Smoke ’em if you got ’em…
Don’t look now, but one of America’s most infamous holidays – 420 Day – is about to splash down in Westport. That’s right, local smoking rights champion Bill Nigro is spearheading an annual bash celebrating the fine art of smoking pot. Right here in River City.
"Well, we’re not calling it 420 Day," Nigro hedges. "Our event’s called the Westport Smokeout and we’re going to do some fun things. Jerusalem Cafe’s going to have a Hookah bar and our feature band is going to be The Pornhuskers."
Never heard of the legendary Pornhuskers? Read on.
"Will rock for sex," reads a description of the band on Last FM. "America’s premiere Pornographic Punk Rock band! Coming soon to fuck your town silly! Bring them home after the show, let them sleep at your place, your girlfriends’ place, and her girlfriends’ too while you’re at it."
And for those of you who’ve been hiding out in the Unibomber‘s old digs or holed up in a remote location reading old Skip Sleyster ads in the Kansas City Star – you know who you are – 420 Day falls on April 20th (get it?) and stems from an Urban Legend that grew into the national day to celebrate and smoke marijuana.
But back to 420 Day, I mean, Westport Smokeout…
"We’re going to have a huge table full of raw tobacco and we’ll have a cigarette rolling contest with prizes," Nigro says.
Lemme guess, dinner for two at the Cigar Bar and a juice dessert afterwards nextdoor at Bazooka’s?
"No, I don’t think that’s the prize," Nigro says. "Although it sounds fun – I mean who doesn’t like the Cigar Bar."
And while there’ll be reps from NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) to sign up registered voters for a petition to legalize you-know-what in Missouri, there’ll be no drug paraphernalia on sale, Nigro says. "Then we’re also going to let people sign a petition to let bars have smoking rooms like they allow in other cities."
Maybe even an outdoor drive in movie of sorts with Cheech & Chong playing on the big screen.
It all goes down – quite naturally – in Westport at 4:20 pm, on 4/20 and ending at 11:45 p.m.
"I’m bringing my 20-foot long, giant cigarette that I saved from the Smoking Ban Fight a few years back," Nigro says.
Geez, what’s next, strippers?
"No, we’re just going to be having an informative party about what’s going on in America about smoking," Nigro says. "Because while one smoking substance is legal, it’s illegal to smoke it inside. And the other smoking substance is illegal, but everyone’s smoking it inside because it’s illegal."
And all from the guy who brings you the drunk trolley in Kansas City that can’t pay it’s way and is going to fail and leave all the cost to the taxpayers. Wonder if maybe a little 420 was around when that idea came up.
whew, that scared me for a minute….
I saw the pictures of the girls and thought a gang of polite urban scholars changed my icon to TKC!!
High Plains Grifter
What Super Dave said, ask Nigro when he and his partner in crime are gonna pay back that interest free loan.
Westport Alley Smokeout
This event is about all of Kc’s smoking issues. Most of the surrounding cities have cigarette smoking inside bars. City hall needs to let bars have the tools to compete. Making people go out side in the rain and cold is not making anyone healthier. Every restuarant in America has a smoking room. Its called a kitchen, and they have make-up air systems that suck all the smoke out. Why can’t we have a room with make-up air systems for smokers. If It’s good enough for the chefs of America, it should be good enough for smokers. This event is going to be more about educating Kc about what’s going on in America with smoking. I’ve already invited police and fireman. This will be a fun, peaceful, educational event. Westport is the place where everything started in KC. We’ll have bands and BBQ, come on down. Bill Nigro
Smoke and mirrors
Holy Shit! Drawing a comparison between smoke as a byproduct of cooking food and smoke as a byproduct of tobacco consumption? Are you Sirius or XM? WOW! Fuck, let’s get real freaky and toss in auto emissions, forest fires and Mount Pinatubo. Does that mean that Bobby Flay is the new Marlboro Man?
I Was Down With 420 Day
But yeah, when I hear this is now more about a lone business owner still crying foul over the smoking ban that seemingly EVERYONE else has moved past, you lost me. And I thought it’s pretty much been proven out that the ban didn’t affect business that much. Do you really think people are driving to Grandview or Lone Jack (or one of these supposed plethora of surrounding cities…dude, that’s a straight up lie) just so they can light up while drinking a beer? Stick to the weed angle and you’ll probably get more support.
Do like that party trolley though despite the naysayers.
Yeah, agree with PB
on this one, stick to making the cheeba legal and leave the tobaccy to the casinos. I have mad glaucoma and I needs me meds.
What is this make-up room, is this where ugly women don their ‘pretty masks’ in hopes of attracting the glazers of the world?
good luck smoking a protest joint in the total den of cops
WHY
Why can’t everyone just let everyone have a little fun sometimes? It doesn’t always have to be about politics, drugs, sex, or religion!
It’s about time they had a 4/20 party in KC. We are always behind the times. This is going to be a fun night!
Westport Alley Smokeout
This event is a celebration on 4/20 at 4:20 and involves at least 10 businesses and growing. While Bill Nigro is a part of the group, he is in no way spear heading this party, nor is he a “lone businessman” in this venture. He was simply the only businessman questioned for this article. With that said, relax a bit, put on something festive, and come down to Westport and support some local businesses and local bands trying to promote local issues. Cheers!
Westport alley smokeout
Sounds like a fun to me. Did you check out the line up of bands? See you there
The bands
look awesome, except the first couple are blue grass, which is a boring, sucky genre. But then once we get past that, there will be some good tunes playing! This is going to be an awesome night! Don’t forget to stop by the Kansas City NORML table!