Email This Page Email This PageGetting Ripped Off
Digital Cities and Brendan Walsh
Getting plagiarized is definitely unpleasant. Distasteful. Low. I do this web site as a service to the community. In a sense I give my work away, but I don't give away my legwork for someone else to use as their own work. That is a real slap in the face. And I am not claiming that I have created masterpieces of literature. Just the same ...
Realizing that someone has been mining you for your own legwork while that someone takes credit somewhere for your own work is disgusting. I still don't know who Brendan Walsh is and wasn't able to contact him. I don't recall ever running across him out in the clubs. Maybe someone else did and can email me. Who is he?
After I saw the first piece that Brendan Walsh mined I looked for more from this "author." After going through a number of short articles (paragraphs, really) a pattern seemed apparent. He would mine the material from my small descriptions (and I am guessing from a good many other persons in this area writing anything in entertainment - many more than from me). He didn't just copy and paste a page or listing whole. He might borrow a few words or paraphrase a sentence which had caught his eye. So unless you are the author from which this was derived it may not catch you the same way or might not stop you at certain points or phrases or paraphrased statements. But if you are a "mined author" you get this little sense of your stuff re-worked as you move through the material.
Some phrases seemed to be a standard boiler plate description, regardless of how well it fit. After reading enough of that it sounds made up. Some of it specifically revealed to me at least that he couldn't have gone to the locations. I will show you the comparisons below so that you can judge for yourself. If you have been out in these spots yourself and you read enough of this it begins (at least for me) to seem as though he is making things up.
I should also give a word or so about the authoring practices of Digital Cities and other "digital age" internet "publishers." I know from a friend who had applied to Digital Cities that they pay little and demand a lot to keep you on the rolls. Even though they pay on a piece-work basis. This is fairly typical of these outfits. Require a lot of material at cheap rates and put pressure on to stay on.
They offer the promise of easy glitz for being with an entertainment medium in lieu of decent pay and editorial standards. Their standards are not about journalism or even simple information. Their standards are corporate filler material. This they use to get advertiser money for themselves, not from those they've ripped off.
In Brendan Walsh's case I was able to look for all his pieces by going to DigitalCities.Com and entering "Brendan Walsh" in the search textbox. Hundreds of pieces came up. Hundreds, truly. I looked for the ones which covered locations I had also covered on my site.
As I went through I noticed a lot of titles which I suspect came from either the KC Star's Preview or The Pitch and probably various other local publications and websites. So I am pretty sure that I am not at all the only one ripped off and "info-mined" by Brendan Walsh for Digital Cities.
I get to use the excuse that I am doing the entire site on my own (pictures, text, database, programming, etc.) in between trying to make a living (because there is no income from the site). They are making money off my efforts and the efforts of others. The money doesn't bother me as a rip but the credit does fell like a face slap. True, the text below is a bit slippery because it is not a direct copy and paste but after looking at enough of these "borrowings" a scuzzy little pattern emerges (and I don't mean SCSI - :-) geek joke).
Comparisons
Antoinette's
This was the first one I noticed. I said "working class" he said "blue collar." But what caught me first was the "parking lot full of Harley's and pickup trucks." I had written, "parking lot full of cars, pickups and a few Harleys. They play hard." He said, "work hard and play hard." This is re-spun and then turned in. Keep reading.
