Pitch

Kill the Messenger

Pulitzer Prize-winner Gary Webb broke an explosive story. Then his career imploded.

• by Nick Schou
• Tags: Web Exclusive, News, Gary Webb, Central Intelligence Agency, The New York Times Company, Sacramento

Art Walk

The KC Strip is the sirloin of Kansas City media, a critical cut of surmisin' steak that each week weighs in on the issues of the day, dictating its column to Pitch writers.

• by Annie Fischer
• Tags: Kansas City Strip, Columns, Lara Kline, Steven Holl, Chris McVoy, Marc Wilson

Marathon Hell

This Saturday, run like Satan’s on your tail

• by David Martin
• Tags: Web Exclusive, News, Kansas City, Valdez, Mike Potts, Wichita

Try a Little Tenderloin

Ernie Locke carts his meat back to town.

• by Mike Warren
• Tags: Interview, Feature, Ernie Locke, Kansas City, Westport, Clearwater

In the Blood

Two music industry veterans-slash-victims are starting up a label that could finally introduce KC’s music scene to the world.

• by Jason Harper
• Tags: Wayward Son, Columns, Robert Moore, Megan Hamilton, California, Paul Malinowski

Silversun Pickups

Friday, October 6, at the Jackpot Saloon

• by Aaron Ladage
• Tags: Critic's Choice, Show Preview, Los Angeles, Nikki Monninger, Silversun Pickups

Cyndi Lauper

Friday, October 6, at the Uptown Theater.

• by Robert Bishop
• Tags: Critic's Choice, Show Preview, Cyndi Lauper, Lou Albano, Jeff Goldblum, China

Valient Thorr

Friday, October 6, at the Brick. Also with the Esoteric. Saturday, October 7, at the Replay Lounge (early show, 7 p.m.).

• by Saby Reyes-Kulkarni
• Tags: Critic's Choice, Show Preview, Iggy Pop

Cursive

Sunday, October 8, at The Granada.

• by Aaron Ladage
• Tags: Critic's Choice, Show Preview, Omaha, Tim Kasher, Nebraska, Cursive (Band)

Riverboat Gamblers

Wednesday, October 11, at the Record Bar.

• by Jesse Nathan
• Tags: Critic's Choice, Show Preview, Austin (Texas), Axl Rose, Mick Jagger, Green Day

KRNL.PANIC

Saturday, October 7, at the Hangout.

• by Chris Milbourn
• Tags: Spin Cycle, Show Preview, Ben Fuller, Kansas City, British Broadcasting Corporation, Canada

Bait and Switch

A hero of the Hong Kong new wave returns the compliment.

• by J. Hoberman
• Tags: Film, Film Review, Martin Scorsese, Hong Kong, Jack Nicholson, Matt Damon

Catch It

The Rep puts on a moving show about a cab company.

• by Alan Scherstuhl
• Tags: Stage, Stage, August Wilson, Lou Bellamy, Kansas City, Jacinto Taras Riddick

Art Capsule Reviews

• by Ray T. Barker, Annie Fischer, Alexandra E. Fox and Santiago Ramos
• Tags: Art Capsules, Culture Listings, Eric Bashor, Gajin Fujita, Los Angeles, Megan Mcginnis

Stage Capsule Reviews

Reviews and previews of upcoming shows.

• by Alan Scherstuhl
• Tags: Stage Capsules, Listings, Kansas City, Chicago, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hollywood

Lewis Blows His Top

• by Jordan Harper and Robert Wilonsky
• Tags: DVDish, Reviews, Lewis Black, Jason Reitman, Chris Buckley, Robert Wilonsky

Copycat Killer

Saints Row shamelessly apes Grand Theft Auto.

• Tags: Game On, Reviews, Saints Row, Microsoft Xbox 360, Rockstar Games Inc., Grand Theft Auto IV

Our top DVD picks for the week of October 3:

• Tags: What Else Is New?, Reviews, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., Cedric the Entertainer, Home Box Office Inc.

