Hampton Stevens
Stories by Hampton Stevens
‘Invest Your Son’ — Catching Up With the KCAI Student Who Spoke Against the Vietnam War and Caused A National Furor
The year was 1966. The Vietnam War was escalating, but the public tide had not yet fully turned against the war. That didn’t stop Joe Draegert, then a 20-year-old student at Kansas City Art Institute, from deciding to make a statement. Even as a boy, growing up in the small town of Chariton, Iowa, Draegert…
Top Five Ways To Spend Your Weekend
Get Royal Oh, how the worm has turned. A few short weeks ago, Royals fans were talking about a fire sale. Now, somehow, despite the team’s two biggest offseason free agent acquisitions essentially being busts, the 2015 Royals are within striking distance of the AL Central lead. Heading into a four-game set against the Twins,…
Five Things to Do This Weekend
Get Crafty Generally, it’s a good idea to be suspicious of anything that adds an extra “e” to the word “fair.” That pseudo-Olde Englishness just reeks of pretension. Make an exception, however, for the Kansas City Maker Faire at Union Station. In an age when most of us are surrounded by technology we don’t understand,…
Top Five Ways To Spend Your Weekend
A Little Bit Country If you get the chance to see a musical legend, see that legend. It doesn’t matter what genre. Willie Nelson certainly fits that bill. Decades before he became famous for weed, Willie was writing classics like “Crazy,” “On The Road Again.” The opening acts for this triple bill at Starlight Theater…
The Weekend Starts Today
Memorial Day is, most importantly, for remembering those who served. It also means a three-day weekend. Unless, that is, you happen to be self-employed or work in the gig economy. In that case, you don’t get “official” days off. Either way, though, the holiday weekend is the unofficial start of summer and a terrific time…
The Weekend Starts Today
May is National Barbecue Month. But let’s get serious. It’s pretty much always barbecue month in Kansas City. In between stuffing your face with our glorious local cuisine, though, you might also want to get out and see some of the cultural events our city has to offer. Don’t look now, but the Royals are…
The Weekend Starts Today
If you are lucky enough to have your mom around, make sure you see her this weekend. Flowers and a phone call aren’t enough. Take her out. We’ve got suggestions for cool stuff to do. Hey, remember how terrible the Royals were in April? They don’t look much better in May. Mom won’t care, though….
The Weekend Starts Today
Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for “Fifth of May” is an annual celebration held, wait for it, on May 5. The holiday, which commemorates a Mexican victory over French forces, has become, at least in the United States, a celebration of all things Mexican. Flatland can help you do that and more. Start with the annual…
The Weekend Starts Today
Sunday is National Honesty Day. Really. It is. The holiday was created expressly to encourage truthful communication, especially in personal relationships and politics. Which, pretty obviously, is a total pipe dream. Nevertheless, we at least promise to tell you the truth about what’s happening around town this weekend. Like the Royals. Their offense, honestly, stinks…
The Weekend Starts Today
For a certain segment of society, Thursday has a special meaning. 4/20 is a holiday of sorts, a day devoted to all things marijuana. We can’t recommend smoking (or vaping), of course. The stuff is still illegal in these parts. With Kansas City recently reducing penalties for cannabis possession, though, plenty of folks around…