Yay! It’s KC Fringe Fest time again! From July 17 to July 27, Kansas City’s annual arts festival will take over Westport, Midtown, and the Crossroads. If you haven’t attended a Fringe event before, your chance is here. Get on that!
Fringe consists of dozens of brand new plays, spoken word and musical performances, dance, visual art displays, films, and a whole lot of art that is too unusual to be easily categorized. Attending Fringe shows is local culture creation and consumption at its most democratic, surprising, and delightful. Oh, and also affordable. Most shows are $10. You also need to buy a $5 Fringe Button, sold at every performance venue, which you have to keep with you to get into shows; it’s a one-time purchase, good for the duration of Fringe. Tickets to individual shows can be purchased online (http://kc-fringe.ticketleap.com/), through a mobile app, or at each venue’s box office.
Make time to go see some Fringe stuff in July. You don’t have something better to do. You’ll see something strange and new. You’ll meet new people. You’ll look cute and artsy. Taking a date to a Fringe show is worth a drawer full of Andrew Christian.
And there’s a whole lot of great LGBTQ stuff at Fringe this summer! A lot of our artists are getting their stories told in new, weird, powerful ways. Go support them! Here are some of the LGBTQ highlights.
Stairway to Kevin 2: Heavy Fantasy by Kevin Thornton
I saw the first Stairway to Kevin last year at Fringe, and Kevin Thornton is so damn adorable. And talented! We’re talking a one-man comedy rock-n-roll musical here, folks. He’s the writer, the star, and the band. He’s been touring with his shows for the past few years to sold-out houses, as well as popping up on NPR and as a guest lecturer at Berkeley. This year’s installment has Thornton finding himself broke and homeless, but ready to sing adorable songs with his adorable voice and make thought-provoking -- yet adorable -- observations about the search for love, sex, and the meaning of life. Thornton’s also out as a member of the LGBT community, and his work boogies with happy, queer energy. Stairway to Kevin 2: Heavy Fantasy performs Friday, July 18 @ 8 p.m.; Sunday, July 20 @ 6:30 p.m.; Friday, July 25 @ 6:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 26 @ 9:30 p.m. The Buffalo Room (in the Westport Flea Market), 817 Westport Rd., Kansas City, Mo.
Melinda Ryder’s Delicious Divas!!!
Melinda, Melinda! Queen among Queens! Empress of the Plains! Fairy Godmother to even the lowliest of the Kansas City proletariat. Brush against us with but the hem of your gown and we shall be healed. Melinda and Kirk have wrangled up some of their favorite queens for an evening of draggy glamour, live vocal performances, and comedy. The lineup includes Loreal, Loretta Martin, Sandy Kay, and Rozz Smith. All proceeds go to LIKEME Lighthouse and GLAMA (Gay and Lesbian Archives of Mid-America), because Melinda Ryder never met a dollar she didn’t give right back to the community. The schedule for Melinda Ryder’s Delicious Divas!!! isn’t finalized, so keep checking the Fringe website, but it will be performed at Off Center Theatre at Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.
Drunks from Play On Productions and Pete Bakely
Hilarious jack-of-all-theater Pete Bakely wrote and Brian Moses (The Living Room’s maestro) directs this dark, naughty original comedy. Two actors and a screenwriter, stuck in an abandoned motel for the night, find themselves naked and duct-taped to a chair the next morning. Drinking, drugs, vomiting, banter, and the longest same-sex kiss you’ll see at Fringe this year. Drunks performs Saturday, July 19 @ 7:30 p.m.; Monday, July 21 @ 6:00 p.m.; Tuesday, July 22 @ 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, July 23 @ 9 p.m.; Saturday, July 26 @10:30 p.m.. Phosphor Studios, 1730 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo.
How I Lost My Virginity at 29 & Other Embarrassing Tales
by Brian Schiller
Stand-up comic Brian Schiller is straight. How I Lost My Virginity… follows Schiller’s journey of self-discovery through surviving sexual abuse, therapy, and grief. None of which are funny topics (well, maybe therapy). But Schiller insists that LGBT audiences love his story. Schiller says one gay audience member said, “I think that your show resonates with a gay crowd because it is a story to which we can relate. As a community, gays have all experienced what it is like to be ‘othered,’ or to have an abnormal experience. …Our experience allows us to appreciate the humor of your show.” How I Lost My Virginity at 29 & Other Embarrassing Tales performs Friday, July 18 @ 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 19 @ 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.; Sunday, July 20 @ 6 p.m. The Fishtank, 1715 Wyandotte, Kansas City, Mo.
