KC Confidential.com

This town hates change…

And that’s why we’d rather wheel Walt Bodine’s old bones into the KCUR studio and listen him say “Wha?” for an hour than contemplate local radio without the Kansas City broadcasting legend.

But, like it or not, things must change and that brings us to the curious subject of Jabulani Leffall.

According to KCUR FM’s press release, Leffall’s resume is full of jet setting with a number of big name media gigs but few apparent stable positions held. And he’s only been living here for like six months.

Contrastingly, Walt worked his way around Kansas City and became a local radio legend partially because of his close connection and deep roots in the community. Nevertheless, it was the tales of Leffall’s whirlwind adventures around the globe that were trumpeted upon his arrival.
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The Kansas City, Missouri School District has started the year with an impressive volley of public relations efforts attempting to sway the conversation in their favor.

For the most part, the media has been complicit in this PR effort.

Tragically, in more than a year of energetic campaigning by School Board member Airick L. West and Superintendent John Covington, preliminary test scores reveal little effect in local classrooms.

Like it or not, it takes more than great PR to turn around a School District that has been in decline for more than a generation.
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I almost lost my mind watching my Kansas City Chiefs lose to the Philadelphia Eagles in Friday’s preseason home opener at Arrowhead Stadium.

But it wasn’t the game that threatened my hold on sanity. It was the totally distracting, please-make-it-stop advertising on the high-tech HD ribbon board extending around the entire inner circle of Arrowhead.

The board’s video overkill promoted future football games, the Chiefs Cheerleaders calendar, soft drinks, beer and so much more. It qualified as the most exasperating thing I’ve encountered in 20 years as a Chiefs season ticket holder. And that’s pretty exasperating.

To say that the board – let’s just call it the “ad ribbon” – constantly sidetracked my focus from the game on the field only begins to communicate the inappropriate pummeling taken by my attention span. Continue reading

Charlie Parker would have been been 90 years old this week; same as Walt Bodine.

The Kansas City alto saxophonist set a standard for playing here that haunts Cowtown reedmen to this day. Paraphrasing Bobby Watson, a guest of mine on Saturday night’s 12th STREET JUMP public radio show: ” When you say you’re from KC and you play the sax, people just expect more from you”  (lot’s of paraphrasing there; sorry, Professor Watson– I think I got the intent, if not the poetry).

Always up for a challenge, KC jazzmen are throwing themselves into the breach once again (they do it every week), to prove they’ve got the goods and more. It’s a holiday weekend. Give em a break– listen in on the best of KC jazz, just like the Bird would be doing today, between chicken wings: Continue reading

You can ham it up or pig out this weekend. Wait a sec. Why not both?

Other than doing some sort of gratuitous mental or physical harm to yourself, there’s no reason not to stretch your swinish side when it comes to partaking in the squealing laughter of “The Producers” at Starlight Theatre and the gastric self-indulgence of Bacon-Fest in Waldo.

Separately, these events can do only so much to transport you from routine responsibility. Together, they can slather on enough crazy distraction to make you want to blow off work on Monday. And if you don’t have to work on Monday, then you already know what to do.

Now how about a few details to go with your double downward spiral? Continue reading

Give Starlight honcho Denton Yockey two thumbs up.

Call those thumbs Brad (Oscar) and Roger (Bart), surround them with a top-flight cast on the big national tour set and you’ve got the makings for a very entertaining night out in Swope Park at THE PRODUCERS (8PM now through Sunday).  Starlight, you done good.

By my count, this is Yockey’s second stand-out production since he took the reins of the venerable outdoor theater. Last season’s ANYTHING GOES showed us the newcomer’s (though hardly new to show biz– he’s been producing for decades now) chops.  This production of THE PRODUCERS– every bit as good as the national tour that played the Music Hall a few seasons back — cements his reputation as a guy who knows how to deliver quality work.

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Dwindling summer days have not dampened my love affair with Fresher Than Fresh Snow cones…

If anything, thoughts of colder days have made the all natural snow cones a personal priority.

Recently Lindsay Laricks gained national attention when she was featured in In Style magazine which published her recipe for Peach Prosecco ice pops.  This left many of us wondering if there would be yet another frosty version of heaven from the FTF truck. Continue reading

Seems like only yesterday, Kansas City Star ombudsman Derek Donovan was assuring readers that Jason Whitlock would return…

Actually, it was June 22nd and here’s what Donovan wrote for all to see:

“Jason Whitlock will return

I’ve had a lot of questions about where Jason Whitlock has been recently. Many readers have wanted to hear his opinions on the Big 12 shakeup, in particular.

