The Pitch: The Best of KC November 2020

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CONTENTS

THE PITCH

Publisher Stephanie Carey Editor-in-Chief Brock Wilbur Strategy Director Kelcie McKenney Music Editor Nick Spacek Film Editor Abby Olcese Contributing Writers Emily Cox, Liz Cook, Barbara Shelly, April Fleming, Deborah Hirsch, Brooke Tippin, Dan Lybarger, Vivian Kane, Orrin Grey, Adrian Torres, Aaron Rhodes, Adrian Torres Little Village Creative Services Jordan Sellergren Contributing Photographers Zach Bauman, Chase Castor, Travis Young, Jim Nimmo Director of Marketing & Promotions Jason Dockery Account Manager John Phelps Director of Operations Andrew Miller Editorial Interns Allison Harris, Joseph Hernandez, Abbey Higginbotham, Lucia Verzola Multimedia Intern Andrew Dodderidge Design Intern Erin Hoyt, Connor O’Neill Marketing Intern Tyler Infinger

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Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Carey Chief Operating Officer Adam Carey

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The Pitch distributes 35,000 copies a month 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.

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COPYRIGHT

The contents of The Pitch are Copyright 2020 by Carey Media. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means without the express written permission of the publisher.

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Kansas City, MO 64111 For information or to share a story tip, email tips@thepitchkc.com For advertising: stephanie@thepitchkc.com or 816-218-6702

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THE CHIEFS SUPERBOWL VICTORY PARADE

ZACH BAUMAN

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

His heart is just SO FULL right now with civic pride.

8 OUR PICKS

The people, places, organizations, and trends making KC such a dynamic cultural hub at this moment.

28 YOUR PICKS

The Best of Kansas City 2020, according to our readers. (That’s you!)

“WHERE’S MAHOMES?”

Illustration by W. David Keith Photographed by Travis Young thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

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LETTER

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR AHHHH!!! I’M SO PROUD OF EVERYONE!! AHHHH!!! BY BROCK WILBUR

Jesus Christ, I’m not supposed to cry at work. And yet here we are.

I have felt compelled to cry at this job for a multitude of reasons in 2020. When I interviewed a local dogwalker who was blinded by the police at a protest. When I follow-up on the families of those who have lost a loved one to gun violence. When someone explains how their life has been ruined by evictions or COVID-19 or abuse at the hands of their employer. Kids, I do not recommend a career in journalism. It isn’t as sexy and fun as all the movies make it look.

(I do not know what movie I’d be referring to here.)

I have felt compelled to cry at this job for a multitude of reasons in 2020 because what I was working on was so awesome, in a Biblical sense. When we profile a young local band and watch their fandom grow exponentially overnight. When we send an award-winning food journalist to cover a Monster Truck rally and she treats it with total professionalism. When a deep-dive piece that took hundreds of hours to compile lands on my desk and I can just feel the blood, sweat, and tears on the page. When I read the beautiful and varied prose of so many different voices that we have either recently cultivated or have long supported.

When we catch the stupid typo on the cover just before thirty-five-thousand copies of it are printed and there’s an adrenaline rush like a near car-crash and you laugh through the panic of what would have been.

I have cried so many more times in 2020 over the beauty and the laughter than I have over the crushing bummers. And I think that is a testament to this goddamned wild city and the exceptional people therein.

All things considered, easily the worst year of all of our lives at least gave me the opportunity to live vicariously through the joy of others. And hopefully our little publication has given you a portal into the same emotional vein.

Today, I am havin’ a bit of a sob because we’re wrapping up our yearly Best of KC magazine; that thing you are holding right now. When I first moved to town, it was a copy of Best of KC that taught me and my wife everything we need to see and do as soon as possible. A few years later, I’m the one putting that together, to allow our motley crew to continue serving as the guides to an entire metro and beyond. We have edited tens of thousands of words. We have flipped through hundreds upon hundreds of photos to give you an immersive KC experience that should (and could) make any of your

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THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

out-of-town friends wildly jealous.

So, I don’t know? It’s a lot! We’ve spent the last few weeks just condensing every thought, care, feeling, and moment into under 80 pages. Making the highlight reel of Kansas City (and reliving the most complicated year of our lives) has left me overwhelmed. I’m so proud that we’re all here.

I’m so sad about the ones that aren’t. I am in awe of the spirit of this unendingly wonderful place and the stories of unstoppable people therein.

So here is Best of KC 2020. Comprised of two parts, the first is our editorial team’s list of what makes this city worth fighting tooth and nail for: everything from The Big Victory Game to a piece of bathroom art that calls out toxic masculinity. There’s something for everyone! And this is where the voices of The Pitch live. Then, we have our reader’s choice section. This is everything that the city voted in as what you see as the highlights of our little town.

Gonna reiterate that, because I’ve heard enough from friends and internet foes alike about how they’re upset to not have made the finals. You guys, no one at The Pitch has anything to do with winners or nominees.

I don’t even vote. Please stop being mad at me. Please be mad at everyone else you know. They’re the ones that betrayed you.

But in all seriousness, yes, this second section is entirely run by you. This year we ran 456 categories. Yeah, that’s part of why I didn’t vote either. Not just editorial ethics, but holy shit, I don’t know that many businesses/people in the entire city. And why would I know “Best Place To Work”?

I haven’t worked anywhere but here, and as aforementioned, I spend a lot of time crying on the job. (Future interns, ignore that I said that. The Pitch, and journalism in general, are a delight each and every day.)

Across those 456 categories, 666,694 votes were cast. Yeah. Y’all hit 666,666 and just kept going. We should’ve just cut it off there to see if your picks for Best Dermatologist and Best Place To Take A Selfie were enough energy to awaken The Dark Lord.

There’s always next year! But yes, we counted every single vote, removed anyone who was trying to game the system, and never once put a finger on a scale. Best of KC protects and upholds democracy better than United States elections. Sorry if that’s too political, but we live in Hell, and the only guarantee I can offer is that no malfeasance befell your votes regarding Best Locally Made Soap.

I would also be remiss to not acknowledge the molecular-sized elephant in the

TOP, BROCK WILBUR AND WIFE VIVIAN KANE PHOTOBOMBING THE MAYOR, THE COACH, AND A WARD PARKWAY GOOSE. BELOW, THE EDITOR’S CATS WOODWARD & BERNSTEIN. W. DAVID KEITH

room: COVID-19. Yes, we all know how odd this is. The businesses that are coming back are mostly back. Some of the businesses that have won these categories might be shuttered forever by the time this magazine hits stands. And yes—hundreds of those involved in this round-up are operating at different capacities, ranging from “as open as possible” to “diminished” to “the lights have not been on in a while.” With that in mind, we pushed the voting and release of this magazine a full month beyond its normal October release. We wanted as much time as possible for the city to discover what New Awful Normal looks like, and by extension, to make sure this series of awards would be as close to a snapshot in time as can be done.

Sure, you can probably mentally add an asterisk to certain categories, but we’d rather let the city choose what best exemplifies us this year and in this historic moment than pretend we need to wait a year to shine a light on the hard work and dedication of so many.

Here is Best of KC 2020. This is what we live for. The Pitch turned 40-years-old this year, and hopefully we’ll be around for another 40, to celebrate our fabulously erratic home, together.

(P.S. Can you identify every local on the cover of our magazine? Happy hunting!)

Pitch in and we’ll make it through,

CELEBRATING 30 YEARS

of loving our neighbors and serving our community.

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T S E B C K F O S K C I P R OU ch,

ah Hirs

ebor ndez, D a n r e H Joseph ilbur Harris, acek, Brock W n o is ll A p in Grey, , Nick S ing, Orr arbara Shelly m le F il B r ook, Ap Olcese,

By Liz C Kenney, Abby c Kelcie M

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LOCAL SPORTS TEAM WINS NATIONAL COMPETITION; CAUSES SMALL RUCKUS “Chiefs Kingdom has firmly planted its flag on top of football’s highest summit,” Mitch Holthus shouted. “The Kansas City Chiefs are champions of Super Bowl 54.”

It’s been 50 years in the making, and while the world’s gone to absolute shit since the Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers on Feb. 2, at least we got to have one truly perfect moment. The countless videos of fans going rabid at Power & Light and around the city as the game concluded is a once-in-a-lifetime feeling. We’re glad that no one has photos/videos of our personal reactions to the victory. Some of us were... well. We were a lot.

The ride the team took us on for the 2019 season is one we’ll never forget.

While starting strong, we were dragged back down to earth by the two strange losses to the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans, followed by a dislocated right kneecap to Kansas City’s king, Patrick Mahomes, on Oct. 17 against the Denver Broncos. Remember that? Remember when we made a high school football coach our quarterback for a while, and he did a goddamned amazing job?

Then, Mahomes came back like nothing happened, and other than the loss to the Tennessee Titans in his first game since the injury, things returned to our normal rate of obliterating our opponents. The threestraight double-digit playoff comebacks against the Texans, Titans, and 49ers felt like a walk in the park to the team, but for the fans, it resembled the Mamba at Worlds of Fun. Scary, but 100 percent worth it. Would ride again; highest recommendation.

Our current season is shaping a path towards mega-victory yet again. Does it feel weird watching them play in front of 16,000 fans instead of 72,000 fans? Absolutely.

Does it feel like something that shouldn’t be happening right now given the likelihood of an outbreak? Probably! But the fact that it’s happening is giving us a rush of normalcy that we need to make it through this hellscape. Nothing, and I mean nothing, has PATRICK MAHOMES COURTESY OF THE CHIEFS

thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

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OUR PICKS JUSTICE GATSON KELCIE MCKENNEY

brought the city together like Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid, Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, Tyrann Mathieu, Chris Jones, and the rest of the team. Here’s hoping that the next decade keeps that same line-up.

Will we win this year’s Super Bowl? If the season gets that far... absolutely yes. And if not, we’re not sure, but we think that means we just remain undefeated Super Bowl champions indefinately. Long may we reign!

(As a footnote, scientists say that if the 49ers had won, and had a victory parade, the infection rate from the recently arrived coronavirus would have been a disaster with a death toll.

So we’re still waiting on that thank you from SF, for kicking their ass and saving their lives all at once.)

JUSTICE GATSON IS FIGHTING FOR A BETTER TOMORROW When Black Lives Matter protests arose across the streets of Kansas City this June, it lit a fire in our community to stand up and be better for Black Kansas Citians. But that fire has been burning a lot longer for many, including Justice Gatson—a social justice activist who deserves much of the credit for where we are today.

Gatson is a social justice doula, activist, and organizer. In 2008, Gatson founded the Reale Justice Network, and since then has launched the first Blackled bail fund in Missouri and Kansas, worked as a core organizer with One Struggle KC, supported local mothers both as a doula and in fighting for others to keep custody of their children, organized 2019’s inclusive Womxn’s Rally, and helped pass Kansas City’s CROWN act which bans discrimination based on natural hair—all while also working at the ACLU. What we’re trying to say is Gatson has been fighting for a better Kansas City for years, and her work deserves all the recognition, support, and celebration we can give.

Black women have always been at the forefront of Kansas City activism, and the fight is not over yet. But listening to and supporting women like Gatson—giving a helping hand when it’s needed—is what will bring a brighter tomorrow.

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THE ASTONISHING PROLIFICITY OF QUARANTINED MUSICIANS PUTS THE REST OF US TO SHAME Thanks to Bandcamp Fridays, wherein the music hosting and streaming site waives all their fees the first Friday of

each month, musical artists were presented with a real incentive to regularly release music over the course of the last year. While it seemed like every month brought a robust collection of local artists’ new tunes, there were a few who really seemed to embrace the possibilities of monthly hordes looking to support musicians.

Lawrence’s Til Willis dropped new music every month, be it on his own, as part of Erratic Cowboy full-band project, or as Solohawk, the acoustic duo he has with Steve Faceman. Willis wasn’t content to stick to singles, either, releasing a live album each with Solohawk and Erratic Cowboy, as well—

Live at the Wright Opera House and Live at KVPH, respectively—no mean feat. Then came Brandon Phillips and the Condition’s summer singles series, where the power-pop group dropped a new cut every single month on Bandcamp, Soundcloud, and even a music video for the soulful “Sunrise.” The welcome regularity of what we knew would be a jam, even if we didn’t know the tempo or the topic, made BP+TC’s socials a must-watch for months.

And, finally, while Jason Beers is prolific even outside of a pandemic, at the time of this writing, the genre-hopping musician had already dropped 12 albums on Bandcamp this year, ranging

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from fuzzed-out ‘60s biker movie worship to a Halloween album to several “lost” recordings from the fictional Quilt Records. It’s an embarrassment of riches.

KC GLORY TACKLE OUR NEXT CITYWIDE OBSESSION When does women’s professional sports come back to KC? The answer is already here; you just haven’t heard of it. The Kansas City Glory, associated with the Women’s National Football Conference, began its journey in 2019 to be the area’s premier opportunity for women in football. The team hasn’t played due to COVID-19, but this is a team that can be a cornerstone for Kansas City sports.

Glory president Vicki Kestermont was inspired by watching the Kansas City Titans, a former women’s pro football team. She was in awe at seeing women compete at such an intense level. Through word of mouth, the participation and excitement for the Glory has grown. Mentioning Kansas City’s women’s football team lights up everyone’s eyes. City council members were intrigued by the prospect, and the team’s executive board have met with the Chiefs on multiple occasions, who have shown a lot of interest in the team and the growth of women’s football.

“It’s the natural progression of women’s sports. I have no doubts that our stands will be full and that the Kansas City Glory will be very well known,” Kestermont says. “These ladies are pumped and ready to play and continue working out to prepare for the 2021 season.”

We’re just waiting for our opportunity to buy some merch and watch these absolute warriors smash the competition on the gridiron. To Glory!

GRAFFITI ATTIC GOES FROM APOCALYPTIC SCARES TO ENDOF-THE-WORLD GALLERIA One year ago in the summer of 2019, Levi Thomas and partner John O’Con-

nor opened SurviveKC—an interactive maze. Part zombie-infested haunted house and part escape room with a laser tag twist, SurviveKC let Kansas Citian’s use realistic laser rifles to hunt “living dead” zombies hiding in a maze built on the 7th floor of historic Union Station. Then, post-pandemic, it took on new life. Thomas noticed that he had a half-mile of bare wall, and so he posted a call in local art groups, declaring the wall open to all.

“I realized that there is literally no place that is safe for street artist to paint in Kansas City,” Thomas says. His open e-invitation received a hundred thousand views, and more than 200 artists showed up in the initial weeks to overcome their lockdown boredom, while continuing to pursuse street art in a legal and socially distanced way.

The zombie shooter staging ground became an artists commune. Now, the artists involved are bringing supplies

and helping teach kids from the community about how to use paintbrushes and spray can to create specific effects.

We love seeing the next generation of creators get mentored in such a bizarre locale. If you’re planning to stop by Union Station for any of its other huge gallery shows, give yourself the gift of a trip to the seventh floor.

BLACK G.I.F.T. RALLIES FOR SYSTEMIC CHANGE Founded back in May, G.I.F.T. has been reaching out to area businesses to see what problems need addressing. Their mission is to invest in Black-owned businesses located in low-income areas

of Kansas City. Enter Ruby Jean’s Juicery. Faced with reduced revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the establishment was at risk of losing all three of its storefront locations. The $10,000 donation will help the establishment keep its doors open and staff working, G.I.F.T. Executive Director Brandon Calloway says. The recent outrage and protests centered on racial inequalities are ushering in a new era for Black business owners. While support has prompted an uptick in clientele and donations for some local Black-owned businesses, some fear that the momentum won’t last and businesses will suffer as a result. With little help outside of consumers, the root issues that perpetuate inequality in Kansas City’s local Black communities signal that there is more work to be done. Black KC residents are disproportionately impoverished, with a poverty rate of nearly 25 percent, according to 2018 U.S. Census data, as compared to a nearly 12 percent poverty rate for white residents.

DRUNKEN WORM’S BATHROOM HOSTS A TAKEDOWN OF TOXIC MASCULINITY The Drunken Worm on 39th Street is a second home to many of us here at The Pitch. At times, it has even served as our de facto office. Amid coronavirus, one of the most devestating blows that ricocheted through our extended family was the loss of Worm bartender Christopher “C-Wash” Washington.

It came out of the blue and absolutely wrecked anyone who had ever crossed paths with one of the kindest, most aware dudes we’ll ever know. One of his favorite things to joke about with us was the curse of a patch of drywall in the men’s room.

For reasons unknown by man, this small restroom contains a single, seemingly arbitrary section where bros cannot stop punching holes in it.

Again, dunno what’s happening there.

No matter how often that random spot OUR WOMEN’S TACKLE FOOTBALL TEAM COURTESY OF KC GLORY

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OUR PICKS

GRAFFITTI ATTIC

JIM NIMMO

gets fixed, someone inevitably comes through and (surely soberly) perforates the barrier yet again. Dudes rock.

Rather than keep up the endless cycle of repairs, someone mounted a frame around the hole to make it look like it was an intentional piece of art. Then they adorned it with a small sign, akin to those you’d find in a museum or art gallery. The sign says “Bruised Male Ego. -Artist Unknown.” Makes us laugh every single time we see it.

Only became funnier when someone stole the sign. Lol.

RACHEL GONZALEZ IS AN OVERFLOWING FOUNTAIN OF HOPE Imagine what might have been, had you become involved in fighting for what you believe in at a younger age.

Maybe if we put the work in earlier, we could have avoided (gestures at this whole mess). Yeah, some of us feel a bit guilty that it took all this nonsense to finally invest our time and energy into making change. Luckily, that delay on investing in impact is not going to be a problem that our younger generations face, and Rachel Gonzalez is proof.

As a first generation American, GonBLACK G.I.F.T.

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CHASE CASTOR

THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

zalez made headlines in 2016 when she was elected as the youngest DNC convention delegate in the country. Following her childhood dream of helping make this country a better place, she was sent to represent Missouri. As a high school senior (who wouldn’t even be old enough to vote until just before the presidential election) she went to the convention and fought hard for everything she believed. Despite the result of 2016, she’s never stopped pushing for more and her political star is on the rise. In the last year, she’s flown across the country to meet with several presidential candidates and has been invested in our local political struggles, all while attending college.

“I see a future for Kansas City that reflects our values,” Gonzalez says.

“One with a police chief who does all they can to protect citizens and protestors and not just talk about it. One that no longer has street names associated with racists such as J.C. Nichols. One with high schools that are fully accredited, and colleges that are better funded by the state. And a city that invests more in community programs and actively works to end gun violence.”

Someday (sooner rather than later) we’ll have Gonzalez writing legislation as she inevitably becomes one of our city or state leaders. There’s really no limit to what we see her accomplishing, and we’re wildly appreciative that she’s inspiring so many others to follow her path.

“You are never too young or too old to get involved and take action,” Gonzalez says. “Join me.”

THRIFTED FINDS ARE TAKING OVER Vintage fashion is making a comeback.

Well, it’s been here for years—the rest of us are finally realizing how wonderful it is. And local vintage and thrift boutiques are making it even easier for

us to shop affordable and sustainable looks. Daisy Lee Vintage reopened this year on West 18th Street, bringing curated vintage fashion ranging from the 60s to Y2K back to their crossroads store—while still operating a popup at Fetch in the West Bottoms and another shop in the Oak Park Mall. Troost staple Peaches Vintage Collective is always stocked with curated looks that take us straight back to the 70s. Plus, they’re conveniently located next door to Virgils—the mobile plant store turned brick-and-mortar shop. We should all know the classics by now: Boomerang Vintage just celebrated its 31st Birthday and Donna’s Dress Shop is stylish as ever on 39th Street, along with Retro Vixen.

But another treat vintage and thrift lovers have indulged in this year are the pop-ups, so many pop-ups. We saw Shop Kiku bring her tie dye art and curated vintage clothing from Etsy and into Dear Society on Broadway. The Wallflower’s Collective brought their thrifted clothing from Poshmark to an IRL Rockford sidewalk sale in September.

There are so many more vintage collectives and shops on IG hustling their wares on story sales that have left us all itching for the next drop: @songbird__vintage, @milkandcookiesvintage, @shopvintagehaven, @aiajaivintage, @talltalevintage, @vintageforjosephine, and so many more. Vintage

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came from Asian backgrounds. We didn’t grow up having a lot,” says Darrell Loo, the bar manager. “We take and we give. The local support we’ve received has been incredible, so we wanted to give something back.”

