Little Italy

SAT 6/12
As flirty circle skirts and sweet flats adorned with tiny bows skipped down a number of New York City runways not too long ago, we imagined that the models were on their way to launch the summer season at a private Venetian escape. It seems style-appropriate, then, that Kansas City's own 18th Street fashion show, organized by Birdies, Second Honeymoon and Spool, is called Italian Summer. Admittedly, the title's inspiration has less to do with Miuccia Prada and more to do with some sexy scooters. "We named it Italian Summer because we wanted Vespa to sponsor us," says a giggling Peregrine Honig, who co-owns Birdies with Corrie Van Ausdal. It worked -- Vespa and Spy Agency Salon are financing a fabulous fashion extravaganza imbued with a "street party atmosphere," Van Ausdal says.

Look for a 40-foot stage set up along 18th Street (two blocks west of Main Street in front of the aforementioned stores). The Burly-Q Girly Crew kicks off the event, which is scheduled from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday. Eleven designers present their work, and Nathan Granner and jazz trio Johnny Hamil, Mark Southerland and Clark E. Wyatt provide music. For more information, call Birdies at 816-283-3004. -- Annie Fischer

Ultra Redux
Approach gets closer.

6/11 & 6/15
Given that Approach is returning from a European tour with the Souls of Mischief, he's probably going to be a little jet-lagged when he comes home this week. But we wonder if he'll be even more disoriented headlining record-release parties for Ultra Proteus, an EP he put out nearly two years ago. This is the new, complete Ultra Proteus, with a few new tracks and five remixes.

The disc gets rereleased at the Bottleneck (737 New Hampshire in Lawrence, 785-841-5483) Friday night (Heiruspecs and Josh Powers will perform) after Approach's in-store at Love Garden at 6:30 (936 1/2 Massachusetts in Lawrence, 785-843-1551) and again Tuesday night at Jackpot Saloon (943 Massachusetts, 785-832-1085). Fans who don't need to hear the music in the presence of the man himself can listen in at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Recycled Sounds (Westport Road and Main Street, 816-531-4890). -- Michael Vennard