Glazer: Tragic Tale of Hereford House Owner Rod Anderson

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Craig Glazer

I know most people will not feel sorry for Rod Anderson…

The longtime Hereford House owner was convicted yesterday of arson, conspiring to burn down the iconic downtown steakhouse in October of 2008. The jury decided that Rod hired two men to do the arson, while he was out of town.

All in order to collect over $2 million in insurance money.

Rod was broke, his restaurant – once a Kansas City landmark – had long been failing. The Hereford House on 20th street in the Crossroads District was simply way past its prime. Continue reading →

Posted in Craig_Glazer | 27 Comments

Sounds Good: Noel Gallagher & Snow Patrol, The Fresh and Onlys, Chuck Mead, Matt & Kim

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Matthew Donnelly

Aside from some stellar shows this week, there’s a lot going on in the KC sports world.

Tonight on ESPN2 the Houston Dynamo will take on the Chicago Fire in a one game “play-in” type of game, with the winner earning the right to a home-and-home against Sporting Kansas City in the first round of the MLS playoffs.

KC will play the winner Sunday at 2:30, and the home leg is on November 7th at LIVESTRONG. Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Matthew_Donnelly | 4 Comments

Whinery: Voter Fraud; Who Do ‘They’ Want to Win the Presidency?

Posted on October 31, 2012 by David Scott Whinery Esquire

“It’s not the people that vote that count. It’s the people that count
the votes.”
    — Josef Stalin

I’ve been sifting through all the “usual” conspiracies about election theft and now I’m even more confident of a Mitt Romney victory! All kidding aside- something is seriously wrong with how votes are cast and tabulated in this country. And judging by what I’ve been reading, it looks like there will be nothing “free or fair” about this election.

I came across a poll recently where the majorities of each party think the other party is going to steal this election. So if you think the system is rigged, you’re not alone and your fears are not unfounded.

And both parties appear to be guilty. Continue reading →

Posted in David Scott Whinery | 27 Comments

Leftridge: My Utter Failures as a Ghost Hunter with Poor Planning Skills

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Brandon Leftridge

I’m too old to trick or treat.

I don’t have kids to take trick or treating. I’m not really into costumes, either, and because I can get drunk any day of the week that I choose, I don’t really need some elaborate Halloween party with dry-ice and unsanitary homemade punch. (Bat-shaped cookies are pretty stupid, too)

I like scary stuff, though. Continue reading →

Posted in Brandon Leftridge | Tagged , , , , , | 19 Comments

Donnelly: Win Tickets to Quixotic Fusion @ Lied Center in Lawrence

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Matthew Donnelly

The past year or so has been a wild ride for KC’s resident fire-slinging, beat-thumping, acrobatic performance troupe, Quixotic Fusion…

They did the highly publicized TED thing out in California, played some big festivals, and opened a brand new show at the Midland.

Later this week we’ll have a chat with some members of the group to talk about what they’re getting up to now. But first, we’re hyping their November 9th show at KU’s Lied Center in Lawrence. Continue reading →

Posted in Matthew_Donnelly | 6 Comments

New Jack City: Disney Hauls In Star Wars!

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Jack Poessiger

Walt Disney Company chairman Alan Horn today signed a $4.05 billion deal to acquire LUCASFILM from company founder and creator of the star Wars franchise, George Lucas.

Kathleen Kennedy who currently serves as Lucasfilm’s co-chair will become president of the new Disney division as well as executive producer on future Star Wars films. Continue reading →

Posted in Jack Poessiger | 2 Comments

Hearne: Star Movie Dude Jon Niccum Inks Deal for ‘Worst Gig’ Book

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

From worst to first…

That’s movie and entertainment writer Jon Niccum‘s new found claim to fame. Niccum, as you may know, is the dude who essentially took Robert Butler‘s place reviewing movies for the Kansas City Star. He’s also the former entertainment editor of The Pitch and Lawrence Journal World.

Not a bad resume, but there’s more.

Some time back Niccum started a website called The Worst Gig. It’s mission: assemble and document a collection of ridiculously gawdawful stories from famous artists and musicians ranging from Tori Amos, Wilco and The Flaming Lips to Jane’s Addiction, Pat Metheny, Ted Nugent, Grace Potter and Dweezil Zappa.