Waldo Thai eventually had to discontinue the lunches to focus on its own bottom line, which, like most restaurants, has been harmed by COVID-19 and social distancing restrictions. But, along with in-person dining Mondays through Saturdays beginning at 4:30 p.m., it continues to sustain the community with dazzling take-out options.

For $55, the “family meal” will sustain three or four people with an array of main dishes and appetizers, and have enough left over for appetizers. “We’re hanging in there, “ Loo says. And long may they last.

PLANT PEOPLE’S NUMBERS KEEP GROWING

fashion is here to stay in Kansas City, and we’re loving every bit of distressed denim, bucket hats, and slip dresses about it.

DRUNKEN WORM’S BATHROOM BROCK WILBUR

Kansas City residents are getting serious about their plant children. The opening of several new locally owned plant shops in the area and a lust for leafy life in our homes have created a full on plant culture in the city. It’s hard to be inside a bookstore, record store,

or even your own workplace without hearing someone talking about how their plants are doing: why they’re dying, if we’ve been watering them, or which ones are growing new leaves.

Plants have become a staple of Kansas City’s Instagram stories, apartments, and our hearts. The mere presence of plants is so good for improving mental health and quality of life that some locals participated in the nationwide social media organized Undergound Plant Trade that began this summer, where white people donated plants for free to Black people who requested them. Bringing vegetative life into our homes is an uplifting experience all, and is the perfect way to put down roots in a community.

CHEF COLLECTIVE KC PULLED OFF THE CITY’S BIGGEST PANDEMIC PIVOT As soon as the pandemic shut down

THE OVERWHELMING KINDNESS OF WALDO THAI PLACE Even in the kind of year that we now think of as “normal,” Waldo Thai Place would be a star in Kansas City’s galaxy of Asian restaurants. Actually, all restaurants. But the team led by executive chef Pam Liberda and her husband, Teddy Liberda, has stood out in the pandemic. From mid-March through June, Waldo Thai, at 8431 Wornall Road, offered free carry out lunches Tuesday through Saturday to service industry workers.

“A lot of us in management here RACHEL GONZALEZ NIKUNJ TEJWANI

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Boys Grow. That muscle may be necessary to keep meeting the needs of hungry people in KC. The effects of the pandemic have lingered. Fortunately, the creativity and generosity of local leaders have, too.

HIGH DIVE RECORDS’ BANDS HAD THE YEAR TO BEAT

VINTAGE FASHION FROM DAISY LEE VINTAGE KELBY RECK, MODEL BROOK WORLLEDGE

restaurant dining rooms, local chefs got busy trying to reopen their doors for community members in need. On March 16, Chef Howard Hanna of The Rieger began serving pay-whatyou-can meals to Kansas Citians in need. About a week later, Chef Michael Foust of Black Sheep + Market followed suit. The efforts of both chefs and their restaurants were heroic, but a couple questions started looming— what would happen to those “community kitchens” when the restaurants reopened to the public? And would a handful of individual efforts be enough to meet community needs?

The solution was coordination.

Enter Jon Taylor of REACH Collaborative, who founded Chef Collective KC in partnership with Hanna, Foust, and former Webster House chef Brandon Winn. The goals of the new Collective were to build a broader network of community partners and to secure stable funding that could make initiatives like those community meals sustainable in the longer run. By sourcing ingredients from regional growers and routing them through Kanbe’s Market, the Collective has also worked to tackle related issues within the food system, such as excessive food waste and inefficient distribution.

The Chef Collective KC masthead now lists a host of other team members from well-known local restaurants and organizations such as Room 39 and

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THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

“Vintage fashion is making a comeback. Well, it’s been here for years—the rest of us are finally realizing how wonderful it is.”

2020 has been a really solid year for High Dive Records. Granted, most years seem to see the long-running Kansas City record label release a necessary and pivotal release upon the world, and coming off of 2019 which saw releases from Drugs & Attics, the Creepy Jingles, Y god Y, and Empty Moon, you’d have to wonder just where they would go from there. Evidently, Jeff McCoy and company decided to dig deep and release deeply-necessary, long-gestating albums for which fans have been clamoring for years. Fullbloods’ Soft PARADISE GARDENS ZACH BAUMANN

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and systemic racism in late May, Kansas City joined in immediately. There were weeks of protestors standing their ground at the Mill Creek Park on the Plaza (formerly named for local racist J.C. Nichols), being teargassed by police, and taking their march up Main Street for hours at a time. Many of us were surprised on random nights to suddenly see marchers coming down our street, often long after the day’s planned protests have resolved. Sometimes we marched with them. Sometimes we chanted along from our porch. They walked, rode bikes and skateboards, or drove their cars, music playing loudly.

It was a reassuring moment: Kansas City stood for the same things we did, and they stood for it enough to march for it all night. Seeing the community raise its voice as one caused this little flicker inside our hearts; right where hope used to be. That spark is more than enough to light a fire.

ELIZABETH PARADISE’S PASTRIES AT 1900 ZACH BAUMAN

and Virtual Touch finally saw release in April. The ACBs’ lead songwriter, Konnor Ervin, saw his Koney record come out after five years. Most notably, the label announced its first hip hop release in February when Ebony Tusks’ “HDF” single came out, with the added excitement of an attendant full-length, Heal_Thyself, after nearly a decade of waiting dropping right as this issue hits the stands. Add in the fact that High Dive started the year with surf-punks Thighmaster putting out Between the Knees and Squeeze, along with former label act Shy Boys’ new album Talk Loud (just released on Polyvinyl) and it’s been a banner year yet again.

THE RESTAURANT AT 1900’S DEVILISH DESSERTS DAUNTINGLY DECEIVE DINERS Elizabeth Paradise’s desserts will de-

SCREENLAND ARMOUR REMAINS KC’S BEST MOVIE THEATER, EVEN WHEN WE’RE NOT THERE A Kansas City institution, the Screenland on Armour Road in North KC has been in operation since the ‘20s, and it’s still got that old-fashioned proscenium around its high-tech main screen— which was actually the very first Iris optimized picture and sound in the country.

That meeting of old and new is

ceive you. The plates appear simple—a small plate of cookies that look like they could have come out of a grandma’s kitchen, a dish of panna cotta— but they are so well executed that on second glance you realize that they are essentially perfect. That simple dish of panna cotta? The incredibly fresh flavor comes from lime curd, and a cantaloupe-peppercorn granita adds depth and spice. Paradise favors desserts that are familiar, like apple tarts, ice cream, and cheesecake. Yet her brilliance lies in executing these dishes so well that they are reliably going to not only be so beautiful they almost look fake, but they will taste like the best version of that dish you’ve ever had.

PROTESTERS PROVED WE ALL DEMAND (AND DESERVE) BETTER When people across the country began to march against police brutality

ADAM ROBERTS AT SCREENLAND ARMOUR ROBERT HOOPS

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“Seeing the community raise its voice as one caused this little flicker inside our hearts.”

everywhere in the Screenland, a place run by movie lovers for movie lovers that combines the comforts of home, the grandeur of an old-fashioned movie palace, and the best new and revival films available. Not to mention their unbeatable special programming, from Panic Fest, our own locally-grown genre film festival that happens every year in January, to their annual Shocktober Halloween programming and regular monthly events like Forever Bogus, Slaughter Movie House, Analog Sunday, and more.

Unfortunately, like a lot of local businesses (and pretty much all movie theaters), the Screenland has been hit hard by the pandemic. But Adam Roberts and the rest of the Screenland Family have been keeping the lights on by reaching out to the Kansas City film community in dynamic and innovative ways, from drive-in movies shown on

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the back wall to exclusive streaming content offered through the Screenland’s Patreon.

YOLI TORTILLERIA ON THE WESTSIDE IS YOUR BEST NEW NEIGHBORHOOD PIT STOP Look, we’ve been a fan of Yoli’s fresh, stone-ground corn tortillas for years.

Since 2017, we’ve been force-feeding them to corn skeptics burnt out on

fragile supermarket styles that shred like office toilet paper. But this year, Yoli owners Marissa and Mark Gencarelli gave us something new to evangelize about: the Sonoran-style flour tortillas served at their gleaming new retail shop on the Westside.

Yoli Tortilleria’s Sonoran-style torts are thinner and more pliable than most commercial varieties, which makes overloaded burritos far less likely to split. They’re also richer and more flavorful thanks to the addition of pork fat (vegans can purchase a version made with avocado oil instead).

The Westside shop has done more than bring tortillas to the people: it’s also provided a bright spot of entrepreneurial optimism during an unfathomably shitty year. Throughout the pandemic, the Gencarellis have been debuting new products (Hatch chile corn tortillas, silky bottled horchata), and selling out of them almost as fast (cries in tamale). They’ve sold fresh bags of masa to empanada DIYers and griddled breakfast burros in the store for those of us too exhausted to try.

We’ve been doing a lot more home cooking this year by necessity. Yoli has kept our quarantine meals from seeming like a slog.

BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTERS TRAVIS YOUNG

LOCAL LEGACY BANDS ARE COMING BACK HARD While we didn’t know it at the time, Giants Chair’s release of Prefabylon in early December of 2019 marked the beginning of a year of comebacks. The post-rockers’ album on Spartan Records—their first in 23 years—was the first of a series of returns from local legacy acts. Next came Ultimate Fakebook’s The Preserving Machine in midApril, marking the Manhattan power-pop rockers’ first new recordings in 16 years, followed quickly by Shiner’s Shadenfreude in May, with emo vets Casket Lottery’s Short Songs for Sad Times almost perfectly book-ending the year when it releases on Wiretap Records, Big Scary Monsters, and Second Nature Recordings this month. It’d

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BLACK LIVES MATTER AND WOMEN’S MARCH PROTESTERS TRAVIS YOUNG

LEMONADE PARK GAVE US AN OPPORTUNITY TO ROCK OUT AGAIN

be tempting to describe our embrace of these releases as embracing nostalgia during rough times, but the fact of the matter is that these records are the equal of anything any of these four bands released during their respective heydays. It’s been a glorious return and rebirth of bands, reminding us just why we loved them in the first place.

over the same American-cheesed pie.

He was also devoted to his work and on track to make his dream of a brick-andmortar restaurant with a permanent address a reality.

YOLI TORTILLERIA APRIL FLEMING

Vella died in a tragic motorcycle accident in August. There’s nothing we can say that will make that loss any easier to stomach. But Vella’s dream—Observation Pizza—lives on in the hands of the employees he hired and trusted with his recipes and vision. RIP to the realest one—and thanks for leaving this city one hell of a parting gift.

One of the few bright spots in an utterly dark situation for live music in Kansas City has been Lemonade Park, organized by Wes Gartner and Jill Myers of Voltaire and the Golden Ox, along with Steve Tulipana and Shawn Sherrill of the Record Bar. Back in May, with the Record Bar shut down and Voltaire and the Golden Ox limping along with carryout orders, Gartner had a vision for a new kind of venue right in Voltaire’s backyard. Over the course of a couple of weeks and with social distancing in mind, the group built a welcoming, attractive outdoor restaurant, gathering space and live venue in the West Bottoms parking lot behind Voltaire, complete with astroturf, string lights, a custom-built stage, and picnic tables for guests set safely about 15 feet apart

CHEF NICK VELLA (RIP) WAS THE RISING, SHINING STAR OF THE FOOD WORLD Kansas Citians have praised Nick Vella’s just-right Goldilocks pizza dough since he began slinging pies out of his home kitchen in early April. At the time, Vella was on furlough from The Savoy at 21C. He spent the next few months hustling and perfecting his high-low flavor combinations. The result was a cult hit pizza outfit, Observation Pizza, that has built a loyal and (rapidly expanding) fan base.

Vella was incredibly easy to root for: an obvious talent, an exacting craftsman, and a mad goofball who never seemed to take himself too seriously. The man named pizzas after members of the Grateful Dead and drizzled bacon fat and ranch dressing thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

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in one hand and a beer in the other, but we’ll take any option to keep this weird, wild community going.

from one another. Throughout the summer and fall, Lemonade Park has both provided local musicians a place to play, bartenders an outdoor space to safely work, and the community a place to gather responsibly. Lemonade Park’s offerings have expanded to include film showings from the Stray Cat, dance nights, and even drag bingo, making Lemonade Park one of the most inclusive and diverse spots in the city.

ROZARDS BECAME AN ESCAPE DESTINATION

STRAY CAT FILM CENTER PROVIDES APPOINTMENT VIEWING FOR THE ECCENTRIC AND WONDERFUL Every city worth its salt needs a great place to watch weird movies. Kansas City is lucky in that we have an abundance of options. For indie horror, you can go to the Screenland Armour. For unique appointment viewing, the Kansas City Underground Film Festival has your back. But if you want to see something truly weird, in a space that embodies the spirit of DIY punk, you go to the Stray Cat Film Center.

Stray Cat is a volunteer-run microcinema situated on the edge of the Crossroads that hosts several running film series and live events. A typical visit to Stray Cat—well, there is no such thing as a “typical” visit, really. In the days before the world shut down, you might see an arthouse classic on a Sun-

NICK VELLA

day afternoon, or a gem of trash cinema on a Friday night, complete with props.

You could see a punk show, or get involved in a loving brawl at Wrestle Yr Friends. The possibilities felt endless.

The joy of Stray Cat isn’t just the unpredictability, but the sense of inclusivity. Nobody here is a snob. Everyone here loves John Waters, Jean-Luc Godard, Kathryn Bigelow and Spike Lee in equal measures, as well as many names you’ve never heard of. Want to watch Le

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JOE WEST

Corbeau? Go for it. A stunningly cheesy movie about demonic bikers who come back from the dead? Absolutely. Everything and everyone is treated with equal importance and enthusiasm.

One day, we hope to be back there, throwing toys at screens, dressing up in costumes or doing unspeakable things with jello while a drag performer yells at us. In the meantime, however, the Stray Cat folks are keeping things safe and lively, with live movie watches on Twitch and regular outdoor distanced events at Lemonade Park. It’s not quite the same as sitting on donated couches holding a specially-printed scratch-n-sniff card

Who among us hasn’t felt the need at some point this year to head for the hills? Sure, a getaway to the Rockies to the west and the Ozarks to the east is great, and many people in Kansas City have been heading in those directions. But, in a pinch, we have the Rozarks.

Rozarks is a three-and-a-half mile trail system in the Rosedale neighborhood of KCK. Groomed lovingly by volunteers since 2013, its natural surface provides a lovely escape for hiking and fat-tire biking.

The trail system is a project of the Rosedale Development Association, which also has been out in front in designing bike lanes on city streets.

The community has adopted a master plan where the number one goal is to be “a vibrant, diverse and walkable community,” says Erin Stryka, the executive director.

The Rozarks trail system is accessible from Fisher Park at 3818 Springfield Street and from the Rosedale Memorial Arch at 35th and Booth streets. The bustling University of Kansas Health System campus is close by, but, with a little imagination, you can imagine yourself miles from anywhere. We are all about escapes this year, and, on short notice, this little-known wooded gem in the hills of KCK is just the ticket.

for your support!

As a thank you from us, take $100 off any pair of prescription glasses before 3/31/21! (Offer cannot be combined with insurance.)

3414 Shawnee Mission Parkway 913-362-2323 www.fairwayeyecenter.com

Additional locations in Leawood, Raytown and Liberty

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LEMONADE PARK ZACH BAUMAN

SISTER ANNE’S IS A ~VIBE~ Few coffee beverages (in a city quickly becoming known for its coffee) are better than an iced americano at Sister Anne’s Coffee and Records on 31st and Campbell St. In fact, it might literally be the best coffee drink in Kansas City. While many coffeeshops in the area might make an americano by pulling espresso shots into the cup and then diluting them with water, Sister

ROBERT MOORE RECLAIMS HIS TIME VIA SPOTIFY PLAYLISTS When the Buzz became Alt 95, Robert Moore, the longtime host of Sonic Spectrum, lost the airwaves for his freeform music program after an 18-year run.

The show, which began on KCUR 89.3 in 2002, brought a selection of sounds not normally heard on FM airwaves, be it deep-dives into particular years, the best in off-the-radar new music, or explorations of legacy performers, it was two hours every Saturday evening where the radio turned into a party hosted by a particularly knowledgeable

Anne’s pours espresso over an already full glass of ice and water, ensuring the crema stays preserved for look and flavor on top. Served up by a friendly, (but somewhat snarky) heavily tattooed music aficionado and espresso professional, the drinks are expertly crafted and clearly made with love. Not only is the coffee great, the vibes are immaculate. A little familiarity goes a long way during a time when nothing is normal anymore, so when Sister Anne’s reopened after several weeks closed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a little sliver of happiness for its regulars. It is a warm and welcoming spot for a delicious coffee drink, a chat with a friend, or a vinyl browse.

friend. The pain was worsened by the fact that we never got a proper sendoff, and Sonic Spectrum had been off the air since March, to boot, thanks to the quarantine locking down the 96.5 studios. On a positive note, those who continue to follow the Sonic Spectrum Facebook page have been treated to a series of impeccably-curated Spotify playlists from Moore. Whether he’s presenting a primer for classic punks The Damned, or presenting an musical overview of a particularly significant year, these playlists are a mix of songs you should know, songs you’d forgotten you knew, and songs you can’t believe you’ve never heard. It’s not the same as the airwaves, but it definitely eases the sting.

DANIELLE LEHMAN KELCIE MCKENNEY

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OUTDOOR THEATRE JORDAN RICE

grants, lists of COVID-19 testing sites, marketing pro-tips, and connections to mental health care. In August, she added Curbside Notary—a free, mobile notary service that pops up outside local restaurants to encourage voters to grab a bite after they send in their ballot. Lehman trained a small army of notaries, and Local design firm Hufft donated custom collapsible booths for the service.

Along the way, she’s also organized free lunches for hospitality workers, helped produce a fundraising campaign for The Tamale Kitchen and Café Corazon, and spent untold hours producing promotional videos and posts for restaurants, marketing pandemic pop-ups, and connecting industry entrepreneurs to reporters (did we mention she isn’t getting paid for this?).

Ostensibly, she sleeps, though we’re not sure how.

“My goal has really just been to get my friends and the restaurants I want to survive through this,” Lehman tells us.

Three cheers to Lehman for stepping up at a time when it would have been easy to shut down.

DANIELLE LEHMAN IS THE BEST HUMBLE SERVANT OF THE (CULINARY) ARTS When the pandemic started, the pace of life slowed for a lot of people. Not Danielle Lehman. The marketing consultant and creator of the Open Belly food podcast has spent the last six months working as a sort of pro bono PR powerhouse for the struggling restaurant industry.

In March, she created CurbsideKC, an online database of local restaurants offering curbside takeout and delivery. As takeout became more ubiquitous and the need for a curbside-Yellow Pages faded, Lehman refocused the site to provide resources to local restaurateurs: opportunities for CLASSIC MUSIC ON THE RADIO PHOTO BY TRAVIS YOUNG

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BLACKSTARKIDS’ SURF Of all the albums released by Kansas City area musicians this year, Blackstarkids’ Surf encapsulated everything we could possibly want from a local release. Thanks to a series of minimalist, playful music videos and music which builds on the sounds of 2019’s Let’s Play Sports, the Bedroom Records album blends ‘90s pop with indie rock, bedroom Soundcloud rap, and more to create a sound which is all the group’s own and instantly recognizable.

Surf, like the title implies, is warm and sunny, ready for summertime cookouts and pool parties, but sadly, Blackstarkids almost seemed prescient, dropping the video for the album’s “Too Depressed 4 Sex” right as the pandemic lockdown got underway in March. Still, just because we couldn’t gather didn’t mean we couldn’t all share in just how utterly excellent this album was. The notice around Surf wasn’t just confined to the KC area, though, and the band’s second album this year, Whatever, Man, came out last month on the UK’s Dirty Hit Records, home to the likes of The 1975. The band’s not likely to remain local. Come back anytime, friends!

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NEW ROOTS FOR REFUGEES IM PHOTOGRAPHY

OUR GAMING STORES STAY RELEVANT DURING THE PLAGUE When we think of our friendly local gaming stores during more normal times, we tend to conjure images of getting together with friends for a game of Dungeons & Dragons or Ticket to Ride or Warhammer 40K. Of course, the pandemic has made all of those things a lot harder to do in person. Fortunately, the local KC game shops have stepped up to the challenge of staying relevant and ready in the midst of perilous times.

