TODAY Kansas City - Summer 2023

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Welcome to Electric Luxury

The future of driving begins now. Pouring over a century of our knowledge into electric mobility, we’re transforming the driving experience, delivering the luxury and performance you expect from Mercedes-Benz. The all-electric platform, powered with renewable energy, advances the way we move. Come into Aristocrat Motors or Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City to learn more about the EQB, EQE and EQS models. Mercedes-Benz has your next electric car... even if it is your first.

Our Offerings of EVs: Innovation, Quality, and Over a Century of Automotive Manufacturing.

As we move farther and farther into 2023, we are seeing more and more electric vehicles (EVs) come to the market. Many of todays EVs are being designed and built by auto manufacturers with over 100 years of technological innovation and experience. That innovation and experience are being incorporated into their production of their EVs.

Right now, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and Alfa Romeo have either all-electric vehicles or hybrid plug-in vehicles on the market for you to experience.

Currently, Mercedes-Benz has 10 different EV models. Porsche has the Taycan EV sport sedan with its best-selling Macan SUV electric following later this year. Alfa Romeo just brought in the first all-new Alfa Romeo in six years to the market, and it is a plugin hybrid SUV. Range Rover has an EV model of the Range Rover in final testing; and Jaguar is about to bring out an entire line up of EVs.

Our BMW dealership in Topeka is offering three EVs: the large i7 sedan, the i4 sedan, and the iX SUV, with the I5 SUV coming this fall. VW has been offering the ID.4 Sedan for well over a year, and it will soon be joined by the ID.BUZZ, the electrification of the allnew “VW Bus,” straight from the ’60s and ’70s.

The Federal Government is subsidizing short-term leases up to $7,500, which brings the lease on the BMW i4 and the VW ID.4 in at $499 per month.

I invite you to come out and test drive the latest in EV technology in some of the finest vehicles ever produced.

Enjoy the latest issue of Today Kansas City and your summer!

Marion Battaglia, President

"I invite you to come out and test drive the latest in EV technology in some of the finest vehicles ever produced."

June is a Very Special Month.

June 2023 goes down as a very special month. You will see the excitement the month held for us in this issue of Today Kansas City. It was Porsche’s 75th anniversary building automobiles.

We celebrated the event with a car show on the anniversary date of June 10. However, in the magazine, it is reflected by a review of the new Porsche 911, Porsche’s iconic sports car, as well as a personal history of the author’s experience with Porsche, by Tom Strongman. Both articles are accompanied by Tom’s award-winning photography.

As for myself, I grew up with Porsche-envy, satisfied in 1972 when I drove a 1967 Porsche 912 Targa from South Bend, Indiana, into my garage in Lincoln, Nebraska. That car was a part of my family for over 20 years, and it was recently replaced by a 1999 911. That is what makes Porsche unique: You are always a Porsche owner; there are times you just don’t have one in your garage.

This issue also highlights something many of us have dealt with, how to live with a dog or another pet and still keep a home that has some sense of design. Patricia O’Dell brings this advice in her article this month and is also something she is adjusting to with a new puppy in her home.

Fashion is always forward in Today, but this issue features Joanne Mullin’s amazing kimonos that are designed and created here in Kansas City. They offer such incredible color and uniqueness, and we hope you all put at least one in your closet.

Additionally, we have a great interview with the outgoing executive director of Variety Club KC, Deborah Wiebrecht, who has been such an influence on the success of our local chapter of this charity. She will be missed.

Finally, Anne Kniggendorf presents a very urban program of bringing poetry to the public, as she highlights a program sponsored by the Kansas City library that puts poetry on the walls of streetcar stops. It’s a program that makes Kansas City just a little more livable and inclusive.

I hope you enjoy this latest issue of what, for me, has become a wonderful way to share our great region and city.

CORRECTION

In the spring issue of Today Kansas City, there was an incorrect credit for the fabulous images of the food at Enzo’s in the River Market. The food images were provided by Courtney Wiebe of Courtney Wiebe Photography in Kansas City.

SOAVE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP

MARION BATTAGLIA President

KEVIN KILLILEA Vice President

ANGIE LEWITZKE Controller

CHUCK DAVIS Service and Parts Director

ROBERT HELLWEG Marketing Director

SCOTT SWENSON General Manager Factory Relations

LARRY MILLER Inventory Director

LINDSEY BENEFIELD Internet Manager

FERNANDO RICCI Finance & Insurance Director

MATT ROSENBLOOM Director of Sales Operations

DAVID HUGHES General Manager Aristocrat Lee's Summit

KRIS NIELSEN General Manager Aristocrat Motors Topeka

JORDAN SCHLOTZHAUER Human Relations Manager

NEW VEHICLE SALES MANAGERS

DAVID ANDREWS Aristocrat Mercedes-Benz

KIRK WILLMS Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City

CHUCK OBRIEN Porsche Kansas City

JAY CHEATHAM Alfa Romeo and Maserati

JOE SIRNA Jaguar-Land Rover

RILEY HARMON Aristocrat Motors Topeka

PRE-OWNED MANAGERS

JK CORNELIUS Aristocrat Motors

ROSS STRADA Mercedes-Benz Kansas City

MIKE REID Mercedes-Benz Kansas City

DAVID FISER Aristocrat Lee's Summit

SERVICE MANAGERS

CHARLES FRIEDMAN Aristocrat Mercedes-Benz | Maserati | Alfa Romeo

RODNEY PARKER Porsche Kansas City

KEVIN SMELL Jaguar-Land Rover of Merriam

ISAAC NICHOLS Aristocrat Motors Topeka

JOHN DOOLITTLE Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City

PARTS MANAGERS

BILL WELLS Aristocrat Motors

DAVID BARNES Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City

JOE LAWHEAD Jaguar-Land Rover of Merriam

KIP NASH Aristocrat Motors Topeka

ROBERT HELLWEG Editor | 913.677.7414

KATHRYN CREEL Creative Director

MARCI LINN Copyeditor

ALLYSON ELLIS Sales Director | 913.634.3838

AMANI SKALACKI Fashion Director

ALISON BARNES MARTIN Fashion Photographer

TODAY KANSAS CITY is a quarterly publication by Soave Automotive Group – home of Aristocrat Motors, MercedesBenz 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.

An Homage to Porsche. by Tom Strongman

photos by Alison Barnes Martin styling by Amani Skalacki

There’s No Place Like Noka.

Emily Lane: In most cities, there is an ongoing effort to create something new in the food scene. Sushi burritos! Molecular gastronomy! Cronuts! Noka is no exception, but in the most sincere way. If you’re looking for an intimate date night, look elsewhere. But if an expertly curated, highly aesthetic communal dining experience appeals to you, Noka is it. Even from the street, you can tell Noka is something different than your normal dining experience. The stonegray painted exterior and heavy-dark wood doors welcome you into a space unlike any other in Kansas City. Stewart and I were eager to see what all the buzz was about.

We were seated at one of three large communal tables in the center of the restaurant. The only other seating option is bar seating, so be prepared to rub elbows with a stranger. The heavy, concrete tables, set with neutral colors, clay jars, and unique plants leaned into the Japanese farmhouse theme the restaurant identifies as. The design is as distinct as the menu.

Stewart Lane: After getting settled, I started the experience with a Gin #1, a light and crisp cocktail of yuzu, salted honey syrup, lemon, and sparkling wine. The viscosity was perfect and the hint of salt in the honey created a warmth on the tongue while the cocktail was, itself, cool and refreshing.

