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The Pageantry Of A Tragedy: Titanic Artifact Exhibition
Titanic the Artifact Exhibition at Union Station is a strange synthesis of education, historical preservation, and highly commercial entertainment. It is by turns enlightening, moving, and unapologetically gaudy.
The “edutainment” aspects of the exhibit work perfectly for kids. There is just enough flash and spectacle to keep them interested in the substance.
My 6 year old was certainly engaged. He was thrilled to touch a “real” iceberg, and stopped to read all of the ominous icy sea warnings (from ships that preceded the Titanic on that fateful night) that are projected onto the walls in huge letters.
He peered into all of the artifact cases, and was especially impressed with a glass champagne bottle that survived the carnage with its contents intact. We searched the passenger list for the person on his boarding pass (cards provided at the entrance with biographical data about actual Titanic passengers) to see if she survived.
He commented several times that “the captain should have slowed down to see the icebergs,” and asked me “why did they keep the boat going so fast?” It was a good time to introduce some new vocabulary words, like arrogance and overconfidence.
There is a fascinating section towards the end of the exhibit that has large items (pieces of an iron bench, enormous cooking pots, etc.) alongside life size photos of those items underwater, before their retrieval from the bottom of the sea.
However, the item that stirred me the most was a minimal, elegant choker - a single strand of faded silk ribbon holding a row of small diamond hoops. It was the kind of graceful, unpretentious jewelry that I would buy myself, if I was a woman of means.
The delicate simplicity of that necklace spoke to me. It conjured up images of a singular owner. Someone with pluck, style and judicious taste. Someone full of youthful dreams and possibility.
And for me, those images were cheapened by our exit through the gift shop, where a printer was churning out photos of exhibit-goers hamming it up on a garishly digitized grand staircase, with a “ghostly” captain Edward John Smith tacked into the background. Yeah, someone at Premier Exhibitions really thought that was a good idea.
TweetPupusa Paradise: El Salvadoreno.
If food is a feature of the afterlife, pupusas will delight the denizens of heaven. There is a simple perfection in the combination of gooey beans and melted cheese tucked into a pocket of fried masa.
A sweet Salvadorean friend in Los Angeles would occasionally bring us homemade pupusas. No doubt she intended them to be dinner for our entire family, but as soon as I had those warm, foil wrapped goodies in my hands, I immediately sat down and tucked into them. My husband never even had a chance.
It appears that my 6 year old son is following down the same rapacious-pupusa-eating road. During Sunday lunch at El Salvadoreno, he put away 2/3 of the pupusas that we had ordered to share.
He ate them plain and unadorned, while I buried mine in tangy slaw and salsa. I kept delving into the tall glass jar for more crunchy strips of vinegary cabbage and carrot.
The other items on El Salvadoreno’s menu look tasty and are no doubt worth a try (especially the desserts!).
I will leave that to you. I only have eyes for the pupusas.
FYI - At $2.50 each and about the size of a medium pancake, two pupusas make a very filling and economical meal.
El Salvadoreno is located at 7926 Santa Fe Drive in old downtown Overland Park, KS (across the street from Penzey’s Spices).
The Softer Side Of Orlando.
Orlando, Florida is the mother country of bizarre, themed attractions.
It’s a train wreck of tackiness, a hot mess of bad taste.
Where else can you dine at classy establishments like Arabian Nights, Al Capone’s Dinner Show, Treasure Tavern or The Titanic Dinner Event?
At the Holy Land Experience theme park you can catch a reenactment of the Last Supper, frolic inside the belly of Jonah’s Whale, snap a family photo at Pilate’s Whipping Post, or scarf down some turkey legs from Simeon’s Snackshop while watching The Crystal Living Waters choreographed fountain show.
However….if you look past the kitsch overkill, Orlando has some surprisingly simple pleasures to offer.
And no, I’m not being facetious. Here are my top three simple pleasure picks:
1) LAKE EOLA PARK (227 N Eola Dr, Orlando, FL 32801)
Downtown Orlando is probably not a place where many tourists venture, but young, trendy Orlandians abound here. So many that we had to circle the lake to find parking on a Sunday afternoon (and it wasn’t cheap!).
The neighborhoods surrounding Lake Eola are full of local eateries, boutiques, and historic homes restored to perfection.
Hipster parents and their offspring flock to the innovative playground overlooking the lake, and young professionals jog by the water.
An aggressive grandma stole a picnic table right out from under us in the crowded children’s area.
You can take a swan paddle boat for a spin, or get back to nature and commune with the real thing.
2) NEW SMYRNA DUNES (2995 N. Peninsula, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169)
Most Orlando area beaches are polluted and jam packed with cars that are invited to drive out on the sand. Exhaust fumes, traffic gridlock and encroaching condos – not exactly a recipe for seaside relaxation.
New Smyrna Dunes Park is a bit off the beaten path, but well worth the effort it takes to get there.
