boomer

Boomer | Server

Avenues Bistro in Waldo

Years of Industry Service: 20

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Boomer lied to get his first serving job and it did not go well. At all. He worked at a now long-gone Italian restaurant in Topeka, Kansas and was waiting on a large group of speedway drivers, promoters and owners. With no experience, he said, "I had absolutely no business waiting on them." As he carried a tray of salads to the table, a cherry tomato committed suicide and jumped off onto the floor, unbenownst to poor Boomer, who stepped on and slipped on said tomato. The entire tray of salad came crashing down around him and thus started the worst experience of his entire life. "I literally crawled on my hands and knees from the table to the kitchen and cried for five minutes because I was so embarrassed," he said.

Twenty years later, Boomer is veteran of the industry. His best compliment came from a black couple who thanked him for not stereotyping them because of their race. Boomer doesn't care what his customers look like, jokingly saying, "if you got some money, give it to me." All joking aside, he said, "it made me feel nice because I was doing my job, doing it well and got recognized for it."

In addition to serving, Boomer also has a side business called Flowers by Pansies designing floral arrangements for weddings and other special events. Boomer said although they are just starting and business is a bit slow, it's still a great creative outlet.

Boomer has been in a 12-year relationship with his sweetheart Brian and they are still holding strong, "both fat and sassy." With three dogs and two cats, they have a full house in Waldo. Boomer does the cooking, but he sometimes has to make separate meals for their differing palates. He made a delicious swordfish with lime glaze and saffron risotto recently but his man is a steak and potatoes kind of guy. Now that he's older, Boomer keeps pretty low-key, doing housework, going to lunch with friends and playing trivia at Missy B's in his free time. "I don't do the club life," he says."I'm too old for that."

  Make KC Better » My biggest thing is people who bitch and complain about the city not going anywhere but don't want to pay for it. Quit complaining. 

"small" and tasty

Extra Virgin

Kansas City, Missouri » Crossroads

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Tina and I ended our day on the patio at Extra Virgin. It was a gorgeous but windy day so no cocktails, just hot coffee and cozy cardigans. The patio was full and we ran into an old friend, it made for a perfect afternoon. Their happy hour is fantastic. Select food items are half off and there are also drink specials. After the miserable weekend we just had, the sunshine this week is even more wonderful. So get yourselves away from your desks and go have some fun down at EV!

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Chorizo & Fig Filled Chicken Thighs, $4.50 HH price

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Huitlacoche & Cheese Empanadas, $4 HH price

Mozzarella and Aji Amarillo. FYI - Huitlacoche is a fungus that

grows on the top of ears of corn. We didn't know either. :)

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Crispy Pig Ear Salad, $4 HH price

Spinach and Radishes.

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Wood Fired Hanger Steak, $6.50 HH price

Fried Egg and Soffrito.

natalie h.

Natalie H. | Barista

The Coffee Girls

Years of Industry Service: 4

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When Natalie started working in a coffee shop, she thought it would be an easy second job. Making a pot of coffee is pretty basic, right? Wrong. She soon found out that there is an artistry to making a good cup of coffee and that she had a whole helluva lot to learn. Luckily, Natalie likes coffee and being a barista is now her full-time job. She recently gave up caffeine for six months, but is now back on "the juice."

When Natalie is not making coffee, she hangs out with her "fur friends." She has four dogs: two pit bulls, a Boston terrier and one loveable mutt. She recently fostered and found a home for a pup dog left in the middle of a busy part Broadway. Although she is not a big jock, she enjoys running and she loves watching soccer because "soccer is all about soccer." She's a big Sporting KC fan.

Some favorite restaurants that Natalie and her boyfriend frequent are down in the Columbus Park area, Pandolfi's Deli and Vietnam Cafe. She lives in Hyde Park on a block with a lot of young families.

  Make KC Better » I really think that this whole curfew things needs to be broken down to what it is. There is really a racial divide. These kids need somewhere to go and they deserve as good of a shot as anybody else. 

Check, mate!

FOR THE LOVE OF KANSAS CITY

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Where are we?

We walked by the window recently and saw this great group completely

focused and playing this classic game of strategy. Where is this chess club meeting? 

Don't forget to check here for last week's answer and winner!

Leave your answer in the comments section below or

send us a message via facebook or twitter @ELoungeKC.

