Kansas City Kitty

Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival This Weekend!

2009-06-25T22:42:00.003-05:00

Come out to see the royalty of the Kansas City blues scene perform at the Kansas City Kansas Street Blues Festival this Friday and Saturday, June 24th & 25th.

It's being held inside the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Kansas, 13th & State Avenue in KCK.

Check out the great lineup, schedule and other information at kckstreetbluesfest.com.

Get Quackin'

2009-06-24T21:27:00.004-05:00

Whoa. It's been awhile since I have posted here!

This Sunday is the Duck Derby on the Plaza. The event is from 11am-4pm. I have never been to it, but I would imagine watching over 20, 000 ducks being dumped into Brush Creek would be worth watching! I have always wanted to go to this and am very excited that for once, I did not hear about it after the fact.

This event benefits the Children’s Therapeutic Learning Center (Children’s TLC).... "a fully accredited preschool, providing high-quality early education to children with special needs as well as those who are typically developing. Founded in the fall of 1947, Children's TLC serves students with Autism Spectrum, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida, and a variety of physical and developmental disabilities ranging from moderate to profound."

Free concerts at The Legends this summer

2009-06-05T14:59:00.002-05:00

I received a press release with information about the upcoming free concerts featuring local and regional bands, along with Wonderscope Presents “Kid’s Zone” activities at The Legends at Village West.

Here are the details:

Live at the Legends presented by Providence Medical Center – FREE concert series

Every Saturday from June 6 through August 29, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Labor Day, 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Location: The center courtyard fountain at The Legends, 1843 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, KS 66111. Rain location will be at Jazz: A Louisiana Kitchen (5:00 - 7:00 p.m.).

2009 Summer Schedule:

June 6: Soca Jukebox (Calypso, Reggae, Rasta Rock) 5-8 p.m.

June 13: Red Guitar (Indie Rock) 5-8 p.m.

June 20: Lipriddle (Indie, Alternative, & Current Rock) 5-8 p.m.

June 27: The Shanks (Classic/Current Rock) 5-8 p.m.

July 4: John Joiner Band (Progressive, Country, Rock) 5-8 p.m.

July 11: Mikey Needleman (Acoustic, Pop, Rock) 5-8 p.m.

July 18: 90 Minutes (90s Rock) 5-8 p.m.

July 25: The Taxis (80s Party Band) 5-8 p.m.

August 1: Drew 6 (Country, Pop, Rock) 5-8 p.m.

August 8: Heather Thornton (Indie, Pop, Jazz) 5-8 p.m.

August 15: Angel Rattay (Country) 5-8 p.m.

August 22: Kirsten Paludan (Ambient, Indie, Folk) 5-8 p.m.

August 29: Wonderland (Pop, Funk, Rock) 5-8 p.m.

September 7: The KC Allstars (Dance, Top 40, Party Songs) Noon-3 p.m.

Free Summer Concerts

2009-05-31T10:12:00.002-05:00

I received a list of the Power & Light District concerts for the summer. Here's what's coming up:

Blues

June 7 – Trampled Under Foot/Dog House Daddies

June 14 – JD Summers

June 21 – Levee Tow

Country

June 4 – Craig Morgan

June 11 – Lost Trailers

June 18 – The Transients

June 25 – Chuck Wicks

July 2 – Dierks Bentley

July 9 – James Otto

July 16 – Cory Morrow

July 23 – Keith Anderson

July 30 – John Joiner Band/County Road 5

August 6 – Damon Smith/Noe Palma

August 13 – Joe Nichols (Brent Baker opener)

August 20 – Adam Gregory

August 27 – Hazzard County

September 4 – Justin Moore

Rock

June 3 – Days of the New/Sponge

June 10 – Sometimes Three/Red Guitar

June 17 – Alien Ant Farm

June 24 – Pomeroy

July 1 – Lit

July 10 – Eve 6

July 15 – The Republic Tigers

July 24 – Better Than Ezra

July 29 – The Bravery

August 5 – The Leo Project/Red Line Chemistry

August 12 – Blues Traveler

August 19 – Filter

Friday Night Live! Series

June 5 – Rattle & Hum

June 12 – KC/DC

June 19 – Stairway to Zeppelin

June 26 – KARMA

July 3 – Dave Matthews Band Tribute

July 8 – The Stolen Winnebagos

July 17 – The Zeros

July 31 – Pomeroy

August 7 – Perpetual Change

August 14 – Imminent Domain

August 21 – The Zeros

August 28 - Pomeroy

Know of any other free shows in the area this summer? E-mail them to me at kckitty (a t) gmail (dot) com.

