TODAY Kansas City - Fall 2020

FA LL 2 02 0 | VO LUME 4 | IS S U E 3 A P U BLICATIO N O F T HE SOAV E AU TOM OT IV E G ROU P.

I N T E RV I E W | AU TO M OT I V E | FO O D | FA S H I O N | N O N P RO F I T | KC O R I G I N A L S | H E A LT H

There for you. In ever-changing roles.

Life sometimes has unexpected situations in store for us. With the new GLB, while you might not be prepared for all eventualities, you can always react in a flexible manner. It’s a big world and there’s plenty of options out there. So it’s good to be versatile – with a flexible compact SUV offering a liberal mix of comfort and space. The most versatile compact SUV we have ever built is your perfect partner, whatever comes.

9400 West 65th St | Merriam, KS | 913.677.3300 | aristocratmotors.com

13851 Madison Avenue | Kansas City, MO | 816.943.7000 | mbofkc.com Members of the Soave Automotive Group

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

by MARION BATTAGLIA

Our New Lee's Summit Family Member.

I hope this finds you and your family safe and doing well.

The Soave Automobile Group has seemingly been everchanging over the past 10 years, and we have been very fortunate to represent great products, have a staff of caring professionals, and have been supported by great customers. The result of this is that we are proud to announce the opening of Aristocrat Motors Lee’s Summit.

With the opening of this new dealership, located at 704 SE Oldham Court, Lee’s Summit, Missouri, we celebrate the auto group’s first stand-alone pre-owned vehicle facility.

This expansion of the Aristocrat brand in the Kansas City market, and, specifically, in the Lee’s Summit area is because of what we have watched happen over the last five years. Lee’s Summit has experienced population growth, a homebuilding surge, and with that expansion has come an increased number of new and pre-owned luxuryvehicle registrations. This is a center of growth for our business and for Kansas City.

The Aristocrat Motors Lee’s Summit will offer all brands and types of vehicles, from cars and SUVs to sports cars and trucks. It will have its own detail facility as well as a dedicated and trained sales team to handle all of your needs.

I invite you visit the Lee’s Summit team just south of Highway 50 off SE Oldham Parkway.

We are excited to bring the Aristocrat experience to Lee’s Summit.

Marion Battaglia, President

2 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | FALL 2020

EDITOR'S LETTER

by ROBERT HELLWEG

Bringing Kansas City to You.

SOAVE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP MARION BATTAGLIA President KEVIN KILLILEA Vice President ANGIE LEWITZKE Controller ROBERT HELLWEG Marketing Director KRIS NIELSEN Sales Operations SCOTT SWENSON General Manager Factory Relations LARRY MILLER Inventory Director MARK DOESCHER Parts Director DAVID HUGHES General Manager Aristocrat Lee's Summit GEOFF BEDINE General Manager Mercedes-Benz

The best part of this issue of Today Kansas City is that you are holding it in your hands. Being back in print is like coming back home from a great vacation; it just feels right. That is to take nothing away from the digital edition of the summer issue. It broke new ground in content and photographic images.

In that summer issue, available at Today Kansas City Facebook page, I was able to introduce you to the creative work of the three photographers that contribute regularly to Today. I realize their talent every time we publish, but it was really special to share a bit of their portfolio, as well. Anna Petrow, Kenny Johnson, and Tom Strongman are artists, and they give Today the vibrancy that is its trademark.

This current issue features the artistry of Tom Strongman on the cover, but it screams Kansas City, with the iconic Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts ablaze in Chiefs red as we finally get to see our Super Bowl winning football team back on the field. I hope the drama the image provides also stays with you and acts as a catalyst for supporting our performing arts venues that have been shuttered by the virus.

Joel Nichols provided an interview with Bob Kendrick of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum as a salute to the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues for the summer issue, and he follows that up in this issue with a chat with Julian Zugazagoitia, executive director of the NelsonAtkins Museum of Art. I hope you enjoy the current issue. The simplicity of the fashion section is a salute to social distancing and a minimal number of people being present, and it resulted in a separate jewelry section, which just might inspire a couple of ideas on holiday giving.

And a personal thank you to our writers for their continued high quality work and creativity. I am indebted and in awe.

Please have a great fall and stay safe.

Robert Hellweg, Editor

4 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | FALL 2020

of Kansas City

NEW VEHICLE SALES MANAGERS DAVID ANDREWS Aristocrat Motors KRIS NIELSEN

Maserati | Alfa Romeo of Kansas City

KIRK WILLMS Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City CHUCK OBRIEN Porsche Kansas City JOE SIRNA Jaguar-Land Rover BRIAN MAYER BMW | VW of Topeka PRE-OWNED MANAGERS JK CORNELIUS Aristocrat Motors MIKE REID BMW | VW of Topeka DAVID FISER Aristocrat Lee's Summit SERVICE MANAGERS CHUCK DAVIS Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City CHARLES FRIEDMAN Aristocrat Mercedes-Benz |

Maserati | Alfa Romeo Aristocrat Motors | Porsche KEVIN SMELL Jaguar-Land Rover of Merriam KEVIN COLE BMW | VW of Topeka RODNEY PARKER

PARTS MANAGERS BILL WELLS Aristocrat Motors RICH WITT

Jaguar-Land Rover of Merriam

DAVID BARNES Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City JAY GILLIHAN

BMW | VW of Topeka

ROBERT HELLWEG

Editor | 913.677.7414 Sales Director | 913.634.3838 KATHRYN CREEL Creative Director MARCI LINN Copyeditor KENNY JOHNSON Photographer ANNA PETROW Photographer TOM STRONGMAN Photographer ALLYSON ELLIS

TODAY KANSAS CITY is a quarterly publication by Soave Automotive Group – home of Aristocrat Motors, Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City, BMW of Topeka, and VW of Topeka. Address: 9400 W 65th St, Merriam, KS 66203, 913.677.3300, aristocratmotors.com. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without prior written permission of the publisher.

