This exhibt will feature toys, ornaments, and other Truman family memorabilia.
Best Little Arts & Crafts ShowNovember 17-18 at the Sermon Center in Independence.
Over 120 vendors will be participating!
10AM to 7PM Friday, 10 to 6 Saturday. Free admission!
Holiday Candlelight TourNovember 17-18 at the Harris-Kearney House, 4000 Baltimore Ave., Kansas City, Mo.
Ring in the holidays at the oldest home in Kansas City!Join the Harris Family and their friends as they prepare for the 1856 Holiday Season.
5:30PM to 8:30PM Admission: $5 for adults, $3 for seniors and students.
Marillac Enchanted ForestNovember 17- December 2 in Union Station, 30 W. Pershing Road, Kansas City, Mo.
Come see over 100 holiday-themed trees and wreaths on display!
10AM to 5PM Admission is free! 816-460-2020
Holiday Lights & Festive SightsNovember 18 starting at 5PM to about 9PM
This family-friendly event will include a visit from Santa Claus, entertainment from popular children's performer Jim Cosgrove (Mr. Stinky Feet), a holiday tree and street lighting. Free S'mores and hot chocolate, street vendors, local choirs, and fireworks!
Laura Ingalls Wilder ChristmasNovember 18
at the National Frontier Trails Museum, 318 W Pacific Avenue, Independence, MO
Workshops on making cards and popcorn balls. Admission: $6 per workshop, $10 for both. Workshops start at 10AM
Leonid Meteor Shower PartyNovember 18
Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, 407 N. Lafrenz Rd., Liberty, MO
9PM to 11:30PM
Astro-physicists are predicting an outburst of meteors with the Leonid Shower this year. In the early evening you might see 25 to 50 an hour and from 11 p.m. to 12 a.m. there could be as many as 100 meteors. We will also view nebulas, globular and open clusters, the Andromeda Galaxy, and more through our powerful Dobsonian and Celestron telescopes (magnifying objects up to 300x). Remember to dress appropriately for the weather. It¹s okay to bring lawn chairs and blankets per your preference. Call 816-781-8598 for more info.
Admission: Non-members: $6 adults, $4 children; Members: $4 adults, $2 children.
Queen City Mayor's Tree LightingNovember 18 on the Independence Square, Main & Lexington Streets
2PM to 7PM, Admission is free! Come join Santa, have a sleigh ride, and watch live entertainment! The tree lighting is at 5:55 followed by a Free Concert performed by Bobby Simkins singing popular Elvis Presley Christmas music.
The Legends 2nd Annual Lighting CeremonyNovember 18 at the Legends at Village West, I-435 and Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, KS
The holiday season kicks off with The Legends 2nd Annual Lighting Ceremony.
The ceremony features live music, a local celebrity to flip the switch, an appearance by Santa and much more. Admission is free! 7PM to 8PM
The Northern Lights at Zona RosaNovember 18 at Zona Rosa, I-29 & Barry Rd., Kansas City, MO
Zona Rosa restores the local tradition of using crowns as holiday decor with a variety of lighted crowns featured throughout the center during the holidays. Zona Rosa will kick off the holiday season with a special lighting ceremony to spotlight the large crowns hung above the streets, as well as the featured Christmas tree in the Town Square. The community is invited to the free program including the official arrival of Santa Claus, carolers and a variety of children’s activities. Festivities begin at 6PM.
"Handel's Messiah"presented by the Kansas City Symphony
November 17th & 18th.
Fridays performance will be at the Church of the Resurrection, 13720 Roe Blvd., Leawood, KS
Saturday's performance will be at the Community of Christ Auditorium, 1001 W. Walnut, Independence, MO
Both shows will be at 8PM. Admission: $25, $35.
Call 816-471-0400 for ticket info
Warm your holidays with this mosaic of the sciptures, Handel's most famous work, and possibly the most glorious choral piece ever written!
Jingle Bell Run 2006 November 19 at Zona Rosa. Starts at 9:00am
Imagine the sounds of hundreds of thousands of bells jingling as people from coast to coast run, walk and cheer in the Arthritis Foundation Jingle Bell/Walk Run for Arthritis®. Across the country, bells will be ringing as people like you tie jingle bells to their shoelaces, don festive holiday costumes and join friends and neighbors in support of the Arthritis Foundation’s mission to prevent, control and cure arthritis and related diseases. Join us for a 5K Run or a 1 Mile Family Fun Walk.
Anchors & AngelsNovember 19 at 6 p.m.
This event will take place at the SteinMart store located at 14401 Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park, Kansas. The holiday fashion show will feature Fox 4's Shelli Lockhart & Susan Hiland, KCTV 5's Karen Fuller & Katie Horner and The Kansas City Royal's Toby Cook modeling holiday party wear. The evening will include refreshments, carolers from the Church of the Resurrection Youth Choir and discount on SteinMart merchandise. All proceeds benefit TLC for Children and Families, a non-profit agency located in Olathe, KS that serevs children who are victims of abuse and neglect. Admission: $10
For other events going on this weekend, check out these links:
Kansas City Weekend Events2 Night in Kansas CityVisitKC.com's Calendar of EventsKansas City Homes and GardensKC Story ezineThe Pitch’s
events calendar and
music calendar.
