Why should boys get to have all the fun? That’s one of the questions Kate Hamill asked herself as she began to refocus the Holmes and Watson stories to view them through the lens of a woman who had always felt left out of the “buddy stories” of literature, television, and film. “As a kid, […]

Happy New Year! As promised in my December column, a few of our reader favorites from 2021 were The Push by Ashley Audrain, The Rainbow by Carly Schabowski, Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters, Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism by Amanda Montell, and Intimacies by Katie Kitamura. To celebrate a new year of fantastic books, I […]

December 4th was the date for The Junior League of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties in Kansas’ 71st Annual Community Ball and Cotillion, which was held at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Laurel Thomas and Sara Willimon were the Ball co-chairmen, and Marsha Oyer served as the Cotillion chairman. Guests enjoyed a gourmet dinner, elegant decor, […]

The HALO Foundation’s #ArtDoesGood Campaign was a huge success. More than $22,260 was raised to help provide a haven of creativity, future-focused art and life skills programs, and professional development training for 111 kids in a HALO Learning Center for one year.   Read more in the January 8, 2022 issue of The Independent

Mr. and Mrs. William Frank Parrish of Venice, Florida, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Heather Nicole Parrish, to John Patrick Jandl, the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Paul Jandl of Prairie Village, Kansas. The bride-to-be is a graduate of Venice High School. Heather earned a bachelor of science degree in […]

The Folly Theater’s annual Folly Frolic was held on November 20th. Guests enjoyed a ’20s-themed reception, followed by a performance of Two Lost Souls with Jane Lynch and Kate Flannery.          Read more from the January 8, 2022 issue of The Independent Photo Credit: Kelly Powell

The 16th Annual Dancing with the Kansas City Stars, a benefit for the students of Cristo Rey Kansas City, will be held at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. The Kansas City Irish Cultural Center was the setting to announce the eight hometown heroes who will dance for the students of Cristo Rey […]

Family Health Care KC’s Champagne & Chocolate event was held on November 6th at The Loretto Grand Ballroom. Alisyn and Charles Earnest and Katie and Ryan Gound were the co-chairmen. Greg Carroll and Midnight Blue Jazz performed. Partygoers enjoyed delicious sweets from Kansas City’s finest restaurants, bakeries, and chocolatiers. Proceeds support Family Health Care KC, […]

Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas’ 48th Annual Snow Ball will be held on January 15th at the Overland Park Convention Center. Friends from St. Ann Catholic Parish gathered to garner support for the Ball at the beautiful home of Fran and Neil Douthat. More than 100 young professionals attended the annual Snowflake Happy Hour at […]

Loews Kansas City Hotel was the site of the Kansas City Ballet Guild’s Nutcracker Ball on November 20th. Michael D. Fields served as the honorary chairman, and Karen Yungmeyer and Tempe Ostergren Elsberry were the co-chairmen. Peggy Beal, Guild president, and Jeffrey J. Bentley, Kansas City Ballet, presented the Pirouette Award to Dr. John D. […]

As our nation struggles with issues of inclusion and racial equity, performing-arts organizations also find themselves reexamining their own core values, to ensure that their activities reflect a changing America. One institution that has struggled most fervently toward change is the symphony orchestra, which has long been perceived as a bastion of European culture. It […]

Friends and supporters of The American Royal celebrated another successful season with many special events, including the World Series of Barbecue, the 122nd American Royal Livestock Show, the Chairman’s Uptown Hoedown, and six equine events. The organization also brought barbecue back to the West Bottoms with the first American Royal Backyard Barbecue Competition. Proceeds from […]

The Regnier Family Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City was the site for The Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Kansas City Chapter (AFPGKC’s) National Philanthropy Day Awards Reception and Program on November 11th. Guests enjoyed a cocktail reception and a program that included the presentation of awards for the Spirit of Philanthropy – Individual/Family, Spirit […]

November 26th was the date for The Jewel Ball Debutante Tea, which was held at The Kansas City Country Club. Dody Everist and Deborah Quirk were the co-chairmen.                 Read more from the January 8, 2022 issue of The Independent Photo Credit: Wirken Photography  

The Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland was the site for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City’s Most Wanted Auction, which was held on December 11th. This year’s honorees helped to raise $1,247,724 through one-of-a-kind auction packages and more. Partygoers celebrated life-changing friendships at the dynamic evening.       Read more from […]