Digital Cities / Brendan Walsh
Antoinette’s
4545 N. Brighton
Kansas City, MO 64117
816-452-1011The blue-collar crowds at Antoinette’s work hard and play hard. After wandering through the parking lot full of Harley’s and pickup trucks you’ll enter the bar to find a large, and probably crowded, dance floor. The bar is divided into two sections -- the lounge has a dance floor and a place for bands to set up, the other section is appropriate for dining sans drinking. A fun place with an atmosphere best described as enthusiastic. -- Brendan Walsh (Photo: Kate Cagley)
From My Database listing (generated text)
Antoinette's - (page)
Usage: venue
Phone: 816.452.1011
Days: _,_,_,_,_,_,_
Sun: 7:30pm-11pm
Music: Mix, country/rock, danceable no cover FriSat: 9:30pm-2:30am
Crowd: 20's-50's+
Looks: working class bar and restaurant, casual
CategoryPage(s): country,rock
Age Policy: 21 To Drink
Ages: ...To drink=21
Area: North and North East
4545 N Brighton, Independence, MO 64117 (Map)Note: Sun 7:30-11 dance floor, wood, no cover, 4545 N Brighton, from I-35, take the Brighton exit (west of I-435 and Worlds of Fun) south about 0.4 miles to 46th Street. Antoinette's is on the east side of the road. Lounge and restaurant open until 3am. Serve full menu in both restaurant and lounge.
Visit: Super place! Very danceable music. Obviously a popular place. A full house. Good dancing crowd - they actually get up and dance for everything. This is a working crowd, casual dress, a parking lot full of cars, pickups and a few Harleys. They play hard.
We had a good time dancing. The dance floor is big enough to mean business and a lot of couples get on it but is not too crowded to move freely. The building is divided by a wall into two sections, a restaurant in the west half and a lounge in the east half. And no small matter - they have a full restaurant menu available until closing and served in either section of the building.
El Caribe
This was the second one I spotted. Especially the comment about owner Anna Molina who loves to dance. The Francisco Witt comment must have come from one of my calendar pages because Francisco was not there over a long period of time. Francisco DJ'd at least a couple of years ago (probably in 1999). Molina had to wait a long time before getting her license to allow dancing in the restaurant. Lenexa made her go through a lot of hoops. The previous place had apparently had some drug problems but no one I talked to who loved to go to Latin nights at the previous club remembered any such activities. Even so, I always have a lot of criticism for laws in this area which seek to restrict dancing.
Digital Cities / Brendan Walsh
El Caribe Cafe
12112 W. 87th St.
Lenexa, KS 66215
913-599-2270
Anna Molina, the owner of El Caribe, loves to dance. So much so that she opened this cafe and club to add a little bit of salsa and merangue to sometimes bland Johnson County. El Caribe instructors give salsa lessons on Thursday evenings from 8:30PM-10PM, and the well-regarded Francisco Witt plays danceable music Friday and Saturday evenings. The food is also good, especially considering the reasonable prices. -- Brendan Walsh (Photo: jake Jacobs)
From My Database listing (generated text)
El Caribe Restaurant and Lounge - (page)
Usage: venue
Phone: 913.599.2270
Days: _,_,_,_,_,_,_
Thu: Lessons 8:30-10:00pm, $10, Instr: Carlos
Fri: Every Friday Night Dance Party Music 10pm-2am
Sat: Salsa musice 10pm-2am
Music: Caribean, Latin, Salsa, Reggae, Merengue, Cumbia
Floor: vinyl, middle of floor and areas between tables
Crowd: mixture 20's - 60's
Looks: Caribean decor, very colorful
CategoryPage(s): Latin,salsa,merengue
Lessons: Thur: 8:30-10:00pm, $10, lessons by Carlos
Dine&Dance: Carribean cuisine
Age Policy: 21 To Drink
Ages: ...To enter=...To drink=21
Area: Johnson County and Olathe
12112 W 87th St. Parkway, Lenexa, KS 66215 (Map)URL.1: http://www.kcrestaurantguide.com/El_caribe.htm
URL.2: dancing/ElCaribe.htm
Note: Closed Mondays, Tue-Thur 11-2, 5-9; Fri 11-2, 5-midnight, Sat 11 am to midnight. Music 10pm-2am Two blocks west of Quivera, right off 87th (location of the former Juanchito's) Catering available. Private parties can be arranged. Anna Molina is the ownerVisit: Anna Molina loves to dance. A place to Dine and dance was one of the goals she had in mind when starting El Caribe. The cafe has good food at reasonable prices and has a wonderfully colorful decor. Lots of good fun, and good dancing.
