The Broadway

Art Fused With Awesome

I’ve never seen Quixotic. However, my friends have.

One said, “It was rad.” The other said, “Awesome.” The third made a guttural sound combined with a high kick and jazz hands. I knew what they meant, but I didn’t know how well it would translate into print. After deciding I needed new friends, I did some research on Quixotic so I could talk about it without using dance moves or my eighth-grade boyfriend’s vocabulary.

Here’s what I found. Quixotic is a performance fusion of art, music, dance and visual media. It was started by Anthony Magliano and Keelan Whitmore as a way to bring a diverse clash of taste and art forms together into one dynamic theatrical event. In 2005, the Pitch named Quixotic as the Best Performing Arts/Dance Experience. This year, Quixotic: Emovere will be held at the Madrid Theatre, June 15 at 8:00 p.m. Buy your tickets now. My friends say it’s going to be “Killer.”

Unhappily ever after.

Here’s what I know about “Romeo and Juliet.” Star-crossed lovers. Montagues and the Capulets. WORST BREAKUP EVER …

This past weekend, I saw the Kansas City Symphony’s version of this long-told tale at the Lyric Opera. Yes, Romeo and his girlfriend had some tough times, but they also made beautiful music together.  The symphony is celebrating 25 years in Kansas City and doing so with a series of concerts conducted by eminent conductor Michael Stern. Saturday’s performance was led by Larry Rachleff, an esteemed maestro who’s been in front of audiences everywhere from Utah to New Zealand. Rachleff was joined on stage by guest violist, Jennifer Frautschi, whose young career has already been recognized with solos at the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. “Romeo and Juliet” sadly came to an end this weekend (no pun intended). But you catch a special Memorial Day concert this Sunday, May 27th at 7:30p.m. at the Liberty Memorial. It’s free and followed by one of Kansas City’s largest fireworks displays.

Bright lights, mid-sized city.

The Crossroads is famous. Don’t worry, it’s not headed to rehab, or referring to itself by a nickname, C-Roads. (I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself.) No, it’s going to be in a movie. Or two. The urban backdrop we’ve loved for so long is getting some coastal cred with two sizeable film productions rolling tape here in town. “Lie To Me,” and “Jake Forgotten” are both pulling big-name actors and directors from L.A. while casting smaller roles from the deep pool of talent swimming in Kansas City. “Lie To Me” is a film about modern-day relationships — meaning everyone is sleeping with everyone else. “Jake Forgotten” is a story about a man’s entanglement with the mafia, the FBI and himself. Both films release later this year, but the Crossroads has been ready for its close-up for a long time.

Your mom.

Flowers are the most popular Mother’s Day gift — ever. Then chocolate. Then just a card. Followed by the phone call. Yawn …

But you know what your mom really wants? A loft downtown. I’m serious, she told me. I ran into her last night at The Cashew. I see where you get your looks. If I was going to buy my mom a loft (which I am, calm down, Mom) I would buy her one that’s in the middle of it all. Where it’s a short walk to the Performing Arts Center, galleries, restaurants and those boutiquy shops that she loves. I would make sure everything was brand-new, and that she had a terrace with a rock star view of downtown. (Your mom loves rock stars too, she told me.) Don’t worry, you can still buy her those tulips you’ve been eyeing. They’ll look great on her new granite countertops. 

If you miss the suburbs, see them from your terrace.

The Urban Homes tour is this weekend. It’s downtown Kansas City’s answer to the burby Home and Garden’s tour. But with urban patios instead of gardens. And rooftop swimming pools instead of neighborhood clubhouses. The tour takes place Saturday 10-4 and Sunday 12-4 and features more than 30 lofts, flats, townhouses and apartments in the downtown area including THE BROADWAY. We’re not biased, but we hear THE BROADWAY is pretty much the coolest project on the whole tour — or the Universe. You can catch the tour at the bus stop at 13th and Main, or print out a free guide and head out on your own. Learn more about the Cinco de Mayo after-party at Martini Corner, the countless other downtown must-sees like the National World War I Museum and more at www.downtownkc.org.