Cutest here, thinking about the last couple months and this blog which I’ve put off doing for reasons unknown. Too much else to write about methinks. You are probably like us in that you have a “cause” or two or six that you particularly believe in and support as you can. You send money or you physically contribute in some way, you tell your friends, you go to “galas” or parties occasionally, you do what you can to help people, freedom, the environment, education, whatever.

From the shoreline paralleling the KC women’s soccer stadium overlooking the Missouri river, and as light rain had me wishing I had an umbrella, I couldn’t help but reflect on Tina Turner belting out those famous lyrics from Proud Mary as I watched over 600 participants in the MR340 float by. This doesn't capture 600 rowers but believe me, they were out there. This race began at 7 AM, not Cutest’s normal wake up-activities-time. So I, accompanied only with coffee in hand, wa

Yes, of course that's me, Cutest. There's even a picture of Cute in this blog. Why yes it is. Too too hot. Too hot for floating in the lake, with our legs stuck through the arm holes of oversized life vests. Too hot to sit in the big screened-in porch with a fan going overhead, trying to enjoy the placid beauty of the lake and trees and the occasional roar of a too-big boat. Too hot and too humid to breathe without feeling like the air is going to choke you. But, we said c

Thanks to Ease My Trip for this photo. Boom went the dynamite, or C-4 or whatever demolition teams use these days to implode a building. This past Sunday afternoon at 4 PM, one of the Plaza’s destination hotels, Embassy Suites, tumbled down. Unfortunately neither Cutest nor I were there to witness the explosive occasion. I was enjoying one of my frequent siestas while Cute was keeping her youthful figure* by doing miles in the condo’s workout room. I was bereft that I missed

Ahh, the provincial farmers' market. Where sweaty farmers display home (farm?) grown produce in shiny primary colors or coated with the remains of their earthly habitats from rickety tables adorned with penciled price signs which were always lower than at the grocery store. Well, not so much anymore if you travel to Overland Park Market's new digs at 79th and Marty. We went this morning (NOT at the crack of dawn) because I, Cutest, was looking for heirloom tomatoes (not to

Well, it's cloudy, raining, and the forecast is NOT good. So as an extra blog, in case you're extra bored like we are, we thought we'd show you fireworks. These are not the kind you usually see. We saw those last night in Blue Springs and were counting on more tonight . . but we'll see. Those forecasts are so often wrong. Instead, since Cute always buys fireworks for his grandchild's big display, we went to Riverside and chose, from among several, the tent nearest to RedX

(Definitely not Cutest) Unless you have been: A. Out of the country this past week; B. Have refused to watch or listen to local news; or C. Are so tired of words like pitch, match, striker, or Messi that you leave your ear plugs in, then you failed to witness Cow Town becoming an international soccer city. To crank up the Norwegian fan base before that evening’s match at Arrowhead, a parade from the Power and Light district to Crown Center was organized for that morning. A s

Cute and I have made every effort to become international soccer, aka football, fans in Kansas City. Although we lack the accents, the clothes, the fervent enthusiasm, (and the money), we have valiantly attended one fan rally, the Fan Fest and finally, this weekend, a real game between Ecuador and Curaçao (formerly known to me as only a tasty liqueur, sometimes blue). I’m sure you haven’t been able to miss the hype and you may be tired of it all already (there’s still almos

Once again I, Cute, strike out on my own to explore one of our local gems, right here in River City. (Cutest was, bless her heart, happily preparing for out-of-town guests.) Frank Lloyd Wright, the architect whom many people either love or hate, designed a church for a congregation here on the Plaza. In 1939, fire destroyed the Community Christian church at 46th and Main, whose name before that was the Linwood Boulevard Christian Church. The small but plucky congregation reac

This past Sunday, for the third year in a row, Cutest and I strolled about the neighborhood known as Union Hill. Each year in June, folks are invited to purchase tickets and tread the sidewalks, absorbing the beauty of more than fourteen flower gardens nestled in front of, beside or behind eclectic homes. Bucolic Union Hill is bounded by Main to the west, Gillham to the east, 31st street to the south and 27th street on the north. A quick history lesson. Union Hill was establi

