Nationally recognized singer-songwriter James Taylor brings his guitar, his influential songbook and friend Bonnie Raitt to Kansas City this spring. Music admirers of Taylor’s songs can anticipate popular favorites throughout the span of his 40-year career including, “Fire and Rain,” “Something in the Way She Moves,” “Sweet Baby James,” “You’ve Got A Friend,” as well as original songs from his latest album, Before This World.

Experience a memorable evening with two well-loved performers ready to deliver over 85 years of artistic creativity combined on one stage. Call 1-888-203-1747 or complete the form below to make your contribution for your tickets in support of Kansas City PBS!

View seating chart of ticket offers.

Widely regarded as the world’s greatest live tribute to Pink Floyd, Brit Floyd returns to the stage for a special recognition of the 45th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s redefining album, The Dark Side of the Moon (1973). Additional classics from Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here, Animals, The Wall and The Division Bell will also be performed.

Experience a unique tribute show filled with moving light, lasers, and theatrics, certain to help you relive your memories of Pink Floyd. Call 1-888-203-1747 or complete the form below to make your contribution for your tickets in support of Kansas City PBS!

View seating chart of ticket offers.

Join KCPT at Paradise Park to meet Ready Jet Go! character, Jet Propulsion! Jet is an “alien” who is inspires a love of earth science, astronomy and space for Earthling kids ages 3 to 8. PBS KIDS’ Ready Jet Go! series is produced in cooperation with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab.

To minimize your time waiting in line, the Meet & Greet is organized by half-hour time slots on a first-come, first-serve basis. Come at 11 a.m. and get your free time slot ticket. Then stay and play until your time to meet Jet, and don’t forget to bring your camera!

Paradise Park attractions will be available at regular prices.

The Early Childhood Initiative of the Anti-Defamation League provides anti-bias training and resources for the early childhood community. The goal of the initiative is to assist caregivers, educators and families in creating and sustaining bias-free early childhood programs and homes that encourage children to appreciate diversity at an age when the seeds of prejudice can begin to take root.

To achieve this goal, Tabari Colman, Education Director for the
Anti-Defamation League, will deliver a workshop to increase participants’ ability to:

• Recognize, acknowledge and confront prejudice and discriminatory behavior in oneself and others;
• Examine policies, practices and resources for bias and inequities;
• Create and sustain respectful, inclusive environments;
• Develop children’s capacity to understand and respect themselves and others, to recognize inclusion and exclusion, and to play, live and learn together.

Small and large group discussion, role play, videos, case studies and goal setting increase participants’ understanding of bias and discrimination and provide ways to effectively interrupt acts of bigotry will be presented.

Presenter: Tabari A. Coleman, MPA, Education Director
Anti-Defamation League

Registration is required – participates will receive 4 clock hours and lunch will be provided.

If the district or care center is paying for your registration please have them contact me at gbrock@kcpt.org, I will enter you by hand.

Inspired by the popular series, Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr., Kansas City PBS has partnered with the Midwest Genealogy Center to offer a resourceful opportunity to explore your unknown family lineage. Resources for independent exploration at home and at the Midwest Genealogy Center will be defined in four sessions to help you start or continue the research you’ll rely on to extend your family tree.

Call 1-888-203-1747 or complete the form below to make your contribution for your ticket to begin your ancestral journey with Kansas City PBS.

Sessions:

Beginning Genealogy
Find out the fundamentals of beginning your genealogical research project. We will discuss organization, census information, vital records, and where to look for information. This is a beginner-level class.

Census Records Research
The U.S. Federal Census is a great place to start tracing your ancestors. The first Federal Population Census was taken in 1790, and a census has been taken every 10 years since that date. Learn what census years are available, what information they contain, and how to access them. One will also learn what different information was included on each federal census and how to access that information. This is a beginner-level class.

Newspaper Databases at Mid-Continent Public Library
Newspaper databases can be used to find genealogical information such as birth, marriage and death records, obituaries, probate cases, and interesting information about your ancestors’ lives. Learn about the different online newspaper databases accessible through MCPL.

Hidden Treasures at MGC
Unlock MGC’s many treasures with a tour of the Library’s little-known resources. This is an intermediate-level class.