He’s taking some personal time off, but will return. He hasn’t set a date yet that I’m aware of.”

That seems pretty clear, doesn’t it? Clear as mud. Continue reading

This just in…

Move over, Marilyn Maye. It’s not official, but sources say the most fiendish Halloween ticket in town may go down October 31st at Jardine’s jazz club on the Plaza. That because the Max Weinberg Big Band is rumored to be close to inking a deal to raise the dead for two shows there that night. Continue reading

And another one gone, and another one gone, another one bites the dust….

To the dramatic slagheap of startling revelations and allegations about Kansas City Star editor Mike Fannin unfolding over the past week, add the following:

A pair of DUI convictions, two days of slam time and three days of house arrest.

That according to Wyandotte County District Court digital records.

On April 8, 2006, court documents say, one Michael C. Fannin did operate his vehicle “while driving under the influence of alcohol” at an alleged speed of 74 miles-per-hour in a 55 mph zone, on I-35 near Seventh Street in Wyandotte County.

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As local elections move closer, I’ve been speaking with a great many Kansas City hopefuls and I’ve been able to pinpoint one particularly annoying catchphrase which provides a clue that the candidate in question doesn’t really have a plan.

The quote used by the Kansas City clueless: “When the economy turns around . . .”

For the most part, this simple string of words indicates a basic lack of understanding about local government and a willingness to treat taxpayer funds like their own, probably screwed up, personal finances.

Sadly, all we can do with aspiring politicos is take them at their word since they don’t have a voting record. But once this cliche is thrown out it becomes a lot easier to peek into the psyche of a loser who would spout such nonsense.
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Credulity took a sock to the jaw this weekend, although it took a little while for the blow to sink in for thousands attending Chicago Comic Con at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill.

Everyone I saw rummaging through boxes of comic books mostly devoted to the exploits of implausible characters appeared bewildered when the initial announcement was made that former Ill. Governor Rod Blagojevich would be a late addition to the guest list at the annual event catering to fantasy fans.

Only a few days earlier, “Blago” had been convicted on one count of lying to federal agents and more than a dozen counts of wearing silly hair that looked too much like a toupee.

He really needs to do something about that noggin, don’t you think?

In any case, here’s a disgraced guy facing up to five years in the clink – and probably worse when the government finally gets its act together – and he’s charging tax-paying citizens $80 to have their picture taken with him and $50 for his autograph in the very same state he violated the public trust. Continue reading

If this bad economy can result in anything good, it’s creative business thinking.

In fact, competing for the dollars and attention of consumers takes a lot of thinking outside of the box.  People in the creative fields have never lost sight of the power of a non-conformist strategy.  And people like artist and entrepreneur Kurt Flecksing are seizing this moment to unveil  novel opportunities. Flecksing’s mobile S’mores Cart is more than just good old fashioned fun.  It’s a way to capture the public’s attention and redirect it to his real passion, artists and public art.

Unlike larger cities, the street cart is a fairly new concept for Kansas City.  Where did this idea begin?   Does Flecksing have a culinary background or is he just a s’mores fan? Continue reading

This little creature was cowering in the engine of parked pickup during a storm when she was rescued. She’s been to the vet, has an appointment to be spayed, and she’s eating quite well. She’s full of crazy kitten energy. Mostly, though, she wants a permanent home. If you’d like to welcome her into your family, drop a line to gobodog@gmail.com.

Here’s a video of her being a kitten freak!

All Whitlock all of the time…

Nah, looks can be deceiving...

If it seems like KC Confidential has been dabbling a bit much in the Jason Whitlock / Kansas City Star saga this week, you can stop rubbing your eyes now. I admit it.

But allow me to assure you this will not continue indefinitely.

All good things must come to an end. Whitlock’s gonna spill his beans today on Nick Wright’s 610 Sports show from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and we’ll likely move on down the road with the rest of the people on the planet with bigger fish to fry. In the meantime, maybe we’ll get thrashed today along with the Star and maybe we won’t.

Whatever…

Either way, Whitlock’s news cycle appears to have about run its course. Which is not to say it’s time to curl up in a ball and fade away. Not just yet. We may yet find a few cards to play.

Like restaurateur Mike Garozzo’s take on Whitlock’s fall from grace. Continue reading