From one of my early web pages (1999) (and another page Aug 2000)
Two blocks west of Quivera, right off 87th (location of the former Juanchito's). Catering available. Private parties can be arranged. Anna Molina is the owner and she loves to dance.
A place to Dine and dance was one of the goals she had in mind when starting El Caribe. The cafe has good food at reasonable prices and has a wonderfully colorful decor. Salsa and merengue: Lots of good fun, and good dancing
Thu: 8-9:30 or 10 and 9:30-12 - Free dancing, lessons on thursday evenings.
Sat 10pm-2am, no cover with DJ, cover with bands.
Lafferty's
This is one of the most, maybe the most direct copy and paste lift from my site. Perhaps because I am quoting a sign at Lafferty's. Walsh wrote: "A note on a tabletop display at Lafferty's reads as follows: " and "A great atmosphere for fun times." I had written, "This quote from a table-top display probably best describes the fun and companionable feeling at Lafferty's:" After each follows the quote from the table sign.
Digital Cities / Brendan Walsh
Lafferty's
A little bit of everything and a lot of fun.
Lafferty's
6301 Blue Parkway
Kansas City, MO 64129
816-924-6888
A note on a tabletop display at Lafferty's reads as follows: "You've just entered an Irish bar, with a Chinese owner, in a questionable neighborhood, that plays country, rock and oldies with Japanese equipment." We couldn't sum up the place any better ourselves, except to add that a good deal of dancing, drinking, and just general hanging out goes on here. A great atmosphere for fun times. -- Brendan Walsh (Photo: Jake Jacobs)
From my web page (click here for the actual page)
(picture) (Picture) Owner and DJ Lin Wong plays wide ranging music, all of it danceable. The crowd gets up and dances, mostly free style and line dance. They have line dance instruction on Tuesdays. "You've just entered an Irish bar, with a Chinese owner, in a questionable neighborhood, that plays country, rock and oldies with Japanese equipment. 'Go figure.'"
From My Database listing (generated text)
Lafferty's Lounge - (page)
Usage: venue
Phone: 816.924.6888
Days: _,M,T,W,T,F,S
Mon: melow
Tue: karaoke
Wed: disco and retro rock
Thu: karaoke
Music: Mixed country, rock, dance, oldies etc. (DJ and live)
Floor: 10x15 parquet
Crowd: varies
Looks: casual
CategoryPage(s): Country,Rock
Lessons: Tuesdays, line dance with Karen
Area: East
6301 Blue Parkway, Kansas City, MO 64129 (Map)URL.1: dancing/laffertys.htm
Note: Dance floor is about 10x15 give or take of wood parquet tiles. Take the exit from I-435 to 350 Highway, head east about half a mile (6301 Blue Parkway). Lafferty's is on the south side fo the road. Karaoke on Tue/Thu.
Visit: A friend of mine who doesn't have parties in bars told me, 'If I had a party in a bar, I think I would have a party at Lafferty's.' It is a fun place with a crowd that has middle-class mixed flavor to it. In other words, real folks with an appropriate number of suspected eccentrics sprinkled in. The owner/DJ Lin Wong plays wide ranging music, from retro to hip-hop to swing, and all of it danceable. The crowd dances, mostly free style and line dance. They have line dance instruction on Tuesdays!
Tasso's
"Tasso Kalliris knows how to throw a party." This phrase caught my eye. I had written, "Tasso Kalliris is more host and patriarch of a grand family party ..." I had written of the musician, "Vasilis plays just about any music from rock 'n roll to traditional Greek." Vasilis Vargas is a stage name. Walsh wrote, "if the belly dancer is off there's a one-man band that's pretty entertaining too."