The menu, like the dining experience, is meant to be shared. The opening bounty from Chef Amanté Domingo is both a feast for the eyes and tongues. Each dish was an invigorating production, bursting with life, color, and textures. The Hamachi sashimi with a popcorn crust, shiso oil, and roe was accented with the thinnest of shoestring crisp potatoes, sliced jalapenos, shaved red onions, and fennel fronds that was a visual trick of the mind. Served on a gray stone, the thin slices of delicate fish lay on a bed of crumbled popcorn reminiscent of powdery snow. The bright colors and contrasts of the herbs, the plate, and the popcorn created a beautiful and fun introduction to our meal. We also could not pass up the house-famous octopus tostada, combining crispy tiny octopi and slices of tender tentacles on locally made tortillas with wood fire-roasted vegetables, a smoky yam puree, fresh arugula, and dressed with a jalapeno vinaigrette. Black squid-ink crackers, resembling a wild coral reef, finished the presentation and provided a crisp taste of the sea adding a dynamic flourish to the dish.

EL: As his first solo concept, Chef Amanté wanted to pay homage to his father, a farmer who raised organic produce and ran a small restaurant in St. Joseph, Missouri. He even used many parts of the 150-year-old family barn in the construction and design. Massive earthenware pots line the main walls, creating the feel of being in a natural history museum. You can also dine at the 10-seat chef’s table, which overlooks the culinary team as they dance between searing binchotan charcoal grills, roaring sauté stations, and plating lines. While some diners may prefer to stick to the company they came with, we reached out and chatted with tablemates as we watched plates being delivered all around us.

SL: Scallops are jewels of the sea and at Noka they present them in a fanciful interpretation of nature. Juicy jumbo scallops were seared and served on a smoky root puree and topped with umami rich blackgarlic and spicy microgreens. The puree was a vivacious and rich orange, mimicking the natural scallop roe, while bringing a complexity of sweet and savory to the delicate scallops. The miso-glazed black cod showcased the culinary skills of Noka’s kitchen team.

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=rm&ogbl#inbox/FMfcgzGsnBgXWMbXpdfcLVTDfclZgfdF?projector=1&messagePartId=0.1

Perfectly cooked cod with a rich glaze of miso and black garlic paired with a bright and tangy shaved radish and cucumber salad. As a play to the yakitori style of cooking, a skewer of crispy sticky rice added a fun and unique texture to the plate as a foil for the delicate fish.

The sides were far from afterthoughts and showed Chef Amanté’s expertise in crafting and enhancing subtle flavors. The wok-fried local wild mushrooms in a fermented black-bean sauce were as savory as any meat dish. Deep rich flavors with a touch of smoke and char were accentuated with the savory glaze. Wood-fire-grilled asparagus on a sweet and vibrant green nettle puree and topped with puffed rice noodles created a beautiful expression of spring in vibrant colors and flavors. The smoked beets were a highlight for me, incredibly tender and sweet with a kiss of smoke, paired with an herbed goat cheese spread and pickled mustard seeds, creating a complex and engaging dish. A sheet of crispy rice paper added whimsy and crunch, making every forkful dynamic and exciting.

can be very difficult to work with, but in the right hands, incredible flavors can be created. The Blu Hwy chefs did not disappoint. Crispy outside skin with tender, juicy meat laid on a bed of mashed English peas, crunchy sweet hazelnuts, spicy Fresno chilies, and a simple lemon vinaigrette were crafted with knowledgeable hands. The English peas were the perfect textural and flavor complement to the bold octopus, chilies, and tart vinaigrette.

EL: Much like my daughters, I cannot say no to ice cream. The team partnered with High Hopes Ice Cream, on 55th and Troost, to create one of the best flavors I’ve ever enjoyed. The Cream & Corn ice cream was smooth and rich, with dark flavors of caramel corn and toasted rice and sassafras. The dish was nostalgic and comforting, while being new and exciting all at the same time. Don’t miss it to conclude your meal.

EL: So whatever plans your summer holds, we hope you add a visit to Blu Hwy to your list, and take a journey through their menu without leaving the city limits.

When it comes to the Noka experience, come prepared to ask questions, share space with others, and take in a meal that you’ve certainly never had before. It’s great to see new concepts not only surviving but thriving our beloved city. If your summer doesn’t include travel plans, visits to local restaurants like Noka will give you feeling of a mini-escape, even if just for a few hours.

Blu Hwy, located in the South Plaza area at 5070 Main Street in Kansas City, is open Monday through Friday for lunch, happy hour, and dinner, and Saturday and Sunday for brunch, happy hour, and dinner. More information and reservations can be found at BluHwy.com.

Noka, located at 334 E 31st Street in Kansas City, Missouri, is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday.

Reservations are highly recommended, and can be made at nokakc.com

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Emily and Stewart Lane are Kansas City natives who have an affection for hospitality. Stewart, a former executive chef, makes his career in business development and loves to cook for friends and family, and Emily is a communications strategist with an arts background. Along with their daughters, Evie and Catharine, they live a life filled with food, culture, and creativity.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Emily and Stewart Lane are Kansas City natives who have an affection for hospitality. Stewart, a former executive chef, makes his career with SMG and loves to cook for friends and family, and Emily is a marketing communications manager with an arts background. Along with their daughters, Evie and Catharine, they live a life filled with food, culture, and creativity.

Warm woods, worn leather, and textured fabrics span the bar, dining room, and outdoor patio at Blu Hwy.

An Homage to Porsche.

Porsche has long held an allure for me, starting in the mid1950s when I was about 10 years old. I remember folding myself into the tiny rear seat of a cream-colored 356 Porsche as my dad zipped around corners in my hometown of Decatur, Ill. One of his good friends was a car dealer who sold Jaguars, Triumphs, and the occasional Porsche, which is how I got the ride. The slightly wheezy sound of the tiny air-cooled four-cylinder engine was unlike anything I had heard, and the way the car scampered around turns was a revelation in an era of big, bulky American cars that took corners as if they were land yachts.

This year marks the 75th Anniversary of Porsche. Under the leadership of Ferry Porsche, Ferdinand›s son, the first car bearing the official emblem of Porsche was built at the end of the World War II. It was the legendary Porsche 356, the original Porsche, the predecessor that incorporated the unmistakable characteristics of every later Porsche model. My fascination with the cars from Zuffenhausen, Germany, began with that ride in a little 356 and continues to this day.

My older brother bought a new silver Porsche 914 2.0-liter in 1972 in Denver. My wife and I were living in Colorado at the time and his 914 was like magic to me. One Friday evening, on the way to Aspen for a Porsche club driving school, he let me drive across the high plains of Colorado, and I began chasing a Pontiac Trans Am out of Leadville. Even though his 914 only had a bit more than 100 horsepower, it was light and agile, and, as I zigged and zagged through the hills, it felt like flying a small plane. My brother, now 88, still owns that 914, although it has been modified with factory steel GT fender flares, 911 brakes, and wide wheels. Someday I hope to be its next owner.

