Kansas City Star: FYI / Living

Last Bite | Decadent European Drinking Chocolate

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:00 CST

"This hot chocolate recipe is perfect for Valentine's Day," says Keith Buchanan, proprietor of the Teahouse & Coffeepot south of Westport. "It's very rich and thick, with about twice as much chocolate as what I call 'American strength' hot chocolate."

Getting Started | Get your glam on

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

A bling-y accessory can take your little black dress from safe to sizzle.

Don't let hang-ups hang you up

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:00 CST

We freeze when it comes to a few everyday details around our homes, such as hanging art and draperies. The thought of peppering the wall with nails from feeble attempts is a downer.

MEAGAN HOWARD, 17, Sumner Academy

Thu, 19 May 2011 11:12 CDT

Video | Meagan Howard

Kansas City Stockyards district has a new direction

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

An effort to build a new hub for creative culture in the West Bottoms gets a big boost next week when a former New York art dealer opens a major gallery.

Kansas City's underworlds of fun

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:00 CST

Millions of square feet of cave storage and the annual 10K Groundhog Run aren't the only attractions beneath the streets of Kansas City.

Broken heart syndrome a rare threat to women

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:00 CST

Delilah Teague survived a broken heart five years ago. It happened after a routine gallbladder procedure, which went well. But Teague, who was 59 at the time, began having chest pains in the recovery room. Her blood pressure plummeted, and she was short of breath.

Jeneé Osterheldt | A sweet farewell to a sweet friend

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:00 CST

Whoopie pies, macarons, cake pops -- they're all the new cupcake, foodies say. But for me, cupcakes are cupcakes and nothing replaces them.

Pen pals help prisoners transform their lives

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:00 CST

The words "Society's trash is God's treasure" touched Betty Woodring. She heard them at a United Methodist Conference in 2009 from the Rev. Harold Johnson, who was speaking on prison ministry.

BCBG offers soothing start to NY Fashion Week

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:00 CST

The clothes to hit the catwalk to start off New York Fashion Week showed a continued confidence in the colorblocking, tailoring and easy, elongated shapes that have been trickling into stores and will arrive in force come spring.

Breathe deep for a caffeine fix

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:00 CST

Move over, coffee and Red Bull. A Harvard professor thinks the next big thing will be people inhaling their caffeine from a lipstick-sized tube. Critics say the novel product is not without risks.

Pastor has a new purpose: weight loss

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:00 CST

Megachurch pastor Rick Warren has become an outsized evangelical superstar: best-selling author of "The Purpose Driven Life" series, pastoral mentor and even political referee.

A hang-up how-to

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

Compassion International gives kids a hand up

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:00 CST

The refrigerator door is where parents often show off their children's artwork and other achievements.

Voices of Faith: Can one experience the greatness of the Divine without prayer?

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:00 CST

Voices of Faith: Can one experience the greatness of the Divine without prayer?

Army officer wants humanism officially recognized

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:07 CST

Soldiers who don't believe in God can go to war with "Atheist" stamped on their dog tags, but humanists and others with various secular beliefs are still officially invisible in the Army.

Valentine's Day is the time for makin' whoopie (pies)

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:00 CST

It's the right time of year for baking whoopie. If I have made you blush, rest assured what follows is a strictly G-rated affair. Whoopie pies are an all-American baked good that looks like a puffed-up sandwich cookie but tastes more like a cupcake. Think cake with frosting that doesn't get all over everything.

Tips for the week ahead | Feb. 12-18

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:00 CST

• Take diamond jewelry to a professional jeweler once a year to ensure settings and prongs are secure; store diamonds separately from other jewelry to prevent scratching.

RONELL RICHARDSON, 16, Southwest Early College Campus

Thu, 19 May 2011 11:21 CDT

Video | Ronell Richardson

Food Network focuses on Kansas City's spicy foods

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

What's really hot in Kansas City? Chefs Roger Mooking and Aarón Sanchez of the Food Network's "Heat Seekers" will tell America in a show premiering Feb. 20.

Cooking 101 | Spectacular Frangipane Cake is worthy of special occasions

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:00 CST

Remember when Valentine's Day meant a celebration at school, complete with your favorite sweets and a box full of cards from your classmates? Re-create that feeling with a Valentine's weekend dessert gathering for friends, featuring this show-stopping confection, Frangipane Cake With Chocolate Mousse.

Mestizo's mixed Mexican cuisine yields mixed results

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00 CST

"Mestizo opened in November, and after our late December visit I wasn't too eager to go back, so I gave it a few more weeks," Steve Paul writes in his review of the Leawood nuevo Mexican restaurant. After a second visit, "Things seemed to have improved quite a bit, though our experience of the food and the place remained somewhat short of stellar."

