Subject: Westport

• Back For Spring: Old-School Tags

  May 2, 2007

• As Babelfish Says, Ayez Un Bon Week-end!

  August 3, 2007

• Pitch Music Showcase Schedule

  August 3, 2007

• Now Hiring: Dollar Tree and Pride Cleaners

  This big "Now Hiring" sign is up at the new Dollar Tree in the Old Westport Shopping Center at Westport Road and Southwest Trafficway.Maybe this funky urban strip mall is a harbinger of economic recovery. Pride Cleaners has had a sign up in the window for awhile now. The clerk there told us the company has opened some new stores and is looking for managers.

  June 2, 2009

• Daily Briefs: The Eve of a Four-Day Work Week

  May 26, 2008

• A Reporter's Notebook: Why Westport Rocks When It's Quiet

  July 23, 2008

• Emily Jenks in Westport

  August 12, 2008

• Wayward Weekender: Olympic Size, In the Pines, the Life and Times

  As far as I know, neither Olympic Size nor In the Pines have ever played a wedding. This past Saturday, both bands came close, playing on a deck tucked behind the Westport restaurant and special events establishment Californo's, where on the larger indoor/outdoor side of the venue, a wedding reception was taking place. Some 50 or so eaters and drinkers paid $7 to hear the bands, while, just across the sidewalk that leads away from the front door of Murray's ice cream, wedding guests got a taste

  June 1, 2009

• Emily Jenks in Westport

  August 12, 2008

• Eating out on Thanksgiving: the cheaper places

  By OWEN MORRISLet's face it. A lot of people don't want to go through the hassle of cooking a special meal at home but also don't-want-to/can't-afford-to pay $30 a plate (not including booze or taxes or tip) for a Thanksgiving dinner out. In fact, let's give this portion of the population a name: my family.As long as your family doesn't consist of traditionalists who can't stand the thought of trading rolls for naan, there are plenty of Ethnic restaurants that are open normal hours on Thanksgivi

  November 26, 2008

• Now Open: Firefly Lounge/Modern Speakeasy

  It's telling that Firefly Lounge does not have a telephone number, is located in the back of a narrow 50-foot hallway, and the custom sign in front is so easy to miss that even if you know where to look, you'll probably drive past it. Firefly is a modern "speakeasy," and while it's open to the public it's not going out of its way to draw just anybody. That's because Firefly wants to distinguish itself from the dozens of other bars in Westport, explains manager Matt Jones. "It's a little bit of a

  December 11, 2008

• Power & Light's Purpose

  Dan over at Gone Mild latest post lays out case for why Kansas City should "bulldoze" Power & Light District.Dan makes some good points but as one of the commenters (blogger Keith Sader) of the post says, "Since the Power & Flight [sic] district opened, douchebaggery has declined by a huge amount in older, funner entertainment districts." In other words, Westport.The resurgence of Westport has been on my mind of late.

  January 2, 2009

• Dave's Stagecoach Inn fighting for its 3 a.m. license

  Dave's Stagecoach Inn in Westport currently stays open until 3 a.m. That could change following an appeal of its 3 a.m. liquor license.The appeal is being sought by Westport Presbyterian Church and its pastor, Reverend Scott Myers. Two months ago Myers wrote a letter to Kansas City public officials urging them to cut off Westport liquor sales at 11 p.m.

  January 9, 2009

• Scene Snapshot: Cowboy Indian Bear, Streetside Records In-Store

  Forester Michael Lawrence trio Cowboy Indian Bear fleshed out its weekend of CD-release-party action with an in-store performance at Streetside Records in Westport on Saturday, February 14, 2009. Read our feature on the excellent new band to learn more.

  February 16, 2009

• Bluesday Tuesday News: Blayney's in trouble.

  When was the last time you went to Blayney's? Last week, kansascity.com and KMBC-TV reported that Blayney's was having some troubles keeping up with the game in Westport. We hooked up with Dick Schulte, owner and proprietor of the two-story blues joint down on Westport Road and got his comment. The Pitch: What's going on? Schulte: "I'm not closed. Blayney's is the blues of Westport in Kansas City. There are landlord-tenant issues that are going on regarding a lease. My lease is up, and I w

  February 17, 2009

• Bluesday Tuesday Report: The blues rise in Westport, il blues dagli uomini italiani

  This past Saturday, Blayney's in Westport hosted a benefit show to pay its rent to the Westport Business League. There were 17 bands that each played half-hour slots for 14 hours including Fast Johnny Ricker, Lonnie Ray Blues Band and Tekila. "Over 200 of my closest friends came out to support Blayney's and live music in Westport," says owner Dick Schulte, who owes landlord Brent Lambi around $18,000 in back rent (we mistakenly reported earlier that Schulte owed the Westport Regional Business

  March 10, 2009

• Spring has almost arrived. Murray's opening Tuesday.

  Flickr: Waldo OiseauOver the past week I've heard that Murray's Ice Cream and Cookies' winter hibernation was over and the open sign was back. One person told me it opened last Saturday, while another thought it opened today.Both are wrong but not by much. Dust-off that punch card because Murray's opens March 17. People have been anticipating it so much that Westport's having a parade that day and everyone's going to dress up in green. Oh sure, they'll say it's for St. Patrick's Day but Murray's

  March 12, 2009

• Monta at Odds, Saturday in-store and show at Foundation (MP3 enhanced)

  Monta at Odds is offering not one but two opportunities to step outside your own head this weekend. Tomorrow (Saturday the 21) the KCK-based instrumental-dreamweavin' band is starting with an in-store at 2 p.m. at Streetside Records in Westport, celebrating the national release of the group's new one, Outono. They'll have vinyl and shirts on hand, says Dedric Moore, one-half of the brother unit that forms Monta's core. Later, starting at 10, the eight-piece ambient groove combo sets up at the Fo

  March 20, 2009

• Improv looks like the best way to laugh instead of cry in 2009

  January 8, 2009

• For Civil War re-enactors, the Border War ain’t no football game

  November 27, 2008

• The Riot Room has risen to the tore-up top of rock-bardom.

