The Pitch May 31, 2012 by FW Publishing

MAY 31–JUNE 6, 2012 | FREE | VOL. 31 NO. 48 | PITCH.COM

M AY 3 1– J U N E 6 , 2 0 1 2 | V O L . 3 1 N O . 4 8 E D I T O R I A L

Editor Scott Wilson Managing Editor Justin Kendall Music Editor David Hudnall Staff Writers Charles Ferruzza, Ben Palosaari Editorial Operations Manager Deborah Hirsch Calendar Editor Berry Anderson Clubs Editor Abbie Stutzer Food Blogger, Web Editor Jonathan Bender Proofreader Brent Shepherd Contributing Writers Tracy Abeln, Danny Alexander, Theresa Bembnister, Aaron Carnes, Kyle Eustice, April Fleming, Ian Hrabe, Dan Lybarger, Chris Parker, Nadia Pﬂaum, Nancy Hull Rigdon, Dan Savage, Brent Shepherd, Nick Spacek, Abbie Stutzer, Crystal K. Wiebe

A R T

Art Director Ashford Stamper Contributing Photographers Angela C. Bond, William Lounsbury, Chris Mullins, Lauren Phillips, Sabrina Staires, Brooke Vandever

P R O D U C T I O N

Production Manager Jaime Albers Senior Multimedia Designer Amber Williams Multimedia Designer Christina Riddle

A D V E R T I S I N G

Advertising Director Dawn Jordan Retail House Account Manager Eric Persson Senior Classified Multimedia Specialist Steven Suarez Classified Multimedia Specialist Andrew Disper Multimedia Specialists Michelle Acevedo, Kirin Arnold, Erin Carey, Payton Hatﬁeld Director of Marketing & Operations Jason Dockery Digital Marketing Manager Keli Sweetland

2 X 1 0 X 20 The Pitch movie guide

C I R C U L A T I O N

Circulation Director Mike Ryan

for all summer long.

B U S I N E S S

Accounts Receivable Christina Riddle Front Desk Coordinator Jodi Waldsmith Publisher Joel Hornbostel

BY BRENT SHEPHERD

S O U T H C O M M

Chief Executive Officer Chris Ferrell Chief Operating Officer Rob Jiranek Director of Accounting Todd Patton Director of Operations Susan Torregrossa Creative Director Heather Pierce Director of Content/Online Development Patrick Rains Director of Digital Products Andy Sperry

N A T I O N A L

C OYNE FLI P Wayne Coyne, of the

A D V E R T I S I N G

Voice Media Group 888-278-9866, voicemediagroup.com Senior Vice President Sales Susan Belair Senior Vice President Sales Operations Joe Larkin National Sales Director Ronni Gaun

Liberty Hall–Bound Flaming Lips, just wants your full attention.

B A C K P A G E . C O M

Vice President Sales & Marketing Carl Ferrer Business Manager Jess Adams Accountant David Roberts

BY A P R I L F L E M I N G

D I S T R I B U T I O N

The Pitch distributes 45,000 copies a week and is available free throughout Greater Kansas City, limited to one copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for $5 each, payable at The Pitch’s office in advance. The Pitch may be distributed only by The Pitch’s authorized independent contractors or authorized distributors. No person may, without prior written permission of The Pitch, take more than one copy of each week’s issue. Mail subscriptions: $22.50 for six months or $45 per year, payable in advance. Application to mail at second-class postage rates is pending at Kansas City, MO 64108.

STEP B R O THER S Doug and Kevin Bordegon’s road to Dancefestopia.

C O P Y R I G H T

The contents of The Pitch are Copyright 2012 by KC Communications, LLC. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means without the express written permission of the publisher. The Pitch address: 1701 Main, Kansas City, MO 64108 For The Pitch information, call: 816-561-6061 To report a story, call: 816-218-6915 Editorial fax: 816-756-0502 For classifieds, call: 816-218-6759 For retail advertising, call: 816-218-6702

ON T HE COVE R

BY DAV I D H U D N A L L

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THE PITCH QUESTIONNAIRE TECH SUMMER GUIDE 2012 F I LT E R FAT CITY MUSIC FORECAST NIGHTLIFE SAVAGE LOVE

MEANWHI LE AT PI TC H. C O M

TYPOGRAPHY BY DANIEL ZENDER

THE PITCH

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New Plaza BO LINGS is set to open June 11. TED X KC is coming to the Kauffman Center August 28. God hates AIR GUITAR? Mean Melin and friends clash with the Phelps clan.

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THE PITCH

QUESTIONNAIRE

JEREMIAH BOEHR

Master Model Builder, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Kansas City

Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska Current neighborhood: North Plaza Who or what is your sidekick? My Brick Sepa-

rator and iPhone

What career would you choose in an alternate reality? A Starship captain What was the last local restaurant you patronized? The Mixx Where do you drink? Fred P. Ott’s on the Plaza ($3 Long Islands on Friday nights!)

Q&As

IN ONL

E AT

PITCH.CO

W hat is your favorite charity? Harvesters Favorite place to spend your paycheck: Lattéland

(iced mocha), LEGO Store and shirt.woot.com

What local phenomenon do you think is overrated? Argyle Where do you like to take out-of-town guests? Jack Stack Barbecue

Finish this sentence: “Other than the Kauffman Center, Kansas City got it right when ...”

The layout, in terms of the number of boulevards and the highway system we have, making it easier to travel through the city.

“Kansas City screwed up when it ...” Interstate 70. That’s all.

“Kansas City needs ...” A better public-transit option than the bus system, especially in the areas from Plaza, north to downtown.

ANGELA C. BOND

“People might be surprised to know that I ...” Was the King of the Kansas City Renais-

What is your most embarrassing dating moment? An awkward handshake at the end

“If I were in charge ...” People would learn per-

What local tradition do you take part in every year? WaterFire, in Brush Creek on the

sance Festival last year, having been prince for two years prior.

sonal responsibility and be held accountable.

of a date.

What movie do you watch at least once a year? V for Vendetta (on November 5) Favorite day trip: To the lake for swimming

Plaza

and sun!

What TV show do you make sure you watch?

Celebrity you’d like to ride the Mamba with at Worlds of Fun: Anderson Cooper

Interesting brush with the law? Being pulled over on my way to prom in my dad’s Mercedes. Reason? I only had the parking lights on. Scared me to death at the time.

take up a lot of space in my iTunes:

Person or thing you ﬁnd really irritating at this moment: Lack of free time

Master Model Builder!