The Mag Interview | Helping Haiti is Luke McLellan's mission

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:00 CST

Luke McLellan of Olathe teaches religion and theology classes at Rockhurst High School. After a mission trip to Haiti, McLellan decided the best thing to do if he wanted to help more was get more education. He is working on a master's degree in global international studies at the University of Kansas.

Jefferson estate tells slaves' stories

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

When Thomas Jefferson died, scores of slaves were sold from his Monticello plantation to settle his debts.

Architecture A-Z: B is for Bott house, Bliss Syrup and more

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:00 CST

The original owners of this 4,000-square-foot Kansas City house -- among the last designs by Frank Lloyd Wright -- were Frank and Eloise Bott. The architect began to work on the project, his second Kansas City house, in 1956, but he died almost three years later, at 89, before construction began.

Love Story | A short journey to long-distance love

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:00 CST

For weeks, Claire Childers had been hearing about Lamonte Winston from his brother Kevin. When she saw Lamonte across the room at a San Francisco charity event that Claire and Kevin had worked on, she was instantly attracted to him. But Lamonte had two little boys with him, so she figured he was married.

KC's Gallup Map Co. finds a new path in a GPS world

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 08:00 CST

In hindsight, a city bus crashing through the back wall of Gallup Map Co. in 2004 probably saved Patrick Carroll's store from extinction. While clearing the attic, Carroll found several dusty boxes full of hand-drawn maps from the 1900s through the 1940s, and those artifacts saved the company when GPS and the construction decline decimated demand for its main product, the Gallup Kansas City Street Atlas.

Drawing Board | Speaking in color

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:00 CST

Certain things in life are easy -- eating ice cream or sniffing a rose. And certain things, conversely, are hard -- performing emergency surgery on yourself or flossing your cat's tiny front teeth. Or the granddaddy of all difficult things: picking your own house color.

Trade show gives home gardeners a glimpse of vibrant things to come

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:00 CST

The spotlight in garden shops this year is on color -- including easy, long-lasting blooms, bright, healthy vegetables and great native plants. If you dream in color, your dreams are about to come true: This year's garden is going to be splashed with every color in the rainbow.

The keys to piano care: biannual tunings, climate-control and regular cleaning

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00 CST

The change in the weather can conspire against not only your comfort level, but your piano, too. Luckily, this season is a great time to get your piano in good shape.

Design Notebook | The perfect pendant shines in the kitchen

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:00 CST

An island pendant, because of its many duties, is like the conductor of an orchestra. So think of pendants as the maestros of kitchen lighting.

Q&A | Landscape designer Ahmed Hassan, host of 'Yard Crashers'

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 08:00 CST

Ahmed Hassan is a landscape designer who owns his own consulting, installation, maintenance and irrigation business. He hosted "Yard Crashers" on HGTV and DIY Network. The premise of the show: As people are shopping for pavers and plants for small outdoor projects at garden centers, Hassan asks if they'd like a whole new backyard tricked out with furniture, a fire pit or even a swimming pool.

Billy Graham | Look at Jesus with an open heart and mind

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:00 CST

Q.DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: As far as I'm concerned, religion is just a crutch for weak people. We need to be strong and rely on ourselves, and quit believing in something that doesn't even exist (namely, God). I'll bet you won't dare to reprint this. -- W.R.

Dear Abby | Mom reluctant to marry 'wonderful' guy

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:00 CST

Q. Dear Abby: I am 11. My mom is engaged to a man who I think is a wonderful person, but she always questions whether he's cheating on her. She's 37. Personally, I think she won't get another chance like this. Their wedding has been postponed three times because she thinks he's lying to her.

Carolyn Hax | Sister's snubs hurts new mom

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:00 CST

Q. Dear Carolyn: I always thought my younger sister and I were close. When I was pregnant with my first child I expected she would come to the hospital with my parents to congratulate me and be there for me. She didn't drive the two hours with my parents because she partied too much the night before. I was truly hurt and told her this. She apologized and said she didn't think I wanted her at the hospital.

Billy Graham | God's love never changes, even in hard times

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:00 CST

Q.DEAR BILLY GRAHAM: I can understand how God might send hard times to people who aren't religious so they'll turn to him, but why would he send hard times to people who are already close to him? Religious people seem to suffer just as much as non-religious people, don't they? -- D.L.

Leader is out after 11 years at Baptist seminary in KC

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

After 11 years in office, Phil Roberts is no longer president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City.

Faithful author Dickens disliked dogma

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:00 CST

Britain's Prince Charles kicked off a yearlong celebration of Charles Dickens' 200th birthday on Tuesday with a wreath-laying ceremony at London's Westminster Abbey.

Grand Avenue Temple celebrates centennial, continuing evolution

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00 CST

The exterior of the Grand Avenue Temple reveals a long, hard life. Although it has come close many times, the 100-year-old church refused to die. Instead, the church, at Ninth Street and Grand Boulevard, found a way to adjust to the times and remain relevant and committed to downtown long after other churches left.

