Dog Runway

Dogs and people have been hanging out together for the past 12,000 years, but the human desire to pamper the pooch is a more recent phenomenon. A couple of millennia ago, looking out for Spot meant giving him light armor to wear into battle, or, if you were a Chinese royal, carrying him around in the sleeve of your silk robe. Twenty-first century dog fanciers can mollycoddle their mutts with canine day camps, bakeries and designer clothing, not to mention yoga, acupuncture and massage therapy. Tonight, more frugal dog lovers can take their best friends to the Penn Valley Dog Park (29th Street and Wyandotte) for an evening of free four-legged fun. "Welcome to Hollywoof" begins with off-leash play from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by a dog fashion show at 8, then talent contests and games from 8:30 to 9. If you and your buddy can't make it to the more active activities, show up at 9 to watch Best in Show, the dog-show mockumentary starring Parker Posey, Catherine O'Hara, Michael McKean, Eugene Levy and Christopher Guest. Call the Kansas City Parks and Recreation office at 816-513-7527 for more information.
Thu., July 10, 6 p.m., 2008