TODAY Kansas City - Summer 2020

S U M M E R 2 02 0 | VO LUME 4 | IS S U E 2

A publication of the Soave Automotive Group.

A S P EC I A L E D I T I O N S A LU T I N G O U R M ET RO P O L I TA N A R E A A N D I TS P EO P L E

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

PRESIDENT’S LETTER

by MARION BATTAGLIA

Thank You. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our customers and our associates for their patience and understanding during these very challenging times in the history of the Soave Automotive Group.

During the past three months we have done our best to keep our customers and staff safe by following guidelines set forth by the CDC, the states, the counties, and municipalities. We will continue to follow their guidelines going forward, as well.

Over the course of those same months, the auto group, several of our dealerships, and one of our own have received recognition that I would like to share with you.

Kris Nielsen, our sales operations and Maserati and Alfa Romeo sales manager, was selected by Automotive News as one of their “40 under 40.” This national award calls attention to 40 individuals, all of whom are under 40 years of age, that are making a difference in the automotive industry today and that should be watched going forward.

The Soave Automotive Group was ranked by Wards Automotive Magazine as the 92nd largest dealer group in the United States.

Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City was selected by Mercedes-Benz USA as a “Best of the Best – Silver Laurel Award” recipient for the second year in a row. I extend my congratulations to Geoff Bedine and his staff for this achievement.

Porsche Kansas City for the first time was named a “Porsche Premier Dealer.” This honor marks not only the first time for this dealership but the first time for any Kansas City Porsche dealer to be selected as one of the top 25 dealers in the United States.

Again, thank you for your patience and your support.

Marion Battaglia, President

2 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | SUMMER 2020

Summer doesn’t shine through a computer screen. It’s time to stretch your legs, explore the season’s looks, and enjoy indulgent afternoons in the sun.

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EDITOR'S LETTER

by ROBERT HELLWEG

Summer in the City.

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

This summer starts in June, just like all those that have come before it, and it’s a time of memories and looking forward like we never have before.

In light of exhibiting responsibility during this “stay at home” period, social distancing, and showing respect to others by wearing masks, I suggested that we not publish a “hard copy” of Today Kansas City this issue, but, instead, go digital.

Not only did we go digital, but we also changed the content of the magazine for this issue to reflect the times and situation we are experiencing as a region. You will find an insightful new review of a great new car, the all-electric Porsche Taycan – and that is about where the similarity stops.

Our fashion and event sections were left behind for this issue, and you will find the creativity of our three incredible photographic artists at work in their places. Anna Petrow, Kenny Johnson, and Tom Strongman have given us images of our area that they wanted to share. The images range from the beauty of flowers to the power of the sky over the city.

Addressing one of the most affected businesses, the restaurants, Emily and Stewart Lane highlight “Curbside Kansas City,” while Kelsey Cippola and Patricia O’Dell look at what restaurants and hometown distiller Riegers have done to step up to the plate. Additionally, we have a DYI article from Stacy Downs, since many of us have “time” that we normally don’t, for some of the top things you can do at home to make it more “home.”

HOK, our hometown international architectural group, presents a glimpse into the future of offices after we go back to work, what offices might look like, and how they will be changing in a social-distancing focused society. It will be different but it also shows planning that is already well under way.

An all-new interview section that features and celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Negro Leagues and the Negro League Museum in Kansas City. Joel Nichols brings the event to you by talking to Bob Kendrick, the president of this National Museum at 18th and Vine.

And one more very timely article: for your health. Dr. Linda Moore helps you deal with those changes you are feeling in your life, from being tired to fighting depression. They are feelings that are hitting many of us, and she will help you recognize those changes and give some suggestions on how to deal with them.

Thank you for “picking up” this digital issue of Today Kansas City. I appreciate your support and your readership, and please be safe and find joy wherever that might lead you.

4 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | SUMMER 2020

LARRY MILLER Inventory Director MARK DOESCHER Parts Director PAUL LEVIN General Manager BMW | VW of Topeka GEOFF BEDINE General Manager Mercedes-Benz

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 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 JAY GILLIHAN 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.

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PHOTO BY KENNY JOHNSON

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Features 8 ARCHITECTURE

The Future of the Post-Lockdown Workplace.

by Peter Sloan

14 KC ORIGINALS Rieger Redux.

by Patricia O'Dell

19 FOOD

Dining at Home.

by Emily & Stewart Lane

2019 Jaguar XJL 3.0 v6 SC AWD Santorini Black / Jet

26 AUTOMOTIVE

A Sports Car for the Sustainable Future.

by Tom Strongman

33 PICTORIAL FEATURE

An Iconic and Resilient Kansas City photos by Kenny Johnson, Anna Petrow, and Tom Strongman

58 INTERVIEW

64 HEALTH

How Do We Feel?

What Have We Learned?

What's the Impact We Still Must Unravel?

by Dr. Linda Moore

70 NONPROFIT

Saving the Service Industry.

by Kelsey Cipolla

"What's Not to Love About this Story?"

76 INTERIOR DESIGN

by Joel Nichols

by Stacy Downs

3 Easy DIY Upgrades.

ARCHITECTURE

by PETER SLOAN

The Future of the Post-Lockdown Workplace.

Will social distancing make way for workplace distancing?

We are social animals. We thrive on being together. But as a global community, we have reluctantly embraced the concept of social distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

One consequence of that distancing is that many are now experiencing feelings of isolation, loneliness, and cabin fever. While remote working has proved to be a viable alternative for some people, particularly those who primarily do focused, independent work, it lacks the important social and collaborative aspects found in the workplace. We miss out on the spontaneous interactions that inform, educate, and inspire. And let’s be real: Most of us yearn for the day we can return to the office and a sense of normalcy.

Our most basic needs – physiological needs and desire for safety – outlined in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs have been challenged by the pandemic.

Until those needs are addressed in the workplace, people will be reluctant to return.