Listen to Local Bands and Support Local Non-Profits

2009-04-17T09:15:00.003-05:00

This Saturday, April 18, 2009, the Center for Justice and Sustainability will present Rock Out Reach Out.

The event takes place at Crosstown Station, 1522 McGee, and will be part concert, part benefit. Popular bands will perform downstairs, and nonprofit organizations will exhibit their work upstairs.

Members of the audience will get involved by designating their cover charge to one of 14 participating nonprofit organizations working to promote justice and sustainability in the local community.

Popular local bands including Pet Comfort, Abracadabras, and Namelessnumberheadman, will perform and 96.5 The Buzz’s Jeriney, host of Homegrown Buzz, will emcee the event. In addition to the live performances, these bands and others including Ha Ha Tonka, Mac Lethal and Flee the Seen, are featured on the free, downloadable "Rock Out Reach Out 2009" album.

For more information visit http://www.rockoutreachout.org.

KC Twestival is this Thursday

2009-02-09T15:07:00.003-06:00

This Thursday, February 12th beginning at 6:00 p.m., the local social media community will be at Tower Tavern in Martini Corner for their part of the international Twestival initiative benefiting Charity:Water.

Tickets are $25 and thanks to generous sponsors including Tower Tavern, Boulevard Brewing Company, Svedka, Two Seconds Away and Kyle Blake, all of the money goes to Charity:Water and you get to enjoy food, drinks and live music at no extra charge.

Visit the KC Twestival site for more information and to purchase your tickets.

3rd Annual Outback Luncheon Benefiting SAFEHOME

2009-02-03T09:28:00.003-06:00

Soroptimist International of Kansas City invites you to lunch in support of SAFEHOME domestic violence shelter to help them further their mission of eliminating domestic violence and sexual assault.

Saturday, February 21st from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Outback Steakhouse
6870 Johnson Drive, Mission, Kansas

Tickets are $25 per person, which includes appetizer, salad, choice of entree and dessert. Meals are donated by Outback Steakhouse, so 100% of the ticket cost goes to SAFEHOME.

There will also be a silent auction with all proceeds going to SAFEHOME. Donations of silent auction items welcome.

Tickets may be purchased at the Little Gallery Frame Shop, 5002 State Line Road, Mission, KS or download order form here and order by mail.

RSVP and help spread the word by inviting your Facebook friends here.

JayRock 4 Benefit Concert featuring Ultimate Fakebook and Republic Tigers

2009-01-13T16:23:00.003-06:00

On Thursday, February 5th at 6:00 p.m., Ultimate Fakebook and Republic Tigers will be co-headlining the JayRock4 Benefit Concert to support Jaydoc, which provides free health care in the Kansas City area and the social education of medical students.

Tickets are $15 in advance at Uptown Theatre or Ticketmaster, $18 at the door.

You can find more information and RSVP on their Facebook event page.

Help support free health care and the local music scene at the same time!

The JayDoc Free Clinic is the ONLY student run AND student governed free clinic in the country.

They are the only clinic in Kansas City that:

- Provides absolutely free care to ALL patients

- Requires no patient identification or proof of income to obtain services

- Receives ALL funding from community grants and student-organized fundraisers

Shatto bottle shortage!

2009-01-08T13:36:00.003-06:00

Shatto Milk drinkers! According to Chimpotle at Hot Blog on a Stick, Shatto is having some bottle supply issues and needs you to return your empties for re-use. They especially need the quart-sized bottles, so here's your chance to take your bottles back to the store and get your deposit money back.

If you can't remember where you got your bottle(s), here's where Shatto products are sold.