Digital Cities / Brendan Walsh
Tasso's Greek Restaurant
8411 Wornall Road
Kansas City, MO 64114
816-363-4776
Tasso Kalliris knows how to throw a party. His restaurant is full of happy people downing great quantities of ouzo while admiring the belly dancer. Or, if the belly dancer is off there's a one-man band that's pretty entertaining too. A great dinner and drinks place, the food is reasonably priced and the dance floor inviting. -- Brendan Walsh (Photo: Jake Jacobs)
From my web page (click here for the actual page)
(picture) Greek restaurant for dinner and dancing: Zaina Ali, the belly dancer, does a great show. Ask Vasilis Vargas, their superb one-man band, to play your request. The dance floor is a clear area about 15x15 feet in the middle of the vinyl tile floor - it is a bit sticky from a little extra ouzo but overall darn good fun.
(Picture) Dinner, dancing and an warm, effusive atmosphere. If you ever want to look up the (picture) definition of HOST, forget the dictionary and come to Tasso's. Here life has feeling, flavor, intensity. This is a can't-miss evening. Zaïna, the belly dancer puts on a marvelous show. Vasilis plays just about any music from rock 'n roll to traditional Greek. Tasso Kalliris is more host and patriarch of a grand family party than a mere MC of a show. You will feel the richness of family and community even though you may never before have seen any of the other diners.
No cover. The menu is sumptuous, appetizers are around $5, entrees from around $10 to around $15. and of cource three kinds of Metaxa Ouzo
Restaurant hours 11am to 11pm, Fri/Sat 11 am - 1:30 am.Music Mon-Fri 6-10or10:30, Sat 6:30-Midnight
From My Database listing (generated text)
Tasso's Grecian Food, Restaurant and Lounge - (page)
Usage: venue
Phone: 816.363.4776\n816.363.4776
Days: _,M,T,W,T,F,S
Music: Live, variety by request, Greek, swing, ballroom
Crowd: full range, local, international, young, old
CategoryPage(s): swing,rock
Area: South
8411 Wornall, Kansas City, MO 64114 (Map)URL.1: dancing/tassos.htm
Note: Greek restaurant for dinner and dancing: They have a belly dancer who does acts as well as Vasilis Vargas (vah SEE lee VAR gus) who is a one-man band, and who does a darn good job of playing just about anything.
No cover. The menu is sumptuous, appetizers are around $5, entrees from around $10 to around $15. and of cource three kinds of Metaxa Ouzo
Restaurant hours 11am to 11pm, Fri/Sat 11 am - 1:30 am
Music Mon-Fri 6-10or10:30, Sat 6:30-MidnightVisit: This place will knock your socks off. Dinner, dancing and an warm, effusive atmosphere. If you ever want to look up the definition of HOST, forget the dictionary and come to Tasso's.
Here life has feeling, flavor, intensity. This is a can't-miss evening. Zaïna Alï, the belly dancer puts on a marvelous show. Tasso Kalliris is more host and patriarch of a grand family party than a mere MC of a show. You will feel the richness of family and community even though you may never before have seen any of the other diners.
For a ballroom dancer the dance area of the floor is not what you might like. It is a bit sticky. But the atmosphere is so great you can easily forgive that. Remember, this is SOCIAL dancing. (NOTE: Zaïna both performs and teaches belly dancing. call 816-941-2131)
12th Street Lounge
Among the things I do as a dancer is to look at the dance-floor or dance area on the floor. As a dancer, I want to know what the surface is, whether it has any give to it (on concrete or on wood or suspended or cushioned) and what the size is. I am always walking off the distance, estimating and counting foot-square tiles.
Walsh wrote (slightly re-phrased), "A great place for ballroom dancing, the club features a polished hardwood dance floor that measures 40 feet by 20 feet." I had written, "Very nice floor in the medium to small size (roughly40 x 20). Okay for dance shoes."
I had written of Wes, "Friday and Saturday nights, dancing with music by Wes Winters. Ballroom, swing, classic rock, Latin most any request." Walsh re-did it as, "Friday and Saturday night music is provided by the talented Wes Winters and features ballroom, swing, classic rock and Latin styles."
