Subject: Entertaining

• Planned Parenthood throws anti-Palin party at Plaza

  October 31, 2008

• Tonight at the Czar Bar: Fall Fashion Show

  By JEN CHEN and NADIA PFLAUM Tonight's Fall Fashion Show, presented by Heather Rama's Castoffs line and Scarlett Garnet Jewelry is a benefit for Hope House. Just as important: Tony at the Czar Bar, 1531 Grand, makes a mean Mai Tai. The show is sponsored by The Pitch and starts at 8:30 p.m., with a very reasonable $5 suggested donation at the door. As for the dress pictured, Heather tells us that she tailored it, shortened it and sewed on a vintage pink millinery flower. It's 90 bucks and "pe

  November 19, 2008

• Wanted: Non-Thanksgiving food ideas

  By OWEN MORRIS Right now I'm writing the Pitch Forks newsletter for next week and I realize that there are absolutely no events going on that are not Thanksgiving related. I even had trouble finding enough Thanksgiving-free links for breakfast buffet this morning. I like Thanksgiving. I really do. It's a good holiday but come on -- it seems as if every news site and party-planner is acting like Thanksgiving is the end-all be-all right now. Where's the blacklash?

  November 21, 2008

• Harris Green at Crosstown Station

  A couple of weeks ago, I was merrily partaking in some drinks at my work holiday party when I spotted Harris Green. Harris is a member of Phaze II, the band that played at the party. I liked the silvery pinstripes on his suit, as well as the vest he wore with it.

  December 26, 2008

• Dessert Oasis

  August 23, 2001

• Tiramisu-to-go

  For the last few years I've been saying that tiramisu -- the Italian confection of spongecake or ladyfingers dipped in coffee and marsala wine and layered with sweetened triple-cream mascarpone cheese and grated chocolate or cocoa -- has become so ubiquitious in the United States that I expected McDonald's to be serving it any day now. That hasn't happened yet, but Archer Farms, the food-and-beverage house brand for the Minneapolis-based Target stores, has a packaged Italian-style

  February 2, 2009

• Eat It and Beat It

  January 23, 2003

• Best Aphrodisiac at a Kansas City Restaurant

  October 9, 2003

• Best Place to Shop on Christmas Day

  October 7, 2004

• Best Dining Experience for a Dog

  October 7, 2004

• ID and Sleeper

  September 29, 2005

• Don't just go to a dinner party. Become the life of it.

  Flickr: TojosanConversation is an under-appreciated art in a society more concerned with who can fire off a better 140 character text in Twitter (answer: Fat City can.) But Twitter won't get you far on a first date or a dinner party with strangers. What is needed in these scenarios is that fine art of jokes, anecdotes and witty facts.But where does one obtain such information? Why, from Dinner Party Downloads, a 15-minute podcast and radio show in Southern California that bills itself as "a fast

  March 25, 2009

• Big-Screen View

  January 15, 2009

• Tuna Time

  December 4, 2008

• Be Bad for Goodness Sake

  November 27, 2008

• Bookish Prosperity

  November 27, 2008

• District Deals

  October 16, 2008

• The Ararat Shrine Blood Drive

  September 4, 2008

• "Young at Art" Cocktail Party and Silent Auction

  August 21, 2008

• The Spirit of the Wood

  May 1, 2008

• Holiday Karaoke Ball

  November 22, 2007

• KRNL.PANIC

  October 5, 2006

• An Office Gaf

  Waldo's new Irish pub is a fine place to make office party confessions.

  December 22, 2005

• Table Manners

  Post-9/11 angst is on the menu at this delicious Gatherum.

  March 17, 2005

• Office Space Case

  When we're done with the TPS reports, we love drinkin' with cubemates.

  January 6, 2005

• Function Junction is cooking up big plans

  Last winter, I was a guest on a radio show with Mary Merola, the founder of the Function Junction store in Kansas City -- she's the lady on the right in the photo -- and a terrific sport. I teased her, unmercifully, on the air about whether it was considered good manners to bring a cheese ball (the appetizer, not a weird date -- although I have brought both) as a "hostess gift" to a holiday party. I could tell by Mary's expression that one would never dare bring a cheese ball -- dairy or hu

  May 22, 2009

• Breakfast Buffet: Thursday, 5/21

  Some updates on beers to watch for, including an interesting note that Founders Brewery is coming to Missouri. [The Wort Hog]Some very lucky guests are getting some very well-thought-out party bags. Many ideas here for throwing a party someday. [Simmer Till Done]The good news is free hot dogs but the bad news is it involves the dreaded coupon. Still can't beat free. [Just Me]Reading about the great finds people stumble upon at garage sales never gets old. Neither does reading about the duds. [Nu

  May 21, 2009

• Wet dreams: Power & Light's pricey pool

  And now for some completely different Power & Light District news. Here's how much it costs for a membership at the P&L's rooftop pool, The Jones, which opens June 20. Full credit goes to KSHB Channel 41 for breaking it down: Corporate- $3000 (The membership card will have the Company name instead of a single person, making it accessible to any of the employees.)Up to 12 guests no line no cover (with cabana reservations)4 guest no line no cover (without cabana reservations)Towel service

  June 9, 2009

• District Restaurant Week

  August 20, 2009

• Multitask Addict

  November 12, 2009

• Dress Up

  November 12, 2009

• Going out for turkey day? Plan now!

  Who makes it at home anymore?​Plenty of restaurants will be open on Thanksgiving Day this year. The holiday wasn't always a big business day for the restaurant industry; until the late 1980s, Thanksgiving was considered a holiday when most people preferred eating -- and cooking -- at home. But anyone who has ever hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for the extended family knows it can be an ordeal: roasting that bird for hours, creating all those side dishes, trying to remember which relative

  November 20, 2009