What subscription — print, digital, etc. — do you value most? The LEGO Catalog

Jeremiah Boehr was named Master Model Builder in January.

Fringe

Motion-picture scores (Hans Zimmer, Jerry Goldsmith, James Newton Howard, etc.)

Last book you read: The Hunger Games

Describe a recent triumph: Becoming a LEGO

S a v e e n e r g y. S a v e m o n e y. S a v e n o w .

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TECH

HACKING IT

Michael Gelphman assembles an app-building crew this weekend.

ichael Gelphman found a way out. After 12 years of working in IT, for companies such as Embarq and H&R Block, the 35-year-old took the leap in February and devoted himself full time to his passion. Gelphman is the founder of Kansas City IT Professionals, a grassroots networking group. He started it on LinkedIn in 2008, after reading a blog on career building. “I didn’t see anything on LinkedIn about IT in Kansas City,” he says. “We got to 500 or 600 members, and I realized we might be on to something.” He’s putting his hard work on display this weekend with Hack the Midwest, a two-day Hackathon (June 2 and 3). Gelphman expects 70 to 100 developers and designers from all over the Midwest — Kansas City, St. Louis, Omaha, Des Moines — to show up and build apps from scratch at the Heartland Golf Club (8200 Hillcrest Road, 816-523-8601). “When you get people like that in a room and working together and you get this energy, you don’t know what will come out of it,” he says. “I’m hoping to see something awesome.” The Hackathon starts Saturday at 9 a.m. and wraps IES up Sunday at 11 a.m., E STOERA T MORL N I ON O G with contest winners anL P / M O nounced at 3 that afterP IT C H .C noon. The all-star judging panel includes OpenAir Equity Partners’ Thad Langford, AgLocal founder Naithan Jones, outgoing Kauffman Foundation Manager of Entrepreneurship Nick Seguin and others. (Register at hackthemidwest.com.) The session is part of Gelphman’s plan to foster a culture of what’s possible in Kansas City. It’s also an opportunity for developers and designers to network, show off their skills and claim some booty (an iPad 3, two Amazon Kindle Fire tablets, Amazon gift cards, Jawbone Jambox and more). “The more successes that you have with start-ups locally, then you can sort of change that culture, and getting people to take more risks and believe that it’s possible,” he says.

S A B R I N A S TA I R E S

“In Silicon Valley, the start-up that you work at might fail. You’ll just go to another. We don’t have that kind of density here. So there’s lots of risk.” Gelphman knows firsthand about risk. He took a chance arranging KCITP’s first happy hour, in February 2009. It paid off: About 200 of the then 1,000 members attended. Since then, KCITP has put on job fairs, the Zaarly launch party, mentorship meet-ups, and several networking events and educational presentations by developers.

Gelphman: Connecting KC's tech community. “I realized it was the thing that I was most passionate about,” Gelphman says. “I don’t want to be 60 and looking back at my life and going, ‘Could I have done that?’ I wanted to at least give it a try. I knew once I got to that point where I didn’t have sort of an alternative, I’d figure out a way to make it work.” KCITP held a social-accountability happy hour in January. Gelphman wanted people to think about their futures. So he asked the

JUS T IN K E NDA L L

attendees to write down three professional goals and how they planned to accomplish them. Everyone shared their goals with someone else at the happy hour. The idea: See if the members could help one another accomplish their goals. “Every new year, people are like, ‘I’m going to do this. I’m going to do that.’ It ends up being just talk,” Gelphman says. “Sometimes with people’s careers, there’s not a natural progression. They graduate from college, and then they get a good job, and to them, that’s good enough. They don’t really know what next steps to take.” The economy tanking in 2008 didn’t help, Gelphman says. “They’re fearful,” he says. “And just getting people to be entrepreneurial about their career, just trying to fi nd opportunities and build themselves up so that they don’t have to be scared anymore and they can go wherever they want to. It’s all about how much work they put in.” Kansas City IT Professionals has grown to more than 8,500 people. Gelphman says some group members have found work through networking, and he’s made a lot of connections. “It’s been an amazing experience,” he says. “There’s been people’s lives who have changed because of the group.” Other tech-, innovation- and entrepreneur-themed events this summer include iKC, billed by its organizers as “Kansas City’s innovation and entrepreneurship conference.” It’s June 20 at H&R Block headquarters. The keynote speaker is Michael E. Raynor, a director with Deloitte Consulting LLP, and among the day’s events are sessions on creativity, innovation, pitches and monetization. Tickets cost $189 (corporate), $119 (start-up, small business and nonprofit) or $75 (student). And the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is the site of TEDxKC 2012 August 28. Tickets go on sale the second week in July.

E-mail justin.kendall@pitch.com

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Fairs, fests, films, the Flaming Lips and more: The Pitch's guide to the hottest season.

omething happened while we were all waiting for snow this year: Summer arrived. Like, back in March. Quite sensibly, however, the rituals that go with the season of tank tops and charcoal briquettes and mosquito bites have held off until … now. Today’s later dusk, the way a little pooling in your shirt’s underarm feels somehow right this afternoon, the bright mustard stain on your khaki shorts — school’s out, people. You have plans, right? There’s the usual: a drive-in movie, staring at the fi rst fi refly that lands on your arm, brushing grass clippings off your shins. Great plans. But there’s more, and here’s where we tell you about it. The brats that someone just put on a grill for you. The tomatoes waiting for your inspection. The Fringe Festival and the outdoor musicals with the crickets singing along. The big, dumb movies in the dry, cold (thank you, thank you, thank you) movie houses. The Flaming Lips and a bunch of other ass-kicking bands (and The Pitch’s own Music Showcase and Awards), and — oh, yeah — the Flaming freaking Lips. OK, so those are our summer plans. Turn the page, and we’ll see you there.