Best Bakery

Artisan Francais

Best of Kansas City 2006

Best Local Hero

Joe Zwillenberg

Best New Bar

Record Bar

Best Thing Made in Kansas City

A. Zahner Company

Best Local Author

Candice Millard The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey

Best Chief

Larry Johnson

Best Reason to Drink Your Milk

Shatto Milk Company

Best New Building

The Lawrence and Kristina Dodge Painting Building

Best Karaoke

Red Balloon

Best Video Store

SRO Video

Best Book for Local Tourists

Best Little Coffee Shops in Kansas City Sandra Martin and Isaac Alongi

Best Saintly Chief

Will Shields

Best Reason for a Chiefs Fan to Have Hope

No More Tears

Best Breakfast

The Classic Cookie

• Tags: Food & Drink, Classic Cookie

Best Construction Site

The West Edge

Best Neighborhood Bar, North

Power Plant Restaurant and Brewery

Best Place to Buy Art

The Late Show Gallery

Best Poetry Reading

The Mad Hennessy's Tea Party at the Writers Place

Best Reason for Royals Fans to Have Hope

Alex Gordon

Best Really Cheap Breakfast

Winstead's

Best Union

Local 124 IBEW

Best Neighborhood Bar, South

Flo's Polk-A-Dot Lounge

Best Liquor Store

Lukas Liquor Superstore

Best Movie Theater

Glenwood Arts

Best Neighborhood Bar, East

Whiskey Tango

Best Grass

Waldo Grain Company

Best Action Hero

Santiago Vasquez

Best Royal

Sluggerrr

Best Mexican Breakfast

Tienda Casa Paloma

Best Use of Tax Incentives

Hilton President

Best Politician

Paul Morrison

Best Neighborhood Bar, West

Maloney's Bar and Grill

Best Pet Groomer

Debbie Lamberton

Best Humble Servant of the Arts

Jaimie Warren

Best T-Bone

Greg Jacobs

Best Hangover Breakfast

Re:Verse

Best Sunday Brunch

Benton's Steak & Chop House

Best Political Rumor

Kay Barnes Wants a Third Term

Best Afterparty

The Student Union

Best Ad Campaign

Holliday Law Firm

Best Emerging Artist

Mathew Krawcheck

Best Wizard

José Luis Burciaga Jr.

Best Cupcakes

The Mixx

• Tags: Food & Drink, The Mixx

Best Attempt at Legislative Common Sense

Kansas Rep. Terrie Huntington

Best Cheap Night Out

Customer-Appreciation Night at the Brick

Best Aging Shopping Center

Metro North Mall

Best Artist

James Woodfill

Best Race Car Driver

Gene Claxton

Best Reuben

Woodswether Café

Best Republican Blog

... Just Cara

Best Ad Campaign for a Bar

The News Room Bar and Grill

Best Shoe Store

Habitat Shoe Store

Best Collaboration

Dylan Mortimer and Davin Watne Uplifted Arms

Best Softball Field

Clinton Lake Softball Complex

Best Barbecue

Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue

Best Blog About Life

Frighteningly Uncommon Sense

Best 1:30 Bar

Lew's Grill and Bar

Best Ethnic Grocery Store

Chinatown Market

Best Curator

Stacy Switzer

Best Climbing

Swope Boulders

Best Sports Blog

Royals Review

Best Burger

Hereford House Zona Rosa

• Tags: Food & Drink, Hereford House at Zona Rosa

Best Sweeps Delivery

Fox 4's Swingers Story

Best 3 a.m. Bar

Harry's Bar and Tables

Best Nail Salon

Nail Perfection

Best Experimental Art

Petah Coyne: Above and Beneath the Skin Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art

Best Hike

Fox Hollow Nature Trail

Best French Fries

Oklahoma Joe's BBQ

Best TV Hair

Donna Pitman KMBC Channel 9

Best Place to Take Shots

The Brooksider Bar & Grill

Best Gift Shop

Bon Bon Atelier

Best New Media Show

Brendan Meara and Benjamin Thorp: Stains, Fingerprints, Watermarks and Scars at Paragraph Gallery

Best Bar for a High School Reunion

Charlie Hooper's Brookside Bar

Best Hair Salon

The Darling Room

Best Photography Show

Donald J. McKenna In Missouri at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

Best Park

Penguin Park

Best Soup

French Onion Soup at Café Provence

• Tags: Food & Drink, Cafe Provence

Best Cranky Sportscaster

Jack Harry KSHB Channel 41

Best TV Host

Nick Haines KCPT Channel 19

Best Biker Bar

Knuckleheads Saloon

Best Homegrown Mixer

Original Juan Bloody Mary Mix

Best Local Solo Show

Marcus Cain Tales of Caution at Greenlease Gallery

Best College Athlete

University of Kansas Guard Brandon Rush

Best Vegetarian Meal

Massaman Tofu at Thai Orchid

Best Really Cheap Buffet

Marrakesh Café

Best TV Reporter

Micheal Mahoney KMBC Channel 9

Best Bartender

Jonas Deemer at Revolver

Best Place to Shop on the Plaza

The Apple Store

Best Exported (Then Imported) Group Show

Whoop Dee Doo: Kansas City's Big Night on the Town at Rocket Projects in Miami

Best Coach

Bishop Ward Baseball Coach Dennis Hurla

Best Dinner Deal

Figlio Restaurant

Best New Job for Katheryn Shields

Challenger to Matt Bartle

Best Martini

Thomas Restaurant

Best Shopping Center

Zona Rosa

Best Acquisition

The Hallmark Photographic Collection at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art