From curbside pick-up and online ordering to creative ways of encouraging folks to wear masks and practice safe social distancing, they’ve been doing their part to help keep us entertained so that we can get through this until such time as we can all gather around the gaming table once again.

KC is fortunate to have a large number of great gaming stores, from the big hitters like Tabletop Game & Hobby in Overland Park and Level One in the River Market to those perhaps less well-known but no less essential to the sanity of local gamers. From Collector’s Cache to Mission: Board Games, the Game Café in Independence to The Geekery in Lenexa to one of my personal favorites, Peculiar Games and Hobbies, which may be a bit of a drive, but is always well worth the trip.

Each in their own way, they’ve all gone above and beyond to help keep their clients safe and sated during these strangest of times.

ALL THE WEB’S A STAGE: THEATERS EVOLVE IN A PANDEMIC The recorded buzz of a preshow crowd arouses anticipation, as an onscreen timer counts down the final seconds to the start of a play—on Zoom. Months

into a pandemic that has left stages dark, theater companies are cooking up a host of online content to keep themselves viable and their audiences nourished. Delicious content has been shared this year, not just from far-off locales but from local venues.

It began in the spring. Kansas City Repertory Theatre streamed its two OriginKC: New Works Festival productions, filmed on preshutdown opening nights. Then, KC Rep artistic director Stuart Carden kept conversations going with a weekly “Thursday Night Mixer” with local artists (and cocktails) on Facebook Live, later posted to YouTube.

Actor R.H. Wilhoit conversed online, too, in a series he called “Hollis Makes a Phone Call.” Kansas City Actors Theatre took to the airwaves with its podcast, Kansas City: Actors, Theatre, then with the weekly Kansas City Actors Radio Theatre, in partnership with community-radio station KKFI 90.1, that debuted in October with serial drama Kansas City: 1924 by Forrest Attaway and other “classic radio plays.” Musical Theater Heritage put “education experiences” online and posted a podcast, The Peanut Gallery, before streaming a five-camera recording of its historical and moving 2016 revue Songs of the Great War in late May. The “desperately needed ticket revenue” from that production not only benefited MTH but also its artists. And the programming benefited us.

With a masked backup band and COVID precautions, MTH went on to multicamera-record its Musical Monday and Tuesday and An Evening With

Rodgers and Hammerstein for our virtual pleasure. For Black Repertory Theatre’s Virtual Cabaret—a mix of talk show and performance that streamed live on Facebook—artistic director Damron Russel Armstrong added online-MC finesse to a talent-filled, hours-long fundraising shindig. The KC Fringe Festival became “Fringe Online,” going virtual in July with 35 performances available for streaming in the safety of home. The Coterie took its acting program online, then joined with Theatre for Young America companies across the country to co-produce a virtual production of A Kids Play About Racism in August. Unicorn Theatre posted “Quarantine Confessions”—short online morsels written and performed by local actors and writers—to its website, then opened its 2020-21 season with the streaming of the Zoom-filmed Kill Move Paradise, and a new-play reading that streamed on YouTube.

It doesn’t end there! Quality Hill Playhouse, KC’s “classy cabaret,” moved to its Facebook page with the series “Tonight at the Q,” presenting artistic director J. Kent Barnhart on piano with a soloist, socially distanced. And its wine-dinner fundraising gala, “Encore: At Home,” was available to stream near the end of October. KC Molière: 400 in 2022, a group celebrating KC’s French heritage and Molière’s 400th birthday in 2022, in partnership with KC’s monthly Sunday Script Circle, held a full-cast Zoom reading of a new translation of The Miser in July. Even Wi-Fi hiccups didn’t diminish this live effort. Heart of America Shakespeare Festi-

val postponed its summer show until (we hope) 2021, then put its acting classes on Zoom and a “Shakespeare at Home” performance on YouTube. KC Public Theatre has gone virtual with its Theatre Lab, and shares its Facebook stage with one-minute video submissions (its Soapbox project).

What will theaters serve up next?

A few offer offline, outdoor performances, socially distanced, while weather permits. With seasons on pause—Spinning Tree, Starlight, Forge Rep, Black Box, et al.—all keep a place at the table. And we return, repeatedly, to their varied menus and work up an appetite for more.

BLACKHOLE BAKERY ON TROOST OVERCAME THE ODDS Six months ago, if you had asked us, “Should I open a bakery in the middle of a pandemic?” our answer would have been a bloodcurdling scream. Fortunately, Jason Provo didn’t ask. The pastry chef opened Blackhole Bakery near 55th and on Troost in April, just a few weeks after shutdown orders and capacity restrictions fell over the city’s dining scene like a lead curtain. Since then, Provo and fellow pastry chef Alyssa Bailey have been turning out neatly glossed cinnamon rolls and thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

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THE SUNRISE PROJECT IN LAWRENCE IS THE COMMUNE THIS COMMUNITY NEEDS

“Gevargizian has shown an ability to maximize frights and freak-outs in less time than your standard sitcom episode.” adorable rice-flour mochi donuts to a line of customers that extends out onto the sidewalk on weekends.

While those cinnamon rolls and donuts are fan favorites, we keep coming back for Blackhole’s French pastries, which are all crisp edges and shatteringly light layers. Recent highlight: a coconut-mossed pastry with a dab of crème patissiere to adhere a beautifully charred ring of fresh pineapple. As a general rule here: the weirder the flavor combo sounds, the better it probably is.

Someday, we’ll be able to relax on a floral-print couch in the cozy bakery and soak up its mid-century hair salon vibes. Until then, we’re content to power through one of Blackhole’s cinnamon palmiers in the car, snowing flakes of buttery pastry onto our laps with each bite.

GOD SAVE THE LIBRARIANS The libraries of Kansas City are an essential service to many in the metro, and when their doors closed for COVID-19, their work did not stop.

Kansas City Public Libraries began offering pickups of books on hold, remote printing, and even Wi-Fi hotspots

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on loan for up to 2 weeks. When the school year rolled around (in waves), they offered tutoring and online learning resources for kids learning from home. KCPL even helps get people voting resources and get their absentee ballots notarized. We are so lucky to have a top-notch public service like the library in Kansas City. The hard work of KCPL employees really cannot be celebrated enough. But we’ll start.

THANK YOU, LIBRARY EMPLOYEES! Did you all hear that? Cool. Because it just feels good, and stable, to know that we have some solid people to rely on for entertainment, education, and peace of mind.

NIGHTMARE JUNKHEAD: THE HORROR PODCAST HOSTS WITH GHOSTS Kansas City locals may know Greg D. and Jenius McGee better as the hosts

JILL “SIXX” GEVARGIZIAN TRAVIS YOUNG

of countless screenings of cult, classic, and—perhaps especially—horror features around town, than as listeners of their show. For those who listen to the podcasts but haven’t made it out to one of the screenings, the dynamic duo brings the same irreverent energy, enthusiasm, and vitality that they display on the air to every show, whether it’s inappropriate Christmas movies, beloved ‘80s staples, or their annual Nerdoween triple-feature, which has become as much a part of Halloween tradition as grinning pumpkins or rubber bats for this particular reporter.

In the midst of the pandemic regular movie screenings haven’t exactly been happening, but that doesn’t mean that the pair behind Nightmare Junkhead have been sitting idle. They’ve been partnering with the Screenland Armour to host online streaming screenings (often absolutely free), complete with intimate post-film discussions that make you feel like you’re right there in the front row.

On the site of a former nursery and garden center, Lawrence’s Sunrise Project is a community organization with a mission to create a more equitable community through food. It’s a challenge to wrap your head around all of the things this organization attempts, but the big takeaways are that anyone can come harvest produce they can use (for free) from the community garden, enjoy free community meals, and attend a variety of open-to-the-public classes. It’s run on the honor system, which so far keeps working out.

Naturally, many of the classes, community meals, and other programming have been altered to promote social distancing in light of COVID, but the pandemic has seemingly entrenched the Sunrise Project as an essential cornerstone in the community. It continues to feed hundreds of people every week with fresh produce grown and prepared into meals by community members, and its commitment to social justice in its practices and in its leadership is impressive.

JILL “SIXX” GEVARGIZIAN DOUSES THE STYLIST IN BLOODY STYLE Over the last few years, Jill Gevargizian—aka Jill Sixx—has become the goto director for short-form horror films in Kansas City. Gevargizian has shown an ability to maximize frights and freak-outs in less time than your standard sitcom episode. Her 2016 short The Stylist was expanded into a feature film that is finally making the festival rounds, and we’re simply maddened by how excellent it is. Starring Najarra Townsend and Brea Grant, the twisted

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thriller re-examines female friendships from a frustratingly modern perspective. “Any project I’m a part of, I’m trying to convince people to shoot it here,” Gevargizian says. “The Stylist was for sure, no question, not gonna go anywhere else. I’m always like, “Everyone come here. Trust me and we can do awesome things here in Kansas City.”

And oh boy, do they. Put this on your “Get Hype” list for when the public can see it in 2021, and we can’t wait to see which stars Gevargizian convinces to traverse to Hollywood Midcoast next. (The Stylist features more than 100 locals in background roles, so you’re almost guaranteed to see someone you know.)

KCUR’S STEVE KRASKE TRAVIS YOUNG

EVERY SINGLE RECORD STORE FROM TOPEKA TO KC IS DOING AMAZING, SWEETIE Starting out west, and heading east: Time Machine Music, Mother Earth Records & Tapes, the Vinyl Score, Love Garden Sounds, Orange Cat Records, FM Music, Josey Records, Revolution Records, Mills Record Company, Records with Merrit, Brothers Music, Vinyl Heaven the Vinyl Underground at 7th Heaven, and Gotwhatulike Records. These stores have been at the

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forefront of making sure that customers are distanced, masked and, in many cases, gloved during their shopping experiences, thanks to the sheer amount of touchy-feely involved in flipping through the bins.

Be it scheduled visits, where customers can browse the shops all by their lonesome like a high-rolling celebrity, curbside pickup, outdoor browsing experiences, or just a copious amount of available hand sanitizer, these record shops have allowed a certain amount of normalcy in our live, while not unnecessarily putting anyone at risk. Given that musical experiences these days are few and far between, it’s a rare opportunity to engage with like-minded music fans. Sure, it’s six feet apart, but what better way to shed the misery of being stuck at home than finding a super-clean copy of Deep Purple’s Made in Japan for eight bucks?

CLASSICAL MUSIC CONTINUES ITS GRAND CRESCENDO Like the music it features, Classical KC’s timing and pitch have been sublime. The 24-hour classical music station went on the air in July at 91.9 on the FM dial. It was the balm that Kansas City needed. With the Kansas City Symphony and other ensembles still in COVID-19 hibernation, Classical KC brings great music into our cars, offices and living rooms. As its sister station, KCUR 89.3, astutely notes in its promos, Classical KC is that oasis we can run to when the turbulence of 2020 gets to be too much.

Part of the station’s mission is to promote and spotlight the wealth of musical talent in the Kansas City region. While much of its content is syndicated in these first months, the station will be featuring more local hosts and productions as pandemic isolation eases and fundraising picks up.

Like KCUR, Classical KC depends on community support and listener contributions. For now, we can gratefully sit back and experience a moment of grandeur on our dials and devices. The station is online at ClassicalKC.org.

Discord and clamour may be crowding our screens and our psyches, but the music of the ages is not far away.

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“Freer public transit is integral to the development of KC over the years, both as an affordable place to live and a city where the citizens are connected to each other.”

NEW ROOTS FOR REFUGEES PROGRAM IS TEACHING A COMPASSIONATE PATH FORWARD In an era marked by the administration’s longstanding and shameful indifference to the plight of refugees, the New Roots for Refugees program (run

by Catholic Charities and Cultivate KC) has remained utterly committed to its work to provide training and resources to refugees that have resettled in the Kansas City, Kansas area. At the Juniper Gardens Training Farm, resettled refugees from countries including Somalia, Bangladesh, and Myanmar learn a variety of skills, including learning English, how to farm in this crazy climate, and small business management.

Farmers sell their food at farmer’s markets throughout the metro, building

relationships with customers and even restaurants as they learn. New Roots also encourages farmers to connect to their homes by growing home crops that are difficult to find in the United States. The organization thus enables refugees to look forward while still encouraging connections to their home countries. It’s an example in compassion, productivity, and creativity that we sorely need.

A TO Z COMICS BRING THE BEST BACK-ISSUE BROWSING AROUND Maybe we can’t all go and get our fingers dirty digging through back-issue bins like we might want to, but when the time comes that we can once more, the place to do it in KC is A to Z Comics in Blue Springs. Kansas City is home to a vibrant comics scene, including exciting local creators and plenty of hap-

KC STREETCAR MARGARET NORCROSS

pening stores, but searching through back-issues for that one hard-to-find title (or just a gem you hadn’t heard of) is as likely to be a chore as a pleasure.

Not so at A to Z. As the name implies, A to Z’s back-issue bins are meticulously sorted, making it easy to find what you’re looking for, with plenty of specialty boxes for more obscure stuff, from movie tie-ins to Clive Barker comics and beyond. They also bind together specific storylines when they have them all, so that you can buy, say, an entire Hellboy mini-series in one bundle. Plus, the back-issues at A to Z are pretty much always half off, meaning that you get a great deal on whatever you do find. On top of all that, A to Z has the friendliest staff you could ever ask for, and a great selection of other stuff, from toys and games to old magazines and Magic cards.

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during the COVID-19 pandemic, but KC has received two different grants to expand the reach of our free streetcar. The future expansions will extend the streetcar’s route to UMKC’s campus to the south, and the riverfront area to the north. In 2020 alone, Kansas City has been the recipient of over $60 million for the project. This is a big deal. Freer public transit is integral to the development of KC over the years, both as an affordable place to live and a city where the citizens are connected to each other. Few cities in the United States have free public transit, especially those that compare in size to KC. The more ways we can enjoy this city and commute to our jobs, the better. Not to mention the reduced car emissions.

EVERYTHING IS COMING UP KANDERS

KCUR (AND THE MAN HIMSELF, STEVE KRASKE) ARE KEEPING JOURNALISM THRIVING A shining light throughout a hard year for journalism has been the excellent coverage of Kansas City by the staff at KCUR. Even a quick scan through their homepage shows they are on top of what goes on in this city, be it coronavirus updates, the work of KC Tenants, or local restaurants. Nobody is doing it as good as them (we say, while hoping you’ll interrupt us with a compliment.)

Kansas City is lucky to have the news outlets they do, providing them with top-notch journalism across airwaves, television, or the internet. But now is more important than ever to be sup-

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THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

DIANA AND JASON KANDER DIANA KANDER

porting local journalism—reading the news is becoming a privilege in this country, and individual financial support is essential to keeping Kansas Citians informed. (But us too, please.

We’re trying to be modest and keep the lights on. As you can see, it’s annoyingly difficult.)

STREETCAR EXPANSIONS CONNECT US TO MORE OF THE METRO We’re becoming a major player in the free public transit game, and the world is taking note. Not only were bus fares suspended this summer

Back in October 2018, rising political darling Jason Kander seemed set to waltz right into a victory in the city’s mayoral race. Then he stepped down, citing issues from PTSD related to his time serving in Afghanistan. It was equal parts heartbreaking and inspiring, especially to see someone destigmatize the choice to prioritize mental health and self-care. After taking some time out of the public spotlight, the Kander family is back and they’re firing on all cylinders.

Jason has ressurrected his political podcast Majority 54 and his wife, Diana, has produced multiple seasons of her hit show Professional AF. Their young son, True Kander, seems to be having the time of his life, having both parents at home instead of flying around the country constantly. (Yes, his name is True Kander. We wouldn’t make that up. Only the Kanders would go that hard on a joke.) Most importantly, Jason Kander has been leading the national expansion of KC’s Veterans Community Project, which builds tiny-homes for homeless veterans, while providing them with the services they need to get their lives back on track. During coronavirus, the group’s aid to the homeless population of Kansas City almost assuradely saved lives. On top of all this, there’s a new family member: Bella Brave Kander, born just a few weeks ago.

You don’t understand it yet, but one day you’re gonna think it is a helluva power-move that your mom went

to the hospital to deliver you while wearing a Captain Marvel bodysuit.

Just top-notch wholesome energy radiating from that. Your childhood is going to be the stuff of nerd dreams.

We can’t wait to see how True and Bella Brave grow up to become the overachivers/heroes that this city needs—just like their parents.

PET WORLD SERVES AS A TESTAMENT TO THE HUMAN SPIRIT Lawrence’s Pet World is a lot more than a place to pick up dog food. With live animal exhibits, wildlife summer camps, and a deeply knowledgeable staff that conveys how they truly care for the animals in the shop, you’re never left with the taste of bland corporatism that marks the Petcos and PetSmarts that dot the burbs. But as popular as Pet World is, it has been very difficult keeping its doors open.

Owners Sherri and Tim Emerson dealt with tremendous challenges even before COVID unsettled everything.

Back in 2015, their store suffered a devastating electrical fire that not only destroyed the store, but killed many of the animals living there, including cherished birds, snakes and amphibians, many of them raised from eggs by the couple.

Though heartbroken, the Emersons (with help and no small amount of convincing from the community) rebuilt their store better than before, with dedicated spaces for unique educational opportunities for kids, in addition to expanded animal exhibits and more space for a larger stock of pet supplies. The Emersons had just begun to feel like the sun was shining bright again on their store after the fire when COVID hit. The virus kept their regular customers out of the store, and many of those customers’ orders migrated to companies like Amazon.

Yet the Emersons persist, and this year opted to offer socially distanced children’s nature walks on their preserve instead of their regular summer camps, they toyed with delivery services, and as always put the health and happiness of employees and customers above their own needs. Pet World represents the best in local retail. Long may it live.

OUR PICKS

JCCC QUEER ABSTRACTION ART EXHIBIT MADE US FEEL THE ALL THE FEELS One of the standout moments from 2020 was witnessing the Johnson County Community College’s Nerman Museum “queer abstraction” exhibit, which ran from November 2019 to March 8, 2020. The exhibit’s mission was to “invite all visitors to leave preconceived notions of the body, sex, gender. and love behind and discover abstraction’s queer possibilities.” Featuring the work of 20 artists, the exhibit had a quiet power to it.

Many pieces encouraged thinking about their meaning, interacting with the art, or even just appreciating their carefully placed elements. Some were overt in their queerness while others were subtle.

To queer patrons, the pieces resounded in their importance, but it was truly a gift for everyone.

KC UNDERGROUND FILM FESTIVAL KEEPS EXPERIMENTATION ALIVE This past March, Willy Evans and Kari Bingham-Gutierrez were all set to kick off the inaugural Kansas City Underground Film Festival (KCUFF) to a packed audience at the Westport Coffeehouse. Then, as became the case for so many events this year, COVID-19 struck.

“We had the first night, and that same night when the first case of community spread hit,” Evans, the festival’s co-founder, says. Fortunately, with the support of KC’s film community, Evans and Bingham-Gutierrez were able to try things again in October, running outdoor screenings at the Film Row Art Screen in Westport. “The audience has been great,” Evans says. “There are people here who love movies as much as we do.”

KCUFF is part of a growing community of filmmakers and film enthusiasts in KC working to create spaces for

unique, experimental and unexpected cinema. There are no set guidelines for the films KCUFF selects to screen— movies can be any genre, any length, any budget. “Our focal point is always creativity and not necessarily originality, but something that’s different and unique and if we can amplify a voice that’s unique,” Evans says. “I love movies that are made because someone has a story to tell, and they’re just going to make it.” Evans says the festival’s longterm goals are still in development, but he wants Kansas City to become known as a place that welcomes unique filmmaking.

“The goal is going to be I think more than even notoriety or community in KC, being known as a place that encourages and supports independent and creative filmmakers,” Evans says. “I want us to become known as a film festival that cultivates relationships with artists who are pushing themselves and what they’re doing.”

ESPORTS OPEN THE FLOODGATES FOR A GENERATION OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES It took a while, but competitive video gaming now has a foundation in Kansas City. The city has hosted small compet-

JONATHAN VANDYKE INSTALLATION VIEW FROM JCCC QUEER ABSTRACTION EG SCHEMPF

itive events in the past, but the Kansas City Esports Expo in January marked the event where this category of entertainment officially took off. Gamers in the city can look at the expo and see themselves on the big stage. The Kansas City Pioneers and Kansas City Esports are two of the city’s premiere organizations for this new vertical. While there’s a lot of money to be made in esports, they’re not here for that. They aim to have the same prestige and hold the same weight in the city’s hearts as the Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals, and Sporting KC do. They want to be a cornerstone that city-goers can be proud of.