As Kansas and Missouri begin to reopen, which changes will we need to make in the workplace? Will social distancing make way for workplace distancing? And will all employees be willing to return, particularly those who have spent the last few months working safely and effectively elsewhere?

QUESTIONS FOR WORKPLACE LEADERS With an eye on the health, safety, and welfare of their teams, and the need for distancing in mind, many businesses are likely to rethink their real estate and workplace strategies. At the same time, it’s important to understand the realities of the situation and the viable actions we can take now to ensure the workplace is productive and safe.

At a strategic level, businesses can begin by considering how easy, difficult, or realistic it was for them to transition to remote working. The answer will vary depending on factors including industry, location, staffing, technology, and whether an organization was deemed an “essential” or

SUMMER 2020 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | 9

ARCHITECTURE

“critical” business.

If you’re the leader of an organization responsible for its real estate or workplace program, you may also ask yourself some of these questions: How could you approach the workplace differently if employees want more choice and control over their workspace when they return to the office?

Which other investments (financial, technical, operational) would you have to make to adopt a new workplace program?

How can your approach to real estate occupancy better align with your organizational needs for flexibility, adaptability, and responsiveness in unpredictable times?

IMMEDIATE STRATEGIES AND REMEDIES The pandemic has reinforced that working from home can be effective and productive and will likely continue to be part of workplace culture. But accommodating a more mobile workforce long term requires rethinking space, protocols, and tools.

It’s important to remember that while someone’s role or function

10 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | SUMMER 2020

The pandemic has reinforced that working from home can be effective and productive and will likely continue to be part of workplace culture. But accommodating a more mobile workforce long term requires rethinking space, protocols, and tools.

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ARCHITECTURE may adapt well to working remotely, there are a host of individual considerations and circumstances that must be considered before employing new workplace practices more broadly. Namely, do the people you’re asking to work from home have the environments and tools needed to effectively do this? Will their living or household arrangements allow them to be productive at home?

Which allowances are you prepared to make knowing that even those who work remotely full time often want occasional interaction with others?

Alongside a strategic exercise, workplace leaders should leverage what they’ve learned during this crisis to fuel creativity and agility in their organizations. Here are several workplace remedies that can be implemented now: Transition to unassigned seating that allows employees to establish their own boundaries and pick a seat that enables distancing.

People will have different comfort levels to returning to the workplace and should be empowered to make choices about where they are comfortable working upon return.

Increase options for how – and where – staff work, which might include more scrum spaces, focus work spaces, and lounge seating.

Consider going to a four-day work week and staggering teams across five days to reduce density by up to 20 percent on any given day.

Reorient work points so individuals do not directly face each other.

Remove seats at communal tables and in conference rooms to give people additional personal space. Or transition these rooms into scrum spaces by removing the table entirely to give people more space and eliminate touchpoints.

Install voice activation or hands-free automation

controls that reduce the need to contact commonly touched items.

Create clean desk policies that allow surfaces to be properly cleaned daily and update facility maintenance contracts to ensure these steps are taken.

Switch to VOIP communication technology instead of phone handsets and eliminate shared keyboard trays.

Assign lockers, file drawers, or storage cabinets to individuals to separate personal items.

Remove trash cans from individual desks and replace them with a communal location that consolidates sanitation.

Consider furniture and equipment upgrades with antimicrobial materials.

Meeting room technology and design must facilitate an experience that works for a mix of virtual and in-person participants.

Establish screening protocols and fever checks for everyone entering the workplace.

Work with building management to improve air circulation, filtration, and ventilation and confirm cleaning protocols.

Incorporate increased natural light and facilitate programming that focuses on mindfulness and the health and wellness of staff.

Consider how company culture can be built with a workforce that may now be divided between the office and their homes with creative internal web platforms and technology.

While the full impact of COVID-19 on work and the workplace has yet to be determined, we hope the ideas and strategies shared here provide some direction. As Kansas City’s workplaces and businesses adjust to a new normal post COVID-19, there is opportunity to reimagine how – and where – your people work.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Peter Sloan, AIA, is the director of design, interiors for HOK’s Kansas City practice.

He specializes in workplace strategy and design. peter.sloan@hok.com

12 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | SUMMER 2020

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KC ORIGINALS by PATRICIA O'DELL | photos by ANNA PETROW

Rieger Redux.

Local distiller makes quick pivot to help its business and the community.

The Kansas City hospitality community has seen severe industry-changing effects because of the COVID-19 crisis.

Lucy and Andy Rieger, of J. Rieger & Co., which produces whisky, gin, vodka, and a coffee liqueur as well as owning their distillery and event space in the East Bottoms, are industry leaders who made a quick pivot that has done more than save their business.

As the news of the pandemic began to not only spread but seem very real, Lucy and Andy Rieger acted quickly.

“When the first rumblings of a full shutdown were happening, Andy said, ‘I promised to take care of everyone,’ Lucy Rieger says. “He wouldn’t sleep until he figured out a solution.”

As they could see the impact of the virus, the couple had been discussing possible shifts to keep their staff employed.

They were forced to close to the public on March 19, but were determined not to lay anyone off. Then opportunity presented itself.

“A nursing home called us and said that a distillery in Seattle was producing limited quantities of hand sanitizer and asked if we could do the same,” Lucy says.

Responding to the critical shortage, the couple began to lay out a business plan for a mass-scale operation, contacted suppliers, and got to work.

“We had the ability to help; so we did,” Andy says.

Initially, the Riegers thought they would be producing hand sanitizer for a few weeks. But the need exceeded their original expectations.

“We were able to act fast initially and secure the supplies we needed,” Andy says. “We put a great process in place and are currently shipping nationwide.”

To date, Rieger has produced more than 250,000 bottles of Rieger’s Remedy and has not laid off a single

SUMMER 2020 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | 15

KC ORIGINALS

employee. Beyond that, they’ve increased their headcount from 53 to 65 and are feeding their staff three meals a day.

“It was important to us to provide the most financial and food security possible,” Lucy says.