Digital Cities / Brendan Walsh
The 12th Street Lounge
200 W. 12th St.
Kansas City, MO 64104
816-421-6800
Located in the downtown Kansas City Marriott Hotel, the 12th Street Lounge is an appealing enough place to go even if you're not staying in the hotel. A great place for ballroom dancing, the club features a polished hardwood dance floor that measures 40 feet by 20 feet. Friday and Saturday night music is provided by the talented Wes Winters and features ballroom, swing, classic rock and Latin styles. -- Brendan Walsh
From one of my early web pages (1999) (and updated 2003 page with new hosts, Robert and Kristy)
Downtown Kansas City in the Downtown Marriott Hotel) Kansas City Social Dance - KCDance.Com Copyright © 1999 Mike Strong All rights reserved
Robert Allen and Kristy Lynn took the gig at 12th Street Lounge. Click Here for an update page.Friday and Saturday nights, dancing with music by Wes Winters. Ballroom, swing, classic rock, Latin most any request. Dance floor is hardwood, very nice, about 40x20 when fully clear of tables. Crowd is usually 30's to 60's.
From My Database listing (generated text)
This previously had a little more about Wes' ability to play for almost anyone.12th Street Lounge - (page)
Usage: venue
Phone: 816.421.6800
Days: _,_,_,_,_,_,_
Music: ballroom, swing, classic rock, Latin most any request
Floor: Hardwood, very nice, about 40x20, when cleared
Crowd: 30
Looks: Classy, clean, light
CategoryPage(s): Ballroom,Swing
Dine&Dance:
Area: Downtown or Near Downtown
200 W 12th St., Kansas City, MO 64104 (Map)Note: Marriot Hotel on 12 th street, between Central and Wyandotte, in downtown KC. Fridays and Saturdays dance to the music and singing of Kristy Lynn and Robert Allen. They will play your dance favorites.
Visit: Very nice floor in the medium to small size (roughly40 x 20). Okay for dance shoes. This is a hotel lounge. Some singles but you might want to show up with a partner.
From my previous page listing Wes Winters at Crown Center lobby, a previous regular booking.
Crown Center featured Wes Winters for many years. After they dropped him he moved to 12th Street Lounge.Kansas City Social Dance - KCDance.Com - Copyright © 1999 Mike Strong All rights reserved
NOTE: Crown Center closed the lobby entertainment. Wes moved over to the Marriott Downtown (see below) for several years with a better room and a host of fans. In early 2003 Wes moved permanently to Las Vegas.
Lobby Lounge in the Westin Crown Center Hotel
(picture) Lobby of the Westin Crown Center Hotel. The lobby lounge is a slightly sunken area in the middle of the lobby. The dance floor is in the center of that area, in front of the piano. It is made of nine (three on a side) portable ballroom floor tiles (9x9 feet in all). Small but very servicable. Both local people and travelers come here to refresh. (picture) Wes Winters plays piano and sings in the lobby lounge Saturday nights. He has been a staple there for more than half a decade. This will change April 16th as he moves to the Marriot Hotel at the 12th street Lounge playing Fridays and Saturdays: 8:30 pm to12:30 am.
Orlando's
In this one the "nice hardwood dance floor is well maintained by club owners Louie and Wendy Orlando" is the phrase which caught my eye. For me, as a dancer, the state of the floor tells me a lot about whether these are liquor sellers or dancers who include liquor in their club. I had written, " Louie and Wendy Orlando care about dancing and you can really see that emphasis in the crowd they attract, the upkeep of the floor and the interior of the club."
About the crowd I stated, "Crowd from 20's to 50's and more with predominance of 20's into 30's. A lot of dancers and a lot of energy." Walsh's text, "The crowd is very mixed, ranging in age from 20s to 50s, but it seems as if everyone came to dance."
I wrote, "Nice crowd and good place to go." Walsh text: "A good, fun place to bring a date."