The area surrounding the beach is a protected ecosystem. That means absolutely no cars and no condos, just footprints in the sand.
As you explore the wooden boardwalks and sandy trails, you will see countless birds and burrowing turtles that have made this pristine paradise their home.
And if you have an exceedingly ornery husband, like I do, be prepared to ward off wriggling crab attacks.
http://www.volusia.org/parks/smyrnadunes.htm
3) WINTER PARK (251 Park Ave South, Winter Park, FL 32789
You could spend several happy days just hanging out in the posh suburb of Winter Park.
It was founded in the late 19th century as an exclusive resort for new money magnates and still boasts the brick streets and elaborate buildings of its heyday.
Park Avenue and the adjacent green belt beckon with thoughts of a picnic lunch or coffee at one of the cozy sidewalk cafés.
I highly recommend the Bosphorus, an upscale Turkish restaurant with views of Central Park. http://bosphorousrestaurant.com/
My 2 year old would recommend squirrel stalking.
If museums are your thing, Winter Park has several fine offerings: the Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Garden, Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Morse Museum (which has the world’s largest collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany works), and the nearby Loch Haven Park complex with a Science Center and several art museums.
http://www.cityoforlando.net/fpr/Html/Parks/LochHavenPk.htm
So, when you have satisfied your yen for kitsch at the likes of Gatorland, seek out the more tranquil quarters of this much maligned city.
They are there if you take a closer look.
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Try Shai.
I didn’t discover Indian food until I was 19, when I flew the coop and landed in San Diego for college. At a grubby hole in the wall near Sports Arena, I had my first bite of warm, chewy Naan bread dipped in cool, tangy Raita. It was a revelation. I vowed to spend less time toying with navy guys and more time eating Aloo Gobi.
Kansas City has its fair share of Indian restaurants, most of them good, but indistinguishable.
I expected more of the same when we tried Chai Shai. That is, I assumed I would be eating familiar dishes done well in a dining room with lackluster decor. Instead, I entered a smartly designed, modern space and perused a small menu of surprisingly exotic choices.
My first visit was for lunch with a friend.
We were both guilty of skipping breakfast and giddily ordered an appetizer sampler to share. It came with crispy, crunchy Pakoras (a fried spinach snack made with chickpea batter), savory Samosas, and luscious slices of ripe, juicy mango peppered with spice. 
I was so enamored with Chai Shai that I dragged my husband and kids in for dinner just a week later. I had been thinking about the Masala Paneer for days, craving that sweet red sauce over fluffy rice.
After seeing a photo of the daily special (displayed on an ipad no less!), I jilted the Paneer for a first date with…something yummy that I don’t remember the name of! It was a combo meal – half Chana Masala (spicy garbanzo beans) and half a sweet Indian porridge made from Sooji (Cream of Wheat) decadently studded with golden raisins and nuts. It tasted like dessert, but I wasn’t complaining.
The kids inhaled my husband’s order of moist, tangy Achari chicken until there were only a few sad little bones left for him to gnaw on.
My 6 year old gave the light, flakey Samosas a definite thumbs up. They really are outstanding, not your typical grease laden appetizer. And the baby sucked up her half of a thick, icy mango shake. Chai Shai will certainly be seeing our hungry faces again soon.
Tip: the table in the back is perfect for families. It’s out of the way, there is a couch to lounge on, and kids can peruse the interesting grocery offerings while waiting for their food to arrive.
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A Garden In Winter. Kauffman Memorial.
A haven of serenity and silence is hiding in the midst of our urban landscape.
At The Ewing and Muriel Kauffman Memorial Garden, tranquility sits within plain sight of Troost and Taco Bell.
High stone walls shelter plantings and pathways that invite contemplative thought.
Playful bronze sculptures cast long winter shadows on carefully trimmed topiaries.
And when your frosty fingers have had enough of strolling, slip into the conservatory for a respite of warmth, color, and light.
Under the graceful glass ceiling, a resident cat has the right idea, snoozing amid lilies and poinsettias in the late afternoon sun.
And if the conservatory cat is not enough excitement, little ones will delight in seeing towering palm trees and exotic flowers flourishing in the dead of winter.
This little bit of horticultural bliss is located at 4800 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO, 64110.
The garden is open 8am to sunset year round.
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S’more To Do At The Nelson. Sculpture Garden Luminary Walk.
By day, the Nelson Atkins Sculpture Garden is a marvelous place to while away an afternoon. The lush green lawn is the perfect place to spread a blanket and canoodle with your sweetie under a shady tree, or succumb to the tranquil surrounds and snooze.
You can claim one of the plentiful park benches and lose yourself in a good book, or simply roam and enjoy the world class art.
It is stunning in every season and in every light.
A standout time to visit is on the Friday after Thanksgiving, by night, when flickering candles light the pathways and the Bloch Building is shown at its luminescent best.
The yearly Luminary Walk is fun for all ages, with fire pits, smores, and plenty of magical corners in the garden to explore by candlelight.