Theft leaves local animal shelter needing help

2008-11-20T11:40:00.002-06:00

I received this from The Pet Connection today:

We have had a small tragedy at The Pet Connection. Yesterday, we were the victim of a crime that will have grave costs to our pets or for those that we are not able to rescue. Our trailer and all the supplies for building 8 new dog and cat rooms was stolen. I am so sad, disappointed, and everyone at our facility is feeling a little defeated. We got most of the supplies donated and spent two days loading it all for TPC so that the cost would be minimal. Replacement value of our loss: $4,000. We were going to start construction over Thanksgiving. Our Christmas gift to the homeless pets was an important one. We estimate that these rooms will help us successfully house and rescue 15-40 additional pets each month. Almost 70 percent of the rescued dogs at our facility were scheduled to be euthanized in area shelters simply because of space constraints.

If anyone can send additional funding for this project, we would really appreciate it. We need help. I know that together, we can make this horrible turn of events seem small.

If we do not receive a rally from our friends, we will not be able to complete the project until much later. I'm turning away about a hundred animals a month, please help me. We need these resources to be available as soon as possible. We needed them yesterday.

If you can afford a donation of any size, please consider helping out this great local animal shelter.

November KC Blogger Meetup

2008-11-14T13:20:00.003-06:00

Join us next Tuesday, November 18th anytime after 5:00 p.m.

Harry's Country Club in the River Market area

112 Missouri Avenue

Kansas City, MO

Comment on Spyder's post if you can make it.

Buy Booze and Save the Environment

2008-10-17T14:38:00.002-05:00

This fall, Carrotmob KC approached 15 different Midtown area businesses with an interesting proposal. "We'll bring a mob of paying customers, if you commit the highest percentage of revenue to going green."

World of Spirits (1722 W. 39th St.) won with a high bid of 24%. This means that on Tuesday, October 21, 2008, 24% of the gross revenue collected between the hours of 5 and 10 p.m. will be used to make this business more energy efficient.

Any purchase from World of Spirits, including alcoholic beverages, soda, sweets, cleaning products, and health and beauty products, is included in the discount. In addition, there will be barrels where people can buy and donate food to Harvesters, the local community food network.

How exactly will the "green" money be used?
A team of energy experts from Hathmore Technologies and Metzler Remodeling is conducting an energy analysis of the store and will recommend a list of all the improvements and the costs associated with them. After the event, Carrotmob will tally up how much the mob spent and work with the energy experts and World of Spirits to ensure 24% of that total is spent on energy efficiency improvements. Carrotmob will publicize the improvements via our website and news releases.

Check out this video news release to get even a better idea of what Carrotmob KC is doing.

Winter Donation Drive-Thru Scheduled to Help Needy Pets

2008-10-14T16:26:00.002-05:00

This Sunday, October 19, 2008, Spay & Neuter Kansas City, a nonprofit organization formed to promote spaying and neutering as a primary means of decreasing pet overpopulation, is kicking off a Winter Donation Drive to help needy pets in our community at a special drive-thru event at 3710 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.

Donations will help support their programs and enable the organization to purchase items such as dog houses, hay, food and other pet necessities that will be distributed to needy pets over the cold winter months this year to help improve their quality of life as well as provide necessary spaying and neutering.

The economic crisis has forced many supporters to tighten their budgets; however due to many families struggeling at this time, the organization is seeing an increase in calls to help needy pets in our community. Monetary donations are desperately needed to support the programs and will help provide pets in this community the comfort they urgently need, get them spayed or neutered and or cover other necessary expenses.

Monetary donations can be dropped off at the clinic on Sunday, October 19th from 11:00am to 3:00pm. A special donation drive-thru will be set up at 3710 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111 and the first 200 donors will receive a free goodie bag for their pet and a free cup of coffee compliments of Starbucks at 151st St. (gift bag and coffee available while supplies last) Donations can also be mailed to P.O. Box 410303, Kansas City, MO 64141. For more information on Spay & Neuter Kansas City visit our website at www.snkc.net

Donations such as dog houses, food and other pet necessities are always accepted, however in the process of moving Spay & Neuter Kansas City currently has extremely limited storage for those items and may not be able to accept a large amount of supplies until January of 2009. Monetary donations will allow them to purchase supplies as needed and help provide spay and neuter services as well as other necessities to help support the continuance of their programs.

Johnson County Library Used Book Sale: Thurs - Sat

2008-09-11T16:20:00.003-05:00

Need a good book for this rainy day? Check out the Used Book Sale at the Antioch Library, 8700 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Merriam, KS, September 11-13, 2008.

