"All three of us are in love with Kansas City. This is where our roots are and where we will continue to grow. We like the idea of bringing people together around craft beer," CEO Isaac Barcz says.
Bo Fishback, founder of online marketplace Zaarly (we profiled him last year) is willing to put up $500 to sign his neighbors up for Google Fiber. Google announced Thursday morning that the neighborhoods, or Fiberhoods in Google parlance, with the most residents preregistered for the service will get the ultra-speedy Fiber first.
Fishback used his own service today to hire a door-to-door salesman to register up to 50 of his neighbors in Countryside. He's even willing to pay each neighbor's $10 Fiber preregistration fee. The posting says seven people have offered to take the job. And if he finds the right person, it could put Countryside over the top. The Fiberhood currently needs 36 more people to reach its goal of having 5 percent of its residents registered.
The Google video above explains how Google Fiber's "Fiberhood" competition to determine which neighborhoods will be the first to get the incredibly fast internet service. Residents that want Fiber must preregister with Google and pay a $10 fee. Each Fiberhood has a goal to reach based on the amount of residents in them. On September 9, Google Fiber will announce which neighborhoods will get the service first. Also worth noting: Schools, libraries and government buildings within Fiberhoods will receive free Fiber.
And with registration only being open for about three hours, the Roanoke Fiberhood is the first in KCMO to reach its goal of 5 percent of residents signing up. On the KCK side, Hannover Heights was the fastest to the goal.
About 200 people attended the a presentation, explaining how Google Fiber will work, Thursday morning at the company's new Westport Road offices. And judging by the dozen or so rounds of applause for various Google speakers, it appeared that everybody came away satisfied with what the new ultra-fast fiber-optic Internet service will mean for the area. Perhaps drawing the most applause was the price: $70 per month for one-GB-per-second service, and $120 per month for Internet and a new TV system called Google Fiber Television. There's a $300 installation fee.
Google had said from the beginning that fiber will provide service 100 times faster than the average broadband speed. But showing is better than telling, so Google employees demonstrated the searing pace of Fiber with head-to-head competitions between a standard connection and fiber. With Fiber, 100 gigantic digital photos were uploaded to Google+ in about five seconds. A three-minute video was uploaded nearly as fast. The audience of VIPs, tech-industry employees and media was mesmerized by the speed.
The nuts and bolts of Google Fiber and their plans for hooking up neighborhoods is after the jump.
When Fat City last spoke with Pandolfi's Deli owner Jake Hendershot and chef Grant Cansler last December, it was to announce the restaurant's newly launched weekend dinner service. Seven months later, Cansler is 35 pounds lighter than in the photo, above, and newly divorced. And preparing for a trek through Nepal and Asia that will take him out of the Pandolfi's kitchen for a couple of months.
That means no more weekend dinners served in the Columbus Park restaurant at 538 Campbell— the dining room is the former florist shop of the old LaPetina Funeral Home — although lunch service will continue as usual. Dinner service ended on June 30.
Google is expected to announce the launch of its high-speed broadband network today, but the tech giant has released few details prior to the scheduled conference. The announcement will be at 1820 Westport Road, which sits strategically near State Line (Google is bringing its service to both Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas), and is a potential site for the company's local headquarters.
The drink, prepared as part of Manifesto's entry to the Bar Room Brawl competition at the Tales of the Cocktail festival in New Orleans this Friday, features Grand Marnier infused with Applewood smoke, Campari and mint. Manifesto's Ryan Maybee takes the stage tomorrow night as the Midwest contestant in a field of six mixologists. He's not the only bartender from the Kansas City speakeasy in the news this week — Jenn Tosatto (a feature behind the Rieger Hotel Grill & Exchange bar and Manifesto downstairs) has an interesting take for PolicyMic on why you should consider tipping your bartender.
Before I Die...Kansas City is an art project funded by Kickstarter - the campaign raised $1,654 in June - modeled after Candy Chang's community installation in New Orleans. Community members are free to add their chalk thoughts at any time, a kickoff celebration is being held Friday, August 3, at 7 p.m.
The return of Whole Foods marks the continued migration of Austin franchises to Kansas City with Freebirds World Burrito locating in Westport (and opening its Mission restaurant two weeks ago) and the Alamo Drafthouse opening downtown earlier this month in the former AMC Mainstreet Theater. Whole Foods has two locations in Overland Park.
Which out-of-town restaurant would you lobby to bring to KC?
DelHi Soul Food Buffet closes in KCK
The Gaf has closed in Waldo
OSHA orders reinstatement of Wolf Creek whistle-blower
Police leave Union Station after suspicious package found
KC Pride Festival 2013? Yes, it's still on
Kanrocksas single-day tickets now on sale
Insane Clown Posse fans will be chugging Faygo in Lawrence tonight