Fairs and Festivals

Day Trips

Farmers Markets

Stage

Film

Music

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Up, up and away with the Great Midwest Balloon Fest

CHRIS MULLINS

By Nancy Hull Rigdon

he glow of 50 hot-air balloons once again dazzles Olathe’s evening sky August 10-12. The Great Midwest Balloon Fest’s airships make way — weather permitting — for a sunrise fly-in balloon competition and spectacular visual displays (balloon inflation, mass ascension and glow). Entertainment isn’t all hot air; look for country music’s Clay Walker, food vendors, children’s activities and a rock-climbing wall. Want to maximize your balloon experience? Jason Jones is your man. The festival’s balloonride purveyor oversees tethered balloon rides ($5 per person, 10 minutes, 100 feet into the air) and untethered balloon rides ($195 per person, 50 minutes, a few thousand feet high, complete with champagne and expansive views). Jones spoke with The Pitch about his uplifting job. The Pitch: How did you get your start in ballooning? Jones: My family has been in ballooning since the mid-1970s. Growing up in Iowa, I was part of the chase crew for my mom, who helped 10

the pitch

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start Old World Balloonery. I went on to get my hot-air-balloon pilot license, and now I live in Overland Park and own Old World Balloonery. We take people on hot-air balloon rides in Kansas and Missouri. I also do commercial flying — I’ve done the RE/MAX balloon — and I race around the country. And I’m a schoolteacher. Kansas City weather isn’t like Albuquerque or Phoenix, where you can fly year-round. I have to have income outside of ballooning. Walk us through what balloon riders (untethered balloon riders versus tethered balloon riders) will experience at the fest. They’ll be from several thousand feet in the air to the tops of the corn. It’s an experience like nothing else. There’s no noise. You are part of the wind. It’s a very peaceful ride. For most people, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We want it to be memorable, comfortable, and we want people to walk away and say, “Wow, that was worth it.” What does Kansas City look like from a balloon?

pitch.com

On a clear day, you can see the downtown skyline, Longview Lake, the stadiums. You can see to Hillsdale Lake and Lake La Cygne. You have tremendous visuals. People often think fall is the time to see the Midwest. But you can always see awesome colors. In the summer, the wheat is changing colors. What are some of your most memorable balloon flights? Flying in Red Rock State Park in Gallup, New Mexico. If the winds are just right, you can literally fly through the canyons. Flying around the cactuses in the Arizona desert would be another highlight. You’re all dirty and dusty when you’re packing up, but man, it’s a gorgeous place to fly. Or the beautiful Midwest with the patchwork quilt below. Sounds like a job where all your troubles float away. I can have a day where a lot of things go wrong. But if I can get in the balloon basket, the day will end well. What do you enjoy most about the festival? pitch.com

I love that it’s an event in our hometown. I get to see a lot of old friends. This isn’t an industry with hundreds of thousands of people. We are a small community, and we all look out for each other and have a lot of fun together. As the ride operator, our balloons may be the only balloons launching in the evenings at the festival, which will be pretty cool. It will be just us and the big glows.

Great Midwest Balloon Fest August 10–12 Great Mall of the Great Plains Interstate 35 and 151st Street, Olathe greatmidwestballoonfest.org Hot-air balloon festival includes balloon shows, rides, food, children’s activities and entertainment. Advance tickets from Hy-Vee cost $10 for adults and $5 for children (aged 5 and younger get in free). Tickets at the gate cost $15 for adults and $5 for children. M O N T H X X–X X , 2 0 0 X

THE PITCH

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THE PITCH

The Seventh Annual Pitch Summer Guide Golf Tournament

Jayhawker Days

Missouri State Fair

Kansas State Fair

June 7 Painted Hills Golf Course 7101 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas $100 per person secure.pitch.com

June 15–17 Main Street, Williamsburg, Kansas (southwest Franklin County along Old Highway 50 and Interstate 35) Free Search “Jayhawker Days Williamsburg Kansas” on Facebook

August 9–19 Missouri State Fairgrounds 2503 West 16th Street, Sedalia Adults, $8; seniors, $6; children aged 6-12, $2; children 5 and younger, free 660-530-5600, mostatefair.com

September 7–16 Kansas State Fairgrounds 2000 North Poplar Street, Hutchinson Adults, $10; seniors, $6; children 6–12, $4 620-669-3600, 800-362-3247 kansasstatefair.com

The day on the course begins with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. and includes sponsor giveaways, and lunch and dinner.

A true country weekend with a parade, camel rides, hog roast, kids’ ranch rodeo, re-enactors, street dance with live music, and fireworks.

The state’s 110th annual agricultural showcase includes livestock shows, competitive exhibits and entertainment. See fair website for discount ticket information.

The annual fair celebrates 100 years with agricultural events, a carnival, vendors and music. See the fair website for discount ticket information.

Sugar Creek Slavic Festival

KC RiverFest

Lawrence Busker Festival

C O U N T Y FA I R S

July 4 Richard L. Berkley Riverfront Park 1298 East Riverfront Drive (between the Heart of America and Paseo bridges) $4 online, $5 at the gate; $10 for parking kcriverfest.com

August 24–26 Massachusetts Street in downtown Lawrence 785-749-2226, lawrencebuskerfest.com

Local county fairs’ lineups include livestock shows, carnivals, food and craft vendors, and music. See individual websites for more information.

Street performers — including a sword swallower, a comedy contortionist, fi re-eaters, musicians and acrobatic dancers — show off their talents. There is no admission, but the performers work for tips.

Platte County Fair

June 8–9 Mike Onka Memorial Building 11520 East Putnam, Sugar Creek $3 (children under 12, free) slavicfest.com

This cultural celebration features polkas, kielbasas, art and history.

The West 18th Street Fashion Show June 9 West 18th Street, between Baltimore and Wyandotte streets $40–$100; standing-room general admission, free 816-842-2473 (tickets) westeighteenthstreet.com

This year’s show, themed “Triple Crown Summer,” features 18 designers. Tickets are limited.

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An all-ages Independence Day celebration with food, music, family activities, a marketplace and fireworks.

Young Friends of Art White Party July 13 Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art 4525 Oak, 816-751-1278 $20 museum members, $30 nonmembers nelson-atkins.org

Geared toward young professionals, the 2012 party is 1980s-themed. All-white attire is preferred. A ticket includes two beverages and small bites.

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KC Renaissance Festival September 1–October 14 (Saturdays and Sundays, plus Labor Day and Columbus Day) Wyandotte County Park 633 North 130th Street, Bonner Springs See website for ticket and discount information. 913-721-2110, kcrenfest.com

More than 1,000 costumed characters, more than 16 entertainment stages and more than 100 juried artisans celebrate the Renaissance era. And there’s armored jousting and plenty of food and drink.