The Riegers are aware that they could have shut down and preserved cash to protect the company. For a young couple with a two-year-old son who were expecting their second baby, it would have been a plan that made sense.

“It was hands down the hardest time of our lives physically and mentally,” Andy says. “But laying people off went against what we stood for as a family business.”

Beyond the distillery, the Riegers had renovated the old Heim Brewery bottling house building in the East Bottoms as

16 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | SUMMER 2020

“It was hands down the hardest time of our lives physically and mentally,” Andy says.

“But laying people off went against what we stood for as a family business.”

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KC ORIGINALS

an event and gathering space. They are not planning on re-opening until June or July at the earliest. They have decided to take the time to modify their kitchens to expand their food menus as well as conduct staff training.

But the Riegers have not stopped there.

“We are offering to-go cocktails. For a week in May, we donated proceeds from the sales to the Community Meals Project, an initiative that helps area restaurants

keep staff employed while producing meals for Kansas City’s food insecure,” Lucy says. “From that one week, we were able to donate $15,000 to the organization!”

To the Riegers, their work ethic, business acumen, and dedication are all part of a bigger picture.

“We treat everyone like our own family,” Lucy says.

“We think that’s why we were able to come through this together.”

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.

18 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | SUMMER 2020

ARTISTS’ ORIGINAL WORKS — LOCAL TO INTERNATIONAL. PAINTINGS | SCULPTURE | CERAMICS | GLASS | JEWELRY | HANDCRAFTED GIFTS

A Moment in Time Photography

ARTIST SHOWS AND WORKSHOPS | IN-HOME ART CONSULTATIONS SPECIAL COMMISSIONS | PET PORTRAITURE | CUSTOM JEWELRY DESIGN

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

Dining at Home.

Emily Lane: Going out to eat – remember that? Where we once used to congregate at tables while sharing bites of charcuterie, touching knees under the bar while sipping a cocktail, and then heading our separate ways for the night by hugging our friends and family, we now live in a different world. It would be the height of hubris to say we’ve not been significantly impacted by the pandemic, but the hospitality industry is one that has taken a more severe hit, and adaptation has been the key to survival.

Curbside pickup is the new norm; takeout is no longer just pizza or tacos. Chefs across the country are now creating gourmet family meals, lunches, and dinners for people to enjoy in the social-distanced bubble of their own homes.

And now, more than ever, it’s critical we support these small local businesses so they can survive and reopen their doors for dine-in service when the time is right.

Stewart Lane: Room 39, a Kansas City staple with its intimate dining room on 39th Street, is leaning into this new norm by offering to-go family meals for four, along with a full menu of breakfast and dinner favorites. One Friday evening, Emily and I opted for the family meal of surf and turf. The system for ordering online was simple, and the staff is taking every precaution, from wearing masks and single-use gloves, as well as creating a space to keep social distance when you pick up your order. We dined on Maryland crab cakes with a traditional remoulade, grilled flank steak with a chimichurri sauce, rounded out with a Caesar salad, coleslaw, and hand-cut fries. The sweet treat on the end was the homemade maple cinnamon ice cream, smooth and rich with a strong maple start that yielded to warm cinnamon. We had full bellies, but more than that, we knew our dollars were supporting people who need it most in these uncertain times.

EL: Another place that has adapted an impressive model during the pandemic is one of my favorites in KC Metro – Dolce Bakery in Prairie Village. With an extensive list of baked goods, such as their iconic cinnamon rolls, scones,

20 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | SUMMER 2020

INSPIRED OCCASIONS

SAYACHI'S "JAROCHO-INSPIRED" CEVICHE

CONTACTS Room 39 (rm39.com) Dolce Bakery (dolcebakes.com) Underdog Wine Co. (underdogwinekc.com) Inspired Occasions (inspiredoccasionskc.com)

DOLCE BAKERY

cookies, cupcakes, and much more, you can satisfy your sweet tooth or take a special treat to someone who might need cheering up (and let’s face it – we all need that right now). Their online ordering system is simple and allows for day-of pickup for some items, or you can preorder for pickup or delivery. Stewart surprised me with their lemon blueberry cake for Mother’s Day, which we all enjoyed immensely.

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SL: We know that you need a beverage to go with your curbside cuisine, and that’s where Ryan Sciara comes in.

His boutique wine shop, Underdog Wine Co., has been keeping the city stocked with some amazing wines at all price-points, including the popular six bottles for $60. If you follow him on social media channels, he showcases a “Pick of the Week” and does a live tasting for viewers to learn more about his selection. Ryan is

ROOM 39

resourceful and passionate, and it shines through in his care for all things wine.

Catering companies have also been impacted and are opening their doors, metaphorically, to the fooddelivery business. My company, Inspired Occasions, is offering weekly menus for home delivery, featuring fresh and seasonal dishes from salads to desserts. One of my favorite concepts is the complete picnic kit; one week we featured Nashville hot chicken sandwiches, with buttermilk fried chicken, homemade brioche buns, creamy coleslaw, macaroni salad, and kettle chips, all

packaged and ready to assemble in your own backyard.

EL: We’ve barely scratched the surface of all the places in Kansas City that are working tirelessly to keep good food and drinks in your home, and, more importantly, to keep their doors open and their employees paid. Now more than ever, we encourage you to support the places you want to see on the other side of this pandemic, and no amount of support is too small. We look forward to the day when we can return to crowded dining rooms, bustling bars, and hugs with friends.

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.

24 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | SUMMER 2020

Luxury, technology, or performance?

Yes. The Cayenne.

2020 CAYENNE LEASE

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

899*36

MONTH

MNTS

$6,989 due at lease signing Excludes any title, taxes, registration, license fees, insurance, maintenance and dealer fees.

No security deposit required.

