KC Confidential | Hearne Christopher, Uncensored

New Jack City: KC’s Cost of Living for Road Warriors, Conventioneers

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Jack Poessiger

The cost of a visitor’s daily living expenses speaks volumes about the current state of economy in KC…

I’m talking about the per diems companies hold their employees expenses to when traveling on business. Generally speaking the per diems were up marginally for 2012. Hotel rates increased while car rentals and meal expenses decreased slightly.

However, per diems going down doesn’t necessarily speak well for a given market like Kansas City. It can mean that economic pressures are forcing the local hospitality industry to lower its pricing structure. So it’s really more about what a market can and WILL bear.

And it’s all very competitive between cities. Especially when it comes to attracting conventions. Continue reading →

Posted in Jack Poessiger | 2 Comments

Donnelly: Sporting Put Together Complete Game in 2-0 Win Against Montreal

Posted on April 1, 2013 by Matthew Donnelly

MLS best, the Montreal Impact came to Sporting Park a perfect 4-0 for a Saturday night match-up in front of a sellout crowd.

But they left with their tail between their legs, as Sporting Kansas City finally linked together all the elements that up until this point had only appeared intermittently.

Yes, the defense has been stellar at times over 5 games this season. Indeed, the White Puma‘s back line hasn’t conceded a goal in three games now. But in two of those shutouts KC also failed to find the back of the net, resulting in two straight 0-0 draws.

Not exactly exciting or inspiring stuff. Continue reading →

Posted in Sporting_Kansas_City | 1 Comment

Hearne: American Royal — ‘Great American” BBQ War O-V-E-R

Posted on April 1, 2013 by admin

Suppose they gave a barbecue fest and nobody came, starting with the organizers…

Last year was to have been the 8th running of The Great American Barbecue Festival. The sponsors were on board, a distinguished body that included Fox 4, Garmin and Chinet. A new location at the Overland Park International Trade Center had been selected, the event having previously gone down at the Woodlands and Sandstone.

A “Grand Champion” purse of $5,000 was touted.

Then – poof – it was gone! Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments

Hearne: Union Station ‘Extreme Screen’ Ready for Prime Time

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

The game is afoot…

All Union Station head George Gustello said he wanted was a shot. A chance to prove the station’s new state-of-the-art Extreme Screen deserved to show first run movies, not just the standard issue “fin and feather” nature flicks for school kids.

To that end, Guastello made a deal with Dickinson Theatres and Walt Disney to screen Wizard of Oz prequel Oz the Great and Powerful.

Mission accomplished.

Next up: Jurassic Park 3D this Friday. Continue reading →

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Hearne: Lawrence Newspaper Practices ‘Homerism’

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

All dressed up, nowhere to go…

Living in Lawrence these past six months I’ve come to know what a sub par newspaper sports section looks like. It’s one thing for the Lawrence Journal World to practice the fine art of homerism ad nauseam, quite another to take it the levels it does. Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 13 Comments

Hearne: ‘Gay Dudes’ Harbored Hopes of Reviving Jardine’s Weeks Before IRS Dropped Hammer

Posted on March 30, 2013 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

Seems like only yesterday…

It was New Year’s Eve eve just one year ago when the Pitch reported that Joseph Fulgenzi and Robert McCain were the new owners of Jardine’s jazz club.

Remember that waiter dude in the comments section who gave me a hard time for getting scooped on that one?

Somewhat obviously that deal never went down. Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 33 Comments

Starbeams: Win Bon Jovi Tix, Aixois Gift Cards!

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Kelly Urich

010323-F-0966E-003 BREAKING NEWS: We just learned the Missouri based B-2 Bomber that flew over North Korea Thursday, was delivering METH.

*******

Hundreds of American businesses in China have been targeted by Chinese hackers, who are stealing information. “Tell us about it” said AMC Theaters. Continue reading →

Posted in Starbeams | Leave a comment

Leftridge: Seven Completely Accurate Predictions for the 2013 Royals

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Brandon Leftridge

Although Mother Nature’s grand witchery seems to indicate otherwise, it is officially Spring which means that trees are (theoretically) in full bloom, the grass is (supposed to be) turning green and baseball—that grand, old tradition that perfectly embodies the spirit of the season—is less than a week away from kicking off.

In Kansas City, where we’ve been battered about the chest and head with perennially terrible ball clubs for decades, this is the best time of year to be a fan. The Royals have looked amazing in spring training and have officially won the Cactus League thanks to an influx of new faces. The pitching has been great, the offense has been stellar and, well… okay, it’s still just Spring Training.

But still, the excitement is palatably infectious.

All of this chicanery is moot on Monday, however, when the team heads to Chicago to take on the hated White Sox in a very real, very consequential game. (Bo Jackson will be throwing out the first pitch. Real cool, Vincent.) So what can we expect from this squad when things actually matter? I’ve made seven predictions that will assuredly come true. Let’s have a look-see. Continue reading →

Posted in Brandon Leftridge, Sports | Tagged Brandon Leftridge, KC Royals, predictions | 10 Comments

Sounds Good: Lex Norwood@Jazzhaus, Rev Gusto@Coda

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Matthew Donnelly

Think of this weekend as the calm before the storm…

The storm being next weekend’s Middle of the Map Fest that’s going down at a handful of venues in KC and features a ton of local and national bands like Deerhoof, Grizzly Bear, The Joy Formidable, Tennis, Cowboy Indian Bear, Quiet Corral, and about a hundred more.

Here’s the kicker – a ticket for all three days of music at all the venues is $45. That’s a pretty damn good deal in my book.