Digital Cities / Brendan Walsh
Orlando's Nite Club
126 S. Clairborne Road
Olathe, KS 66062
913-393-2582
Located in the back corner of the Town Square Shopping Center, from the outside Orlando's doesn't look like it'd have much atmosphere, but that's not really the case. The crowd is very mixed, ranging in age from 20s to 50s, but it seems as if everyone came to dance. A nice hardwood dance floor is well maintained by club owners Louie and Wendy Orlando. A good, fun place to bring a date. -- Brendan Walsh
From My Database listing (generated text)
Orlando's Nite Club - (page)
Usage: venue
Phone: 913.393.2582
Days: _,_,_,_,_,_,_
Mon: ladies wet t-shirt contest
Wed: all ladies get in free
Thu: ladies best butt contest
Fri: ladies get in free with college ID
Sat: drink special all night - Hip-hop, dance., house
Music: hip-hop, dance, house, country, rock, salsa - 9pm-2am
Floor: hardwood ballroom
Crowd: 20's-30's-50's+
Looks: very nice
CategoryPage(s): Country,Rock,Salsa,Latin,Merengue
Area: Johnson County and Olathe
126 South Clairborne Road, Olathe, KS 66062-1627 (Map)URL.1: http://www.orlandosniteclub.com/specials.asp
URL.2: http://www.orlandosnightclub.com
URL.3: dancing/orlandos.htm
Note: Olathe at the intersection of I-35 with Santa Fe in the south east corner - head for a strip mall behind the Backyard Burger stand and just beyond the ice cream store - look for the cars. Snack bar: nachos, popcorn, chicken fries, hot wings, chick strips, jalopena poppers, cheezy tator, frenchfires, onion rings, stuffed pizza rolls, mushrooms, shrimp.Visit: Very nice hardwood floor in superb shape perhaps 40'x35'or more. Nice decor and furnishings. Crowd from 20's to 50's and more with predominance of 20's into 30's. A lot of dancers and a lot of energy. Clean. Nice crowd and good place to go. Louie and Wendy Orlando care about dancing and you can really see that emphasis in the crowd they attract, the upkeep of the floor and the interior of the club.
From the web page (1999)
© 1999, Mike Strong
(picture) Very nice hardwood floor in superb shape perhaps 40'x35'or more. Nice decor and furnishings. Crowd from 20's to 50's and more with predominance of 20's into 30's. A lot of dancers and a lot of energy. Clean. (picture) Nice crowd and good place to go. Louie and Wendy Orlando care about dancing and you can really see that emphasis in the crowd they attract and in the upkeep of the floor and the interior of the club.
To get to Orlando's take the main Olathe exit from I-35 (Sante Fe street exit). Go east to Clairborne Road (first street) and turn south. Orlando's is nestled in the far back corner of the Town Square Shopping Center. You will see a Backyard Burgers and Big Lots on the way. Lessons: Line dances, country swing and two-step, (call) Wed, Thur (summer), Sat
(picture)
Daily Limit
And then there is something like this. Makes me wonder what is up with this guy. I found myself thinking that this was something he invented and tried to sound like a with-it reviewer. I've included my database listing below it. I can't really see anything which seems directly derived but this is one of slippery ones in which I suspected that Brendan Walsh digested various descriptions, such as mine, and then fictionalized a review to send in to Digital Cities. I don't know who else would have reviewed Daily Limit though I allow that it certainly could have been.
I can't prove plagiarism from these items and you probably can't either but as I said above after looking at enough of these things that is the impression I formed from the overall feel of these (a lot more of them than I am showing here). I think this is the kind of thing which should have starting ringing a little bell in a real editor.
