Make Your Voices Heard
Nominations are now open for The Pitch‘s Best of KC 2025 and I’m throwing my hat (and, frankly, several other hats, for good measure) into the ring.
You can nominate me, Orrin Grey, for Best Local Author (under People & Places) and, while you’re at it, nominate the Horror Pod Class (which I co-host) for Best Local Podcast and the Stray Cat Film Center for Best Movie Theater (both under Arts & Entertainment). And hey, why not nominate Analog Sunday for Best Local Event? (You could also toss the Stray Cat Film Center a nod for Best Business That Could Only Exist in KC, if you felt so inclined.)
That’s everything that I’m directly involved in, but wait… there’s more! There are so many great folks and cool establishments in KC, many of whom have helped me to get where I am, and enrich my life on the regular. So, I figured I should suggest a few of them.
Naturally, vote for whoever you want, and I am something of a homebody, who has sampled only the smallest fragment of what the metro area has to offer, so don’t take my word for anything. That said, however, if you’re not inclined to vote for the Horror Pod Class, I’d recommend Nightmare Junkhead as a (probably stronger, let’s be honest) contender for Best Local Podcast.
Kansas City is fortunate enough to have a lot of great comic book, tabletop gaming, and toy stores, so you can take your pick from across a wide, wide swath in those categories. A few of my favorites, some of which are a little more off the beaten path, include A to Z Comics, Peculiar Games and Hobbies, 1313 Mockingbird Lane (in Lawrence), and Castaway Toys here in KC, to name just a few.
I’m not here to name comic book and toy shops all day, though. As an author, I should probably put in a word for some of our local bookstores, as well, and we have plenty of them. If you haven’t tried it before, I’d throw in a nod for Afterword Tavern & Shelves. Even if you aren’t a drinker, they offer a really pleasant atmosphere and they’ve done a lot to help build a community here in KC.
Finally, as a film buff, my nod for Best Filmmaker had to go to Austin Snell, whose They Call Her Death was definitely one of the best movies that I saw last year, and just an absolute triumph of local filmmaking. Plus, he hosts a 16mm film series at Liberty Hall in Lawrence that has shown the likes of Paper Moon and Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
Whether or not you nominate me (or any of these establishments), though, go put in your nominations for the Best of KC. It helps people find cool places in and around Kansas City, and that’s a win for everybody!
And speaking of cool places, if you want a taste of my writing, you can read about my trip to Cawker City and Eyegore’s Odditorium in the latest issue of The Pitch or on their website right here.