©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. The Cayenne.*Actual lease price determined by your authorized Porsche dealer; your payments may vary. Closed-end lease offered to qualified lessees with approved credit by Porsche Financial Services (PFS) through participating U.S. dealers. Must take delivery by 6/30/2020. Estimated payments based upon MSRP of $82,570 (includes delivery, processing, and handling fee) for a Model Year 2020 Cayenne with the following options: Metallic Paint, Panoramic Roof System, Roof Rails in Aluminum Finish, Fuel Cap with Aluminum Look Finish, Adaptive Air Suspension incl. Porsche Active Suspension Management, 20” Cayenne Design Wheels, Wheel Center Caps with Colored Porsche Crest, Power Seats (14-way) with Memory Package, Lane Keep Assist incl. Traffic Sign Recognition, Seat Heating (Front), and BOSE® Surround Sound System. Model pictured may have optional features and equipment.

Price excludes any title, taxes, registration, license fees, insurance, maintenance and dealer fees. Lease payments of $899.38 for 36 months total $32,377.68 based on the adjusted capitalized cost of $72,950 (requires dealer contribution which could affect price). Total due from customer at signing $6,989.38 (first month’s payment, acquisition fee of $1,095 and capitalized cost reduction of $4,995). No security deposit required. At lease end, lessee pays excess wear, $.30/mile over 30,000 miles and $595 disposition fee. Purchase option at lease end $49,380 plus taxes. Specific vehicles and options are subject to availability and your price may vary. For additional information see your participating authorized Porsche dealer or visit Porsch.com/usa.

AUTOMOTIVE words and photos by TOM STRONGMAN

PORSCHE TAYCAN 4S.

A Sports Car for the Sustainable Future.

The Taycan is one of the most anticipated cars of the last few years because it embraces a fully electric drivetrain. But, technically, it’s really not the first electric Porsche, because the very first vehicle to bear the Porsche name was also fully electric. In 1893, a somewhat precocious 18-year-old Ferdinand Porsche, who later became the founder of the company that bears his name, joined the Vereinigte ElektrizitätsAG Béla Egger company in Vienna. After four years there, he progressed from mechanic to head of the testing department, and the first vehicle he designed – the Egger-Lohner C.2 Phaeton – was powered by an octagonal electric motor. By 1900, Porsche had moved to a carriage maker in Vienna where he developed an electric wheel-hub motor. In 1900, the Lohner-Porsche Electromobile was presented at the Expo in Paris. Lohner’s reason for using an electric motor? The air was “ruthlessly spoiled by the large number of petrol engines in use.” Sound familiar?

But the Taycan is not just a reaction to “ruthlessly spoiled air”; it is a showcase for future technology at a time when the majority of tomorrow’s vehicles are likely to be powered by electric motors. Porsche calls it a sports car for the sustainable future. In a way, the Lohner-Porsche Electromobile and the Taycan are historical bookends to the use of the internal combustion engine. That’s not to say that the internal combustion engine is dead, but its days appear to be numbered as most auto manufacturers are developing battery-powered electric cars for the future.

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2020 PORSCHE TAYCAN 4S Battery: 96kWh lithium-in battery, 563 horsepower Transmission: 2-speed automatic All-wheel drive Wheelbase: 114.2 inches Curb weight: 4,954 pounds Base price: $109,370 As driven: $128,670 MPGe rating: 68 in the city, 71 on the highway

AUTOMOTIVE Porsche’s history in racing and performance has been punctuated by powerful gasoline engines, but the 919 hybrid racing car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans three years in a row, from 2015 to 2017, used electric motors in concert with a gasoline engine.

There are three Taycan models: The Turbo S, the Turbo, and the 4S that I drove, and all have dual electric motors driving both the front and rear wheels. The Turbo S can generate up to 750 horsepower with launch control and over boost, resulting in a zeroto-60 time of 2.6 seconds. The Turbo puts out 670 horsepower and a sprint-to-60 time of 3.0 seconds. The 4S has 522 horsepower or 563 with the Performance Battery Plus. It hits 60 in 3.8 seconds.

Prices start at $103,800 for the 4S, $109,370 for the 4S with the Performance Battery Plus, $150,900 for the Turbo and $185,000 for the Turbo S. Synchronous electric motors on the front and rear axles create all-wheel drive and the rear axle has a two-speed transmission.

Porsche is the first to use a two-speed transmission because it offers more relaxed cruising. The car usually starts in second gear in normal mode but full throttle engages first gear.

The Taycan is a quietly quick four-seat sedan that embraces Porsche’s DNA with startling performance. Its outright performance numbers are on par with many exotic supercars, yet in daily driving, it feels docile and refined until you punch the throttle.

Electric motors deliver maximum torque instantaneously so that acceleration feels more like a time warp. Picking your way through highway traffic is like driving a video game – a dab of the throttle (no longer called a gas pedal) moves the car so effortlessly that it’s as if it reads your mind and reacts intuitively.

The chassis rides on a 114.2-inch wheelbase. The profile is a cross between a 911 and a Panamera sedan. A large battery pack resides under the floor and helps give the car a low center of gravity and near perfect weight distribution for sports-car handling. That’s typically not what you expect to find in a four-door sedan.

Michael Mauer, Head of Style Porsche, said that purely electric vehicles are often higher than their conventionally powered counterparts because the relatively heavy and large batteries are positioned in the floor of the vehicle, while the occupants sit above them, according to Porsche’s press materials. To create the low profile and keep a comfortable seating position, designers created “foot garages,” or low spaces, for passengers’ feet. The back seat legroom looks tight, but once inside, your feet fit under the front seats and legroom is more than adequate.

Range and charging time are important aspects of an electric car. Porsche is the first company to use an 800-volt system instead of the usual 400 volts. A 270kW charging station can bring the battery to 80 percent in 22.5 minutes, but few 800-volt charging stations exist. The more common charging stations will take considerably longer.

SUMMER 2020 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | 29

AUTOMOTIVE

When I picked up the Taycan 4S, the system predicted a range of 187 miles. I drove 122 miles and still had 122 miles of range left. The EPA mileage rating is extremely conservative and most owners will get better mileage.