EXPECT EXTRAORDINARY LUXURY HAS A DIFFERENT MEANING HERE. As a leader in luxury real estate, we believe in exceeding expectations and creating exceptional experiences. We offer a variety of benefits to gain the greatest visibility in today’s market including a marketing plan, home staging, professional photography, and much more.

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FALL 2020

Features 10 FOOD

Picturesque Dining.

by Emily & Stewart Lane

18 KC ORIGINALS

Exploring Your Home’s History Can Be an Engaging Pastime.

by Patricia O'Dell

24 AUTOMOTIVE

Land Rover Redesigns an Icon for the Future.

by Tom Strongman

31 FASHION

Looking Great this Fall While Keeping it Casual. photos by Kenny Johnson | Styling by Amani Skalacki

43 FASHION

To Brighten Any and Every Day. photos by Meierotto Jewelry

50 INTERVIEW

The Enduring Power of Art and How It Helps Us Move Forward in Challenging Times.

by Joel Nichols

56 INTERIOR DESIGN

What's New in Outdoor Living?

by Stacy Downs

63 NONPROFIT

Pushing Art Boundaries in the Midwest.

by Kelsey Cipolla

69 HEALTH

The Road Not Taken and Other Reflective Questions.

by Dr. Linda Moore

FALL 2020 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | 7

ARISTOCRAT MOTORS IS PROUD ANNOUNCE OUR NEW LEE’S SUMMIT LOCATION. Lee’s Summit is one of the fastest growing communities in the Kansas City metropolitan area and home to many of our great customers. To serve the pre-owned vehicle buyers in Lee’s Summit we are opening an Aristocrat Motors Lee’s Summit. David Hughes, our General Manager, and his professional staff look forward to meeting you and presenting a wide variety of cars, trucks and SUV’s.

Starting your search for your next vehicle?

Stop in for a COMPLIMENTARY VEHICLE APPRAISAL AND CAR WASH.

704 SE Oldham Court | Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 (913) 677-3300 | aristocratmotorsls.com Member of the Soave Automotive Group

David Hughes General Manager

Three letters. Zero boundaries.

More performance. More functionality. More thrills. In the Macan GTS, you’ll discover a combination of power, utility and design inspired by iconic sports cars – all engineered to pursue adventure without holding back. Get behind the wheel and you won’t either.

Experience the new Macan GTS.

Porsche Kansas City 9400 West 65th Street Merriam KS 66203 (913) 677-3300 www.aristocrat.porschedealer.com

©2020 Porsche Cars North America, Inc. Porsche recommends seat belt usage and observance of traffic laws at all times.

European model shown. Some options may not be available in the U.S.

FOOD words by EMILY & STEWART LANE | photos by ANNA PETROW

VERBENA

Picturesque Dining.

Emily Lane: Back in early 2018, Stewart and I moved to the suburbs. We’d been living in an intimate one-bedroom condo in Westport, and while we enjoyed our urban environment, the 900 square feet was a bit too cozy for the two of us plus our Wheaten Terrier, Toaster. Add in the fact that we were expecting our first child, and we knew we needed to relocate.

We found our new home just south of the new development Meadowbrook Park. Once a 136-acre country club and golf course, it’s now home to beautiful walking paths and lakes, multiple playgrounds, single-family homes, twin villas, an apartment complex, and the newly opened boutique hotel, Inn at Meadowbrook. While all of that is certainly appealing, Stewart and I cheered when we learned there would be

10 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | FALL 2020

a dining component added, and it would be owned and operated by the Quillec family of Kansas City food fame (Café Provence, French Market), and we knew, instantly, this would become a new favorite of ours.

Verbena was able to open this May despite having been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. I’d be remiss not to state that, clearly, we remain in strange and uncertain times as we continue to navigate the pandemic, and dining out is a highly personal choice. Luckily, Verbena offers a picturesque patio for those who feel more comfortable dining outdoors, and they also offer curbside to-go. And don’t forget The Market, located next to Verbena and also owned and operated by the Quillec family, where you can get a more casual,

SAYACHI'S "JAROCHO-INSPIRED" CEVICHE

seasonally inspired breakfast, lunch, or dinner, as well as market staples such as gourmet cheese, seasonal salads, pastries and breads, and even wine and beer to-go. But for this article, we’re excited to share our first experience with Verbena, which almost immediately secured a spot on our list of places that require a return visit.

Stewart Lane: From the beginning, this menu transports you to the shores of Kennebunkport with delectable offerings like their dressed egg with old bay and sardines, salt cod croquets, and the most amazing hot crab dip intensified with artichokes, mascarpone bechamel, spring garlic, and old bay. The aromas and character of the food matched with the warm and comfortable decor created by the Quillec family are matched exactly with the vision of their newest concept. The emphasis on East Coast flavor is a nod to Patrick and Joanne’s

12 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | FALL 2020

Diamonds sparkle...

even at a distance.

FOOD

early years of their relationship living in Vermont and Patrick’s attending the New England Culinary Institute.

As we progressed in our meal, we saw the same flourishes this culinary family is known for. Simple ingredients are expertly paired, prepared, and presented in a way that wows the eyes and tingles the taste buds. The summer vegetable salad was a mixture of tender and hearty greens, radishes, zucchini, and yellow squash with torn croutons and a clean vinaigrette. And don’t miss the cocktail menu – there are some creative libations that are the perfect start to your meal. A favorite is The Meadowbrooker, featuring Tom’s Town botanical gin, fresh lemon, fresh lemon thyme, housemade verbena syrup, and topped with sparkling brut.