PathWays: The Digital Musical
by Lei Lei Lashawn
Now here’s the kind of boldly unique, multi-genre piece that makes Fringe so pleasantly unpredictable. LGBT community member and playwright Lei Lei Lashawn stars in this original percussion musical/spoken word/visual art/performance piece hybrid about one woman’s surreal quest to reconnect with her lost brother. The protagonist identifies at times as a butterfly, at other times as a woman whose consciousness leaks out beyond her own self, all over the course of a moving investigation into loss and sanity. Bring tissues and an appetite for the mysterious. PathWays: The Digital Musical performs Tuesday, July 22 @ 9 p.m.; Thursday, July 24 @ 9 p.m.; Saturday, July 26 @ 7:30 p.m. The Fishtank, 1715 Wyandotte, Kansas City, Mo.
Project Pride Presents Queerios!
from The Coterie Theater
The Coterie further cements its standing as the most progressive youth theater company with Queerios! Created by Project Pride, The Coterie’s queer youth theater troupe. You’ll tour Queer Company Labs, utilizing comedy, drama, and movement in dynamic scenes that explore issues of LGBT empowerment, bullying and superheroes. Things are getting better for queer kids, and it’s because of gutsy people like the teenagers who wrote this . A ticket to Queerios is a 2-for-1 deal: a scandalously charming hour of theater and an exhibition of contemporary queer youth courage. Queerios! performs Saturday, July 19 @ 5 p.m.; Sunday, July 20 @ 3 p.m.; Friday, July 25 @ 7:30 p.m. Off Center Theatre at Crown Center, 2450 Grand Ave., Kansas City, Mo.
Kings of Israel, by Schaeffer Nelson
This provocative, original play takes the audience through a gay’d up retelling of the David-King Saul story from the Bible. Kings of Israel picks up the Biblical narrative right after the shepherd David is secretly anointed the next king of Israel. Over a series of bedroom conversations, David must decide how intimate he can be with the paranoid King Saul, whom he is secretly about to overthrow. The show’s already ruffling feathers -- just say the phrase “gay Bible story” aloud and watch the eyebrows rise. But LGBT people of faith, you’re gonna like this one. And Phil Kinen directs, hot off his work on DeDe DeVille’s hilarious First Lady? If you want controversial, arresting gay theater, here’s your ticket. Kings of Israel performs Friday, July 18 @ 6 p.m.; Sunday, July 20 @ 7:30 p.m.; Friday, July 25 @ 9 p.m.; Saturday, July 26 @ 6 p.m. Phosphor Studios, 1730 Broadway, Kansas City, Mo.
Bad Auditions from Whim Productions and Kevin King
From out, proud, and prolific gay KC playwright Kevin King. It takes audiences behind the scenes to the sometimes unintentionally funny experience of auditioning for a play. In theater-giddy Kansas City, Bad Auditions may repeat the big ticket sales of Whim Production’s 2011 Fringe hit Film Classics Presents: Heaven So Far. The phonebook of comic actors that make up the Whim-sized ensemble won’t hurt either — Stefanie Stevens, Genewa Stanwyck, Seth Macchi and Tara Varney, to name a few. The roster of performers will change every night; every performance will be unique. Bad Auditions will be Friday, July 18 @ 10:30 p.m.; Sunday, July 20 @ 4:30 p.m.; Tuesday, July 22 @ 6 p.m.; Thursday, July 24 @ 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 26 @ 9 p.m. The Fishtank, 1715 Wyandotte, Kansas City, Mo.
Mighty Mo Combo! from Mighty Mo Combo
From the loins of Kansas City’s LGBT Mid-America Freedom Band comes the Mighty Mo Combo, our very own queer, campy jazz ensemble. Their Fringe show offers a cheeky take on favorite classical works altered to fit jazz and rock idioms. “Fly Me to the Moon,” “Tuxedo Junction,” and high-brow goofball fare like “Funkythrustra” based on “Also Sprach Zarathustra.” Mighty Mo Combo! performs Saturday, July 19 @ 6:30 p.m.; Sunday, July 20 @ 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 26 @ 7:30 p.m. Off Center Theatre at Crown Center, 2450 Grand Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.