Kansas City PBS has organized this event in partnership with Midwest Genealogy Center.

Steven Raichlen, host of the PBS show Steven Raichlen’s Project Smoke, returns to Kansas City with a new guide to grilling, PROJECT FIRE, a collection of more than 100 innovative recipes for grilling every kind of food. Join Raichlen and Smoke ‘N’ Fire for an appetizing experience for the grill savvy and the enthusiast! Proceeds from this event benefit Kansas City PBS.

Tickets available at Smoke ‘N’ Fire store location, by phone at 913-685-1111, or by email to BBQinfo@smokenfire.com. Doors open at 6 p.m.; demonstration begins at 6:30 p.m.

A single ticket includes:

• Live cooking demonstration with Steven Raichlen
• One (1) copy of PROJECT FIRE: Cutting-Edge Techniques and Sizzling Recipes from the Caveman Porterhouse to Salt Slab Brownie
• Dinner selections from PROJECT FIRE recipes, and open bar
• PROJECT FIRE book signing
• Live music
• One (1) coupon for 25 percent off one BBQ accessory at Smoke ‘N’ Fire

Steven Raichlen is a James Beard Award-winning author of an impressive array of New York Times bestselling cookbooks, a Barbecue Hall of Famer and a PBS star. He has shaped America’s obsession with live-fire cooking for decades.

PROJECT FIRE is an indispensable guide to this ever-evolving world of barbecue, delivering both a complete step-by-step handbook to mastering the techniques—including how to “caveman” grill in the embers and make a smoker pouch—and a collection of more than 100 innovative recipes for grilling starters to desserts. PROJECT FIRE also reveals how to make that process happen, with Raichlen’s seven steps to grilling nirvana.

We want YOU to vote for Kansas City’s Best Loved Book!

As part of “The Great American Read,” Kansas City PBS wants your help in determining Kansas City’s best-loved book. Join KCPT at one of these local library branches to use our special voting booth, get your “I Voted” button, campaign for your favorite novel, and other activities. Learn more about “The Great American Read” here.

Voting Booth Tour Schedule
Hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

July 13 | Lawrence Public Library

July 19 |  Woodneath Library Center – Mid-Continent Public Library

August 2 | Central Library – Johnson County Library

August 7 |  Main Library – Kansas City, Kansas Public Library

August 9 | Parkville – Mid-Continent Public Library

August 10 | North Kansas City Public Library

August 14 | West Wyandotte Library – Kansas City, Kansas Public Library

August 16 | 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Red Bridge – Mid-Continent Public Library

August 28 |  Indian Creek – Olathe Public Library

August 29 | Downtown – Olathe Public Library

September 4 | Watson Library – The University of Kansas Libraries

September 5 | Plaza Branch – Kansas City Public Library

September 6 | Waldo Branch – Kansas City Public Library

September 10 | Central Library – Kansas City Public Library

Join KCPT and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum July 18th for a special, free screening of the new American Masters documentary about Baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams.

During his remarkable career with the Boston Red Sox, Ted Williams earned many nicknames – The Kid, The Splendid Splinter and Teddy Ballgame, but the only nickname that he wanted was “the greatest hitter who ever lived.” In that pursuit, he combined his preternatural gifts with a fierce work ethic to become widely regarded as one of the greatest ever to play the game of baseball and in the process elevated the science of hitting in ways still emulated today.

Through never-before-seen archival footage and in-depth interviews with those who knew and studied Williams, the documentary demonstrates the power of the heroic myth-making culture in which Williams flourished. Lesser-known topics explored in the film include Williams’ Mexican-American background, his experiences serving during World War II and the Korean War, and his deep rage over his mother’s virtual abandonment of him and his younger brother.

RSVP here.

Dive into a day of family nature activities and catch free previews of the newest Splash and Bubbles special “Pole-to-Pole” (10 a.m. and noon) at KC Parks’ Lakeside Nature Center. Learn about fresh and salt water creatures and their lake, river and ocean homes through hands-on activities, a marshland tour (11 a.m.) and special presentations by Lakeside Nature Center and KC Water.

RSVP at Eventbrite.