July 18–21 414 Missouri Highway 92, Tracy 816-431-FAIR, plattecountyfair.com

Douglas County Fair July 21–August 4 2110 Harper, Lawrence 785-841-6322, dgcountyfair.com

Wyandotte County Fair July 24–28 13700 Polfer Road, Kansas City, Kansas 913-788-7898, wycofair.com

Johnson County Fair August 7–11 136 East Washington, Gardner 913-856-8860, jocokansasfair.com

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HARD HAT HAPPY HOUR 14

HARD HAT HAPPY HOUR JUNE 7 | 5 -7PM | $5

Enjoy a glass of wine & take a self-guided tour of historic Corinthian Hall, the home of Kansas City Museum

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CHRIS MULLINS

wo years ago, Bill Haw Jr. quit a job with Amazon in Tokyo to run Hotel Frederick, a boutique lodge that his cattleman father had bought in Boonville, Missouri. The hotel offers environmentally conscious accommodations and old-fashioned hospitality with an oyster bar and Cajun restaurant and 25 rooms decked out with antique furniture and contemporary art. As owner and frequent guest, Haw prefers room No. 6 when he visits. (He doesn’t live in the little town intersected by the Missouri River and the Katy Trail). The 47-year-old husband, father and investor makes his home in Kansas City, and he spoke with The Pitch about how he and Bill Haw Sr. are busy bringing new life to other old buildings. The Pitch: What’s a brief history of Hotel Frederick? Haw Jr.: The property itself is really special. It was built in 1905 as what was probably a very grand hotel overlooking the river in Boonville,

The Hotel Frederick offers an old-fashioned getaway. By Crystal K. Wiebe which at the time was a very prosperous town. The building went through many stages. In 2005, when my family bought into it, it was pretty much derelict. Some other investor in Kansas City had purchased it with a comb of forgivable loans and grants, and they ran out of money before the renovation was even close to done. At that time, Bill Sr. stepped in as a partner and worked with them to pretty much get the job finished, and we opted to go ahead and assume full ownership. How did you react to your father’s invitation to leave Japan to run a hotel in a Missouri river town? It came out of the blue. I actually remember when I was talking to Bill Sr. on the phone. I was still in Tokyo when he told me about it, and I might have hung up on him. Boonville isn’t exactly a tourist hot spot, is it? If we moved the hotel to Aspen, we’d do big business!

What other projects are you involved in? Bill Sr. has been refocusing on our main business, which is our ranching, and we’re ganging up on the West Bottoms. My family owns the Livestock Exchange Building and several other buildings and a fairly extensive acreage down there, and we’re just finishing up development of the Telegram Building at 1505 Genessee. The Livestock Exchange Building is 90 percent occupied, which is unheard of right now, and the Telegram Building is completely full, and we haven’t even finished working on it. It houses the Bill Brady gallery, and Amigoni Urban Winery is moving in with a tasting space and event space. We’ll also have KEM architecture and Diamond Merckens Hogan, an up-and-coming marketing firm. Under your leadership, Hotel Frederick is doing better, too. I kind of like to think of 2011 as the year of getting people through the door and the year

of 2012 as the year of ringing the cash register. In 2011, we did some pretty aggressive promotions. We worked with Groupon several times. We really did an array of promotions, which brought down the average room rate but still increased the revenue. This year, we’ve pulled back on the promotion but are still seeing revenue increase. A lot of those people we got in the door are coming back as repeat guests. They understand the value of the hotel, and they’re happy to pay full price. What makes them come back? We really focus on guest service. In our online reviews, you’ll see that a lot of the people go to great lengths to talk about guest service and mention the employees by name. We’ve had almost no turnover of our main employees. They are personally vested in the hotel. In a really good way, I think it’s a big part of their identity. The hotel also has a historical charm — kind of unexpected, modern, unique twists. One thing a lot of people mention are the etchings on the glass shower doors and walls in some of the rooms, which were designed by artist Peregrine Honig. Of the 25 rooms at your disposal when you’re at the hotel, why are you partial to room No. 6? Room No. 6 has got the beautiful glass bathroom walls. It’s got only one bed and several chairs and a table. It has kind of a sitting area as well. It’s also got a great view of the courthouse. Does the room become your de facto office? No, we have Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, so I usually just wander and work wherever I sit down. Besides staying at your hotel, what is there to do in Boonville? For sure, the Katy Trail. It’s great even if you’re not a cyclist. It’s great just to walk. It’s so beautiful with the bluffs and the river. Glenn’s Café is right in the hotel, and Cooper’s Oak Winery has a tasting room a few blocks away. Warm Springs Ranch, where AnheuserBusch has the Clydesdales, is in the area and is great for the whole family. The town of Rocheport is very charming, too. It’s only about 10 miles away. It’s great to take the tour at Les Bourgeois Vineyards, and they’ve got a fantastic bistro.

SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 2012 De Soto Riverfest Park 4 – 8pm

1st Wine Tasting Festival

Featuring Wines from 14 Kansas Wineries to sample & purchase!

Live Music • Art Show • Tickets only $15 Tickets include souvenir wine glass, 10 complimentary samplings & appetizers from local vendors

For more information or to purchase tickets go to www.winesongatriverfest.com All proceeds benefit De Soto Rotary Club

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Scott, K 9am Bre ansas: akfast at 1876 Lyo Tour His n s T win Man toric Hom sion es 11am Bo ard the T ro lley for a Narrated 50-minu To Center H ur; Visit the Low te ell Milke istory Ex n hibits 1pm Lu nch in th e Nation Historic Downtow ally Registered n Distric 2pm Tou t r the 184 2 National Boutique Historic & Antiqu e Shoppin Site; 4pm Go g rdon Park s Museum

2051 130th Rd., Mapleton, Kansas

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce 231 E. Wall St., Fort Scott, KS 66701 620-223-3566; 800-245-3678 www.fortscott.com; fschamber@fortscott.com

18-Hole Golf Course • Gunn Park Trails • Farmer's Market • Fort Scott Lake • Spa & Massage • Camping Water Park • Bed & Breakfast • Cooking Classes • Group Mystery Dinners • Waterfalls • Live Music 16

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Located 18 miles northwest of Fort Scott near Dayton Cemetery just North of Tomahawk on 130th

*Sorry, no ATVs or motorcycles allowed

Come explore 240 acres of off-road trails for low-speed 4-wheel drive vehicles, UTVs*, bicycles and hiking enjoyment

MISSOURI

KANSAS

Katy Trail

Black Jack Battlefield & Nature Park

Stretches across the state between Kansas City and St. Louis

The Katy Trail offers 237 miles for hiking, bicycling and running through Missouri wildlands, farmlands and wine country. (Portions of the trail allow horseback riding.) Pick up the converted rail line about 80 miles outside Kansas City. Plan your route at bikekatytrail.com.

Hotel Frederick 501 East High Street, Boonville 888-437-3321, hotelfrederick.com

Offering old-fashioned hospitality and modern amenities with sensitivity toward the environment, this rehabilitated historic building overlooks the Missouri River and downtown Boonville. At the bar, wash down oysters on the half shell with a drink that’s sweet, strong and garnished with homegrown herbs. Dine Cajun style at the hotel restaurant, Glenn’s.

Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre 114 High Street, Arrow Rock 660-837-3311, lyceumtheatre.org

For performances in a rural setting, catch a musical or play at one of the state’s oldest regional theaters. Arrive early in the day to allow time for a hike around the nearby state park.

Warm Springs Ranch 25270 Highway 98, Boonville 888-972-5933, warmspringsranch.com

Those monster-hoofed horses on your aunt’s collection of Budweiser beer steins are bred and raised at Warm Springs Ranch. Wear your walking shoes and tour the place that 100 Clydesdales call home. Admission costs $10, and reservations are required 24 hours in advance.

Les Bourgeois Vineyards 14020 West Highway BB, Rocheport 800-690-1830, missouriwine.com

The river-bluff hamlet of Rocheport is about 90 minutes from Kansas City, but a leisurely lunch or dinner at Les Bourgeois Vineyards, featuring a spectacular view of the curving Missouri River from inside the Bluff top Bistro or the outdoor patio, is worth the drive. A chilled glass of white wine and the gorgonzola cheesecake only enhance the view. 2

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163 East 2000 Road, Wellsville 785-883-2106, blackjackbattleﬁeld.org

Wellsville is just a few miles east of the oldfashioned college town of Baldwin City, and its great claim to fame is Black Jack Battlefield where, on June 2, 1856, abolitionist John Brown led a free-state militia attack on pro-slavery militia forces; the battle lasted three hours. It’s re-created (sort of) Saturday, June 2, at 5 a.m. Have a cup of java and take a tour of the battlefield, led by “John Brown” or a reasonable facsimile.

Holy-Field Winery 18807 158th Street, Basehor 913-724-9463, holyﬁeldwinery.com

AUTHENTIC GREEK CUISINE SOUVLAKI - GYRO - CHICKEN - ROASTED LAMB - HOMEMADE PASTRIES

GREEK BAND 4 GREEK DANCE TROUPES TAKE OUT AVAILABLE

- FREE ADMISSION & PARKING - GREAT PRIZES!

ST. DIONYSIOS GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH GROUNDS 8100 WEST 95TH STREET, OVERLAND PARK, KS 66212 WWW.STDIONYSIOS.ORG

Father and daughter Les and Michelle Meyer planted their first vines in 1986. Now they produce upward of 7,000 gallons of fine Leavenworth County wines each year. The tasting room serves samples year-round. Check the calendar for frequent theater and musical performances in the vineyard.

Atchison, Kansas cityofatchison.com

The famous pilot who disappeared 75 years ago remains very visible in her hometown. In 1997, land artist Stan Herd captured her visage in “Amelia Earhart Earthwork,” a one-acre mixed-media project composed of living plants and natural elements. She hangs out in life-sized bronze at the International Forest of Friendship, which consists of trees planted to honor all aviators. Visit the house where she was born, now known as the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum. Hit the town for the annual Amelia Earhart Festival July 15-16 — you may run into some breathing doppelgängers.

Kansas Underground Salt Museum 3504 East Avenue G (at Airport Road), Hutchinson 620-662-1425, 866-755-3540 undergroundmuseum.org

There’s more to the simple mineral that we use to preserve and flavor food. And there’s a lot of it underneath the prairie. Located 650 feet below the surface, Hutchinson’s museum is one of only three like it in anywhere in the world. pitch.com

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M AY 3 1 - J U N E 6 , 2 0 1 2

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CHRIS MULLINS

hat skills does it take to run a topnotch farmers market? A market manager needs to love local fruits and vegetables, of course, and have the ability to tolerate all those early — way early — mornings. Customer-service expertise is a must. But the X factor might be a background in cafeteria management. “I know it seems a little strange, but both jobs are pretty similar,” says Deb Connors, market manager of the City Market’s farmers market. Connors has held this job — her first as a farmers-market manager — for several years. But her enthusiasm for studying vendors and going on routine farm checks still sounds fresh. We asked her how she makes the City Market a standout. The Pitch: How did you become the market master? Connors: I actually have a food-service background managing cafeterias. I managed

Mastering the farmers market with the City Market’s Deb Connors By Abbie Stutzer

the cafeteria at the federal building in Kansas City and the GSA cafeteria on Bannister Road for many years. Both jobs are pretty similar in that I handle customers’ issues, oversee the vendors, deal with the health department and government agencies. I have to be very organized at all times and keep very good records. I oversee the SNAP program at the market, which is similar to handling sales in a cafeteria. Have you ever been on the growers’ side and produced for a market? No, but I grew up in Michigan, in the fruit belt, so I was always surrounded by farms and picked produce with my mom, who canned or froze everything we ate. What goes on at a farm check? I usually check farms every Thursday. The vendor typically does not know when I am coming. The visits last week went well. I mainly checked greenhouses who are bringing bedding plants to the market. I also checked

on a contracted vendor who sells plants and produce, and a waiting-list vendor who grows produce. I must check all the new vendors’ farms before they are allowed to rent a space at the market. I also check all the contracted vendors every year. I try to visit them at different times of the season, to make sure what they have at the market is what they are harvesting. The vendors in the “Farmer with Local Supplement” category must grow 50 percent of the produce they sell, and can purchase 50 percent of their produce from a local farmer or one of the Amish auction houses in the area. The City Market has a 500-mile radius, May through September. I typically check to see if the farm has greenhouses, hoop houses or high tunnels; tractors; a way to cool their produce; a water source; and that the produce they sell matches up with the produce they are growing. Did you discover anything new going on with the vendors you visited?