EL: From start to finish, this was one of those meals where Stewart and I were cleaning (or potentially licking) our plates. It’s food that is so well executed with perfect flavors, and I found myself repeatedly saying “YUM” out loud as I continued to savor every bite. Chef de Cuisine Kara Anderson, who has made an impressive

14 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | FALL 2020

resume working at prominent KC restaurants, must be completely in her element at Verbena. Her skill and palate shines through in every item.

SL: I feel that all chefs have an item or two that, when seen on a menu, they are immediately drawn to. It’s usually something simple, a dish that can only be outstanding or completely disappointing. For me that is always a roasted chicken. And Verbena does not disappoint, serving a crispy browned chicken, skin crackling as it yields to rich and juicy meat, enhanced with a pan sauce that coats each piece like a favorite blanket. Completing the flavor profile was the addition of preserved lemons, sautéed into spinach, which added the perfect acidity and saltiness to cut the richness of the chicken and sauce. Light and fluffy whipped potatoes rounded out an exceptional entrée. We also added a side of roasted mushrooms, which are not to be missed.

The pan-seared salmon was a textbook example of elegance with simplicity. Seared salmon with the crispest skin is expertly seasoned and served with tender

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FOOD green beans, enhanced with garlic and cherry tomatoes for a light, yet hearty, profile. The smashed and fried pearl potatoes were a star, with creamy insides and served with a generous dollop of crème fraiche. Like Emily said, we happily cleared our plates.

EL: I’ve decided I must find a way to befriend Pastry Chef Sara Osborn, because she is making my dessert dreams come true! Osborn states she focuses on nostalgia in her baking, which is a concept any chocolate chip cookie afficionado can appreciate. We ordered the summer berry trifle, featuring strawberry mousse, the fluffiest vanilla bean sponge cake, almonds, and local berries, making it the ideal summer dessert and not too heavy, even after the big meal we had. I’ll be longing for another chocolate caramel chunk cookie with ganache, bourbon mousse, and fleur de sel until we make a return visit to Verbena. Not to mention, I’ve never seen a cookie plated more beautifully.

It’s a must-order item for me.

Amidst strange times in the world, we are proud of the Quillec family for continuing to do what they do best – bringing culinary excellence to the KC Metro – and we wish a long and prosperous future for Verbena.

Verbena is located at 4901 Meadowbrook Parkway in Prairie Village, Kansas, and is open daily for lunch from 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., for dinner starting at 5:00 p.m., and for Sunday brunch.

Reservations are recommended (913.329.7800) and more information can be found at verbenakc.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS Emily and Stewart Lane are natives to Kansas City. Stewart is the Executive Chef of Inspired Occasions catering, and Emily does freelance marketing and communications for arts organizations in the KC metro. Along with their one-year-old daughter, Evie, they live a life filled with food and culture.

16 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | FALL 2020

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KC ORIGINALS by PATRICIA O'DELL

Exploring Your Home’s History Can Be an Engaging Pastime.

If one thing has been made clear during the pandemic, it’s that many people have a new understanding of “home.” Before, we came and went. Home was where we landed after work, before dinner, a show with friends, and where we placed our heads upon our pillows. Certainly, home was respite. Suddenly, home is everything: restaurant, movie theater, gym, and park. Perhaps it would provide a happy distraction to explore more about where we live beyond its number of bedrooms and baths.

The Kansas City area has several resources to help you research your home and neighborhood. A good place to start is the Kansas City Public Library. The digital collection has over 11,000 images capturing the history of the city. For those in the older neighborhoods of Kansas City, Missouri, the 1940 Tax Assessment photos offer more than 40,000 images of individual homes. Part of the charm is the gentleman – often wearing a hat – who holds the card with the identifying lot number.

These images are free to download and print, which may be a lovely pick-me-up for friends who are home with their four young children.

In addition, the digital collection features city directories, which were the precursor to phone books. (Phone books being the precursor to a quick internet search.) And the Sanborn Company’s Fire Insurance Maps are a colorful delight.

“Our digitized maps are very popular,” says Michael Wells, Missouri Valley Special Collections librarian. “They are used by researchers hoping to learn how an area has changed over time, by others investigating the history of specific buildings, and even by those who simply wish to reproduce them for décor.”

Wells notes that researching the history of houses and their past ownership has surged over the last decade.

“Our collection of digitized photographs serves similar purposes and

FALL 2020 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | 19

KC ORIGINALS

RESOURCES For those entities that are open to the public, please check current restrictions. Often offices are requiring appointments to ensure social distancing. Masks may be required.

Kansas City, Missouri kclibrary.org/blog/kc-unbound/ 10-ways-research-history-yourhome Johnson County, Kansas jcprd.com/430/Research Wyandotte County, Kansas wycokck.org/wycomuseum/ Research.aspx North Kansas City Historical Society facebook.com/ NorthKansasCityHistoricalSociety The State Historical Society of Missouri https://shsmo.org/research

Courtesy of the Missouri State Archive, Missouri Digital Heritage collection.

provides an invaluable visual record of Kansas City’s past,” he says. “Together there are over 20,000 digitized objects that can be viewed online.”

Exploring the site at home is a great place to start, but there are objects that cannot be viewed online. Those items can be accessed at the Missouri Valley Room at the Central Library in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.