It’s not just esports that’s taken the leap the city. It feels like gaming as a whole has a place here. The pandemic’s role in that is yet to be determined, but gaming is more than an activity for loners. It’s a legitimate outlet for people to hang out, stay in contact, and share experiences with each other.

Everyone deserves to have friends see their island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons as much as everyone wants to see the team kill you got from D.Va’s Self-Destruct ultimate ability. Gaming is not only one of the things keeping us mentally and socially “together” during this year, its development as a professional outlet bodes well for innummerable new opportunities for folks of all demographics. Game on.

BLIP COFFEE’S DOG IS A VERY GOOD GIRL— YES SHE IS! In the good old days when you could safely sit inside a coffeeshop with a friend, we were regulars at Blip Coffee’s West Bottoms location. You’d step inside and a beautiful brown pitbull would wiggle up to greet you at the front door. Someone would call the dog, Charlene, back to the counter, but that rarely kept. Without fail, you could expect Charlene to return to check on you. While drinking a latte at the bar, you might be surprised by a nose at your knees. Truly, she tended to her flock. Now, Charlene is still there, waiting patiently for her flock to return.

(We sent a photograph with explicit instructions to pet Charlene on behalf of all us while getting her photo. That dog is very good.) Is it weird to daydream about another person’s dog in a pandemic? Probably. We’re fine with it. thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

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P R U O Y ’S E R E H .

T S A C S E T O V 4 9 ,6 6 6 6 .

S IE R O G E T A 456 C

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S K PIC

0 2 0 2 C K F O T S E B FOR

BEST SECTION OF ARROWHEAD’S PARKING LOT TO TAILGATE: LOT G

TRAVIS YOUNG

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YOUR PICKS

& S T R A T N E M N I A T R E ENT

BEST ART EXHIBIT

WINNER: THE NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART, “QUEEN NEFERTARI: ETERNAL EGYPT”

Finalists: Christopher Vaughn Frye, “Homegrown Pop Art”; The Smalter Gallery, “Onnissia: It Means Queen” BEST ART FESTIVAL

WINNER: FIRST FRIDAYS

Finalists: Plaza Art Fair, Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair, Westport Art Fair BEST ART GALLERY

WINNER: THE NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART

Finalists: Front/Space, Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, MOD Gallery & Space BEST BLUES VENUE

WINNER: KNUCKLEHEADS

Finalists: BB’s Lawnside BBQ, Blue Room, The Phoenix BEST BURLESQUE

WINNER: BURLESQUE DOWNTOWN UNDERGROUND

Finalists: Annie-Mae Allure and the Rude Revue and Burly Q BEST CLUB DJ

WINNER: DJ ASHTON MARTIN

Finalists: DJ Astro, DJ Savy, DJ Tiberias, SirQueen BEST COMEDY CLUB

WINNER: THE COMEDY CLUB OF KANSAS CITY

Finalists: Barrel of the Bottoms, Kick Comedy Theatre, The Rino BEST CULTURAL EVENT

WINNER: BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS

Finalists: Ethnic Enrichment Festival, Friends of Internationals Welcome Party, Juneteenth Festival, Kansas City Irish Fest, Troostapalooza BEST DANCE CREW

WINNER: QUIXOTIC

Finalists: E2 Dance Company, Tigerstyle!

Crew BEST DRAG ARTIST

WINNER: WIDOW VON’DU

Finalists: Daisy Buckët, Erica Von’Du, Leona Noel, Moltyn Decadence

BEST MUSICIAN, BEST VOCALIST: CALVIN ARSENIA KELCIE MCKENNEY

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YOUR PICKS

BEST DRAG SHOW

WINNER: HAMBURGER MARY’S DRAG BRUNCH

Finalists: Dining With the Divas, Drag Survivor KC, Driving Miss Daisy, The Flo Show BEST FASHION EVENT

WINNER: KC FASHION WEEK

Finalists: KC Quarantine Fashion Show, Local Runway, Molly Balloons Fashion Show, West 18th Street Fashion Show BEST FILMMAKER (ARTISTIC)

WINNER: ADAM ROBERTS

Finalists: Anthony Ladesich, Patrick Rea, Sav Rodgers, Shawn Riddle BEST FUNDRAISING EVENT

WINNER: BIG SLICK

Finalists: AIDS Walk KC, Artists for ACLU Auction, FurBall for Wayside Waifs, Jazzoo BEST HOUSE/COVER BAND

WINNER: THE M80S

Finalists: Fast Times, The Instamatics, The Zeros, Thunder Jacket BEST IMPROV/SKETCH TROUPE

WINNER: DOLLAR MENU COMEDY

Finalists: Crusty Mustard, Ham Kitty, Snooze Button, The X-Team

BEST JAZZ ARTIST

BEST LIVE THEATER

Finalists: Bobby Watson, Eboni Fondren, Molly Hammer, Stan Kessler BEST JAZZ BAND

Finalists: Kansas City Public Theatre, Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Unicorn Theatre

Finalists: Chris Hazelton’s Boogaloo Seven, Kansas City Jazz Orchestra

BEST LOCAL ACTOR (PERFORMING IN KC)

BEST JAZZ EVENT

Finalists: Bradley J. Thomas, Ron Megee, Vanessa Severo

WINNER: LONNIE MCFADDEN

WINNER: A LA MODE

WINNER: JAZZOO

Finalists: Jazz Storytelling, Jazzy Jamdemic at the Gem BEST JAZZ VENUE

WINNER: GREEN LADY LOUNGE

Finalists: Black Dolphin, Blue Room, The Majestic, The Phoenix BEST KARAOKE

WINNER: HAMBURGER MARY’S MARYOKE

Finalists: Brick’s Pub & Grub, Missie B’s, OffKey, Woody’s KC BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE (OVER 1,000)

WINNER: STARLIGHT THEATRE

Finalists: Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, The Truman, The Uptown Theater BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE (UNDER 1,000)

WINNER: KNUCKLEHEADS

Finalists: Madrid Theatre, Parker 2, recordBar, The Rino

WINNER: STARLIGHT THEATRE

WINNER: KATIE GILCHRIST

BEST LOCAL ARTIST (LIVING IN KC)

WINNER: PAIGE CROSSWHITE

BEST CULTURAL EVENT: BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS CRISSY DASTRUP BEST LOCAL PODCAST

WINNER: THE KC MORNING SHOW

Finalists: First Issue Club, Neandertalk Podcast, Ope! Radio, The Grace & Grind Podcast BEST LOCAL STAND-UP COMIC

WINNER: AARON SCARBOROUGH

Finalists: AYALA, Nick Barrett (Black Church), Onnissia

Finalists: Jamie Campbell, Janell Banks, Kinzie Oas, Teague Hayes

BEST LOCAL BAND

BEST LOCAL THEMED TOUR

Finalists: Black Light Animals, Kannabis Club, Mess, Quite Frankly the Band

Finalists: Go Explore KC, Independence Craft Beverage Trail

WINNER: THE GREETING COMMITTEE

WINNER: KANSAS CITY TOUR COMPANY BLACK HISTORY TOUR

BEST LOCAL CRAFT ARTIST (LIVING IN KC)

BEST MOVIE THEATER

Finalists: Brandon Love, Courtney Lane, LaCour Design Co., MRS Pallet Decor

Finalists: Alamo Drafthouse, AMC Ward Parkway, B&B Shawnee 18, Glenwood Fine Arts Theater

BEST LOCAL EVENT

BEST MUSEUM

WINNER: MOLLY BALLOONS

WINNER: BOULEVARDIA

Finalists: Listyn KC, Panicfest, Rock the Mic at Hamburger Mary’s, Strawberry Swing

WINNER: SCREENLAND ARMOUR

WINNER: THE NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART

Finalists: American Jazz Museum, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, The National World War I Museum

thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

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YOUR PICKS

BEST MUSIC FESTIVAL

WINNER: BOULEVARDIA

Finalists: Bluegrass in the Bottoms, Buzz Beach Ball, Kansas City Irish Fest, Middle of the Map BEST MUSICIAN

WINNER: CALVIN ARSENIA

Finalists: Branden Moser, Curt Whitaker, Nicole Springer, Smitty the Kid, Stephonne Singleton

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THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

BEST NEW LOCAL ALBUM

WINNER: “WOMAN OF THE YEAR”, UNA WALKENHORST

Finalists: “Patron Saint”, The Black Mariah Theater; “Playboys of the Western World”, The Blacklight Animals; “Soft & Virtual Touch”, Fullbloods; “The Rose that Blooms”, Parvenu

BEST NIGHTCLUB

WINNER: MISSIE B’S

BEST FUNDRAISING EVENT: BIG SLICK COURTESY OF BIG SLICK

Finalists: Aura, Funky Town, Mosaic BEST OPEN MIC

WINNER: JERRY’S BAIT SHOP

Finalists: Arsyn Spit Fire, One Mic Stand KC, Song Lab at The Rino, Soul Sessions

BEST OUTDOOR EVENT

WINNER: THE KANSAS CITY RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL

Finalists: Boulevardia, Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, Kansas City Irish Fest, Strawberry Swing Indie Craft Fair

YOUR PICKS

BEST OUTDOOR VENUE

BEST SONG BY A LOCAL BAND

Finalists: Crossroads KC, Knuckleheads, Providence Medical Center Amphitheater

Finalists: Halo, Black Light Animals, Reckless, Parvenu, The Drifter, Steven Bankey and the Flatlanders

WINNER: STARLIGHT THEATRE

BEST PAINTING PARTY

WINNER: PINOT’S PALETTE

Finalists: Art by Jonnie Rae, Happy Trees Painting Co., Martiny Design Co. BEST PHOTOGRAPHER (ARTISTIC)

WINNER: SAMANTHA LEVI

WINNER: BAD STAR, THE WAY WAY BACK

BEST STRIP CLUB

WINNER: SHADY LADY

Finalists: Bazooka’s, The Outhouse BEST THEATER COMPANY

WINNER: KANSAS CITY REPERTORY THEATRE

Finalists: Jorden Durkee, Robert Hoops, Shawn Riddle, Tayanna Nelson

Finalists: Kansas City Actors Theatre, Kansas City Public Theatre, Unicorn Theatre

BEST PLACE FOR A KID’S BIRTHDAY PARTY

BEST TRIVIA NIGHT

WINNER: DEANA ROSE FARMSTEAD

Finalists: Animal Wonders, Main Event, MY Play Café, Super KidZ club BEST PLACE TO SHAKE YOUR BOOTY

WINNER: MISSIE B’S

Finalists: Funky Town, Knuckleheads, The Levee, The Ship BEST PLAY

WINNER: “A DOLL’S HOUSE”, KANSAS CITY ACTORS THEATRE

Finalists: “Mirrors”, Kansas City Public Theatre; “Taming of the Shrew”, Rising Tide Productions BEST POET/SPOKEN WORD ARTIST

WINNER: WESTPORT FLEA MARKET

Finalists: Bear Trivia at Woody’s KC, Geeks Who Drink at Green Room Burgers and Beer, Intelligence Check At Pawn and Pint, KC Trivia Geeks at Bricks Pub & Grub, Let’s Get Trivial at Waldo Pizza BEST VIRTUAL EVENT

WINNER: DRAG SURVIVOR

Finalists: Acting Black Videocast, Driving Miss Daisy, KC Quarantine Fashion Show, KC Trivia Geeks QuarenTrivia Smash BEST VOCALIST

WINNER: CALVIN ARSENIA

Finalists: Lauren Krum, Molly Hammer, Nicole Springer, Rachel McMillan

WINNER: JEN HARRIS

Finalists: Alexej Savreux, Sophia Marsh, Steph Castor

thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

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YOUR PICKS

BEST BARBECUE

WINNER: JOE’S KANSAS CITY BARB-QUE

Finalists: Gates Bar-B-Q, Jack Stack BBQ, Q39, Slap’s BBQ BEST BARBECUE EVENT

WINNER: AMERICAN ROYAL WORLD SERIES OF BARBECUE

Finalists: Great Lenexa BBQ Battle, Shawnee Great Grillers BBQ Championship, Smokin’ Guns BBQ & Beer Dinner

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THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

Q B B

BEST BARBECUE SANDWICH (NAME AND RESTAURANT)

WINNER: Z-MAN, JOE’S KANSAS CITY BAR-B-QUE

Finalists: Mr. Burns, Q39; Poor Russ, Jack Stack; The Jackknife, Char Bar; The Mike Johnson, Slap’s BBQ; Turkey Crunch, Zarda Bar-B-Q BEST BARBECUE SIDE DISH

WINNER: CHEESY CORN BAKE, JACK STACK

Finalists: Baked Beans, Smokehouse BBQ; Baked Potato Casserole, Slap’s BBQ; French Fries, Joe’s Kansas City Bar-BQue; Hickory Pit Beans, Jack Stack

BEST BURNT ENDS

WINNER: Q39

BEST BURNT ENDS: Q39 COURTESY OF Q39

Finalists: Jack Stack, Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, LC’s, Slap’s BBQ BEST RIBS

WINNER: JOE’S KANSAS CITY BARB-QUE

Finalists: Gates Bar-B-Q, Jack Stack, Q39, Slap’s BBQ BEST SAUCE

WINNER: GATES BAR-B-Q

Finalists: Jack Stack, Night of the Living Bar-B-Q Sauce, Q39, Zarda Bar-B-Q

BEST VEGETARIAN BARBECUE DISH

WINNER: PORTOBELLO Z-MAN, JOE’S KC

Finalist: The Jackknife, Char Bar

YOUR PICKS

Mahalo!

Thank you Kansas City for naming

Hawaiian Bros “Best New Restaurant” We’re excited to share this Hawaiian tradition, one plate at a time.

hawaiianbros.com

S K N I R D YOUR PICKS

BEST 3 AM BAR

WINNER: HARRY’S BAR AND TABLES

Finalists: Buzzard Beach, John’s Big Deck, Missie B’s, Woody’s KC BEST BAR

WINNER: HARRY’S BAR AND TABLES

Finalists: Brick’s Pub & Grub, John’s Big Deck, Oak & Steel, The Monarch Bar BEST BAR STAFF

WINNER: HARRY’S BAR AND TABLES

Finalists: Brick’s Pub & Grub, Dodson’s Bar & Commons, John’s Big Deck, Pawn and Pint

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THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

BEST BAR TO MEET PEOPLE

BEST BEER SELECTION (TAPS)

BEST BREW PUB

Finalists: Brick’s Pub and Grub, John’s Big Deck, Pawn & Pint, Woody’s KC

Finalists: International Tap House, Oak & Steel, Tapcade, Taps on Main

BEST BARTENDER (NAME & WORKPLACE)

BEST BLOODY MARY

Finalists: Brewery Emperial, City Barrel Brewery + Kitchen, Green Room Burgers & Beer, Martin City Brewing Company

WINNER: UP-DOWN KC

WINNER: ALLISON KORN, MICKEY’S HIDEAWAY

Finalists: Aaron Vigliaturo, Brick’s Pub & Grub; Bryan Arri, Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room; Ethan Bunce, Drastic Measures; Nicholas Boden, The American Reserve BEST BEER FESTIVAL

WINNER: BOULEVARDIA

Finalists: Festival of the Lost Township, KC Oktoberfest, Parkville Microbrew Festival

WINNER: BIER STATION

WINNER: PORT FONDA

Finalists: Beer Kitchen, Brick House KC, Brick’s Pub and Grub, District Pour House + Kitchen, The Pressed Penny Tavern BEST BOULEVARD RELEASE

WINNER: SPACE CAMPER STAR HAZE

Finalists: 30th Anniversary, Chocolate Ale, Quirk, Worth the Wait

WINNER: KC BIER CO

BEST CHEAP DRINKS

WINNER: HI DIVE LOUNGE

Finalists: Brick House KC, Chez Charlie, John’s Big Deck BEST COCKTAILS

WINNER: MANIFESTO

Finalists: Julep, Swordfish Tom’s, The Campground, The Monarch

YOUR PICKS

BEST HOTEL BAR

WINNER: PERCHERON, CROSSROADS HOTEL

Finalists: Drum Room, Hotel President, Loews, P.S. Speakeasy, Hotel Phillips, The Savoy at 21c BEST IRISH BAR

WINNER: KELLY’S WESTPORT INN

Finalists: Brady’s Public House, Gilhouly’s, Llywelyn’s Pub, O’Malley’s BEST LGBTQ+ BAR

WINNER: MISSIE B’S

Finalists: Hamburger Mary’s, Sidekicks, Sidestreet Social, Woody’s KC BEST LOCAL BEER (FRUIT BEER)

WINNER: JAM BAND, BOULEVARD

Finalists: Blackberry Porter, Sandhills Brewing, Pineapple Creamcicle, Rochester Brewing & Roasting Company, Strawberry Blonde, Border Brewing Company

300 WESTPORT ROAD

BEST LOCAL BEER (IPA)

WINNER: SPACE CAMPER, BOULEVARD BREWING

Finalists: Counterculture, BKS Artisan Ales, Hard Way, Martin City Brewing Company, Rad AF, City Barrel Brewery + Kitchen, Tesselation, Double Shift BEST LOCAL BEER (LAGER)

WINNER: DUNKEL, KC BIER CO.

Finalists: Adulting, City Barrel Brewery + Kitchen; Cerveza Royale, Stockyards Brewing Co.; Helles, KC Bier Co.; Odd Bird Mexican Style Lager, Crane Brewing BEST LOCAL BEER (SAISON)

WINNER: TANK 7, BOULEVARD BREWING CO

BEST BARTENDER: ALLISON KORN, MICKEY’S HIDEAWAY CHASE CASTOR

BEST COFFEEHOUSE

Finalists: Prarie Fire Chile Saison, Border Brewing Co.; Saison Brett, Boulevard Brewing Co.; Sandpiper, Sandhills Brewing; Trailsmith, Crane Brewing Company BEST LOCAL BEER (SOUR)

WINNER: TEA WEISS, CRANE BREWING

Finalists: Black Dog, Blip Roasters, Oddly Correct, The Bean Coffee Co.

Finalists: Beet Weiss, Crane Brewing; Better Late, Border Brewing Company; Chickadee, Sandhills Brewing; Like Butterflies, Servaes Brewing

BEST DIVE BAR

BEST LOCAL BEER (STOUT)

WINNER: MESSENGER

WINNER: BUZZARD BEACH

Finalists: Chez Charlie, Hi Dive, John’s Big Deck, Lucky Boys BEST HAPPY HOUR (DRINK)

WINNER: BRICK HOUSE KC

Finalists: Bricks Pub & Grub, Dodson’s Bar & Commons, John’s Big Deck, Taps on Main

WINNER: BLACK SQUIRREL, CINDER BLOCK BREWING

Finalists: Chocolate Milk Stout, Border Brewing Co., Muddy Paws..., Lost Evenings Brewing Company, Raven Imperial Stout, Sandhills Brewing

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YOUR PICKS

BEST 3 AM BAR: HARRY’S BAR AND TABLES JIM NIMMO

BEST LOCAL BREWERY

WINNER: BOULEVARD BREWING COMPANY

Finalists: Alma Mader Brewing, Border Brewing Company, Crane Brewing, KC Bier Co. BEST LOCAL COFFEE ROASTER

WINNER: THE ROASTERIE

Finalists: Blip Roasters, Broadway Roasting Co., Messenger Coffee Co., Oddly Correct BEST LOCAL DISTILLERY

WINNER: J. RIEGER & CO.

Finalists: Lifted Spirits Distillery, Mean Mule Distilling Co., Restless Spirits Distilling Company, Tom’s Town Distilling Co. BEST LOCAL SPECIALTY BEER RELEASE (NON-BOULEVARD)

WINNER: DUNKELBOCK, KC BIER CO.

Finalists: Black Is Beautiful, Sandhills Brewing, Creamsicle Rad AF, City Barrel Brewery + Kitchen, Der Bauer, KC Bier Co., Just Dandy, Border Brewing Company

THANK YOU KC FOR VOTING US BEST PLACE TO PLAY VOLLEYBALL

NEXT YEAR, BEST HAPPY HOUR! 13105 Holmes

www.volleyballbeach.com

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THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

TRUE TO SIZE.