My wife and I moved our family from Colorado to Kansas City in late 1978, and in 1986 I bought a used metallic-gold 944 with dark-brown leather interior that was owned by Jim Hale, then publisher of the Kansas City Star. The front-engine 944 was unlike the rear-engined cars because it had a perfect 50/50 front/ rear weight balance that gave it exceptional handling. As our family got older and bigger, the 944 moved on to a new owner, replaced by a boring, but practical, Honda sedan.

sOld Porsches never die, they just keep living. This well-worn 356 Porsche was in the parking lot of the Goodwood Revival at the Goodwood race track in England, 2018.

As the automotive writer of The Kansas City Star for more than two decades, I had the chance to drive Porsches many times, including taking part in several day-long Porsche driving schools along with fellow journalists. One of the most memorable was the sensation of driving a screaming yellow Carrera GT around the Waterford Hills track near Detroit, its 5.5-liter, V-10 engine pumping out 605 howling horsepower. The GT, produced from 2004 to 2006, was a super car on par with the fastest around and its acceleration and braking were unlike anything I had ever experienced. During the day I also drove several other Porsches, including a basic Boxster. In the Boxster I could feel the DNA of the Carrera GT: It was balanced, nimble, and communicated

The Carrera GT, produced from 2004 to 2006, had a 5.5-liter, V-10 engine, pumping out 605, located midway in the chassis.

directly with the driver.  That day was the impetus for me buying a used 2006 Boxster about five years later, a car that I kept for more than five years.

Prior to the Boxster, I got the bug for a vintage Porsche Speedster, but real cars were financially out of reach. I found the next best thing, an Intermeccanica replica of a 1957 Porsche Speedster. The Intermeccanica used a shortened Volkswagen chassis, a Volkswagen engine, and a fiberglass body molded from a real 1957 Speedster. Mechanically and physically, it was nearly the same as an original. The Speedster is one of the most iconic automobile designs of all time. The round, squat roadster with a tiny windshield and a vestigial top that was almost never used,

sThe Porsche 911 SC, introduced for model years 1978 to 1983, represented an important evolution from the Carrera 2.7 in the form of an aluminum engine. The engine’s displacement was increased to 3.0-liters and featured Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection.

This 1979 Intermeccanica Speedster replica captures the essence of the original at a bargain price. I owned this car for five years. It rides on a modified Volkswagen chassis and has a Volkswagen engine.

fine-tune the aerodynamics and arrive at a chassis that has a curb weight of just over 3,300 pounds.

The carbon-fiber chassis makes use of underbody aerodynamics that help keep the top of the car sleek and sensual with rounded contours that echo classic design. The nose contains a grille that is recognizably Maserati complete with the Trident emblem.

scar, with functionality and visibility paramount.” The central tunnel is clad with carbon fiber and only carries the switches that are necessary.

Maserati and Sabelt collaborated on the design and creation of the MC20 seats. A composite structural shell, equipped with power adjustments and lumbar system, represents the essence of the MC20 project: sportiveness at a high quality and performance level.

The MC20’s Sonus faber audio embodies the translation of its name, “handmade sound” that illustrates how both brands desire to pair innovative technologies and skillful craftsmanship.

was the sporty version of the 356 convertible. I used to look at my replica Speedster as it sat in the garage and marvel that I owned one of the most iconic automobiles ever designed. It required a lot of DIY work that challenged my modest mechanical skills, and after about five years I sold it to a friend. I decided I wanted a convertible with a working top, roll-up windows, and air conditioning, so I and bought a used 2006 Boxster.  After five years with the Boxster,

Upward-opening “butterfly” doors pivot forward to so the driver and passenger can get into the cabin with a minimum of interference. The cabin is understated, and driver focused. The interior shapes are simple, with few sharp corners and the upholstery and interior materials are black to prevent reflections on the steep sloping windscreen. Plus, black lends a feeling of understated elegance. There are two LCD screens in the instrument panel, one in front of the driver for gauges and one in the center above the console. Maserati emphasizes that “everything is laid out just like the cockpit of a racing

Committing the MC20 to production is a bold statement from Maserati about how it sees itself, both today and in the future when an all-electric version will be available. That forward vision is necessary for a company that has such a long and storied history.

I traded it for a 2015 Macan S. The Macan was a fabulous car and my wife and I drove it 106,000 miles in eight years. It was recently replaced with a 2023 Macan T, and I anticipate another eight years of enjoyment.

Photography has been an occupation of mine since I was a teen, and capturing photographs of Porsches, at car shows, vintage sports car races, or anywhere they are found, has been a passion.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR / PHOTOGRAPHER

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.

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.

It’s a Stylish Dog’s Life.

Ruth Keenan has a background in project management and interior design. She grew up with large dogs, and when she moved to her own home after school, Angus, a particularly handsome English Bulldog, became her sidekick.

Tell me about your experience growing up with dogs. Were they allowed on the furniture? Always had matching leashes and collars and decor accommodating dog beds?

I can’t imagine a home or my childhood without a dog. We had yellow Labradors growing up and they brought our family so much joy. Every time I walk in my parent’s back door, I still feel like I should hear the click clack of paws on hardwoods and the jingle of tags barreling toward me. I remember big, comfy plaid dog beds, classic brown leather collars, and leashes with gold tags.

It wasn’t until our last yellow lab, Andre, that my parents granted access to the furniture. I think my mom and dad had grown tired of trying to keep the first two off the furniture, and they realized how incredible it is to have a big warm pup on your lap while you watch a movie.

When you adopted Angus were you strict about his being on the furniture, in certain room, etc.?

When Angus was a pup, I was very strict about crate training and keeping him off the nice furniture. He was a mouthy little guy and ruined several pairs of shoes and actually several beautiful outdoor plants, as well, but never any furniture; so, I think he read his mom well from the start.

INTERIOR DESIGN by PATRICIA O'DELL | Photos by ANNA PETROW

And, along those lines, were there any “hard nos”? No dogs on the bed, not in the living room, etc.

At first, he wasn’t allowed on the bed or any of the living room furniture. He knew he could come up on the sofa only when invited.

Looking back on those rules now, I laugh to myself as he has a full-access pass now. But he worked really hard to earn those privileges. He knows that he is only allowed on the sofa or the bed when there is a blanket out for him. If it’s not there, he will stand at the foot of the bed or by the sofa and bark at us until his favorite (washable) Restoration Hardware blankets are set out for him. Blankets have been our best tool with him because it keeps our nice bedding and upholstery in good shape and smelling nice, but still allows him to be as close to us as possible.

When you and Jack were dating – and later married – did he have different ideas of how much access a dog should have to the house and furnishings?

Jack and I started dating right before the pandemic hit and the world shut down. Jack thought the structure I’d put into place was just too much for someone as cute as Angus. He wasn’t wrong. When Jack started coming around more and more frequently, Angus was basically given carte blanche. At that point, we were all seeking more joyful moments and creature comforts, so it was a welcomed relaxing of the rules. With that added access was a lot more laundry, which Jack and Angus do far less than I do.

“I think I was experimenting on myself, which is better than experimenting with clients,” she says. “But in the last few years, I’ve changed out the rug to something simpler and replaced the pillows with ones that have texture rather than color.”

She says the change has delivered a new sense of calm in

“Maybe, in my case, with raising children and working all day, what I want to come home to is something that’s relaxing, wel coming, and peaceful.”

In addition to the calming effect, Schmidt thinks neutral backgrounds provide a lot of flexibility, as well.

“We have a client whose whole house is neutral, but she has a very colorful art collection and accessories that she changes in different seasons. A neutral background allows her to add personality on a whim without a big commitment. I’d rather the artwork and other textures attract attention rather than the palette of the room itself,” Schmidt says.