“Researchers can schedule appointments to access the Missouri Valley Room for 75-minute blocks of time,” says Wells. “An appointment booking system has been set up to allow people the opportunity to select times that work with their schedules. They can typically arrange an appointment for the following day, but availability does vary.”

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The library’s collections are not limited to Kansas City, Missouri.

“Topics dealing with westward expansion of the United States and the Missouri River Valley region are well represented by our local and regional history reference book collection,” says Wells. “The John Ramos Collection, another reference book collection, focuses on African American history and culture.”

The Johnson County Museum has archival documents, maps, and photographs capturing the history of Johnson County. A sample of historic properties is captured in their online gallery and reflects the growth of the country beginning with both humble and stately farmhouses and progressing to the evolution of the ranch house

2020 JAGUAR F-PACE

THE SUV WITH THE HEART OF A JAGUAR

While it has all of the traits of an SUV, the Jaguar F-PACE was created from the DNA of a Jaguar sports car — with up to 380 horsepower and cat-like agility. There’s no mistaking the F-PACE for anything but a Jaguar.

Visit Jaguar Merriam to experience to 2020 F-PACE. MSRP from $45,200† Jaguar Merriam 9400 West 56th Street Merriam, KS 66203 913-677-3300 www.aristocratjaguar.com

Vehicle shown: 2020 Jaguar F-PACE †All prices shown are Base Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. Excludes destination/handling, tax, title, license, retailer fees, all due at signing, and optional equipment. Retailer price, terms and vehicle availability may vary. ‡Please contact your local retailer for further details. *Class refers to luxury auto brands. For complete details regarding Jaguar offers or Jaguar EliteCare, please see your Passport to Service handbook, visit JAGUARUSA.COM, call 1.800.4.JAGUAR / 1.800.452.4827 or visit your local Jaguar Retailer. © 2020 Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC

KC ORIGINALS

"... 1957 collection contains over 200 blackand-white photographs that have the graphic appeal of abstract art and are in the public domain."

developments that sprung up following World War II. The Wyandotte County Museum’s Barton P. Cohen Research Library and Archive includes historic photos of Wyandotte County neighborhoods and buildings from Bonner Springs to Argentine and provides a search option for specific addresses or broader areas. Wyandotte County’s collection of Sanborn Fire Insurance maps is available here as well.

The State Historical Society of Missouri, located on the University of Missouri – Kansas City campus, has over 17,000 architectural drawings from the 1890s to the 1980s. Its holdings include the original Hare and Hare

landscape architectural drawings for the Country Club district, the Jewish Community Archives, and the Native Sons and Daughters of Greater Kansas City records.

The Jackson County Aerial Photograph, 1957 collection contains over 200 black-and-white photographs that have the graphic appeal of abstract art and are in the public domain, so no longer protected by copyright.

The bottom line is that being at home can be a gift.

Just as with many relationships, proximity can provide the opportunity to learn more than you imagined. Another advantage? When you finally do get out, imagine how much information you’ll have to share.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Patricia O’Dell started the lifestyle blog “Mrs. Blandings” in 2007. Her curiosity led her to write about designers, artists, business owners, and industry leaders. She’s been published in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Chicago Tribune, Flower magazine, Kansas City Spaces, and The Kansas City Star, as well as archdigest.com and elledecor.com.

22 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | FALL 2020

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AUTOMOTIVE words and photos by TOM STRONGMAN

THE ALL-NEW 2020 DEFENDER

Land Rover Redesigns an Icon for the Future.

Redesigning an icon is never easy, but Land Rover has succeeded in crafting a new Defender that embodies 70 years of Land Rover DNA in a package that is both handsome and practical.

“The new Defender is respectful of its past but is not harnessed by it,” said Gerry McGovern, Land Rover’s chief design officer, in press materials.

“This is a new Defender for a New Age. Its unique personality is accentuated by its distinctive silhouette and optimum proportions, which make it both highly desirable and seriously capable – a visually compelling 4x4 that wears its design and engineering integrity with uncompromised commitment.”

The Defender has a lightweight all-aluminum monocoque, or unibody, structure that is three times more rigid than a traditional body-on-frame design.

There are two versions: a short-wheelbase twodoor Defender 90 that will be available later in the year and a four-door, long-wheelbase Defender 110. The base Defender, with a turbocharged fourcylinder engine that puts out 296 horsepower, begins at $49,900. The Defender S starts at $53,350. Moving up to the Defender SE P400, with a mild-hybrid-electric six-cylinder engine pumping out 395 horsepower, the base price is $62,250. The Defender HSE is $68,350, the Defender First Edition is $68,650 and the Defender X begins at $80,900.

24 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | FALL 2020

2020 LAND ROVER DEFENDER Engine: MHEV 3.0-liter, 395-horsepower six-cylinder Transmission: 8-speed automatic All-wheel drive Wheelbase: 101.9 inches Curb weight: 5,034 pounds Base price: $62,250 As driven: $71,230 MPG rating: 17 in the city, 22 on the highway

AUTOMOTIVE The vehicle driven here was a Defender SE with a sticker price of $71,230.

The Defender 110 comes in five-, six-, or seven-passenger configurations. The seven-passenger configuration has a thirdrow seat with room for two. The six-passenger model has a front bench seat with a middle section that can fold forward to create an armrest. Three-across front seating is very rare these days.

The Defender 110 is big inside. The back seat has tons of legroom, and the cargo area is substantial. The exposed powdercoated magnesium cross-car beam that spans the instrument panel is integral to the overall strength of the body structure. It is available in a range of finishes and has integrated grab handles to aid entry. There are ample storage bins and cubbies throughout the interior, a phone charging pad and several plugs for phones, tablets, or laptops.

