A generation ago, an average concertgoer’s experience with contemporary classical music might consist of a dense, cacophonous piece at the beginning of a concert of, say, Mozart and Brahms. Once the new piece was “out of the way,” musicians would move on to more familiar territory. Listeners would breathe a sigh of relief, and often […]

September 17th was the date for Kansas City Young Matrons’ September Soirée Under The Stars. Nancy and Jeffrey Brown hosted the festive event, which featured cocktails, an array of treats, and live music from Mikey Needleman. Julie Maggart is the organization’s president.   Perry and Joni Siplon, Mitch and Julie Maggart, KCYM president; and Joni […]

A bouncing baby boy named Dean Alexander Johnston was born on July 15th to Amy and Kirk Johnston of Roeland Park, Kansas. The blue-eyed, brown-haired boy weighed five pounds, 10 ounces, and was 18 inches long. His proud grandparents are Jill and Marshall Dean of Our Town and Lorraine and Garth Johnston of Northern Ireland, […]

The Hops & Barley Ball: In Color took place on September 27th at the 1900 Building. Proceeds support CASA of Johnson & Wyandotte Counties. Children who have been removed from their homes and have a CASA volunteer advocating for them in court are far more likely to find a safe permanent home.   Annissa Epperson […]

Dr. and Mrs. Douglas Leroy Nelson of Mission Hills, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Hayley Elizabeth Nelson, to Charles August Eckert IV, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Michael Ferneding of Montgomery, Ohio, and Mr. Charles August Eckert III of Cincinnati, Ohio. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mrs. […]

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.  Winston Churchill Kansas City uniquely embodies the philanthropic spirit. Here, everyone has a cause (or many) that they passionately believe in and to which they give their time and money. In fact, at a fundraising talk earlier this year, […]

Author’s note: A decade ago, Michael Churchman wrote Storied Halls: The Brookside Hotel, Treadway Hall, and the Crestwood Condominiums Through Ninety Years, and this scribe is heavily indebted to him for his research. For anyone who grew up enchanted by the stories of Eloise at The Plaza, (in New York, alas, not on the Country […]

The Summer Celebrations Signature Issue debuts every August and features photos from Our Town’s summer scrapbook. The Independent joins with our loyal subscribers and Our Town’s non-profit organizations and country clubs to celebrate the 2019 summer!   Emmett Langdon at T-ball in Leawood Park   John Fryer in Grand Lake, Colorado   Everett Langdon splashed all […]

Ask the question, “what is art?” and every person will have a different answer. Art to me is something that includes the intention behind the piece and the emotion it evokes. It is a release of potentially undefinable emotions and imagination made real. Art can bring us together and teach us to reflect on our […]