Nothing this week. Sometimes the vendors have added another high tunnel or have had issues with deer, raccoons or bugs. Farming is never predictable. Your success has a lot to do with Mother Nature. What’s your favorite type of produce sold at the market? I love every kind of produce, but when I am checking farms, my favorite is cabbage. It is just beautiful — nothing like you see in the grocery store. I also think okra is very cool and has a beautiful flower. The market carries flowers and plants that thrive in this region, too. Any suggestions on what new gardeners who want to self-landscape their houses should buy? I would suggest they stick with native plants in their landscape and use annuals in pots and hanging baskets for a pop of color. The City Market vendors have a great selection of native plants and annuals and can give the customer tips on how to keep their plants thriving in the hot summer. This exchange of information is something you don’t get when shopping at the big-box stores. Plus, the plants at the market are healthy and well-cared-for before they are purchased by the customers. How does the City Market differ from other area markets? Most farmers markets have a much smaller radius, usually 50 to 100 miles. The City Market is open year-round … and, in order to include the entire state and ensure customers have produce to purchase, has a 500-mile radius. The definition of local varies with every farmers market. The City Market, in addition to the farmers market, also has year-round shops, which makes it possible for the customer to purchase all their items in one stop. The market offers shipped-in produce — never under the farmers’ sheds — so customers can purchase bananas, avocados or other produce that does not grow in Missouri or Kansas. We also have quite a few ethnic grocery stores on the property, which carry those hard-to-find items. We currently have 88 contracted vendors on Saturday, 36 contracted vendors on Sunday, and 60 approved waiting-list vendors. So we offer a great selection and variety. Any new vendors this year? We have a new cheese vendor who has a dairy farm in David City, Nebraska, who has a great selection of cheeses, even cheese curds. A new vendor from Lawrence grows lavender and makes products from the lavender. We have a new, Sunday-contracted vendor who makes coffeecakes in a commercial kitchen. Any new plans for the market this summer? The market will continue to have monthly celebrations the first Saturday of each month through October. June 2 is “Get Your Sweet On,” July 7 is “Groovalicious Fruit,” August 4 is “Veg Out,” September 1 is “For the Love of Meat,” and October 6 is “Pumpkins, Gourds and Apples, Oh My.” There’s also the Picnic Project, June 23, and the Glow Run on July 14 and the Broadway Bridge Run on September 9. The City Market now has a commercial kitchen, which we will be using throughout the summer for cooking classes and foodpreservation classes. Every weekend feels like a festival, so I think the market itself stands out as interesting.

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MIMI’S VIETNAMESE CAFE

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BadSeed Farmers Market 4–9 p.m. Fridays, through November 16 1909 McGee 816-472-0027, badseedkc.com

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Dan Heryer and Brooke Salvaggio’s funky summer market at BadSeed is in full swing, and the duo’s Saturday Farmstand, which offers fresh produce and self-guided farm tours, is revving up. Food stamps are accepted at Urbavore as part of the Beans & Greens program (beansandgreens.org).

Lawrence Farmers Markets 7–11 a.m. Saturdays, through September, then 8–11 a.m. October 6–November 17 (parking lot between Eighth and Ninth streets and New Hampshire and Rhode Island) 4–6 p.m. Tuesdays, through October (parking lot between 10th and 11th streets on Vermont) 4–6 p.m. Thursdays, through October (southwest corner of Sixth Street and Wakarusa) 785-331-4445, lawrencefarmersmarket.com

8615 HAUSER CT. LENEXA, KS - 913-888-8878 - EDOKKOKC.COM

Check out our new Happy Hour from 3-7pm & Reverse Happy Hour from 11pm-2am!

Purchase local and organic products, meat, baked goods, and more. Become a Friend of the Farmers Market for $10 and get discounts. Vision cards (food stamps and cash assistance) and debit cards are accepted for some items.

Overland Park Farmers Market

DAILY FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS MON - Burger Night 5pm - Close TUE - Cheap, CHEAP Draws! 3pm - Close WED - Chicken Fried Steak THUR - Lasagna Dinner and Draws on Special FRI - Pot Pies & Fish n’ Chips SAT - Dog Day & Domestic Bottles SUN - Bloody Mary Bar 11am-3pm Tacos and Mexican beers on special all day

r o f s u Join er Fun prices too Summoper’s! Drink cheap to list! o H t a KC’s Original Neighborhood Bar & Grill 12 W. 63rd St. in Brookside 816.361.8841 | charliehoopers.com 20

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7:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Wednesdays, through September 26 6:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturdays, through October 27 7950 Marty 913-895-6391, opkansas.org

Load up on produce, breads, flowers and other products while perusing vendor tables in downtown Overland Park. Payment options include EBT/SNAP program, senior vouchers program, and debit card token program (Saturday only).

City Market 6 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturdays, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. Sundays, through October Fifth Street and Walnut 816-842-1271, thecitymarket.org

The weekend market carries artisan, organic, biodynamic, heirloom, locally grown and vegan products, and more. Live entertainment, special tasting events and weekly flea markets round out the experience. SNAP and EBT cards are accepted (until 2:30 p.m. Saturday or 2 p.m. Sunday). 2

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Kansas City Organics and Natural Market 8 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Saturdays, through October 13 Minor Park (just east of Holmes on Red Bridge Road) 816-444-3663, kcorganics.com

Find a bounty of organic and locally grown produce, and other Fair Trade and ecoproducts at this market in south Kansas City.

Brookside Farmers Market 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Saturdays, through October 20 Border Star Montessori School, parking lot at 63rd Street and Wornall brooksidefarmersmarket.com

Brookside market shoppers are likely steadfast supporters of the “farm to fork” organic-produce movement; that’s this market’s specialty.

Troostwood Youth Garden & Market 3–8 p.m. Fridays, 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturdays, through October 5142 Paseo 816-444-5788, troostwoodyouthgarden.info

Everything here is grown on-site with organic methods by neighborhood youth.

Westport Plaza Farmers Market 4:30–7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, through October Northwest corner of Westport Road and Wyoming Street farmersmarketkc.org, 913-461-9151

Get your organic and sustainable produce and farm products midweek in midtown. Debit cards are taken, and vendors accept Missouri food-stamp cards for double value.

Parkville Farmers Market 7 a.m.–noon (or until sellout) Saturdays, through October English Landing Park, in the parking lot off Highway 9 downtown (behind the ﬁre station) 816-330-3279, parkvillefarmersmarket.com

The Parkville Farmers Market offers all localfarmer-produced fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, honey and more.

Rosedale Farmers Market 12–3 p.m. Sundays, through September 340 Southwest Boulevard 913-645-7826, rosedalefarmersmarket.com

The Rosedale Market has family activities, information on community resources, and a nutrition-education booth. It’s a Beans & Greens participant and accepts SNAP/SFMNP. pitch.com

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M AY 3 1 - J U N E 6 , 2 0 1 2