I went this morning and got 13 books for $9.50! In general, hardbacks are $1, paperbacks are 50 cents. A few small kids' books I bought were only 25 cents.

Gotta love it!

More info here:
http://www.jocolibrary.org/templates/JCL_NewsListItem.aspx?id=8094

Family Fun Fest benefiting Rose Brooks Center

2008-07-09T06:17:00.002-05:00

On Saturday, July 12th from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at The Zen Zone yoga studio, Babybumps.net is sponsoring the first annual Rose Brooks Family Fun Fest.

The Zen Zone is at 413 NW Murray Road in Lee's Summit, MO, (816) 554-ZONE (9663).

There will be 30 vendors to visit, plus a maternity fashion show, baby crawl contest, drawings, prizes, games and much more. For the kids, there'll be a moonwalk, face painters, yoga for kids and babies, KC Wolf, snowcones and prizes.

Adult admission is $5.00 or a donation of a size 4 diapers, formula, baby wipes or towels for the families served by the Rose Brooks Center. Kids attend free.

All proceeds go to the Rose Brooks Center, a comprehensive domestic violence agency that provides a full continuum of care including prevention programming, crisis intervention and other supportive services to thousands of women and children each year.

No plans for the 4th?

2008-07-04T07:06:00.004-05:00

Since there are plenty of places you can go to find out about local fireworks displays, I thought I'd tell you what I'm doing today.

Sunshine Yoga has two classes scheduled today. I'll probably choose the early one.
10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Gentle Beginner Anusara
Noon to 1:00 p.m. All Levels Anusara

This weekend, Good Ju Ju in the West Bottoms (1412 W. 12th Street, KCMO) is having a July Vintage Sale Event including their usual vintage and retro home decor, art, furniture and architectural pieces, as well as vintage books. Today at lunchtime they're grilling hot dogs and serving them to shoppers along with ice cold lemonade.

Country artists The Jessica Horn Band are booked at Toby Keith's I Love This Bar and Grill inside Harrah's Casino July 4th and 5th. Jessica writes some great modern country songs with catchy hooks. I'm looking forward to the live show.

So that's my day. What do you have planned?

June KC Blogger Meetup

2008-06-19T10:43:00.002-05:00

It's going to be Monday, June 23rd starting at 5:00 p.m.

Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
13th & Walnut
Kansas City, Mo

It'll be pint night - all drafts $2.75.

The KC Power & Light district parking is within the same building complex and is only $2 with validation...or lately you have to pay $2 to a dude right when you go into the garage. The lot across the street is a flat $5 if you park there after 5PM.

Please let Spyder know if you are coming so she can have a head count for tables.

Entertaining the kiddos in KC

2008-06-12T17:48:00.002-05:00

Being Savvy: The Blog for Parents has recently launched a Kansas City version. Here's what they say about their site:

Being Savvy Kansas City is here to help you make the most of all that our city has to offer during your child's magical early years. Everyday and off-beat activities, the latest thing to do, the tried and true and so much more - everything you need to know to help your preschooler learn and thrive.

Check them out!

Go Walk Your Dog!

2008-05-14T11:17:00.001-05:00

The weather is beautiful and perfect for you and your dogs to enjoy together!

Here are a few upcoming dog friendly events that benefit the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City:
Vinca's Dog Day at the Park
Sunday, May 18
4-7 pm
Penn Valley Park (next to off leash dog park)29th & Wyandotte, KCMO
People food provided by Boozefish Wine Bar and dog treats provided by Three Dog Bakery. (Please bring your own refreshments.)$15 per person, dogs are free.

21st Annual Dog-n-Jog
Sunday, June 8
7-10:30 am
Country Club Plaza (Wyandotte & Ward Parkway)1 & 2-mile run and walk
$25 until June 7 and $35 on June 8
Register at www.dognjog.org or call 913-596-1000 x 22

Dog-n-Jog is perfect for all dogs and their people. Enjoy the run/walk events, agility demos, training sessions, free pup cones from Sheridan's Frozen Custard, pet vendors, canine caricature artist, micro chip clinic, photos with your pet and so much more!

