I Found My Thrill

I attended events at Kansas City's best and worst performance spaces last night. The Kauffman Center For the Performing Arts is so striking that "I felt this thrill going up my leg" while I explored the facility. I felt sweat streaming down my leg as I tried to hear a country artist sing "I Love Black People" at the Power & Light District's outdoor stage. As I've noted elsewhere, the space's sonic problems could be dramatically improved if the surrounding bars and restaurants would stop blaring music while performers were on stage. Power & Light had Kauffman beat in one regard last night. The former served cookies and water while the latter offered draft beer.

Benchmark

The beer and burrito diet isn't working. I've graduated from "Kansas City skinny"™ to just plain fat.

The Golden State

This is where I belong.

Over the Rainbow

I'm sunburned. My muscles ache from bicycling and body surfing. My belly holds so much of the Pacific Ocean that I don't have much room for beer. My bed is dusted with sand. Yes, my vacation is off to a perfect start.

Pub Stub

I don't know if living a full mile from the nearest watering hole is a blessing or a curse. My current suburban office, on the other hand, is surrounded by several alcohol-oriented establishments. I tried a brand new one, McGuire's Tavern on 87th Street, yesterday. The informal joint is refreshingly unambitious. Televisions are tuned to sports channels as hair metal plays in the background. Based on one beer-free meal, the output of the kitchen seems no better or worse that one would reasonably expect of a neighborhood pub in Johnson County. It's too bad I live several miles away.

Peduncle

I like to think of myself as different from most men. You know- sensitive and stuff. It's not entirely true. Just like most oafs, I only buy flowers under duress. While the very concept irritates me, I don't go about it the normal way. I scoff at the price tags as I enter a floral shop and tell the clerk how much I'm actually willing to spend. The staff usually accommodates me with an armful of flowers.

Strange Intelligence

The Heart of America Shakespeare Festival isn't perfect. The production values, for instance, aren't exactly to my taste. I loved this year's version of Macbeth all the same. My summer in Kansas City wouldn't be complete without spending a theatrical evening in Southmoreland Park.