KansasCity.com events and entertainment listings - Straight from the Kansas City Star.
KC Jazz AmbassadorsKC Blues SocietyArtsLinks calendar of exhibits and performances.
First Fridays - Gallery open houses in the Crossroads Arts District.
The Zone music calendar - lists various rock shows and bands around town.
Convention and Visitors Bureau calendar of events.
Upcoming.org Kansas City calendar - new user-created collaborative events calendar.
Around Town calendar from Time Warner Cable.
Rainy Day Books author series - great series of lectures and readings from current authors.
Area libraries:
Kansas City, MO,
Kansas City, KS,
Mid-Continent (Missouri suburbs), and
Johnson County, KS.
AOL City Guide for Kansas City.CitySearch’s Kansas City events.
Yahoo’s Kansas City movie listings.
Happy Holidays and have a grea
TDay Countdown
Thanksgiving Day is one week from today!
I don't know about you, but I sure look forward to the family, friends, food, and general joyfullness of this day. It's the start of the holidays, in my book.
Though I'm a week early, I don't want you to forget the "Christmas in the Sky" event that takes place the night BEFORE Thanksgiving. It's a HUGE fireworks display over Longview Lake, with synchronized music of the season, which is simulcast on KUDL FM 98.1. So if you get anywhere withing a couple of miles of the lake, you can sit in the car, tune in the music, and enjoy the show! This is the 10th annual display, and I'm looking forward to it!
Hazy Shades of Winter
It looks like the day Paul Simon was writing about when he said:
Ahhh, seasons change with the scenery
Weaving time in a tapestry
Wont you stop and remember me
At any convenient time
Funny how my memory slips while looking over manuscripts
Of unpublished rhyme
Drinking my vodka and lime
But look around, leaves are brown now
And the sky is a hazy shade of winter
Look around, leaves are brown
Theres a patch of snow on the ground
You can feel winter coming today. It's cold and wet and raw.
Take a look around. Let your memory soak in the smells, sights and sounds as the brown leaves are blown across the barren ground. Let your heart tell you how it feels today. It might surprise you to find that it's not all that sad.
KC Quotes - Buck O'Neil
God's been good to me. They didn't think Buck was good enough to be in the Hall of Fame. That's the way they thought about it and that's the way it is, so we're going to live with that. Now, if I'm a Hall of Famer for you, that's all right with me. Just keep loving old Buck. Don't weep for Buck. No, man, be happy, be thankful.
~Buck O'Neil
Make Me Smile Monday - There's No Place....
I spent a wonderful week in St. Louis. My brain is full of all the technical details of databases and operating systems that I was sent there to learn. My soul is full of the churches, art, architecture, and monuments that I was fortunate enough to visit. I had very enjoyable drives both to and from the city on the Mississippi. I saw things, heard things, tasted things, that will remain in my memory for a very long time to come.
And yet, just like Dorothy in last night's presentation of The Wizard of Oz, I must confess that there is no place like home. The stir of the heart as I topped a rise and saw the familiar Kansas City skyline in the distance is one of the most pleasurable of feelings in life. It made me smile.
Toasted Ravioli?
Still in St. Louis, and missing KC.
There is a lot here to see. The architecture, at least in the parts of town I've been in, is often magnificent. St. Louis is an older city than KC, and seems to have preserved a lot more of the old buildings than we have. That's interesting to me.
I'm still on a quest to find out "What food is St. Louis known for?". I was beginning to think it was chop suey. In an hours drive around town last night, we must have seen at least 10 "chop suey houses". There was LeRoy's Chop Suey House, The House of Chop Suey, Lamont's BBQ and Chop Suey, etc. I'd not heard of chop suey in YEARS, and suddenly, it was on every street corner! But EVERYONE I've asked about St. Louis' signature food tells me it's toasted ravioli. Go figure. I've tried it once, and wasn't overly impressed. But I've been told a couple of places to go eat at that are supposed to have the best toasted ravioli in town. So maybe I'll be changing my opinion.
Hope all is well in KC. I heard there was a GREEN sunrise there yesterday? What's up with THAT?
Fog Lifting
It was REALLY foggy at 4am today, but now, at sunrise, it seems to be lifting. I certainly hope so! The damp, cold, foggy weather was settling clear into my bones. I'm ready for some sunshine!
Funny how dreary weather makes a trip to another town seem even lonelier.
Anyway, here's a picture of the arch at sunrise. It sure is a big thing!
Fogged in in St. Louis
It was VERY foggy last night and this morning. Looking out my window on the 16th floor, I felt like I was walking on a cloud. At times, I couldn't make out the arch which is 2 blocks away.