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You can play chess at Westport Flea Market! David answered first and is

the winner, so send us your address and we'll send you something fun.

BRGR gave us some extra burger bucks that we'd love to share with you.

Peak Performance

Photos by Brandon Bamesberger

Peak Performance for Children

featuring Lance Darling with Jacob Bamesberger

at the Village of Loch Lloyd in Missouri

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After nearly a year of planning and organizing, it's finally time for our two-day fitness fundraiser to benefit PDSA (national non-profit Platelet Disorder Support Association). Trainer Lance Darling will begin his 30-hour workout today at noon out at Loch Lloyd. With a team of doctors & nurses monitoring his workout, Lance will be running 52.5 miles, the equivalent of more than two marathons and doing 24,000 reps with 6-minute breaks each hour. He will be alternating between reps and running with 6 minute breaks for food and rest each hour. I am not a big fan of exercising and to even think about working out for that long makes me tired. However, we are very, very proud to support Lance in his efforts to raise funds for PDSA.

During the event, every hour will start and end the same. Lance will lift 800 reps the first 35 minutes of every hour and then run 1.75 miles in 16 minutes. The last 6 minutes of the hour he'll be able to eat, change clothes and use the restroom. This will give him a total of 24,000 reps and 52.5 miles at the end of 30 hours. There will be three doctors and a nurse who will be volunteering their time and rotating times: Dr. Mike Porter, Dr. Mark Mathews, Dr. Melissa Mathews and Nurse Practitioner Robin Murphy.

Thanks to my dear friend Della January, we had the wonderful opportunity to coordinate and sponsor this amazing event which would not have been possible without the hard work and commitment of the steering committee: event chairs Brian and Kenda Bamesberger, Dennis Kane, Lance Darling, Katrin Ellefson, Lynn Klein, Kristi Gittmeier and our public relations guru Elaina Boudreau.

A big and special thank you to all our corporate sponsors, restaurant sponsors, in-kind sponsors and our two day crew of volunteers! Thanks to everyone's support, we are very close to meeting our fundraising goal of $50,000. (As of this morning, we are at $43,000).

Coordinating and planning fundraisers takes the better part of a year to organize properly. To be honest, it's a huge time suck, but so very worth it in the end. There are many great organizations that need your time, your expertise and your help. We encourage everyone to volunteer and to get involved in your communities as often as possible. You will meet great people along the way and enrich your lives through giving back. We promise.

brian t.

Brian T. | Bartender/Manager

Kennedy's

Years of Industry Service: 2 months

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Brian somehow managed to work his way behind the bar with management responsibilities without any experience in the service industry. He was recommended for the job by a family member who already worked there, proof positive that it helps when you know someone. Brian enjoys the work atmosphere and says about his experience, "I think it's a thing that gets better with time." In addition to bartending, Brian is also a deejay, another career he got into by chance. Hired by his former baseball coach when he was in college, DJ Body Spray as he is known, has worked a wide variety of events, including wedding and bar mitzvahs. His deejay name is actually a nickname he picked up from his frat brothers in college.

Brian likes watching sports and is big on athletics. This summer he picked up tennis again. His previous attempt at the sport, Brian said "was one of the ugliest things you've ever seen." But playing with a buddy this summer, his game has vastly improved. He also likes to spend time on the other side of the bar in his free time. Although he's not a regular at any one bar, Brian ends up with friends at the Gran Falloon quite a bit. 

  Make KC Better » I would like to see better public transportation - monorail, 

 to get people around in an easier fashion. 

Congratulations Joy!

August Employee of the Month

Joy J. // Ponak's

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Happy, Happy Joy, Joy!

We are proud to present our friend Joy with this month's EOM award. She had

48% of the votes, but Trey was doing great too. Joy is seriously one of the most

fantastic people I've had the pleasure of meeting through my neighbor Katrin.

She tells the best stories, lives wildly and joyously, and is truly happy at her job.

Now go have a drink and a taco with her!

Thanks again to Ryan from Cellar Rat for the awesome gift basket

which contained three bottles of wine and gourmet snacks

(cheese, chorizo, crackers). We will post exact details later today.

Visit Cellar Rat here.

Nichole R.