What were your best lessons learned when he was a puppy as far as being loving with him while also maintaining your home?

While the neutrals of decades past might have led home owners to forbid red wine in the living room, Schmidt notes that today’s textiles offer wearability even in rooms that withstand a lot of use and traffic.

I really love keeping a nice home. I like clean-ish floors, a nice aroma, etc. He knows baths are part of the drill, and we trained him to know that if a blanket was out, he was allowed up. He’s never allowed directly on the bedding or upholstery. He also knows that on rainy days he has to let his paws dry off in the mudroom before he can come back out. I’ve done some absolutely darling doggie gates between mudrooms and usually kitchens for dog-loving clients.

I would recommend:

Performance fabrics: They do wear better than my beloved 100-percent pure Belgian linens and make messes less stressful. Even with these fabrics I recommend letting the dirt or mud dry before you start cleaning up. Often it will dry out so much that all you have to do is vacuum it off.

“When it comes to lighter-colored materials, we use a lot of natural materials like wool, which repels and cleans very well. When my children were young, we had a light-colored wool sofa, and I had it cleaned once and never had an issue. It just repelled stains.”

Schmidt also appreciates the evolution of outdoor fabrics that have a soft hand.

Get a Roomba: I have clients and friends who find these really help manage the furry chaos. It’s not a replacement for a deep clean, mop, or sweep, but it does lighten the load.

“They’re not the plastic-y, scratchy material of the past,” she notes.

I find there’s a fair amount of dirt and hair involved no matter your rules. Dogs will be dogs. What are the best solutions or strategies for people who want to enjoy living with a dog – or cat, I suppose – that allows their pet to have.

If there is any “bling” in Schmidt’s rooms it usually appears in light fixtures or the texture of tile.

Hire a great cleaning service: Even if it’s just once a month, it’s such a treat to have all the dirt and hair addressed by a professional sometimes.

Darker vintage rugs: These rugs have already lived several lives and tend to take the wear and tear of pet life really well.

I have many friends and clients who have fallen in love with hypogenic, non-shedding breeds, which is great if the human/dog breed alignment works out. For those of us who have fallen in love with English Bulldogs, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Golden Retrievers, or the like,

“Someone might not think of tile around a fireplace that is neutral and matte as ‘bling,’, but it has a nice, chiseled stone face to it. You may notice the simplicity of a room, but the artwork, light fixtures, accents – such as the pillows – and the objects on the tables add a lot of interest.”

Indoor/outdoor rugs: we have some polypropylene rugs that do a pretty good job of imitating sisal rugs, but you can scrub them without losing shape or color. Great for puppies and senior dogs who are more accident prone.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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.

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.

The 911 Keeps its Focus and Gets Better With Age.

Seventy-Five years ago on June 8, the 356 No. 1 Roadster became the first automobile bearing the Porsche name to receive certification for the road, and a sports car brand was born. Ferry Porsche’s dream sports car was a reality and for the next 15 years the 356 captured the hearts of enthusiast drivers and racers.

By the early 1960s, it was time for the next generation Porsche, and the 911 was introduced in 1963 as the successor to the 356. With a six-cylinder engine hanging out over the rear axle, a slant-nosed body with wide hips, and a sloping tail, the 911’s iconic shape is recognized the world over.

The first 911, powered by a 130-horsepower, 2.0-liter six-cylinder, air-cooled engine, was the progenitor of a model line

that flourishes still today. In fact, the 911 has come to define Porsche as a company even though its portfolio now includes the mid-engine 718, Panamera four-door sedans, two SUVs, and the all-electric Taycan.

Of course, the 911 has grown, evolved, and transformed for 60 years.

The lineage includes the 911 S (1967), the 911 Turbo (1976 in the U.S.), the first 911 Cabriolet (1983), and the first all-wheel-drive 911 Carrera 4 (1990). The first water-cooled 911 debuted in 1999. Today, there are 26 different 911 coupe and convertible models, ranging in price from $114,400 for the Carrera to $243,200 for the Turbo S Cabriolet. In addition, there are two GT3 models, a GT3 RS, a Sport Classic model, and a Dakar off-road-capable

version. I drove a Carrera 4S that had a base price of $130,300 and a sticker price of $171,740.

Modernization of the 911 was inevitable and necessary. The flatsix boxer engine is now water cooled instead of air cooled, and the suspension has been designed to tame the original car’s tendency to be tail happy if pushed too hard into a corner. The overall size is now more accommodating to passengers as well as technology that includes turbocharged engines and all-wheel drive. Today’s eighth-generation 911 is considerably larger physically, and the power output of its 3.0-liter twin-turbo engine, 443 horsepower in the current Carrera S, makes the original 2.0-liter engine look anemic by comparison. More powerful variants go all the way up to the 911 Turbo with 572 horsepower.

The 911 Carrera S gets to 60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds, and the 911 Carrera 4S with all-wheel drive takes 3.4 seconds. The optional Sport Chrono Package reduces this time by a further 0.2 seconds to 3.3 seconds for the 911 Carrera S and 3.2 seconds for the 911 Carrera 4S.

The newest 911 combines classic styling with state-of-the-art

technology features and enhancements. The chassis has wider track widths and features 19-inch wheels in front and 20-inch wheels in back, the first time Porsche has put different diameter wheels on the 911.

To refresh my experience with the 911, I slipped behind the wheel of a black Carrera 4S fresh from the showroom for a few hours of driving. It’s been several years since I last drove a 911, and the first thing I noticed was how civilized and comfortable it is. The twin-turbo engine screams with joy if you mash the throttle but it is also content to trundle around on city streets without complaint.

Roadholding is paramount, yet the ride is not harsh. With a knob on the steering wheel, the driver can select Normal, Sport, Sport Plus, and Wet drive settings that transform the car from kitten to tiger.

Porsche says this 911 is the first car in the world to feature an innovative system for recognizing significant amounts of water on the road. The Wet driving mode automatically sets the car’s stability control and anti-lock brake systems for optimal operation in

fine-tune the aerodynamics and arrive at a chassis that has a curb weight of just over 3,300 pounds.

The carbon-fiber chassis makes use of underbody aerodynamics that help keep the top of the car sleek and sensual with rounded contours that echo classic design. The nose contains a grille that is recognizably Maserati complete with the Trident emblem.

wet conditions when these are detected. It also gives the driver the option of tailoring the vehicle’s drivetrain further to these adverse conditions at the touch of a button. The warning and brake assist system – also fitted as standard – detects the risk of collisions with vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists. It also initiates a warning or emergency braking if necessary.

car, with functionality and visibility paramount.” The central tunnel is clad with carbon fiber and only carries the switches that are necessary.

steering wheel also work with the infotainment system.

Maserati and Sabelt collaborated on the design and creation of the MC20 seats. A composite structural shell, equipped with power adjustments and lumbar system, represents the essence of the MC20 project: sportiveness at a high quality and performance level.

