Technology & Pop Culture

1986 Worlds Of Fun Theme Park Map Takes Me Back

Posted by Bradley under Kansas City, Personal

Remember when admission to Worlds of Fun was $14.95 and such awesomeness as the AMC Incred-O-Dome Theatre, Omegatron and the Wobble Wheel still existed?

Theme Park Maps has a great collection of propaganda from the park’s 1980’s heyday.

Maps and brochures from most theme parks across the US are also available if you care not to recall the teenage horror of centrifugally-vomiting inside the Finish Fling.

http://www.themeparkbrochures.net/maps/1989/wof1989.html
http://www.themeparkbrochures.net/1986/wof1986_2.html

http://www.themeparkbrochures.net/main.html

[IMG via themeparkbrochures.net]

Tags: 1989, AMC Incred-O-Dome Theatre, Kansas City, Map, Omegatron, Retro, Theme Park, Wobble Wheel, Worlds Of Fun

LIVE BLOG: Nine Inch Nails At Starlight

Posted by Bradley under Kansas City, Live, Live Blog

Tags: Kansas City, Live, NIN

Abandoned But Not Forgotten: Bannister Mall

Posted by Bradley under Kansas City

I recently discovered some cool pics of Bannister Mall looking rather unseemly on one of my favorite websites Abandoned But Not Forgotten.

Who doesn’t enjoy a little urban exploration now and again?

http://www.abandonedbutnotforgotten.com/abandoned_bannister_mall.htm

It’s worth taking some time navigating the other areas of the site including the always haunting perma-furnace known as Centralia, PA.

[IMG via abandonedbutnotforgotten.com]

Tags: Abandoned But Not Forgotten, Bannister Mall, Centralia, Kansas City, Spelunking

LIVE BLOG: On Location

Posted by Bradley under Kansas City, Live, Live Blog

Tags: Kansas City, Live

FOX Tonight: American Idol Is In Kansas City!

Posted by Bradley under Kansas City, Television

Just a reminder that our very own hometown of Kansas City will be on display for all to see tonight on FOX when American Idol stops by for round two of auditions.

Special thanks to last year’s winner David Cook for putting us on the map!

Maybe you’ll see someone you know?

Or someone you want to forget.

The show starts at 7:00 PM CST.

http://www.americanidol.com/photos/season_8/auditions/kansas_city_preview/

[IMG via meagan383's Flickr]

Tags: American Idol, David Cook, FOX, Kansas City

TOMORROW: Live Blogging Obama At Liberty Memorial!

Posted by Bradley under Kansas City, Live Blog, Personal

Technology & Pop Culture visits the Great Phallus of the Midwest tomorrow for the “Change We Need Rally” with Barack Obama.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Change We Need Rally with Barack Obama
• National World War I Museum
  at Liberty Memorial
  Intersection of Main St. and Memorial Dr.
  Kansas City, MO 64108
• Saturday, October 18th
• Gates Open: 4:00 p.m.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/mobokansascity

See you there!  Or watch this blog for updates as they happen!

-Bradley

And in the interest of political neutrality on this blog here’s a link to John McCain’s next rally in Belton, MO:

http://www.johnmccain.com/mccainnation/EventDetails.aspx?guid=bb343d73-44ca-4b55-96dc-dc15ccdfe227&party=bb343d73-44ca-4b55-96dc-dc15ccdfe227&zip=64111&dist=100&ptype=00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000

Tags: Barack Obama, Change We Need Rally, Kansas City, Liberty Memorial, Live Blog

The Great Phallus Of The Midwest

Posted by Bradley under Kansas City, Live

Tags: Kansas City, World War I Memorial

Listening To Lisa Loeb And Thinking Of You

Posted by Bradley under Kansas City, Live, Personal

CLOVERFIELD ATTACK!!

Tags: Beer, Grinders, Kansas City, Lisa Loeb

Creepy Showbiz Pizza Robots Premiered At Antioch Mall?!

Posted by Bradley under Kansas City, Personal

Apparently Antioch Mall was the home of the very first Showbiz Pizza in 1980.

My inner child just cried.

Like the time I looked up Mitzi Mozzerela’s skirt and was horrified at the vagina-less pneumatics that were there.  Ahhh, memories.

Anyway, I only mention all of this because those creepy singing robots (AKA the Rock-afire Explosion) have been known to sing other, not-so-kid-friendly songs.

Electric Feel – MGMT, Conquest – White Stripes, 4 Minutes – Madonna, Love In This Club – Usher

I stumbled upon the Antioch Mall connection while doing some background research.  And if you have some cash to spare the original creator of the bots will program any almost any song you like.

http://starsof.com/fans/

Enjoy a trip down memory lane courtesy of some very devoted people.

http://www.showbizpizza.com/rae/index.html

[Thanks Tony!]

Tags: 1980, Antioch Mall, Kansas City, Mitzi Mozzerela, Robots, Rock-afire Explosion, Showbiz Pizza

Anthony Bourdain Dishes To Kansas City

Posted by Bradley under Food, Kansas City, Personal

Anthony Bourdain is a chef, world traveler and lover of all food that is weird.  His show Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations which airs on the Travel Channel is now in its fifth season.

All that background aside… he’s coming to Kansas City to give a presentation entitled “A Cook’s Tour: Global Adventures in Extreme Conditions” at the Midland Theatre on September 16.

With a private reception with Anthony at the Bristol in the Power & Light District to follow precede happen sometime.

http://guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Invitation.aspx?e=e396410c-7fff-42e8-aa96-b76fcc916d35

http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Anthony_Bourdain

Tags: Anthony Bourdain, Bristol, Kansas City, Midland Theatre, Power & Light District