Kansas City News Blog

Saw this billboard next to Daddy's on Main Street (just a few paces from HQ).

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We're not even going to joke about everyone hating you. If you can pull in a fat government check -- even if it's seasonal or temporary -- we won't be mad at ya.

​This is short notice, but there's still time to get your resume together.

Kansas City Hires is holding a job fair at the Kansas City Marriott on the Plaza (4445 Main St.) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

I'd tell you what employers will be there, but the site makes you register up to see 'em (actually, I signed up once and got an error message, so you're on your own).

Driving past the Southwest Barber & Beauty shop at 75th and Wornall on Saturday ...
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... we caught this sign in the window:
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Jen Chen

Kris Koenig of Frankly Basic

​Frankly Basic, the crisp, clean boutique in the Crestwood shopping center at 327 E. 55th St., is looking for a "friendly associate," at least 18 years old, to work Sundays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and either two days a week from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. or one day a week from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Perhaps an option for any local workers affected by recently announced Hallmark layoffs? The employee discounts we assume FB might offer on their already-affordable collections of jeans, purses and scarves would be motivation enough.

Send contact info and a resume to info@franklybasic.com.

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This sign is in the window of the Kobe Japanese Steakhouse at 13th and Baltimore in the Power & Light District. Doesn't look like the Canadian chain of Japanese steakhouses is in need of kitchen staff anymore, but Kobe does need hostesses and servers. Not sure how you apply, so maybe just drop in. Looks like Kobe pays anywhere from $5.50 to $10 an hour, depending on the job.

Edgar Allan Poe

​West Bottoms haunted houses The Beast and Edge of Hell opened last weekend. But Full Moon Productions, the organization behind the frights, needs volunteers for a pair of charity spook houses -- The Macabre Cinema and the Chambers of Edgar Allan Poe -- that raise money for The Dream Factory.

Auditions and interviews take place today and tomorrow (September 10) and September 16 and 17 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at The Beast (1401 W. 13th St. in Kansas City, Missouri). You gotta be 16 or older to work in the theater or house of Poe and you'll need a couple forms of ID.

If you're interested, call 816-842-4280.

​This sign was in the window of a building at 14th and Main in the Power & Light District. Not a lot of information, but a guy working inside the building said it's the future site of Fran's Restaurant.

Here's the description on the P&L's Web site:

Fran's Restaurant is a 24-hour diner, offering upscale comfort food such as pancakes, eggs Benedict, burgers, rice pudding, chili, apple pie and milk shakes, along with daily specials. Fran's will be located on the corner of Main Street and 14th Street, on the first level, under The Peachtree Restaurant. OPENING SOON!

If you're interested, the restaurant's Web site says to send your resume to hr@fransrestaurant.com.

via Gawker.com

​Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill chairs the Senate Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight, so chances are she's seen pictures like the one to the left, which were just published by Gawker.

via Gawker.com

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The senator has been tweeting her reactions to the news that some of the guards at State Department facilities in Afghanistan allegedly treated their posts like they were on spring break, Kabul. A whistleblower informed the Project on Government Oversight, a nonpartisan nonprofit, that employees of ArmorGroup North America were drinking booze out of each others' ass cracks, abusing the locals and generally making a mockery of the company's 5-year, $189 million dollar contract with the State Department.

ArmorGroup North America is a subsidiary of a ginormous contractor named Wackenhut. Wackin' hut, indeed.

From Clairecmc:

We had hearing in June on security contract at our embassy in Afghanstn.Today new info out that confirm serious problms w/this contractor.about 1 hour ago from web

Once again whistleblower is a key to accountability.Another contracting scandal.I've sent letter to State asking for full investigation.38 minutes ago from web

Testimony given in front of my sub comm on contracting appears to be misleading at best.  28 minutes ago from web

POGO once again earns its reformer stripes. #ChippedArmor23 minutes ago from web

McCaskill wrote a letter to Patrick Kennedy at the State Department, saying if the allegations are true, they "raise questions regarding [ArmorGroup's] performance of the contract and the Department's management and oversight," and asking for a thorough review of ArmorGroup's performance.

Oh and hey! Wackenhut's hiring! I dare someone to show up to the interview in a coconut g-string.

A lot of people are hoping their luck turns around at Harrah's Casino (One Riverboat Drive in North Kansas City) and a few might actually leave with a paying gig after Tuesday. Harrah's is hosting a job fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The ad suggests dressing up -- suits and ties for the guys and jackets with matching skirts (or pants) and shoes for the ladies. Bring a resume and be ready to interview with the likes of Nebraska Furniture Mart, T-Mobile, Wendy's, Quintiles and more.

The RecruitMilitary Career Fair is coming to the Uptown Theater in Kansas City on Thursday, July 23, according to Karen Galvin of RecruitMilitary, LLC. The event is free for veterans and their spouses, who are invited to interview with national, regional and local employers from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

A list of the companies confirmed to attend so far includes: American College of Technology, Baker University/Apollo Group, Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, Centura College, Columbia College, DeVry University, Granthan University, Heritage College, the Internal Revenue Service, Home Depot, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Modern Woodmen of America, Quintiles, Schlumberger Limited, Snapp Fitness, T-Mobile, Northrop Grumman, Troops to Teachers, and the US Census.

What's with all the colleges? "Most are probably there to inform vets that want to use their Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits about their educational opportunities and programs," Galvin wrote us in an email. "Some may also be hiring."

RecruitMilitary.com posts a daily listing of employers seeking veterans for jobs. Today's open job listings include a Plant Manager Trainee in Animal Nutrition for Cargill and an Industrial Cleaner for Advanced Technology Services. It's not all cow-feeding and toilet-scrubbing, though. One of yesterday's listings was from the Henry M. Jackson Foundation seeking a Research/Postdoctoral Fellow to support the Center for Neuroscience & Regenerative Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland.

The career fair is sponsored by the President's National Hire Veterans Committee, The American Legion and the Military Spouse Corporate Career Network.

This big "Now Hiring" sign is up at the new Dollar Tree in the Old Westport Shopping Center at Westport Road and Southwest Trafficway.


Maybe this funky urban strip mall is a harbinger of economic recovery. Pride Cleaners has had a sign up in the window for awhile now. The clerk there told us the company has opened some new stores and is looking for managers.

This may be the best and most demanding e-mail of last week:

I am seeking a twenty-something actor who can pass for Japanese to play a samurai in a short film project. The role will require learning to speak the lines in Japanese and will involve fights and minor stunts.

Physical requirements: Bruce Lee body type. Little to no body fat.

Martial arts training, stage combat training, dance training, gymnastics training or equivalent is a plus, but not required.

Deferred payment is possible, but not guaranteed.

Contact Richard Buswell at 816-213-1298 or e-mail rbuswell@kcstage.com to set up an appointment.

Can't believe he's having trouble finding a 20-something, Japanese speaking, buff, low fat samurai warrior with fight or dance training in Kansas City. But we hope he does find one.

Adrenaline! EMS Careers in Kansas City from Don't Mind Me TV on Vimeo.

It's not open yet, but the still-under-construction Genghis Grill -- in the Power & Light District near the corner of Main and 14th streets -- is hiring. Swing by soon, a smaller sign says to come in Thursday (today!) between 2 and 5 p.m. to schedule an interview or contact Joseph Yeow at 816-716-8674.

This help-wanted sign is posted in the window at Mama's 39th Street Diner, on the corner of 39th Street and Southwest Trafficway, 816-531-6422.

Saw this sign on Tuesday, May 5 at the Bed Bath & Beyond off of I-29 and Barry Road. The phone number's 816.505.2360.