The functional heart of the cabin is the Pivi Pro system, accessed through a 10-inch high-resolution touchscreen, which allows customers to control numerous aspects of the vehicle using the same processing hardware as the latest smartphones.

In addition, customers can connect two mobile devices at once using Bluetooth2.

The system accepts over-the-air software updates and various apps such as music streaming. Learning the touchscreen takes some time but it is not much different than most cell phones.

Let’s take a closer look at the powertrain options. The fourcylinder has a twin-scroll turbocharger that delivers 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It can accelerate the vehicle to 60 miles per hour in 7.7 seconds. The more interesting engine is the mild-hybrid six-cylinder that has both a twinscroll turbocharger and a 48-volt electric supercharger. The starter motor replaces the alternator to assist the engine under acceleration, while the 48-volt lithium-ion battery stores energy captured as the vehicle slows down. Total power output is 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. This engine propels the vehicle to 60 miles per hour in 5.8 seconds. The Defender can tow 8,201 pounds with either engine. Both engines are coupled to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and a two-speed transfer case that provides extra-low gearing for towing and offroad use.

The six-cylinder engine delivers excellent power right from idle. Full-throttle acceleration is quite impressive for a vehicle that weighs 5,034 pounds. The eight-speed transmission always seems to be in the right gear for any circumstance and the shifts are smooth.

While I did not have an opportunity to try the Defender offroad, Land Rovers are known for their off-road capability, and if history is an indicator, the Defender should be outstanding. An actuator-controlled piston operated by the foot pedal applies braking effort, delivering much finer control. Land Rover says

FALL 2020 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | 27

AUTOMOTIVE

this new system is handy during low-speed off-road maneuvers and when the traction control and emergency braking systems are triggered, because it can lock a wheel within 150 milliseconds, twice as fast as the 300 milliseconds with a conventional set-up.

The Terrain Response system is activated by the touchscreen and it has settings for various off-road conditions. It also has an automatic function that recognizes the driving surface and configures the vehicle with no driver input.

The high sills, short overhangs, and externally mounted rear wheel facilitate the vehicle’s off-road capability. For serious going, such as mud or sand, the driver can adjust cross-axle slip using center and rear slip controls on the central touchscreen. There are three settings that control

throttle, gearbox, steering, and traction control, allowing the driver to tailor the vehicle for a particular situation.

A unique feature is a wade setting that enables the drivers to observe the depth of water under the vehicle on the vehicle infotainment screen. The wade setting also softens the throttle response, sets the ventilation system to recirculate cabin air, locks the drive, and adjusts the ride height. The Defender can wade through 35.4 inches of water. Once out of water, the vehicle automatically drags the brakes to clean and dry the discs.

A new option is a factory-fitted satin protective film that is available on Indus Silver, Gondwana Stone, and Pangea Green paint finishes. The wrap gives the body a satin finish and enhances durability because it can be repaired more easily than paint.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR / PHOTOGRAPHER Tom Strongman has a degree in photojournalism from the University of Missouri and was formerly the director of photography and then the automotive editor of The Kansas City Star. Tom, a member of the Missouri Press Association Photojournalism Hall of Fame, has written about and photographed cars for more than three decades.

28 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | FALL 2020

INTRODUCING THE NEW LAND ROVER DEFENDER

MSRP FROM $46,100* The Land Rover Defender story began with the simple thought of creating an exceptionally capable off-road vehicle. Today, the story continues with the New Land Rover Defender. While it builds on the legacy of previous versions, it’s a completely new vehicle. As the toughest and most advanced Land Rover vehicle ever produced, it can confidently take you to some of the most remote places on earth—and back again. Put the New Land Rover Defender to the test at your Land Rover Retailer.

Land Rover Merriam 9400 W. 65th Street, Merriam, KS 913 677 3300 AristocratLandRover.com Vehicle shown: 2020 Land Rover Defender 110 with optional equipment. *Price shown is Base Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price. Excludes destination/handling, tax, title, license, retailer fees, all due at signing, and optional equipment. Retailer price, terms and vehicle availability may vary. See your participating Land Rover Retailer for complete details, visit LANDROVERUSA.COM or call 1-800-FIND-4WD / 1-800-346-3493. © 2020 Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC

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FASHION photos KENNY JOHNSON | styling AMANI SKALACKI

Looking Great this Fall While Keeping it Casual. attire HALLS glasses EYE STYLE model AMY of Voices&

PHOTO BY TOM STRONGMAN

The ultimate luxury performance SUV.

Levante Trofeo. Yours. From $169,980* Maserati of Kansas City 9400 W 65th Street, Merriam, KS 913.677.3300 | maseratiofkansascity.com *MSRP excludes taxes, title and registration fees. Starting price refers to the base model, optional equipment not included. A more expensive model may be shown. Pricing and offers may change at any time without notification.

To get full pricing details, see your dealer. ©2020 Maserati North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Maserati and the Trident logo are registered trademarks of Maserati SpA. Maserati urges you to obey all posted speed limits.

