Present Magazine Archives

April 17, 2011July 28, 2024

Jim Chappell: A Good Sport and Great Scholar

Seated at a table, Jim Chappell of Chappell’s Restaurant and Sports Museum opens a book of poetry and begins to read in a deep baritone. His finger scans the lines like a narrow spotlight illuminating the page. His voice warms to the words and revels in the rhythm and alliteration. The periphery of the room melts away, the banter of voices and drone of a television fade, and Chappell’s table transforms into a stage.

April 17, 2011July 28, 2024

Mark Winne, Food Policy Expert

Food policy expert Mark Winne, author of Closing the Food Gap, gave a presentation called The Ugly Underbelly of the American Food System in 2008 at the Kansas City Central Library. Winne also helped KC Healthy Kids with the KC Healthy Food Policy Initiative. The Food Policy Initiative is working to educate people about the local food system and eventually start a food policy council (FPC) in the Kansas City area.

April 12, 2011July 28, 2024

Bobby Watson, Professor of Jazz

Sheet music for “Ruby, My Dear” by Thelonious Monk rests on the Steinway Piano in Bobby Watson’s office. A photograph of master drummer Michael Carvin, who played recently with Watson at The Blue Room, decorates the office located in the lower level of the performing arts center on the University of Missouri-Kansas City campus. Watson sits at his desk, wearing loose brown corduroy and a smooth mocha-colored suede shirt.

August 1, 2008July 28, 2024

Justus Drugstore: Heritage and Purpose

Justus Drugstore: A Restaurant, located in Smithville, Missouri, has a lot riding on its name.

With over one year of operation and plenty of sweat equity under their belt, executive chef Jonathan Justus and Camille Eklof, general manager of the restaurant, have built the first cutting-edge fine dining restaurant in this conservative town and plenty of people have taken notice.