Kansas City Literary Festival features local blogger

2008-05-06T16:32:00.003-05:00

The Kansas City Literary Festival takes place the weekend of May 16th & 17th on the Country Club Plaza.

Local blogger Rita Arens of Surrender, Dorothy will be part of a literary blogging panel at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 17, on the Panels & Workshop Stage. Admission is free.

Rita's parenting anthology, coming out in fall 2008 from Chicago Review Press, is tentatively titled Sleep Is for the Weak: The best of the mommybloggers including Amalah, Finslippy, Fussy, Woulda Coulda Shoulda, Mom-101, and more!

Other featured speakers include:

"Richard from Texas" Vogt of Eat, Pray, Love, Friday, May 16, 2008, 5:30 p.m. at Community Christian Church, corner of 47th & Main. Event includes reception, presentation, Q&A and book signing. Advance tickets available at the Plaza Customer Service, 4745 Central Street, or reserve tickets for pickup 5/16 by e-mailing richardrsvp@yahoo.com. Tickets are $12 at the door without reservations.
Ron Hansen, author of The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, will take part in these Kansas City Literary Festival events on Saturday, May 17:

11:40 a.m. (Main Stage): Film panel with Hansen, also associate producer of the Casey Affleck-Brad Pitt movie The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford; Mitch Brian, local screenwriter; John Tibbets, interviewer. Free.
1:15 p.m. (Cinemark on the Plaza) Hansen will introduce a special screening of the Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.
1:40 p.m. (Specialty Authors Stage): Hansen unveils his new novel Exiles. Free.

April blogger meetup

2008-04-17T17:19:00.001-05:00

Thursday April 24th
starting at 5:00 p.m. (but I'll be there around 7:30)
at The LEVEE BAR & GRILL
816-561-2821
16 W. 43rd Street
Kansas City, MO 64111

HAPPY HOUR
Tuesday through Friday 2-7
$2 Beer, Well Drinks & Wine

NIGHTLY SPECIALS
Thursday - $2 Red Stripe

We have the deck reserved at 5 for 20-30 people.

Local radio commercials I instantly turn off

2008-04-17T17:16:00.003-05:00

The Bill Grigsby commercials for Jazz Restaurant. Who's the target demographic? Creepy old guys who think they're funny but they're not?
Centric Foss Training. Another good case for a new spokesperson.

That's all I can think of for now, but I switched channels on both of them just this morning.

Draws for Paws this Friday in Lee's Summit

2008-04-08T10:02:00.002-05:00

Kansas City Dog Advocates is having another Draws for Paws fundraiser this Friday, April 11th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Jerry's Bait Shop in downtown Lee's Summit. Cost is $7 at the door which includes pizza and, if previous events are any indication, a drink ticket.

Wednesday Night Diva Events at Houlihan's

2008-04-02T11:18:00.003-05:00

Lately I've come to appreciate Houlihan's more - probably because the one in Lee's Summit is quite close to The Zen Zone, and I've been eating there quite a bit. They seriously need to bring back their pecan tartlets, though.

Starting next Wednesday, April 9th through Wednesday, June 11th, Houlihan's is having weekly Wednesday Night Diva events. They're also sponsoring a "Sex and the City" movie sweepstakes and will be giving away two trips for two to fly to New York City to attend the SATC movie premiere. The events will include a menu of custom $5 martinis named after the “Sex and the City” characters.

Sounds like a pretty decent happy hour to me!

Texas Hold 'Em Poker Tournament for Charity

2008-03-26T16:17:00.002-05:00

Enjoy playing poker? Don't miss the very first
EFECT Fool’s Weekend Texas Hold’Em Poker Tournament
This Saturday, March 29th from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Location and Sponsor:
Eagles Lodge #4492
310-312 Main St.
Belton, Missouri

$50.00 Donation to Play
$30 Buy Back
(Must be 21 to participate)

Food will be provided.
Event to be followed by a DJ and Karaoke

Top Prizes*
$500 for 1st, $250 for 2nd, $100 for 3rd

*Top 3 prizes will be gift/debit cards

Proceeds from this event support EFECT – Encouraging Families with Exceptional Children Together – a local organization that helps families with disabilities from all over the metro area.

Reserve your spot by calling Craig Painter at 816-606-4450 or via e-mail.