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FASHION photos courtesy MEIEROTTO 14K gold bangle bracelet with 19 different gemstones

To Brighten Any and Every Day. 22K gold hammered link chain necklace

Doves 18K gold drop earrings with black Mother of Pearl doublet (29.32 carat) and diamonds (0.65 carat)

FALL 2020 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | 43

FASHION photos courtesy MEIEROTTO 14K gold pin/pendant with Madeira citrine (est. 50 carat)

Gurhan One-of-a-Kind 24K gold bracelet with Ethiopian opal (19.35 carat) and diamonds (0.39 carat)

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18K gold tapered drop earrings with diamonds (1.30 carat)

FALL 2020 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | 45

FASHION photos courtesy MEIEROTTO

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14K gold bangle bracelet with flush set diamonds (0.55 carat)

22K gold choker necklace PHOTO BY TOM STRONGMAN 46 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | FALL 2020

Doves 18K gold dangle earrings with Mother of Pearl doublet (1.43 carat), Amazonite doublet (3.27 carat), London Blue Topaz doublet (9.85 carat) and diamonds (0.62 carat)

John Hardy Classic Chain 18K gold hammered spear cuff bracelet with pavé diamonds (0.95 carat) PHOTO BY KENNY JOHNSON FALL 2020 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | 47

PHOTO BY KENNY JOHNSON

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INTERVIEW by JOEL NICHOLS

The Enduring Power of Art and How It Helps Us Move Forward in Challenging Times.

The phrase “man of the world” could have been coined with Julián Zugazagoitia in mind. He was born in Mexico City into a family steeped in history, creativity, and culture. He has lived in Paris, Rome, and New York. Since 2010, when he was named director of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Julián Zugazagoitia has called Kansas City his home.

What is it about Kansas City that has made it feel so much like home for you?

The most beautiful surprise that this city has given me is to have the murals at UMKC by Spanish painter Luis Quintanilla. He was exiled because of the Spanish civil war and he ends up in Kansas City painting some murals. He dedicated them to my grandfather. [Julián’s grand-

FALL 2020 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | 51

INTERVIEW father fought the Fascists in Spain of the 1930s.

He was eventually captured by the Gestapo and executed.] Those murals make me feel that this is really home.

Does your family’s amazing history impact you and what you do, on a daily basis?

It’s different moments of consciousness in which you start realizing the complexity of your own identity. Growing up in Mexico City there were not a lot of questions, but I left for the UK for the first time when I was 12 and that was the first big shock. It was the beginning of my understanding that we’re all immigrants all the time.

Identity is such a complex thing.

As we speak, the museum is closed due to COVID-19, and the world is also seeing protests demanding equal treatment and opportunity for all people. What does a place like the Nelson-Atkins mean in times like these?

When society and humankind come to moments that really challenge us, humankind needs to express itself. Art has found ways to tackle even these things. We have had pandemics in the past. Our collections have examples of artists creating art during very difficult moments.

What I see is art that goes beyond the forms we normally celebrate. New generations expressing so much through social media and digital form.

People can connect with us in the digital world.

The inside part of the museum is closed but people can still come and enjoy the landscaping and the sculptures. I trust that just being in the environment, in front of the art, is inspiring.

Some may look at places like the Nelson-Atkins and think, ‘Well, that isn’t really for me because of my socio-economic status or education or skin color.’

I know you and your staff work hard to make this a place for everyone.

We have made a lot of efforts to be a place of openness, of inclusivity, of making sure that everyone feels ownership of the museum’s legacy. Today’s events call for more effort. I would say from the moment we opened this building in 1933, the first speech at that time said this place is for all groups, all races, all creeds. This is work that has to be done by society at large and work that we have to do together. We have a wonderful and wide diversity of people enjoying the museum and that is something we need to continue to foster.

We are using this time to look at ourselves as staff, look at our history as an institution, to re52 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | FALL 2020

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assess our collections, how collections have come to be. We need to be more cognizant, more attuned to our times. We also need to understand that we are part of a stream of history, knowing others have also faced times like these.

Society today is waking up to many things. The younger generations are making us more aware of where we should be going.

In these uncertain, unsteady, unchartered times, should we look to art and places like the Nelson-Atkins as some sort of constant?

The nature of expression is always going to be there and

museums like ours provide the ability to travel, not only the geographies of distant cultures but also in time. To see how time and different cultures and different civilizations and different ways of thinking are represented through art. A museum like ours can teach you that there’s hundreds of ways of thinking. That should give us a sense of awe. A museum like ours gives you a variety of possibilities.

You see that humanity has so many ways of expressing and being. We can engage in dialogues that enrich and enlarge our perceptions and make us have more points of view than one.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Joel Nichols has been interviewing fascinating people from Kansas City and around the nation for 35 years. Today, he does freelance work for a number of area organizations, as well as emcee events in our town. Please, visit Joel Nichols Communications, online.

54 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | FALL 2020

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What’s New in Outdoor Living?

Homeowners are following their passions to create backyard retreats for dining and entertaining – now more than ever.

During the uncertain times of the pandemic, one thing is for sure: We’re turning our homes into our own private resorts.

And when we want to invite visitors to join the staycation and maintain a safe haven – in other words, six feet of physical vs. social distancing – we are turning to our own backyards as the solution.

Indeed, landscape designers and retailers are seeing a surge of people investing in outdoor kitchens and furnishings.

56 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | FALL 2020

“People are hanging televisions on the walls outdoors near bars and tables and using table settings of glassware, placemats, and napkins, and while that’s elaborate, it’s to create a casual, fun, and relaxing atmosphere,” says Marc Acord, owner of Seasonal Concepts in Overland Park. “The backyard has truly has become an extension of the interior.”

PLAN YOUR EVERYDAY OASIS To start the process of elevating his clients’ outdoor life-

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Seasonal Concepts’ selection of outdoor dining furniture includes accessories and cushions in dozens of colors and patterns.

FALL 2020 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | 57

INTERIOR DESIGN Maverick Landscaping, Porch and Patio designs outdoor kitchens and living spaces based on their clients’ food and design preferences.

styles, Maverick Pickering, a porch and patio design expert and owner of Maverick Landscaping, simply asks: What do you want to cook and how do you want to cook it?