The interior is typical Porsche. Comfortable seats with a relatively tall center console cradle the driver and front-seat passenger. All of the instruments are digital, and they can be reconfigured in several ways to suit the needs of the driver. Two touch-screens are located in the instrument panel – one in the center and one in front of the passenger. The passenger can control navigation, audio, and climate from his or her own screen. The console also has a touch-screen.

The car I drove had the basic all-black interior with no bright trim work on the door handles, steering wheel, or around the air vents. I believe a little more bright trim would be my choice.

Because electric cars are quiet, the Taycan has Porsche Electric Sport Sound that makes the vehicle’s own drive sound more emotionally charged and richer. Disturbing noises from the drive architecture are deliberately minimized, while harmonious, emotive sounds that match what the car is doing are amplified.

In the future, there will be a Taycan Cross Turismo with slightly higher ground clearance and a station-wagonstyle roofline.

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.

30 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | SUMMER 2020

Ignite creativity and explore the possibilities.

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An Iconic and Resilient KansasCity.

A pictorial tribute to KC – courtesy of three uber talented Kansas City photographers.

KENNY JOHNSON One of the first things people ask Kenny Johnson when he shows up on a shoot is, “How or why did you get into photography?” His answers usually vary depending on his audience: from speaking to the art of his work, to his fascination with the process, from lighting, to coaxing the right look from his models, to the photo-retouching process. Kenny was raised in Kansas City, Kansas, and photography “found him” in high school, where he quickly became interested in every aspect of the art form. At that time, he never imagined he could make a living with his Nikon camera. Kenny is a recreational runner, a cook, and a father to six. He has done work for corporations and ad agencies, shooting everything from products to high fashion. He is also a fine art photographer, represented

by Blue Gallery Kansas City, MO. We at Today Kansas City have been fortunate to entertain Kenny’s talent and eye behind the camera from our very first issue. His work remains a signature of this magazine.

ANNA PETROW When Anna Petrow was in sixth grade, her father inspired her infatuation with photography with an old Nikon FG-20 pulled out of the attic. An encouraging family, and a willing little-sister model, provided a clear path to her dream career. Anna’s education continued at Shawnee Mission East and then to photojournalism at the University of Missouri, but she says her real learning was in the tinkering and practice of photography, both in her backyard and throughout her travels. Since then, she has gone on to shoot for publications such as the New York Times, Fathom Travel, Jetsetter, and, Today Kansas City. Anna considers the best part of her job meeting incredibly creative folks in our city who pour their hearts and souls into fostering a lively, artistically led community for us to live and thrive in. You can view and purchase her art photography prints and other work at annapetrow.com.

TOM STRONGMAN 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.

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PHOTO BY TOM STRONGMAN 34 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | SUMMER 2020

SUMMER 2020 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | 35

PHOTO BY TOM STRONGMAN

PHOTO BY KENNY JOHNSON

PHOTO BY TOM STRONGMAN

PHOTO BY KENNY JOHNSON

PHOTO BY ANNA PETROW

PHOTO BY KENNY JOHNSON

PHOTO BY TOM STRONGMAN

PHOTO BY ANNA PETROW

PHOTO BY TOM STRONGMAN

PHOTO BY ANNA PETROW

PHOTO BY KENNY JOHNSON

PHOTO BY KENNY JOHNSON

PHOTO BY TOM STRONGMAN

PHOTO BY KENNY JOHNSON

PHOTO BY TOM STRONGMAN

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56 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | SUMMER 2020

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INTERVIEW by JOEL NICHOLS

“What’s Not to Love About this Story?”

When Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum (NLBM), joyfully asks that question, he’s talking about the history of the Negro Leagues. It could just as easily apply to his own story. For 30 years, the NLBM has been sharing this inspiring tale. This year is special. One hundred years ago, on February 13, 1920, Rube Foster founded the league at the Paseo YMCA, just a few blocks from the current location of the museum. It’s the perfect time to round the bases with the effervescent Mr. Kendrick.

How did a young man from little Crawfordville, Georgia, find himself here?

“It’s still amazing to me that I wound up in the Midwest. I was prepared to go to Howard University; then, in the thirteenth hour, Park College came out of nowhere and said, ‘Hey we got a little money if you can come out here to play basketball.’

SUMMER 2020 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | 59

INTERVIEW Photo by Anna Petrow

I didn’t really know where Parkville was but I left home and haven’t looked back since.”

You’re the youngest of six boys?

“By the time I came along, Mom and Dad were just tired! I was so lucky to have them. Neither one had more than a 10thgrade education, which was as far as each could go in those days, but each of them instilled values I still call on today.”

You are a person of enormous presence.

Does it ever bother you, ego-wise, to be asked every day, everywhere about the great John “Buck” O’Neil?

“I was never afraid to walk in Buck O’Neil’s shadow. You cannot fill his enormous shoes. It would not be humanly possible. To have the opportunity to pick up the baton and try to carry out the great work that he had so dedicated himself to the last 16 years of his life is awesome.

Not a single day goes by that I don’t think about Buck. Cast that shadow!”

You were as close to him as anyone could be. For most of us, Buck was always happy, always up! Ever see any sadness or despair?

“Only time I saw him somewhat sullen was talking about his experiences in the service. He was a proud Navy man. When he got back, he realized that the POWS were treated better than they were.

POWS were in the front of the bus and they were relegated to the back. There’s nothing more patriotic you can do than serve, and yet they were still treated like second-class citizens. That kind of left a little mark on him.”

As you like to say, you were bitten by the Buck Bug? “Absolutely! The best gift Buck gave me, that he never realized that he gave me, was in 1999. The Royals are celebrating the 25th anniversary of Henry Aaron breaking Babe Ruth’s homerun record,

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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

and Buck’s out of town, so I draw the assignment of escorting my childhood hero through the museum. My all-time favorite baseball player! l was nearly 12 years old when he broke Ruth’s record in 1974 and, as I shared the story with him, when he hit homerun 715 and was circling the bases in Atlanta, I was in my mother’s living room in Crawfordville circling them, too. The old couch, first base. TV, second base. The other couch was third.