(Virgin.) by Jesse Ray Metcalf
Out playwright Jesse Ray Metcalf teams up with talented, out director J. Will Fritz for this original send-up of Catholic school girl life. Some damn fine local actresses are performing this story of high school sinfulness, Sapphic tension, and virginities -- Alisa Lynn and Ellen Kirk, to name a few. Oh, and Melissa Fennewald. A word about Melissa Fennewald. There are two types of people in this world. People who have witnessed Melissa Fennewald arch an eyebrow and deadpan a comedic line with goosebump perfection, and people who have not. Only one of those groups of people can die having led a full life. Lead a full life. Go see (Virgin.) (Virgin.) performs Friday, July 18 @ 9:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 19 @ 3:30 p.m.; Monday, July 21 @ 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday, July 23 @ 8 p.m.; Friday, July 25 @ 6 p.m.; Saturday, July 26 @ 9:30 p.m. Just Off Broadway Theatre, 3051 Central in Penn Valley Park, Kansas City, Mo.
More 4Play: Mmm! by Frank Higgins, Forrest Attaway, Teresa Leggard and Schaeffer Nelson
4Play series returns to offer KC audiences maximum pleasure and ultimate satisfaction. More 4Play is a collection of very sexy one-acts, and one of the entries is a gay narrative written by a gay playwright, me (sorry for the shameless self-promotion). My one-act, Fishers of Men, is about the über-awkward encounter between an unwitting evangelist and a man cruising a bathroom for anonymous sex. The other plays are written by local playwright legends. Frank Higgins gives us 99 Ways, the story of a straight couple struggling to incorporate a Cosmo sex article into their relationship. Forrest Attaway’s The Interview depicts a TV interview with a rock star who relates a shattering experience. And Teresa Leggard’s The Birthday sends a daughter back from the future to convince her mother to get into a sexual relationship pronto so that the daughter can eventually be born. And it’s all directed by Scott “Don’t-mind-me,-I’m-just-flawless” Cordes. You know you want to see this … and why resist your burning lust for good theater? More 4Play: Mmm! performs Saturday, July 19 @ 8 p.m.; Sunday, July 20 @ 6 p.m.; Monday, July 21 @ 9 p.m.; Wednesday, July 23 @ 6 p.m.; Thursday, July 24 @ 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, July 26 @ 10:30 p.m.. Off Center Theatre at Crown Center, 2450 Grand Ave., Kansas City, Mo.
The Perfect Jean
Honestly, I don’t know why it took so long for stretch pants to enter men’s wardrobe. We’ve been looking at stretch pants for years, wondering what the appeal was and why women always wore them everywhere until I had my first pair of jeans with a bit of stretch. And don’t even get me started on my above-the-knee stretch shorts!
While I was mainly a Levi’s and Khakis guy, I had my first stretch outfit with the Mizen+Main pants, dress shirt, and quarter zip sweater. Complete game-changer in apparel, and where have they been all my life?
That’s where The Perfect Jean comes in. They contacted me to inform me about their “unbelievably comfortable stretch denim.” I checked out their site and perused the jeans and their descriptions (which are hilarious, by the way), and I knew I needed to try them.
When shopping for jeans on their site, they break it down for you starting with the fit you prefer.
When they arrived, I tried them on without first washing them because I’m a kid in the candy store when it comes to new things. They looked and felt like a regular pair of denim jeans but with a stretch. I walked around the house bending, sitting, and stretching my legs to test them out–sure enough, they bent and moved along with me, unlike my other jeans.
Me in my Perfect JeanJoe Morales
What is Stretch Denim?
Stretch denim is a type of denim containing a small amount of elastane, a synthetic fiber that allows for stretch and flexibility in the fabric. This addition of elastane provides the perfect balance between comfort and style, making stretch denim the ideal choice for anyone looking for a more comfortable pair of jeans. Think spandex, lycra, or any stretchy material.
My Thoughts on The Perfect Jean
Pros
| Cons
|
I gave them their initial wash in cold water and didn’t put them in the dryer. I don’t dry my jeans or trousers in the dryer so they will last longer. I love how comfortable they are, and how much stretch they have is perfect. I love the deep indigo color.
The only thing I would do differently is change the fit type because after wearing them for a few months, I felt the fit wasn’t quite there, but that was on me and how I ordered them. I did end up drying the jeans in the dryer so they would shrink a little. They fit much better now after the controlled drying, but they’re still a little loose in the waist and butt and a little longer than I like, which is fine because I can take them to a tailor and have them hemmed.