ZA BIGGER THAN YOUR PUPPY. 4144 PENNSYLVANIA AVE KANSAS CITY, MO 64111 FATSULLYS.COM | 816-800-7816 thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

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YOUR PICKS

BEST LOCAL WINERY

WINNER: AMIGONI URBAN WINERY

Finalists: Aubrey Vineyards, Jowler Creek Vineyard & Winery, KC Wine Co., KC Wineworks, Stone Pillar Vineyard & Winery BEST LOCALLY OWNED KANSAS BREWERY

WINNER: FREE STATE BREWING CO.

WINNER: WINSTEAD’S

BEST MOBILE BAR

Finalists: Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Percheron, The Monarch Bar

BEST SPORTS BAR

Finalists: Velo Wagon, Whiskey and Wine Wandering Tavern

BEST PLACE TO DRINK WITH YOUR DOG

Finalists: Brooksider, Johnny’s Tavern, Taps on Main, The Blue Line

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR

Finalists: Border Brewing Company, Char Bar, KC Bier Co, MO Brew, Oak & Steel

BEST TEA SHOP/PLACE TO BUY TEA

Finalists: Betty Rae’s, Fairway Creamery, Snack Shack, Town Topic

WINNER: KC PROSECCO

WINNER: THE PEANUT

Finalists: Limitless Brewery, Sandhills Brewery, Servaes Brewing Company, Transport Brewery

Finalists: Brick’s Pub & Grub, Dodson’s Bar & Commons, John’s Big Deck, The Pressed Penny Tavern

BEST LOCALLY OWNED MISSOURI BREWERY

BEST NEW BAR

WINNER: KC BIER CO.

Finalists: Alma Mader Brewing, Border Brewing Company, Crane Brewing, Martin City Brewing Company BEST MARGARITA

WINNER: PONAK’S MEXICAN KITCHEN & BAR

WINNER: OAK & STEEL

Finalists: Boogies Bar, Drastic Measures, Panthers Place, Tiki Huna, Verdigris BEST NEW BREWERY

WINNER: ROCKCREEK BREWING CO.

Finalists: Brick’s Pub & Grub, Drunken Worm, El Patrón Cocina & Bar, Mission Taco

Finalists: Lost Evenings Brewing Company, Nimble Brewing, Pathlight Brewing, Rochester Brewing and Roasting

BEST MARTINI

BEST PATIO

Finalists: Cafe Trio, Harry’s Bar & Tables, The Campground, Wine Down 109

Finalists: Brewery Emperial, Brick House KC, Gram & Dun, Oak & Steel, The Well

WINNER: CAPITAL GRILLE

40

THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

BEST HOTEL BAR, BEST ROOFTOP BAR, BEST ROOFTOP VIEW: PERCHERON AT CROSSROADS HOTEL

BEST PLACE FOR A CELEBRATORY TOAST

BEST MILKSHAKE

WINNER: CHAR BAR

WINNER: ÇA VA

WINNER: BAR K DOG BAR

BEST POP-UP BAR

WINNER: MIRACLE AT ROCKHILL

Finalists: Apparition Spookeasy, Miracle on the Plaza, Sippin Santa at Julep BEST ROOFTOP BAR

WINNER: PERCHERON, CROSSROADS HOTEL

Finalists: Chicken N Pickle, John’s Big Deck, The Well, Up-Down KC BEST SERVICE INDUSTRY NIGHT

WINNER: EXTRA VIRGIN

Finalists: Dave’s Stagecoach Inn, La Bodega, The North End, Waldo Thai BEST SPEAKEASY

WINNER: MANIFESTO

Finalists: P.S. Speakeasy, Swordfish Tom’s, The Hey! Hey! Club, The W

ALYSSA BROADUS

WINNER: THE PEANUT

WINNER: DRAGONFLY TEA ZONE

Finalists: Hugo Tea Company, Shang Tea, Tea Market, The Phoenix Herb Co. BEST UPSCALE BAR

WINNER: THE MONARCH BAR

Finalists: Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room, Julep, Pierpont’s, The Hey! Hey! Club, Tom’s Town Distilling Co. BEST WHISKEY SELECTION

WINNER: JULEP

Finalists: Harry’s Country Club, Oak & Steel BEST WINE SELECTION

WINNER: COOPER’S HAWK

Finalists: JJ’s, Tannin Wine Bar & Kitchen, The Cellar Rat

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thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

41

YOUR PICKS

D O O F BEST BAKERY (GLUTEN FREE)

BEST BUFFET

Finalists: Billie’s Grocery, Morgana’s Gluten Free Bakery, The Littlest Bake Shop, Three Bears Bakery & BBQ

Finalists: Bristol Seafood + Steak + Social, Genghis Khan, Ma Ma China, Peachtree Buffet

WINNER: LA BODEGA

BEST BAKERY (SWEETS)

BEST BURGER

BEST ASIAN RESTARAUNT

Finalists: Blackhole Bakery, Dolce Bakery, Mud Pie Vegan Bakery & Coffeehouse, Skratch Bakery

BEST 24-HOUR RESTAURANT

WINNER: TOWN TOPIC

Finalists: Hayes Hamburger & Chili, Panchos Mexican Restaurant, Winstead’s BEST APPETIZERS

Finalists: Extra Virgin, Strip’s Chicken, Summit Grill, Taps on Main

WINNER: BLUE KOI, LULU’S THAI NOODLE SHOP

Finalists: ABC Cafe, Vietnam Cafe Columbus Park, Waldo Thai BEST BAGELS

WINNER: MESHUGGAH

WINNER: MUD PIE VEGAN BAKERY & COFFEEHOUSE

WINNER: MCCLAIN’S MARKET

BEST BAR FOOD

BEST BREAKFAST

Finalists: Broadway Butcher, Fareway Meat Market, The Store, The Upper Cut KC

Finalists: Brick’s Pub & Grub, John’s Big Deck, Taps on Main, Tower Tavern

WINNER: SUCCOTASH

BEST BAKERY (BREAD)

BEST BRUNCH

Finalists: Farm to Market Bread Co., Heirloom Bakery & Hearth, Ibis Bakery, Three Bears Bakery & BBQ

Finalists: Brick House KC, eggtc., Succotash, Summit Grill

THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

Finalists: Green Room Burgers & Beer, Pirate’s Bone Burgers, Taps on Main, Tay’s Burger Shack BEST BUTCHER

Finalists: eggtc., Ginger Sue’s, Snooze an A.M. Eatery, The Corner Restaurant

42

WINNER: WESTPORT FLEA MARKET

WINNER: THE PEANUT

Finalists: Blackhole Bakery, Broadway Bagels, Mud Pie Vegan Bakery & Coffeehouse

WINNER: MCCLAIN’S BAKERY

WINNER: CINZETTI’S ITALIAN MARKET

WINNER: THE FARMHOUSE

WINNER: LOCAL PIG

BEST CATERING

BEST RESTAURANT, BEST SERVING STAFF: JASPER’S TRAVIS YOUNG

BEST CHEF (NAME & WORKPLACE)

WINNER: MICHAEL CORVINO, CORVINO Supper Club & Tasting Room

Finalists: Bobby Stearns, Ophelia’s, Brett Atkinson, Wilma’s Good Food, Brett DeHart, Fénix Strang Hall, Laura Comer - Kauffman Center Dining Experience BEST CHICKEN SANDWICH

WINNER: CHICKEN N’ PICKLE

Finalists: Brown Sugar Chicken & Donuts, Mother Clucker, Strip’s Chicken, Taps on Main BEST CHICKEN STRIPS/TENDERS

WINNER: STRIP’S CHICKEN

WINNER: BRANCATO’S CATERING

Finalists: Culinary Creations, Lon Lane’s Inspired Occasions, The Russell

Finalists: Brookside Poultry Company, Brown Sugar Chicken & Donuts, Mother Clucker, Taps on Main

BEST CHEAP EATS

BEST CHICKEN WINGS

Finalists: Pirate’s Bone Burgers, Strip’s Chicken, Tiki Taco, Winstead’s

Finalists: Brown Sugar Chicken & Donuts, Taps on Main, Tower Tavern, Wings Cafe

WINNER: TOWN TOPIC

WINNER: THE PEANUT

YOUR PICKS

BEST CHILI

WINNER: DIXON’S FAMOUS CHILI PARLOR

Finalists: Kind Food, Strips Chicken, Town Topic, Woodyard Bar-B-Que BEST CHOCOLATE SHOP

WINNER: CHRISTOPHER ELBOW CHOCOLATES

Finalists: André’s Confiserie Suisse, Annedore’s Fine Chocolates, Bizz & Weezy Confections, Chip’s Chocolate Factory BEST CURBSIDE DELIVERY

WINNER: JACK STACK

Finalists: Buffalo State Pizza, Mission Taco, Q39, Strip’s Chicken, The Russell BEST DELI

WINNER: D’BRONX

Finalists: Bay Boy Specialty Sandwiches, Carollo’s Italian Deli, M & M Bakery & Delicatessen, Milwaukee Delicatessen Co BEST DESSERT MENU

WINNER: ANDRÉ’S CONFISERIE SUISSE

Finalists: Jasper’s, Novel, Rye, Three Bears Bakery & BBQ BEST DONUTS

BEST BUTCHER: LOCAL PIG JIM NIMMO

BEST FRENCH FRIES

WINNER: JOE’S KANSAS CITY BARB-QUE

Finalists: Taps on Main, Tay’s Burger Shack, Westport Cafe, Westside Local BEST FRENCH RESTAURANT

WINNER: LE FOU FROG

Finalists: Aixois, Café Des Amis, Café Provence, Westport Cafe BEST FRIED CHICKEN

WINNER: STROUD’S

Finalists: Brookside Poultry Company, Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, Niecie’s, Rye BEST GERMAN RESTAURANT

WINNER: GRÜNAUER

Finalists: Affarë, KC Bier Co., Rheinland BEST GLUTEN-FREE RESTAURANT

WINNER: CAFE GRATITUDE

Finalists: Billie’s Grocery, Evolve Juicery & Kitchen, Fénix at Strang Hall, Strip’s Chicken

WINNER: LAMAR’S DONUTS

BEST GREEK RESTAURANT

BEST FAMILY RESTAURANT

Finalists: Aladdin Cafe, Mr. Gyros Greek Food & Pastry, Papu’s Cafe, Tasso’s Greek Restaurant

Finalists: Donut King, Donutology, Fluffy Fresh, Mr. D’s Donuts

WINNER: STROUD’S

Finalists: Ginger Sue’s, Pegah’s Family Restaurant, Rye, Strip’s Chicken BEST FOOD TRUCK

WINNER: JERUSALEM CAFE

Finalists: Mattie’s Vegan Eats, Pura Vida KC, Taco Tank, The Waffler, Wilma’s Good Food

BUY A LARGE C FFEE GET DONUTS FREE

WINNER: JERUSALEM CAFE

BEST HALAL RESTAURANT

WINNER: JERUSALEM CAFE

Finalists: Aladdin Cafe, Brown Sugar Chicken & Donuts, Habashi House, Queen Sweets and Bakery BEST HANGOVER CURE RESTAURANT

WINNER: TOWN TOPIC

Finalists: Fénix at Strang Hall, Succotash, Taps on Main, Winstead’s

3801 S. 291 HWY LEE’S SUMMIT, MO 64086 816-537-9851

5901 JOHNSON DR., MISSION, KS 66202 913-362-7700

705 SE MELODY LN LEE’S SUMMIT, MO 64063 816-524-5515

3395 MAIN STREET KANSAS CITY, MO 64111 816-561-7176 D0590

thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

43

YOUR PICKS

BEST GREEK RESTAURANT BEST FOOD TRUCK, BEST HALAL RESTAURANT, BEST MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT: JERUSALEM CAFE TRAVIS YOUNG BEST OUTDOOR DINING

WINNER: CHAR BAR

Finalists: Cafe Trio, Gram & Dun, Iron District, The Westside Local, Trezo Mare BEST PHO

WINNER: VIETNAM CAFE (COLUMBUS PARK)

Finalists: Café Vie, iPho Tower VietnameseFrench Bistro, Pho Good, Vietnam Cafe (Rainbow) BEST PIE

WINNER: UPPER CRUST

Finalists: Ashleigh’s Bake Shop, Easy As Pie, Hello Pie, Rye BEST PIZZA

WINNER: MINSKY’S PIZZA

Finalists: Artégo Pizza, Buffalo State Pizza Company, Long-Bell Pizza Co., Waldo Pizza BEST PLACE TO EAT AT THE BAR

WINNER: THE PEANUT

BEST LATE NIGHT EATS

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

Finalists: Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room, Lucky Boys, Ragazza, Taps on Main

Finalists: Cafe Trio, Extra Virgin, Summit Grill, Taps on Main

Finalists: John’s Big Deck, Pancho’s Mexican Food, Tiki Taco, Westport Cafe

Finalists: Fénix at Strang Hall, Fox & Pearl, Seven Swans Crêperie, The Fix

BEST PLACE TO HAVE YOUR PARENTS PAY FOR DINNER

BEST HOT DOG

BEST LOCAL SNACK

Finalists: Dead Beet Eats, Kauffman Stadium, Up Dog, Wiener Kitchen

Finalists: Lamar’s Donuts, Snack Shack, Strip’s Chicken, Three Bears Bakery & BBQ

BEST NON-BARBECUE SANDWICH (SANDWICH & LOCATION)

Finalists: Anton’s, bluestem, Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room, Pierpont’s

BEST HAPPY HOUR (FOOD)

WINNER: LA BODEGA

WINNER: QUIKTRIP

BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT

WINNER: THE SAVOY AT 21C

Finalists: Chaz on the Plaza, Raphael Hotel, Lazia, Crossroads Hotel, Tavernonna, Hotel Phillips, The American Reserve, Ambassador Hotel BEST ICE CREAM

WINNER: BETTY RAE’S

Finalists: Foggi Ice Cream, Glacé Artisan Ice Cream, Poppy’s, Sylas and Maddys BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT

WINNER: TOWN TOPIC

WINNER: BETTY RAE’S

BEST LUNCH

WINNER: THE BITE

Finalists: Fénix at Strang Hall, Strip’s Chicken, Taps on Main, The Russell BEST MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT

WINNER: JERUSALEM CAFE

Finalists: Aladdin Cafe, Habashi House, Queen Sweets, Sahara Mediterranean BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT

WINNER: MI RANCHITO

WINNER: KORMA SUTRA

Finalists: Moti Mahal, Swagat, Taj Mahal, Taj Palace

Finalists: Margarita’s, Ponak’s Mexican Kitchen & Bar, Port Fonda, Rudy’s Tenampa Taqueria

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT

BEST NACHOS

Finalists: Cascone’s, Cupini’s, Jasper’s, Ragazza Food & Wine

Finalists: Drunken Worm, Kind Food, Rudy’s Tenampa Taqueria

BEST KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT

BEST NEW CHEF

Finalists: Doughboys Donuts, SPIN! Neapolitan Pizza, Strang Hall, Strip’s Chicken

Finalists: Brett DeHart, Fénix at Strang Hall, Kara Anderson, Verbena

WINNER: GAROZZO’S

WINNER: FRITZ’S RAILROAD RESTUARANT

44

THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

WINNER: THE PEANUT

WINNER: VAUGHN GOOD, FOX & PEARL

WINNER: HAWAIIAN BROS

WINNER: BANH MI, PIGWICH

Finalists: El Jefe, Bay Boy Specialty Sandwiches, Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich, Strip’s Chicken, Philly, Taps on Main, Smoked Nova Salmon, Meshuggah Bagels

WINNER: CAPITAL GRILLE

BEST CHICKEN STRIPS/ TENDERS: STRIP’S CHICKEN COURTESY OF STRIP’S

Hall of Fame

FAMILY OWNED FOR 44 YEARS

COMPLETE AUTO SERVICE Voted Best Mom & Pop restaurant in The Pitch’s Best Of KC.

Eclectic Middle Eastern Cuisine.

Consistently Delicious!

Monday - Saturday

THANK YOU KANSAS CITY!

11am-10pm

Sunday

11am-9pm

816.221.4433

Try our Street Taco Sampler Today!EVE OPEN CHRISTMAS Now enjoy Beer and Wine 1667 Summit with your meal orKCMO to go!

Piñatas available for sale!

816-471-0450 Now hiring weekend staff BREAKFAST/LUNCH (KITCHEN HOURS 6AM-3PM)

TUES - SAT 6AM-5PM SUN 6AM-3PM HAPPY HOUR 3PM-5PM 1667 Summit , KCMO 816-471- 0450

CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT

515 Westport Rd

14th & BURLINGTON, NKC

Kansas City, MO 64111

816-442-8655

Thanks for voting us to be the best: Mediterranean, Greek, Halal & Food truck!

NorthtownAutoService.net thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

45

YOUR PICKS

BEST SMOOTHIE/JUICE BAR: RUBY JEAN’S JUICERY TRAVIS YOUNG

BEST PLACE TO TAKE YOUR TOP CLIENT

WINNER: CAPITAL GRILLE

Finalists: Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room, Pierponts, Rye, The Rieger

BEST SOUL FOOD

WINNER: NIECIE’S RESTAURANT

BEST PORK TENDERLOIN

WINNER: KITTY’S CAFE

Finalists: King’s Table, Peachtree Restaurant, Topknotch Vegan Vittles

Finalists: Christine’s Firehouse, Christy’s Tasty Queen, Strip’s Chicken, Tenderloin Grill

BEST STEAKHOUSE

WINNER: J. GILBERT’S

BEST RAMEN

Finalists: Anton’s, Capital Grille, Golden Ox, Jess and Jim’s

WINNER: COLUMBUS PARK RAMEN

Finalists: Aoyama, Boru, Komatsu, Shio Ramen Shop

BEST SUSHI

WINNER: BLUE SUSHI SAKE GRILL

BEST RESTAURANT

WINNER: JASPER’S

BEST SALAD

BEST SERVING STAFF

Finalists: SPIN! Neapolitan Pizza, The Russell, Westside Local

Finalists: Brick’s Pub & Grub, Cafe Trio, Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room, Taps on Main

WINNER: THE MIXX

Finalists: Cafe Trio, Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room, Fox & Pearl, Taps on Main

BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

BEST RESTAURANT SERVER (NAME & WORKPLACE)

WINNER: BRISTOL

WINNER: MEL BROWAR, JASPER’S

Finalists: Bonefish Grill, Jarocho, Jax Fish House & Oyster Bar, Pearl Tavern

Finalists: Ali Brewer, Farina, Eddie Hall, Taps on Main, Sayda Parks, Chaz on the Plaza, Tess Tanuis, Tribe Street Kitchen

WINNER: JASPER’S

BEST SMOOTHIE/JUICE BAR

WINNER: RUBY JEAN’S JUICERY

Finalists: Ad Astra Nutrition, Evolve Juicery & Kitchen, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Zen Donkey Farms

Finalists: Bob Wasabi Kitchen, Friends Sushi & Bento Place, Jun’s Restaurant, Sushi UNI BEST TACOS

WINNER: MISSION TACO

Finalists: Bonito Michoacan, KC Taco Co, Tacos El Gallo, Tiki Taco BEST TAKE OUT

WINNER: LULU’S THAI NOODLE SHOP

Finalists: Strip’s Chicken, Thai Orchid, Waldo Thai

Thanks for the

PROUD

TO

BE

KC!

YOUR

2020 PITCH BEST OF KC BEST BEST

CATERER

WEDDING

+

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WE

46

THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

LOOK

FORWARD

TO

BRINGING

#GOODFOOD

TO

YOU!

YOUR PICKS

BEST SOUL FOOD: NIECIE’S TRAVIS YOUNG

BEST TAPAS

WINNER: LA BODEGA

Finalists: Extra Virgin, Trago Bar & Tapas BEST TOTS

WINNER: GRINDERS

Finalists: Chicken N Pickle, Ravenous, Taps on Main, Winstead’s BEST VEGAN

WINNER: CAFE GRATITUDE

Finalists: Happy Apple Cafe, Kind Food, Pirate’s Bone Burgers BEST VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT

WINNER: CAFE GRATITUDE

Finalists: Happy Apple Cafe, Kind Food, Pirate’s Bone Burgers, The Fix MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT

WINNER: LE FOU FROG

Finalists: bluestem, Ça Va, Cafe Des Amis, Corvino Supper Club & Tasting Room

Jasper’s Restaurant is honored to have won The Pitch’s 2020 Best of KC awards for:

Best Restaurant Best Serving Staff Best Server in KC: Mel Browar CELEBRATING 66 YEARS AS KANSAS CITY’S MOST AWARDED ITALIAN RESTAURANT! Kansas City’s most awarded restaurant since 1954, featuring authentic Italian cuisine.