Our recliner was home plate. The only time that I’ve ever been starstruck and I’m still starstruck is when I’m in the presence of the great Henry Aaron. We’ve had presidents, first ladies, generals, movie stars, and athletes here, and I mean no disrespect to any of them, but none of them is Henry Aaron.”

The museum is about more than baseball, isn’t it?

“This is the story of America at her worst and at her triumphant best. You will never see a greater example of love the game. They had to love it in order to endure the things that they had to endure. Go into a town, fill up the ballpark, and yet not be able to get a meal from the same fans who are just cheering for you. This is not a woe-is-mine kind of story. They went out and did something. You won’t let me play with you?

I’ll create my own. So, while America was trying to prevent them from sharing the joys of her so-called national pastime, it was the American spirit that allowed them to persevere and prevail. That’s why I say: What’s not to love about this story?”

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.

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HEALTH by DR. LINDA MOORE

How Do We Feel?

What Have We Learned?

What's the Impact We Still Must Unravel?

Important life questions go unanswered far to often in the rush of day to day living and working; and, suddenly, for most of us, as we follow the guidelines of quarantine, there is time to examine our quality of life – raising those questions that typically only surface in reflective minutes grabbed on vacation – a long weekend – perhaps even while being stuck in bed with a bad cold.

Today – with the fear of serious illness that is constantly in the news and in the foreground of our minds – our thoughts and our questions can take an exaggerated turn, escalating and creating unnecessary stress. Consequently, I’m sharing the basic questions I hear in my private practice … and my best efforts to help answer them.

SUMMER 2020 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | 65

DO NOT believe all the things you THINK. Our minds typically “distort” facts, and right now it’s easy to think life is “awful, terrible, and I can’t stand it!”

Writing the thoughts down helps you see the distortions and, hopefully, regain perspective.

IS WHAT I’M FEELING NORMAL? AND HOW DO I KNOW IF MY ANXIETY AND/OR MY DEPRESSION ARE SERIOUS? Most of us define our “own normal” based on “how different” we feel from time to time – and usually when there’s accelerated stress at home or at work that must be confronted and managed. Today, because this crisis is quite different, the best thing to do to reassure yourself – much like taking your own temperature – is to construct a simple measurement for what you are feeling.

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being low or almost nonexistent and 10 being high/intense, first rate your level of anxiety, then your level of depression. Write your numbers in a notebook or on a calendar. Do this daily so you can clearly remind yourself of ups and downs or inconsistency in your feelings. If your numbers stay on the high

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end of the scale for several days in a row, take that as a sign you need to talk about what you’re feeling with someone you trust.

While anxious and depressed feelings are normal in times of stress and crisis, the persistent feelings that do not quiet down, but accelerate, are what to pay attention to. Anxiety typically exhibits with racing thoughts, difficulty sitting still or concentrating and maintaining focus, rapid changes in what you’re doing/feeling, and trouble relaxing. Depression is expressed in feeling overly tired or low energy, loss of interest in what you normally do, poor concentration and failure to start or complete tasks, and negative thoughts about life in general.

When you can, talk about what you’re feeling, because, for most of us, it truly does relieve the intensity of feelings. However, if you simply can’t talk, write down

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HEALTH what you’re feeling. Both speaking and writing can “metabolize” feelings and help you see what is manageable and what problems can be tackled and resolved.

ARE MY DREAMS, SOMETIMES NIGHTMARES, A SIGN OF A PROBLEM? Typically, it helps to think of dreams as a release – and as your “system trying to speak to you.” Write down as much as you can recall about dreams. See if you find messages or meaning. Basically regard the dreams as a release of stressful feelings, as an effort to “process” the day’s events. Disturbing dreams are most problematic when they disrupt sleep or make it hard to return to sleep.

Make sure you take plenty of time away from news and tech devices for at least an hour before bedtime … preferable more! And right before lights out, create a positive mindset by writing down five things you feel grateful for.

AM I DRINKING AND EATING TOO MUCH? It’s entirely possible to over due in both eating and drinking when normal work, social, and family activities are dramatically changed. And if you’re asking yourself this question about amount, the answer is likely yes.

Start to monitor your eating and drinking. Keep track of changes in your habits. Eliminate alcohol and unhealthy foods for three days and see how you feel … and again, talk about it.

WHAT WILL LIFE LOOK LIKE IN 6 MONTHS? IN A YEAR? Most people are asking themselves about their work, relationships, health, and financial well-being – and the multiplicity of things that will likely change in the weeks and months ahead. Any unknown is typically a concern for most people and this unknown is truly unpredictable. Consequently, a good approach is think about what you want.

WHAT CHANGES HAVE YOU ALREADY MADE? What changes would you like to make if and when you can? What do you want to ask for (from family, friends, colleagues)? And what would you like to offer to others? What are your bottom-line values? What is consistent? What has changed? What decisions have been side-lined or perhaps become priorities?

KEEP THESE IN THE FOREGROUND FOR REFLECTION. • DO NOT believe all the things you THINK. Our minds typically “distort” facts, and right now it’s easy to think life is “awful, terrible, and I can’t stand it!” Writing the thoughts down helps you see the distortions and, hopefully, regain perspective • Don’t let emotions drive your decision-making, especially when stress is high. Take lots of time to reflect on changes you have in mind. And keep your values in the foreground.

• Give up the need and drive to be in CONTROL. Control is an effort to make everyone do what you want, and that causes stress for everyone. Try instead to be IN CHARGE. The difference? Being in charge is being reflective, making choices, and checking and negotiating your wants, desires, and preferences with others. If you can let go of efforts to be in control, your anxiety and depression will loosen … perhaps gradually, but it does work … especially in such uncertain times.

Finally, if you don’t already do these things, consider them: • Create a daily schedule and stick to it.

• Organize family meetings where everyone has a chance to talk about what they feel and need.