The cabin is snug but not confining, and it can accommodate various size drivers. The tiny rear seat is best used for briefcases, tiny tots, or a pet. The bucket seats have a wide range of adjustability, as does the steering wheel. The cabin has two touchscreen panels, one for navigation, audio and Apple CarPlay (or wired Android Auto); the other, on the console, contains touch switches for controlling heating/cooling, seat heating, and suspension adjustments. Voice commands and buttons on the

Upward-opening “butterfly” doors pivot forward to so the driver and passenger can get into the cabin with a minimum of interference. The cabin is understated, and driver focused. The interior shapes are simple, with few sharp corners and the upholstery and interior materials are black to prevent reflections on the steep sloping windscreen. Plus, black lends a feeling of understated elegance. There are two LCD screens in the instrument panel, one in front of the driver for gauges and one in the center above the console. Maserati emphasizes that “everything is laid out just like the cockpit of a racing

The MC20’s Sonus faber audio embodies the translation of its name, “handmade sound” that illustrates how both brands desire to pair innovative technologies and skillful craftsmanship.

A new eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission takes the place of the previous seven-speed. All gears have new ratios: first through seventh gears are now shorter, while eighth gear is longer than the previous seventh gear. Porsche indicates this makes it possible to use a longer final-drive ratio, which lowers engine speeds in the upper gears further. The wider spread of gears makes it possible to reduce fuel consumption. I noticed an average of 22 miles per gallon in mixed freeway and city driving.

Porsche steering is always direct and the brakes are outstanding. After 60 years of development, the 911 bridges the original design concept with current technology and performance in a way that signals driver engagement will always be a priority for this model.

Committing the MC20 to production is a bold statement from Maserati about how it sees itself, both today and in the future when an all-electric version will be available. That forward vision is necessary for a company that has such a long and storied history.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR / PHOTOGRAPHER

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.

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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RACHAEL JANE

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Young Friends of the Kansas City Public Library Help KC Show Its Love.

Kansas Citians show love for the place they call home in many ways: by wearing their favorite teams’ colors, arguing over which barbecue restaurant is best, and taking wedding and prom photos at beautiful venues like Union Station or Kansas City’s Central Library.

The Young Friends of the Kansas City Public Library has given that love another outlet. In March and April, the organization hosted the Dear KC poetry contest and asked people to open their hearts, focus on what they love about their town, and put it in verse. “Dear KC…”

Fifty-seven people did just that, and the top three poems have been turned into art by marketing “un-agency” Crux KC – the posters it created are on display at the KC Streetcar’s library stop at Ninth and Main streets for part of the summer.

The winning poems were: “Take the Bus Home to 18th & Vine” by Marcia Hurlow; “Hubcap Kansas City: Midtown Artist” by Polly Alice McCann; and “June 2012, Kansas City” by Diana Platt. Annie Klier Newcomer and Kiernan Walshire earned honorable mentions.

Varanka, a Young Friends board member, says she organized a similar contest for the organization in 2019, inspired by a New York City subway poetry project that a friend mentioned to her.

A published poet herself, Varanka suggests that many people only experience poetry in school, which leaves a stale academic taste and seems to serve as a deterrent to reading or writing it for fun.

“I just love the idea of bringing poetry to people and making it less intimidating and more accessible, making it more part of the community,” she says.

She hopes the visually embellished poems at the streetcar stop will help accomplish that, but it also seems that the contest’s theme offered a good point of entry.

“Even if they weren’t originally from here, or maybe they’ve lived here for five years, or they’ve lived here their whole life and moved away,” Varanka says, “everyone was really drawn to this theme of ‘yes, I want to write about how much I love Kansas City.’”

Pembroke Hill School English teacher and poet Piper Abernathy was one of two judges. She saw a lot of poems about Union Hill Cemetery, Loose Park, Midtown, the riverfront, and the West Bottoms.

Abernathy says narrowing down the list was a challenge.

She observed that people wanted to write about what Kansas City is most known for – like jazz, fountains, and barbecue. But, while Abernathy acknowledges that those features are worth celebrating, they’re so widely known it was hard for her to feel excited about them. She wanted specificity, and she thinks the five they chose reflect that.

“One of our honorable mentions wrote about the Union Hill Cemetery,” Abernathy says. “The speaker in the poem is eating lunch in the cemetery with the dead. People really chose very specific places to write about, and you really feel the vibrancy of that when you read the poems.”

When installed at the streetcar stop, posters of the top three poems will measure 28.5 by 44 inches. Five designers at Crux spent a total of 83 hours creating the art for the broadsides as part of the company’s community volunteerism.

“We believe that when we invest in our local businesses and community, we’re making our community better,” says Miranda Read, Crux’s art director.

Read is also a member of the Friends of the Library support organization, but, she says, the Young Friends has “claimed” her. Both groups are open to adults of any age, but the Young Friends is more activityand networking-oriented.

When Read heard about Dear KC, she knew she could help. She acted as a project manager once Crux team members Bailey Mitchell, Zoe Abner, Cody Carnes, Shaun Friesen, Sydney Baird, and Taylor Dietterich chose the poems they wanted to work on.

“We had a little bit of a poetry analysis meeting, where we kind of dove into the deeper layers of meaning within the poems and did some group brainstorming,” Read says. “And then from there, they developed sketches and concepts.”

The finished projects were all digital, but most of the art was still handdrawn, just on tablets rather than paper or canvas. Read says the designers enjoyed the artistic opportunity to use the style they felt would best represent the poem.

MEAN MULE POMEGRANATE GIN FIZZ

Makes 1 cocktail

2 oz Mean Mule Agave Gin

1 ½ oz POM 100% pomegranate juice

½ oz fresh-squeezed lemon juice

¾ oz simple syrup

1 egg white

1 oz soda water

Garnish with rosemary sprig

Instructions:

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botanicals in about 100 combinations before they found a recipe.

What they landed on does include juniper – for legal pur poses – but also white peppercorn, cardamom, lemon zest, coriander, and, mostly strikingly, persimmon.

“We have one that is very watercolor-y, and we have one that is a little more painterly in a printmaker style,” she says. Each one offers an apt visual accompaniment playing up a pivotal aspect of the poem.  Varanka anticipates that the Young Friends will run the contest again in March 2024.

“We had an enormous persimmon tree on our property,” Meg says about her childhood home near Hermann, Missouri. She says they wanted to bring in elements from their farm and heritage and even experimented with cornhusks and other things that grew all around them.

“Persimmon just really came out with something that we loved and have good memories around. Grandma used to

the United States, which sounds not only like great bragging rights for Mean Mule, but for Kansas City.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anne Kniggendorf is a staff writer/editor at the Kansas City Public Library. She's the author

Anne Kniggendorf is a staff writer/editor at the Kansas City Public Library. She's the author of Secret Kansas City and Kansas City Scavenger, and a freelance writer for various local and national publications. Visit her website: annekniggendorf.com.

PHOTO BY PILSEN PHOTO CO-OP

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Stop and Smell the Lavender in Albuquerque.

A food, art, and nature lover’s dream, Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm is preserving the cultural and agricultural history of the Rio Grande Valley.

During their travels, people are always excited to take in the sights and sounds of their destination, but very little emphasis is ever placed on the smells experienced when traveling to a new place. In New Mexico, Los Poblanos Historic Inn & Organic Farm, a nearly century-old working organic lavender farm, is here to change that.

Located just six miles north of the heart of Albuquerque, Los Poblanos is a fragrant, 25-acre oasis filled with lush gardens, giant cottonwood trees, and, you guessed it, plenty of lavender to go around. The inn was originally the private ranch house residence of the owners of an 800-acre ranch in the Rio Grande Valley. The rustic estate was renovated in 1932, and now boasts an award-winning restaurant, en-suite fireplaces, plush four-poster beds, and a gardenencompassed saltwater pool, which offers sweeping views of the surrounding lavender fields set against the nearby Sandia Mountains.