(Thanks to Discover Kansas City for this and a few other photos.) The other night I was reminded how cool it would be to buy a bridge. Cute and I were attending an event sponsored by his alma mater, the University of Central Missouri (Go, Mules) at the new two-level “entertainment district” on the Rock Island Bridge. It was a Thursday night and the event was on the top level with the lower level devoted to the public – families, couples, groups, all mixed. I can’t speak to

Cutest and I can really get into the holidays. In my book, Christmas and the 4th of July, for different reasons, tie for the top spot. However Memorial Day has recently become a close contender. Kansas City is the home of the world’s only nationally recognized museum and monument for WW1. This is the 100th anniversary of the completion of the memorial. Recently more space has been added to properly display artifacts that had been in storage. Hundreds more still sit unseen bu

As our faithful readers learned last week, Cutest and I, emphasis on I, drove to Bloomington, Indiana for Cutest's granddughter's college graduation. The following day, after much celebration the night before, and a too short of a stop in Indianapolis, we motored north to Chicago. Chicago, home of the Cubs, have the dubious distinction of being the only other professional baseball team that loses more than the Royals. However this city by the lake has many redeeming qualities

First time ever (maybe last, too) . . . Watch, don't give up, and then read below. It's all speedy. “Oh the fun we will have,” I exclaimed when Cute told me that we would make time for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum. He knew I was being facetious as he is the car lover of our coupleness. We were on our way to Chicago From Bloomington, Indiana where my smart and gorgeous (grandparents you know the drill) granddaughter had just gone through IU’s intimate 8,000+ person

Probably no new restaurant in town has been greeted with such fanfare, such PR, and such gosh I don’t know, anticipation, as 1587 at Lowe’s Hotel in downtown KC. I say at because it is not actually in the hotel; you have to go outside where there are at least two “greeters“ to make sure that you are at the right place. We were finally able to see and taste what the hype was all about due to a lovely and extravagant gift certificate from Cute’s kind daughter and son-in-law.

Rick Steves, familiar to many as the PBS host of his travel series and author of many informative travel books, recently visited Kansas City. Rainy Day Books, one of the few independent book stores remaining, hosted Steves at the Plazas’ Unity Temple. Unfortunately this was a solo adventure as Cutest had a prior commitment. Rick was on the promotional trail, whipping up interest in his New York Times anointed best seller, On the Hippie Trail. In 1978, Rick and a close frien

Not a surprise to their fans: The Back Alley Brass Band Sometimes the simple excursion can turn into the nicest experience. Cutest here. I will cite two quick examples. The first was on this past Saturday when we went to the Anita B. Gorman Nature Center on Troost because they were having their very popular plant sale. I didn’t look at the plant description too closely, but if I had, I would’ve noticed that it was mostly native plants and mostly by extension, great plan

Cutest and I live within walking distance of the Kansas City Art Institute , or KCAI, whose campus lays just west of the Nelson art gallery. Being so near, we have had the opportunity to visit many of their functions. KCAI welcomed their first students in 1885 and now nearly 600 attend the four-year college, guided by 75 faculty members. The latest event we observed was Roadroller Art Day! We didn't know what it was, really, but off we went. Senior artists were in charge of

While the phrase "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is helpful in relationships, I (Cutest) got to wondering if it should apply it to art also. What makes something good or even great when you’re talking about artists and their works? We go to lots of galleries, art shows and fairs, and museums. Some art I tend to walk past quickly. Some I recognize as great but I wouldn’t want to own them. Some I sniff at and wonder why anyone would want it. That’s probably the mos

A quick disclaimer for the following blog. This will not be X-rated. However, the headline may bear some truth. On Truman Avenue, the main north/south roadway in Key West, on a prominent corner stands a dark maroon one story building with very dark windows and with a sign over its entrance proclaiming “BETTER THAN SEX.” Now that caught Cutest’s and my attention. As dutiful investigative bloggers and knowing that our faithful readers would want to know more, we whipped our s