• Embrace meditation, exercise, healthy eating … and gratitude.

Please feel free to email me with concerns, questions, or for information on resources – drlinalmoore@gmail.com, or access my website Drlindalmoore.com.

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.

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T H E O N LY H O M E T H A T M A T T E R S I S Y O U R S .

JODIE BRETHOUR Buyer’s Agent, Listing Agent, Experienced Professional, Fearless Negotiator, ReeceNichol’s President’s Circle Award Winner.

Jodie Brethour Buyer’s Agent, Listing Agent, Experienced Professional, Fearless Negotiator, ReeceNichols President’s Circle Award Winner

I was born and raised in the Midwest and have lived Kansas City area since 1991, which allows me to know th extremely well. I have been helping clients sell or find perfect home since I began in real estate in March of 20

My background in sales and customer service helped a successful formula for buying and selling real esta creating strong interpersonal relationships, I enjoy long-l personal bonds with my clients. I fight hard for the p I work for and am committed to catering to their indi needs. I want to make your home selling or homeb experience a smooth, enjoyable process.

I am hardworking, determined, energetic and straightfo I believe a direct approach is the only way to conduct bu

Whether you’re buying your first home or your last, I can I will listen to your needs and offer advice, and togeth will create a plan to effectively and efficiently accomplis goals and objectives.

I am an experienced professional who devotes unl resources and time to make sure my clients are happy easily accessible and available day or night. Becau two clients are the same, I provide personal attent their individual needs. My knowledge of the area an Nmarketplace CE as well as outstanding customer service given my clients the trust to refer their family and friend

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NONPROFIT by KELSEY CIPOLLA

Serving the Service Industry Clark Grant, formerly the executive chef at Plate in Brookside, was laid off the week of St. Patrick’s Day. And he was far from the only one.

As COVID-19 precautions and shelter-in-place requirements shut down businesses throughout the country, hospitality workers were hit especially hard. With restaurants and bars unable to safely open to the public, some forged ahead with carryout options and significantly reduced staffs, while others closed their doors completely – some forever.

Grant saw what was happening around him and took note, co-founding the KC Hospitality Support Initiative, one of numerous organizations that emerged in the wake of COVID-19 to support local hospitality workers. His organization sells T-shirts to fund grocery store gift cards for the unemployed or underemployed in the industry.

Gift cards are randomly awarded to those who have applied through the organization’s website.

The initiative launched in late March, and as of mid-May, it’s raised more than $11,000 and provided gift cards to more than 450 applicants, but “we’re having more people apply than we have funds,” Grant says. He intends to keep the fundraiser up and running as long

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as it’s needed, providing some much-needed hope in addition to money for groceries.

Like Grant, photographer Anna Petrow wanted to help the local culinary community during this challenging time.

“Restaurants often have thin margins as is, so operating at a lower capacity than normal is really devastating for a lot of these local restaurant owners,” Petrow says. “They’re doing their best to do takeout and a lot of them started their own GoFundMe pages. I wanted to create a more centralized effort to give Kansas Citians a way to support the restaurants that they love and a way to support in particular the hospitality workers that are either experiencing layoffs, reduced hours, or just reduced tips from a lower volume of business.”

A friend of hers in Chicago found success selling T-shirts and partnering with local restaurants to distribute funds, so Petrow decided to bring the concept to KC. With help from Danielle Lehman, host of the food-centric Open Belly podcast, Made in KC co-owner and entrepreneur Tyler Enders and graphic artist Frank Norton, KC Runs on Hospitality was born.

Shirts feature a design donated

by Norton, and proceeds benefit

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NONPROFIT partner restaurants. Any restaurant can apply online: The only requirements are that they’re local and willing to help promote the shirts. The project also partnered with Kanbe’s Markets, a Kansas City-based nonprofit that provides access to fresh, healthy foods in food deserts, which is facilitating fund distribution.

As of mid-May, the KC Runs on Hospitality Project raised more than $40,000. In addition to raising money through T-shirt sales, the project has a digital “tip jar” where people can make donations and corporate partners have further bolstered their efforts. Online food ordering company ChowNow covered the cost of printing the first 1,000 shirts, and Tito’s Vodka is matching up to $8,000 in tip jar donations.

Although the future of the industry is hazy for now, Petrow also sees the shirts taking on a life after the crisis.

“I think one of the more exciting things about the idea was the thought of seeing people out and about in these T-shirts as restrictions start to lift,” she says. “Hopefully, someday, when we’ve all resumed life as normal, it’ll be a really powerful gesture to all of the restaurants seeing their customers walking around in these shirts and just remembering how they supported them during these times.”

OTHER WAYS TO GIVE Kansas City wasted no time responding to the COVID-19 crisis and its impact on the community. Learn about a few other organizations working to make a difference.

CROSSROADS COMMUNITY KITCHEN Just as the pandemic hit KC, Chef Howard Hanna and his team at the Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange launched Crossroads Community Kitchen, a donation-based meal pick-up and delivery service providing community members with delicious and nutritious meals, regardless of their financial status. Help support the effort at gofundme.com/f/crossroads-community-kitchen.

CHEF COLLECTIVE KC Chef Collective KC is a network of chefs, food industry partners, and a community of growers coming together to employ restaurant teams to feed the food-insecure in the Kansas City community. Food is sourced from the network and brought to the centralized receiving, processing, and distribution partner, Kanbe’s Market, and then sent to participating kitchens, prepared into meals, and sent to distribution locations within the community. Learn more at chefcollectivekc.com.

OPERATION BBQ RELIEF Operation BBQ Relief has long served meals in communities around the country affected by disasters. It’s now shifted its attention to COVID-19 with the Operation Restaurant Relief program, which revives closed restaurants by utilizing their kitchens to provide free meals to those in need and those on the front lines. As part of the effort, the restaurants rehire laid off workers to comply with the program and receive a stipend for their participation from Operation BBQ Relief. So far, more than 100,000 meals have been served in KC alone. Get the details at www.OBR.org.

