Life lessons from Ferris Bueller and my visit to the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art

Posted: January 26, 2012

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One of my favorite movies of all time is the cult classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. So many scenes are memorable, but one that always stands out to me is the trio playfully frolicking around the Art Institute of Chicago. Who can forget the infamous scene where Ferris’ buddy Cameron is mesmerized by the complexity and beauty of one of Georges Seurat’s most famous paintings in the world? When I lived in Chicago for six years, I was extremely lucky to be able to make monthly visits to the Art Institute and replicate my own Ferris Bueller experience – minus the actual frolicking of course.

Fast forward 18 months, I am now a resident of Overland Park and constantly familiarizing myself with my new surroundings. I’ll admit that when I moved here in the summer of 2010, I was skeptical of how I could ever live without Chicago deep dish pizza, frequent visits to the Art Institute and the breathtaking views of Lake Michigan. As I prepared for the big move and made my way south, my husband said “don’t worry, there’s plenty to do here!” Gradually, I have come to believe him more and more.

I could go on and on about the culinary and cultural adventures we have had over the last year and a half in the Kansas City metro area, but I would like to concentrate on my recent visit to the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, located on the campus of Johnson County Community College (JCCC). As I previously mentioned, I love exploring art museums and was very excited that one so widely respected in the art world is a five minute drive from our home.

Unfortunately, it took me until this past weekend to get out and explore this local gem, but I’m officially hooked. Upon arrival, the museum is an architectural wonder divided into two levels. The lower level is currently devoted to a very special exhibit, Abstract Kansas City, which celebrates the 30th anniversary of the JCCC art collection. Abstract features pieces by artists who were educated in Kansas City or currently reside in the metro area. Running until February 19th, the exhibit showcases probing and unique pieces of contemporary work by such artists as Anne Lindberg (Parallel 23, 2009) and Brian Fahlstrom (Final Theme) – two of my favorites! The creative talent in the Kansas City area is tremendous and there is truly something for everyone to appreciate in this special exhibit. There’s even a beautiful piece involving duct tape!

Next, I made my way upstairs to the Kauffman, Starr and Cohen Galleries. I was greeted by South Korean artist Do-Ho Suh’s Some/One, which is truly one of the most unique pieces of art I have ever seen. Made from hundreds of stainless steel dog tags symbolizing ones issued by the military, the “coat” stirred my curiosity for at least 20 minutes. Other permanent pieces that caught my eye were Tomory Dodge’s Wasteland and Nicola Lopez’s Eye of the Storm. Both pieces involved so much color and visual detail that every admirer of the piece will surely interpret it differently.

For those of you who have never visited the Nerman or haven’t in quite some time, I highly encourage a visit as soon as possible. Admission to the museum is free and exhibits rotate every few months so each trip is truly different. During your visit, take time to read about the artist’s background, gaze at the art from different angles, interpret the art in your own way and if you have time, ask for a free guided tour. You may find that your appreciation and curiosity builds more than you ever imagined. And remember what Ferris famously said:  “life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

~Liron

New York Dawg Pound: A Real Hotdog

Posted: January 19, 2012

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Just how far would you go for a good hotdog?  No. Not one full of sodium, fillers, and bi products, but a real hotdog?  An all meat hotdog, a hotdog that doesn’t need smothered with chili or sauerkraut or cheese sauce just to make it taste good.  No. Not one that’s been in boiling water forever and or one that’s been on a roller at the gas station since, well no one knows how long. 

If you are looking to find the one true place for the perfect hotdog, a veritable hot dog lovers paradise, then read on.   

There are a lot of restaurants in Kansas City that have hot dogs on their menu and it’s usually part of a kid’s meal and the grownups pay little attention to the taste or the quality.  Well, Overland Park is home to the only place in Kansas City where hot dogs are all they serve.  The New York Dawg Pound in northern OP is a restaurant with an attitude.  The owner, Sal Frustaci is a real New Yorker.  He knows the restaurant business and knows how to please his customers.  He also knows about selling a quality product. 

On a recent visit during the lunch hour, the line was almost out the door and stayed that way for an hour.  The service is fast but every order is tailored specifically to the customer.  When I got to the counter with a polish sausage with nothing on it, Sal insisted that he put a helping of their special hot mustard on it.  I’m thinking to myself that I shouldn’t argue with Sal.  He promised that it would make all the difference, and it did.  Ask Sal about where he buys his hot dogs or sausages or brats and he will tell you where he gets them and the top quality of each product.  

You can load your dog up with everything from chili to bacon to guacamole to peanut butter (erg!) but it’s a shame to smother the taste of the meat.  However, I’m sure that one of the reasons that the Dawg Pound is so successful is that you really can have it just the way you like it.  The menu mentions that they reluctantly have ketchup on the counter but only if you “really gotta have it!”  They have all the typical sides and I know that the onion straws are popular, but you must order the sweet potato waffle fries.  Oh yeah!

Sal also takes his restaurant on the road.  Ever been to New York and had a dawg from a street vendor?  Well, Sal’s got the cart and it’s available for groups from 30 to 3,000.  Really!  On a cold December day Sal brought his cart to our office building and set up outside the door.  Whoa!  What a treat to have a taste of NYC at our very office.  You can tell that Sal loves what he does and getting out to sporting events or company or church outings with his cart must remind him of the old days back east. 

The New York Dawg Pound is quickly becoming a part of the local flavor and is a must if you’re a visitor or a resident.  But a warning in advance, their menu is extensive and once you’ve tried one, you’ll want to try them all!

~Brad

 

Restaurant Week in Kansas City

Posted: January 12, 2012

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Has there ever been that restaurant that you’re just dying to try, but know it is a bit of a reach (if not completely out of reach) for your budget? I have lots of those “special occasion” restaurants that I want to get out and try – places like The American Restaurant and Morton’s Steakhouse (no longer in KC). Kansas City is a mecca of culinary delights and I find that I’m constantly finding a new place I want to try. For the last couple of years, these “special occasion” restaurants have become an option for an average January Wednesday evening or fun Friday out. The restaurants of Kansas City are teaming up for Restaurant Week, which features the culinary delights of Kansas City and showcases some old-favorites and unique talents in the foodie world of KC.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Select a destination of choice from the restaurant list.
  2. Click on the OpenTable links to make your online restaurant reservations in advance. If the restaurant does not have the OpenTable reservation option, you will need to let the restaurant know when you arrive that you are dining in for Restaurant Week.
  3. Show up during Restaurant Week and enjoy your specially-priced multi-course meal ($30 for dinner or $15 for lunch).

You may want to know what I’ve experienced personally from Restaurant Week. I’m sure you’re thinking $30 for a multi-course meal at The American for dinner is unbelievable. I thought that, but let me assure you, I was not disappointed. The first year, my husband and I enjoyed dinner at The American. We were sat at a table with a view overlooking downtown Kansas City. Our meal began with each selecting an appetizer. I got the steak tartar. Then, you had a choice of soup or salad. For the main course you could have steak, fish or chicken. Complete with a dessert to sweeten the deal. Menus change each year and the menu is posted to the restaurant listing, so you can check it out before you go. Last year, my husband and I went with my sister and her husband to the Capital Grille. You can read about my experience by reading the blog post “The Staff can Make the Difference.”

This year, restaurant week will be January 20-29. I can’t wait! I know I’ll be checking out some place new. What will you try?

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