“I’m a foodie myself so I get into the details – their favorite restaurants and how they entertain and how they want to entertain,” Pickering says. “If they want to roast a pig, I ask them if they want to do it American style, Thai style, on a rotisserie?”

And that provides the springboard for concepts. He typically designs in three zones: Deep-seating area for relaxing near a fireplace, around a fire-table, or both.

Dining area – perhaps a 10-foot long table if you entertain often, and maybe bar seating around the countertops.

Work area for prepping, storage, and cleaning – this often includes a double-drawer refrigerator, freezer, or icemaker; beverage station; sink and built-in trash-can drawers – outdoor kitchens often have multiple trash solutions like interior kitchens have multiple sinks, Pickering says.

And then comes the fun part of the work zone: cooking equipment. Pickering suggests that people have gas grills for Monday through Friday and wood-fire grills for weekends. Wood-pellet grills are attractive options be-

58 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | FALL 2020

cause they allow people to grill, barbecue, and bake easily to the desired temperature.

Power burners are popular additions for frying turkeys, crab boils, and stir fry. To take things to the next level, Pickering encourages clients who love Neapolitan-style pizza to invest in Italian wood-fired pizza ovens. His clients have purchased Mugnaini ovens, and then traveled to Sonoma Valley in California for three-day cooking classes. Other restaurant-inspired outdoor kitchen gear includes Tuscan-style wood ovens as well as Brazilian grills.

Recently, especially during the pandemic, Pickering has seen interest grow in gardening and eating healthy.

He’s helped clients create raised beds and container gardens out of whiskey barrels to grow herbs and vegetables.

“People are grilling wedge salads, squash, peaches, and pineapple,” he said. “Ever try baby bok choy? It’s delicious!”

CREATING AMBIENCE Pickering encourages clients to outfit their backyards in the style they do indoors, and often partners with interior designers. Today’s outdoor furnishings go way beyond traditional wrought iron pieces and allow you to do what you want.

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Yardbird features fire tables in a variety of shapes and finishes.

Their height – in between coffee and dining tables – make them good for dining.

“If you like gray, there are a lot of gray options. If you like bright colors and patterns, cushions and umbrellas come any way you like them,” Marc Acord of Seasonal Concepts says. “People are going for durable and not disposable.”

When it comes to how much furniture to buy, Jay Dillon, owner of Yardbird, a new outdoor furniture showroom in Overland Park, advises customers to right size their furniture to how they entertain.

“Buy enough chairs for those you entertain 90 percent of the time,” Dillon says. “If you have a family of four, get the table and chairs for six – not necessarily the table for 10.”

One option that’s become popular for dining is the fire table, Dillon says. It’s not as short as a coffee table (knee height at 14 inches off the ground) or as tall as dining table (31 inches off the ground).

“At 25 inches, it’s just the right height for enjoying a casual meal or sitting back for drinks,” Dillon says.

When Pickering asks his clients about their favorite part of their outdoor kitchens and patios, they tell him that besides the cooking, they love the lighting.

“It’s always the low-voltage lighting,” Pickering says.

“Not only is it useful for task lighting, it helps create a pleasant atmosphere.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Stacy Downs writes about all things design and is a partner at MAD Creative, a branding and communications firm in Kansas City.

60 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | FALL 2020

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Pushing Art Boundaries in the Midwest.

Charlotte Street Foundation wants Kansas Citians to get outside of the box with art – whether they’re artists or simply patrons.

“Here at Charlotte Street, we want to be artist driven,” explains Marketing and Communications Manager Mason Kilpatrick. “We hear and get so many wild, visionary ideas from these young artists who have a hard time finding places to try their ideas out in because they’re so new or foreign to the Kansas City community. So what we do is we provide them the resources that they need to get it done, whether that be cash, free space, technology, or connections to help them out.”

The organization was founded in 1997 by David Hughes Jr. to support emerging local artists creating challenging, contemporary work. Charlotte Street facilitates venues that

artists can use for free, paying them to produce shows and offering them to the community for free to remove the financial barrier associated with experimental works for both artists and audiences.

“We believe in the beauty of challenging yourself in any sense or sphere, not even just within the arts,” Kilpatrick explains.

Kansas City has developed a strong arts culture over the years, he says, but by offering support for up-and-coming talents, Charlotte Street hopes to keep innovators in the Kansas City community.

“One thing in the past that Kansas City always had to compete with is that we’re in the Midwest, so we have this negative connotation of being a flyover state,” Kilpatrick says. “We don’t have the reputation, or quite frankly, the

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arts money, that exists in New York or Los Angeles, Chicago, all these bigger cultural arts hubs.”

Artists across disciplines can apply for studio residencies, which provide recipients with free studio and rehearsal space, professional development, and exhibition and performance opportunities. The foundation also offers a startup residency program fostering artist-run businesses and organizations by providing them with rentfree space and marketing. Additionally, Charlotte Street annually awards three visual artists and two performing artists $10,000 in unrestricted funds, meaning they can use the money however they choose.

Perhaps one of Charlotte Street’s most recognizable programs is the Rocket Grants it gives in conjunction with the University of Kansas’ Spencer Museum of Art using funding from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Each year, the program distributes $60,000 to artists for non-traditional project based ideas.

“The importance of supporting people and artists first

64 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | FALL 2020

isn’t, obviously, just people are people and they deserve to be treated with respect, but it’s how do we keep the vision, how do we keep this great talent, and how do we keep these new ideas here in Kansas City for Kansas City?”

Kilpatrick adds.