JASMYN SLOAN, 13, Excelsior Springs

Thu, 19 May 2011 12:06 CDT

Video | Jasmyn Sloan

RICARDO ZEPEDA, 15, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy

Thu, 19 May 2011 11:39 CDT

Video | Ricardo Zepeda

BLAKE PIATCZYC, 17, Lee's Summit West

Thu, 19 May 2011 11:28 CDT

Video | Blake Piatczyc

HUNTER MUELLER, 16, Lincoln Preparatory Academy

Thu, 19 May 2011 11:31 CDT

Video | Hunter Mueller

Cynthia Rowley collection inspired by craftsmen

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:21 CST

Well, now we know how she does it: With lots of YouTube breaks and double-brewed coffee. In this so-much-information era, designer Cynthia Rowley spilled her work habits to the audience gathered Thursday night for the runway preview of her fall collection during New York Fashion Week.

Doug Frost | Sip the flavor of love on Valentine's Day

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:00 CST

In the days of my youth, we simply handed out little multicolored cards in tiny envelopes with Valentine's visual puns like "Let your He(art) be mine (picture someone at an easel) or "Won't you Beat my Valentine (picture goateed beatnik).

Dear Abby | Husband's driving practices inciting road rage

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:00 CST

Dear Abby: There is an ongoing issue between my husband and me. It's his disregard for my personal safety. Our large city is known for its heavy, fast traffic and impatient drivers. "Jon" is a good driver. He likes to drive in the left (passing) lane on the highway or toll way, usually about five miles above the posted speed limit.

Sarah Jessica Parker headlines celeb-filled gala at New York Fashion Week

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:37 CST

A chance to kiss the buff, shirtless Richard Gere of the early '80s? Sold, for $20,000!

Dear Abby | No harm in bringing gluten-free snack to restaurant

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:00 CST

DEAR ABBY: I was recently diagnosed as gluten intolerant. My question is, when dining at a restaurant, while everyone else is eating the bread that is served, is it acceptable to discreetly take a few gluten-free crackers from my purse and snack on them so I'm not starving while waiting for dinner?

Dear Abby | Ex-boyfriend needs to know about STD

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:00 CST

My boyfriend, "Brady," broke up with me in November. Five weeks later, he became engaged to someone else. I found out after that I have genital warts. My yearly exams never showed any problems before, so I know I got them from Brady. I'm getting treatment now, but I'll be contagious for the rest of my life.

Beat the blues and lose a few pounds with a dance class

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:00 CST

If winter feels as if it's limping slowly toward the finish line and dragging you along with it, we have a suggestion.

Kansas is not flat in these true tales

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:00 CST

Asked to describe anything about the state of Kansas, the adjective "colorful" isn't what most people would choose. And they would be so wrong, says writer Diana Lambdin Meyer.

Cookie decorator's imaginitive designs take the cake

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 19:28 CST

Allie Walsh is the manager of the Nestle Toll House Café/Haagen Dazs store at Oak Park Mall, but she's also the chief cookie decorator. Working from a photo or just her imagination (or yours), she'll design something so cool, the kids at the birthday party may stare in awe, forgetting there's yummy cookie under all the colorful frosting. (OK, not really.)

Dr. Oz reaches 1 million 'losers'

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:00 CST

Television already has "The Biggest Loser." Dr. Mehmet Oz is looking for the biggest number of losers.

More listening and less talking is one rule for a happy marriage, author says

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:00 CST

While no one could reasonably expect to follow all 106 rules in Harriet Lerner's new book, "Marriage Rules: A Manual for the Married and the Coupled Up," the clinical psychologist, who has a private practice in Lawrence, suggests mastering one or two. She will discuss the book Thursday at Unity Temple on the Plaza.

Dear Abby | Night shift workers stand up for their sleep

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 13:00 CST

Dear Abby: I just read the letter from a fellow frustrated night shifter, "Working a 40-Hour Week at Age 73." I have worked 12-hour shifts for many years to accommodate our family life. It is easier for me to be home in the morning to get the kids to school and be home when they get off the bus in the afternoon. I have the early evening free to get them to their activities, then go to work later.

For Starters | A healthy lifestyle means a healthy heart

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:29 CST

February is awareness month for the American Heart Association, but heart disease can be less obvious in women. Experts provided ideas on how to be proactive rather than reactive with your heart health.

Dear Abby | Savings bond threatens family bonds

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 13:00 CST

DEAR ABBY: I'm 30 years old and have a close relationship with my mother, but something is bothering me. When I was a little girl, my grandmother gave me a U.S. savings bond for my birthday. It has matured to its full value. My mother refuses to give it to me. She said that my grandmother intended it as a wedding gift.