You know, to name a few. Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 2 Comments

Hearne: What ‘The Boss,’ Sarah Palin, Charlie Sheen, Macaulay Culkin & Paula Abdul Have in Common

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

Let’s have a little fun, shall we?

Check out entertainment industry lawyer and blogger Bob Lefsetz sobering takes on some of your favorite music and entertainment industry icons:

On Charlie Sheen

If you’re on TV as an end unto itself, you’re close to the end. Just wait for cancellation or the termination of your contract. An analogue is Charlie Sheen. He’s only good as a TV star, he can’t go back on the road, his cable show gets him paid but he’s fallen off the radar screen, he’s never on TMZ or Radar. Charlie made the mistake of not knowing who he was. And not knowing that everybody’s got a boss. Hell, that’s the goal of being a rock star, to have no boss, which is why when you whore yourself out to corporations, you’re in trouble. A rock star’s only boss is his audience. And when done right, your audience follows you, just ask Neil Young.

******* Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 26 Comments

Glazer: New York Storm Reminds Scribe of Disasterous Plaza Flood

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Craig Glazer

Unlike Kansas City in 1977, New Yorkers were ready for the worst…

Hurricane Sandy hit, closed down the city, left 16 dead but New York was prepared for the attack. I spoke to one of my talent agents, Roger Paul this morning who lives in New York City.

“I’m safe,” he told me. “I look out my window and it looks like a scene from the TV show ‘Walking Dead’ – empty streets the subways closed, Wall Street flooded but it could have been worse. It isn’t 911.”

Paul said he expected things to all be somewhat back to normal by Wednesday.

Weather’s something outside of our control, kinda like the economy. Continue reading →

Posted in Craig_Glazer | 12 Comments

Glazer: Scribe Salutes Deceased KC Nightclub Czar Victor Fontana

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Craig Glazer

This past Friday a legend of Kansas City nightlife, passed away…

Without question Victor Fontana, was one  of  THE men about town in the ’70s, ’80s and into the ’90s. Like no other.

Victor owned and operated so many clubs and restaurants it would take nearly forever to name them all. By far the most famous was his 1970s Westport area smash hit Fanny’s. It was a nightclub, restaurant and lounge like no other in our city. It was the talk of the town.

The food was gourmet Italian / excellent and every big name in town called for a reservation behind those big darkened windows that separated the upscale restaurant from the dance floor.

Disco was king and the crowds were upscale with people from the Plaza and Johnson County. Continue reading →

Posted in Craig_Glazer | 31 Comments

Hearne: WaterFire Organizers Sucker Star into Reporting Inflated Crowd Count

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

Let’s talk about, oh, investigative journalism for a minute…

Specifically WaterFire, of KC’s most over-hyped non-event, event. Think of it as an outdoor, New Age send-up featuring “55 floating braziers” in Brush Creek with a mix of performances by local arts groups, fire eaters, jugglers and the like.

WaterFire’s sixth incarnation went down Saturday and was covered Sunday by intrepid Kansas City Star  “hot fuel” expert Steve Everly.

But wait… Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 18 Comments

Starbeams: Top 5 Signs You’ve Encountered a New Yorker Fleeing Hurricane Sandy

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Kelly Urich

The Top 5 Signs You’ve Encountered a New Yorker Fleeing Hurricane Sandy:

#5.  They won’t stop complaining about your city’s bad delis.

#4.  Someone asks you the entrance to the nearest subway…in Omaha.

#3.  You get them really angry and their accent changes. Continue reading →

Posted in Starbeams | 1 Comment

Donnelly: Quiet Corral at the Granada, October 26, 2012

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Matthew Donnelly

After touring the country, opening for the likes of the Dave Matthews Band and Gomez, Lawrence’s Quiet Corral triumphantly returned and drew a strong crowd at Granada Friday…

The band took the stage in its usual fashion, with many of its six members pounding drums and auxiliary percussion, including a huge marching band bass drum that was strapped to lead singer Braswell Roberts’ chest.  The band wailed away, building into a rhythmic frenzy before launching full steam into its set. Continue reading →

Posted in Matthew_Donnelly | 3 Comments

Star Search: Star Pulls Wool Over Subsciber’s Eyes with New ‘Paywall’ Policy

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

It certainly was an odd way to make a new product announcement…

New Kansas City Star publisher Mi-Ai Parrish‘s explanation of how the newspaper will begin charging readers for digital content – access to the Star‘s website – was an odd duck to say the least. Parrish rambled on almost aimlessly about different names for the new policy before settling on the fact that “whatever it is you’d like to call it…essentially, we’re going to charge a little bit for people to get our digital content.”