So this weekend we can take it a little easy…
Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Matthew_Donnelly | 1 Comment

Hearne: Where Do You Sell Out? Right Here, Lefsetz Says

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

He may be old, he may cranky, he’s definitely self-absorbed, but every once in a while…

Music industry maven Bob Lefsetz cranks one out of the park in the Food for Thought arena. One of his more interesting recent efforts – very Tom Leathers like for those of you keeping score at home – goes the “Then” versus “Now” route.

A few of the highlights:
THEN

MTV was our national jukebox.

NOW

There is no national jukebox. There is no universality. Want everyone to know your name? Then KILL someone. Making music doesn’t lead to ubiquity.

THEN

Being on the cover of “Rolling Stone” meant you made it.

NOW

Being on the cover of “Rolling Stone” means you’ve already made it and the magazine is kissing your butt. Your PR person negotiated (the) interview parameters, all so they could sell more copies on the newsstand. Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 18 Comments

Jack Goes Confidential: ‘G.I. Joe: Retaliation’—The Cobra Revolution Has Begun

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Jack Poessiger

“We have met the enemy…and he is us.”

The G.I. Joes are no more. Pretty hefty stuff, huh?

Well, don’t let it fool you. This sequel to 2009’s international box office hit G.I. JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA doesn’t really take itself that seriously.

Lotsa winks. Continue reading →

Posted in Jack_Poessiger | 1 Comment

Starbeams: Anderson Cooper ‘Adorable,’ Tiger back on Top with Nike

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Kelly Urich

Grumpy-Cat-Anderson-Cooper Former Pope Benedict XVI says he’s picking Dorothy Hamill for Dancing with the Stars.

*******

After hours of hearing arguments, the Supreme Court has ruled that Anderson Cooper is ADORABLE!

******* Continue reading →

Posted in Starbeams | Leave a comment

Donnelly: Yanks Escape Mexico City With a Huge Point in Hand

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Matthew Donnelly

For only the second time ever, the US Men’s National Team went down to one of the U.S. Soccer Logo biggest, baddest, toughest places in the world to play, and left with a point to show for it.

Azteca Stadium is the 5th largest stadium in the world, and home base to Mexico’s national squad. Until the US won a match last year, the Yanks hadn’t won at Azteca in over 75 years. So playing to a scoreless draw and walking away with one point is fantastic, and it puts the US into a tie for second in qualifying, one point back of group leader Panama.

Plus, a tandem of Sporting players got the start and both performed well. Continue reading →

Posted in Matthew_Donnelly, Sports | 3 Comments

Hearne: Radio Exec says KCUR Should Have Stuck to Its Guns on Axing Walt Bodine

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

Being in management is no walk in the park…

Sometimes you have to make difficult decisions based on your opinion of what’s right or wrong, and you need to have the courage of conviction to stick with those decisions when the going gets tough.

So says, longtime Kansas City radio chieftain Bob Zuroweste.

Not only has Zuroweste borne witness to some of the toughest calls in KC media history – like when former general manager Herndon Hasty blew up KY102 – he’s been smack in the middle of some of the biggest, baddest, most controversial radio controversies here of all time. Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 21 Comments

Hearne: Grave Dancing on the MU Tigers Sports Teams

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

By some measure it was the oldest college sports rivalry west of the Mississippi…

Missouri versus Kansas in football, basketball, you-name-it was a lifetime avocation for many sports-minded locals. And while MU dropped out of the formal proceedings this past year by leaving the so-called Big 12 for the SEC, the hatred continues to drip.

Remember the story about the owners of the Black & Gold Tavern wanting to bus Tiger fans to Lawrence this summer to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Quantrill’s Raid?

So it is that the Tigers’ poor performances in football and basketball its first year away from the Big 12 did not go unnoticed.

“MU who?” reads the headline in a Lawrence Journal World editorial this past week. Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 14 Comments

Hearne: Scribe Charts Walt Bodine’s KCUR Years

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

Just how relevant was the Walt Bodine of the past 30 years?

Outside of a handful of aging Boomers and NPR listeners from the arts and academia worlds – not very, says Stanford & Sons main man Craig Glazer.

“I was never a fan of his,” Glazer says. “I never thought he was cool or sharp or anything – he just existed. I only cared about him because I got to be on his show.” Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 40 Comments

Starbeams: Drunk Driving in Westport, Elephant Herpes & ‘Ungoogleable’

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Kelly Urich

dm_130225_nfl_manti_addresses_media_help_hurt A bunch of guys wearing skirts spent the day at the Supreme Court hearing on whether or not states can ban same-sex marriage?

*******

The Irish town of Kilgarvin has legalized drunk driving….or as we call it in Westport – DRIVING.

******* Continue reading →

Posted in Starbeams | 1 Comment

Hearne: KC’s LaCrosse a Wanker by Any Other Name

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

What’s in a word?

Plenty if you happen to speak French. Which is why when Buick debuted its 2005 LaCrosse all heck broke out among our French speaking neighbors to the north.

Because in French, “LaCrosse” translates into – to use polite terms – “self love.”

Which brings us to GM’s announcement yesterday that the improved 2014 LaCrosse will be assembled at its Fairfax plant in KCK.

A little history. Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 6 Comments

Hearne: The Truth, Whole Truth & Nothing But About Hot Springs

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

Ever heard of something called The Bathhouse Era?

Me neither. Until I rambled down to Hot Springs, Arkansas this past weekend in search of something that resembled a Spring Break kiddie getaway.

Was I in for surprise. Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher, Uncategorized | 12 Comments

Hearne: Sandstone Knocks One Out with Mumford & Sons ‘Invitation’

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

mumford-and-sons1-1 Face it, things haven’t been the same at the outdoor amphitheater known as Sandstone since Live Nation pulled the plug several years back and the title sponsor went from powerhouse Verizon to relatively puny Cricket.