For date night, birthdays, anniversaries, business meetings, or just a night out on the town, Jasper’s is the restaurant of choice.

1201 W. 103rd St. Kansas City, MO 64114 Reservations online at Jasperskc.com/reservations

Dine In - CarryOut - Curbside Pick Up thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

47

YOUR PICKS

S D O O G S E C I V R E S &

BEST ACCOUNTING FIRM

WINNER: MYERS CPA

Finalists: Guardian Accounting Services LLC, Lane Accounting Solutions BEST AD/MARKETING AGENCY

WINNER: BARKLEY

Finalists: iFocus Marketing, iLeads Media, Killer Kite Productions, NoWhere Consultants BEST AESTHETICIAN

WINNER: LASHED BY ALEX

Finalists: Carmen Morales, Luna Esthetics, Lindsey Heidrich, Advanced Aesthetics, Morgan Pohlman, Sara Kelly, Covet Skin Studio BEST AIRBRUSH/SPRAY TANNING

WINNER: RECREATING RAYS

Finalists: BeYOUtify, Bronzed by Bri, Healthitan, TanTara Mobile Airbrush Tan BEST APARTMENT COMMUNITY

WINNER: POWER & LIGHT APARTMENTS

Finalists: Clemons Real Estate, Mac Properties, Prairie Creek Apartments and Townhomes, Union Hill Luxury Apartments BEST AUCTION HOUSE

WINNER: KC AUCTION & APPRAISAL COMPANY

Finalists: Andrew Turner Auctions, Circle Auction, Ron Stricker’s Auction Co. BEST AUTO SERVICE / REPAIR

WINNER: KC AUTOWORX

Finalists: Hank’s Auto Repair, Honda of Olathe, Hyde Park Auto, Legends Toyota, Northtown Auto BEST BANK (COMMERCIAL)

WINNER: COMMUNITYAMERICA CREDIT UNION

Finalists: Bank Midwest, Central Bank of the Midwest, Commerce Bank, UMB BEST BANK (CONSUMER)

WINNER: COMMUNITY AMERICA CREDIT UNION

Finalists: Central Bank of the Midwest, Commerce Bank, Lead Bank, UMB BEST BARBER

WINNER: JUSTIN LEMOS, MIDWEST BARBERY

Finalists: Brooke Smith, Jerrin Hawes, him.her.them Hair Studio, Lavyne McGinnis, Tahki Bannister

BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER: TAMARA DAY RUSTIC WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY

48

THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

YOUR PICKS

BEST BARBERSHOP

WINNER: CHOP TOPS

Finalists: Midwest Barbery, My Cuts Travel, The Barberette BEST BLOW OUT

WINNER: POSH KC BLOW DRY BAR

Finalists: Antidote Beauty Bar and Blow Out, Bijin Salon and Spa, Chelsea Edwards, Parlor BEST BODY PIERCING

WINNER: SUPERNATURAL BODY PIERCING

Finalists: Aftershock Tattoo, Freaks on Broadway, Midtown Tattoo, Radiance Piercing BEST BOUTIQUE REAL ESTATE

WINNER: KANSAS CITY REALTY SERVICES

Finalists: Boveri Realty, Quinn Real Estate, Summit Way Realty, Wardell & Holmes Real Estate, LLC BEST BROWS

WINNER: ROSLYN KOENIG CUSTOM MICROBLADING & PMU

Finalists: Exhale Skin Studio, Lashed

by Alex, Pretty in Ink, Skyla Free, Taybeauty, The Wax Co.

BEST CLEANING SERVICE

BEST CONTRACTOR

Finalists: Clean Heart Maids, Clearly Clean KC LLC

Finalists: Ace Refinishing, Catalyst Painting, Complete Maintenance Solutions

WINNER: THE MAIDS

BEST CAR WASH

WINNER: WATERWAY

Finalists: Belfonte’s Mirror Image Car Wash, Charlie’s Car Wash, Kevin’s Car Wash, The Better Wash BEST CHILD CARE CENTER

WINNER: UNION HILL DAY SCHOOL

Finalists: Brighton Academy Early Childhood Education, Children’s Treehouse Learning Center, Spectrum Station, Sunrise Montessori Academy of Independence

BEST COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE COMPANY

WINNER: RE/MAX STATE LINE COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

Finalists: Clemons Real Estate, Copaken Brooks, Summit Way Realty BEST COMPUTER/IT SERVICES

WINNER: INTEGRAL

Finalists: Hyper Computer and Battle Games, LightHouse Business Information Solutions

WINNER: KC BUILT

BEST COWORKING SPACE

WINNER: PLEXPOD

Finalists: Bridge Space, Firebrand Collective, WeWork BEST CREDIT UNION

WINNER: COMMUNITYAMERICA CREDIT UNION

Finalists: Kansas City Credit Union, Mainstreet Credit Union, Mazuma

BEST BODY PIERCING: SUPERNATURAL BODY PIERCING KELCIE MCKENNEY

BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE

WINNER: COMMUNITYAMERICA CREDIT UNION

Finalists: Chop Tops, Crumble Co, Exhale Skin Studio, The Polished Edge Fine Jewelry BEST FINANCIAL PLANNING

WINNER: COMMUNITYAMERICA FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS

Finalists: Creative Planning, Financial Partners Group, Harrison Quinn

Thanks KC F O R V O T I N G U S O N E O F Y O U R T O P BARBER SHOPS, HAIR S ALONS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAMS.

Brookside

816•333•2464

choptops.biz

Westport

816•753•2467 thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

49

YOUR PICKS

BEST HAIR COLORIST

WINNER: BRITTANY MASSEY, HAIR

Finalists: Ashley Mauk, Blush Hair Studio, Hilary Hope Bloomquist, Beauty Brands, Jaime Lewis, Samantha Hayes BEST HAIR REMOVAL

WINNER: THE WAX CO.

Finalists: BeYOUtify, Exhale Skin Studio, Lashed by Alex, Milan Laser Hair Removal BEST HAIR SALON

WINNER: HAIR SALON

BEST HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING COMPANY

WINNER: ANTHONY PLUMBING, HEATING, COOLING & ELECTRIC

Finalists: Cates Heating & Cooling, Climate Control Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, Pride Mechanical, Town & Country Heating & Cooling BEST HOTEL

WINNER: CROSSROADS HOTEL

Finalists: Hotel Phillips, Intercontinental on the Plaza, Loews, The Raphael BEST HYDROPONICS/GROW SHOP

WINNER: RIVER MARKET HYDRO

Finalists: Antidote Salon and Beauty Bar, Chop Tops, Coco’s Style Lounge, Intangible Inches

Finalists: Gro Room, Mantis 9, Quality Grow

BEST HAIR STYLIST

BEST INSURANCE AGENCY

WINNER: TREVOR DRENIK

Finalists: Amy Crouch, Hilary Hope Bloomquist, Jaime Lewis, Samantha Hayes

50

THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

WINNER: COMMUNITYAMERICA CREDIT UNION

Finalists: Julie Pfefer & Associates, KC Insurance Group, Lovell Sagebrush Insurance Group, Matthew Meyer, Farmers Insurance

BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER

WINNER: TAMARA DAY

Finalists: Josue Montes, 1 Dapper Latino, Megan Gensky Interiors, Sarah Jipping BEST KITCHEN & BATH REMODELER

WINNER: MIDWEST KITCHENS LLC

Finalists: Kitchen Studio Kansas City, Sarah Jipping BEST LANDSCAPER

WINNER: RYAN LAWN & TREE

Finalists: Benjamin Lawn and Landscape, LLC; Heinen Landscape; SK Lawncare; Twin Creeks BEST LAW FIRM / LAWYER

WINNER: MEYERKORD, RUSSELL & HERGOTT

Finalists: Chris Brown, Venture Legal; Jarrett Leiker, Leiker Law, LLC; Kelli Cooper; Mark Grover, Grover Law Firm

BEST LIBRARY BRANCH: KS

WINNER: JOHNSON COUNTY CENTRAL RESOURCE LIBRARY

Finalists: Corinth Public Library, F. L. Schlagle Library and Environmental Learning Center, Johnson County Library Lenexa City Center, Olathe Public Library, Indian Creek Branch BEST LIBRARY BRANCH: MO

WINNER: KANSAS CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY, CENTRAL BRANCH

Finalists: Kansas City Public Library, Plaza Branch; Kansas City Public Library, Waldo Branch; Mid-Continent Public Library, Raytown Branch; MidContinent Public Library, Woodneath Branch BEST LOAN OFFICER

WINNER: BRITTANI KING, LEADER ONE

Finalists: Katie Grimes, Fountain Mortgage, Tarah Kent, Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation, Trent Mosier, Carrington Mortgage

thanks

FOR CHOOSING US.

BEST OF

WITH OUR SINCEREST

KC

gratitude!

RE/MAX State Line Commercial Real Estate industrial | land | multi-family | office | retail | special use

A BETTER WAY in Commercial Real Estate Susan Scott | 816.668.7276 | susan@scottcrs.com | www.scottcrs.com 11251 Nall Avenue, Leawood, KS 66211 | 913.649.3100 | Each Office Independently Owned and Operated thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

51

YOUR PICKS

BEST BARBERSHOP: CHOP TOPS JUSTINA KELLNER

BEST MOVING COMPANY

WINNER: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

Finalists: Metro Wide Movers, Mike Hammer’s Local Moving, You Move Me Kansas City BEST MUSIC LABEL

WINNER: STRANGE MUSIC

Finalists: Manor Records, The Record Machine, Unlabeled BEST MUSIC STUDIO

WINNER: B-24 STUDIOS

Finalists: 825 Studios, Raytona Recordings, Unlabeled Music Services, LLC BEST NAIL SALON BEST MAKEUP ARTIST

WINNER: MAE MONROE

Finalists: Cheyenne Garvert, You are Simply Stunning, Hannah Baker, Hannah Simmons, Quiera Marcella, Rebecca Pichelmann

BEST MORTGAGE / HOME LOAN PROVIDER

WINNER: COMMUNITYAMERICA CREDIT UNION

Finalists: Fountain Mortgage, JB Nutter, LeaderOne Financial, NBKC

BEST MOTORCYCLE OR OFF-ROAD VEHICLE DEALER

WINNER: GAIL’S HARLEYDAVIDSON

Finalists: Outlaw Harley-Davidson, Rawhide Harley-Davidson, Reno’s Powersports KC, Shawnee Cycle Plaza

WINNER: NAIL SOCIETY

Finalists: Color You Bad, Gloss Spa, Nail Perfection, Polished BEST NEW HOME BUILDER

WINNER: PRAIRIE SUN HOMES

Finalists: Cardinal Crest, Fieldstone Homes, LLC

Jungle House Houseplant Specialty Store 24/7 online shopping non-contact curbside pickup junglehousegoods.com

g ro wn b y h a n d

ma d e b y h a n d

iness ) BEST PHOTOGRAPHer ( Bus BEST LOCAL INSTAGRAM

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52

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LIKE, !

C K , S E T O V R U THANKS FOR YO yMayMoments -@Ell

YOUR PICKS

BEST OIL CHANGE

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT

Finalists: Honda of Olathe, House of Lube, Hyde Park Auto, Kevin’s Mobil 1 Lube Express

Finalists: Adrienne Towner, Dan Martin, Ellen Zetmeir, Madison Ulrich, Nic Trotter

BEST PARTY BUS/LIMO SERVICE

BEST REAL ESTATE BROKERAGE

Finalists: Overland Chauffeured Services, Showtime Transportation, Vegas Limo

Finalists: Boveri Realty, Eric Craig Real Estate Team, Kansas City Realty Services, Summit Way Realty, Wardell & Holmes Real Estate, LLC

WINNER: KC AUTOWORX

WINNER: BARLEY BUS TOURS

BEST PEST CONTROL

WINNER: BLUE BEETLE PEST CONTROL

Finalists: Gunter Pest Control, Mosquito Joe, Pete’s Pest Control, Preferred Pest Control BEST PET BOARDING / DAYCARE

WINNER: CAMP BOW WOW

BEST ROOFER/ROOFING COMPANY

WINNER: PYRAMID ROOFING

Finalists: Christian Brothers Roofing, Easton Roofing, Horizon Contracting LLC, Weddle & Sons Roofing BEST SCREEN PRINTING

WINNER: ODDITIES PRINTS

Finalists: Normal Human, River City T’s, Seen Merch, Union Press

BEST PET GROOMER

BEST SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

Finalists: Camp Bow Wow, Fetchers Play, Stay and Grooming, The Collar Club, The Groom-Groom Room at Bar K

Finalists: Lakeview Village, Mission Chateau

BEST PHOTO BOOTH SERVICE

WINNER: JOHN KNOX VILLAGE

BEST TATTOO ARTIST

WINNER: LINDSAY CADILLAC

WINNER: PHOTO BUS

Finalists: Glam Cam KC LLC, Icon Event Group

Finalists: Amber Burkey, Jessie Hopeless, Josh Martin, Megan MacWheeler, Wendy Scott

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER (BUSINESS)

BEST TATTOO STUDIO

Finalists: Alea Lovely, BAM Photo KC, LGEmerick Photography, M. Smith Portraits, Megan Flick Photography

Finalists: Black Atlas, Catalyst Arts Collective, Dear You Tattoo, Glory Bound Tattoo, Old Souls

BEST PLACE TO ADOPT A PET

BEST TRAVEL AGENCY

WINNER: ELLY MAY MOMENTS

WINNER: KC PET PROJECT

Finalists: Great Plains SPCA, Melissa’s Second Chance, Unleashed Pet Rescue, Wayside Waifs BEST PLACE TO BUY A PLANT

WINNER: FAMILY TREE NURSERY

Finalists: Paradise Garden Club, Soil Service, Suburban Lawn & Garden, Virgil’s Plant Shop BEST PLUMBER

WINNER: ANTHONY PLUMBING, HEATING, COOLING & ELECTRIC

Finalists: Bob Hamilton Plumbing, Heating & A/C; Heartland Plumbing; Morgan Miller Plumbing; Mr. Plumber BEST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY

WINNER: SUMMIT WAY REALTY LLC

Finalists: Clemons Real Estate, Copaken Brooks, Douglas J. Hannah Property Management, Terra Management

THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

WINNER: REECENICHOLS

Finalists: Fetchers Play, Stay & Grooming, Kate’s Canine Resort, Melissa’s Menagerie, Puppy’s Playpen

WINNER: PUPPY’S PLAYPEN

54

WINNER: MAJID GHAVAMI

WINNER: EXILE TATTOO

WINNER: KAYLA BEVERS, MAGICAL MOMENTS VACATIONS

Finalists: Cruise Holidays of Kansas City, Fairy Tale Concierge, Michelle’s Skybluetravels BEST VETERINARIAN

WINNER: EAGLE ANIMAL HOSPITAL

Finalists: Chipman Road Animal Clinic, Mariposa Veterinary and Wellness Center, Noah’s Ark Animal Clinic, Union Hill Animal Hospital BEST VIDEOGRAPHER/FILMMAKER (BUSINESS)

WINNER: SHAWN RIDDLE

Finalists: Anchored Media, Chance Darby Productions, Tady Brothers Productions

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55

YOUR PICKS

H T L A HE S S E N T I F &

BEST BOXING CLUB

BEST DENTIST

Finalists: 9 Round, BodyFit KC

Finalists: Herwig DDS, Keith + Associates Dentistry, Medley Smiles Family Dentistry, Prairie Village Dentists

WINNER: TITLE BOXING CLUB

BEST CHIROPRACTOR

WINNER: F.I.T. MUSCLE & JOINT CLINIC

WINNER: SLOOP DENTAL CO.

BEST DERMATOLOGIST

WINNER: DR. CHRIS TOMASSIAN

Finalists: Center Of Life Chiropractic, Grabouski Chiropractic, Journey Chiropractic, Karim Chiropractic, Rejuvenate Chiropractic

Finalists: Dr. Emily Ochoa, Dr. Kimberly Schoofs, Dr. Nahid Shahrooz, Sunflower Dermatology

BEST COSMETIC SURGEON

BEST EYE CLINIC

Finalists: Dr. John Michael Quinn, Dr. Jonathan Amspacher, Dr. Keith Hodge, Dr. Levi Young

Finalists: Bennett Eye Care, Fairway Eye Center, KC Eye Clinic, Littlefield Eye Associates, Tauber Eye Center

BEST DAY SPA

BEST FITNESS BOOTCAMP

WINNER: DR. JOSEPH CANNOVA

WINNER: KANSAS CITY WELLNESS CLUB

Finalists: Haven Wellness + Spa, Spa on Penn, The Facial Bar, The Massage Collective

WINNER: SABATES EYE CENTER

WINNER: BLUSH BOOT CAMP

Finalists: Burn Boot Camp, Flexy, Freight House Fitness, Kri Chay’s Urban HIIT FITT BEST FITNESS CLASS

WINNER: KRI CHAY’S URBAN HIIT FITT

Finalists: BodyFit KC, Freight House Fitness, Mojo Cycling Studio, SWEAT KC studio

56

THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

BEST GYM

WINNER: FREIGHT HOUSE FITNESS

Finalists: BodyFit KC, Brookridge Golf and Fitness, Mojo Cycling Studio, SWEAT Studio BEST HEALTH CLINIC

WINNER: F.I.T. MUSCLE & JOINT CLINIC

Finalists: aNu Aesthetics & Optimal Wellness, Integrative Health Providers, KC CARE Health Center, Plaza Aesthetics & Wellness BEST HOSPITAL

WINNER: THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS HEALTH SYSTEM

BEST PERSONAL TRAINER, BEST FITNESS CLASS: KRI CHAY TRAVIS YOUNG

BEST MASSAGE CLINIC

WINNER: SACRED ROOTS HOLISTIC HEALING

Finalists: Dark Horse Massage, Haven Wellness + Spa, The Massage Collective, Wellspring School of Allied Health BEST MASSAGE THERAPIST (NAME & WORKPLACE)

WINNER: KATIE BROCK, HAVEN WELLNESS + SPA

Finalists: Advent Health, Children’s Mercy Hospital, North Kansas City Hospital, Saint Luke’s Hospital

Finalists: Jeremy Collum, Dark Horse Massage; Ruby Briggs, Lifetime Fitness; Shelby Owen, The Massage Collective; Terry Solis, Tri Health and Massage

BEST IV THERAPY

BEST MEDICAL MARIJUANA CLINIC

WINNER: RECOVERY HYDRATION THERAPY

Finalists: aNu Aesthetics & Optimal Wellness, Revive & Rally Health Lounge

WINNER: RELEAF CLINIC

Finalist: Elevate Holistics

thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

57

YOUR PICKS

BEST ROCK CLIMBING GYM: CHASE CASTOR ROKC

BEST PHYSICIAN

WINNER: DR. ERIN MCGONIGLE

Finalists: Dr. Amber Botros, Dr. Gary A. Thompson, Dr. James Mirabile, Dr. Kimberly Richardson BEST PILATES

WINNER: STUDIO 7 PILATES + BARRE

Finalists: +2 Pilates, Club Pilates, Pilates 1901, Pilates of Kansas City, Thrive Pilates BEST ROCK CLIMBING GYM

WINNER: ROKC

Finalists: IBEX Climbing Gym, Sequence Climb BEST SPORTS NUTRITION STORE

WINNER: SUPPLEMENT SUPERSTORES

Finalists: GNC, Prana Nutrition, Vitamin Shoppe BEST WEIGHT LOSS CLINIC/COUNSELING BEST MEDICAL SPA

BEST ORTHODONTIST

Finalists: aNu Aesthetics & Optimal Wellness, Associated Plastic Surgeons, Monarch Skin Rejuvenation Center, Plaza Aesthetic & Wellness

Finalists: Hannah Orthodontics, Toombs Orthodontics, UMKC School of Dentistry

BEST NUTRITIONIST

WINNER: DR. CHRISTINE WHITE, DR. LANCE SLAYMAKER

WINNER: FACE KC

WINNER: ARIEL JOHNSTON

Finalists: aNu Aesthetics & Optimal Wellness, Bethany Frazier, The Kansas City Dietitian, Cara Harbstreet, Wellspring School of Allied Health

