Metal, Mud and Tears

I considered crying at Rockfest. Three hours into the music festival I was already soaked to the bone and desperately hungry. I knew I couldn't leave for another nine hours. With all the brawling, slipping and sliding going on I was sure a situation like this or this would shatter my trick knee. I took this picture of a brawl and shot this video before my camera broke. Happy birthday to me. The news that Rockfest would be allowed to return to Penn Valley Park in 2011 reminded me of my early afternoon misery. But a funny thing happened that day. The quality of the music gradually improved. And more significantly, the mud-soaked freak show grew so surreal that I became completed captivated by the calamity.

The 2010 Charlie Parker Gravesite Memorial Service

About 75 people, not including the six musicians in my embedded video and a large contingent representing the Dirty Force Brass Band, were present at the annual Charlie Parker gravesite service at Lincoln Cemetery on August 29, 2010. Dennis Winslett led a rendition of "Now's the Time." The event marked the 90th anniversary of Parker's birth. (Cross-posted from Plastic Sax.)

Mac Lethal's Sunstorm

The video for Mac Lethal's profane love letter to Kansas City has finally arrived.

Hummus Hymn

Haphazardly organized, the Jerusalem Bakery is the stuff of a so-called efficiency expert's worst nightmare. The establishment is ridiculously random and confusing. Here's what you need to know- the good-but-not-quite-great buffet is $8.49 for lunch and about $10 for dinner. Not surprisingly, there's apparently no official site for the restaurant, so I'll link to KC Lunch Spot's favorable review. (Jerusalem Bakery is on Westport Road between State Line and Southwest Trafficway.)

No Mojitos

A couple Mojitos might have changed my attitude. But I wasn't drinking during my recent visit to Cantina Del Rey in Waldo. I just wanted my water glass refilled and a plate of respectable Mexican food. I didn't receive either. A harried waiter did the best he could while the hostess studied Facebook on her laptop at the bar. Should I ever return to the good-looking restaurant, I'll stick to the drink menu.

Damn Yankees

As I sorted through a kid's dusty collection of baseball autographs and cards earlier this week, I uncovered the undated item pictured here. I'm guessing it's from 2005. Here's the complete text:

Thank you so much for writing to me. I appreciate and value the support I receive from my fans, and enjoy receiving your letters.

I do receive quite a few letters requesting autographs each week. Due to the heavy volume, it is not possible for me to fill each request. I apologize for this, and have returned the item you originally enclosed with your letter.

Best regards,
Alex Rodriguez

You may be able to see that a disappointed child scrubbed his attempt to make A-Rod's signature seem genuine. The Royals may be one of the sorriest teams in baseball, but at least I'm not rooting for the Yankees tonight.

Flea Circus

Great beer list, fatty foods and a dingy vibe- what's not to like about Westport Flea Market? Yet I only manage to darken the door of the institution once every year or two. That's gotta change.

Slab

BB's Lawnside BBQ is one of my favorite joints in Kansas City. I realize, however, that it's just a tad too funky for some people. Brobecks is a more conventional suburban substitute. From its lighting to its location, Brobecks is a toned down version of BB's. It has a similar menu and general aesthetic. Mose Allison and Dr. John played while I chatted with the efficient staff during a recent visit. It may not be BB's, but Brobecks works for me.

TV Eye

I served as window dressing at a political watch party last night. Aside from casting a ballot earlier in the day, I had no emotional or financial investment in any of the movers and shakers in the room. Instead of glad-handing voters, I studied the extensive gauntlet of television news crews. While I'll always favor the printed word, I gained deeper appreciation for television personalities and their support staffs. These people endure hours of boredom just to get one shot or interview. I don't know what they did during their downtime before Facebook and Twitter came along.