THE PITCH

Tara Varney dolls up Fringe Festival. CHRIS MULLINS

By Berry Anderson

22 t h e p i t c h M AY 3 1 - J u n e 6 , 2 0 1 2 pitch.com 2 T H E P I T C H M O N T H X X–X X , 2 0 0 X pitch.com

f KC’s Fringe Festival has a face, it might be Tara Varney’s. For the past four years, the playwright, director and producer has been involved with at least one of the festival’s 10 most-attended shows. Among the big scores: 2008’s Jesus Christ, King of Comedy; 2009’s Lingerie Shop; 2010’s Khaaaaan! The Musical; and 2011’s Hexing Hitler. This year, she and her creative partner, Bryan Colley, have received an Inspiration Grant from the ArtsKC Fund for their latest Fringe work, Sexing Hitler. The Pitch: How do Hexing Hitler and this year’s Sexing Hitler complement each other? Varney: Sexing Hitler is this crazy story we found about how the Third Reich invented infl atable pleasure dolls to prevent soldiers from fraternizing with French prostitutes. The project is led by Heinrich Himmler, who sees it as a way to inspire his Aryan dream in the SS soldiers and keep the Nordic blood pure. Last year’s play, Hexing Hitler, told the true story of a group of Americans who tried to kill Hitler by using a voodoo effigy to put a death spell on him. Both plays can stand alone, but they are designed to be performed together, utilizing the same cast. They are very different, but there are a lot of parallels. Obviously, both are set during World War II and indirectly involve Adolf Hitler. Both involve people trying to harness a fantasy as a means to an end: one for murder and the other to create a master race. Both explore power struggles between people, and both are about using imagination to affect world events. And both use a doll as a focal point for these fantasies. At the same time, Hexing Hitler is fairly realistic and tells a believable story within a single time frame and single location. Sexing Hitler does away with realistic constraints. It spans several years and also uses poetry, music and dance to tell the story. In terms of style, they are complete opposites. What’s the most outrageous scene you’ve ever witnessed at a Kansas City Fringe Festival? A lot of people are going to think that nearly everything in the Fringe Festival is outrageous, and, to a certain extent, it is because it’s riskier theater than you’re going to fi nd pretty much anywhere else. And that’s the purpose of Fringe: for artists to have a space where they can challenge themselves and their audiences, and not stick with something tried-and-true because they have bills to pay. Not that there’s anything wrong with traditional theater — it’s just that most companies aren’t in a fi nancial position to be able to take artistic risks. There’s a lot riding on every decision they make. They’ve got to keep selling tickets. They’ve got boards of directors to please. And many don’t want to do any other types of theater anyway because they love what they put up, and that’s cool, too. What gets me excited about Fringe is that I know we can try anything. It’s a breeding ground for creativity. Anything can happen. Fringe doesn’t censor its artists, so it’s a really wonderful place to say yes to possibilities, to say, “This really scares me. It may fail spectacularly. I’ll do it.” Fringe is usually pretty raw. There isn’t the luxury of rehearsing in the performance space or polishing the technical aspects for days before the show goes up. Things go wrong all the time. They just do. And the really great thing is, you just deal with it — you move on. Fringe audiences understand that. They kind of thrive on it. They root for you, so it’s like we’re all on the same team. It makes it a really supportive, party atmosphere. What local summer productions are you excited about? I’m not able to see a lot of the shows that I’d like to, due to my weird schedule and fi nances. Honestly, there are a lot of plays on the Fringe schedule that I’m interested in: Skillet Tag, Thank You Notes, Cultural Confrontation and a collection of 10-minute plays by different authors called Fourplay. What are you going to do this summer for fun? What are you going to do professionally? Summers are incredibly busy for me. I teach a lot of summer camps for the Coterie Theatre and Young Audiences. My days are filled with teaching theater, and my nights and weekends are filled with doing theater, so having free time is a real oddity. I’ll probably spend some time here and there watching birds visit my backyard feeders. Pretty geeky, I know, but it’s fun and relaxing for me. I will probably collapse for a couple of days after Fringe is over, but Bryan and I have already started working on our Fringe show for 2013, and there is already a lot to do. Sexing Hitler, part of the Fringe Festival, will be performed at Off Center Theatre in Crown Center (2450 Grand) at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 20; 8 p.m. Saturday, July 21; 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 23; 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 24; 8 p.m. Thursday, July 26; and 10 p.m. Saturday, July 28.

NORTHEAST ARTS KC presents FREE

Summer Sunset Concert Series “In the PINK of the Evening”

See websites for show descriptions, showtimes and prices (where they apply).

Starlight Theatre June 5–September 2 Swope Park 4600 Starlight Road 816-363-7827, kcstarlight.com

This longtime theater under the moon and stars offers award-winning Broadway shows. In the Heights — June 5–10 The Addams Family — July 3–8 Memphis — July 10–15 Peter Pan — July 24–29 Aida — August 3–12 La Cage aux Folles — August 28–September 2

Theatre in the Park June 8–August 12 Shawnee Mission Park 7710 Renner Road, in Shawnee 913-236-1237, theatreinthepark.org

This summer’s season, in one of the largest outdoor community theaters in the country, is a mix that includes two PG-rated shows and one R-rated production (according to Theatre in the Park’s own film-style, age-appropriate rating system). Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street — Rated R — June 8–10, 14-17 Legally Blonde —Rated PG — June 22–24, June 28–July 1 The Jungle Book, Sleeping Beauty Both shows are performed each night as separate one-act musical plays (approximately 40 minutes each) Rated G — July 6–8, 12–15 Urinetown — Rated PG — July 20–22, 26–29 You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown — Rated G — August 3–5, 9–12

The Coterie Theatre Crown Center 2450 Grand 816-474-6552. coterietheatre.org

The Coterie’s summer production, written by Mary Rodgers (daughter of famous composer Richard Rodgers), is based on the children’s story The Princess and the Pea by Hans Christian Andersen. Only this show has Ron Megee in it, plus Julie Shaw as the queen. Once Upon a Mattress — June 19–August 8

Heart of America Shakespeare Festival Tuesdays–Sundays, June 19–July 15, and Monday, July 2 No performance July 4

Southmoreland Park Oak Street and Emanuel Cleaver II Boulevard 816-531-7728, kcshakes.org

Two plays this summer are performed in rotating repertory, each production shown every other night. A Midsummer’s Night Dream Antony and Cleopatra

The Barn Players 6219 Martway, Mission 913-432-9100, thebarnplayers.org

Prelude to a Kiss — June 1–17 Parallel Lives — July 20–August 5 Revolution: A Tribute to the Beatles — August 10–12 (2012 fundraiser) Blood Brothers — September 14–30

Kansas City Fringe Festival July 19–29 816-359-9195, kcfringe.org

Third Saturdays in June, July and August Music from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Concourse Park in the Colonnade Bldg

JUNE 16

Phantoms of the Opry

AUGUST 18

Rex Hobart and the Misery Boys Includes a ‘round up’ of area Food Truck Vendors along Gladstone Blvd

JULY 21

Beau Bledsoe and Zhanna

NORTHEASTARTSKC.ORG

Fringe originated in Edinburgh, Scotland, and has spread around the world. Shows range from the amateur to the more established — and you don’t always know which you’re seeing (which is part of the fun). But all offer artists the freedom to express themselves however they wish. See the website for information.