A mere 15 minutes from the Albuquerque airport, and an hour’s drive from neighboring Santa Fe, Los Poblanos lies within an arm’s reach of plenty of the Southwest region’s best hiking, biking, shopping, and dining. But with lavender aroma permeating from every corner of the farm, Los Poblanos seemingly dares you to even consider leaving.

No matter when you visit, your olfactory senses will be working overtime from the moment you step foot on the property, but consider booking your trip starting in mid- to late summer, when the Los Poblanos farm team begins the annual lavender harvest. Guests are encouraged to wake up early – harvesting must take place in the morning, as the flowers are just partially in bloom, helping the team capture peak oil content. From there, dried bundles are packed into Portuguese copper stills, where they’re transformed into the essential oils used in the products that have garnered Los Poblanos the cult following it has today.

These products can be found in nearly every space throughout the property. Each suite is stocked with lavender-scented shampoos and lotions. Guests can stay hydrated on lavender lemon water from the lobby. The cocktail menu is dominated by purple herb shrubs and syrups. And the gift shop might be worth the visit alone, selling a slew of small-batch artisan lavender products, including candles, lip balms, soaps, bath salts, herb blends, honeys, and fragrances, plus a fun assortment of locally made goods and sundries.

While your nose will be working overtime throughout your stay, your tastebuds will undoubtedly be left satisfied, as well. Los Poblanos was named a “Top 10 Hotel for Food Lovers in America” by Bon Appétit, and it shows. And be sure to wake up with an appetite: the brunch served on their Campo patio (with arguably the best views on the property) was even voted Best Breakfast in New Mexico by Food & Wine.

Characterized as “Rio Grande Valley Cuisine,” the food served at Los Poblanos is rooted in seasonal organic ingredients from throughout the property or neighboring farms. As part of its ongoing preservation project, the Los Poblanos menus evolve from season to season to celebrate the foods indigenous to the region: think local heirloom corn varietals, a whole-animal butchery sourcing from nearby family-run farms, small-batch baked goods, and an array of native, organic vegetables grown on or near the property. Even the cocktail program features small-batch, barrel-aged spirits and house-made syrups, bitters, and amaris. With their commitment to regeneration and biodiversity, be prepared for inventive and unparalleled dining experiences that are as approachable as they are exceptional. It is a working farm, after all, so you know you’ll be eating well.

Los Poblanos has plenty of amenities if you’re keen on staying put: the Hacienda Spa has an assortment of treatments available, and there are many activities made available for guests year-round, including e-bike rentals, yard games, garden tours, nature walks, bird watching, live musicians, afternoon tea, and even workout classes in their “Wellness Yurt.”

Not to be outdone, Los Poblanos could itself be considered an art museum and botanical garden of sorts. The property exhibits meticulously manicured Spanish-style gardens, elaborately smithed

iron gates, intricate woodcuts carved into its massive pine doors, Spanish Pueblo Revival decorative tin lights, and an abundance of paintings, murals, and prints displayed at virtually every turn. Perhaps most impressively, it is the home of the La Quinta Cultural Center, part art gallery, part social, cultural, and educational meeting space, which has hosted lectures, art exhibits, concerts, and more since it opened in the 1930s.

However, if you are eager to get out and explore the region, there’s plenty to do throughout Albuquerque. Founded in 1706, Old Town

Sprinter. The van that goes

is home to more than 150 restaurants, boutiques, museums, and galleries. A hike at the nearby Petroglyph National Monument will take you through a volcanic basalt escarpment and show off 15,000 distinctive pieces of prehistoric rock art. You can even take a ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway, the longest tramway in the United States and the second longest in the world.

There’s plenty to do from the moment you step onto the property, but perhaps the best use of your time would be to do absolutely nothing. The rooms are spacious, the food distinctive, the grounds unforgettable, and the cross-breezes fragrant.

We travel in the pursuit of creating new memories, and it’s been said that the olfactory senses trigger the most vivid memories –those with which we tend to associate our most powerful and emotional recollections. After a few relaxing days spent at Los Poblanos, even the faintest hint of lavender might bring you back to this peaceful oasis in the Rio Grande Valley – a memory worth reliving again and again and again.

ABOUT THE WRITER & PHOTOGRAPHER

Anna Petrow and Patrick Mulvihill call Kansas City home, but they have been known to find themselves off the beaten path. Born and raised in Kansas City, Anna is a culinary and lifestyle photographer with a knack for letting her camera lens guide her travels. Patrick is a writer, an enthusiastic travel companion, and a proud St. Louis native who uses each new trip as an excuse to eat five meals a day.

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Stuck in Neutral or Energized Anew?

Can you comfortably and decisively pick one? Or do you sometimes feel a bit “at sea” in the middle of stuck and energized? As I talk to colleagues, clients, and friends, I find people are trending toward a return to energy. Regardless, many are still experiencing the past two to almost three years as a significant blow dealt to their level of energy, activity, and motivation. It looks like the majority have returned to full-force activity – sports events, concerts, and family and neighborhood gatherings. While there’s no right/wrong or good/ bad, there’s a big difference. The historic introvert-extrovert differences, the loners versus crowd seekers – have been in full

view these past few years. But a basic question typically becomes, “What’s my best choice?” When unclear it’s simply up to us individually to do/behave/make decisions on choices best for us. And maybe just as significant, trust and accept the choices of others regardless of agreeing, unless it impinges on you. Then it’s up for discussion, for exploring versus blaming or withdrawing support.

What’s then essential? We need to show up for the conversation as a first step.

To dig into self-examination and reflection, check how easily you are triggered  – meaning do you respond just a little too quickly? Feel easily angered? Feel you are more easily provoked? Further, are you more likely to cling to your ideas, thoughts, and opinions? Are you withdrawing from activities and interactions? Both extremes need focus … with efforts to perhaps occupy a more neutral position and gather information and facts first.

And equally important? Some of us were struggling with healthy behavior before the pandemic. That makes the bottom line – examining your thoughts and feelings in as much detail as you can – and maybe try journal writing and check if you have one or two people in your life with whom you could discuss what you think and feel.

If self-exploration has historically not been easy for you, then these suggestions might feel unrealistic, not even helpful and, for some, perhaps annoying. But my experience suggests that regardless of our history with self-exploration, it’s always okay to make an effort to start now.

The challenge is getting thoughts and feelings out of our heads… either on paper or in an open conversation with someone you trust or with whom you have a reasonably comfortable relationship with. And even if you’ve never considered therapy, it’s a process I’ve found almost everyone finds beneficial. Really! I’m nudging a lot more than I typically do simply because I’ve discovered that regardless of how much we’ve returned to a sense of “normal,” the past few years have been a significant stress and strain on almost every one of us, and taking time to pace ourselves, assess feelings, and examine next steps, decisions, and directions are all still pretty important – even if some of us can say we are “back to normal and energized anew.”

I can quite honestly report I personally feel/experience and define a “different sense of normal.”

Bottom line: Examine what and how you feel and the choices

"To dig into self-examination and reflection, check how easily you are triggered  –do you respond just a little too quickly? Feel easily angered? Feel you are more easily provoked?"

"Many are still experiencing the past two to almost three years as a significant blow dealt to their level of energy, activity, and motivation."

