The Happy In Bag Muxtape

I chose M.I.A. over Wilco last night. If I drove a car with a CD player I might have listened to a mix like this on my way to the concert in Lawrence. It contains of a few of my favorite relatively recent songs from Kansas City and Lawrence-based artists.

The Abracadabras, Tech N9ne, Fourth of July, OK Jones, Olympic Size, Mac Lethal, Reach, Approach, The Architects, Kristie Stremel, The New Tragedies and Deep Thinkers aren't necessarily the trendiest acts. They are, however, among the area's best.

What about jazz? Go here.

Over Easy

I usually don't like getting yelled at. But yesterday was gloriously different. In the checkout line at my least favorite grocery store, the cashier and I discovered that I'd tossed an incorrect item into my shopping cart. As the helpful store manager sorted it out, the haughty matron in line behind me became apoplectic. She rapped her designer pen on the counter like a Talbots-clad Keith Moon. Instead of becoming annoyed or embarrassed as she screeched about the two-minute delay, I felt giddy as the weariness and frustration I'd accumulated over the course of the day evaporated. The louder she complained, the more refreshed I became. Thanks, cranky lady!

In Bloom

Lotus blossom. Black orchid. Blossom Dearie. Plastic bouquet.

A Cure For Pain

Hey, sad sacks! Get down to Crown Center immediately to catch the remainder of Fiesta Kansas City. I had a ridiculous amount of fun Friday night at shows by Son Venezuela and Grupo Control. My heckling of the pitcher at the baseball batting cage didn't go over very well, but maybe the grito I've prepared for tonight's contest will redeem me.

Safety Clown Says

Ice cream trucks are subversive. One moment a seven-year-old is passively shooting hoops in a driveway. Then a distant distinctive din is registered. It's getting closer! The frenzy commences. "Money! Where's money? Need money!" Momentary bliss or temporary heartbreak ensues. It's one of my earliest memories. And nothing's changed.

Rapping Your Knuckles

It happened again last night. Several people told me that it was their first visit to the roadhouse about a mile southeast of the Isle of Capri casino. Even though Knuckleheads has been presenting live music for a few years, it's still an undiscovered gem. Take it from a guy who loved the old Grand Emporium as much as anyone- Knuckleheads is every bit as welcoming as the Main Street institution. While it's difficult to get excited about many Knuckleheads bookings, highlights in May include Paul Thorn, the Asylum Street Spankers and James McMurtry. That's Kathleen Edwards in action yesterday.

Trade Sanctions

Equal parts Whole Foods, Costco and Berbiglia, Trader Joe's is one of my favorite retailers. I love its lively selection of fresh produce, international food and cheap wine. Alas, it's not an option in Kansas City. My guess is that the California-based chain won't be here anytime soon. Trader Joe's likes to saturate markets- St. Louis has four locations and Chicago has 15- but Kansas' antiquated liquor laws disallow the combination of groceries and alcohol.

Big Shoulders

I toiled as a traveling salesman in a previous life. These days packing a suitcase is a novel experience. Although I reside in Kansas City by choice, getting out of town every so often is very refreshing. Here are thoughts and images from my visit last week to Wrigley Field and Millennium Park.

I'm Stalkerific!

You can have Scarlett Johansson, Kate Moss and Kate Hudson. My celebrity crush list is limited to Beyonce, Maria Bartiromo and Erin Andrews. I was thrilled three days ago when I received a text from an associate informing me that not only was my favorite sports reporter live on ESPN, she was standing ninety feet from my seat at Wrigley Field. After the game I joined a scrum of pathetic losers ardent admirers hoping to get a closer glimpse of the star. I failed to have my picture taken with her; I was just one false move from getting tased by the security guy in the background. For her part, Andrews was very nice to her scary stalkers fans.

Mind the Popsicle Stand

I'm enjoying a brief change of scenery.