How to Choose The Perfect Jean
Form fitting jeansJoe Morales
The descriptions say it all. You can choose between five cuts and about ten colors; waist and length are your standard options. Every jean is made from cotton, polyester, viscose, and spandex and has about 22 percent elasticity! These jeans are also perfect for travel since they weigh under 11 ounces; you can shove them in your bag or luggage without causing a huge increase in luggage weight.
Fit
One of the first things you need to determine is the fit, and The Perfect Jean has them all. You can choose between skinny, slim, slim thick, athletic, bootcut, or Thick Thicc. Your style is based on personal preferences and body type, but if you aren’t sure, look at the different examples from The Perfect Jean site.
Material
While stretch is essential, you don't want a pair of jeans that are too stretchy. Look for a pair with just enough stretch to make them comfortable but not so much that they lose shape over time. Luckily, these jeans are made of roughly 67 percent cotton; at least mine are. That means they will be more durable than if you were to rely on just stretch alone, which can break down quickly.
Wash
There is a lot of talk about how denim should have a wash that complements your skin tone, whether a dark wash or a lighter, distressed wash. I’m not sure if I necessarily believe that. This is where your personal style comes into play. My personal style is staying with classic colors because I can build a wardrobe on specific pieces. Choose whatever color works best for you, as long as they fit well!
The Benefits of Stretch Denim
The most obvious benefit of stretch denim is the added comfort. The fabric moves with you, making them more comfortable for long periods. They don’t bunch up in the wrong places.
Another benefit of The Perfect Jean, or TPJ, as they’re known to call themselves, is that they strive to be as sustainable as possible. They teamed up with the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), which promotes better standards for cotton production worldwide.
How to Style Stretch Denim Jeans
The Perfect Jean is versatile and can be styled in many different ways. Usually, my go-to is casual wear with a simple T-shirt and sneakers, but I have been known to dress them up a bit with a button-down or sweater paired with my suede Chelsea boots or Grant Stone Plain Toe dress shoes.
Where to Buy The Perfect Jean
You can purchase your pair of Ther Perfect Jean by visiting their website and following the fit guidelines, choosing your favorite colors, and choosing your waist and length sizes.
My Final Thoughts on The Perfect Jean
Jeans are a wardrobe staple for everyone, offering style and comfort. However, traditional denim can sometimes be restrictive and uncomfortable, especially regarding movement. Stretch denim—or any stretch clothing—is a game-changer. While I can’t tell you to buy a pair of The Perfect Jeans, I can certainly recommend them. I wear my Perfect Jeans once or twice a week, and they’re comfortable when I feel a bit lazy, yet, they’re a stylish option when I am going out. The next time I order some, I’m trying a different fit, but what color should l get?
The Best Cannabis Edibles for 2023
These extremely popular products have hit mainstream markets across the country and are setting sales records. Some of the strongest edibles can reach 30 mg of THC but remember to check the labeling because not all edibles are created equal. Some edibles have THC while others are marketed as having CBD.
You can purchase THC and CBD in the form of tinctures, gummies, chocolates, and even ready-to-drink cocktails and beverages. Remember, THC is what gets you high, and CBD can help with relaxation and calmness. What’s more, the edible flavors are endless. I’m by no means an expert but I did try out a couple of products just to see how effective they are. For the record, I wasn’t using them to get high throughout the day–okay, there was this one time my friend gave me an edible while we were out, but that’s another story. I actually have a difficult time sleeping through the night and the thought of continually taking sleeping pills, or products like Zzzquil, where you wake up in a foggy mess, isn’t appealing.
I want something that is going to put me to sleep, keep me asleep, and wake me up feeling rested and refreshed. The best type of edible products for me is those that put you to sleep. In case you weren’t aware, there are edibles out there that can get you high, feel good, and relaxed. Others are made specifically for relaxation, sleep, or even anxiety.
Dad Grass
Photo courtesy of Dad Grass
Dad Grass CBD Tincture
The Dad Grass brand has several product forms but the one I tried was the tincture. With the tincture and dropper, you simply place drops under your tongue about 30 minutes before bed. It’s made using 100% organic hemp flower grown in the U.S., and doesn’t include any herbicides, pesticides, or additives.