Digital Cities / Brendan Walsh
Daily Limit Cafe
523 E. 111th St.
Kansas City, MO 64131
816-942-0400
Bars located in shopping centers usually have the charm of a colicky baby, but the Daily Limit Cafe, located in Redbridge Shopping Center, does its best given the circumstances. It’s a small bar, but occasionally plays host to mildly entertaining bands. When things get crowded the tables are pushed aside and it’s standing room only. It’s frequently a pretty happening place. -- Brendan Walsh
From My Database listing (generated text)
Daily Limit Cafe - - in Redbridge Shopping Center - (page)
Usage: venue
Phone: 816.942.0400
Days: _,_,_,_,T,F,S
Music: blues (mostly thursday)and oldies rock (fridays) 9am -1am, normally no cover
Crowd: 30's-50's
Looks: neighborhood bar, comfortable
CategoryPage(s): rock,oldies
Age Policy: 21 Minimum 21 ToEnter 21 To Drink
Ages: ...Minimum=21...To enter=21...To drink=21
Area: South
523 E 111th, Kansas City, MO 64131 (Map)Note: shoes you can spin nicely (I did) just don't even try that with sneakers or suede. They bring in some darn good bands (such as Horizontal Mambo). Mike (the dude-in-charge) managed Kelley's in Westport for 15 years. This is a small venue but they move the tables aside for the dance and high spirits are the rule. It can Kick! 523 E 111th KC, MO (Right in the middle of the north wall of shops in the Redbridge Shopping Center)
Jersey's
The framed jerseys spoke to me with this write-up. Walsh: "sports bar with framed Chiefs' jerseys on the walls, team pennants and other such paraphernalia." Mine: "Framed Chief's jerseys around the walls, and other sports bar trappings: team logos, pictures, emblems." The rest is somehow just BS'd and probably from my text and his imagination.
Digital Cities / Brendan Walsh
Jersey's Sports Cafe
17307 E. Hwy. 24
Independence, MO 64056
816-257-1771
Pretty much a run-of-the-mill sports bar with framed Chiefs' jerseys on the walls, team pennants and other such paraphernalia. There's a relatively large area set aside for throwing darts, and the ubiquitous pool tables are here as well. Occasionally members of the 30- to 50-year- old crowd get on the small dance floor when live bands play Friday and Saturday nights. -- Brendan Walsh (Photo: Jake Jacobs)
From My Database listing (generated text)
Jersey's Sports Cafe - (page)
Usage: venue
Phone: 816.257.1771
Days: _,_,_,_,_,F,S
Music: rock, classic and danceable (works for swing)
Floor: hardwod about 12x15, mirror on wall nice
Crowd: 20-50's
Looks: sports bar, casual dress
CategoryPage(s): rock,swing
Area: North and North East
17307 E234 Hwy, Independence, MO 64056 (Map)URL.1: dancing/jerseys.htm
Note: On 24 Hwy about 0.6 miles east of 291 up front in the Susquehanna Shopping Center. Fri-Sat 9pm-1am.Visit: Band sets up in the dart area adjacent to and slightly above the dancefloor. Neighborhood crowd mixing 20's to 50's+. They do get on the floor and move around here. Framed Chief's jerseys around the walls, and other sports bar trappings: team logos, pictures, emblems. Sectioned into a bar area with pools tables and an island bar, and two seating areas at different levels then a dancing and dart/band area. Nice club for dancing. Both EC and WC although we found West Coast swing worked better for most of the music.
From the web page (1999)
Social Dancing : Danceable Rock Jersey's Sports Cafe 17307 E234 Hwy, Independence, MO 64056 816.257.1771
(Picture) On 24 Hwy about 0.6 miles east of 291 up front in the Susquehanna Shopping Center. Live music Fri-Sat 9pm-1am.
Joshua's
Here is one of the examples in which he seems to have read my small description and then spun a story, so to speak, from what he read. Where I wrote: "Occasional freestyle dancers. Mostly they sit and stand around." and "Count on a basic retro core with a variety of other music." -- Walsh wrote (expands on a theme with...), "Lots of potential dancing goes on here -- that is, there's lots of danceable music (mostly retro stuff), but no one seems to want to break the ice and bust a move."
Where I wrote, "Nice neighborhood crowd" and "in the north side of the Holiday Inn." -- Walsh re-does it as: "...it often seems that Joshua's is more of a neighborhood bar than a hotel bar off the lobby of a Holiday Inn."