Best Highlight Reel

The Kansas City Royals' Triple Play

Best Place to Eat Alone

Café Rumi

Best New Job for Charles Wheeler

Transportation Czar

Best B-boy Spot

The Peanut Downtown

Best Tattoo Parlor

Mercy Seat

Best Show for the Kids

Aaron Gach The Center for Tactical Magic at Grand Arts

Best High School Athlete

Bishop Miege Shooting Guard Travis Releford

Best Pizza

Pizza 51

Best Jackson County Employee

Johnathon Bish

Best Waitress

Jessica McClanahan

Best Vintage Boutique

Vintage Vogue Apparel

Best Show to See on a Saturday Morning

Martin Morehouse Snug Sensation at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

Best Sports Talk Show

Between the Lines With Kevin Kietzman

Best Place to Get Wet

Zona Rosa children's fountain

Best Fish and Chips

75th Street Brewery

• Tags: Food & Drink, 75th Street Brewery

Best Antagonist

Cynthia Canady

Best Blue-Collar Bar

Dave's Stagecoach Inn

Best Used CDs

Needmore Discs

Best Crushworthy Artist

Justin Gainan

Best Sushi

Jun's

Best Duty Doer

Brett Shirk

Best Strip Club

The Shady Lady

Best Thrift Store

Disabled American Veterans Thrift Store

Best Performance Art

Michael McEachern Michael's Tailgate Extravaganza

Best Bar Comeback

The Replay Lounge

Best Caterer

Feasts of Fancy

Best Theater Company

The Coterie

Best Crab Legs

Jumpin' Catfish

Best Science Non-Nerd

Simon H. Friedman, Ph.D.

Best Westport Character

Potatohead

Best Happy Hour

Arun Thai Place

Best Makeup

Sephora at Oak Park Mall

Best Improv Group

Trip Fives

Best Vietnamese Restaurant

Vietnam Café

Best Indian Restaurant

Bollywood Indian Bistro

Best Place to Pick Up a Hot Soccer Mom

Dean & Deluca

Best Activity When Bombed

Pinup Bowl

Best Laundromat

Walnut Place Laundromat

Best Moment in a Theater

Angela Polk in Crowns

Best Italian Restaurant

Jasper's Restaurant

Best "Granddad"

Jim Nunnelly

Best Pickup Joint

The Grand Emporium

Best Theatrical Event

The Maid's Tragedy University of Missouri-Kansas City Graduate Theatre Department

Best Chinese Restaurant

Jen Jen's

Best Marital Spat

Sandy and Bill Skaggs

Best Older Pickup Joint

Touché

Best Theater Newcomer

Sam Cordes In This Corner

Best Mexican Food

Tarahumara Mexican Restaurant

Best Expression of the KU-MU Rivalry

Quantrill Acres

Best Patio

Granfalloon Bar & Grill, Northland

Best Actor in a Bad Play

Scott Cordes in Duck Hunter Shoots Angel

Best Steak

Morton's
The Steakhouse

Best Plaza Personalities

Maurice Hayes and Shanice Hayes

Best Beer Selection

Yard House

• Tags: Food & Drink, Yard House

Best Scene Stealers

Tim Scott in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story DeDe Deville Come Back to the 9 to 5, Dolly Parton Dolly Parton

Best Cheap Steak

Dan's Longbranch Steakhouse

Best Sports Bar

The Other Place American Sports Grill & Pizzeria

Best Funny Performance

Stasha Case in Bonanza: The Purposely Lost Episode

Best Bar Trick

Magician Eric Price

Best Performance in a Play

Kaleo Griffith Man and Superman

Best Neighborhood Restaurant, North

Hayes Hamburgers & Chili

Best Place to Smoke

McCoy's Public House and Brewkitchen

Best Musical

Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story

Best Neighborhood Restaurant, South

T.J.'s Café<

Best Neighborhood Restaurant, East

Big Biscuit

• Tags: Food & Drink, The Big Biscuit

Best Play

Fifth of July

Best Neighborhood Restaurant, West

K.T. Fryers

Best Morning Show

Afentra's Big Fat Morning Buzz KRBZ 96.5

Best New Restaurant

Cassis

Best Radio DJ

Jason Nivens KQRC 98.9

Best Desserts

Pangea Café & Market

Best Hip-Hop Radio Show

The Show-Me Mix Show KKFI 90.1

Best MySpace Music

Joe Good and Mac Lethal "Welcome to My MySpace Page"

Best Band

The Architects

Best MC

Joe Good

Best Breakout Band

The Pomonas

Best Small-Scale Lawrence Venue

The Jackpot Music Hall

Best Local Label

Anodyne Records

Best DJ/Producer

Miles Bonny

Best Album

Roman Numerals Roman Numerals

Best Local Song

"Savannah" In the Pines

Best Rap Track

Joe Good "In Ya Mouf"

Best Soundman

Dave Gaumé

Best Sexy Musician

Jamie Searle It's Over

Best One-Man Freakout

This Is My Condition

Best Live Band

The Last of the V8s

Ask a Mexican

Spanish Fly

• Tags: Letters, Letters, Kansas City, Harry Reems, Gustavo Arellano, Jay Doc