It does have a high dose of CBD and CBN (slightly psychoactive) but I found that the grassy smell and flavor didn’t make me high. Rather, it gave me a calming feeling and I felt relaxed enough to fall asleep. It has a grassy smell and the flavor is what you would expect to taste like; grassy and slightly bitter. It wasn’t my favorite, but it’s a passing moment and not completely horrible to taste.
Really, the hardest part was placing it under your tongue for 30 seconds. You immediately begin to salivate and your instinct is to swallow. I don’t know how effective it is to do this, so I tried swallowing it immediately as well as placing it sublingually. To be honest, I don’t know if I could tell the difference. Further testing is required.
Pros
Easy Application
High CBD
Cons
Grassy Flavor
Incredibles
Photo courtesy of Incredibles
Incredibles S'mores Bar 100mg THC
For me, this was the best type of edible because it had a bit more kick to it due to the added THC. The packaging says 100 mg of THC but really each square is 10 mg each with 10 squares of chocolate. The S’mores Infused Edibles solves two problems at once. Chocolatey snack for the sweet tooth and sleep-inducing qualities from the THC. Usually, you can take half a square to a full square to figure out which dosage works best for you.
One square a night right before bed and you’re good to go (to sleep). They do offer several other options with THC and some with a combination of THC and CBD for added effect. I’m not a huge fan of S’mores but in chocolate bar form, they were pretty good.
I always say I’m not a sweets kind of person but then they show me chocolate and I’m a goner. The packaging is childproof and funny. They make the jokes like Boom. Roasted. At least I hope it’s a joke because that’s what I take it at. You’re high Clairee…Anyway, they have several types of edible products to choose from like hard candies, gummies, and sours. The downside is that you’re paying a lot for 10 squares of chocolate mixed with THC. Definitely not a deal breaker but for a month’s supply, that could add up.
Pros
Taste Great
THC Based
Cons
Pricey
What to Consider When Buying Edibles
Type of Relief
The first thing on your list should be what you want out of your edible. If you’re looking for a feel-good high, then THC is. If you’re wanting to relax and calm your mind without the high feeling, then CBD (and possibly CBN) is where it’s at. However, there are options for THC and CBD giving you the best of both worlds.
Ingredients
It goes without saying but you should always choose all-natural products with no additives, preservatives, or chemicals. THC and CBD should be derived from U.S.-based ingredients. However, even some of the best cannabis edibles will have added sugar and flavorings, it’s unavoidable but the base products themselves should be free of harmful chemicals.
Lab Tested
Sometimes it’s hard to tell but the THC, CBD, and CBN ingredients should be lab-tested. When a product is lab-tested, they ensure it’s free of chemicals, pesticides, heavy metals, and contaminants. They can also verify the potency of the product you’re about to consume.
Flavor and Potency
Luckily, you can find THC and CBD in just about any flavor and potency level. You need to know what your tolerance level is and adjust accordingly. Too little of a dosage will be ineffective and too high of a dosage can be a serious issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
What edibles are best for beginners?
This depends on the product you are going to eat but it’s always a good idea to start small, like 5 mg of THC. With CBD, you can start with a higher dosage because it’s not as psychoactive as THC. Once you are comfortable with this, you can adjust according to your needs.
Do edibles give you a hangover?
Edibles don’t typically cause hangover-like symptoms but that’s not to say they can’t. Cannabis stays in your body much longer than alcohol does and it can sometimes feel like you have a hangover. If this happens, you should definitely cut back on your dosage or just take a break from edibles.
What is the difference between THC and CBD?
- THC, also known as Tetrahydrocannabinol, is the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis. This is what gives you the “high” feeling and is mind-altering.
- CBD, also known as Cannabidiol, is derived from the hemp plant, is not addictive, and is used for more medicinal applications. It does not contain THC so, therefore, is not mind-altering.
How long does it take for edibles to kick in?
Edibles can take anywhere from 10 minutes to a few hours to kick in. Also, ingesting THC or CBD is much more potent and longer lasting.
Final Thoughts
Having the best cannabis edibles comes down to personal preference and needs. I use them for their sleep-inducing qualities. I am perfectly fine using edibles made with CBD, THC, or a combination as long as I can sleep and sleep well! Now that cannabis is legal in over 20 states and territories, you can find a dispensary that offers a variety of products. There is nothing wrong with cannabis and its use; the stigma it once had is thankfully diminishing however, as with any substance, partake responsibly.