“Everyone has insecurities or something small they don’t like about the way they look. It’s the greatest gift of my profession to see those same people bursting with confidence after correcting their insecurities. They just seem brighter, happier. It’s something that could be unnoticeable to anyone else. It’s about the way they feel personally about themselves and the way the project themselves. That’s the part of it I love the most –changing their self-confidence, changing their attitude through great work.”

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Imagine time away where reflection is the primary objective – with a journal and pen close by for recording thoughts and feelings. Writing with pen on paper creates a valuable connection to the brain. However, if you feel better with a laptop, go for it.

For a simple start, a first step if you’ve never tried meditation, is simple breathing exercises. The most simple, and you might try it now, just as an experiment, is the following exercise: Breathe in to the count of four, hold your breath to the count of seven and release very slowly to the count of eight … release through pursed lips, like preparing to whistle. Repeat this four times. Then do it again. And take a minute to pay attention to how you feel.

You may confirm doing exactly what you are doing is great; and you may reflect on new things, options for going forward, or something right in between. It’s simply finding your own renewed sense of direction. And if you discover all you need is to stare at the water, mountains, or woods and rest somewhere other than the comfort of your home, own it. Meditation can simply affirm we are on the right path. Or, it can open hearts, minds, eyes, to something new, slightly new, or dramatically different. Meditation, retreating, allows whatever to surface.

and decisions you are making. Pay attention to the changes you’ve made either automatically or with careful consideration. The many people I work and interact with daily report changes both big and small. The key is paying attention and making sure you are comfortable and feel “centered” with the space you find yourself occupying.

Meditation techniques range from simple breathing exercises like this to silent repetition of a mantra (a word or phrase) to listening to guided instructions for deep relaxation and resting the mind.

And if you have that stuck feeling, it’s often our thoughts and feelings demanding more time to think, reflect, and sort things out before taking action. So stuck is not a negative thing; it’s a signal that paying attention is necessary, even sometimes essential.

Meditation also helps with healing. Far too many have experienced tragic loss during this difficult time and both emotional and physical healing is needed. Understanding what you think, feel, want, and need is important to determine what changes are both desirable and possible. The more you reflect, meditate, and write about what you think and feel, the more clarity you’ll achieve. The challenge is to make these two difficult years have a positive outcome when and where possible.

Always make the effort to write things down. The ability to return to what you’ve written will help build perspective and provide an opportunity to rethink, reevaluate, change direction, or focus anew on the direction you’ve charted in your reflections.

To what end? When the mind is allowed to truly quiet down … especially when applied after long term, persistent stress … feelings and thoughts emerge that are truly helpful to each of us as we contemplate where we’ve been, where we are now, and where we want to venture forward today and in the future.

Our thoughts can be our best resources/friends or, when left unexamined, can hold onto distortions and exaggerations that head us in the wrong direction. We are capable of making things

My personal easy getaway is Timber Creek, a quite elegant retreat center an hour drive from Kansas City. The website, timbercreekretreat.org, has information for options across the country. My wish is for you to take good care of yourself, recognizing the past two years have been a challenge that we are still trying to accurately evaluate.

far worse, more stressful, than they actually are by “awful-izing and catastrophic-izing.” That means that “I’ve had a hard couple of years” can have the added thought of “It’s awful, terrible, and I can’t stand it and it’s never going to get better!” Analyze the distortions that head us in the wrong direction. Mostly what’s needed is reflection and good healthy decisions, starting with the healthy reflection on where we’ve been, how we’ve handled the past two years, and our efforts to head into the coming months with some clear assessment about where we are and what we need to move forward embracing life. Primarily, trust yourself. If you are still a bit “in neutral,” honor the space and learn what you need to do to head in the best direction for yourself. If “energized,” again, simply make your choices wise ones.  And, finally, talk to friends and family and colleagues whenever you believe just thinking out loud might truly help. We still face challenging times, so doing so reflectively is the best plan.

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.

"Our thoughts can be our best resources/friends or, when left unexamined, can hold onto distortions and exaggerations that head us in the wrong direction. We are capable of making things far worse, more stressful, than they actually are by “awful-izing and catastrophic-izing.”

Joanne Mullin always envisioned herself an artist.

A transplant from San Francisco who has called Kansas City home for the past five years, Mullin established a following in the Bay Area fashion industry by designing unique denim jackets. But when her family moved here in 2018, she wanted to change her approach.

She decided to attend the Fashion Week grand finale but couldn’t settle on what to wear.

“None of the styles are made for them – women who are older, women who have gained weight, etc. They’re not made to slim and flatter.” Mullin wanted to make a good impression on the local fashion scene, and so she began looking through leftover fabrics and eventually decided on a long-fitting jacket that was at once slimming, flattering, and a hit at the Fashion Week event. Mullin soon began participating in trunk shows and now has an in-home showroom for women to shop her garments. “It was a very personal thing,” Mullin says.

“There was a real need for it and a real niche in the luxury market. Women have the money to spend but can’t find what they love. I wanted to make these garments. They really do have a story to tell – one-of-a-kind, just like people.”

According to Mullin, her “passion is women – and helping them feel better about themselves.” And now that she’s found a place in the fashion world to pursue this passion, the designer is putting the dividends toward doing good for women who may never attend her shows.

CRISIS ON THE HOMEFRONT

Mullin’s husband, Bill, is originally from Connersville, Indiana. Like so many American towns over the past century, a major employer (in this instance, a major automotive plant) shuttered its doors. “The town has been desolate ever since,” Joanne says. In fact, Connersville now finds itself in the grip of the opioid crisis.

Mullin at He art .

Bill and Joanne were organizing a class reunion when they learned of one woman, Sharon Cranfill, who was starting a recovery home for Connersville women and trying to renovate an old house for the cause. The Mullins decided to organize fundraising, and now Cranfill’s organization – the House of Ruth Fresh Start Home – boasts state licensing, multiple awards, and five homes, including one named after the Mullin family. While Joanne’s company, J.Mullin Apparel, continues to support this ministry, she also has a reason to give back much closer to home.

Mullin has two sons. Her older son, Matt, had started a job at a (then much smaller) tech company called Zoom. As the company grew, he decided to transfer to the Kansas City office in the hopes of an improved quality of life, and Joanne and Bill followed.

“We came out here for a weekend visit and bought a house,” Joanne says with a laugh. “We love it here and the people are fabulous. I’ve met so many people, and they all try to help each other. It’s not like California, where it felt like everyone was on their own.”

CLOSER TO HOME

Meanwhile, the Mullins didn’t know where their younger son was. He had left home for more than two years, and was eventually found living in a parking garage in Austin, Texas.

“He’s been home for about a year now,” Joanne says. “Every time I saw somebody on the street, I thought it was him, and my heart just broke.”

Through this experience, Joanne’s husband began volunteering at a shelter. “It felt like he was helping our son every time

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So what’s next for J.Mullin Apparel? Joanne has developed visibility locally after being featured in magazines, participating in fashion week and trunk shows, hosting women in her in-home showroom, and, most recently, producing a runway show.

he served somebody else,” she explains. “It opened up a whole new world of compassion for us – for families, for what they go through – and compassion for the people who are trying to find themselves.”