We ate dinner last night in a little Italian place, which was pretty good, but no better than Cascones or Garozzos in Kansas City.
The question came up about "local foods". New York is known for cheesecake. Kansas City is known for steaks and BBQ. Does anyone know what St. Louis is known for? If you do, please let me know! I'd like to try the "local specialty". So far, none of the people HERE seem to know!
Meet Me in St. Louie on Make Me Smile Monday
I look out my window, and there is the famed Gateway Arch, standing tall and proud in a storm-threatened sky. Behind it flows the Mississippi River, famed waterway dividing the east from the west in our country. Yep, I'm in St. Louis!
I have to admit, I'm one of the biggest "goofy tourists" there is. I'm in St. Louis this week for a class from IBM. With what one grizzled old co-worker once termed "an extremely low delight level", I'm looking forward to seeing some of the sights here in town. The Arch has always been on my lists of things to see. I hope to get an hour or two over there sometime before I leave.
Hope things in KC are starting off well this week! I'll keep you posted of my explorations here.
Kansas City Weekend - November 3-5, 2006
November is starting out a bit cooler than recent years. This fall has been more like the ones I remember as a kid. Cooler temperatures, and a lot of beautiful color in the trees. The colder weather kind of brings the holiday mood in a bit sooner, so get out there and enjoy it this weekend!
2nd Annual Holiday Festival of Trees & Open House This event is goin gon from Nov 2 thru Nov 5 all around the Independence Square.
It's
First Friday at the Crossroads again. Lots of great art to check out, and maybe find the perfect gift for someone special!
American Royal Hunter/Jumper Horse Show The Hunter/Jumper Grand Prix - Don't miss the excitement, fun and adrenaline rush of this Olympic-caliber event. At the American Royal complex 8am to 9pm all weekend.
Clown Workshop Sat November 4 from 9-5 The Northland Clown Guild Alley 217 will present a free clown workshop at North Kansas City Hospital. This clowning around will be held in the Lewis and Clark room at the hospital, 2800 Clay Edwards Drive, North Kansas City, Missouri. RSVP to Cheryl at 816-734-0636 or e-mail clownalley217@hotmail.com.
Evening with Matthew Kelly This bestselling author of 12 books and renowned speaker will give free presentation: "Nine lessons for Enduring Happiness". This event will be held at St. Therese Church 7207 NW Highway 9, Parkville, MO. Info: 816-741-2800
Those are just a FEW of the things happening in our city this weekend! To find more, here are some links from my own list of sources:
Kansas City Weekend Events2 Night in Kansas CityVisitKC.com's Calendar of EventsKansas City Homes and GardensKC Story ezineIf that doesn't give you enough to do, check out these listings for more events in our great city, courtesy of
blogKC :
The Pitch’s
events calendar and
music calendar.
KansasCity.com events and entertainment listings - Straight from the Kansas City Star.
KC Jazz AmbassadorsKC Blues SocietyArtsLinks calendar of exhibits and performances.
First Fridays - Gallery open houses in the Crossroads Arts District.
The Zone music calendar - lists various rock shows and bands around town.
Convention and Visitors Bureau calendar of events.
Upcoming.org Kansas City calendar - new user-created collaborative events calendar.
Around Town calendar from Time Warner Cable.
Rainy Day Books author series - great series of lectures and readings from current authors.
Area libraries:
Kansas City, MO,
Kansas City, KS,
Mid-Continent (Missouri suburbs), and
Johnson County, KS.
More sources:
AOL City Guide for Kansas City.CitySearch’s Kansas City events.
Yahoo’s Kansas City movie listings.
Have a great weekend
Coco Montoya and the Pirate Josh
Halloween in Kansas City. I don't know that there's a lot of tradition wrapped around that event. I haven't been out on Halloween in a long time, but wound up down at Knuckleheads last night to see blues/rock legend Coco Montoya. What a guitar man!
Sitting a bit down from me at the table was the Pirate Josh. Pirate Josh is only a pirate on Halloween. The REST of the year, he's an Elvis impersonator. He kept the table cracking up with his tales of Elvis parades here in KC, the people, the parties, his receptions as he cruises the casinos dressed as Elvis. Then he'd take off to make the rounds of the club, shaking hands, toasting with strangers who were no longer strangers, or swaying across the dance floor like it was the deck of some really weird pirate ship. He added a considerable amount of color to the evening.
Coco Montoya is one powerful singer and guitar player. Playing everything from soft, sweet melodious notes to blistering hot blues licks, Coco gave a tremendous show. You can tell why other legendary bluesmen, such as John Mayall, hold him in high esteem. Listening to his plaintive blues blending with the powerful sounds of the train engines and horns just a few feet away from the club is an experience that will remain etched in my memory, something that has to be experienced to be truly understood. It was truly an honor to get to shake that man's hand. If you weren't there last night, you missed a once in a lifetime moment.
Many thanks to Frank and Mary, Coco Montoya, and the Pirate Josh for making this Halloween a truly memorable evening.