WINNER: FRY ORTHODONTICS

BEST PEDIATRICIAN

Finalists: Dr. Kelsey Ragsdale, Dr. Kristen Stuppy, Dr. Natasha Burgert BEST PERSONAL TRAINER

WINNER: KRI CHAY

Finalists: Brandon Smith, Erica Joan Keith, Jason Dorssom, Tara Branham, Wellspring

58

THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

BEST PHARMACY

WINNER: PHILLIPS PHARMACY & COMPOUNDING LAB

Finalists: Albers, CVS, Brookside, Hy-Vee, Mission, Walgreens, 135th & Antioch BEST PHYSICAL REHAB CENTER

WINNER: F.I.T. MUSCLE & JOINT CLINIC

Finalists: Innovo Physical Therapy, Preferred Physical Therapy, SERC

WINNER: REJUVENATE MIND BODY WELLNESS

Finalists: aNu Aesthetics & Optimal Wellness, Medi-Weightloss, Plaza Aesthetics & Wellness BEST YOGA STUDIO

WINNER: TRUE LOVE YOGA [KARMA TRIBE YOGA]

Finalists: Darling Yoga, Hagoyah, LÃœM Health Studio, Power Life MOST ANTICIPATED DISPENSARY

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thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

59

YOUR PICKS

E C N E R LAW BEST ART GALLERY (LFK)

WINNER: SPENCER MUSEUM OF ART

Finalists: Phoenix Gallery, Wonder Fair BEST BAR (LFK)

WINNER: THE BOURGEOIS PIG

Finalists: Gaslight Gardens, Red Lyon Tavern, Replay Lounge, The Wagon Wheel BEST BARTENDER (LFK)

WINNER: ALENA BECKWITH

Finalists: J.J. Johnston, Jack Hatzfeld, Thomas Joel BEST BOUTIQUE (LFK)

BEST ART GALLERY (LFK): SPENCER MUSEUM OF ART NICK SPACEK

BEST HANGOVER FOOD (LFK)

WINNER: PIZZA SHUTTLE

Finalists: Muncher’s Bakery, Pyramid Pizza, Ramen Bowls BEST MUSIC VENUE (LFK)

WINNER: THE GRANADA

Finalists: Gaslight Gardens, Liberty Hall, The Bottleneck, The Replay Lounge

WINNER: WONDERFAIR

BEST RESTAURANT (LFK)

BEST BREWERY (LFK)

Finalists: Merchants Pub + Plate, Ramen Bowls, The Mad Greek

Finalists: 1313 Mockingbird Lane, Swanson’s Lawrence

WINNER: FREE STATE BREWING COMPANY

Finalists: Black Stag Brewery, Fields and Ivy Brewery, Lawrence Beer Co BEST BRUNCH (LFK)

WINNER: LADYBIRD DINER

Finalists: 715, Dempsey’s Burger Pub, Merchants Pub & Plate, Milton’s Cafe, The Roost

WINNER: THE BURGER STAND AT THE CASBAH

BEST RETAIL BUSINESS (LFK)

WINNER: THE RAVEN BOOKSTORE

Finalists: Jungle House, Love Garden, Swanson’s Lawrence, Wonder Fair BEST TATTOO PARLOR (LFK)

WINNER: ABRAXAS TATTOO

Finalists: BDC Tattoo, Lawrence Tattoo Company, Skin Illustrations

BEST DIVE BAR (LFK)

WINNER: THE SANDBAR

Finalists: 8th St Taproom, Kaw Valley Public House, Louise’s West, The Replay Lounge

60

THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

BEST BRUNCH (LFK): LADYBIRD DINER NICK SPACEK

Full Page NOV. Pitch- 9.75 X 11.5.qxp_Layout 1 10/16/20 9:38 AM Page 1

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PARTICIPATING STORES (Curbside Service Available) MISSOURI Blue Springs 1412 MO-7 - S# G Blue Springs, MO 64014 (816) 295-1921

Kansas City 1036 W. 103rd St. Kansas City, MO 64114 (816) 442-7051

Lee’s Summit 1638 SE. Blue Pkwy.

Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 (816) 434-5059

Gladstone 307 A NE Englewood Rd. Kansas City, MO 64118 (816) 437-7634

Kansas City 1415d W. 39th St. Kansas City, MO 64111 (816) 541-3144

Liberty 1005 Middlebrooke Dr. Liberty, MO 64068 (913) 249-7794

Grain Valley 1402 SW Eagles Pkwy.

Grain Valley, MO 64029 (816) 726-4615

Kansas City (Chouteau) 4347 NE Chouteau Trfy.

Kansas City, MO 64117 (816) 832-8719

Oak Grove 701 S. Broadway St. Oak Grove, MO 64075 (816) 625-1127

Grandview 5501 Truman’s Marketplace Dr. S# 104, Grandview, MO 64030

By Topsy’s (816) 569-1758

Kansas City 400 E. 18th Street Kansas City, MO 64108 (816) 474-7400

Parkville 6302 N. Chatham Ave. Kansas City, MO 64151 (816) 702-1042

Harrisonville 2008 N. MO 291 Hwy. Harrisonville, MO 64701 (816) 680-8805 Independence 19321 E. US 40 Hwy. Independence, MO 64055 (816) 491-2452

Kansas City 500 NE Barry Road Kansas City, MO 64155 (816) 605-1097

Platte City 1303 Platte Falls Rd.-S# CC Platte City, MO 64079 (816) 858-6039

2024 Swift Avenue North KC, MO 64116 (816) 472-1900

Price Chopper 500 NE Barry Rd. Kansas City, MO 64155 (816) 605-1097

Independence 4201 S. Noland Rd.-S# S Independence, MO 64055 (816) 491-2452 Kansas City 13125 State Line Road Kansas City, MO 64145 (816) 437-8261

Kearney 100 E 6th St.-S# 6 Kearney, MO 64060 (816) 745-7977 Lee’s Summit 3520 SW Market St. Lee’s Summit, MO 64082 (816) 573-3233

Raytown 9438 E 350 Hwy. Raytown, MO 64133 (816) 491-2939 St. Joseph 139 N. Belt Hwy. St. Joseph, MO 64506 (816) 390-8707

KANSAS Bonner Springs 608 Tulip Dr.-S# G Bonner Springs, KS 66012 (913) 568-1713 Gardner 1819 E. Santa Fe Gardner, KS 66030 (913) 548-6913 Johnson Drive 5727 Johnson Drive Mission, KS 66202 (913) 766-9906

Mission Crossing 6027-B Metcalf Avenue Mission, KS 66202 (913) 217-7476 Monticello (Shawnee) 22354 W. 66th St. Shawnee, KS 66226 (913) 745-8005 North Kansas City 151 S. 18th Street Kansas City, KS 64102 (678) 932-0236

Overland Park 11050 Quivira Road Overland Park, KS 66210 (678) 932-0236 Overland Park 6933 W. 75th Street Overland Park, KS 66204 (913) 217-7476

Johnson Drive 5810 Johnson Drive Mission, KS 66202 (913) 766-9906

North Kansas City 8043 State Avenue Kansas City, KS 66112 (913) 228-6000

Overland Park 7703 W. 151st Street Overland Park, KS 66223 (913) 647-3999

Kansas City (Legends) 1843 Village W. Pkwy.-S# C-124 Kansas City, KS 66111 (913) 499-7355

Olathe 15165 W. 119th Street Olathe, KS 66062 (913) 839-9521

Paola 23 W. Wea Street Paola, KS 66071 (913) 271-3120

Lansing 121 Express Lane-S# D Lansing, KS 66043 (913) 353-5300

Olathe 13624 S Blackbob Road Olathe, KS 66062 (913) 324-1520

Shawnee 13213 Shawnee Mission Pkwy.

Shawnee, KS 66216 (913) 766-0430

Lawrence 1530 W. 6th S.-S# C Lawrence, KS 66044 (785) 424-7500 Lawrence 19th and Massachusetts Lawrence, KS 66044 (785) 424-7085

Olathe 16551 W. 151st Street Olathe, KS 66062 (913) 490-3195 Overland Park 13436 Metcalf Avenue Overland Park KS 66213 (913) 258-3940

Overland Park 10069 W. 87th Street Overland Park, KS 66212 (913) 217-7123

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thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

61

YOUR PICKS

E L P O PE LACES &P BEST ATTRACTION

WINNER: THE NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART

Finalists: Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Union Station, World War I Museum & Monument, Worlds of Fun/ Oceans of Fun BEST BUSINESS THAT COULD ONLY EXIST IN KC

BEST KC BUILDING WHEREIN TO FIND A GHOST

WINNER: BELVOIR WINERY AND INN

Finalists: Arvest Bank Theater at the Midland, Sauer Castle, Union Station, Vaile Mansion BEST KC HUMANITARIAN

WINNER: SCOTT POORE

WINNER: MADE IN KC

Finalists: Charlie Hustle, Listyn KC

Finalists: Derrick Nnadi, Jason Kander, Jill Gaikowski

BEST DAY TRIP

BEST LOCAL ACTIVIST

Finalists: Clinton Lake, Greenwood, MO Antique District, Hermann, MO, Lawrence, KS

Finalists: Brandon Love, Justice Gatson, Justice Horn, Maite Salazar, Stacy Shaw, Tara Raghuveer

BEST DOG PARK

BEST LOCAL AUTHOR

Finalists: Happy Tails Dog Park, Shawnee Mission Dog Park, Swope Park Dog Park, Waggin’ Trail Dog Park

Finalists: Jen Mann, Phillip Goodrich, Vladimir Sainte

BEST ELEVATOR

WINNER: KC PET PROJECT

WINNER: WESTON, MO

WINNER: BAR K DOG BAR

WINNER: WESTIN CROWN CENTER

WINNER: SCOTT POORE

BEST LOCAL HERO

WINNER: PATRICK MAHOMES

Finalists: Derrick Nnadi, Mayor Quinton Lucas, Michael Wheeler, KC Superman, Scott Poore

WINNER: AMY GREGORY

BEST LOCAL INSTAGRAM

BEST LOCAL CHARITY

Finalists: @crumblecandle, @ heybriajones, @ksujulie, @ tinytablecarryoutclub

BEST LOCAL INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER

NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM

BEST LOCAL PERSONALITY

WINNER: GARY LEZAK

Finalists: Angie Ricono, Linda Wager

WINNER: MATT FLENER

Finalists: Brandon Love, Courtney Lane, Gracey “GAT” Terrill, Molly Balloons

BEST FACEBOOK PAGE

BEST LOCAL MODEL

BEST LOCAL POLITICIAN

Finalists: All Things Lauren, Annie’s Barn, Crumble Co, Pawn & Pint

Finalists: Amber Botros, Bella Donna, Lauren Schweer, Noelle Manica

Finalists: Brandon Woodard, Eric Bunch, Sharice Davids, Stephanie Clayton

Finalists: Hotel Phillips, Liberty Memorial, Nebraska Furniture Mart

WINNER: KC WHERE YOU AT???

62

THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

Finalists: City Year Kansas City, Happy Bottoms, Kanbe’s Markets, Newhouse Domestic Violence Shelter

WINNER: @ELLYMAYMOMENTS

BEST MUSEUM, BEST ART EXHIBIT, BEST GALLERY, BEST ATTRACTION, BEST PLACE FOR A CHEAP DATE, BEST PLACE FOR A FIRST DATE, BEST PLACE FOR A PICNIC: NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM COURTESY OF THE

WINNER: BRANDON SMITH

WINNER: MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS

YOUR PICKS

BEST LOCAL RADIO PERSONALITY

BEST LOCAL TV WEATHER FORECASTER

Finalists: Connor Duncan, 105.1 The X; Dana Wright, 98.1 KMBZ; Dj E (Edward Bohannon) 90.1 KKFI; Jordin Silver, 96.5 The Buzz; Scott Parks, 98.1 KMBZ

Finalists: Bryan Busby, Joe Lauria, Karli Ritter, Nick Bender

WINNER: LAZLO, 96.5 THE BUZZ

BEST LOCAL TELEVISION PERSONALITY

WINNER: GARY LEZAK

Finalists: Belinda Post, Kris Ketz, Mark Alford, Tamara Day BEST LOCAL TIKTOK

WINNER: @CTOMASSIANMD

Finalists: @heybriajones, @ jacksonmahomes, @twinsauce

BEST LOCAL TV SPORTS ANCHOR

WINNER: MICK SHAFFER, 41 KSHB

Finalists: Dani Welniak, KCTV5; Len Jennings, KMBC 9; Rob Collins, WDAF Fox 4 BEST LOCAL TV STATION

WINNER: KMBC 9 ABC

Finalists: 41 KSHB NBC, CBS KCTV5, TV25, WDAF Fox 4

WINNER: GARY LEZAK

BEST LOCAL TWITTER

WINNER: @JASONKANDER

Finalists: @Jeremy_Danner, @katie_ cammm, @ksujulie, @neverforgetcl, @ reverendwinston BEST NEIGHBORHOOD

WINNER: BROOKSIDE

Finalists: Hyde Park, Union Hill, Volker, Waldo BEST PARK

WINNER: JACOB L. LOOSE PARK

Finalists: Macken Park, Meadowbrook Park, Shawnee Mission Park, Swope Park BEST PLACE FOR A CHEAP DATE

WINNER: THE NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART

Finalists: Jacob L. Loose Park, Pawn and Pint, The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, Up-Down KC

BEST PLACE FOR A FIRST DATE

WINNER: THE NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART

Finalists: Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Pawn and Pint, The Basement KC, Up-Down KC BEST PLACE FOR A FIRST KISS

WINNER: LIBERTY MEMORIAL

Finalists: Jacob L. Loose Park, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, The Plaza, Union Station

BEST LOCAL POLITICIAN: MAYOR QUINTON LUCAS GEORGE MULLINIX

BEST PLACE FOR STARGAZING

WINNER: POWELL GARDENS

Finalists: Observation Park, Smithville Lake, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Lawn

BEST PLACE FOR A LONG WALK

BEST PLACE TO BREAK UP WITH SOMEONE

Finalists: Berkley Riverfront Park, Shawnee Mission Park, Swope Park, Trolley Trail

Finalists: Double Shift Brewing, Liberty Memorial, Westport

BEST PLACE FOR A PICNIC

BEST PLACE TO GEEK OUT

WINNER: JACOB L. LOOSE PARK

WINNER: THE NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART LAWN

Finalists: Jacob L. Loose Park, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, World War I Museum Lawn BEST PLACE FOR A VIEW OF THE CITY

WINNER: LIBERTY MEMORIAL

Finalists: Boulevard Brewery Rec Deck, Kaw Point Park, Mockingbird Lounge, The Scout

WINNER: POWER AND LIGHT DISTRICT

WINNER: UP-DOWN KC

Finalists: Listyn KC, Pawn & Pint, TableTop Game and Hobby BEST PLACE TO MEET SINGLES

WINNER: POWER AND LIGHT DISTRICT

Finalists: Missie B’s, Pawn & Pint, UpDown KC

thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

63

YOUR PICKS

BEST PLACE TO PICK UP A COPY OF THE PITCH

BEST PLACE TO TAKE OUT OF TOWN GUESTS

Finalists: Blue Bird Bistro, Lenexa Public Market, The Westport Coffeehouse, Westport Boxes

Finalists: Boulevard Brewing Co., Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, The NelsonAtkins Museum of Art, Union Station, World War I Museum & Memorial

WINNER: THE PEANUT

BEST PLACE TO TAKE A SELFIE

WINNER: ART ALLEY CROSSROADS

Finalists: Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Liberty Memorial, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Union Station

WINNER: JOE’S KANSAS CITY BAR-BQUE

BEST PLACE TO WORK (OVER 50 EMPLOYEES)

WINNER: CHILDREN’S MERCY

Finalists: Cerner, CommunityAmerica Credit Union, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, MOCSA (Metropolitan

Organization To Counter Sexual Assault) BEST PLACE TO WORK (UNDER 50 Employees)

WINNER: PAWN & PINT

BEST LOCAL HERO: PATRICK MAHOMES COURTESY OF THE CHIEFS

Finalists: Crumble Co., Marknology, RFP360

BEST PUBLIC RESTROOM

BEST PLACE TO WORSHIP

Finalists: Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, The Basement KC, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Union Station

WINNER: CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION

Finalists: Hillsong, Jacob’s Well, Unity Temple on the Plaza

WINNER: QUIKTRIP

Thank you for your votes and your support. ravenbookstore.com | (785) 749-3300 64

THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

YOUR PICKS

BEST ROOFTOP VIEW

BEST SHOP PET

Finalists: Chicken N’ Pickle, City Hall, Power & Light Apartments

Finalists: Conway, Mills Record Company; Rusty, Tail Waggin Pet Stop; Toebias, TableTop Game and Hobby

WINNER: PERCHERON AT CROSSROADS HOTEL

BEST SCENIC SPOT

WINNER: WILLOW, BROOKSIDE BARKERY

WINNER: LIBERTY MEMORIAL

BEST SPORTS TALK RADIO HOST

BEST SECTION OF ARROWHEAD’S PARKING LOT TO TAILGATE

Finalists: Carrington Harrison, 610 KCSPAM; Cody Tapp, 610 KCSP-AM; Nate Bukaty, 810 WHB-AM; Soren Petro, 810 WHB-AM

Finalists: Case Park, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, The Scout

WINNER: LOT G

Finalists: Lot A, Lot F, Lot J

WINNER: STEVEN ST. JOHN, 810 WHBAM

BEST STARTUP

WINNER: BARRIER BABES

Finalists: Homebase.ai, RFP360, Transportant

BEST STARTUP: BARRIER BABES KELCIE MCKENNEY

BEST URBAN GARDEN

BEST YOUTUBER

Finalists: Columbus Park Community Garden, Pendleton Heights Community Garden, Westport Commons Farm

Finalists: All Things Lauren, Bria Jones, Hair and Now, Joseph Warren & the Wanderlust Revival

WINNER: KC COMMUNITY GARDENS

WINNER: TREY KENNEDY

Shop Local.

Eat Local.

Live Local.

Southwest Corner of E. Red Bridge Rd. & Holmes Rd., Kansas City, MO | RedBridgeShoppingCenter.com thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

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YOUR PICKS

G N I P P O SH BEST 2020 FASHION LINE

WINNER: CULTURE THREAD

Finalists: Commandeer Brand, Gabriela Arslanoglu, NOVAA, Whitney Manney BEST ACCESSORIES STORE

WINNER: EB & CO.