Digital Cities / Brendan Walsh
Joshua's
7501 Longview Rd
Kansas City, MO 64137
816-765-4100
Perhaps it's indicative of the nightlife options in Grandview, Mo., but it often seems that Joshua's is more of a neighborhood bar than a hotel bar off the lobby of a Holiday Inn. Lots of potential dancing goes on here -- that is, there's lots of danceable music (mostly retro stuff), but no one seems to want to break the ice and bust a move. Where's Young MC when you need him? -- Brendan Walsh
From the web page (1999)
DJ is Mike Hess who is also the manager. The dance floor is in good shape and is real hardwood planking with a DJ stand on the wall side. Plenty of room to dance and enough tables around. Nice neighborhood crowd.
Occasional freestyle dancers. Mostly they sit and stand around. The music is danceable. Count on a basic retro core with a variety of other music. Works for swing
From My Database listing (generated text)
Joshua's - (page)
Usage: venue
Phone: 816.765.4100
Days: S,_,_,W,T,F,S
Music: rock, disco, retro, country, variety
Floor: hardwood 12x18, plus 6x8 platform
Crowd: 20's-30's local and hotel guests
Looks: upscale rich wood decor
CategoryPage(s): rock
Area: East
South 71 Hwy and Longview Road, Grandview, MO 64030 (Map)URL.1: dancing/joshuas.htm
Note: Off south 71 highway east of the Longview Road exit in the north side of the Holiday Inn. DJ is Mike Hess who is also the manager. The dance floor is in good shape and is real hardwood planking with a DJ stand on the wall side. Plenty of room to dance and enough tables around.Visit: Nice neighborhood crowd. Occasional freestyle dancers. Mostly they sit and stand around. The music is danceable. Count on a basic retro core with a variety of other music. Works for swing.
Rieke’s Landing
Looks like another digest and re-spin and another one I might have missed by itself or might have suspected but decided there was nothing so substantial. I was almost not going to include it except that on comparing mine and "his" I had talked about the DJ asking us to bring more dancers and being helpful and accomodating wanting to play music we could dance to. Walsh wrote, "DJ trying to encourage people to get out..." and then he says "the large, wll-maintained dance floor." Rieke's doesn't and didn't have any such dance floor. It was a vinyl floor of about 15x20 (regular nightclub size, give or take) in a little well, so to speak, with half-height walls around it with wide openings to the sides. I'm guessing that the "well-maintained" is derived from my comment about Stever the DJ offering to add dance floor polish and the phrase "Steve made sure we were taken care of" although as I remember that taking care of included offers to get us a menu and deliver meals our way, not just dance floor maintenance, though I didn't state the latter.
Digital Cities / Brendan Walsh
Rieke’s Landing
5240 Merriam Drive
Shawnee Mission, KS 66203
913-262-2521
For some reason this place just hasn’t taken off. Located just outside Kansas City, Kan., Rieke’s Landing attracts a 30- to 40-year-old crowd, if it could be called that. Especially on weekday nights, there just doesn't seem to be many people here. There’s often a DJ trying to encourage people to get out on the large, well-maintained dance floor but he rarely is successful. Maybe a place for a quiet drink -- not a party. -- Brendan Walsh
From My Database listing (generated text)
Rieke's Landing - (page)
Usage: venue
Phone: 913.262.2521
Days: S,_,T,W,T,F,S
Music: 'music for everybody' six nights Tue-Sun 9pm-1am
Floor: vinyl tile floor, about 15x20
Crowd: 30's-40's+
Looks: bar & watering hole
CategoryPage(s): rock
Area: Johnson County and Olathe
5240 Merriam Dr., Merriam, KS 66203 (Map)Note: like the first name.) Restaurant and lounge. Dance floor within middle of lounge area. 5240 Merriam Dr. (about a mile and a third or so north of Johnson Drive on the west side of road).
Visit: We showed up on a Wednesday night and few people were dancing. Steve, the DJ, was very helpful and eager to play music for our dancing. He offered to add dance floor polish if we needed a slicker floor (we didn't). Steve made sure we were taken care of and asked us to bring more dancers. He specifically played a lot of swing for us.