There are several reasons why I feel that RJ's is a better location for our reunion than what was my top pick up until I started researching bbq caterers. It's the only location I found that met 98% of my requirements. Okay, I admit I did stop looking after I found this location. It is conveniently located on Lamar at Johnson Dr. The first thing in our favor is we will have the patio to ourselves on a Saturday night. The fee to acquire the patio was reasonable including food and drink. We do not have to worry about catering in or eating light hors d'oeuvres or appetizers. We're eating BBQ. There is a fully stocked bar and your fee will include 2 drinks. We have to cut it off at 100 persons. The patio is not THAT big. The Restaurant closes at 10 but we can continue as long as we behave ourselves until 12 or 1230. The Bar is just down the road if some of us want to continue to party afterwards. There is ample parking across the street. No other place came close to giving us all this for even close to this price. The only drawback is it is outdoors with limited cover. In the event it looks like a possible rainout, we have been okayed to postpone our reunion until Sunday afternoon.

I am equally excited about our Friday plans. Since they are not firm at this time, I will only say it will be a fun night as well.

To get the ball rolling, we are offering an early bird registration of $25 per person until June 30. Only $35 after that and $40 at the door. That should get us a good fund early to work with. Click here for registration information. Check back often as we announce Friday and possibly Sunday and other activities.

Want cheaper? I'll discount your fee by $1 for every valid email address you provide us for persons on our missing list. See link at the top or below. I know you are out there because you show up. Word of mouth is okay but direct is better.

Want free? We need 2 persons to work the door part time from 7 - 9 to check persons in and handle money.

We are just starting so if you want to assist, let us know. We have many things to be planned and any assistance would be appreciated.

Greg Clevenger

Drum roll, please. (Visual joke. Imagine a drum being rolled across the floor. Guess that one was for me.) We are 2 weeks away from reunion weekend. It's time to lay down the cards and announce Friday/Sunday plans. If you can't afford to come on Saturday evening, remember, Friday and Sunday are free events.

Friday, September 9, 7pm-whenever. Mark Valentine has invited us to join him as he performs with his trio, Valentine and the Ticklers at Jazz, a Louisana Kitchen, 1859 Village West Parkway, Kansas City, KS 66111, (913) 328-0003. (west side of legends across the street from the community america ball park where the t-bones play baseball.) The music is not loud and we are promissed the quiet corner. There is no cover. Well, there is a roof. At least for now. But it won't cost anything to join him. Just your time. I'm going hungry. The food is not bad for Kansas City cajun. Sunday specials include $3.50 cajun bloody marys, and $10 shrimp or crawfish Étouffée or Creole. (I lived in New Orleans for 4 years. There was a saying that went, “Crawfish have it made. They get their tails pinched and their heads sucked.”) Laissez les bon temps rouler. Thanks, Mark, for the invite.
JAZZ A Louisiana Kitchen

Saturday night, September 10, 7pm-whenever, we will take over the patio at RJ's Bob-Be-Que Shack, 5835 Lamar Ave. Mission, KS 66202, 913-262-7300 for que and brew. Besides BBQ and sides, each person will get 2 drink tickets to use at our private bar. When you run out of tickets, they promised us a drink special. Registration is $35 through Sept. 5. After that, it will go to $40. Want a chance to get a 150% return on your investment? I will be giving away $100. at the end of the night. It may be out of my pocket but that's what this means to me. There are only 2 rules to be eligible for the $100. You must register by Sept. 5 and you must be present to win. Want to increase your odds? Bring a guest. For those who registered during early bird and want to bring a guest, you may bring your guest at the same $25 price of your early bird registration as long as you register your guest by Sept. 5. contact me for s apecial link for your guest. After Sept. 5, registration and price at the door will raise to $40. For more information, registration and updates, see our website at http://smn71.com/.
RJ's BBQ

Remember 5 years ago when we went to the Cowtown Mallroom on reunion Sunday? They say if you remember, you weren't REALLY there. It was fun to explore the flea market and vist the place of so many lost brain cells and then get together at the end of the day for some music. We are going to try something similar. The 37th annual Art Westport festival runs Friday-Sunday Sept. 9-11. I've never been. Can't find anyone who has. No one returns phone calls. Best I can tell, ground zero is at Westport Road and Pennsylvania Ave. Time for Sunday is 11-5. Eat lunch and wander down for an afternoon of some of Kansas City's finest art producers and some sort of unspecified entertainment? At 5pm, let's get together and share stories. Finding the right place close but not too close was a challenge. I'm not that familiar with the area so I had to make a trip down there this evening to check it out. 4 ½ blocks west of ground zero is the Westport Flea Martket Bar and Grill at 817 Westport Road, KANSAS CITY, MO 64111, (816) 931-1986. oddly enough, at 515pm, it was pretty quiet inside. It may not be quite so quiet on the 11th after fest end but I'm ready for Kansas City's best burger. They used to run coupons in the Value Mail. Hopefully, they will send another issue before then. And if it's too busy, Sonic is across the street.
Art Westport
Westport Fleamarket

Remember, Friday and Sunday events are free unless you buy something for yourself. I'm looking forward to reunion weekend and hope to see a lot of you as well. All updates will be posted on smn71.com, facebook, and sent out by email.

Friday night, Sept 9, Jazz A Louisiana Kitchen at Legends. Mark Valentine has invited us to join him and his trio who will be performing between 7pm and 11. I will be showing up hungry around 7. hope to see some of you there. Admission – free. You pay only for whatever food and drinks you consume or buy for me.
Jazz A Louisiana Kitchen

Saturday night, Sept 10, RJ's Bob-Be-Que Shack in Mission. Que and brew from 7pm till 11. I confirmed the menu this morning. Being served buffet style will be bbq brisket and chicken with sides of mac & cheese, cheesy corn bake, and potato salad. (don't blame me, the sides were picked by response to the email that went out to registered attendees. If you didn't respond...) Also bread and pickles and 2 drink tickets for drink of your choice. There are some changes for this night which I will address in a moment. Admission - $35 through Monday, Sept 5. After Sept 5, $40 and at the door (gate). $100 cash will be given away at the end of the night. You must be present to win. You must be preregistered by Sept 5 to be eligible.
RJ's Bob-Be-Que Shack

Sunday afternoon, Art Westport Festival at Westport Rd and Pennsylvania Ave. There are no further details posted at their website for the event. From the few classmates I have heard from who have been there, it should be a fun afternoon. In addition to the art there is a promise of lots of street performers and food trucks. Stay hungry since will will be meeting up at the Westport Flea Market when the fest ends at 5pm . I am so ready for a market burger. Again, admission is free. You only pay for what art strikes your fancy (I doubt there will be any paintings done by an elephant or monkey.) and any food or drinks you consume or buy for me.
Art Westport
Westport Fleamarket

Now for the good news, not so good news. Weather.com currently says we will have beautiful weather for the weekend events outside. So much for the good news. Due to the lack of advance registrations for Saturday evening at this point, I have had to greatly reduce my expectations as to the number of attendees for Saturday evening. RJ's has been kind enough to work with me with the new estimate to help avoid the potential financial disaster to the reunion fund. I also didn't want to eat bbq leftovers for the next month. Unless there is a huge increase in registration by Monday (or a benefactor steps up), we will lose our private patio and bar. This means we may lose control of any music played and any drink specials they may have offered us for the evening. The head count is very important at this point. If you have not registered and are thinking of joining us Saturday evening, please let me know so I can adjust the number if I need to. Thanks and see you all next week.