Up To Date

Making a contest-worthy cocktail takes more effort than just pouring a mixer over the right spirit. You've got to get the correct flavor, balance, presentation, even the appropriate kind of ice! Just the thought of all that work makes one mighty thirsty... Guests: Doug Frost is a master sommelier and master of wine, and one of only four people to achieve both distinctions.Ryan Miller is a bartender and the vice president of the United States Bartender's Guild - Kansas City.Lisa Rodriguez is KCUR

People in Atalissa, Iowa, knew about the intellectually disabled men who lived in the town’s old schoolhouse and worked in the nearby turkey plant, but they didn’t know those men were being neglected by a business set up to provide cheap labor. It's a heart-breaking story told by New York Times reporter Dan Barry in The Boys in the Bunkhouse.

Tennessee Williams' masterpiece A Streetcar Named Desire won the Pulitzer Prize in 1948, has been called the greatest play ever written by an American, and the character Blanche DuBois is at the center of nearly everything that happens in it. It's a daunting role that Kansas City actress Cinnamon Schultz has spent months preparing for. No pressure, right? Cinnamon Schultz stars in the Kansas City Actors Theater production of 'A Streetcar Named Desire,' running from September 7th to September

Congress is in recess until September but the upcoming general election, ongoing data breaches, and sustained congressional unpopularity means our elected officials won't get much time to relax. While they sit on opposing sides of the aisle, Reps. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Missouri, and Kevin Yoder, R-Kansas, agree there's plenty of work left to be done.

Jam sessions are about more than just "noodling" on a horn or keyboard. Saxophonist Tivon Pennicott says jamming is a great way to socialize with other musicians and see how your skills stack up. He's joined by bassist Bill McKemy, who is the director of Education and Public Programs at the American Jazz Museum. Tivon Pennicott will give a clinic on 'The Art of Jam Session' at 9 a.m. on August 20. The presentation is part of the American Jazz Museum's Charlie Parker Celebration, going on through

Seeing a planarian for the first time, you might not even know what you’re looking at. Brown, black, or white in color, these flatworms are about the size of a toenail clipping and have two light-sensing spots on their triangular-shaped heads that make them look cross-eyed. Their simple appearance, though, belies a surprising ability. “You can take one of these animals and cut them into 18 fragments,” says Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, who does this for a living, “and each and every one of those

For various reasons, victims of sexual assault are often reticent to report crimes. But support systems for them can make a difference in reducing incidents and bringing perpetrators to justice. Researcher, educator, and activist Jess Ladd is attempting to overcome that public health hurdle using a computer system she helped develop, called Callisto. Jess Ladd is a presenter at Kansas City's independently organized TED event, TEDxKC, which starts at 6 p.m. on Friday, August 19, at the Kauffman

The end of Billie Holiday's musical career is infamous because of her drug and alcohol abuse, not to mention her tumultuous relationships with men. That's the Billie Holiday that actress Nedra Dixon is taking on in her latest role. Dixon says that, despite the drama, Lady Day "left a legacy of song and style unlike any other." Nedra Dixon plays Billie Holiday in 'Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill.' The play runs through Wednesday, August 28, at the Living Room Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri.

Even if you're not a fan of science fiction, you've probably heard of George R.R. Martin. (Does Game of Thrones ring a bell?) Melinda M. Snodgrass is no slouch herself, having written and edited for Star Trek: The Next Generation. Together, they edit a book series called Wild Cards, which could soon be adapted for television. George R.R. Martin plans to attend Worldcon’s MidAmeriCon II, a sci-fi and fantasy convention that runs through August 21 at Bartle Hall. For ticketing information, visit

The federal government created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to enforce laws aimed at reducing discrimination in the workplace. In its 51-year history, the commission has made real progress but work remains to be done. Guest: Andrea Baran has worked for the EEOC for 17 years and has been the regional attorney for the St. Louis District office since 2014.Andrea Baran will discuss the status of women in the American workplace at the Kansas City Public Library's Central Library at 6 p