BEST BATH AND BODY SHOP

WINNER: CRUMBLE CO

Finalists: Courtney’s Farm Charm Soap Company, Hand & Land, Nettie’s Living Naturally, Soap Bar

BEST BREAK OUT ROOM

WINNER: BREAKOUT KC

BEST MASKMAKER: SEWKC CHASE CASTOR

Finalists: Escape Room KC, The Basement KC, The Exit Room BEST CANDLES

Finalists: Anne-Marie Designs, Opal and Gold, The Polished Edge Fine Jewelry, Tribe Boutique

WINNER: MIDWEST CYCLERY

WINNER: CRUMBLE CO

BEST FARMER’S MARKET

Finalists: Bike Stop, Onestar Bicylces, Spokes, Velo Garage and Tap House

Finalists: Courtney’s Farm Charm Soap Company, Embers Candle Bar, The Corner Candleshop, Untamed Supply

BEST ADULT STORE

BEST BOOKSTORE

BEST CBD STORE

Finalists: Brookside Farmer’s Market, Lenexa Farmers Market, Mission Market, Overland Park Farmer’s Market

Finalists: 7th Heaven, Em City, Snatch Room

Finalists: Afterword Tavern & Shelves, Prospero’s, The Raven Book Store, Wise Blood

Finalists: Hemp Haus, Hemp Haven Kansas City, Phoenix Natural Wellness, Rustic Oils, Vapor Room 816

BEST BOUTIQUE STORE

BEST CHILDREN’S CLOTHING STORE

WINNER: CIRILLAS

BEST APPLIANCE STORE

WINNER: NEBRASKA FURNITURE MART

Finalists: Alexander and Ray’s TV & Appliances, Clark’s Appliances BEST BABY STORE

WINNER: LAUREN ALEXANDRA

Finalists: buybuy BABY, Kansas City Baby Co., Sugar and Spice Boutique

BEST BICYCLE SHOP

WINNER: RAINY DAY BOOKS

WINNER: THE PORCH SWING BOUTIQUE

Finalists: Crumble Co, Do Good Co., Lulu’s Boutique, Retro Vixen, Shopgirls BEST BOWLING ALLEY

WINNER: PINSTRIPES

Finalists: Diamond Bowl, Mission Bowl, Premier Bowling and Recreation Center, Ward Parkway Lanes

WINNER: AMERICAN SHAMAN

THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

BEST FASHION DESIGNER

WINNER: GABRIELA ARSLANOGLU

Finalists: Nataliya Meyer, Whitney Manney

WINNER: LAUREN ALEXANDRA

BEST FLORIST

BEST COMIC BOOK STORE

Finalists: Daylight Mind Design, Lily Floral Designs, The Cottage Rose, Wild Hill Flowers & Events

Finalists: Rhea Lana’s, The Bunker, The Little House

WINNER: CLINT’S COMICS

Finalists: Elite Comics, Pop Culture Comix, Pulp Fiction BEST CONSIGNMENT STORE

WINNER: LULU’S BOUTIQUE

Finalists: Couches to Curios, Rhea Lana’s, unLESHed+

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WINNER: CITY MARKET

WINNER: FIDDLY FIG

BEST FRAMING STORE

WINNER: THE FRAME GALLERY

Finalists: Creative Coldsnow, Hook Gallery, State of the Art Framing

YOUR PICKS

BEST FURNITURE DESIGNER

BEST JEWELRY STORE

Finalists: Daley Designs KC, KC Furnishing Company, Madison Flitch, Matt Castilleja

Finalists: Diamonds Direct, House of Diamonds, Opal and Gold, Whiskey and Bone

BEST GARDEN STORE/NURSERY

BEST LINGERIE STORE

Finalists: Larry’s Nursery, Paradise Garden Club, Soil Service Nursery, Suburban Lawn and Garden

Finalists: Indium Intimates, MADI Apparel

BEST GIFT STORE

BEST LIQUOR STORE

Finalists: Crumble Co, Fetch, Mid Coast Modern, The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures

Finalists: Bubbles Wine and Spirits, Lukas Wine & Sprits, Mike’s Wine & Spirits, Mitch e Amaro, Plaza Liquor

BEST GROCERY STORE

BEST LOCALLY MADE SOAP

Finalists: Aldi, Hen House, Price Chopper, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods

Finalists: Courtney’s Farm Charm Soap Company, Crumble Co, Deforest Soaps, Madd House Hill Soap, Wild Wash

WINNER: UNRUH

WINNER: FAMILY TREE NURSERY

WINNER: MADE IN KC

WINNER: HY-VEE

BEST HEALTH FOOD STORE

WINNER: MEIEROTTO JEWELERS

WINNER: BIRDIES PANTIES & SWIM

WINNER: GOMER’S

WINNER: INDIGO WILD - ZUM

WINNER: SPROUTS

BEST MASKMAKER

BEST HOME FURNISHING STORE

Finalists: Annie’s Barn, Sandlot Goods, Sarah Scherer, @cultofthewildone, Taylor Triano, Commonwild

Finalists: Bulk It, Natural Grocers, Nature’s Own, Whole Foods

WINNER: NEBRASKA FURNITURE MART

Finalists: J Thomas Home, RE: Restoration Emporium, The Porch Swing Boutique

WINNER: SEWKC

BEST MEN’S CLOTHING STORE

WINNER: ULAH

Finalists: Guevel, Peters Clothiers, Reset KC, Wasteland Society

BEST HOME FURNISHING STORE (BOUTIQUE)

WINNER: THE PORCH SWING BOUTIQUE

Finalists: Golden & Pine, J Thomas Home, Nova Vintage, The Corner House Furnishings and Boutique

BEST CBD STORE: AMERICAN SHAMAN JOE CAREY

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YOUR PICKS

BEST FASHION DESIGNER: GABRIELA ARSLANOGLU COURTESY OF GABRIELA ARSLANOGLU

BEST TOY STORE

WINNER: BROOKSIDE TOY AND SCIENCE

Finalists: The Toy Store, US Toy BEST SHOE STORE

BEST VAPE SHOP

Finalists: DSW, Reset KC, Shoe Carnival

Finalists: CigaWatt, Flatland Vapes, Vapor Room 816, Waldo Vapes

BEST SHOPPING CENTER

BEST VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE

Finalists: Legends, Oak Park Mall, Town Center, Zona Rosa

Finalists: Daisy Lee Vintage, Peaches Vintage Collective, Reset KC, Retro Vixen

BEST SPORTING GOODS STORE

BEST VINTAGE FINDS

WINNER: GARY GRIBBLE’S RUNNING SPORTS

WINNER: THE COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA

WINNER: SCHEELS

Finalists: Academy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, REI, Total Bowling Gear BEST TABLE TOP GAME STORE

WINNER: TABLETOP GAME & HOBBY

BEST METAPHYSICAL/SPIRITUAL STORE

BEST PLACE TO BUY EYEGLASSES

Finalists: Crescent Springs, Mantra, Noir Arts & Oddities, Oracle Natural Sciences

Finalists: Brookside Optical, Fairway Eye Center, Romanelli Optix

WINNER: AQUARIUS BOOKSTORE

BEST OUTDOOR OUTFITTERS

WINNER: REI

Finalists: Bass Pro, Cabela’s, Scheels, Sunflower Outdoor & Bike Shop BEST PET SUPPLY STORE

WINNER: THREE DOG BAKERY

Finalists: Brookside Barkery, Go Pet Go, PawsAbilities, Tail Waggin’ PetStop BEST PLACE TO BUY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT

WINNER: MEYER MUSIC

Finalists: Bentley Guitar, Big Dude’s Music City, KC Music Academy, Music Gear BEST PLACE TO BUY A NEW CAR

WINNER: MOLLE

Finalists: Honda of Olathe, Legends Honda, Legends Toyota, Van Subaru BEST PLACE TO BUY A USED CAR

WINNER: CARMAX

Finalists: Country Hill Motors, Greenwood Auto Plaza, Honda of Olathe, Honda of Tiffany Springs, Legends Toyota

BEST LIQUOR STORE: GOMER’S JIM NIMMO

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THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

WINNER: WARBY PARKER

BEST RECORD STORE

WINNER: MILLS RECORD CO

Finalists: Brother’s Music, Josey Records, Records with Merritt, Vinyl Renaissance, Wound for Sound

WINNER: ROCKY MOUNTAIN E-CIGS

WINNER: DONNA’S DRESS SHOP

WINNER: RIVER MARKET ANTIQUES

Finalists: Daisy Lee Vintage, Good Ju Ju, NOVA vintage, Reset KC BEST WEST BOTTOMS VENDOR

WINNER: BELLA PATINA

Finalists: Game Cafe, Level One Game Shop, Mission: Board Games

Finalists: Fetch, Good JuJu, Noir Arts & Oddities, Painted Sofa, Ugly Glass & Co

BEST THRIFT STORE

BEST WINE SHOP

Finalists: City Thrift, Hillcrest Thrift, unLeshed+

Finalists: Lukas Wine & Spirits, Mike’s Wine & Spirits, The Red Door Wine Store, Underdog Wine Co

WINNER: SAVERS

BEST TOBACCO SHOP

WINNER: LA CULTURA CIGAR AND SOCIAL

Finalists: Diebel’s, Fidel’s Cigar Shop, The Cigar Room

WINNER: CELLAR RAT

BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE

WINNER: SHOPGIRLS

Finalists: Daisy Lee Vintage, Dear Society, Retro Vixen, unLESHed+

thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

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YOUR PICKS

BEST ATHLETE

WINNER: PATRICK MAHOMES

Finalists: Salvador Perez, Tyrann Mathieu, Whit Merrifield BEST CASINO

WINNER: AMERISTAR

Finalists: 7th St. Casino, Argosy, Harrah’s, Hollywood BEST DRIVING RANGE

WINNER: TOP GOLF

Finalists: Heart of America, Smiley’s Golf, Sycamore Ridge Golf Course

& S T R O P S N O I T A E R C E R

BEST GOLF COURSE

WINNER: SWOPE MEMORIAL

Finalists: Heart of America, Shadow Glen, Sycamore Ridge Golf Course, WinterStone BEST LOCAL FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITY

WINNER: KANSAS CITY ZOO

Finalists: Chicken N’ Pickle, My Play Cafè, Superkidz Club, Worlds of Fun BEST LOCAL STADIUM/ARENA

WINNER: ARROWHEAD STADIUM

Finalists: Children’s Mercy Park, Kauffman Stadium, Memorial Hall, T-Mobile Center BEST ORGANIZED BIKE RIDE

WINNER: TOUR DE BIER

Finalists: Bike MS Kansas City, KC Fun Ride BEST ORGANIZED FOOTRACE/RUN

WINNER: HOSPITAL HILL RUN

Finalists: Kansas City Marathon, Trolley Run

BEST SPORTS TEAM: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS ZACH BAUMAN

Kansas City's oldest locally owned brewery greenroomkc.com | 816-216-7682

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THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

YOUR PICKS

BEST PLACE TO GET AN ADRENALINE RUSH

WINNER: WORLDS OF FUN

Finalists: Arrowhead Stadium, Centerfire Shooting Sports, iFly, Main Event BEST PLACE TO PLAY VIDEO GAMES/ ARCADE

WINNER: UP-DOWN KC

Finalists: Arcade Alley, Broadway Arcade, Main Event, Tapcade

BEST PLACE TO PLAY VOLLEYBALL

BEST PLACE TO TABLE TOP GAME

Finalists: Berkley Riverfront Park, Centerline Volleyball Complex, Shawnee Mission Beach Volleyball, The Sandbox

Finalists: Level One Game Shop, Mission: Board Games, TableTop Game and Hobby

BEST PLACE TO SHOOT POOL

WINNER: NO OTHER PUB

WINNER: VOLLEYBALL BEACH

WINNER: SIDE POCKETS

Finalists: Brass Rail, Lucky Boys, Sharks

WINNER: PAWN & PINT

BEST ORGANIZED FOOTRACE/ RUN: HOSPITAL HILL RUN COURTESY OF HOSPITAL HILL RUN

BEST SPORTS TEAM

WINNER: KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

BEST PLACE TO THROW DARTS Finalists: Brass Rail, Chez Charlie’s, Gambals, Sharks BEST ROLLER DERBY TEAM

WINNER: BLACK EYE SUSANS

Finalists: Deadly Sirens, Knockouts, Victory Vixens

Finalists: Kansas City Bulldogs, Kansas City Royals, Sporting KC BEST SPOT FOR YARD GAMES

WINNER: CHICKEN N’ PICKLE

Finalists: Brick House KC, Char Bar, Up-Down KC

Thankfully, Foo's!

Thanks to your continued support, we are ready to sweeten up your holiday season!

6235 Brookside Plaza

@foosbrookside

Keep Foo's in Brookside thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

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YOUR PICKS

BEST WEDDING ENTERTAINMENT (NON DJ OR BAND)

WINNER: THE PHOTO BUS

Finalists: Felix and Fingers, Icon Event Group, KC Wolf

S G N I D D E W

BEST BACHELOR PARTY LOCATION

WINNER: TOP GOLF

Finalists: Barley Bus, Blade & Timber, The Basement KC, Up-Down KC BEST BACHELORETTE PARTY LOCATION

WINNER: MISSIE B’S

Finalists: Funkytown, The Basement KC, The Facial Bar BEST BRIDESMAIDS DRESS SHOP

WINNER: BELLA BRIDESMAIDS

BEST PLACE TO GET A WEDDING DRESS: EMILY HART BRIDAL KELCIE MCKENNEY

BEST LOCAL WEDDING HANGOVER CURE

WINNER: TOWN TOPIC

Finalists: Anu Aesthetics & Optimal Wellness, Char Bar, Succotash BEST NON-RELIGIOUS WEDDING VENUE

WINNER: KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Finalists: All My Heart Bridal, Mia’s Bridal and Tailoring, Stephanies Bridal Boutique, The Gown Gallery

Finalists: 28 Event Space, Berry Acres, The Grand Hall at Power & Light, The Loretto Events Space, The Vow Exchange

BEST COUPLES THERAPIST

BEST OUTDOOR WEDDING VENUE

Finalists: Ryan Allison, Subrena Hicks

Finalists: Berry Acres, Lone Summit Ranch, The Legacy at Green Hills

WINNER: LAURA SHAUGHNESSY

BEST DIVORCE LAWYER

WINNER: LAUREN FIELDS

Finalists: Kelli Cooper, Lindsey Waits BEST ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHER

WINNER: BLACK COFFEE PHOTO

Finalists: 8701 Photography, Heather Guier, Cottonwood Photography, Sheree Nicole Photography, Susy Photo BEST HOTEL FOR YOUR WEDDING NIGHT ;)

WINNER: THE ELMS HOTEL & SPA

Finalists: Crossroads Hotel, The Intercontinental, The Rafael

BEST LOCAL WEDDING CATERER

WINNER: BRANCATO’S

Finalists: Dutzel’s Catering, Moxie Catering, Olive Events, Scrape the Plate Catering

WINNER: BELVOIR WINERY

BEST PLACE FOR WEDDING PHOTOS

WINNER: JACOB L. LOOSE PARK

Finalists: Belvoir Winery, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Liberty Memorial, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Union Station BEST PLACE TO GET A TUX

WINNER: TIP TOP TUX

Finalists: Mia’s Bridal & Tailoring, Slabotsky’s, Stephanie’s Bridal Boutique BEST PLACE TO GET A WEDDING CAKE

WINNER: MCLAIN’S BAKERY

Finalists: Blue Thistle, Sugar Whipped Bakery, Yummies by Yoka BEST PLACE TO GET A WEDDING CAKE ALTERNATIVE

WINNER: NOTHING BUNDT CAKES

Finalists: Ashleigh’s Bake Shop, Kate Smith Soirée

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THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

BEST PLACE TO GET A WEDDING DRESS

WINNER: EMILY HART BRIDAL

Finalists: Belle Vogue Bridal, Gown Gallery, Savvy Bridal, Something White Bridal Boutique, Stephanie’s Bridal Boutique BEST PLACE TO GET GIFTS FOR YOUR WEDDING PARTY

WINNER: MEIEROTTO JEWELERS

Finalists: Courtney’s Farm Charm Soap Company, Opal and Gold BEST PLACE TO PROPOSE

WINNER: JACOB L. LOOSE PARK

Finalists: Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Liberty Memorial, The Basement KC BEST PLACE TO THROW A DIVORCE PARTY

WINNER: HAMBURGER MARY’S KC

Finalists: Funkytown, Missie B’s, Tom’s Town BEST RELIGIOUS WEDDING VENUE

WINNER: OUR LADY OF SORROWS CATHOLIC CHURCH

Finalists: Church of the Resurrection Downtown, Pilgrim Chapel, Unity Temple BEST WEDDING BAND

WINNER: KC FLO

Finalists: Diamond Empire Band, Lost Wax, Twice on Sunday BEST WEDDING DJ

WINNER: DJ ALEX REED

Finalists: DJ LOPO, Fernando Productions, Icon Event Group, Levity Events, Mic King Music

BEST WEDDING FLORIST

WINNER: LILY FLORAL DESIGNS

Finalists: Elizabeth McKenzie Florals, Hitched, Wild Hill Flowers and Events BEST WEDDING HAIR STYLIST

WINNER: POSH KC

Finalists: Christina Hoch, Graceful Beauty KC, Melissa Blayton Pro Artistry, The Pretty Bride Co. BEST WEDDING JEWELER

WINNER: MEIEROTTO JEWELERS

Finalists: Anne-Marie Designs, Diamonds Direct, House of Diamonds, Tivol BEST WEDDING MAKEUP ARTIST

WINNER: HANNAH BAKER

Finalists: Graceful Beauty KC, Melissa Blayton Pro Artistry, Miles Makeup, Rebecca Pichelmann BEST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

WINNER: BLACK COFFEE PHOTO

Finalists: 8701 Photography, Cottonwood Photography, Sheree Nicole Photography, Susy Photo, The Bold Americana BEST WEDDING PLANNER

WINNER: THE PERFECT TOUCH KC

Finalists: Hannah Schumm, Weddings

by Hannah, Hitched, LaTasha James The Veil KC, Pretty + Planned BEST WEDDING RECEPTION VENUE

WINNER: THE GUILD

Finalists: Berry Acres, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Madrid Theatre, The Everly Event Space, The Grand Hall at Power & Light BEST WEDDING TRANSPORTATION

WINNER: SHOWTIME TRANSPORTATION

Finalists: Agenda USA, Overland Chauffeured Services BEST WEDDING VENUE

WINNER: THE GUILD

Finalists: Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, Madrid Theatre, The Grand Hall at Power & Light, The Vow Exchange BEST WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHER

WINNER: HER THIRD EYE PRODUCTIONS

Finalists: Greater Than Video, LLC, Kylie Barbour, Moontage Films

YOUR PICKS

VOTED BEST DIVORCE LAWYER The attorneys at Roth Davies, LLC want to thank the readers of The Pitch Magazine for naming our colleague Lauren Fields as the Best Divorce Lawyer in Kansas City. Ms. Fields has extensive experience litigating family law matters such as divorce, paternity, child custody, and support cases in the Kansas City area. Lauren provides each client with a personalized and comprehensive case strategy and she fights for reliable results for the firm's clients. Thank you Kansas City for your votes and your trust in family law matters.

www.rothdavies.com OVERLAND PARK OFFICE 7500 College Blvd. Ste. 700

913-451-9500

Overland Park, KS 66210

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BEST SHOWCLUB IN KANSAS CITY FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS IN A ROW

1717 Main St. Kansas City, MO 816/421.1915 facebook.com/bazookasshowgirls bazookasshowgirls.com 74

THE PITCH | Best of KC 2020 | thepitchkc.com

MARKETPLACE LOCAL 1000

REAL ESTATE/RENTALS

VALENTINE NEIGHBORHOOD $400-$850 Rent 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments & 3 Bedroom HOMES.

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WANTS TO purchase minerals and other oil & gas interest. Send details to P.O. Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201

2000

EMPLOYMENT

Lead Data Analyst positions available at Centralized Supply Chain Services, LLC in Kansas City, Missouri. To apply, mail resume and cover letter to: Gloria Swanagan, Human Resource Manager, 8140 Ward Parkway, Kansas City, Missouri 64114. Job Duties: Develop, lead and provide analytical support on software tools, model building, reporting, and dashboards in system for major projects across the organization. Manage and facilitate the forecasting, budget and trends for the Co-Op market basket providing a forward look to commodity and market pricing for menu planning. Supporting data management initiatives and integrity of key systems of the co-op. Identify trends and opportunities from large amounts of data and translate the data into an understandable, clear, and succinct document. Develop and apply time-cost networks to plan, including controlling and reviewing data to maintain procurement initiatives. Develop models and process improvement initiatives. Provide analytical support for process improvement initiatives across the organization including documenting business requirements, assisting in integration and acceptance testing, support the development of training and implementation material, participate in implementation, and provide post-implementation support. Manage the development and aggregation of brand plate forecasts into ingredient demand plans for the different nodes of the supply chain. Performs validation and testing of models to support data management initiative and integrity of the key systems of our co-op.

Assists with analyzing information about alternative courses of action to determine which plan will offer the best results for our organization. Assists in developing models and process improvement initiatives. Assists in adjusting economics business models for process improvements, keeping systems up to date with current economic situations in the US and adjusting models to keep up with changes in the economy. Minimum Education Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in Economics, Information Technology, Business Administration, or related field. Foreign equivalent accepted. Minimum Experience: 2 years of data management, analysis, and reporting experience using Microsoft Power BI, Microsoft Flow, Microsoft Teams, Azure, and SQL.

7000

MUSIC/MUSIC ROW

Piano, Voice, and Guitar Lessons Online lessons available!

Available from professional musician and instructor. Instructor teaches in a fun and meaningful context from ages 4 to the young at heart. Sessions are 1⁄2 hour and 1 hour. Students who mention “The Pitch” will receive $5 off For more info Please call/text Kathleen 913-206-2151 or Email: klmamuric@yahoo.com

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• VIP Lounge • Full Service Kitchen • Cover Friday & Saturday ONLY! • Premium Bottle Service

30 seconds east of the Power & Light District

2800 E 12th St., Kansas City, MO 64127 | 816-231-9696 | kcshadylady.com thepitchkc.com | Best of KC 2020 | THE PITCH

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