Kansas City Actors Theatre August 4–September 16 H&R Block City Stage Union Station 35 West Pershing Road 816-235-6222 (tickets), kcactors.org

Last year, this professional local ensemble took on Harold Pinter. This year, it’s “A Summer of Mystery.” Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap — August 4–26 Tom Stoppard’s The Real Inspector Hound — September 1–16

Musical Theater Heritage Off Center Theatre at Crown Center 2450 Grand 816-842-9999 (tickets), 816-221- 6987 (information), mthkc.com

Following April’s production of Sweeney Todd, this third show of MTH’s 10th season fi nds its semi-staged footing in River City with a 25-member cast. The Music Man — August 9–26

pitch.com u X–X n e 6X, , 2200102X tThHeE pPi ItTcChH 23 pitch.comM AY M O3N1 T-HJ X 3

by Brent Shepherd

e’ve pared down the summerrelease slate to 20 movies that we think may be worth your two hours and ticket price. If you don’t see a major summer blockbuster listed here, don’t worry — the big-studio marketing hacks will compensate by carpetbombing you with trailers, TV spots and Taco Bell promotions. Hell, we probably could have fed Africa or financed a U.S. health-care system with what Universal spent on Battleship alone. (Release dates are subject to change.)

June 1 Snow White and the Huntsman Recipe for a remake: Distance yourself from Disney and embrace your fairy tale’s dark side, with a resourceful, ass-kicking princess (Kristen Stewart), her intrepid protector (The Avengers’ Chris Hemsworth), dwarves who are far from dopey, and a diabolical queen (Charlize Theron) whose narcissism knows no bounds.

June 8 Prometheus The Alien franchise comes full circle with this stand-alone quasi-prequel directed by Ridley Scott, who made his name on the 1979 original. No Ripley this time, as visionary industri-

alist Guy Pearce bankrolls an exploration into the unknown led by Charlize Theron, Michael Fassbender and Noomi Rapace.

June 15 Rock of Ages If you can endure Glee-style covers of 1980s glam rock and hair metal for two hours, your reward is Tom Cruise as a golden god and Alec Baldwin in hair extensions as a tour manager, plus Paul Giamatti, Russell Brand and Catherine Zeta-Jones in this musical about young wannabes chasing their rockand-roll fantasy.

June 22 Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Producer Tim Burton and director Timur Bekmambetov serve up this high-octane adaptation of Seth Grahame-Smith’s genrebending novel about the Great Emancipator’s moonlighting gig. Just try watching Steven Spielberg’s upcoming Lincoln biopic with a straight face after this. Brave The elevator pitch: It’s Mulan in Scotland. The deal-closer: It’s Pixar. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World It’s love in the time of the asteroid, as Steve

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Carell and Keira Knightley make one last road trip before the lights go out forever. We already know, more or less, how this one ends, but isn’t getting there half the fun?

June 29 Moonrise Kingdom Wes Anderson turns his singularly timeless flair for production design to his fi rst real period piece: a tale of runaway tweens in love in the summer of 1965 and the harried adults on their trail, including Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton and Tilda Swinton. Your Sister’s Sister Mark Duplass fi nds himself at the center of a love triangle with best friend Emily Blunt and her sister, Rosemarie DeWitt. Emotional complications ensue. On the other hand, dude, as complications go, that’s nice work if you can get it. Magic Mike Steven Soderbergh keeps postponing his retirement plans, this time typecasting onetime male stripper Channing Tatum as — wait for it — a male stripper, albeit one with strong business acumen and an eye on the future. And, oh, look — they paid Matthew McConaughey to take his shirt off when he was going to do it anyway.

July 3 The Amazing Spider-Man Is this reboot necessary? No. Does it look very different from the Sam Raimi trilogy it replaces? No. Is it how we’re spending July 4th after we exhaust our fireworks? Yeah, probably.

July 6 Savages Director Oliver Stone takes a break from history and conspiracy theories for this fast-paced tale of easygoing marijuana growers who wage war on the Mexican cartel after their girlfriend is kidnapped. Starring Blake Lively, Benicio Del Toro, Salma Hayek and John Travolta. To Rome With Love Woody Allen’s escape from New York continues, with Alec Baldwin, Penélope Cruz, Judy Davis, Jesse Eisenberg, Greta Gerwig, Ellen Page and — God help us all — Roberto Benigni.

July 13 Ted Family Guy creator Seth McFarlane writes, directs and voices the title character in this raunchy buddy comedy about a grown man (Mark Wahlberg) and his bond with the talking teddy bear he grew up with. Our inner 12-yearold can’t freaking wait.

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July 20 The Dark Knight Rises Inception’s Tom Hardy is the poor bastard who must follow Heath Ledger’s Joker as the new terror of Gotham in the conclusion of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy. Nolan usually merits the summer tentpole hype.

July 25 Ruby Sparks The Little Miss Sunshine team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris directs real-life item Paul Dano and Zoe Kazan in a bit of magical realism about a struggling writer who creates the girl of his dreams on paper, then unwittingly wills her into existence.

July 27 The Watch Formerly Neighborhood Watch, this Ben Stiller–Vince Vaughn comedy received a marketing-campaign makeover in the wake of the Trayvon Martin killing. But seriously — when’s the last time anyone looked for subtext in a movie starring those two?

August 3 The Bourne Legacy Writer-director Tony Gilroy has found a way

around what Matt Damon jokingly called The Bourne Redundancy, extending the franchise’s shelf life by introducing Jeremy Renner as one of multiple Jason Bournes operating within Treadstone. This specimen also takes many names and kicks much ass. Total Recall Twenty-two years after Paul Verhoeven’s groundbreaking F/X showcase, Colin Farrell and Kate Beckinsale step into the roles originated by Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sharon Stone. Eh, couldn’t hurt. If nothing else, expect Farrell’s enunciation to be excellent.

August 10 The Campaign Four-term congressman Will Ferrell squares off against family man Zach Galifianakis in a battle for the hearts and minds of the North Carolina electorate. It’s exactly as ridiculous as it sounds. In other words: politics as usual.

August 24 Premium Rush In writer-director David Koepp’s action thriller, NYC bike messenger Joseph Gordon-Levitt absolutely, positively has to make a delivery across town in 90 minutes or less. Dirty cop Michael Shannon wants what’s in his backpack before he can get it there.

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