Joanne turned her newfound talent for designing unique luxury garments into a ministry for helping people in her new town after meeting Bobbi-Jo Reed, someone who has “really transformed the community” by addressing substance abuse and reuniting families through her nonprofit work. Mullin began working with local nonprofit-affiliated clothing manufacturer Rightfully Sewn and figured out a way to “mass-produce” oneof-a-kind garments, beginning with 50 pieces allowing for vintage kimono fabric to be incorporated in the design. In April of last year, Mullin held a launch event in Mission Woods, and after hosting Bobbi-Jo as a speaker at the event, decided to turn this

venture into an opportunity to help out.

“We have expenses to cover, but after that, we don’t take a profit or salary – we just help them out when we have the money to do it,” Mullin says, speaking of Cranfill’s and Reed’s nonprofit organizations.

So what’s next for J.Mullin Apparel? Joanne has developed visibility locally after being featured in magazines, participating in fashion week and trunk shows, hosting women in her in-home showroom, and, most recently, producing a runway show. “We’re trying to get into a retailer situation now,” she says. Her goal is to become more profitable so that she can support these organizations even more.

“Everybody wants to help people; they just don’t know where to start,” Joanne says. “Doing something like this gives you motivation that you don’t have on your own.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Though originally from a small town outside of Kansas City, Kansas, Matt Lancaster lives in Lawrence with his wife, son, dog, and cats, where he works as a program director for the University of Kansas School of Business.

Making Connections to Help Achieve Long-Term Wealth Goals

As a Wealth Consultant at Mariner Wealth Advisors, Dyson focuses on new business development. He works with individuals and families to understand their specific needs and priorities then introduces them to a wealth planning team that can help them achieve their long-term financial objectives.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of your career?

A: The most rewarding part of my career is the ability to bring financial planning and investment advice to people who would generally not have access due to their location or net worth. With Mariner Wealth Advisors’ technology and resources, we can serve individuals and families in both metropolitan and rural areas. I enjoy helping our clients. The look on client’s faces when we deliver good news—whether it’s confirmation they can retire early or we have found a way to help save them money on taxes—is always a great moment.

Q: When is an individual or family ready to engage Mariner Wealth Advisors?

A: There are several situations that may bring a client to have a conversation with us at Mariner Wealth Advisors. More often than not, retirement or a large liquidity event such as selling a property or a business is what drives someone to seek a wealth management professional. Our wealth advisors can build a comprehensive wealth plan around these life events, which includes investment management, tax planning and estate planning.

Q: What do you like doing in your free time?

A: When I’m not helping clients achieve their goals, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our newborn daughter and playing some golf here and there.

Dyson Dechant Wealth Consultant

Creating a World Where Everyone is Included.

If you are ever fortunate enough to have a conversation with Variety KC’s Chief Inclusion Officer Deborah Wiebrecht, be prepared to be energized. After 15 years of leading the children’s charity, Deborah’s enthusiasm is contagious. As she prepares to hand over the reins to a new generation of leaders, she is still pushing Kansas City to be the most inclusive place in the country.

The origin story of Variety Clubs is as unique as its mission, isn’t it?

Variety KC is actually one of the oldest charities in Kansas City. We’re about to celebrate our 90th birthday! The national Variety Club began in 1928, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, when a group of men in the entertainment industry discovered a baby at the front

door of their club with a note pinned to her that read, “I heard people in the industry of entertainment have big hearts. I can’t take care of this baby. Please, raise her and take care of her.” They did! That baby became an adult and had children. Her son is actually on the board of directors for Variety of Texas.

You’ve been in KC for over 30 years, but you were raised in Wisconsin and, in fact, reigned as Miss Wisconsin in 1985. Did that experience set the stage for your work with children through the years?

I gave all of my earnings as Miss Wisconsin to two charities: The Leukemia Foundation in honor of my father and the Special Olympics. That’s where my love for kids with special needs came from

and that’s where my love for philanthropy came from.

Maybe it was God whispering in my ear because I just like everyone to participate and belong. Exclusion hurts and I don’t want kids to feel that. When I see kids included, it brings them joy. It shows them they can do whatever they want to do and be whatever they want to be.

What role does the American Jazz Museum play in keeping this important music alive?

This is a hybrid institution. We’ve got the museum element for daily visitors to come in and learn about the history; but we also have a working jazz club in the Blue Room, and we’ve got the Gem Theater across the street. We shepherd them into an experience where they can really see and feel the effects of being in a live environment.

Initially, Variety KC was focused on helping individuals and their families with the physical and emotional needs that children with special challenges require. But, even with all that good work, you saw that there was a substantial piece of the puzzle of inclusion missing.

I’ve always been at the intersection of arts education, of nonprofit business, and of culture. I live in this matrix. It really allows me to work hard and play hard at the same time. I love what I do and, you know, our staff loves what we all do. It’s a work of passion.

them participating. When we asked families why, they told us it’s because the world has barriers. Are there ramps? Are there adult-size changing tables? Are there sensory areas? So, our next mission was to work with Kansas City to change the way we build things. I think one of our first partners was the zoo. And, more recently, we worked with the people building the new KCI. I get pictures from people, daily, when they travel, of their kids using our playground at the airport. Kids playing together. It’s the first impression they have of our city. How inclusive we are.

You started here as the pandemic was really taking hold. That must have presented special challenges right from the start.

There was an opportunity even during the pandemic. It makes me think of the seasons. We need the winter because there are things happening beneath the soil. Things being seeded that will burst when the spring comes. I think that happened with the pandemic. There was a lot of opportunity to grow, to incubate. In fact, we opened up our Jazz Incubator for the musician community, which had a tough time in the pandemic, a space for them to come in, play, learn, and get resources.

What else do you want out of life but to know that your dollars have made a difference and positively impacted your city?

While it is hard to come up with an exact number of children playing on the Variety KC playgrounds and ball fields or using the sensory bags available in so many locations now, it is safe to say that the organization reaches tens of thousands every year. Have you found that children, with special needs and without, are sometimes quicker to be accepting than adults?

It has been a quarter of century since the American Jazz Museum opened its doors. I know you have so much planned starting with the “In The Yard” celebration the weekend before the August 29th birthday of Charlie Parker. Then, in September, a beautiful new exhibit honoring 25 years at 18th and Vine. But, you are always looking forward, to the next 25.

Kids have no judgment. They have no prejudice. They just wanna play. They just wanna be friends. We’ve created a normalcy of kids to play together so that they aren’t different. Twenty-six percent of our population has special needs. It’s the single largest minority population that had never been included in the conversation. Variety KC gives them a voice.

It’s important for us to continue to anchor the neighborhood. Our community depends on that. This was a vision that was started 25 years ago but it’s got to grow. It’s got to grow in a way that’s authentic and genuine. I think it’s really a wonderful opportunity.

It’s unfair to ask if there’s one story that stands out from your 15 years of service but, more generally, when it comes to the kids, what does come to mind?

I hang my heart on the children that we have lost along the way. I can feel good knowing that while they were here, we were impactful to them, and we made a positive difference.

I noticed that there were so many kids we were helping but you didn’t see them in the community. I never saw them out. I never saw

People need to come here and really understand the roots of this town. What’s in the soil. What’s in the sidewalks. Appreciate the authentic and genuine culture that contributed to much of Kansas City history. Eighteenth and Vine. The American Jazz Museum. It’s the heartbeat of the city.

I get energized from what I do! People need to find things in their lives that give them energy and bring them joy. This job has done it for me. I will always be a part of the Variety family.

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.