  October 30, 2008

• Westport's Roots

  October 23, 2008

• Festival in the park

  October 2, 2008

• The Westport Art Fair

  September 4, 2008

• Risky Road Trip

  The city's worried about metal plates, but it's those skinny lanes that leave us in need of a drink.

  March 20, 2008

• Rush of the Irish

  March 13, 2008

• Tyrone Blea

  November 29, 2007

• Theater

  October 11, 2007

• DJ Just

  September 13, 2007

• Art Extravaganza

  September 6, 2007

• Westport Crashing

  July 5, 2007

• First Watch in Westport robbed, manager pistol-whipped

  A couple of guys in hooded sweatshirts robbed the First Watch on Westport Road around 7 a.m. View Larger Map Not a lot of details right now, but KSHB Channel 41 reports that the suspected robbers "pistol-whipped" the manager (who was taken to a hospital with minor injuries).  If you saw a couple of guys in hooded sweatshirts running near 43rd Street and Westport Road early this morning, give a call to 816-474-8477.

  May 11, 2009

• Breakfast Buffet: Tuesday, 5/12

  Help solve the Westport First Watch robbery. If you saw a couple of guys in hooded sweatshirts running near 43rd Street and Westport Road yesterday morning, call 816-474-8477. [Plog] Milder, young garlic is now at farmers' markets. With young garlic which you can eat the leaves, bulbs and all. [KC With a Russian Accent]Bat Mitzvahs are always an awkward exciting time, especially when kugel is involved! [Simmer Till Done]An ode to the wonderful trout -- fun to catch and delicious to eat. [NPR]

  May 12, 2009

• Is Westport too dangerous for dining?

  "Westport's over," said a friend of mine this morning, after hearing about yesterday morning's 7 a.m. robbery at the First Watch restaurant in Westport. (It was reported on the Plog too). "If you can't feel safe eating a pancake at 7 in the morning," said my friend, "where can you feel safe?" I've been hearing rumors of Westport's demise as a dining location for decades, even back in the 1980s, when The Prospect of Westport and Metropolis were two of the most popular venues in the metro. I'

  May 12, 2009

• Improv troupes kill in Westport; The Taffetas is a sugar rush

  May 14, 2009

• New Laughs

  May 28, 2009

• Westport Flea Market turns 28 years young next week

  Here's how long ago 1981 was -- the Royals made the playoffs!It was also the year Mel Kleb opened the Westport Flea Market and within a very short time, word spread about its great burgers and beer selection. Now in the hands of Joe Zwillenberg, who doesn't consider himself the owner as much a caretaker ("it's going to be around long after I am," he says), the Westport Flea Market is celebrating its 28th big one this Monday and Tuesday by reverting back to 1981 prices.Yes, all burgers and beers

  June 11, 2009

• Behold the Burger Mobile

  Driving down Westport Road it's impossible to miss the Burger Mobile parked in front of the Westport Flea Market. It looks like nothing else on the road, which is exactly what Joe Zwillenberg wanted.The story of the Burger Mobile -- which made its debut yesterday as part of The Flea Market's 28th anniversary celebrations -- will surely go down in Westport Flea Market history. But here it is straight from Zwillenberg himself, I was in New York with my wife and was around Time Square when I saw th

  June 16, 2009

• Fight over Dave's Stagecoach's 3 a.m. license resumes Thursday

  Looks like the Westport Presbyterian Church still isn't too hot on Dave's Stagecoach's 3 a.m. liquor license. Pitch reporter Nadia Pflaum snapped the above photo yesterday, which is pretty timely since the authoritatively named "Liquor Board" is holding a public hearing Thursday morning at 9 on Dave's application to stay open late. Earlier this year, our sister blog Fat City wrote about the Westport Presbyterian Church filing an appeal against Dave's 3 a.m. license. Westport Presbyterian's past

  June 17, 2009

• OUT AT THE MOVIES

  June 25, 2009

• Changing Lanes

  June 25, 2009

• Thanks, John Hughes

  February 5, 2009

• Westport Walking Group

  August 21, 2008

• Buzzard Beach

  July 2, 2009

• Gran Torino

  July 23, 2009

• Second Filling Station Opens Today

  ​Outside of the major chains, drive-thru coffee isn't widely available in the metro area. The second Filling Station coffee shop is hoping to change that. The modern coffee stand, located in the shopping plaza at the corner of Westport Road and Southwest Trafficway, is housed within a former instant photo shop. ​Eight white stools sit on the concrete floor to the right of the service counter. The shop's signature cookies will be available -- think about Snickerdoodle -- as well as everything

  August 3, 2009

• No festival drinking in Westport until 2010

  ​We're just going to have to wait to bar hop with our booze in Westport. The Kansas City Star reported today that there are so many hoops left to jump through that it might not happen until 2010. Sucks for us because tomorrow night The Pitch's Music Showcase takes over Westport, and there's no better event for bar hopping than the Showcase. We can only hope everything will be worked out in time for next year's Showcase.

  August 5, 2009

• Street Show

  September 10, 2009

• Out Out

  October 15, 2009

• Screen Screams

  October 29, 2009