It’s a great way to kick off your holiday merrymaking.
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Flea Frenzy: Antiquing In The West Bottoms.
I love flea markets, junk shops, and thrift stores the way that a stereotypical woman is supposed to adore shoe shopping. Even two cranky kids can’t keep me away from browsing antiques in The West Bottoms on a First Friday weekend.
Taking little ones antiquing is no picnic. My husband’s idea of shopping with the kids is rolling into Costco and confining them both to a double wide cart.
Old industrial buildings have a lot of stairs and few functioning elevators. Strollers in The Bottoms can be more trouble than they are worth.
So, I usually just strap our 18 month old into the Ergobaby and stuff her fat little fingers full of Goldfish crackers.
And a 5 year old is easily bribed by the promise of a Coke from one of the food vendors.
My son was so good today that I bought him a strawberry/banana smoothie from the CoffeeCake KC truck. They must have thought I was an appallingly bad Mom, handing my kids an iced drink when scarves and gloves were in order and the wind was blustering down alleys and rattling reedy windows in every warehouse.
The smoothie was my only purchase today. I kept my wallet safely closed, but oh the things I wanted to buy: a rustic chandelier adorned with vintage flatware, a felted scarf from a local crafter, patchwork letters made of aged tin, and a pair of sleek end tables crafted in an onsite woodshop (I sent my husband a photo of these tables & he hated them; there’s no accounting for taste!).
The kids were wowed by taxidermied beasts and holiday ornaments.
There are new vintage peddlers popping up in The Bottoms every month. I can’t wait to see what fab finds December will bring!
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Climb Every Mountain: Brookside Triangle Park.
At a certain age, playgrounds cease being a place for mild mannered amusement and become the spot for mini Evel Knievels in training to attempt audacious stunts.
Visiting a busy playground often gives me an anxiety attack as I watch kids dangle from the top of swing structures, or climb down the outside of towering tube slides. I’m always certain that someone is going to break their arm, leg, or lose any number of appendages.
Unfortunately, my 5 year old is nearing this nervy age and is ripe for influence. He wants to imitate every cool kid that he sees at the park.
Thankfully, there is a playground that delivers thrills while keeping my heart rate steady.
TheBrookside TrianglePark at 58th Street andBrookside Blvd is a small pocket park with big personality.
The playground packs an imaginative punch with giant springs, a whirly gig, and ear splitting musical chimes.
The best part is the play structure, whose two halves are separated by a craggy peak. Only the bravest mountaineers will make it from one side to the other.
So tell your grade-schooler to grab a pick ax, don their crampons, and beware of altitude sickness; it’s time to conquer the mountain!
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Loco for Poco’s.
It’s high time that I praised Poco’s on the Boulevard. It is my absolute favorite place for an indulgent, food-coma breakfast. You can’t consume a meal at Poco’s without having to loosen your belt a few notches on the way out.
Chef Lorenza “Poco” Gutierrez has created a menu of excellent Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner dishes. It would take several blog posts to cover the highlights. So, let me just say that everything I have ever tried at Poco’s was delicious and I’ll settle for telling you about breakfast. And what a breakfast it is.
You can get fluffy eggs scrambled with jalapeño, onion, tomato, and cactus (Huevos a la Mexicana). Or you can order a savory omelette with spinach, onion, jalapeno, tomato and goat cheese (Popeye’s). The Chilaquiles will rock your world with tender tortillas and fiery flavor. There are Pecan Waffles, Malted Waffles, French Toast and Pancakes for those who like sweets in the morning.
Ninos 10 and under can order from the $4 kids menu. Even a kid with a colossal appetite would be hard pressed to finish this plate heaped with two humongous Mickey shaped pancakes, scrambled eggs and two slices of crispy bacon.
Tip: the Toast and Egg option is a better bet for tykes with smaller stomachs.
A former Wade’s restaurant, the Poco’s building still gives off that 50’s diner vibe. You might think that would be at odds with the Latin American cuisine, but I think it makes the place feel warm and welcoming.
My toast to Poco’s: Here’s to happy to eating and never letting a good breakfast go to waste (just be sure that you’re wearing pants with an elastic waist!).
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We Came. We Saw…the line. Kauffman Center Grand Opening.
I salute the courageous folk who took on a queue of epic proportions at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts today.
We rolled into the Crossroads around 4:30pm, thinking that the crowds would be thinning out as it was only 30 minutes until closing.
As we rounded the corner, my husband and I stared slack-jawed at a line snaking halfway around the enormous building.
Food trucks and several excellent musical acts lent a festive atmosphere to the mob scene and people seemed to be enduring their lengthy wait times graciously.
However, we decided to pass on the wait-your-turn party and took our kids down to 18 Broadway for a walk in the garden instead.
It was a lovely evening; and there among the flora and fauna, we didn’t even mind missing the Kauffman’s inner brilliance. I have the pictures to prove it.
http://www.kauffmancenter.org/
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