A  little bit, eh? Continue reading →

Posted in Hearne_Christopher | 5 Comments

Glazer: With No ‘Pedigree” K-State Likely to Get Shaft from BCS

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Craig Glazer

Oh great, now K State may NOT get the title game…

Media talk has begun saying that because K State is a nobody team in the sports media and the NCAA, either Notre Dame or Oregon may get the nod for the BCS title game likely against Alabama.

Thanks, OU!

It’s likely with their 5 or 6 wins over ranked teams (a number that could go up or down pending on what happens to some future teams K State plays), K State will be number 1 or 2 in the BCS.

However Notre Dame is well, Notre Dame – God’s Team. Continue reading →

Posted in Craig_Glazer | 6 Comments

Glazer: Sat it Ain’t So, Chiefs Worst Team in NFL History?

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Craig Glazer

It’s come to this…

The Chiefs are now being called by many “THE WORST TEAM IN NFL HISTORY.”

Hard to argue that one. We have the two worst quarterbacks in the NFL, that’s pretty much official. And soon our beloved team in red will break the turnover record for a single season.

We have no stars – Jamaal Charles is no longer able to go even two yards. He was out rushed by Turnover King Matt THE FRANCHISE Cassel. The former star running back had five carries for about, oh, who cares?

This team is just awful. Continue reading →

Posted in Craig_Glazer | 11 Comments

New Jack City: Thanksgiving’s Cinematic Fixings—Hold The Turkeys!

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Jack Poessiger

Here’s how Kansas City’s Thanksgiving is stacking up on the big screen…

The highlights of Hollywood’s 2012 celebrated turkey offerings at theaters near you are actually pretty impressive this Year.

* Starting this coming weekend with Denzel Washington, Don Cheadle and John Goodman running into major turbulence in FLIGHT.

And Disney Animation going turbo with its terrific WRECK-IT-RALPH voiced by John C. Riley, Sarah Silverman and Jane Lynch. Continue reading →

Posted in Jack Poessiger | 3 Comments

Starbeams: Chiefs Hell, Tebow Overrated, Bill Snyder’s Cloud, Cheech & Chong

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Kelly Urich

Sports Illustrated asked 180 NFL stars who the most overrated player in the league is.  The overwhelming #1 choice was Jets backup quarterback Tim Tebow, receiving 34% of the vote.  Tebow recently trademarked his famous “Tebowing” prayer stance.  Just to play it safe, before I say a prayer I consult with Brown and Crouppen.

*******

A Harvard trained neurosurgeon says he has scientific proof that there is an afterlife.  He recently went into a coma and after being brain-dead, he came out with visions of angels.  Meanwhile, 50,000 Chiefs season ticket holders can tell you all about there being a hell. Continue reading →

Posted in Starbeams | 2 Comments

Glazer: Eff the World Series, Scribe Straps One on for Wild Football Ride

Posted on October 27, 2012 by Craig Glazer

It’s the job of someone who picks games to bet on to find mismatches...

This week there are so many to choose from in the college ranks I might have a hard time picking the right combination. As you’ve seen using the legal tease of 6 points either way on the spread or the over/under is a nice tool. It comes in handy. Continue reading →

Posted in Craig_Glazer | 14 Comments

Glazer: Jason Who? Sam Mellinger Grows a Pair, Rocks Star Sports

Posted on October 26, 2012 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

I’ve written about Jason Whitlock‘s replacement at the Kansas City Star more than once…

Now I really want to tell you it’s my belief  that Sam “The Man” Mellinger is the real deal.

When Nick Wright was on the scene at 610 Sports, it was my pleasure to be on his show several times and as listeners know Sam was a weekly regular on the show.We never met to my knowledge, unless it was a brief hello in the hallway.

But Mellinger’s last several pieces on the Kansas City Chiefs have been excellent. Continue reading →

Posted in Craig_Glazer | 15 Comments