Nichole R. | Dancer, Aerialist

Voler – Thieves of Flight

Service Industry Detour

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Before Nichole dangled from treetops and told stories through dance, she was in the service industry. For nine years, she was behind the bar, making drinks and working for tips. But the restaurant closed its doors and she found herself out of a job. Nichole says it was a blessing in disguise because it gave her the opportunity to pursue dance.

Nichole began dancing when she was two-years-old. Even though she tried to quit when she was five, she continued pursuing her passion in college. She says the dance program at the University of Missouri - Kansas City is really great. One of her professors encouraged her to pursue dance professionally. She said that sometimes you can't see what other people can see in you. So she has taken that advice to heart. "I'll go create my own positions, I approach people and ask if they can use an aerialist in their space," she says. Her goal with dance is to tell stories and connect with her audience emotionally. She will forgo tricks that make you gasp if she can pull at your heart strings instead. One of the best compliments she has ever received came from a marriage and family counselor who totally "got" the story and message behind her performance. She interpreted it exactly as Nichole meant it to be.

At six-feet-tall, Nichole can do a lot things other women can't do, like lift a male partner and being able to perform different kinds of dance. Introduced to Rachel McCeachin and aerial dancing by way of her chiropractor, Nichole is part of ensemble dance group Voler - Thieves of Flight. She makes her own apparatuses for acts and teaches as well as performs. See photos and videos of their art here.

  Make KC Better » Put out positivity and be inspired to do other things. 

Bluestem Special

Bluestem

Kansas City, Missouri » Westport

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It's been a long while since I've had the chance to visit Bluestem. Even though it's one of my favorite restaurants, I haven't stopped by since last summer. A whole year is a long time to be away from your favorite drink, don't you think? I have a friend who loves tomato water and Bluestem's martini as much as I do so we made a date for Happy Hour and ate and ate and drank and drank. It was all so very good. PLUS we had a super cute server. 

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Our tools. We sat on the banquette by the window.

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Gazpacho Martini, $10

Best. Drink. Ever.

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Le Provence, $9

Lillet Blanc, Grey Goose Vodka, house-made

herb de Provence syrup, sparkling rosé.

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Some Loud Thunder, $10

Pineapple-jalapeño infused vodka, Aberol,

agave nectar, bitters, egg white, cream.

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Wagyu Beef Tartare, greens, 18-month parmesan, $12

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Kobe Burger, cheese, crispy onions, frites, $14

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Campo Lindo Fried Chicken, potato mash, greens, pan sauce, $14

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Corn Panna Cotta, sweetened peach, honeythyme foam, 

cobbler crumble, peach nectar, cream, $9

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These are regular lounge prices, but they do have special Happy Hour prices (T-R/5-7)

No HH drink pricing....not that we cared as we gleefully ordered one cocktail after another.

Special thanks to Lazer for taking my call and refreshing the old memory about drink

prices and descriptions. I was being a lazy blogger that day.

Photos by Linh Trieu

maggie s.

Maggie S. | Barista 

Eddie Delahunt's Cafe &

Years of Industry Service: 3

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French-speaking Maggie is leaving the service industry and Kansas City any day now. She is packing her bags and moving across the world to be an au pair for a French family in Paris. (Go ahead, be jealous. I totally am.) She met the family through a friend, but French culture has been part of her life for a long time. Her family has hosted many exchange students and she started learning the language in middle school. In between high school and college, Maggie had the opportunity to live in France as an exchange student herself and says, "It's exciting to get to go back. My dad speaks decent French. It's one of those things that worked itself into the fabric of our family over time."

For a little while longer, Maggie lives in a house with four women so they spend a lot of time together at home. She is involved with her church community and likes gardening, cooking and baking. "I really enjoy baking," Maggie says. "It's something that clicks sentimentally for me, making pies and cinnamon rolls (which her mom taught her to make)."At work, she gets plenty of time to read and visit with her customers. A set of bright red ginger triplets stopped into the café with mom to say their last goodbye to Maggie. They had cinnamon rolls.

  Make KC Better » My interests and passion lies in land and agriculture. Make land more accessible to people and easier for them to gain knowledge and skill to produce their own food. 

Market Femme

Colfax

Kansas City, Missouri » 39th Street

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This brightly lit, open space, filled with wonderful dresses and accessories, is in the same block of shops located on 39th Street and Pennsylvania as Boomerang. Every Monday, Colfax offers 25% off to the service industry. So ladies, guess what day it is? Monday! Shop away!