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.

SUMMER 2020 | TODAY KANSAS CITY | 73

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INTERIOR DESIGN by STACY DOWNS

Three Easy DIY Upgrades.

During our WFH era, these little lifts yield big returns for work/life balance While many of us are working from home until after Labor Day weekend, or even the remainder of 2020, we’re really using our entire living space as the office so we’re not too socially distanced from our family members.

If you’re like me, the dining room is now the conference center with all the Zoom and Microsoft Team meetings, the kitchen is a cafeteria – unfortunately without vending machines – and my desk is everywhere except the

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home office – which has become the library/game/escape room.

So while I WFH and my eye gazes upon each space in the house each day, my brain is dreaming up DIY projects that will yield high ROI when it comes to work/life balance with minimal effort.

Here are three easy upgrades and little lifts that should make a big difference:

INTERIOR DESIGN

1. PORCH MAKEOVER These days, I consider my porch like the front desk to an office. As people text me and stop by to visit – social-distancing from the driveway while my family is on the porch – I’ve noticed that this area needs extra attention as a living space beyond elevating curb appeal.

Here’s what’s on the to-do list, which, hopefully, will result in a ta-da list soon!

Paint the columns and front door. It’s been a few years since they were painted, so new coats are in order. I’m

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sticking to nearly the same colors because the combination still feels fresh and inviting: dark gray for the columns and lime green for the door.

Roll out the welcome mat. I swapped out the old neutral mat for one filled with color and cheer.

Upgrade the porch swing. The porch swing I meant to replace soon after we bought our house nearly two decades ago is definitely beyond weathered! For years, I’ve had my eye on a modern porch swing, made from 520 recycled milk jugs by Loll Designs, and I intend to take the plunge this summer.

Confidence found.

“People might not like something small about the way they look.

You change those small things and they are suddenly bursting with confidence. They just seem brighter, happier. It’s something that could be unnoticeable to someone else. It’s about the way they feel personally about themselves and the way they project themselves. That’s the part of it I like the most — changing their self-confidence, changing their attitude through good work.”

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INTERIOR DESIGN

2. KITCHEN ORGANIZATION While a full-scale kitchen renovation is on the near horizon, my husband and I are setting up this workhorse room, taking inspiration from our away-from-home offices and those we’ve visited for business meetings. This is after donating random mugs and unused countertop appliances as well as any item that no longer serves a purpose.

Make a hydration station. Right away, my husband and I noticed we were going through way too many cans of sparkling water among our four family members who were working and studying all day at home. So we’re setting up what we call a spa-water area – H2O flavored by different fruits and herbs in a water dispenser so people can help themselves.

Set up baskets of healthy fruit and snacks. Because we were usually on the go more, we didn’t have a real need for a big fruit basket. Now we do! I’m trying to keep this stocked with bananas, oranges, apples and snack bars, reminiscent of some of the meetings I had at the office.

Create a coffee corner. I keep coffee hot and going all day since the office coffee pot isn’t around any more. One of the perks from WFH is grinding beans and using a French press to brew the perfect cup.

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NATIONALLY RANKED. LOCALLY BASED. Mariner Wealth Advisors has been nationally ranked in the top four RIA Firms by Barron’s in 2016 - 2019. While we are thrilled with this recognition, we believe the true measure of our success is helping our clients arrive at their financial destination.

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913-647-9700 | www.marinerwealthadvisors.com 5700 W. 112th St., Suite 200, Overland Park, KS 66211 *Barron’s awarded the 2019 #4 and 2018 #3 Top RIA Firms rankings to Mariner Wealth Advisors based on data compiled for Mariner Wealth Advisors and the 2017 #2 and 2016 #1 rankings to Mariner Holdings based upon data compiled for Mariner Holdings’ registered investment adviser subsidiaries. The number of firms included in the rankings were: 20 (2016), 30 (2017), 40 (2018) and 50 (2019). Barron’s publishes rankings based upon a number of criteria and the firms’ filings with the SEC were used to cross-check the data provided. The listing includes numbers of clients, employees, advisors, offices and state locations. The award is not indicative of future performance and there is no guarantee of future investment success. For additional information visit www.barrons.com.

Mariner Wealth Advisors (“MWA”) is an SEC registered investment adviser with its principal place of business in the State of Kansas. Registration of an investment adviser does not imply a certain level of skill or training. MWA is in compliance with the current notice filing requirements imposed upon registered investment advisers by those states in which MWA maintains clients. MWA may only transact business in those states in which it is notice filed or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from notice filing requirements. Any subsequent, direct communication by MWA with a prospective client shall be conducted by a representative that is either registered or qualifies for an exemption or exclusion from registration in the state where the prospective client resides. For additional information about MWA, including fees and services, please contact MWA or refer to the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure website (www.adviserinfo.sec.gov). Please read the disclosure statement carefully before you invest or send money.

INTERIOR DESIGN 3. CREATIVE NOOK I find that decluttering and intentionally setting up spaces in my home sparks new ideas and innovations.

Swap out hardware. After organizing my art and office supplies in an old cabinet, I decided its dated, flimsy drawer handles should be swapped out for something more substantial and stylish. After hunting around, I found these leather-covered pulls – I’m just having a difficult time committing to a color!

Paper a wall. I love wallpaper because it makes big impact in small doses. For my home office-turned library, I’m going to try this removable paper on one wall, featuring illustrated bookshelves and a typewriter. I try to avoid themes, but the book-loving writer in me can’t resist – especially in the orange colorway!

Build an inspiration board. One project I am working on is an inspiration board – it helps keep me focused on what I am grateful for. You can get fancy and frame a corkboard or fabric-wrapped bulletin board. Me: I’ve created a large square of orange mat board that I look at each day. I’ve divided sections into spirituality, relationships, health, home, career, and leisure – and it’s filled with words and images. I’ve found it to be a road map to positivity during the challenges of this pandemic.

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.

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