But this spring, local artists faced an entirely new set of challenges in the wake of COVID-19. Kilpatrick says one of the first things Charlotte Street did was restructure the Rocket Grants program to provide $1,000 emergency relief grants through a randomized lottery system. Charlotte Street started with $60,000 but raised an additional $105,000, all of which was given out. The organization plans to offer another round of emergency grants through a similar process this fall.

In the meantime, the foundation has found other ways of encouraging artists to continue challenging audiences. Announced in July, Art Where You’re At gives 10 artists $500 to put together socially distant works by the end of the year.

Commissioned projects include a dance exploration and

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“Art is very social,” Kilpatrick says. “People want to talk, they want to be able to experience things together, so we wanted to respond to that by giving artists the ability and giving them funding to do their projects not in arts spaces, basically. Do you want to do it on the street, do you want to do in your backyard and have people watch with social distance? Do you want to do a livestream?

We know there are still many artists who, despite this pain and crisis, are wanting to make art because that’s how they respond to crisis and pain, so we’re researching options of how do we continue to support that outdoors.”

Innovative programming is just part of what’s on the horizon for Charlotte Street.

Depending on safety recommendations, the foundation hopes to open its new campus in the Roanoke Industrial corridor in 2021. The new facility will include gallery space; black box theatre; studio space for more than 30 visual artists, performance-based artists, and writers; conference rooms for community meetings; a courtyard space for outdoor performances and gatherings; and administrative offices.

“The idea was to bring all of our programs under one roof,” Kilpatrick says, ”so artists can begin to collaborate with each other.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Kelsey Cipolla is a local writer, editor, and social media specialist. Kelsey has covered everything from the Kansas City culinary scene to home design, health, fitness trends, hidden gems, and nonprofit in the Kansas City community.

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The Road Not Taken and Other Reflective Questions.

When our regular and day-to-day activities stop, questions and reflections about the past and future are common. This, preferably, happens during long, restful weekends or on vacations. Except now, during our need to isolate and dramatically limit the number and nature of our work, family and social contacts, those questions and reflections are even more common.

These considerations you are contemplating are “normal,” just in case you have been wondering Psychologically, such questions can be enlightening, helpful, and provide insight and fuel for change going

forward. Consequently, making the reflections intentional and structured can be helpful – creating healthy, productive energy for decision making when, for many of us, life, best directions, and choices feel encumbered by significant external stressors.

Therefore, the significance of reflecting, and especially about the “Road Not Taken,” can be helpful if you consider some structure for the process of contemplation. So think about grabbing a notebook or your laptop and do some healthy thinking about the past, the present, and the future.

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HEALTH To begin, make an effort to let go of a “need to control.” Meaning? Being in control is something most of us believe we can and should strive for, but, unfortunately, it’s the opposite of what works in life – from the way we think to the conversations, decisions, actions, and effectiveness of our efforts. And in the challenges we’re currently facing, feeling “out of control” is more common.

So if you feel out of control, doesn’t it make sense to do whatever possible to regain control?

The effort to control tightens your body and alters your breathing. Most of us actually hold our breath when feeling out of control. The effort constricts constructive thinking and shuts off feelings. So when you believe “I need to control this situation and what I’m thinking, feeling, and doing” is saying is that it’s actually far less likely to be successful – and almost guaranteed to create conflict with anyone else in the conversation or negotiation.

Consider the possibility that it’s far more effective to “be in charge.” It is genuinely different. When shifting from in control to in charge, you breathe, relax, and gain access to both physical and emotional feelings. You open your mind and heart and are, thus, ready for the conversation, activity, interaction, and decision you face. It specifically means you are listening to and doing so mindfully as well as speaking and incorporating the ideas of others … maybe to an idea better than your own?

Experiment. Hold your breath and check your awareness to what happens on all levels: body, mind, and emotions. Then breathe deeply, relax, and check again.

Releasing control and relaxing into a place of being in charge is the desired frame of mind for thoughtful review of the Road Not Taken.

To begin: Reflect on the decades of your life. Start with ages one through 10; then 10 through 20; then 20 through 30; and on to your present decade/age. Create lots of space to write, name, and describe each decade.

An example might be: Years one through 10 were for-

mative years where I learned to […] or where I was told to […].

With decades identified and named, review each 10year period for crossroads, big and small decisions you faced. Did you have resources or feel you were on your own with making the best choices?

Now pinpoint Roads Not Taken. Identify the choices and options you had each time you faced a fork in the road. Write about both mistakes and successes. Reflect on resources available or not available, help you might have needed or found necessary for self-reliance.

Write as much as you can. Then review and reflect.

What patterns do you see? What good choices. What regrets. Who were the people who helped or influenced?

Now sit back and reflect. What do you want the next months, years, and decades to look like? How do you become your best self going into an uncertain future … one that will take time to unravel, let alone predict.

What strengths do you bring from past decisions – both successes and failures – to the present?

What are you leaving out right now, if anything? What are any simple steps you can take to feel a clear sense of direction?

Finally, if you can let go of control and embrace being in charge, you truly can begin a process to define and design the coming weeks, months, and years. It’s a challenge all of us are facing; so talk about it as openly as you can with family, friends, and coworkers, and don’t hesitate to express yourself. You just don’t know what you may want or what you might change – but that you’re thinking about it is a great place to start.

Let me know if you have questions, and, remember, that uncertainty is a pretty common bottom line for most of us … at least once in a while, and certainly in the restricted environment most of us find ourselves in today. This way of thinking opens your mind first for past to present, and then onward for the future.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Linda Moore has been in practice in the Kansas City area for over 25 years and is a published author on personal and family issues.

70 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | FALL 2020

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